Scripture Reading: I Kings 10, 11, and II Chronicles 9
Focal Passage: I Kings 11:4-6
Have you ever gotten distracted from your task at hand? Perhaps you started a project at work, and then got interrupted by phone calls or more pressing, immediate needs and the project got pushed aside. Before you knew it, days went by before you got back to the project. Maybe you are like me and your wife gives you a list at the grocery store and the meat aisle distracts you for a few minutes (I always have to see if they have any good deals on steaks or shrimp). In my basketball coaching days, my teams would sometimes run a full-court pressure defense to try to distract players from their normal routine of bringing the ball up the court. We hoped they would feel the pressure and make mistakes by throwing the ball away to our team. Distractions are a part of life and coping with those distractions is often the difference between a self-disciplined person and one that simply "goes with the flow".
King Solomon went from a blessed hero in I Kings 10 to a man that was being overrun by his enemies and dies in I Kings 11. What a difference a chapter makes! This huge difference in these two chapters is summed up in the focal passage. Solomon was distracted by his wives (no jokes here about women). His wives seduced (convinced) him to follow after their gods. His heart was not completely faithful to the Lord. One of the gods, Ashtoreth, was a god we read about yesterday in Sunday School (I Samuel 7:3,4). This god was a female deity worshiped as a god of fertility and war. She was also one of the main gods in Canaanite religion. Solomon went from a man that had great wisdom given to him by God, to a man that served other gods and even built places of worship to these other gods. He was distracted and his loyatly and faithfulness to God waivered.
Before we judge Solomon too harshly, let's ask ourselves a question: have I been distracted away from God? Do you need to confess a time in which you have been distracted and your attention and faithfulness to your relationship with God has waivered? It could be school, work, family, church, technology, addictions, cares of this life, vacation, hurt....the list goes on and on. The possibilities are as endless as the choices in a grocery store! Pray this for me and I will do the same for you if you would like for me to: God, help me not to be distracted from You, or Your purposes for my life. Help me to live what Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8. Help me to see everything else besides Christ as simple distractions!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Building Project
Focal Passage: I Corinthians 3:10-17
My dad and oldest brother have a gift or a skill that I wish I could duplicate. This skill allows them to look at something that may need some work and envision what it will look like when they are all finished. I may be able to talk about what I would like for it to look like and may even find some pictures that illustrate what I want, but I lack the skill to accomplish the task. This morning I walked over to the house that our church is remodeling just to see the progress that is being made. It is exciting to see something gradually being built or changed to look new and fresh. It is amazing what new tile, new paint, new bathroom, and just up-to-date construction can do to an old home. The reality is that no matter what you do to change the appearance on the outside, the house has to have a strong foundation for that remodeling to make any substantial difference. Another way of putting it is: if the walls can't stand, what's the point of painting them?
In I Corinthians 3:10-11 Paul reminds the church at Corinth the most significant thing about working in God's church is to never get away from the foundation that has been laid. Quite simply: the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church may involve itself in many different discussions and ministries (may do remodeling) from time to time, however, it must never get away from the basic message of salvation is found in Christ and Christ alone. In today's American church culture, the church is always trying to find the next best movement to attract people into its doors (the seeker friendly church, the purpose driven church, the simple church, and now the transformational church). All of these movements, strategies, models can have their place in ministry settings if the church does not change the foundation from which it was founded.
The church (the people of God) is the bride of Christ. Christ is the head of the church. Christ ought to lead, guide, direct His people to fulfill the Great Commission, by living out the Great Commandment, and bringing unchurched people to a saving knowledge of the Great Confession. With all the printed materials we read, all the opinions we have about what the church should do and be, we (as God's people) must never forget what Paul reminded the church at Corinth of so long ago: NO ONE can lay any other foundation than what has already been laid - that is Jesus Christ.
