The oky’s Podcast: Recent Episodes
oky
O.K. I get we say that, but Y?
Have you ever heard someone talk about something that they say is part of the Christian faith that left you with the question, ”But Why?” We often hear and say things that if we were to truly step back and look at, we might find out that it’s not right. Or, we might find out that it is absolutely right, but we don’t talk about why. This podcast is meant to have conversation around the things that we often say, that are right, however we never talk about why they are right. Through this conversation, I hope people have more of an understanding of why we believe what we believe and how to properly talk about it.
September 14 - doctrine of healing
Let me start today by reading Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
These are the words of Isaiah the prophet. Theologians and scholars look to Isaiah as a bridge between the Old Testament and the promise of the Messiah. Through a close study of Isaiah, you will find that the person of Jesus is laid out with an understanding of his divinity, through the most comprehensive Old Testament prophecies that we have. Isaiah was studied by scholars of old and theologians of today. But Jesus himself also quoted Isaiah when talking about the fulfillment of prophecy through his own life. Luke 4 Jesus went on the Sabbath to the synagogue and stood up to read. He was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and he unrolled it and read this passage of scripture,
The spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Luke continues
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
So even Jesus used the words of Isaiah to prove the authenticity of his messiahship. It was doctrine to the Jewish people, and even today we look to it in order to understand Jesus better.
Ok, keep that in mind as we read Matthew 8:14-17
When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities
And bore our diseases.”
Ok, Matthew here joins in with quoting Isaiah. This is a reference to the section we read at the beginning with Isaiah 53:4.
Why is this significant?
What did it say Jesus drove out spirits and healed with? Look back at vs. 16
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
With a what?
A WORD.
What does that man?
Well the word ‘word’ here in the original Greek is Logos. In this context, the word Logos means, sound teaching, doctrine.
This is why Matthew quotes from Isaiah here. He believed it to be sound teaching, or doctrine, that Jesus would heal. He has the authority and power to heal, and it is his desire and mission to heal. Not just spiritually. Though this is the most significant part of our healing, Jesus also came to bear our sicknesses. So he brought his theological teaching against the impure spirits and sicknesses.
The point,
Jesus desires to heal our physical bodies. This isn’t just a spiritual endeavor. He desires wholeness for our bodies as well. So he was able to come in and simply lay a hand on Peter’s mother-in-law, and he spoke the word of life over the impure spirits and the sick.
This is something that he desires in each of us today.
Jesus wants you physical healing, and he wants you to carry the power to see others healed as well. Not only that, Jesus came to fulfill every single word of prophecy that was spoken about him. He has fulfilled over 2/3s of the prophecies already spoken, and he will fulfill the rest one day when he comes back in the end.
So you can trust him!
Wrestle with that a little. Find out what things Isaiah says about Jesus, and begin to believe that he will do those things! Jesus came not just as a spiritual being, but as an answer to a theological understanding. He can be trusted, and he will fulfill his promises.
Here is a quick practice for today.
What things do you doubt about Jesus? What things do you wonder if he will really do?
Begin to write those things out. Yes, Journal. Because as he answers them, you will be able to check them off your list, and you will build your faith. And as you do, you will understand what you believe and why you believe it to be true. But until tomorrow, I love you, and may God bless you!
September 9 - False Prophets
Ok, yesterday we talked about the fruit of a person. And of course, being here in the sermon on the mount, you remember where the fruit of a person is birthed, right?
Of course, The Beatitudes.
When we practice the beatitudes, we grow fruit that leads to a healthy demonstration of God’s grace and mercy. We need to be people that not only talk the talk, but are able to walk the walk by living out God’s grace and mercy.
You should judge the people in your life who say they follow Christ, and decide if they are worth following or not. I have to be honest with you, I’ve been around way to many Christians, who watch things I would never consider watching, say words I would never expect a Christ follower to say, and do things that are so far beyond what I hope for God’s people.
This isn’t me being ‘holier than thou. . . .’ This is just me understanding how easy it is to be a false prophet. . . .
Wait. . . You thought I was just talking about people who say one thing, but live a different way. Isn’t that just a hypocrite?
No actually. It’s not a hypocrite. It’s a false prophet. Why? Because it allows people who follow you to think they can act one way while saying they follow a different way. So it leads people astray. When your commitment to the Lord, and your confession to follow him don’t align with your actions - you are a false prophet.
Don’t blame me for saying this. . . Jesus is the one who actually said it. . . listen to what he continues to say in Mathew 7:15-20
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
See what Jesus did? He started by saying to watch out for false prophets. Then he explained how you can tell them. They say one thing, but their fruit demonstrates something else.
For those of us in leadership. . . This is an extra warning for us!
We are the ones watched the closest. When we say we care for people and then demonstrate that we actually only care about ourselves, we are being false prophets. When we say we would do anything to shepherd and help people out, but are no where to be found when someone is in trouble. . . We are false prophets. . .
I know an awful lot of false prophets in the Christian Church.
My prayer, is that I would always be true to my words and do what I say. I want my actions to bear the fruit of a heart that is dedicated to living out the ways of Jesus. So for that reason, I will continue to study and practice the beatitudes, that I might become the person God designed me to be.
And as for you,
Keep judging the people you follow. Make sure their words are right, but also make sure their actions back up the talk.. this gives them the credibility and understanding to fully preach the things they talk about. And they can help lead you to a place where you grow and become a full apprentice of Jesus.
Then wrestle with this. .
How well do you live out what you say you believe?
Maybe take a moment, and write down what you would expect from someone who says they follow Jesus. What would you want a leader in the pursuit of Jesus to look, act, and talk like. Then evaluate your own life. How much of a leader are you in this journey to become like Jesus and do the things he did?
Ask God to continue shaping and molding you as you pursue apprenticeship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As you do, Know that I love you! And as you learn to align your words with your actions, May God bless you!
September 8 - Narrow is the gate
I got fat. . .
During our time of planning and moving, I didn’t have a gym to go to, and to be honest, we ate out a lot with people who wanted to connect before we left. I don’t think at any point I woke up and said, “I hope I put on a ton of weight.” Yet, as we rolled into Costa Mesa, I was unloading our PODS and felt this overwhelming sense of discomfort. My chest was pounding, my head hurt, I was sweating to death, and I was not feeling good in any way shape or form!
How did I get here?
I looked in the mirror, and understood what a dad-bod really was. And it is rough!!!!!
One day I asked Kristi, “Hey are my feet down there? When I look down I don’t see them.” Now I was being a little dramatic, but at the same time, I felt ways I never wanted to feel. And to be sure, I am still working to remedy the results of the past year. It was a time that many describe as “letting my body go.” I just ate what I wanted to eat, and sat around not working to burn off any excess energy I was storing up for winter. . . .
It’s funny isn't it. . . You have to work so hard to get in a physical shape you want, yet it takes literally no effort at all to let your body take off and head a direction you never wanted it to go. Now please hear me. I am not body shaming anyone! IN fact, you know if you feel good in your body or not. What I’m talking about isn’t a state of social acceptance toward how you look. I’m simply talking about feeling healthy and able to do the things you want to do. It takes little to no effort to miss those opportunities. Yet if you want to stay in a shape that allows you the opportunity to pursue your goals, you have to work at it.
Take an athlete for instance. They don’t get the chance to be the way they are on accident. Sure, they have a natural gift that allows them to play the sport they play. But if they didn’t self care in a way that promoted health, they would quickly fall out of shape and be eliminated from the chance to play the sport that they love. They just wouldn’t be able to keep up with everyone else.
I jokingly said to my daughter yesterday, what if it was reverse. What if tacos, pizza and ice cream were what allowed you body to stay in shape and feel healthy. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful world? But unfortunately that’s not how it works. We are stewards of our own body. I
You can either become a person who is fit and healthy to do the things God calls you to, or you can ignore your health and disqualify yourself from being able to feel healthy and strong enough to fulfill your dreams.
It’s just the way our bodies work. We have other care for them. We can’t just ignore them.
So it is with our spiritual life as well. In fact, I would say it is the same with our mental and emotional life too. But let’s focus on the spiritual for a minute.
If we neglect our growth toward God, do you think it will naturally grow?
It is the same as our physical body in the sense that we are constantly being fed corruption all day long. It doesn’t take much to hear someone talking inappropriately, or to see a billboard or an ad that suggestively leads your mind where it should’t be. Our flesh is fighting against spirit and causing thoughts and emotions that want to cause us pain and frustration. If we choose to do nothing in order to grow and mature, we will decay. It’s the natural progression. We have to take accountability for our health in every form.
Jesus addresses this in the sermon on the mount.
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Ok, stop there Pastor Michael. .
Sounds like both you and Jesus are contradicting what you started this whole conversation around the Sermon on the Mount with. You said we don’t have to DO more, we just have to BE who God designed us to be. . .
Don’t worry, I will get to that. The short answer - You just have to focus on Being. That hasn’t changed. But there is work to develop our human BEING. It doesn’t happen on its own.
Atrophy. Do you know what that means/ It is the gradual decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect.
Muscles atrophy. Brain Cells atrophy. Reflexes and nerves atrophy. And your spiritual muscles atrophy as well.
You have to decide to build them. It takes practice. The wide gate - that represents people who are not interested in building the spiritual muscles to become who God designed them to be. These people are obvious by their fruit. They are selfish, mean to others, quick to make sure they get what they want, and care only for themselves. They represent the mentality of the world. They don’t care about what is righteous and only want what makes them feel good in the moment.
Now these people are in contrast with those who are working to build their spiritual muscles. They enter through the narrow gate. Why? Because it takes work. You don’t naturally fall into this gate. It is not easy, it takes discipline, it is counter to everything the flesh desires. It’s why Paul talks about this person in athletic terms. He says they are like an athlete beating their body into submission. They learn to control their desires and pursue the things of God.
How do they do that?
Guess where I am going to point back?
I’ll give you a clue. it’s the beginning verses of the Sermon on the Mount.
They go to the Beatitudes.
They practice being real with their need for a savior. This helps them become poor in spirit, they mourn the brokenness they carry, desiring to be right with God. They are meek and hunger and thirst for righteousness. They practice being merciful and not doing to others what they have already been forgiven for. They practice finding ways to purify their heart and let go of things that are full of darkness. They make peace with others whenever they can.
And you know what happens?
These people are also noticeable by their fruit. - you know, Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control. . . And just so you know, this isn’t fruitS of the Spirit. This is fruit of the Spirit. They come as a total package. You don’t pick and choose different ones. They are a collective result of becoming who God designed you to be.
So what does your exercise routine look like?
I’m not talking your physical routine. I’m talking about your spiritual routine.
Let me just say this. I love doing this podcast with you. But if this is your spiritual workout. . . You are in trouble friends. This is not the substance you need to maintain a spiritually healthy body. You need much more.
Let me tell you some of my practices I do.
