This is My Story, This is My Song.

Scripture: Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11

Observation: This declaration seems to be the constant refrain of the 24 elders in Heaven. Over and over they say this. Why this statement? Of all of the never ending volumes of truth that could be spoken to and about God, why these 28 words? Could it be because, in their simplicity, they capture the essential truth of God’s worthiness to be praised: There is none above Him. He created all things—no one created him. All things exist and continue to exist only by the sheer will of God. On his best day, Satan cannot create a drop of rain—he can only attempt to twist and distort what God has created. There is no power struggle for control of the universe. The power described in these words is unspeakable. Where else would we turn for appeal? Who else has the power to be our God?

Application: This is my story, this is my song: God is worthy to receive all my strength in worshipping him. My energy and life has found their fulfillment and purpose when I ascribe glory and honor and power to God. And I take solace in this: As he has overcome, so will I if I am with him. I will experience this moment, the recognition that all I have placed my hope in is true. I cannot wait for this moment to celebrate the authority and worth of God.

Prayer: God, let me celebrate a foretaste of this celebration as I honor you in my worship this morning. Let me have confidence this week to share your love with others, knowing that the One who empowers me is awesome in power forever.

If I Could Say Only One Thing...

Scripture: Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. Revelation 1:17-19

Observation: How simple, yet how profoundly important are these words: “I died. I am alive forevermore.” It seems the death and resurrection of Jesus drives everything—from not fearing, to sharing what we have seen. If I could only say one thing about the gospel, maybe it would be this: He died. He rose again.

Application: I tend to focus on many side issues when I share the gospel. The power of forgiveness. The purpose God has for our lives. The belonging that only a community can provide. The hope of change. All these are good, but what seems central is this: He died. He rose.

Prayer: God, today, help me to move the death and resurrection central in my speech. The same truth that transformed scared disciples into bold lions should be my focus as well. Give me freedom from fear in talking about how You live forevermore.

Three Strikes, But Not Out.

Scripture: Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel…” Jeremiah 38:17

Observation: Three times Jeremiah is asked to speak the words of God to Zedekiah. The first time, he counsels surrender to Babylon, which gets him beaten. The second tie, he predicts defeat and gets thrown in a cistern. The third time he is wary of the request and only speaks after assurances there will be no reprisal. He is spared, but once again the king ignores the very counsel he himself asked for, and is defeated. I am amazed Jeremiah continues to speak God’s words instead of changing the message to save his skin. I am astounded that Judah keeps asking for words from God that they have no intention of following.

Application: When some people say they want leaders who hear from God, they really mean they want leaders who hear from God words that affirm their choices and course of action. So many times I have had people come to me to get “godly advice,” only to leave angry when they got words contrary to their plan. God is telling me to:

1. Keep telling the truth, even if I am branded a deserter, and
2. Be prepared to be rejected, but not to worry, God can and will deliver me.

Prayer: God, I don’t know who this applies to in my life right now, or if it is a preparation for an upcoming challenge. Help me to hear from you and speak truth to those in my life—and not words that will make them (or me) feel better.

Love Like He Really Lived

Scripture: Love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 2 John 5-6

Observation: 10 commandments in the OT, Jesus reduces these to 2—Love God and Love others. Here, John highlights one. I’d think he would pick loving God, but here (as Jesus does in John 13:34) he highlights loving one another. But the love he is commanding has to be done in the context of truth (v. 3,4). What truth? The truth in verse 7: Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. So loving others in the reality of Christ’s coming is the highest expression of love.

Application: I love others, but not always in the reality of Christ’s coming. I love them like a nice guy would, or a good neighbor. I love them in my natural friendliness, but not with the power and truth of Christ’s coming. Does the coming of Christ change the way I love others? Or would I be just as friendly if Christ had never lived?

Prayer: God, help me in my relationships to go beyond friendliness, and love others like you would—in truth. Sometimes this might mean tough words or extra effort. In fact, there are two people in my life that need tough words and extra effort today. Help me to love them with your love-the love that came in the flesh and sacrificed. If I love you, I will love them.

We Have Overcome

Scripture: Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. I John 4:4

Observation: We have overcome. The bible also tells us we will overcome, we are commanded to overcome, and we will be rewarded if we overcome.

Application: There are 2 boys in our neighborhood that are the terrors of our street. No one knows where the parents are—rumors fly about jail, drugs, who knows what. These kids are on a course of destruction and defeat.
My first thought was protecting my kids from them. Overcoming meant that I could pray and these kids would be defeated. But these two boys are not the ones in the world we are to overcome. The real enemy is Satan, who has a hold of their lives and desires to steal, kill, and destroy them. Maybe overcoming does not mean defeating them, but proclaiming that God desires to prevail in their situation, to redirect the trajectory of their life? Can we love on and reach out to and share with these boys in the name of Jesus? Can we pray and seek God to overcome the one in them who has been defeated by God. Can we be overcomers in these boys’ lives?

