Small Matters and Hard Cases

Scripture: And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Exodus 18:26

Observation: Moses is quickly overloaded with the volume of his responsibility. His father-in-law tells him to select able men to help lead the people. Moses is able to focus his attention on what God truly needs from him through the power of delegation.

Application: The thing that caused me the most stress in 2010 was micromanaging. I enjoy having input, and it can be easy for me to drill down into a task far beyond where I am needed. This causes me stress as my time is quickly consumed with the urgent, and not spent on the important. Recently, I realized I need to set clear expectations, and then back away and see they are met, rather than being unclear, and continuing to give input. I do not have time for that.

Prayer: God, I need you to walk me through this in 2011. It may be a pride or control issue, or even a lack of faith. Help me to select able people, then clearly communicate with them my expectations, and then let them handle all the matters they can decide themselves. Show me the hard cases I should be devoting power and energy to. Please help me take a step forward in that today in the conversation I have planned.

The Missing Component in My Parenting

Scripture: You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ Exodus 13:8

Observation: After engineering his people’s escape from Egypt by his own strong hand, God sets forth a feast to help his people always remember their salvation. In the instructions for this feast, God calls parents to tell their children what the ceremonies mean.
But three words in this command make it personal. “Did for me.” God is calling parents to get personal with their faith and their kids. Not just to give dry religious lectures, not to just cover the bases of spiritual talk or check off the list, but to tell their kids what God did for them.

Application: I think I am doing better at trying to help my kids learn about what God has done. But I don’t think I share enough about what God has "done for me." The facts of faith can be passed on without the reality of it in my life. My kids need more than to hear information; they need to see transformation in my life. I want to share more with them about the whys of my faith—why I pray, why I worship, why I follow Christ. How I feel about what the Lord has "done for me."

Prayer: God, help me to tell my sons and daughter “what the Lord did for me.” Give me opportunities to go below the surface and share my story with them. Help me to listen when they ask questions, and not just give them the theological definition. Let me share my heart as I share my faith.

When Jesus Doesn't Want Us To See Him

Scripture: But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. Luke 24:16

Observation: After the resurrection, Jesus appears to two men on the road to Emmaus. But God prevents them from recognizing Jesus. Why? Why would God conceal His presence? wouldn’t it more powerful to have them instantly recognize Jesus? If they were going to get a day to spend with the risen savior, wouldn’t that day be better spent knowing they were with Christ?
Or maybe not. Perhaps this was a much more dramatic lesson than even the revealed Christ could have taught. This was a way for them to learn a lesson about trusting what God has said, even when they could not see it. This was a chance for this mysterious stranger to retell the story of faith, to help them restore their faith before revealing his identity. The walk to Emmaus was a walk of faith, not of sight.

Application: We sang a song in church yesterday, “Like a River Glorious.” One line drew me to God: “They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.” God wants me to trust him, even when I cannot see him. As I walk down the road, He is calling me to believe what he has said and to trust He will bring it to pass. To trust him wholly, and find him wholly true.

Prayer: Jesus, May I trust you this week even when I do not see you. You are walking with me, teaching me, stretching my faith. Let me believe you.

Unstable as Water

Scripture: Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence…Genesis 49:4

Observation: Jacob is dying, and has called his 12 sons to him to bless them and call forth their future. He tells his oldest, Reuben, that he has lost his standing as the firstborn because of Reuben’s sexual sins. Instead of being morally stable, he is unstable as water. Then Jacob tells Simeon and Levi that they will experience a scattering of their descendants and a loss of their strength because of their anger problems. In these three cases, leadership loss happens as a direct result of sin.

Application: As a leader, I am acutely aware of how sin impacts not only me, but my leadership ability. It scares me to think these pronouncements could be made about me one day. That I would lose my opportunity to serve God due to sin. Failing to be stable sexually, or failing to bridle my anger could have repercussions beyond my own life. They could compromise my ability to lead my family, my friends, my church. I want to make sure that I do not let instability now ruin my future.

Prayer: God, I pray for your help. I desire sexual stability and emotional self control. You put that desire in me, and also put in me the power to be stable in these areas. Please help me to continue to yield to you and seek your strength so that I am ready and able to serve at your calling.