- scripture memorization. I am half way done with memorizing Romans 6. I have 1-5 memorized. My goal is to finish Romans by the end of the year and then go bak to Hebrew which I started years ago and gave up on. . .
- Prayer. I have a daily time of prayer and often turn the radio off while I’m driving by myself so that I can pray aloud. Prayer is a vital part of aligning our heart with God.
- Solitude. I need my alone time with the LORD. I ride about 100 miles a week on my bike. And while I am riding, I only listen to worship music while I focus on God. Most days I stop at the beach and sit on some rocks while just being alone with God
- Journaling. I journal regularly in order to know what I’m processing and how I am working it out with the LORD. It is an important time to be real with how I feel.
- Serving. I try to find ways to serve others and support them. I look for ways to encourage and help others. It’s a practice that pulls it all into place for me.
- Tithing and offerings. This helps me remember who is in control while honoring my heavenly father. It reminds me that he is LORD of all things in my life, not just my salvation.
Look, my goal, be intentional enough with becoming a man of God, that I don’t have the chance to haphazardly slip through and end up in the wide gate that is easily trapping.
So you have to chose. Will you work at becoming the person God designed you to be? Or will you just allow yourself to slip into the wide gate that everyone falls into without trying.
Maybe, if you don’t do the habits I just listed that I practice, take just one of them and put it into your routine this week. See what God does as you start to build those spiritual muscles. Because as you do, I know you will begin to understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. But even more, as you develop those spiritual disciplines and grow closer to the Lord, May God bless you!
September 6 - Judge properly
There is a verse in the Old Testament that really sets the tone for today’s conversation. Joshua 24:15 says this,
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua was talking to a group of people who were struggling to be consecrated to the Lord. They continually wanted to be like everyone else. They wanted a king, they wanted their cities, and even their wives to be like that of every nation around them. But Joshua laid out a clear line. Choose. . . Who will you be like?
Then the made it clear. You can choose who you want, but as for me and my house. . . We will serve the Lord.
It’s a funny Christian culture that I observe around us today. People tend to think they are good if they are just being better than the people around them. The standard most of Christian culture settles at, is simply to do better than culture. You can hear it when people say things like, “Well at least my kids aren’t. . . . (fill in the blank)” or “Well I might have done such and such, but at least I’m not like so and so. . Did you hear what they did?”
We judge our movie choices, our language, the things we promote, and the people we listen to with a simple bar that just gets them to the stage of - good enough. But what happened to choosing to be HOly? What happened to making sure we sought God with all of our heart? So much has crept into Christian culture, that we often have no differing markers in our character than that of the rest of the world.
It’s like we forget that we are called to holiness.
And this isn’t something we can obtain. It’s just something we can pursue. And as we pursue it, we find ourselves becoming more like our heavenly father. But when we fail to pursue him, we end up being pretty similar to the rest of culture.
So Jesus moves on in his sermon on the mount and addresses this notion. Listen to how Matthew 7 starts out.
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How 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? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck form your brother’s eye.
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw away pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Why do you look that the spec of sawdust in you brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
When Jesus says this, he is contrasting someone who knows better with someone who has no idea. Your brother has a spec of sawdust in his eye. This is something that he might not notice, and is something that he can’t necessarily identify. You on the other hand, know full well that the plank in your eye is problematic.
So Jesus is saying, you don’t have right to judge others while you continually ignore what is obvious in your own life. And, again, you know better. So for you, it should be so obvious, that you will do things differently.
See, we are called to a level of holiness. And as we pursue the Lord, we should find that level to be ever increasing. As we pursue the Lord, we increase our level of understanding to what it looks like to follow him. So now, what used to be a spec of sawdust because we didn’t know better or understand what it was doing to our relationship with the Lord, Suddenly becomes so noticeable that we can’t continue to go on without changing it.
This is where it gets tricky. It doesn’t mean others will see it the same in their own life. You won’t suddenly have a group of people agree with you that somethign should change in the way they live their life. But for you. . . You know better. You have been convicted. It has now grown into a plank that you should keep from ignoring.
So. . .
What has the Holy Spirit been convicting you of?
If you don’t have an answer to this . . . you should take time and ask the Holy Spirit to search your life. Because if you do, you will hear something that you are being challenged to grow in. And then, what are you going to do about it?
Alright here is today’s challenge. . .
Ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you what needs to be stretched, grown, and even removed from your life. It might seem like a spec now. . But as the conviction comes to remove this thing in order to grow closer to the Lord - it will grow into a plank in your eye. Remove it, so that you can be a blessing to others!
So today, wrestle with the Lord. Find out what area of your life he is wanting you to grow in. Then, don’t worry about what others are doing or if they deem it acceptable or not. Go after it with all your heart and allow God to meet you in the middle of the journey!!! I promise you, it will make all the difference in the world. And if no one else chooses to accept this growth and follow you as you follow Christ. . . Say, ok. . “choose for yourself today who you will follow. But as for me and my house. . .I will serve the Lord.
And as you do this, I pray you will know more of what you believe and why you believe it to be true. Until tomorrow, I love you, and as you allow the Holy Spirit to convict your life, May God bless you!
September 4 - Treasures in Heaven
As I was getting ready to do this podcast, Kristi had left the tv on in our room with Top Gun playing. The original one from way back when I was a teenager. . . . It’s a classic. I can quote about half of the movie. Partly because I love fighter jets. I think the coolest thing on earth would be to fly one. Did you know that out of the 10’s of thousands that actually get chosen to go into flight school in the navy, les than a dozen get chosen from that class to fly a jet. They really are the best of the best.
But what has always baffled me, is this image of an F-18. You have all that weight and power in a machine that is controlled by a small pilot sitting at the nose of the plane. They control everything from right there in the front of the ship. So if you were to picture it, the F-18 hornet is 56 feet long by 40 feet wide. It has between 17K and 22K pounds of thrust. And the pilot sits in front of it all. So all of the power, thrust, and machine, is sitting behind the pilot, and yet a mere 6’ person controls the entire thing.
They move the joystick one direction, the plane follows. They push the thrusters harder, the speed and G force increases.
This reminds me of the body.
There are around 78 different organs in the body, making her 35k decisions a day, the brain is constantly at work. 650 muscles stretch throughout the entire body, making the human frame capable of lifting, siting, walking, running, stretching, jumping, hopping, reaching, pulling, pushing. . . . making hundreds upon hundreds of different motions and actions. There are said to be 6 basic emotions with thousands of variations to these emotions that the human body experiences, causing the body to process about 1 billion chemical reactions a second. The human body is complex!!!!!
And yet, there is one organ that seems to control and navigate the entire body. THE EYE. . .
You see something, and it has a complex reaction throughout the entire processing of your body. It might bring you joy, anxiety, love, fear. . . .You see something you want, and it causes your to yearn, long for, covet, or scheme. . . You see something like a beautiful sunset and it can bring you peace while settling your soul.
Your eye, is a portal into your entire soul.
And while we talked about your heart and how it wants what it wants, and continually pulls you in a direction you don’t even want to go. . . The eye is the thing that lets in the passion that controls the heart in the first place.
For instance, if I didn’t see the Rivian store in the Irvine Spectrum mall, I would never have drooled over it in the first place. But they have the SUV Rivian - known as the R1S in this deep dark forest green with gold handles. . . and the inside is so smooth and nice. . . I can’t stop thinking about it. Had I not seen it, I never would have lost precious time dreaming about something I don’t need and will never own. . But I saw it. . . So now. . . I can’t stop thinking about it.
There is something like this for you too! You’ve seen something that you want, and now you can’t stop thinking about it.
You can let it control you. . . Or you can learn to control your heart. We talked about that. But Jesus brings it to a new level in the Sermon on the Mount. We can say we are trying to control it. But if we don’t put some work into it, there is no proof that we have mastery over it.
Listen to the next part of the sermon on the mount.
6:19-24
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
See how Jesus handles this topic. He starts by talking about how you spend your money, and then ends with the ideas that you can’t serve God and money. And right in the middle of it, he addresses the thing that controls the entire ship - your eye.
When you let things in through your eye, they are feeding your body what you will focus on. So if you - like me - are a person who constantly wants new and shiny. . . you will begin to make that what you are serving. Suddenly, you are spending money and wasting time, chasing after things that eventually just fade away anyway.
So, you have to make a hard decision. . . What will you devote your attention to with what you look at. Here is a better way to understand this. Because I know you can’t help but see something as you are driving down the road that really excites you. But let’s take it deeper and further. Your eyes can see something, but you have to tell them to look at something. I can see shiny new gadgets, but it is up to me to do the research to look into them. I don’t have to. I just want to. . .
I can make this real deep, but let me gloss over a few subject matters. . . . You can see something no the internet, but not look into it. You can see someone of the opposite sex that isn’t your spouse, but you can control yourself from looking at them. . . You can see a chance to do something un-ethical or even illegal, but you can also control yourself from looking into it.
See what you let into your eyes,. Will also determine what you spend your time and money on. It’s the front line of defense. You have the chance to let health in, or allow darkness to fill you. And it all happens with what you allow yourself to look for. Let the wrong thing in, eventually you have spent all your time, money, and resources chasing after something you were never meant to have. . . . And now, your life is in shambles.
Or look for things that are pure. . .Eventually you have aligned your life to pursue the things that matter. It’s why Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:8 to meditate on things that are right. It’s looking into these things and letting them into your heart and mind so they steer the ship in the right direction. Listen to what he says. . .
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.
Practice looking for these things. Read, watch, and meditate on things that are pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy. . .
If you allow yourself to look for things that are not of this list, you will allow yourself to go somewhere you never thought you would be. It will master you. . . .
So here is the challenge. . .
First, wrestle with your priorities right now. What have you allowed yourself to look for that has started controlling you in any way? What do you need to do in order to cut it out?
Wrestle with the idea of looking intentionally into things that Paul describes in Philippians. Then practice giving your time, attention, money, and resources to those things. See, Jesus said where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The spending of your resources actually begins to direct your heart. Look for ways to support God’s work. Find things that you can invest in that lead you to the things of God. Intentionally make them priority in your life. If you do, you will begin to shift your heart, and store up treasures in heaven.
Listen friends, I love you. . . as you wrestle with this, I pray that you begin to understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. And as you look for the things of God, and align your heart with Him and His plan, May God Bless you!
September 3 - Prayer and Fasting
There is an interesting story in Mark 9.
IN this story, a man brings his son to Jesus and says that his son is demon possessed. He explains that it is so bad, the demon often throws the boy into water or fire trying to kill him.
But then the conversation gets interesting. He says that he brought the boy to the disciples, but they could not help him.
So Jesus ends up casting the evil spirit out of the boy, and he is healed.
But imagine being the disciples and having everyone know that you were unable to do this. They must have been so frustrated that they failed, and this man told everyone their failure. So they run to Jesus and look for answer. Their question, “Jesus, why couldn’t we do this?”
