Archive for February, 2008
Bible in a Year… Day 27 (Matthew 8-10)
February 29th, 2008 | 3 Comments | Posted in » Bible in a Year
We’re back in the gospels today… Matthew 8-10 to be precise.
Today’s notes:
Matthew 8:2 (NIV)
2A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:10 (NIV)
10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”
Matthew 9:2 (NIV)
2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 9:22 (NIV)
22Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
Matthew 9:29-30 (NIV)
29Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; 30and their sight was restored.
Jesus performs a number of miraculous healings in Matthew 8 and 9. The common element? Whether of the afflicted, or of those who care for the afflicted, it’s faith.
I wonder, do we REALLY have faith that God will provide answers to our prayers? Whether healing, blessings, needs to be met, intercessions on behalf of our friends, I wonder… in what kind of faith do we offer our prayers? Do we truly believe God will answer?
I’ve probably written on this subject before, but I think it’s worth revisiting. If faith is the common element in answered prayer, shouldn’t we be sure we offer prayers with every ounce of belief that God will answer as we’ve requested that we can muster?
This isn’t to say God’s answers are based on our strength of belief, of course… God’s will trumps all. But if faith is required for an answer in the affirmative, should we really offer prayers that are, in a way, wishy-washy? Maybe it’s easier to provide an example…
Dear Lord, I’m deeply concerned about so-and-so. They’re [in this situation], and I really think [they need this]. I know you can provide that answer Lord, and I pray you would do so. Of course, I know your will is most important, so please, if [this need] isn’t your will, let yours be done. May you be praised in all things, Father. Amen.
What do you think?
Matthew 9:9-13 (NIV)
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?”
12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
This is a pretty challenging passage to me, personally. Why?
I’m like just about every other person that’s been a Christian for longer than a year or so… my friends are pretty much all Christians. I don’t hang out with “tax collectors and sinners” very often, even though that’s who Jesus came to save.
How are we, as Christians, supposed to shine the light of Christ into the lives of those who need it most if we rarely associate with them?
Bible in a Year… Day 26 (Isaiah 18-22)
February 28th, 2008 | 3 Comments | Posted in » Bible in a Year
In today’s passage, I really didn’t seen any particular verses that jumped out at me begging to be written about.
I will note, however, that there’s a pretty common theme in these prophecies that leads me to ask the following question:
I wonder if we take our sin as seriously as we should?
Here in Isaiah we see peoples and nations constantly turning from God or positioning themselves against Him from the start… sinning and suffering dire consequences. Do we see our sin in the same light, or do we take God’s grace for granted… failing to recognize the seriousness of our trespasses?
Happy Birthday Allison!
February 28th, 2008 | 2 Comments | Posted in » My Life, Pictures
My baby is growing up… Allison is one year old today!
It’s hard to believe she’s getting so big!
Bible in a Year… Day 25 (Job 7-8)
February 27th, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in » Bible in a Year
It’s Wednesday, our weekly day to focus on Biblical poetry, so we’re back in Job.
Today’s notes:
Job 7:11-16 (NIV)
11Therefore I will not keep silent;
I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.12Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep,
that you put me under guard?13When I think my bed will comfort me
and my couch will ease my complaint,14even then you frighten me with dreams
and terrify me with visions,15so that I prefer strangling and death,
rather than this body of mine.16I despise my life; I would not live forever.
Let me alone; my days have no meaning.
I love Job’s honesty here. He’s hurting big-time due to the testing God has allowed, so he cries out with this brutally honest expression of his pain.
Ever been there? It’s good to let this kind of thing out before God. After all, He’s the source of all healing, and he does still answer prayers.
Job 8:2-3 (NIV)
2How long will you say such things?
Your words are a blustering wind.3Does God pervert justice?
Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
You’ve gotta love the response of Job’s friend, Bildad. Had to have been a bit of a wake-up call to Job.
Everyone needs a friend that’s not afraid to speak truth.
Job 8:11-15 (NIV)
11Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?
Can reeds thrive without water?12While still growing and uncut,
they wither more quickly than grass.13Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
so perishes the hope of the godless.14What he trusts in is fragile;
what he relies on is a spider’s web.15He leans on his web, but it gives way;
he clings to it, but it does not hold.