Years Seem Like Days

Scripture: So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. Genesis 29:20

Observation: Simply a great description of how hard work is worth it when you are working with and for the one you love.

Application: I have served with my wife for over 12 years now, and they feel like a few days because of the value and love I have for her. I need to make sure she knows that even though marriage is work, years feel like days when you love someone.

Prayer: God, thank you for my marriage to my wife. I pray you protect us from the attacks of the enemy. Grow us strong to have confidence in your plan in and though our lives together.

Circumcision and Faith

Scripture: Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Genesis 17:24

Observation: God chose circumcision as a mark of his covenant promise with his people. The focus of the cutting could be to draw attention to the offspring of Abraham, through whom the Messiah would come. In a sense, being circumcised meant, “I believe in God and his promises.” Still, it is a dramatic demonstration of trust when Abraham at 99, and his son at 13, and his whole household of grown men follow the Lord in this rite.
Abraham’s track record of obedience is spotty. In Genesis 15, he is commended for refusing to help himself to the reward of men. In Genesis 16, he “helps” God’s plan by sleeping with his wife’s mistress to produce a child. Then in Genesis 17, we see him help his son and other men to yield their own bodies as an act of faith. Abraham succeeds when he acts in faith, and fails when he acts on his own.

Application: There are times I act in faith, and times when I feel God needs some of my “help” to accomplish his work. It is a constant struggle for me to act by faith and not by power. To know the difference between acting in my power and God’s. Sometimes these are not as clear as I would like.

Prayer: God, sometimes obedience requires action. And sometimes it requires patience. Help me have strategic patience. To not rush to get things done in my time and power. At the same time, if you call me to drastic action, give me strength to act with faith.

This Town's Not Big Enough for the Both of Us

Scripture: Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” Genesis 13:8-9

Observation: Abram and Lot have come to the realization that this town just isn’t big enough for the both of ‘em. Their flocks are too large and the pasture is too small. It is time to separate for the sake of the relationship. In doing so, Abram shows Lot great honor by giving him the choice of the better land.
In this, we do not get a sense that Abram or Lot had failed, or that God was displeased at their inability to get along. In fact, it seems that Abram is to be praised for the gracious way he handled the separation.

Application: Is there a time to separate for the sake of the relationship? I am not talking about commitments like marriage, but rather, temporary partnerships. Maybe two friends who try to be roommates. Perhaps a husband and wife that decide to work in the same office. Maybe someone who realizes there is too much baggage at their church for them to stay. Or two people realize they are better friends than partners.
Could it be that sometimes, things just are not going to work out? And for the sake of future relationship, and for the resolution of present strife, that a separation is in order? Could it be that this is not necessarily a failure in God’s eyes, especially if it is resolved well and handled with grace? Paul and Barnabus did the same thing—separation for the sake of the relationship. And God was able to bless both their journeys in new ways.

Prayer: Lord, I do not know what this means, other than maybe you offering me freedom from guilt and responsibility when a separation has to occur. If handled with graciousness, maybe what seems like an ending is a beginning of new opportunities for ministry and friendship. Help me think more about this and see your direction in how this would affect my life.

Preparing the Way

Scripture: Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Luke 3:5-6

Observation: Luke quotes Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming of the Messiah, and attributes it to John. John is the voice crying in the wilderness for people to get ready. His role was to help the Jews get right with God now, so that when the Messiah came, they could see and receive him easily. This is a poetic passage, describing the filling up of holes, the smoothing down of obstacles, and the straightening of crooked paths. It implies the raising up of the humble, the knocking down of the proud, and the correcting of the dishonest. These are the preparations for the Messiah.

Application: This morning I was reading a news article about a group of people that believe Christ will return this year, on a certain date. These people believe so strongly that some have left jobs and homes to travel and tell people. Right or wrong, they are ‘preparing the way’ for the Messiah.
So how am I preparing the way for me to receive the Messiah in 2011? How am I making His path into my life smoother? Am I filling valleys, removing obstacles, and straightening crooked paths in my life? I need time to engage in some of these questions this month during my sabbatical day. I know Jesus wants to come to me all throughout this year. Will his path into my life be smooth?

Prayer: Jesus, I want to receive you again and again in this year. I know that meeting you in your word is a primary way for me to do that. I invite you in and pray you would help me prepare the way.