Here to Proclaim July 30

Scripture: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Isaiah 61:1

Observation: This text is fulfilled in Christ, as he proclaims when he reads it in the temple (Luke 4). Isaiah is saying the messiah will come to bring good news to the poor—to those who have nothing, yet hope in God, and liberty to the captives, those in exile, as well as those captive to their sins. He will come to bring sight to the blind (physical and spiritual healing) and liberty for the oppressed—those oppressed by sickness, spiritual forces, sins, and a society that not live by God’s ethical and just standards.

Application: Jesus has come to bind up broken hearts. He is here to bring the power of God to bear on the physical, spiritual, societal brokenness of our time. So what am I here to do? Is my Christianity about protecting me and mine, about seeking God to provide comfort and care for me and my family? Am I here to live a nice life, avoid sin, and stay away from others? Or am I here to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, and proclaim? Proclaim freedom from sin through Christ. Proclaim liberty to those hurting and oppressed. Proclaim God’s truth to powers of this world, physical, governmental, spiritual. What is the Spirit of the Lord upon me to do?

Prayer: God, I believe your Spirit is on me as well—you live in me. And you empower me (Acts 1:8) to be witnesses of the good news of Jesus Christ. To proclaim freedom. Forgive me for thinking your Spirit was on me just to fill me up with good feelings. Give me opportunity today to proclaim freedom to someone I meet. Amen

Spending on What Does Not Satisfy

Scripture: Why spend money on what is not food? Why work for what does not satisfy you? Isaiah 55:2

Observation: In a beautiful description of salvation, God invites His people to come to him, to come and drink of Him without cost. If we will listen and come to God, we will eat what is good and enjoy the richest food there is. In verse 2, God asks a great question: Since you can have what will satisfy you for free, why do you spend money on that which does not satisfy? In other words, why buy dissatisfaction when God offers satisfaction for free?

Application: Yet how often do I spend my money on that which does not satisfy? I know Jesus Christ will satisfy me. And I can have him for free. Yet I am enticed by all sorts of food that costs me time and effort, yet does not fill me up. Take my devotional time, for example. I always leave this SOAP time with You satisfied and full. Yet so often, it gets bumped in favor of reading emails or the news.
I was reading an article by Matt Chandler which posed two great questions:
1. What stirs your affections for Jesus Christ?
2. What robs your affections for Jesus Christ?
These are two great questions with which I need to wrestle as I look at the things I spend my money on and work for in life. Are these things that stir or rob my affection for Jesus? Some things might in and of themselves not be bad. But if they contribute to robbing my appetite for Jesus, if they fill me up, then they are like filling up on bread before the steak dinner arrives.

Prayer: God, today, let me see where I spend my money and effort. And help me honestly look at them and judge if they stir or rob my affections for You. If they stir, let those flourish. If they rob, let them wither.

The Turning Point of Worship July 27

Scripture: But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Psalm 73:16-17

Observation: David is oppressed as long as he meditates on how he feels about the prosperity of the wicked. But the turning point for him comes when he begins to meditate on who God is.

Application: Scott helped me see yesterday that this turning point is crucial. Some worship focuses on declaring who God is. Recently, there has been an emphasis on expressing how I feel in worship. Declarative vs. Expressive worship. Declarative is me stating truth about God. Expressive is me sharing my feelings. What the Psalms teach us is that both are important. I need to express how I am feeling, the good, the bad, and the ugly. BUT I MUST MAKE THE TURN. I must at some point go to the sanctuary and begin to declare who God is. A lot of contemporary worship fails at this point. Maybe it is an effort to help people feel good by expressing themselves. Maybe it is catering to the attitude of the age which says that whatever I feel is truth. Whatever the reason, they never make the turn. They miss out on the power of declaring who God is. So the music ends up being all about me and my feelings. Now, some go to the other extreme and never express, only declare. But the Psalms model for us balanced biblical worship: Express, then turn to declare. When I only declare, my worship can ring inauthentic. When I only express, my worship loses its power. Power comes from declaring who God is and what He has done. This is one way you make the Lord your refuge and strength and portion forever.