Now most translations have taken part of this out, but I want to read how the original and KJV write what Jesus says.
He said, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (29)
So here is the interesting thing. What is he talking about with prayer and fasting? Do they need to fast for a period about the demon and how it will leave the boy, and then pray that it be gone?
If so, why didn’t Jesus take a break, let everyone know it was time to fast, and then tell the evil spirit to be gone?
Jesus wasn’t talking about fasting over the boy and the evil spirit that was in him. The only piece that is immediate to the boy, is the prayer part. How do I know? Well look at Jesus. He didn’t go and fast first. He simply prayed and the spirit left him.
So what is he talking about?
A lifestyle of fasting.
This isn’t a situational fast. This is fast that comes from a desired closeness and fullness of the Heavenly Father. This type of evil spirit is stronger and more stubborn. And the only thing you can do is have a lifestyle of fasting and closeness to God, so that when you pray, there is power.
See, in the Christian world, we often get fasting wrong. We do it for situational answer instead of alignment with the heart of God. When Jesus tells his disciples this, he is making sure they understand that fasting causes a deeper level of connection with the Lord that brings different results.
Now I know I told you God doesn’t want you to DO more, he just wants your to BE! Well this is still in alignment with this. When we fast, it isn’t so that we have the power to do. It is to give us the alignment to BE! Fasting causes us to align with God in a deeper way that gives us spiritual insights. It causes us to desire the heart of God more, so we see through spiritual eyes and are able to function in line with the spiritual realm.
So now, let’s jump into the sermon on the mount again. This is chapter 6:16
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their rewards in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secrete, will reward you.
Jesus is saying, fast, for the sake of being in a secret place with our Heavenly Father. Don’t do it for answers, don’t do it so others know how spiritual you are. Do it so that you can find a new level of seen-ness with God. You will see his heart, and he will see your heart in return.
So simple challenge here today.
I bet you can guess what it is.
Push the food to the side, and set up time to fast. Don’t tell anyone, just go for it. And in this space, just let God know that you want more of him! You want to know him and be close to him. And if you do this, he will show you his goodness.
And as that happens, I pray that you know more of what you believe and why you believe it to be true. It will be a challenge to do. But I know you can do it! And know that I love you, and as you grow closer to the LORD through a time of fasting and aloneness with him, May God bless you!
September 2 - This is how you should pray
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
I’m sure you have heard this prayer before. It’s called the Lord’s prayer, because it was Jesus who said it. He was showing us how we should pray. There are important things I’ve heard turned into sermon’s from this prayer. Like the fact that Jesus shows us to desire the kingdom of heaven here on earth, or that Jesus is our daily bread just like the mana was in the wilderness. I’ve even heard entire sermon’s around this passage and the effects of sin and temptation on us.
But when I look at this section of the Sermon on the Mount, and when I consider everything Jesus is trying to teach us, I see something different. Let me read the entire section to you.
This is Matthew 6:5-15
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
This, then, is how you should pray:
“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Did you hear it?
What is this section really about?
First off, it’s about alignment of heart with God. HIs kingdom coming into our hearts, HIs will being done by us. Relying on him and knowing he will sustain us. Keeping us from sin and evil. But with all the talk about babbling and praying in a way that is about being with God and not looking for attention, the last two sentences are perhaps the most revealing.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But I you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Remember, Jesus is showing us what it looks like when we love God and others. This prayer is a moment for us to be right with God, so we can be right with others. This is why Jesus focuses on forgiving others as the final part. We can’t be right with God if we aren’t trying to make things right with others. It’s indicative of who Jesus is. If we are apprenticing him, then we should learn to be like him. The way to the heart of God is through forgiving those around us. This aligns us with the heart of Jesus and makes us like him. The prayer for the will of God and the kingdom of God looks like right relationship with the people around you.
Once again, this is a call to make things right with others.
You need to have a clear heart toward others, and in the heart of others, if you are going to be right with the Lord.
Is there someone you need to make things right with? If so, what steps will you take to reconcile that relationship? If you don’t, you will not be able to see the kingdom of heaven hear on earth the way he intends. You will miss the chance to be forgiven of your debts because you hold out on someone else.
So take time and inventory your relationships. Have you wronged someone? Have you been wronged?
Pray for an alignment of heart with the Lord, that you might forgive properly.
And as you do, I pray that you will understand what you believe and why you believe it to be true. Until tomorrow, I love you, and as you pursue the kingdom of heaven, and the heart of God through right relationships, may God blesses you!
September 1 - Give to the needy
Other Go first.
It’s something we have said as one of our family values for the past 19 years. It started when Ava was a baby and we were trying to decide what our family values would be. It’s how we choose to honor others above ourselves. After all, it is the practices of Jesus. He is the example of what it looks like to put others above yourself.
But think back to how we ended chapter 5. Jesus instructed his followers that they must not only love their neighbor, but also love their enemy. How in the world is this possible?
The more we practice loving others, the easier it gets. The more we put others first, the more it becomes second nature to us.
Jesus starts out this next section by instructing his people how to really put others first. Listen to this section and what he says,
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by then. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then you Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
You know how you can tell someone who gets what it looks like to put others first? They constantly do things for others without them knowing. They are the ones who will leave gifts, drop off money, pay a meal, without the recipient even knowing who did it. When it’s done in secret, there is absolutely no motivation possible other than honoring the other person. When it’s done in secret, there is nothing to gain for the person performing the act of kindness. They simply do something, and the only other person that knows it was them, is God.
This is true humility and compassion.
And it only comes with practice.
So I’m going to challenge you with a practical exercise today. Do something for someone that only God knows it was you that did it. If you are going out to eat and you see someone sitting by themselves, buy their meal without them knowing. If you see someone who has been struggling financially and you know they need help, find a way to pay a bill for them, or send them an envelope of cash. If there is someone elderly near you and you know they struggle to take care of the house, pay for a maintenance person, or sneak by and cut their grass when they aren’t home. Find a way to do something that will bless them without them knowing it was you.
The more you practice this, the more it becomes second nature! And the more it becomes second nature, the more you are getting the heart of Christ. Practice giving to others and practice often!
And as you do, I pray you know more of what you believe and why you believe it to be true! I hope you have a great and safe labor day! Please know that I love you, and as you practice anonymous acts of kindness, may God bless you!
August 31 - End Game
What’s your end game?
What do I mean by that?
When it is all said and done, you are laying in your casket, your family and friends are gathered around, and someone gets up to describe your life. . . . What do you want them to say? Because in that moment, it’s too late to give them any cues. What they’ve seen and witnessed, how they have been treated, or heard you talk, it all comes down to those moments when people pull from the memories swirling around in their mind.
A few years ago, our friend Nancy passed away from a sudden brain cancer that literally took days to overcome her. She had headaches at thanksgiving, went to the hospital and was in heaven by the beginning of December. It was one of the most shocking things Kristi and I have ever experienced.
But let me tell you about a life well lived. At her funeral, we heard nothing but love and adoration of her. People shared stories about her goofiness, the way she would say what was on her mind - yet you felt loved when she did it, the way she smiled constantly and made everyone feel like she cared. But the thing that got me - everyone in the room thought they were best friends with Nancy. Not because she lied and told everyone they were her best friend, but because she lived and treated people as if they were her best friend. She loved people so unconditionally, that everyone came to her funeral with stories about how special she was to them.
Nancy lived ready for an endgame. Not only that, she loved Jesus!!!! Or should I say, LOVES Jesus.
I’ve also been at funerals where there was space given for someone to come up and say something about the recently deceased, and no one moved. . . There wasn’t a word spoken. And in the awkward silence, there was a sense of unfinished business, or broken relationships.
We’ve been going through the sermon on the mount, and Jesus is about to give some words that define what the finish line looks like. Listen to Matthew 5:43-48
You have hear that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor an hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
See what the goal is here?
Love so well, that even your enemies - or those who would make themselves your enemy - even those people walk away feeling loved by you. Anyone can love the easy to love. But it takes a special person to love everyone. What type of person does it take? One that lives out a life of beatitudes. ONe that is merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker, someone poor in spirit, able to be meek. See, Jesus told you who to be. And now look, he is showing you the result. You become a person who knows how to properly love.
And listen to how he ends this segment.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Ok! We can give up there, right? None of us are able to be perfect! So he’s trying to trap us! isn't he?
No!
The word perfect here comes from the Greek word teleios - which means to be brought to an end - a strong finish. Jesus isn’t calling you to keep from making mistakes or sinning. He is calling you to finish! To take all the beatitudes and live them out in a way that he can say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
So, I encourage you to start this new week, by restudying the beatitudes. Look them over and see what things stick out to you. What is it that you need to continue growing in so that you can finish well?
And as you do, I pray that you learn what you believe and why you believe it to be true!
Until tomorrow, I love you, and as you love everyone around you - even your enemy - May God Bless you!
August 30 - Eye for eye
Michael Grove
630-995-1253
michaelgrove1@icloud.com
Are you a giving, sacrificially loving person?
Now when we answer this questions most of the time, we tend to think comparatively.
I am more giving than most people my age.
I tend to be more sacrificial than other people in my workplace.
But that’s not quite the measure.
I’ve noticed a trend over my years of Christian ministry. The church is always trying to catch up to culture in so many ways. I’ve watched it with digital trends, diversity, humanitarian aid, cultural references, and trends of just about ever single kind.
The problem is, God actually called his people to be so different, that they would be set apart from the rest of culture.
- Listen to Paul’s words to the Christians in Philippians 2:14
- Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without Gault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the world of life.
We weren’t supposed to be trying to fit in with culture and join them, we were made to be so absurdly different, that it would be extremely obvious to everyone around us.
Jesus was talking with his disciples one day, and was setting the tone for what it looked like to lead like he would. He said this to the disciples in Matthew 20:25
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
This is something Jesus said later in his ministry, but I want you to see what he was leading up to. He was constantly teaching his followers that if they were going to follow him, they were going to have to put others first. Remember, I told you this was the theme of the Sermon on the Mount. Love God - love others.
And the way Jesus loved, was so countercultural, that it looked different to everyone who witnessed his life, teachings, or actions.
So we get to this next part of the sermon on the mount where Jesus is going to introduce this idea to the people who were following him. Listen to what he says next. Matthew 5:38-42
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away rom the one who wants to borrow from you.
Now Jesus is pulling from Old Testament understanding. There was a code that the Israelites understood on how to find justice inside of being wronged. It was all about making things legally right. But it lead to the pursuit of revenge and justified retribution. Jesus is saying that this isn’t the way of his kingdom. . . but this isn’t new to you. Because we already talked about the beatitudes. And you can’t be merciful and still want revenge. You can’t mourn and want payback for an attitude you’ve also carried before.
But Jesus says that what you’ve always known and seen, don’t do it!
I don’t care what feels right or seems right to you. . What is actually right - is to love people so sacrificially that their life is transformed forever.