What are you doing within your church to build upon the foundation of Christ and Christ alone? What does your church do to fulfill the Great Commission, live out the Great Commandment? When was the last time you witnessed someone express the Great Confession, much like Peter did? Share your answers to these questions in the comment section of the blog.
My dad and oldest brother have a gift or a skill that I wish I could duplicate. This skill allows them to look at something that may need some work and envision what it will look like when they are all finished. I may be able to talk about what I would like for it to look like and may even find some pictures that illustrate what I want, but I lack the skill to accomplish the task. This morning I walked over to the house that our church is remodeling just to see the progress that is being made. It is exciting to see something gradually being built or changed to look new and fresh. It is amazing what new tile, new paint, new bathroom, and just up-to-date construction can do to an old home. The reality is that no matter what you do to change the appearance on the outside, the house has to have a strong foundation for that remodeling to make any substantial difference. Another way of putting it is: if the walls can't stand, what's the point of painting them?
In I Corinthians 3:10-11 Paul reminds the church at Corinth the most significant thing about working in God's church is to never get away from the foundation that has been laid. Quite simply: the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church may involve itself in many different discussions and ministries (may do remodeling) from time to time, however, it must never get away from the basic message of salvation is found in Christ and Christ alone. In today's American church culture, the church is always trying to find the next best movement to attract people into its doors (the seeker friendly church, the purpose driven church, the simple church, and now the transformational church). All of these movements, strategies, models can have their place in ministry settings if the church does not change the foundation from which it was founded.
The church (the people of God) is the bride of Christ. Christ is the head of the church. Christ ought to lead, guide, direct His people to fulfill the Great Commission, by living out the Great Commandment, and bringing unchurched people to a saving knowledge of the Great Confession. With all the printed materials we read, all the opinions we have about what the church should do and be, we (as God's people) must never forget what Paul reminded the church at Corinth of so long ago: NO ONE can lay any other foundation than what has already been laid - that is Jesus Christ.
What are you doing within your church to build upon the foundation of Christ and Christ alone? What does your church do to fulfill the Great Commission, live out the Great Commandment? When was the last time you witnessed someone express the Great Confession, much like Peter did? Share your answers to these questions in the comment section of the blog.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Rock in the River
A couple of hours outside of San Antonio there is an encampment in which the Frio River runs right through the middle of the camp. Groups have to drive their vehicles into the river to get to the campsites. I don't mean just drive through the river. The road to get to the campsites is the riverbed! It is really fun to experience. Our former church had a camp every year called the Family of God camp. Our former pastor had a ritual he always performed at this camp. He would take a group of children on a hike, and during this hike they would all stop at this one rock. This rock was huge! This was the highlight of the hike, because the challenge would be given to try to fit as many kids on the top of that rock as possible. The rock's size was so impressive, but so was its location. It was in the middle of this river. This rock was immovable. This rock was enormous. This rock had plenty of room for everyone to stand on top of it.
David wrote a Psalm that talks about the Lord being his rock. It is recorded in Psalm 18 and II Samuel 22. David spoke the words of this song: "The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer." What circumstance have you live through or are presently going through that you have a need for a Fortress or a Deliverer? What about all the decisions that you face and simply need a standard or a guide to direct you? What do you stand upon in the tornado-like winds of this world? David's relationship with God was his answer to all three of those questions. Today, our relationship with God through Jesus Christ gives us a Rock to stand on, a Fortress to dwell in and know God's safety and provision, and a Deliverer that can rescue us from the penalty, power and presence of sin!
Thank God today for Him being our Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer. Spend some time in prayer worshipping Him! Announce to Him your expressions of how God has been your Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer.
I know it has been a long time, but do this for me: Post your comments on here! Let the focus of your comments be to share with the world how God has revealed Himself to you as the Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer in your life. Post away!!!!