Prayer: God, help me model biblical balanced worship to my family and our church. Thank you for Scott, who I think really gets the power of declarative worship. Pray that you will unite our hearts in leading Pulpit Rock to make the turn from expression to declaration. We need it. We need to powerfully declare who You are and What You have done. I sense the yearning of our people to do more than express. We want to powerfully proclaim truth. Pray we would be free to express, and free to declare. Pray also that when we declare who You are and what You have done, that we would experience the power of lives founded on truth.

Who is His Equal? July 24

Scripture: "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Isaiah 40:25
"I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another.” Isaiah 42:8

Observation: I remember hearing a statement by John Piper a few years ago, “God is an important person who does not like being taken for granted.” I think it is getting easier and easier in this world we live to take God for granted. To begin to doubt His importance to our world. Our own advances in technology and power can delude us into thinking we do not need him. But Isaiah records what God thinks about this attitude. That He, apart from anyone else in history, is truly without equal. He alone is allowed to be called The Lord. And God will not share his glory as the One and Only with anyone else.

Application: How do I treat God as less important? How do I give his glory to others? One way is when I fail to attribute to God what is his. We just returned from a long trip, driving 5 hours each way in an old Suburban. We made it there and back again. Was this just good maintenance? Or was it God? Before our drive, as we do on every vacation, we stop and pray, asking God to guard our vehicle and protect us as we travel. Then when we pull back in our driveway, we stop and thank God for the trip. Why do I do this? Because I believe that God is the true protector of our family and I want my kids to see and learn this as well.

Prayer: God, forgive me for failing to set You apart as the One and Only, one whose power is unapproachable. The power we achieve on earth is nothing compared to the One who alone gets to be called The Lord. Today, may you remind me of your supreme superiority in all areas of life—power, holiness, authority.

Tearing Down High Places and Pillars July 21

Scripture: He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it. 2 Kings 18:4
“Be patient…be patient…Establish your hearts…do not grumble” James 5:7-9

Observation: The Bible so simply records these actions of Hezekiah, almost as simply as, “So Hezekiah went to buy some milk.” But behind these actions there must have been incredible opposition. If removing the high places, breaking the pillars, cutting down what had become idols were easy, anyone could have done it. I imagine the questions and challenges. There must have been many who liked the high places and pillars. Maybe even those who thought they were godly. I am sure many thought, “this is not why Hezekiah became king! I don’t think this is right.” Maybe even some who agreed in principle with the changes, but thought Hezekiah went too far or too fast. Yet Hezekiah was able to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

Application: Change is hard, whether it is changing an organization, changing a family, or even changing myself. Temptation is to give up, to gripe, to blame. Yet James 5 gives me the application: “Be patient…be patient…Establish your hearts…do not grumble.” As a leader of change, I must be dead sure that I am doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord. I must also be sure that the way I am going about it is also right in the eyes of the Lord. But having this does not mean it will be easy. High places and pillars, and even the sacred cow (sacred serpent??) are still around for a reason. They will take people of humility and conviction. They will take people of hope like St. Augustine wrote of: “Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage. Anger at the way things are and courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”

Prayer: God, give me your anger over the high places and pillars and bronze serpents in my life, and the life of our church. Show me what they are. Help me be driven by what is right in Your eyes. And then give me the courage to see they do not remain. Give me the patience to be patient, not grumble, and keep moving forward. With love, with grace, with humility, but with step by step progress, one pillar at a time. Thanks for Hezekiah. I cannot wait to meet him! Amen

Cleaning My Temple July 20

Scripture: As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything…Azariah the chief priest, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, "Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the LORD, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, for the LORD has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left." 2 Chronicles 31:5,10

Observation: Hezekiah became the King of Israel when he was 25 years old. One of the first things he did was an extensive and thorough cleansing of the entire temples. Then he reorganized the temple and the different responsibilities the priests and Levites had. He was setting things back in order to the way David had it. As part of his restoration, he reinstituted the tithe God had commanded. The people responded so obediently, that there was abundance. God was able to bless his people through the obedience of other people.

Application: First, when I set about to evaluate my life, to “cleanse my temple,” I need to remember that what I do with my money and possessions matters to God. What I do with my stuff is not separate from my faith and spirituality, but an important part. Second, when God’s people obey Him in regards to how they handle money and possessions, God is able to bless others abundantly. Who is missing out on God’s blessings because of an area of disobedience in my life? Third, Hezekiah has a lot to say about leadership, and restoration. I think this passage is confirming to me that we need to really teach biblical generosity and financial responsibility to our church. If we withhold the teaching, then me, miss out on God’s blessings for us.