This is a wonderful passage that ever so poetically describes the predicament of those outside a relationship with God. Good stuff, for sure.
E.R. Exposes Futility of Generic Faith
February 26th, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Christian Living
I saw this clip from E.R. today, and found it to be one of the most powerful dramatizations I’ve seen of the futile hope of a generic, namby-pamby, anything goes faith in God… a faith where God is love theology is stretched to the point that our interpretation and understandings of God are all that matter… where God is whatever we want or need Him to be… where specific answers to deep questions of faith are simply not available…
It just doesn’t cut it.
When faced with the fact that we are mortal… when faced with the fact that we have done things that clearly have crossed God’s standards for right behavior… when we have sinned, and know we need forgiveness…
This kind of faith just doesn’t cut it.
You need to watch the following clip. While from a fictional show, it presents a realistic picture of how this kind of faith just doesn’t measure up.
Did you catch what the cancer patient said?
I don’t want to go on! Can’t you see I’m old? I have cancer. I’ve had enough. The only thing that is holding me back is that I’m afraid. I’m afraid of what comes next.
No! I don’t need to ask myself. I need answers, and all your questions and your uncertainties are only making things worse!
I need someone who will look me in the eye and tell me how to find forgiveness.
Christianity… real Christianity, that is… provides these answers.
Those answers?
Yes… they start with God’s love…
- He loves us enough that He extends grace to us, forgiving us of our sins and washing us white as snow… separating our sins from us as far as east is from west.
- He loves us enough that He offers us an eternal life in heaven with Him.
- He loves us enough that He sends us His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us as we live our faith journey here on earth.
There a hundreds of others I could list.
But the most important answer originating in God’s love?
That He loves us enough that He gave us the gift of salvation by sending His only son Jesus to die an atoning death for our sins, because we simply can’t afford the just price required to attain it on our own.
All He asks is that we accept the gift by placing our faith and trust in Jesus.
Do that, and we need not fear death, for God will welcome us into His house with open arms when our time on this world is over.
(HT: Cliff Cummings, Ed Stetzer.)
Bible in a Year… Day 24 (Psalm 9-11)
February 26th, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Bible in a Year
It’s Psalm Tuesday again… today we’re in chapters 9-11.
Today’s notes:
Psalm 9:1-2 (NIV)
1I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.2I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
This Psalm of David pretty clearly expresses the response of those who truly love God… praise and proclamation.
If God has done wonders in our lives how can we offer anything else? Isn’t it natural to offer praises of thanks and worship in response? Isn’t it natural to want to tell others about the great things He has done?
What does it say about our level of faith and commitment to Christ when we fail to offer these kinds of worship?
Psalm 9:9-10 (NIV)
9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.10Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
The Psalms are full of wonderful promises and reassurances of God’s love and faithfulness. This is another gem for us to hold on to when difficult times come our way.
Pray for My Girls…
February 25th, 2008 | 2 Comments | Posted in » Prayer Requests
Please pray for my girls, Jenna and Allison. Both have come down with flu-like symptoms this evening. You might also include Nancy in your prayers as well, as she has her hands full taking care of them.
Bible in a Year… Day 23 (Joshua 16-20)
February 25th, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in » Bible in a Year
We’re back in Joshua for today’s readings.
Unfortunately, I don’t really have much to write about today. With all the anthologies detailing the allotment of lands in these chapters, I just don’t see anything significant that jumps out at me… certainly not anything triggering thoughts worthy of sharing.
Does anyone else see anything of significance in these passages that should be pointed out?
Bible in a Year… Day 22
February 24th, 2008 | 9 Comments | Posted in » Bible in a Year
It’s Sunday, starting week 4, and today we’re in Genesis 12-17.
You’ll have to forgive me, as I may not get a post up yet today. I’m about to board a flight to California for work (about 5 minutes from now), and don’t know if I’ll have internet again today.
So… for now, I’m going to leave today’s post to you. Share your thoughts on today’s Scriptures in comments below, and I’ll make sure I update this with my own thoughts once I get internet access again.
[UPDATE: I found a connection!]
Today’s notes…
Genesis 12:10-20 (NIV)
10Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”14When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. 15And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.