David wrote a Psalm that talks about the Lord being his rock. It is recorded in Psalm 18 and II Samuel 22. David spoke the words of this song: "The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer." What circumstance have you live through or are presently going through that you have a need for a Fortress or a Deliverer? What about all the decisions that you face and simply need a standard or a guide to direct you? What do you stand upon in the tornado-like winds of this world? David's relationship with God was his answer to all three of those questions. Today, our relationship with God through Jesus Christ gives us a Rock to stand on, a Fortress to dwell in and know God's safety and provision, and a Deliverer that can rescue us from the penalty, power and presence of sin!
Thank God today for Him being our Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer. Spend some time in prayer worshipping Him! Announce to Him your expressions of how God has been your Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer.
I know it has been a long time, but do this for me: Post your comments on here! Let the focus of your comments be to share with the world how God has revealed Himself to you as the Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer in your life. Post away!!!!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Fear the SAW
Daily Scripture Reading: I Samuel 4-8
Focal Passage: I Samuel 6:20
My father owned and operated a construction business and lumber yard when I was younger. I can remember spending many hours in the back of that lumber yard playing and working on different projects. However, there was one central tool in the middle of the warehouse that no one played around with. It was the huge saw that we used to cut lumber. This saw was fast, sharp, loud, and scary. When I was old enough to start using it, my dad gave me very specific instructions as to where to keep my fingers and how to avoid them getting caught by the saw. The saw was powerful and fast and could do many amazing things, but I always had a healthy respect (or in Biblical terms, fear) of the saw because I valued what it could do to my fingers if I wasn't careful and paying attention.
In the focal passage today, the Philistines had an interesting encounter with one of God's tools. The Ark of the Covenant was captured by them and every time it went into one of their Philistine towns the entire town would have things happen to them. This pattern that the Philistines observed convinced them to fear or respect God, and they decided to return the Ark of the Covenant back to its rightful owners: God's people, the Israelites. Even God's own people did not respect it the way that they should. In I Samuel 6:20 the men of Bethshemesh asked, "Who is able to stand in the presence of this holy Lord God?" They recognized that there was a huge difference between God and themselves.
We have lost the fear (respect) for God that we should have. The fear of God in the Bible is talking about a reverance, respect, honor or recognition of who God is (His holiness, His judgment, His power) in compared to who we are. We struggle with trying to be the best in our careers, have the best stuff we can possibly afford, with the highest education we can attain so that we can achieve for ourselves. We spend so much time building ourselves up, that we forget to acknowledge in our everyday lives that God is greater than all of us and He is ultimately in control of everything. Perhaps what we need is more people being stricken dead as soon as they disobey God (like in the Old Testament). Personally, I think I take in so much sin in my life that I become oblivious to God's presence in the world and in my life. I accept the things of the world and forget to have a hunger and thirst for the things of God. What do you think? Tell me about your healthy or unhealthy respect (fear) of the Lord.
Lord, help me to fear you today. Help me to hunger and thirst for your righteousness and allow me to seek first the kingdom of God!
Focal Passage: I Samuel 6:20
My father owned and operated a construction business and lumber yard when I was younger. I can remember spending many hours in the back of that lumber yard playing and working on different projects. However, there was one central tool in the middle of the warehouse that no one played around with. It was the huge saw that we used to cut lumber. This saw was fast, sharp, loud, and scary. When I was old enough to start using it, my dad gave me very specific instructions as to where to keep my fingers and how to avoid them getting caught by the saw. The saw was powerful and fast and could do many amazing things, but I always had a healthy respect (or in Biblical terms, fear) of the saw because I valued what it could do to my fingers if I wasn't careful and paying attention.
In the focal passage today, the Philistines had an interesting encounter with one of God's tools. The Ark of the Covenant was captured by them and every time it went into one of their Philistine towns the entire town would have things happen to them. This pattern that the Philistines observed convinced them to fear or respect God, and they decided to return the Ark of the Covenant back to its rightful owners: God's people, the Israelites. Even God's own people did not respect it the way that they should. In I Samuel 6:20 the men of Bethshemesh asked, "Who is able to stand in the presence of this holy Lord God?" They recognized that there was a huge difference between God and themselves.