He is going to take this to the next level in tomorrow’s conversation, but you need to understand what he is saying here. When other’s hurt you, the way of Christ is to become so sacrificially giving and loving to them, that they will be blown away by your generosity.
I don’t know about you, but I struggle with this one!
I want justice!
I want people to know that they’ve wronged me!
I can’t even let someone cut in front of me on the road.
How am I going to give to someone who is robbing me?
The answer. . . practice!
Find ways and times to practice sacrificial love. Look for times when someone is overly demanding of you, and find ways to serve them. Look for people who are offensively rude or ignorant, and find ways to show them love. Look for the person who would always want the easy way out, and make them look good.
Practice, practice, practice.
I think it’s part of why I brought flowers to the wife of the man who crashed into our only car last week. I wanted to find a way to practice sacrificially serving someone who wronged me. And can I tell you, it is the best feeling in the world to know I can let go of a wrong in order to love someone beyond my own ability.
So who has wronged you? Who has annoyed you or left you hurt? Find a way to love them.
I’m reminded of King Solomon’s words of wisdom in Proverbs 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you ill heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
Is Solomon talking about literal coals that cause damage? NO! He is talking about figurative coals that cause the person to lose their mind. They can’t help but be confronted with the thought of how differing your actions are with theirs. And in this, they will begin to change their ways.
So think of who you can practice this with, or in what situation you might have the chance to practice this concept. And as you do, I pray you being to understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true!
Tomorrow we will talk about our enemies. But until then, I love you, and as you learn to sacrificially love those who deserve punishment instead of love, May God Bless you!
August 29 - Oath
There is a name that God gives himself in Exodus 34:6-7. Yes, it is two verses long, that’s how incredibly long it is. This is because he gives Moses the name that completely describes the attributes of who he is. It goes like this.
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Wow, what a long name.
Inside of this, God is trying to show Moses what makes him who he really is. He is the LORD! Which means he stands for something specific. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving, and yet just. This name helped Moses and the Israelites, because this was the name they were going to be known by as well. They were to represent God to the nations so that there was a difference that was visible and able for people to follow.
And this is the same calling that God has on us today if we say we are followers of Christ. We represent his name. This is why it is so important for us to study and apprentice Jesus. We must become people who look, talk, and act like him. It’s why Jesus said that the way people will know we are his disciples is by the way we love. The love of Jesus was so revolutionary and profound, that it was countercultural in ever way possible.
So God called Moses and the people to represent the name of God - yes, that long 2 sentence name full of mercy and grace. And Jesus as well calls us the same way. We are to represent him by carrying on the attributes of the Loving savior.
This is where Jesus comes from as he continues on in the sermon on the mount. Listen starting in vs. 33
Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the LORD the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swap by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Jesus is saying, represent him well. And the only way to do this is by making sure you live out and illustrate what it looks like to be in the presence of the living God. Be honest, and true. Live a life of integrity. Because when you don’t, it actually hurts the name of God. You don’t represent heaven well, you don’t represent God’s people well, and you sure don’t represent what it would be like to be surrounded by God’s goodness.
You are a walking representation of the living God. What you do matters ALL THE TIME!
So do what you say, and honor God in how you live.
I would love you to stop and wrestle with this a bit.
Where do you live in a way that is in opposition with the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus? Because when you live that way, you hurt the name of Jesus. And, Jesus describes this as coming from evil. So it would do you good to figure out how you can actually do this differently.
What area in your life is opposing the teachings of Jesus.
Find that out, and correct it, so you can represent his name well.
And again, when you focus on the beginning of this sermon - the section known as the beatitudes, it’s actually pretty hard to live a life of sin while committing to being that type of person. So go back and reread that list. Then commit to living the life God has called you to as you become who he designed you to be.
And in the mean time, I love you, and as you represent Christ well and live out the image of the living Heavenly Father, May God bless you!
August 28 - Divorce
How committed are you to other people?
Remember, Jesus is trying to make sure that we understand the calling. First, be who God designed you to be, and the result - you will be really good about caring for others and putting them first.
But let’s be honest, we aren’t to good at that as a human race.
Quick disclaimer, today’s text is going to talk about marriage. But I think it’s deeper than marriage. So please allow me the liberty to redirect how you might normally look at this text. Because the truth is, we are really bad at commitment.
From all that I’ve seen, it is easy to care for people until it costs us too much. Then it’s easier to walk away from them and even cut ties with them. I’ve watched this play out with Christians too many times. They are friends with people and enjoy being around then, but once something happens and one of their friends is in some sort of need, they cut them off. Say they have a sinful problem that they are trying to overcome - their community alienates them. Or sickness comes, and people might be willing to put together a meal train, but please don’t ask them to come and spend time with the sick person and pray over them, or God forbid they check in on them and see how they are doing too much.
Now I get that there are several Christians listening to this podcast right now, who are very good at caring for others. You are one of the first ones to respond when someone is hurting or in need. I’m grateful for people like you! But the truth is, just because someone is a Christian, doesn't mean that’s their response. In fact, I’ve even watched church leadership get this wrong throughout the church at large.
Recently I was talking to a couple who were working at a church. One of them was let go because of something in their past that resurfaced. The accusations were false, and the person accusing didn’t press charges 13 years ago because they don’t have anything they can prove. In fact, all the evidence and the timing of the alleged incident are completely debunked by other life events happening in this person’s life at the exact same time. But they were let go because it is dangerous for the church to not respond.
I get that. In a day and age where society is trying to build a case against the church, and legal issues are constantly siding in favor of the complainant no matter the proof - or lack there of - I get that this person was let go.
The concern is that their spouse was still on staff.
For the next few month, she was told that this had no bearing on her position. Yet time and time again, she would run into a problem that would arise and be reprimanded for boundaries that were unclear. 3 months later, she too was let go.
When talking with this couple, I asked them what their church had done to help them navigate the problem. To which they replied, “nothing.”
For three months they were still connected to the staff of the church, and no one reached out to help them navigate a really confusing and difficult situation. Let me make sure I’m clear at what I am saying - the couple was walking through an extremely difficult time, one which multiple pastors were aware of including the senior pastor, and NONE of the pastoral team reached out to see how they could help them navigate this.
This couple’s situation isn’t isolated. I’ve talked to so many people who have worked for a church, and have walked away completely disappointed at the lack of shepherding they received as being a staff member. If we, as pastors and church leadership, can’t find out how to properly support, encourage, and partner with those in need, how will we ever help the rest of the church.
I’ve watched pastors try to avoid certain members of the church who require extra grace and time. I’ve heard pastors talk about their flock with eye rolls and sarcasm.
There is a problem in the church - which indicates the problem in Christian culture, of not being committed to those in need, or those who we differ from.
This is in conflict with the heart of Christ.
Ok. So now we get into the next piece of the sermon on the mount. Vs. 31-32
It has been said, ‘anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
You might be asking, why did I start out by talking about helping others, when Jesus was talking about divorce.
Well, you have to understand the heart of God around marriage. This is symbolic of our commitment to him. We, the promised bride of Christ, are guilty of constantly walking away from Jesus in order to pursue our own desires. Yet he refuses to divorce us, and continually offers himself as a sacrifice to make us right. He is not wiling to let us go, no matter what we’ve done.
And the goal, is that we would treat others the same.
Yes, Jesus is talking about divorce. He is referring to the fact that the plan was for a couple to be together forever. This is a representation of God’s commitment to us. But I think this goes deeper here. If we can’t be committed to the people of God, how will we ever be committed to God? Jesus is using this sermon on the mount to show us what our relationship with others should be like. And if we are willing to divorce our spouse, and walk away from them, how much more willing are we to walk away from others in need, or walk away from the LORD.
There is something to be said about caring for others.
And even more to be said about commitment to others in order to show them the love of Christ. God’s plan is that we would show love and help people find wholeness. This only happens if we are willing to walk with others through difficulty.
Ok, real quick, let’s talk about marriage. Jesus says in Matthew 19 that God never wanted divorce, but the stubbornness of mankind was going to do it any way, so he gave them rules to follow. But the truth is, God desires a couple work it out. This is the demonstration of sacrificial love that puts others first. The more a couple learns to do this, the more they can do it for others. And just so you know, I’ve helped many couples through infidelity, and they are stronger and healthier now than they ever were before. So it is possible for God to reconcile and rebuild a marriage.
It is so easy for us to walk away from the people who disappoint us.
But It is clear that the heart of Jesus is to find reconciliation with others.
We weren’t meant to isolate others, and Jesus shows us this in the marriage analogy. It only causes more hurt and sin when we push people away when they’ve hurt us. We must be people who learn to commit to others and grow through difficulty. We must stand beside those who are in need, and help those who are hurting. If we don’t, we are breaking the heart of the one who is so committed to us, that he would use marriage as a symbol of his commitment.
I hope this isn’t confusing.
The bottom line is this, Jesus calls us to commit to him. And we do that by committing to others in a way that sees past their weaknesses and difficulties. If you want to apprentice Jesus, learn to do the same. Commit to helping those in need, stand beside those who are walking through hardship, and stay focused on building relationships that outlast any circumstance.
If you do this, I know it will help you understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. Please know that I not only love you, but am committed to helping you in any way that I can.
And as you practice commitment to others, may God bless you.
August 27 - no harm in looking. . right?
Stop me if you have ever heard this one before. . .”There is no harm in looking.”
Maybe it’s something you’ve said as you were walking the streets of Chicago at Christmas time, as you went from storefront to storefront. You weren’t trying to spend any money. You just wanted to look . . How did that go for you?
Probably, you either walked away with something - after saying you were just going to look. . . OR, if you are proudly nodding you head right now because you can say you walked away without buying anything, I bet you at least raised the level of expectation for your future. “One day I will own one of those. . “
Or maybe shopping isn’t your thing, what about this - We aren’t going to purchase a new car. We can’t really afford that right now, but, “There is no harm in looking.”
Did you know that car sale men love that attitude!
Because they can always find a way to “get you into that car of your dreams.”
It might cost you an arm and a let, and it might set you back years in your financial planning, but again, there is no harm in looking.
Or, take it to the next level. . .
As a kid I was told not to eat the cookie dough when my mom was making cookies. But then she would leave the room. . . I thought to myself, “I won’t eat any, but there is no harm in looking. . .right?” I mean, I just want to see that the dough looks right. . .
That never worked for me!
I would always eat the cookie dough, even when I just intended to look. . .
Ah, but let me take it to the darkest one. .
I know I’m married. But I’m just looking. What harm is there in that?
Jesus had plenty to say about this. See, again, he knows the condition of the heart. When it is unchecked, it leads us down roads we never thought we were even entertaining. See, the heart is a strong muscle that is always in motion. When we let it roam, it will lead us to places that will hurt us - even destroy us.
So Jesus continued his sermon on the mount with these words. . .
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than fore your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, 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.
