Archive for February, 2008
Bible in a Year… Day 23 (Joshua 16-20)
February 25th, 2008 | Comments Off | 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 | Comments Off | 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.
Bible in a Year… Day 20 (Matthew 5-7)
February 22nd, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in » Bible in a Year
Back to the Gospel (Matthew 5-7).
Today’s passage is absolutely packed with meaty verses. I’m going to list a few of them here, and simply ask a few questions of each. Consider this an exercise in introspection.
Matthew 5:13 (NIV)
13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
In what ways does your life demonstrate that you are salt of the earth?
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
How do you, personally, let the light of Jesus shine in your life in such a way that people see Him through you and praise God as a result? How bright are you, as a light to shine before all men? Does the light of Christ “twinkle” in you, or does it shine like a million candlepower spotlight?
Matthew 5:27-30 (NIV)
27You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Obviously, Jesus didn’t intend for us to go around maiming ourselves by these teachings, but I do believe He intended to clearly communicate the gravity of sin. How does these verses play out in a practical way in your life? Do you take sin as seriously as you should? What kind of things do you do to help yourself avoid situations in which you are prone to falling?
Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV)
38You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
A straightforward reading of these verses would lead me to believe that we, as Christians, are supposed to be pacifist pushovers. How do you implement these teachings in a practical manner in your life? Did Jesus really mean for us to let others take advantage of us?
Matthew 5:48 (NIV)
48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I don’t care what kind of perfectionist you are… you’re not perfect. That being the case, what is the practical working of this direction by Christ to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect?
Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
How does corporate prayer fit into this teaching?
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
How do you, on a practical, day by day basis, store up treasures in heaven? Where is YOUR treasure?
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?28And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Worry is a pretty natural thing for humanity, and it can be utterly debilitating. How do you develop such a deep love and trust of Christ so that you can wholly cast your cares upon Him? Where does the line balancing humanity’s responsibility with God’s provision really lie?
Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV)
3Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
As Christians, we’re all hypocritical to some extent… we all fall short of the ideals to which we aspire. How are you working to overcome the hypocrisy in your life that naturally flows from our inability to perfectly follow Christ? Moreso, how do you continue to serve God and make a difference for His Kingdom in spite of such?
Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)
7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.9Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Why is it that many of us are hesitant to pray for specific things when we offer prayers to God when the Bible clearly indicates that God’s answers to our prayers will be, specifically, “good gifts”?
Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
24Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Based on the thoughts you’ve had in regard to the passages listed here, what kind of foundation do you really have? What needs to be done in your life to improve the quality of your foundation?
Friday Photos — Reflection
February 22nd, 2008 | 2 Comments | Posted in » My Life / Family, Pictures
I’m constantly surprised and entertained by my kids… you just never know what they’re going to come up with next to amuse themselves.
Earlier this week, Jeffrey found his distorted reflection in a mixing bowl absolutely hilarious. Thankfully, I was able to capture the moment before he moved on to something else…
Bible in a Year… Day 19 (Isaiah 12-17)
February 21st, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Bible in a Year
In light of my previous post tonight, and the fact that I’d rather everyone following this site spend time in prayer for Caelan and the Cross family than interacting with what I have to write, this Bible in a Year post will be brief. I found the following verse (the 2nd verse in today’s reading, no less) very appropriate.
Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)
2Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.”
The Lord is our strength and our song. May we all learn to trust Him completely, in all things praising Him, both in our brightest moments and our darkest hours.
Pray for Caelan and the Cross Family!
February 21st, 2008 | 1 Comment | Posted in » Prayer Requests
Many of you who read this blog are familiar with the struggles Alan Cross and his family have dealt with as they’ve faced the horror of cancer with their youngest son, Caelan.
Please pray for them, and pray hard. Alan has shared tonight that Caelan’s cancer may have returned.
As a father, I can’t imagine facing this with one of my children, so please pray not only for Caelan’s healing, but also for the comfort that only God can provide to Alan, Erika, and their other children.