We have lost the fear (respect) for God that we should have. The fear of God in the Bible is talking about a reverance, respect, honor or recognition of who God is (His holiness, His judgment, His power) in compared to who we are. We struggle with trying to be the best in our careers, have the best stuff we can possibly afford, with the highest education we can attain so that we can achieve for ourselves. We spend so much time building ourselves up, that we forget to acknowledge in our everyday lives that God is greater than all of us and He is ultimately in control of everything. Perhaps what we need is more people being stricken dead as soon as they disobey God (like in the Old Testament). Personally, I think I take in so much sin in my life that I become oblivious to God's presence in the world and in my life. I accept the things of the world and forget to have a hunger and thirst for the things of God. What do you think? Tell me about your healthy or unhealthy respect (fear) of the Lord.
Lord, help me to fear you today. Help me to hunger and thirst for your righteousness and allow me to seek first the kingdom of God!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Give me MEAT or give me death
Daily Scripture Reading: Judges 16-18
Focal Passage: Exodus 16:2-3
We have this ongoing debate in my home. Terri and I disagree about the necessary ingredients that are required for a meal time. I am no vegetarian, never had any desire to be, nor do I understand people that claim to be. A meal must come with some type of meat, preferably beef (like a 12 ounce New York Strip steak) in order for it to be classified as officially dinner. You might get by with a baked potato or salad or soup for lunch but for dinner it must have some type of meat in it! This is even Scriptural. Seriously. I will prove it to you.
Today I was studying for a Bible study I am teaching Wednesday night and I was reminded that even God's people complained about not having meat to eat. They were in the wilderness and grew tired of the daily routine of water and water only. Then God rained down bread from heaven, but God's people complained again...bread and water alone is really not a meal. Then in Exodus 16:12, God told His people He would send them meat (quail) every evening.
Ok...let me be honest with you. This passage of Scripture is really not about whether or not every dinner has to have meat with it. However, it does remind us of our human tendency, to grumble. Grumbling constitutes a dominant theme all throughout the Israelites' wilderness wanderings and it describes not only the Israelites' typical attitude when faced with difficulty, but ours as well. The lack of food affected the entire Israelite community and the grumbling and complaining led to angry accusations against human leaders and God.
God had only shown care and love for His people. Moses had led the people out of bondage and slavery to freedom. When faced with difficult times, however, the people had forgotten all of the ways both God and his leader had provided for them. Instead of remaining loyal to God and trusting Him to see them through the difficult time, they blamed Him. We have a tendency to do the same thing today. God can use difficult times or circumstances to strengthen our faith and commitment in Him. We need to trust Him and depend on Him in every situation.
When do you have difficulty trusting in God? How have your life experiences helped you grow more devoted to Him in good and difficult times?
Focal Passage: Exodus 16:2-3
We have this ongoing debate in my home. Terri and I disagree about the necessary ingredients that are required for a meal time. I am no vegetarian, never had any desire to be, nor do I understand people that claim to be. A meal must come with some type of meat, preferably beef (like a 12 ounce New York Strip steak) in order for it to be classified as officially dinner. You might get by with a baked potato or salad or soup for lunch but for dinner it must have some type of meat in it! This is even Scriptural. Seriously. I will prove it to you.
Today I was studying for a Bible study I am teaching Wednesday night and I was reminded that even God's people complained about not having meat to eat. They were in the wilderness and grew tired of the daily routine of water and water only. Then God rained down bread from heaven, but God's people complained again...bread and water alone is really not a meal. Then in Exodus 16:12, God told His people He would send them meat (quail) every evening.