Jesus is making this point more severe. If you look, it is your heart leading you somewhere you never should have gone. It will cause your whole body to be thrown into hell. Jesus says that whatever is the part that is causing you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away.
The practice of this might mean not going to the city in the Christmas season, because it will cause you to want things that you know aren’t cost effective. It may mean just being satisfied with your car, and ignoring the shiny new one that your neighbor just got. Stay away from the cookie dough. Keep clear of the person that isn’t your spouse. Because in all of these things, if you entertain the desire to have something that you know isn’t good for you, eventually you will give into it!
So cut off the appetite!
What is it that you have entertained that is causing you to be drawn in a direction unhealthy for you?
If you want to come out on the other side saying you controlled it - instead of it controlling you, STAY AWAY! Do not even entertain it! Run the other direction!
If you start doing this, I promise you will understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true!
Until tomorrow, I love you, and as you learn to control your appetite, May God bless you!
August 26 - Condition of the heart
The heart is the strongest influence on you as a person. WE’ve already talked about his. The heart is constantly in motion, and it continues to drive us no matter what we are doing. The heart wants what the heart wants, and continually pulls us in a direction we don’t even understand we are going at times.
Ok, remember that for a minute.
Jesus continued on his sermon with this great section in vs. 21-26.
Listen to what it says.
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.
Ok, listen to this, he is about to tell you the danger of an untamed heart. Listen to how he continues in vs. 22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca’, is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ Will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Why did Jesus go from murderers being subject to judgment, to anyone who is angry with a brother or sister being in danger of judgment? Because the heart leads us to places we never thought we would go.
If you ask someone who has done something that has derailed their life, 99% of the time they will tell you that it was one little decision after another. It wasn’t like they just woke up one day and said they wanted to ruin their life. They made a small decision back here, that led to a small decision over here, that led to another small decision after another small decision after another small decision, that eventually led to a massive, life-altering decision. The unchecked heart ruined them.
Jesus is addressing this. If you let unchecked anger go, it causes you to mistreat people. IN fact, the problem with unchecked anger is that you actually take it out on people who aren’t even the one’s who caused your anger. You take it out on everyone. Your heart has been tainted, and now you are subject to judgement, because your actions reflect the condition of your heart.
kNowing this, listen to what Jesus says next. . . . .He is about to show you how to be a peacemaker. You ready for this. So again, he is talking about you in the context of others. You don’t be anger, or you will be judged. . But listen to how profound what he says next really hits. . .
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your bother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or you adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
So Jesus started by making sure we understand that the unchecked heart will only make things worse. So holding anger has already aligned your heart with the heart of a murderer. The only difference is that you haven’t acted on it. And knowing this, Jesus then says that if you know someone has something against you, go and make it right even before you offer a sacrifice.
Why?
Because you know that there is something unchecked in their heart, and it is controlling them without them even realizing it. They are subject to judgement because of something they are feeling toward you. So don’t let them sit in ruin because of you. Go and make it right with them. This is an act of peacemaking. You are reaching out to them and making sure thing are good so that it doesn’t consume them.
And there is benefit to you if you do this!
If you settle matters quickly, they won’t let this unchecked heart control them and cause there to be deeper punishment for something they are holding against you. They will settle down instead of taking you to court and draining you of everything you have.
See, the unchecked heart ruins everyone!
So you have to check your heart. Don’t let it take things further than they should be. And if someone has something against you, you owe it to them, to help them overcome it so their bitterness and heart doesn’t ruin them.
The heart is dangerous. Peacemaking is remembering that people respond out of emotion all the time. They don’t necessarily mean what is happening, they are just being controlled by the emotion of their heart. So help people overcome this so they don’t allow themselves to get in a dangerous spot. And overcome it yourself too! This will help you to keep from doing something you will regret later!
So here is the question.
Who do you have something against? Who has hurt you, frustrated you, and made you mad? Figure out how to let go of that anger. By the way, this doesn’t mean just forgetting that person. Until you forgive someone and can think of them in a healthy way that wants best for them, the problem is still nestled deep into YOUR heart. Sometimes this takes professional help to overcome. Don’t let it go unchecked. You will realize when it is too late, that you are taking it out on the people around you that you never even realized you were taking it out on.
And if you don’t have something against someone at this moment, think if there is someone who has something against you. Help them overcome their heart. Don’t allow them to get into a spot where there is bitterness. Be the bigger person and go to them and ask them to forgive whatever you have done to them. Even if you don’t agree with what they said happened, there is something to going and admitting that what they perceived was never your intention and that you are sorry you caused this type of pain to them. Then ask them to forgive you. This takes humility, courage, and. . . well a few words we’ve learned about. . .like meekness, mercy, pure in heart, oh, and peacemakers. . .
Ok, think that through. Figure out who it is in your life that you need to work this out with. And as you wrestle with this, I pray it helps you to know what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. But always remember, I LOVE YOU! And as you learn to be a peacemaker and reconcile differences with other people, I pray that God blesses you!
What are your core convictions.
I want you to stop for a minute. Think about that. What core convictions do you have?
What do I mean?
What is it that you know drives you and keeps you on track with what you really believe to be true? If I were to ask others about you, what would they say are the things that make you tick?
Jesus had core convictions.
He knew and understood how humanity worked, and he also understood what his Heavenly Father wanted for humanity. So he was constantly trying to make sure people understood what it looked like to live a life worthy of his name.
IN fact, before we read our next text in the sermon on the mount, let’s fast forward to Matthew 22 for a moment.
Jesus was questioned by an expert in the law, and he asked this question in Matthew 22:23
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God wit all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
This is what I call a calibrated value. Jesus just told us, out of everything that is in the law - the 613 mitzvoth (or commandments) here is what you ned to focus on. Loving God and loving others as you love yourself.. . .
Now as we read the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, you are going to see something. Every time Jesus talks about you as an individual, it is in relation to other people. Even what we read yesterday and the day before - you are salt, and you are light. . . Why?
So that others. . . Jesus said you are those things so that others might see your good deeds and glorify the father in heaven.
See, he started it right from the beginning. Finished the beatitudes, and his core conviction came through. You become what it takes to love God properly, because then, you are going to learn to love others.
Now, let’s read the next section of the sermon on the mount. This starts in Matthew 5:17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear form the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teachers others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teachers these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teacher son the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Remember Jesus’s audience. He is talking to a group of people that idolized the pharisees and the teacher so the law. What they said was golden, and even had the power to put people to death. So they put these teachings at the highest level.
But listen to what Jesus is saying, they must rise above the example set before them. The reason he would later give them was that they would learn to love God, love themselves and love others properly. And once they did that, they would be able to fulfill all the law and the words of the prophets. And anyone who leads people to talk poorly of God, themselves, or others. . . .. well, they will be considered least int eh kingdom of heaven.
This is what made Jesus tick!
He was about glorifying his father, being honest about who he himself was, and then loving others relentlessly. And this was the example set before them.
So they could learn to follow the law the way the Pharisees and teachers of the law did. . . But unless they learned to love the way Jesus did, they would miss it. The only way that the Law and the words of the prophets are fulfilled, is if we do what Jesus later said in Matthew 22. Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Now you see why Jesus started this sermon by giving the beatitudes? Everything about what Jesus went on to tell his followers pointed to this concept. Love God, Love others.
It’s what made him tick ..
So what makes you tick?
What is it hat sits at the core of who you are?
It might be money, success, happiness, fame. . .
Listen, if you are going to apprentice Jesus. If you are going to be his follower. If you are going to call yourself a disciple of Jesus, then you need to know this. The core of who Jesus is, and what he expects of his followers is this - Love God, and then love others as you learn to love yourself.
Until heaven and earth disappear, all of the commands, the words of the prophets, and even the example and words of Jesus point to this.
So here is your exercise.
Ask someone close to you what makes you tick!
Find someone honest, and ask them what they would say is the thing that defines the type of person that you are. Take what they tell you, build from it, and become the type of person who follows the way son Jesus. And if you are able to practices and teach these commands, you will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. As you study this, I pray you learn more of what you believe, and why you believe it to be true.
For now, I love you, and as you align with the methods and lifestyle of Jesus, may God bless you!
Darkness -
my soul, sinks into formless depths of deep uncharted abyss,
No shape, no life, no beauty, just dark empty nothingness.
Until 4 words were spoken
4 words that caused everything to be right,
The creator of the universe
commands, “Let. . there. . be. . light. .”
In an instantaneous moment, sunlight pierced through empty dark skies
At the moment where everything else dies,
life burst into quiet places before my very eyes
Silencing the voices that led to my demise.
Golden drips of sunlight streaked down clouded window pains to my heart
And like a fog lifting in the sunlight, the deep despair began to part
I stood there, for what seemed like forever, just standing in one place
I stared at the sun as it engulfed, overtook, saturated, my face
Like statically charged particles the sunlight danced across my skin
After completely illuminating me, it began to burn within.
What once was broken pieces that I tried to keep out of sight,
Began to burst with color from the spoken word of light.
The more I understood the sun, the more my words were at a loss
This sun that brought me warmth, once hung on a cross.
Yet all around me. .
Those who I see every day
Still dead and dying
Their heart full of decay
Heads hung in dismay
And i’m left with nothing to say
They rip at their chest,
pounding their flesh
In desperation they look to the sky
Crying out with their hands lifted high
like an animal ready to fight
They plead, “Let. . There. . . Be . . . LIGHT!
Then the light around me starts to speak
Until my knees grow weak
“you have the answers they seek”
It says pointing at me
But what could it be?
“You are the light of the world” he gave me the cue
Glorify my name in all that you do!
For A city on a hill can’t be hidden
So go, Illuminate your father in heaven
And so I stepped into the dark
Oh how I wanted to run
But this light cannot be overcome
So to you I plead for this desperate human race
Let Christ’s light illuminate your face!
So wherever you go may you get this one thing right,
As you represent Christ, Let . . there. . . be. . . . light!
`
August 23 - You are the Salt of the Earth
You are the salt of the earth.
For as long as I have been a dad, I have prayed over my kids when they go somewhere. In fact, to this day, sometimes I will drop off my girls at their work, and I always pray over them before they get out of the car. And while I pray that they are safe, that God protects them and watches over them, gives them health and his grace. . . .the biggest part of my prayer is at the end. I always end by praying that God will use them to be a blessing to the people in their workplace. That the people they come in contact with will be blessed because my girls were at work today. I ask God to give them favor, strength, and courage to represent him well. That when their time of work is over, others will be better because of being with Ava and Alia.
Which is just a continuation of something I’ve prayed over my kids since they were little. I have said a prayer that I’ve repeated for most of their lives that goes like this. “God will you use my kids to show their peers how real you are. That through them, their friends will know how good, loving, and just you really are.”
That’s the goal, isn’t it.
If I am a follower of Jesus, my goal should be that people’s lives are better off because of me. And that has nothing to do with me. That’s just the fact that I know the author of Life. And He goes with me when I walk into a room.