Prayer: God, help me reevaluate my finances—are they in order? Are you pleased with the way I spend my money and possessions? Is there anything or anyone you wish me to give to? Would you help us implement our stewardship plan, and abundantly bless us as we seek you in obedience? Amen

I'm Counting on God

Scripture: You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James 2:22-24

Observation: True faith is not simply about belief, but acting on that belief. By being not only hearers, but doers of the word. Yet some people seem afraid that one might taint and ruin the other if they are allowed to mix. I guess the fear is faith by works—that we would fall back into trying to become God’s friends by doing enough works, i.e. legalism. But if we step back and just read the passage, James is pretty clear that he is not teaching faith by works, but faith demonstrated through works. If Abraham had claimed to have faith in God, but refused to sacrifice Isaac, we would assume he really was not living by faith. There is a worship song out there right now called “I’m Counting On God.” Counting on God, living by faith, is not just a song we sing, but a life we live. Bottom line: How does offering a starving and shivering person warm words, without the action of food and blankets, helpful? It is not. How are claims of faith, without living a life that shows you are counting on God helpful? They are not. If we claim faith, we will act.

Application: God, this is a growing passion in my life. For us to be doers of the word and not hearers only. Not a return to legalism as described in Galatians. But a return to obedience as a demonstration of true faith. That we count on God by the way we live and not the way we say. For 60 years, Pulpit Rock has been known as a church that knows the Word of God. I’d like to change that. I’d like us to be known as a church that by faith, does the word of God. I need to more clearly connect faith and works from the word in the hearts of our people. I need to help people read the word, hear from God, walk by the Spirit, and do it by faith. This means to me that I need to begin discipling people using the S.O.A.P. devotional method so they can hear and obey God.

Prayer: God, help me knit faith and works together in my heart. Show me that counting on you is more than a line; it is a life. Give me wisdom to figure out how best to disciple others using S.O.A.P. And keep me ever mindful of the danger of legalism, yet the freedom of obedience. Amen

Dining with the King July 16

Scripture: On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.

It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Is 25 :6-9

Observation: One day, Christ will save the day and begin his millennial reign on the earth as promised. How does God kick off the millennial reign of Christ? With a feast, somewhat like our Presidential Inauguration Ball. All peoples will eat, with a menu of rich food and aged wine. All peoples will eat—all races, tribes, nations. Previously sworn enemies will eat with each other. The reign of Christ will be characterized by great and abundant food and wine. And it only gets better. At the end of this time, as we enter our eternal rest, Christ will outlaw death, tears, and the power of sin. No more separation. No more sadness. No more struggle with sin.

Application: God is giving me a promise that though our world is full of strife, starvation, and sin, it will not always be this way. There is coming a day when our king will return to make things right. I love that food will be a big part of his kingdom, because first of all, I love food. But second of all, food is one of the great divides in our world between the haves and have-nots. Knowing that one day, there will be abundance for all is a hope to hold to. What is my call in all of this today? To wait for my God. To not give up hope. To be glad and rejoice in his salvation that has come and that is to come.

Prayer: God, let me share this story with my kids tonight as we sit around our table and eat. Let us thank you not only for the meal we have, but for the meal we will have in your kingdom. You have spoken; it will happen. I am glad and rejoice today in your coming great feast! Amen

Ready for the Race July 15

Scripture: Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13

Observation: God’s people are running a race that requires endurance. As part of the race, they will endure the loving discipline of a Father who cares for them. This discipline would be painful in the moment, but would later yield the fruit of righteousness. In light of this coming painful race, we should lift our hands, strengthen our knees, make straight paths for our feet, so that we can walk without stumbling. What does that mean?

Application: We need to be in top shape to endure the grueling miles ahead. God is saying, “The race will be hard. Get in shape!” Jessica is training for a half-marathon. This race requires her to get in shape, to run a disciplined regime to prepare for that race. Same is true in my spiritual life. Knowing that I must run with endurance the race set before me (v. 1), I need to be in top spiritual shape. This requires faith-based discipline, not sheer willpower. Not only to strengthen my hands and knees, but to remove obstacles—habits, strongholds, sins—that will trip me up down the road. Looking to Jesus in faith, I see that he disciplined himself to do what was needed for the race, not always what he felt like doing.