Ok...let me be honest with you. This passage of Scripture is really not about whether or not every dinner has to have meat with it. However, it does remind us of our human tendency, to grumble. Grumbling constitutes a dominant theme all throughout the Israelites' wilderness wanderings and it describes not only the Israelites' typical attitude when faced with difficulty, but ours as well. The lack of food affected the entire Israelite community and the grumbling and complaining led to angry accusations against human leaders and God.
God had only shown care and love for His people. Moses had led the people out of bondage and slavery to freedom. When faced with difficult times, however, the people had forgotten all of the ways both God and his leader had provided for them. Instead of remaining loyal to God and trusting Him to see them through the difficult time, they blamed Him. We have a tendency to do the same thing today. God can use difficult times or circumstances to strengthen our faith and commitment in Him. We need to trust Him and depend on Him in every situation.
When do you have difficulty trusting in God? How have your life experiences helped you grow more devoted to Him in good and difficult times?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The ONLY Satisfying Choice
Daily Scripture Reading: Joshua 22-24
Focal Passage: Joshua 24:15
Our world seems to take pride in how many choices it can offer to consumers. You can find a multitude of different types and colors of cars on the same dealership lot. Attending church services one can find different venues of worship and different types of Bible study classes to attend. Sometimes the amount of choices can be overwhelming! I recall eating at the Cheesecake Factory once and they gave me a book (it was their menu) to choose what I would order for lunch! I believe the waitor had to ask me on three different occassions if I was ready to order...I told him I had not even finished reading the book he had given me.
Choices are nice but they can also be very distracting. Joshua ends his life challenging God's people to keep their focus on serving God. He spends part of this chapter explaining to them that they are going to be offered many other choices and Joshua told them in 24:15 "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve". We must choose to serve God, but I also want you to see that he said, "this day." The reality is just because we choose to serve Him today, doesn't automatically mean we will serve Him tomorrow. We are bombarded with things that will distract us from our relationship with God: family relationships, sports, entertainment, job or career responsibilities, school, health issues, financial obligations, fitness activities, church traditions, and the list goes on and on.
What can help us make the ONLY satisfying choice (serving the Lord)? Our Sunday School class talked about this very issue this past Sunday. We came up with the ABC's of helping us evaluate whether or not we have gotten "off track" in our relationship with God. What kind of questions can help us keep Jesus the main thing in our life? These are the three questions we came up with: A - Attitude - Is my attitude toward others, God, and His church God-honoring? B - Behavior - Is my behavior toward others God-honoring? C - Consistency - Is my time with God consistent? All three of these questions are intended to be used to remind us that everyday is a day to serve God. How will you choose to serve God today?
Focal Passage: Joshua 24:15
Our world seems to take pride in how many choices it can offer to consumers. You can find a multitude of different types and colors of cars on the same dealership lot. Attending church services one can find different venues of worship and different types of Bible study classes to attend. Sometimes the amount of choices can be overwhelming! I recall eating at the Cheesecake Factory once and they gave me a book (it was their menu) to choose what I would order for lunch! I believe the waitor had to ask me on three different occassions if I was ready to order...I told him I had not even finished reading the book he had given me.
Choices are nice but they can also be very distracting. Joshua ends his life challenging God's people to keep their focus on serving God. He spends part of this chapter explaining to them that they are going to be offered many other choices and Joshua told them in 24:15 "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve". We must choose to serve God, but I also want you to see that he said, "this day." The reality is just because we choose to serve Him today, doesn't automatically mean we will serve Him tomorrow. We are bombarded with things that will distract us from our relationship with God: family relationships, sports, entertainment, job or career responsibilities, school, health issues, financial obligations, fitness activities, church traditions, and the list goes on and on.
What can help us make the ONLY satisfying choice (serving the Lord)? Our Sunday School class talked about this very issue this past Sunday. We came up with the ABC's of helping us evaluate whether or not we have gotten "off track" in our relationship with God. What kind of questions can help us keep Jesus the main thing in our life? These are the three questions we came up with: A - Attitude - Is my attitude toward others, God, and His church God-honoring? B - Behavior - Is my behavior toward others God-honoring? C - Consistency - Is my time with God consistent? All three of these questions are intended to be used to remind us that everyday is a day to serve God. How will you choose to serve God today?