Well, in all actuality, he is already there when I enter the room, however, when I am an apprentice of Jesus, people see him through me! So he becomes more clear, and I become less obstructive. This is what Peter’s admonishment was in 1 Peter 2:11-12, when he said,
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain form sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
The goal - live such a good life, that people look at us and say, “HUH. . . . there must be a better way. . .”
This is what Jesus meant when he said, You are the salt of the earth.
You should be walking into your workplace with the mindset that you re going to see people’s lives bettered, simply because a carrier of the gospel salt is on their way in. You are going there to preserve life, to sweeten the environment, and brig hope to people.
Your classmates should miss you when you are not at school. They should sense that something just wasn’t the same without you there.
Your roommate should feel like they are the most blessed person because they get to live in the same place as you. And it should make them walk away wanting to be better too!
Oh shoot. . . you ready for this one?
If you are married, or if you have kids. . . . . . Your spouse should feel like the luckiest person alive that they get to be married to you. Not because you are so great yourself. . . . though, I am sure you are. . . But more so because when you walk in, the Spirit of the Living God walks in with you. Your kids should realize the Spiritual maturity wrapped around you as you walk with them through life. They should look at you and not only want to be like you, but want to be with you. Because they realize the presence of the living God and it makes them better as you make them better.
Understand something. . . This is no small task we are called to. We represent the most high! That is why we are called to BE a certain type of person before we can ever Do something for God. We weren’t called to be great, we weren’t called to be some extraordinary voice, or a powerful leader, we weren’t called to DO GREAT THINGS FOR GOD. . . He’s God. He doesn’t need us to be great. He is GREAT!!!!!!
You know what he needs us to be?
SALT!
Walk into a place, and pull out the flavor of life by loving, caring, being generous, humble, gentle, sacrificial. .. . And as you pull out the flavor of life, preserve it! Make it last for people who haven’t seen the goodness of God before. Bring peace to the soul that has been wrestling to find wholeness with no rest. Cause people to encounter a joy that will transform their lives, maybe even to the point of giving them reason to smile. . . .
Jesus has brought them through the beatitudes. He has shown them who he wants them to be. And now, if they get that right, the work of what they DO, is automatic. See we often want to focus on what to do, instead to who to be. The problem is, we can’t do enough to represent Christ unless we are transformed first in who we BE! But as soon as that work happens, we automatically do the work God has called us to by being who he desires us to be!
Listen to what Jesus continued to say.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is not longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
What?
How can salt lose its saltiness?
IT CAN’T!!!!!
Salt is salt. It can’t lose it’s saltiness. So why would Jesus say this? What is he meaning?
The phrase here is interesting. But if the salt loses its saltiness. . . This comes from the Greek mōrainō - or the root mōros - which yes, is where we get a English word you might have heard. . . Moron - which is a person acting foolishly, or unintelligibly. Jesus is saying that if the salt acts a fool . . . . how can it be made salty again.
He is referring back to the list of beatitudes.
If a person fails to BE the type of person that brings this hopeful joy into the world through the way they act, how will they ever be justified? Can they be made salty again? They become worthless to the cause of lifting the name of Jesus.
Let me put this out there, God is looking for people who represent his name! He is looking for people who will honor him no matter what they are walking through. He is looking for salt, not morons. . .
I know, that is a little blunt. But I think it would do us as God’s people to stop and question how we are acting.
Yesterday morning I was on the 55 headed into Newport, and he freeway ends and hits a light right at 19th street. It’s such a weird section of the road, because it goes from pretty flowing traffic of 70MPH to 45 within feet. I was enjoying my morning, being very intentional to drive calmly. See I was headed to the DMV to take the CLD test in order to start driving a school bus in order to bring in secondary income. So I have been keenly aware that if I don’t drive properly in my personal vehicle, it could cost me the only job I’ve been able to find that might actually work well with church planting. So I remember holding my steering wheel in the proper positions. I slowed down plenty early. I was alert, and in a good mood.
Until I looked in the mirror and saw this little white Mercedes flying up to me. Within seconds, I knew I was about to get rear ended, and it was going to hit hard!!!!! Sure enough, at about 55-60 MPH, the car behind me slammed into my completely stopped vehicle.
As soon as my car settled from the impact, I turned off the engine, removed my seatbelt, popped open the door, and jumped out of the car. And I caught my self being so frustrated that I said aloud, “What a moron!”
But as soon as the words left my mouth, I was ashamed. I knew I was being wrong, and all the words I’ve spoken over her last couple of weeks on the beatitudes were now coming back to haunt me. I had an instant change of heart. And as I was walking back to the car, I began praying for whoever was in it.
I got to the door of the other car to find an 89 year old man completely disoriented. He was struggling to get out from behind the airbags, and was confused. My heart broke for him. He was so disoriented and scared. I grabbed his arm and helped him stand to his feet because smoke was starting to pour out of the hood of the car. I asked if he knew what happened and if he could walk. He was ok to do this, so I helped him over to the wall next to the road.
Fast forward, I eventually got a rental car, went to the DMV, took my tests and made it home. But the entire time, I couldn’t stop thinking about Earnest. I felt so bad for him. So I found he police report where his cell phone number was. I called him and let him know I was praying for him. And he said, “Now I feel really bad that I did this to a nice man.” To which I said, “oh no, I’m just grateful you are ok, and you get to keep going from this!”
Why am I telling you this?
Because it’s not that hard to be salt in the middle of this dark and crazy world. In fact, tomorrow we will talk about being the light of the world. But both of these are the same. As we preserve the goodness around us, it becomes even more evident and longed for. You can have a huge impact, with out a little effort. All you have to do is BE!!!! BE the type of person who represents Christ.
So Here is what I want you to wrestle with.
You are called to be salt, and it’s in a specific area that only you can make a difference in. There is someone in your life who needs extra grace. There is someone you either pass on the road every day, or run into in the dorms, sit by at breakfast, wherever, whoever, it might be. They just need an extra portion of salt, because the world has drained all the flavor from around them. You have the chance to be an inspiration and joy to them. Not so that they walk away liking you more, but for them to walk away and like, well, themselves more, and others more, and in the process begin to see who God is. That’s the point. When you do this properly people see the one who created you to be this way - not you!
So who is it that needs you to be salt.
Because the alternative is for you to be a moron.
You can either show them the love of the living God, or ruin your chance to make a difference in their life and in the world. The choice is yours.
But know this, we all get it wrong at times! We all lose the salt of life and become flavorless. But the grace of God gives us another chance every day! So find that person you can love. Show them what God is like, by being the person he called you to be.
And know this!
I love you!
And as you flavor the world and persevere it, may you know more of what you believe and why you believe it to be true. . . and may God bless you!
Part 9 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of Righteousness
Why is it so hard for people to like what is good?
I remember when I was a kid, my friends all knew that I went to church. For some reason, this equated to me not being invited to a lot of things, because they believed I would be no fun. I’ve heard people called “goodie two shoes” and “church kid” or “Good little Christian”, and instead of celebrating someone’s desire to live a righteous life, it seems despised.
There was a season that I worked at Stateville prison in Joliet Illinois, and during that time I was not living for the LORD. But near the end, I was turning life around. One Saturday night the guys asked me to go out with them after work, and I said that I planned to get up early and go to church the next day. They all laughed at me. And then at the end of the night, when the entire shift was in the holding area to get out of the prison, troy yelled to me across the entire shift of employees. “Hey Grove, have fun being a little church boy tomorrow!” Everyone stared at me and started laughing.
There is something despised by others when someone is trying to do things right.
Why is that?
Well, to the chaos of the world, light is scary. It calls things into order. So goodness isn’t recognized by them world, and it feels out of place.
Jesus said to his disciples, John 15:18, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
See, the world doesn’t understand righteousness, because it is foreign to the chaos that the darkness brings to the world. So it makes more sense to ridicule people than love them. It’s easier to cheat and steal than it is to do thing the right way. Tearing someone down in order to get ahead is the acceptable corporate way, so to elevate someone over you is countercultural.
When you act in a right way, the world is confused. In essence, they hate what they fear, and they fear your behavior - primarily because it exposes their behavior.
So Jesus gave this checklist of ways to act, and they are all counter to the rest of the world.
Blessed are thePoor in Spirit. The world proves that you get ahead by building a platform for yourself. Especially in this social media “influencer” day and age, it doesn’t make sense to realize the depravity of your condition. And if I admit that I’m broken and in need of a savior, then that means you must be broken too. That’s not ok with the world.
Blessed are those who mourn the results of their sinful nature. The world doesn’t like that, because it implies someone should be sorry for their actions, when it seems that everything should be ok as long as it doesn’t hurt someone else. There is nothing wrong with an action that doesn’t cause harm to others.
The world doesn’t like it if I am meek. When I show constraint in how I treat others, I must think that I am better than everyone else.
See, the entire list that Jesus gave, is so countercultural, that when we do just one of those things, people get confused and almost annoyed. Now if we did all of the list, imagine how people would feel? The light of our actions is exposing the darkness around us. Which I don’t want to give anything away, but the next part we will talk about in two days, is Jesus calling us the light of the world. He goes from saying to BE this type of person, to showing us that we are the light of the world.
If we truly live the way Jesus instructed here in the Beatitudes, we are the light that exposes the darkness around us. And this, the darkness hates! Because it is foreign to the natural chaos of the world.
But, it’s what Jesus expects of us. Listen to what he said,
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Ok, just so you know, this is my goal! I want to be persecuted because of righteousness. Not because of me, or the stupid things I do. I want to be persecuted because my actions expose so much of the darkness, the the darkness actually hates me.
I’ve heard it said that the devil isn’t concerned with most Christians. They don’t live in a way that threatens the darkness. But when someone lives in a way that glorifies God, this terrifies the enemy.
Jesus is the example of how threatened the enemy is by righteousness. He was beaten, and put on a cross. Yes, he planned to do this. But understand, he didn’t just come and do it as part of his plan. The plan God had was to let mankind hand him over, torture him, put him on a cross, and punish him for things he never did. This wasn’t the work of God. This was the work of the darkness hating the light. See, God didn’t cause Judas to betray Jesus. God didn’t make Herod try to kill the babies under the age of two, or force the jews to want to kill Jesus and want a murderer named Barabas to be set free in his place. That was the natural chaos of darkness - hating what is light. Just by being pure light, Jesus was naturally hated by man, and put to death. Jesus knew this would happen.
That’s why John says in 2:24 that peel saw Jesus and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.”
It’s a humbling thing, isn't it. To know that Jesus knew that just by being righteous and pursuing light, people would hate him and put him to death. We will discuss tomorrow, it was even the pattern seen in the O.T. with the prophets. Those who live righteously, are hated. . .
Look, I want people to like me. It feels good when others are drawn to you. But the truth is, I would rather evil and darkness hate me, than for me to be accepted by others. I want to live in a way that promotes the light of Christ. I want others to see God’s goodness through me. And if that means they hate me because of it, so be it! Because the reward, the kingdom of heaven!