17But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
I read this passage immediately following Abram’s faith-based decision to leave everything he knows and go to an unknown land as God directs, and am simply baffled. I can’t understand at all why he would make this kind of decision. To have the kind of faith that it must have took to believe God would make him the father of a great nation, but then to turn around and have such a lack of faith in God protection as he and his wife entered Egypt that he’d stoop so low as to claim his wife was his sister… and allow Pharoah to take her as his wife?
Hello?
Just doesn’t make sense to me.
Just what is this about faith that we can be completely bold and fearless one moment yet cower in fear the next?
Genesis 15:1-6 (NIV)
1After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
”Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.”2But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
4Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
6Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
I can understand Abram’s need for reassurance from God here. After all, he was an old man, and the idea of children at his age had to be a difficult promise to believe and trust in.
We all need reassurance of God’s promises from time to time.
Genesis 16:1-4 (NIV)
1Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.”Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
Again, here we find Abram demonstrating lack of faith in God again. It’s interesting… although the timing between the reassurance he’d received in chapter 15 and now is uncertain, I wonder how it’s possible for it to sway so much that he and Sarai would resort to trying to fulfill God’s promise through a maidservant.
Perhaps it was just the “far-fetched” nature of God’s promise to give them children in their old age… I don’t know. I just keep coming back to the seeming inconsistency of faith demonstrated throughout these passages.
Are we all this inconsistent? Do we just not notice it as much because we’re not faced with as big of faith-decisions as Abram and Sarai?
Bible in a Year… Day 21 (Romans 5-6)
February 23rd, 2008 | No Comments | Posted in » Bible in a Year
We wrap up week 3 back in Romans again… chapters 5 and 6.
Today’s thoughts:
Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
I don’t know about you, but it’s pretty awesome to me that we can have peace with God. Knowing the depths of sin of which I am capable, and the position that places me in relation to His holiness and righteousness… it’s just, well… almost too good to be true. Especially when considering the cost to me, personally… simple, childlike faith in Christ.
That’s not to say Christianity is a cake walk, of course. If we’re serious about our faith, it will be anything but that. We still stumble and fall into sin occasionally, suffering from our brief forays away from God. And yes, sometimes God allows amazingly difficult things to come our way to mold us into the people He wants us to be.
But seriously… this idea of peace with God simply blows me away. I just can’t hardly comprehend it. I wonder if anyone really can?
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
As any parent can attest, the emotions you feel when witnessing your child’s birth are absolutely overwhelming. It’s utterly amazing just how deeply we love our kids, in those very first moments. Not to minimize the love between spouses, of course, but the love of parents toward their children is probably the closest experience we have to really knowing and experiencing the kind of love that God embodies and expresses toward us.
When I read this passage, though, I realize just how little we really can know of the love of God.
Seriously… do you know of any person on this planet that has the kind of love it would take to allow their child to die so that others might live? If given the choice between sacrificing your child or allowing the entire world to perish, we’d all choose the latter.
But God loves us that much, that He allowed Christ to die for us. And His son Jesus (who is somehow God as well… another concept I’ll never fully understand), willingly went to the cross because he loves us that much.
In spite of our sin. When we were utterly unlovable.
Wow.
Romans 6:11-13 (NIV)
11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Paul’s encouragement here is a stark reminder… even though we are right with God once again through our faith in Jesus… even though all sin, past, present, and future has been paid in full by the atoning blood of Christ… we’re still going to struggle with sin.
I don’t know about you, but that’s one of the most frustrating things about this faith walk with Christ we call Christianity. In yesterday’s reading, Jesus encouraged us to “be perfect … as your heavenly Father is perfect”. It just drives me up a wall that I can’t be. My brain can wrap itself around why God would allow us to struggle with sin (most simply put, if He made us perfect instantaneously at the moment of our salvation, what would be our reason to connect with Him on a regular basis?), but I’m still frustrated by the issue. As I would suspect is true for all of us, I seem to have this nasty little rebellious streak in me that WANTS to sin from time to time… that WANTS to be free to follow my own path. Worst of all, I seem to be that way even knowing that the consequences for me are, well… less than desirable.
Oh how I wish I knew how to truly live a life dead to sin and alive to Christ.