Prayer: God, as I look at my life I see a struggle with self discipline. I am far too often governed by feelings and inclinations than self control and restraint. This will not prepare me for the rough race ahead. Doing this blog helps give me a degree of accountability to meet with you. But in other areas as well, I need to be guided by fixing my eyes on Jesus and the race before me, not the feelings of the moment. Give me strong hands and knees. Show me the rocks in the road I need to clear out, that I may run and grow strong in You. Amen.

Formed at His Command--July 14

Scripture: By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3

Observation: The creation of our universe is a difficult concept to grasp. Sometimes I struggle to reconcile the biblical accounts of creation with what I hear in the classrooms and media. I feel out of my depth to debate scientists over the age of the earth or the way we got here. Yet in a chapter dealing with the acts done in faith by the people of God throughout history, the author takes an entire verse to comment on creation—and link it to faith. That what God wants me to understand is that the universe was formed at His command. That the Big Bang was the booming of His voice. And I am to take this by faith. Maybe I will never fully understand this side of heaven the details of creation. And while some may label this as sticking my head in the sand, maybe it is really a simple act of faith.

Application: God, I choose today to step out in faith and trust that the how of creation is not as important as the Who of creation. That “And God said” is all the detail you gave me as to the how of creation. While others may sense your call to pursue this and to worship you by delving into the details, you are calling me to accept as an act of faith three words: “And God said.”


Prayer: God, thank you for forming the universe by your command, for making what I see out of what I could not. I trust that you have the power to create. Please help me to trust you for the hard to understand so I can focus on the easy to understand but hard to live out—like loving my neighbor. You are glorious and your command is undeniable. Thanks for reminding me of your power today.

The Lord is my song

Scripture: Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12

Observation: God is my song. He is what I sing in my heart. What he has done in my life is the tune of my days. His anger is turned from me. His comfort is given to me. He can hold my trust and deal with my fears. He gives me strength. He allows me to draw from the springs of salvation.

Application: I need to sing this song more. I need to make known his deeds among the peoples, and make them remember his name is exalted. We worship God as a response to who he is and what he has done. I focus on the former--who he is. But often I fail to sing about what he has done. I need to tell God in worship and others in my life the things God has done. I need to sing the song of salvation.

Prayer: God, Today, may I really enjoy the worship time at church. Help me to remember it is about You and what You have done. Let me be free to celebrate my salvation. And let me carry that song into my neighborhood in my relationships with Brian and Laurie.

A Change In The Law

Scripture: For when there is a change in the priesthood there is necessarily a change in the law as well. Hebrews 7:12

Observation: Jesus is now our high priest, our intermediary between us and God. The law has been replaced. Jesus could not be a high priest under the old system. A new priest requires a new law. So we are no longer governed by the Mosaic law (Gal. 3:24).

Application: I can either come to God through Jesus, or I am on my own, judged by the law. I have no other high priest. Every time I pray "in Jesus' name" I am affirming Jesus as my one and only high priest and I am declaring my freedom from the law.

Prayer: Jesus, you know my tendency towards the law in my life. Let me celebrate You as my high priest forever every time I pray in Your name. Help me remember this is not a tacked on ending to my prayer, but a declaration of freedom. In Jesus' name, I am free.

Observe Kindness and Justice--July 7th

Scripture: Sow with a view to righteousness. Reap in accordance with kindness (Hosea 10:12)...Observe kindness and justice and wait for your God continually (Hosea 12:6)
Observation: God shows his passion for justice and kindness. So why does His passion get labeled as "social justice" and dismissed as liberal?
Application: Observing kindness and justice has to start in my own home--in the way I treat my family. Am I kind to my kids by being patient with them and speaking softly to them? Am I just with my kids, in making sure they get their dad, not what is left over? Beyond this, what do I need to do to live out and model the kind of justice God speaks about here and in Isaiah 58?
Prayer: God, I pray you would build the truths of kindness and justice in my heart and life. That these would not merely be teaching points for a message. Guide me as I guide Pulpit Rock to become a church that does the word. Also, give me patience with my kids to speak kindness to them. Amen.