Now here is the fun thing. When I live in the light, an when people hate me because of the righteousness I pursue, they hate me - not because of me, but because I bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. Jesus’s prayer, they kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven - starts becoming reality, when we live righteously. So darkness hates the fact that it’s kingdom is being overthrown. So the defense is to fight back. And this fight comes through hatred.
See, I want to live so righteously, that the kingdom of heave is brought to this earth, and the kingdom of darkness is threatened. And how do I do that? By BECOMING who God designed me to be. That’s not a pastor, a husband, a father, an artist, or anything else I might seek identity inside of. I become who God designed me to be, when I learn to be poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker.
That’s who God designed me to be fist and foremost! So I choose to pursue those things.
How?
I will wake up tomorrow and humble myself, I will recognize that without God’s grace, I am nothing and can do nothing. I will see others through the understanding that they too are human just like me, and they fight the same battles as I do. I will long for righteous living, making sure I put things in place to help protect me from my wandering heart. I will have mercy on those around me, and try to make peace with everyone I can. And as I do, I will see the kingdom of heaven come to this earth, as God pours his Spirit out!
You know what would be the best way for you to practice this?
IN community.
Find someone you can share this with. Ask them to work together with you to pursue God’s best.
Over the next few weeks, I will be going through the Sermon on the Mount. I plan to take it slow, give us things to think about, and highlight practices we can chase after as we become this type of person. Throughout the next couple chapters of Matthew, I will refer back to these beatitudes. I want you to see how Jesus gave us a framework, and then exampled it over and over in the text. But find people who will learn this with you, and hold one another accountable. And as you do, I pray that you learn more about what you believe, and why you believe it to be true!
Until tomorrow, I love you, and as you pursue righteous living, may God bless you!
Part 8 - Blessed are the peacemakers
At the gym I go to, there is a row of tv’s hung from the ceiling so that those on the treadmills or bikes can watch as they work out. I love it, because my ADD is in full swing looking back and forth from one tv to the next. I can usually watch CNN, Fox, Local KCAl, and GPRO tv all at the same time. So I get 2 overly biased news outlets, one local outlet, and extreme sports all in one.
But I am so blown away at how one sided the news channels are.
I don’t want to upset any of you, but if you watch CNN or FOX, please don’t be fooled into believing they are reporting the news. They are both reporting their side of the news. It’s obvious when you watch them side by side.
For instance,
When the ICE raids were happening just a month ago, there was protesting going on here in LA. It was the only thing being covered by the news. Yet all three channels mentioned above, reported a completely different angle of the same story. And it wasn’t like the synoptic gospels where you were getting a clear story by watching them all together. You were actually left wondering what was really happening at the end. One station was bent on showing the lawlessness of the protest, and reran the same clip over and over again of two men beating and burning a trump doll, mixed in with a group of people looting a store. On the other hand, the other station looped their real with shots of detention busses and people being pulled onto busses for deportation. They mixed their loop with families in tears.
Neither of them covered the 1000s of people actually marching, the organized protest on the streets, or the people asking for reform. This wasn’t even part of their story. One side wanted to paint the picture that this was just an anti-trump movement, while the other story wanted to paint the picture that this was a heartless effort to tear apart families. . . . . neither captured the story. However, both captured the hearts of their audience.
Just by explaining what I witnessed has probably got some of you stirred up a little. So please forgive me and allow me to keep moving on to make my point.
There is a rift in the USA.
And it’s not one that only rests here, but let me address what I see and understand here.
It’s so easy to get along with everyone who sides with you. Those who have the same viewpoint or believe the same way you do, are the easiest to stand with. I get that. It’s natural. You have more in common to talk about, you probably watch the same shows, listen to the same voices, and have a common interest in how you vote, support, and promote certain ideals.
But why does someone disagreeing with me, mean that we have to have hatred between us?
It’s all around us. Every time someone is in disagreement, there seems to be a need to cancel one another. It is as if people believe one difference in ideology means there has to be a complete line drawn in the sand to cut that person off.
Let’s be honest,
We do it with politics,
We do it with religion,
We do it with social class and economic status, shoot, we do it if our neighbor leaves their trash cans out too long, or if a roommate doesn’t clean up the dishes the same way we do.
It’s like everything tries to tear us apart when you think about it.
This is why Jesus waited until his 8th point before saying, Blessed are the peacemakers. This is no easy task. And the only way to be a peacemaker, is if you learn to be poor in spirit, mourn, become meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful, and are pure in heart. Without those things, I promise you, there is no way you have the understanding and motivation to be a peacemaker.
See, being a peacemaker is someone who is willing to stand in the middle of a group of people who completely disagree with you, and maybe even speak evil of you, and be wiling to say - I would die for each of you.
The more common thought when confronting people who are idiots, is more something like - I could just strangle them!!!! They make me so angry.
But not so with a peacemaker.
Their inclination is to do whatever it takes to bring hope and peace to someone, no matter where they are in their life. That is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
What!
Children of God?
If only we had an example of what a child of God might act like. . . Oh, wait. . . The one who offered up these words is the SON of God.
And what did he do?
HE laid down his life for us, as Paul says in Romans 5:10 “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son”
WE weren’t just in a disagreement. . . We were enemies - meaning we were working against him. Jesus came to reconcile us to God, while we were still trying to depart from God’s covering. Yet Jesus came and died.
I imagine there were several times when Jesus watched the Jews and the Gentiles, where he just shook his head and laughed. One side believing they were better than everyone and acting as if they were above the lowly sinners, while the other side rolled their eyes and threw off any sign of restraint and moral character. Jesus probably looked around and thought to himself, is everyone gone crazy around here?
But he didn’t fight for a side, give his political opinion, push people away, or even cut people off. He simply loved everyone and created peace between others. So when he says blessed are the peacemakers, he was the living example of what this looked like.
To be a child of God, means you represent him, you look like him, talk like him, act like him. . . .
See, God is less concerned with you arguing your point and getting your ideas across than he is concerned with you presenting his name to the people around you. He wants you to be a person that represents him and carries his name, more than a person who has a strong case for their argument.
It is quite possible that the only way to truly do this, however, is to turn off the influences that are arguing your point for you. Stop building a case. Stop listening to news channels and podcasts that reinforce your frustrations, and start looking for sources that will help you love others.
Look, there are a lot of people in this world that I want to grab by the shoulders and shake some common sense into them. There are people who say and believe the dumbest things, and somehow even promote these ideologies. I don’t get it. But I don’t have to either. I just have to love them.
And, if I remember the first 7 points Jesus made, I will find that I actually need to be grabbed by the shoulders and shaken at some point too. So maybe I should just chill out.
So how do we become peacemakers?
Well, by loving people who are different than us!
Try inviting someone to dinner, who completely disagrees with your stance on marriage, life, sexuality, religion, immigration, or anything else that might rub you the wrong way, and instead of having a conversation that tries to convince them that you are right - find out how their day was. Ask them what things you can pray for. Show them love and compassion. And in so doing, become a peacemaker. Because then, you will be called a child of God.
Who do you know that you can make peace with?
Who have you disagreed with in the past, and you no longer have a relationship with them because of that disagreement? Maybe call them up. Text them. Let them know you are thinking of them and miss them. Swallow your pride, and Be a peacemaker. And as you do, I pray you learn what you believe, and why you believe it to be true.
Ok, you wrestle with that for now - I love you, and as you learn to be a peacemaker with the people around you, may God bless you!
Part 6 - Blessed are the pure in heart
The heart. ..
It’s a funny thing isn't it?
In 2014, Selina Gomez made a hit song that repeatedly reminded us that the heat wants, what the heart wants.
Which Emily Dickinsin wrote in the late 1800s saying, “The heart wants what it wants - or else it does not care.”
Both of these writers are saying the same thing. The heart uncontrollably wants whatever it wants.
Think about this, the heart is the only organ that doesn’t ever completely rest. We have a resting heart beat, but we cannot afford the moment for it to completely shut down. If it does, we are in massive trouble. The heart must keep going.
This is the same with the spiritual heart.
It is always in motion. I believe this is the way God designed it. He wanted our heart to always long for something, or else it would never have the opportunity to long for him. We were made to chase after him.
But here is the main problem with the heart. If we don’t control it . . . it will control us. See, the heart is the center of our being. It causes us to long for things, or to want things to change. Our heart controls us more than we ever realize.
It’s why you make impulsive decisions. Your heart is actually faster than your brain. So you make a decision based on what you want, without ever letting it have the opportunity to help you really see what you want. It’s why there is such a thing as buyers remorse. It’s why most people have a day of reckoning when the first payment to something is due. Deep down in their heart, they reasoned that they needed something, when in reality, they only wanted it. But the heart was to powerful to let them slow down and reason.
Sir Isaac Newton said it this way in one of his laws of physics - An object in motion tends to stay in motion, until reacted upon by an unbalanced force. This is his first law of motion. Little did he know, he was also describing the spiritual heart. It will always stay in motion. But where it goes either is impulsively controlled, or directed by an equal force.
In the history of the Israelites, there is moment that we all quote out of context in a super detrimental way. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
That is always such an inspirational verse. Until you learn the context. The Israelites had not only rejected God, but had refused to return to him after the warning of the prophets. They were stubborn and heard hearted. So God wanted to remind them that he had plans for them. And the only way to do this properly, was to allow them the result of their own heart’s rebellion. He told them this as he was sending them into captivity in Babylon. They were about to become captives to the land of idolatry and self consumption, because they were no longer interested in chasing after God’s heart. So, he was letting them become captive to the kingdom of Babylon - a kingdom only concerned with building a name for themselves. But the very next verse explains it all. Listen to this
“For I know the plans I have for you,” Declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
God was showing them that they had allowed their hearts to bring them to a place they never should have been. They allowed their hearts to control them and lead them away from the heart of God. So, the only way to get their attention, was to let them become captives. This captivity would put such pressure and oppression on them, that it would cause them to look for God again. And, he says, when the result of this becomes them redirecting all of their heart to him - then they would find HIm.
See, our heart is always trying to lead us to whatever it wants.
And like we’ve said about sin, that means it leads us to things that aren’t right for us, but look so good. Let’s put this into practical terms for a moment. How many of you made new year resolutions? You know there is something that you want to change, and you want to see a “better you” so you commit to making this change. Yet a few weeks into it, your heart is complaining and begrudging the fact that you ever decided to start down this path.
And so you thought you would get healthier, but those tacos are calling you. And your heart really believes you need 5 tacos instead of 3. Or you see that Graham Central Station Ice Cream from Handles ice cream shop in Newport, and you can’t help yourself. . . . Oh, that was a little personal there. . . The heart screams for these things. And you have to fight hard to get away from them. . .
So what do you do?