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Coloring Outside the Lines
Daily Scripture Reading: Joshua 1-4
Focal Passage: Joshua 2:8-11
Last Sunday, my pastor used the example of how kids are always given the rules about coloring their pictures. The teacher or parent tries to teach them about the necessity to stay inside the lines. Staying inside the lines creates a nice and neat picture and it also teaches to live within a box or boundary. The reality is that God doesn't always operate in our neat little boxes, and aren't we all glad! Most of life does not work out the way we intended or planned anyway. There are many examples in Scripture where God used people out of the ordinary to do His extraordinary work. I read about one such example this morning in Joshua 2.
Joshua sent spies into Jericho to check out the city so the people of God would be better informed as to what they were facing when they attacked the city. The woman that took these spies in was named Rahab, a known prostitute in the city. This known prostitute not only hides these two spies and keeps them safe from the king of Jericho, but she also helps them escape from the city. As incredible as those two things are, nothing compares to the declarative statement of faith in verses 8-11. Rahab knows God's people will have victory over the city of Jericho because they serve the one and only God. God uses this prostitute woman to affirm to these two spies who He is and what He is going to do. By the way Rahab is also mentioned in the great Hall of Faith chapter (Hebrews 11:31).
Coloring inside the lines may be what is often taught when learning to color, but it is not the way God operates. He uses people in all kinds of life circumstances to do His great work. Do you find yourself discouraged because your life has not been "colored inside the lines"? You did not always make the right choices or you have done things that you wish you could take back. I think we all have. Don't be discouraged! Take heart, God uses people that have lives "colored outside the lines". If God used Rahab, He can use any of us with the heart of faith to believe in Him, and the heart that wants to please Him. Take courage, seek God with your entire being, forget the past, and look forward to how God will use you to encourage others!
As always, feel free to add your own comments or observations...I'll be waiting to read from you!
Focal Passage: Joshua 2:8-11
Last Sunday, my pastor used the example of how kids are always given the rules about coloring their pictures. The teacher or parent tries to teach them about the necessity to stay inside the lines. Staying inside the lines creates a nice and neat picture and it also teaches to live within a box or boundary. The reality is that God doesn't always operate in our neat little boxes, and aren't we all glad! Most of life does not work out the way we intended or planned anyway. There are many examples in Scripture where God used people out of the ordinary to do His extraordinary work. I read about one such example this morning in Joshua 2.
Joshua sent spies into Jericho to check out the city so the people of God would be better informed as to what they were facing when they attacked the city. The woman that took these spies in was named Rahab, a known prostitute in the city. This known prostitute not only hides these two spies and keeps them safe from the king of Jericho, but she also helps them escape from the city. As incredible as those two things are, nothing compares to the declarative statement of faith in verses 8-11. Rahab knows God's people will have victory over the city of Jericho because they serve the one and only God. God uses this prostitute woman to affirm to these two spies who He is and what He is going to do. By the way Rahab is also mentioned in the great Hall of Faith chapter (Hebrews 11:31).
Coloring inside the lines may be what is often taught when learning to color, but it is not the way God operates. He uses people in all kinds of life circumstances to do His great work. Do you find yourself discouraged because your life has not been "colored inside the lines"? You did not always make the right choices or you have done things that you wish you could take back. I think we all have. Don't be discouraged! Take heart, God uses people that have lives "colored outside the lines". If God used Rahab, He can use any of us with the heart of faith to believe in Him, and the heart that wants to please Him. Take courage, seek God with your entire being, forget the past, and look forward to how God will use you to encourage others!
As always, feel free to add your own comments or observations...I'll be waiting to read from you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)