Prayer: God, help me believe I am an overcomer. That the one in me is greater than the one in the world and I can stand strong and proclaim victory over the evil of the world. That I would overcome evil with good. These boys desperately need someone to overcome in their lives—that person is you who is greater than the one who is in the world. Show me how I can love them and overcome with them.

Serving with Slackness and Sheathed Swords.

Scripture: Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed. Jeremiah 48:10

Observation: God ordered some people to bring judgment on the wicked nation of Moab. We are not sure who he appointed for the task, but we know that judging the Moabites was going to be tough work. Yet it was God’s work and had to be done. In verse 10, God is threatening a curse on anyone who was slack in doing this work, who failed to unsheathe their sword and get to God’s work.

Application: I am so disturbed by the slackness I see in some of those who do the work of the Lord full-time. Those for whom ministry is the refuge of the lazy—where they can operate with minimal accountability. They deflect questions of work ethic by retreating behind the walls of God’s grace, and Jesus’ love—forgetting that it is the grace of God that empowers us to do the work. They have never learned that this work of the Lord, is hard work. You have to pull out your sword. The late night phone call. The early morning meetings. Praying hard. Learning hard. Returning the phone calls. This work of the Lord is important and deserves more than our slackness and sheathed swords. Of course, the “cursing” of the Lord is apparent—their ministries suffer and die, like untended gardens. No, God wants his appointed servants to pull out their swords, to attack ministry with resolve and determination.

Prayer: God, forgive me for the slackness in my ministry. I want to have a healthy and balanced life. But sometimes “balance” is an excuse to avoid the sword work. I need you to show me what a healthy work ethic looks like, how I can do your work without slackness. Show me this, and give me strength to do this. And Lord, help me figure out how to share this with others in a way that is not judgmental or angry.

What I Can Learn from Other Religions

Scripture: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. Jeremiah 35:13-14

Observation: God commends the Rechabites for obeying the commands of their forefather not to drink wine or build houses. These are not biblical commands, but these people are obeying them out of respect. Yet God’s own people are not obeying God’s very own commands. These guys might have been following man-made rules, but at least they understood the value of respectful obedience—this is what God is looking for from his own people.

Application: Sometimes I look at other religions with their man-made rules. Some don’t drink caffeine. Others have to pray 5 times a day. Yet while these are not biblical commands, I can learn from these people the value of respectful obedience. Instead of looking down on them, I need to look inside me—do I follow the commands God has given or do I hide behind freedom and grace? These people follow the traditions of their forefathers; can I do less for the living truth of my Father?

Prayer: God, the Rechabites listened to their forefather. Do I listen to You? Help me to “turn from my wicked ways and reform my actions.” Today, show me areas of disobedience I can turn from and turn to you.

Woe to the Shepherds

Scripture:  "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!" declares the LORD.

  Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: "You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds, " declares the LORD.

  "Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. Jeremiah 23

Observation:
1. The sheep belong to God (My pasture).
2. The problem is shepherds who fail to attend to the sheep.
3. God's desire is fruitfulness and multiplication.
4. God will hold shepherds accountable.

Application: I destroy and scatter the sheep of God's pasture (congregation of PRC) when I fail to attend to them in a way that helps them be fruitful and multiply.

Prayer:. God, I don't want to hear these words. Forgive me for where we are failing to attend to your sheep you've entrusted to our care. Sober us with the reality of your expectation and the surety of your inspection. Make us good shepherds who attend to your flock.

From Willing to Die to Willing to Lie

Scripture: Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. John 18:10
The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” John 18:17

Observation: In the garden, Peter is ready to kill to protect Jesus’ life. Later, in the courtyard, Peter is ready to lie to protect his life. In the garden, Peter faces a crowd of armed soldiers. In the courtyard, Peter faces the questions of a servant girl. What happened between the garden and the courtyard? Was it seeing Jesus hauled off? Peter had seen opposition to Jesus before, but Jesus had always deflected it with his wise questions. Yet from Peter’s perspective, was this the failure of Jesus? Was this like the shock of seeing your dad, whom you always saw as indestructible, suddenly diagnosed with cancer? Was Peter’s faith shattered? Peter was not afraid to die—we see that in the garden. But was he willing to die for a failed mission? Psalm 9:10 says, “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” Maybe after seeing Jesus arrested, Peter doubted the name of the one he had been following all along.

Application: I feel like Peter sometimes. I am facing some things where I used to feel like Peter in the garden, willing to pull out my sword. Ready to die. But I keep seeing defeat in this area and I wonder if things are going to change. From my perspective, it seems that Jesus is failing. My temptation is to be Peter in the courtyard, to circle the wagons and think about preserving my own life. I don’t want to be there, but it is a struggle. I am struggling to see Your name at work.

Prayer: God, I need an infusion of faith. I need to hear your words directing me like you did in the garden—even if the words are to put away my sword. Please help me to keep coming to you. I am tempted to run to the courtyard, but help me keep seeking you. You have not forsaken those who seek you—so I will seek you. Show me your ways, I want to be more like you.

When God Gets Dressed

Scripture: For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen. Jeremiah 13:11

Observation: Just as my clothes hang on my body, God’s people were created to hang on God. On our own, we are crumpled piles of cloth. But when God puts us on and begins to move, we have purpose. We belong to him, we have a name, we have a praise and a glory. But unlike inanimate clothes, we have a choice. We can either listen to God and cling to him, or ignore him and become a loincloth good for nothing.

Application: I was created for God. He does not exist for me. I am a t-shirt in the closet of God. I only have life and meaning and purpose and power as God puts me on and wears me around. The question is, as God is getting dressed today, will he put me on? Will I be worn by him, or passed over? The key, is seems in Jeremiah, is me making the decision to listen and follow what God says. God wears clothes that listen.

Prayer: God, I feel over the last year you have been teaching me that you want to talk to me in some different ways than I have been used to. You want to tell me things, if I will listen. I have already seen your words come true. Help me to discern your voice. Help me to listen. Speak to me, and I will follow you. I want to be worn by you today.

Whoever Believes in Me Will Also Do the Works that I Do

Scripture: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

Observation: Jesus says that those who truly believe in him will do the works he does, and even more than he does. These works include evangelism, teaching, acts of mercy. His followers will do greater works—not necessarily greater in power, but greater in scope. His followers, larger in number and scattered across the globe, will do more (greater) works worldwide, and throughout history than Jesus was able to do in his short, localized ministry here on earth.

Application:

If I do not do the works Jesus did, do I truly believe in him?

Here is the faith/works question again. As I read through Acts, preparing for this fall’s sermon series, I am struck by the works the followers of Jesus did in his name. I know that some of them are not things we do today since it was really the “Grand Opening” of the church, much like how the grand opening of a store does many things (balloons, bands, food) that they do not do once the store is established. HOWEVER, I wonder how much of Jesus’ works I am to be about today. And if I am not sharing my faith, if I am not discipling others, if I am not doing acts of mercy, then how can I claim true faith?

Prayer: God, open me up to the book of Acts, and what faith-driven works you would have be do as your follower. Point out to me areas where my claim of faith and my doing of works are not in sync. If I believe, I will do.

The Faithfulness Principle

Scripture:
(7)“How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores.
(8) They were well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor's wife. Jeremiah 5:7-8

Observation: Jeremiah describes two kinds of unfaithfulness—Spiritual unfaithfulness, as people leave their God to pursue other gods (7) and marital unfaithfulness, as men leave their wives to “neigh” for other wives (8). I think there is a connection: Infidelity in one area leads to infidelity in another.

Application: I have discovered that unfaithfulness in one area of my life inevitably leads to unfaithfulness in another area. To use another metaphor, when the walls of my life are broken down in one area, say my purity or my time with God, then the walls seems to crumble in other areas as well. It is a ripple effect. The good news is that when I seek God and rebuild walls in one area, get one area under control, then the other walls are easier to rebuild and maintain. So the simple act of repenting in one area, and beginning to be faithful in that area actually helps strengthen the other areas as well. For me, one of the easiest walls to ignore is this devotional time with God. When I neglect it, other areas of my life begin to crumble. When I maintain it, God shows me how to rebuild other walls. Jeremiah discovered this principle: Faithfulness breeds faithfulness and unfaithfulness breeds unfaithfulness.

Prayer: God, let me pay attention to the walls of my life. Help me continue to be faithful spiritually, so I do not breed unfaithfulness in my marriage, like the people of Jeremiah’s day did. Keep me passionately pursuing you. Thanks for your principle of faithfulness, and for your power to change me.

I Don't Know...I Was Blind, but Now I See

Scripture: "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded. He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." "Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said…“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” John 9: 10-12, 25
Observation: I love the simplicity of this testimony. This man formerly known as blind has been healed by Christ. When asked, he tells his story, straight shootin’, no frills or religious lingo involved. When asked follow-up questions that he did not know the answer to, he simply says, “I don’t know.” Later, when others try to embroil him in a theological debate, he simply summarizes, “I was blind but now I see.”
Application: Sometimes I think my job in witnessing is to be prepared for every debate, to anticipate every question. But the power of the story comes in its transformation. “I was X; now I am Y.” This man’s story resonates centuries later because he:

1. Told what happened to him,
2. Admitted he did not know everything, and
3. Avoided pointless debate by reaffirming the change Jesus brought in his life.

Prayer: Jesus, let me just tell the story. Let me tell what you did, admit when I don’t know the answer, and keep my focus on what you did in my life. Thank you for opening my eyes so I could see you, and help use my story to open the eyes of others.

Where Most Discipleship Methods Get it Wrong.

Scripture: So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Observation: Probably the most used-out-of-context quote in the whole bible—“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” We apply it to knowledge and education. As if the key to freedom and enlightenment is more knowledge. But Jesus in the previous verse explains how we know the truth. Is it through studying? Is it through education? Is it through lectures or sermons or reading? No. The way to know the truth that sets you free is to abide in God’s word. This means to believe in and obey the word of God. Faith and obedience unlock truth.

Application: Some discipleship methods seem to focus on knowing the word. Memorizing, studying, etc. But true disciples of Jesus are not knowers of the word only, but doers. Of course I must have some level of study to know God’s word. But the key—as always with Jesus—is that I believe in and act upon the word that I hear. Then I will be his disciple, then I will know the truth, then I will be set free.
Do I know the truth? That is nice. Do I believe and obey the truth? That is a disciple.

Prayer: Lord, let me continue to fight for application of your word. Even as I meet with someone today to talk about discipleship, let me focus on believing in and obeying your word as the key to discipleship.

Routine Obedience Can Unearth Treasures

Scripture: While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD that had been given through Moses. 2 Chronicles 34:14

Observation: Josiah had been king over 20 years. During the last 10 of those he began to seriously seek the Lord. He purged the land of idols and altars. He began to repair the temple of the Lord. It was while repairs were undergoing that the word of God, lost so many years, was discovered. This discovery led to a national renewal of commitment to the Lord.
Josiah was not looking for this book—that was an unexpected result of a decade of obedience. Sometimes the blessings of God come as unexpected results of obedience in other areas. Sometimes a routine repair of obedience will unearth the lost treasures of God.
Sometimes a little boy who is simply trying to hear more about Jesus gets picked to help provide food for 5,000 people (John 6).

Application: I tend to think in direct, linear terms. If I do X action, X result will follow. Yet Josiah did X action and Y result followed—after ten years. God’s blessing can be unexpected, and can come from an area of obedience unrelated in my eyes. Simple acts of obedience—striving for purity in my online life, spending time reading my devotions, praying diligently for God to work in the life of my kids, working faithfully at my job as unto the Lord—can result in God blessing me in unexpected ways. This tells me that every area of obedience, no matter how small, is important.

Prayer: God, help me to be obedient and faithful in all areas of my life. I never know when a routine repair will unearth the lost treasures of God.

Slow to Anger and Great in Power. August 3

Scripture: Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard. Nahum 2:13
The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son. John 5:22

Observation: Nahum is describing the destiny of the Evil Assyrians and the fall of Nineveh. For their heinous crimes and deeds, Nineveh will be destroyed. Nahum gives graphic description of this powerful destruction—shields covered in blood, chariots of flashing metal racing through the streets, flashing swords and glittering spears. As one of God’s people who had suffered under the oppression of Assyria, I could see who welcome these words would be. Knowing that God does not clear the guilty. And although God is slow to anger, when he is finally roused to act, it is terrible and unrelenting. Bottom line: You do not want to have the Lord of Hosts against you. You do not want to be on the wrong side when his judgment comes.
Then we skip to John 5, where Jesus tells us that all of the power of the great judgment of God has been given into his hands. The terrible final ultimate judgment of the wicked, of all those who have rejected God, has been given to Christ.
Application: Sometimes we reduce the Old and New Testament to simplistic terms. God in the Old Testament is judgment; Jesus in the New is love and grace. But we forget that God is one, and that God never changes. The meek Jesus of the New Testament is not a wimp. He is a man of unlimited power and authority to judge, who restrains that power to give people a chance to hear of God’s great love and come to him. But in the end, those who reject God face a terrible fate, much like the Ninevites. Our God is good, as Nahum declares. And he is slow to anger. But when he finally does act, as Jesus will at the final judgment, his actions are terrible and swift and great.
How seriously do I take this? Serious enough to tell others of God’s love and judgment?
Prayer: God, forgive me for putting you in boxes. I worship you today because you are slow to anger, yet great in power. You keep wrath for your enemies and in no way will clear the guilty. Thank you that my guilt and your wrath towards me were dealt with at the cross. Help me share that with others so they may never be on the wrong side against you.