Well, you train yourself. You have to work at directing your heart, so that your heart does’t direct you. This means engaging your mind with your heart. It requires stopping and questioning your decisions, BEFORE you make them. The only way to truly control you heart, is through constant training and dedication to making the right decisions.
But here is the problem. We don’t do those type of decisions long enough for us to get them into our heart. So we mentally want to get healthier, so we try to eat right. But that takes a long practice and a lot of self control to not give into the hearts desire for Ice Cream.
And to be fair, this isn’t just a health thing. You can say the same with your sex life. Maybe you are in a relationship where you say, “I don’t want to give into them again, I want to do things right.” Yet you have set no guardrails and no way of keeping your heart in check so that you don’t follow the same pattern you have walked down.
Or you desperately want to save money so that you can save for a future and take care of living properly, yet you walk around with your debit card on your phone so that you can tap to pay without ever thinking about what you just spent.
Ok, not take this to the context of Jesus’s sermon on the mount as he continues on. He says in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Whoa! Jesus just hit us with a bomb!
Pure in heart. . . What does that even mean?
The word Pure here is the Greek word katharos - meaning free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt, blameless, innocent, unstained with the guilt of anything.
That’s huge! Because he isn’t talking about you, he is talking about your heart. See, we can be forgiven of our sins and made new every day. But the heart will continue leading us wherever it is pointed. So if we have not stopped to align our heart with the heart of God, it will lead us away from him.
So God let the Israelites go into captivity so they could learn to direct their heart. And when they pointed it after God, it began to find him.
And now Jesus says, that if you are pure in heart, you too will see God.
HOW?
What do we do?
There are so many things trying to get your attention. Every day you see things, hear things, think things, that are influenced by social and cultural norms instead of by the heart of God. You can’t control those things. You will drive down the road and see a billboard for something you don’t need. You will see an ad come across your phone that causes your mind to wander, or your thoughts to pervert. You can’t control those things.
But what you CAN control - is the frequency by which those enter your heart.
If you are trying to train your heart to long for God, yet you spend 5 times the amount of time on netflix as you do studying scripture, which do you think is directing your heart more?
If you want the presence of God, but spend most of your day filling your ears with music that is opposed to glorifying God, what do you think the message is that your heart is hearing?
If you spend more time dreaming about what things you want and how you will get them, than you do time praying about what God would want and how you can please him, what do you think your heart is going to pursue?
See, here is the rub. I’ve said from the beginning of this series that Jesus isn’t calling us to DO more, he is calling us to BE. But this step requires something of you. If you are going to have a PURE HEART, it starts with you doing the work to guard your heart. It is why King Solomon observed life and realized his own demise. He says in Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
See, the heart wants what the heart wants. It’s actually how God designed it. Set it in motion in the proper directions and it will actually begin to lead you. And the promise of Jesus is that blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
When you find a way to make your heart long for God, it will actually lead you to him. This is a practice of taking it from mindful duty, to heartfelt longing. And you do that by placing the proper influences in your life.
Find time to read the word
Set aside time to practice the art of contemplation and reflection
Do spiritual and emotional inventory in order to be real with how you are feeling.
Pray, not just for a quick second in order to thank God for you meal, or to ask him to help you with something, but pray and ask God to align your heart with his.
Fast! We’ve made the Christian art of fasting all about getting answers from God for something specific we are walking through. But what about fasting just to get closer to God and to know him more.
Here is a big one - stop watching shows that contradict a pure heart. I know some of you will be turned off by this, but if there is nudity in it - you don’t need to see it! I was at a church this past weekend that I actually loved. But the pastor mentioned a show that I bet at least half of you have seen, that I know has nudity in it. How do I know? ? ? BECAUSE IT SAYS AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN BEFORE IT STARTS PLAYING! Kristi and I make it a habit that we will not even explore a show that has that word written at the top! Why? Because we want to guard our heart, and allow it the chance to be pure.
See, if you want a pure heart, set up the guardrails to allow your heart the chance to be pure.
Because the beauty is, if you can get your heart to the spot of being pure - it will want what it wants - which will be God. And then, you will see him!
So here is the practice.
Start by doing inventory of your life.
What things are in your life that keep your heart from having the chance to be pure?
What things have you allowed in that should be removed all together?
Don’t just get rid of those things from your life. Fill that space with a practice that will help you pursue the heart of God. Train your heart to be PURE! Then, you will see God!
And as you do, you will be able to know what you believe, and why you believe it to be true.
But for now, I love you, and as you pursue purity of heart, may God bless you!
Part 6 - Blessed are the merciful
I wouldn’t say that I am necessarily justice oriented, but there is something about me that hates it when people cut in line, or get favor they don’t deserve. . .
I went to a recruiting job fair the other day for a great position driving a school bus. This is something that I can easily do while planting a church, and will help us with pay and benefits, while also giving me the chance to meet lots of people. But I just happened to look at the email again before going to the location, and it had a link to see the progress of the job. After opening up the link, I became aware that 280 other people also registered to be at the job fair.
So that meant 280 people for just 3 positions.
It was then that I decided I would be as early as possible. So I showed up 45 min early. At which time the parking lot was already buzzing with people arriving for the chance to earn a position. Fortunately, I spotted the side door that had the sign on it and knew the line would start outside the door. So I speed walked with about 5 other people who had the same revelation.
Sure enough, I was able to be the third person in line for the interview process. And in addition, I had already filled out all the paperwork online, so I didn’t have to go to the first step of filling out my background and all the required information they needed to run our driving records.
But about 5 min before the doors were going to open, I was looking down the line of about 80-90 people who had formed behind me, when I saw a lady driving down the side of the driveway we were at. She parked her car, walked slowly toward the door, and got into the very front of the line. The person who was now second in line, didn’t even notice. And the person directly in front of me, seemed to not care. But ME!!!! Oh heck no!!!!! Almost 100 people are here in line, and you think you can just come up and stand in the front?
For the next 5 min, I gave this lady the continual stare down, and made sure my eye burned disapproval into her skull. Who does she think she is? Why would she put herself above everyone else? She can just walk in and to the front of the line like that?
I thought that as the person turned that USED TO BE FIRST, and as he noticed this lady now standing there in front of him, I thought for sure he would raise a fuss. . . But he didn’t even say a word. In fact, I think he greeted her with a smile.
What in the world was this guy doing?
I was just about to help her find the back of the line, when the door swung open and the recruiter greeted everyone and welcomed the fist person in. . . . That is, the alleged first person. . . .
She went in like nothing wrong had taken place, and began the process of filling out paperwork.
As the people in front of me slowly made their way through the line, I quickly grabbed the paperwork and walked right over to where this lady was sitting, so I could keep my eye on her. As I opened the packet and began filling the necessary paperwork out, she immediately raised her hand and got someone to come over to her. “I already have my CDL and have had experience driving a school bus before.” She said as she closed the packet and pushed it away from her.
The instructor explained, “I’m glad you have that experience, we would love to hear about it in the interview section, however, this paperwork is mandatory by the state.” After arguing with the man for a moment, she finally grabbed the packet and began filling it out. Which, I smirked as I handed my packet to the gentlemen standing there and said, “I’ve finished, what would you like me to do next?”
I was the first one done, and excitedly went out to the drive where I did a few physical tests on the bus, and then pulled a few weights to prove I was capable of helping a kid who might be in trouble.
Then it was back inside to wait for the interview.
After sitting for about 15 minutes, the lady who cut in line came in and sat down as well. She was finished with everything and was waiting for the interview segment too. But when the interviewer came in and asked which of us was done with the previous segment first, I was sure to jump up and say, “I WAS!”
But then something happened. They called me to a table and they called the lady I’ve been frustrated with to a table just a few feet away from mine. Both of our interviewers sat down and began asking us questions. A few minutes into it, the other interviewer interrupted my questioning, and asked if I had done the physical test.
I said that I did.
The lady responded that they didn’t offer her the chance to do it.
The two recruiters made conversation back and forth, and before long I was keenly aware of what was happening. The lady did not pass the segment before the interview and was not being considered. They were finalizing her time there and passing her up. And she realized it at the same time that we all did.
To which she burst into tears. She began pouring out her story and explaining some pretty tragic loss that had taken place in her life, and how she desperately needed this job in order to survive. She was hurting, and she needed help.
Now to be honest, there was a part of me that still wanted to tell her that she shouldn’t have cut in line. But there was a massive part of me that felt like crying with her and giving her a hug. I suddenly felt guilty that I was so ugly hearted toward her when she cut in line.
If she had just told me her story as she cut in line, maybe I would have had a different attitude toward her.
Or better yet, if only I had mercy, I would’t have had to hear her story in order to be loving toward her. . . .
See, merciful is the person who sees others and cares for them no matter how they are treated in return. When I have mercy, I can look at someone and care for them, despite how they treat me!
See, but there is a massive problem with my story.
My mercy only presented itself when I found out she had a rough story of her own. Then I suddenly felt the calling to show this woman compassion and mercy.
Which is where most people fail.
True mercy isn’t given as the result of someone’s story. It is given as an act of selfless awareness toward other people’s automatic need.
I can’t tell you of one person that I’ve ever met that didn’t need mercy in an area of their life. Those who are bitter and act like they are bitter - have had something done to them that has crushed their view of humanity and left them feeling unloved. Those who are impatient - usually struggle with confidence or affirmation and are always trying to prove themselves over others. Those who don’t care for the people around them - have often had someone in their life who didn’t show them proper love and compassion. . the list goes on.
Truth is, everyone is trying to just do the best they can with the life they have been given. Even those who seem to take for granted the blessings they have been given, are struggling somewhere in their life to do the best they can. They too need mercy.
See a merciful person is someone who can look at the people around them, and think of others above themself, because they understand that everyone is doing the best they can.
Now I know that some of you have instant thoughts about the guy down the street who drives the newest Audi, has a huge house, and always goes on vacations. What mercy could they need. They just need to learn to be generous.
But you don’t know what they’ve walked through.
You don’t know why they drive so hard to work and feel like they have succeeded!
In fact, some of the wealthiest people I have ever met have also been those who have struggled with loneliness, satisfaction, self worth. You don’t know what they’ve walked through that has given them the drive they have.
Let me simplify it this way.
EVERYONE HAS A STORY!
Until you understand what makes someone tick, don’t judge them for the way they act. Get to know people and give them a chance. Even when they act in a way that makes you feel like they don’t deserve it!
That’s what mercy is!
And Jesus said it this way,
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
So here is the fun thing with this one. When you start to give mercy, you start to understand what mercy actually looks like. And when you understand what it looks like, you begin to see that people actually extend more mercy to you than you deserve. Mercy is all around you, but you often fail to see it because you are lacking in mercy toward others.
So what can we do to practice mercy?
Start trying to figure out people’s stories. If someone is doing something that you think cheats you - get to know them. Find out what makes them -who they are. You never know if you are going to find something that explains why they are so impatient, or hard to get along with, or whatever else it might be that makes them difficult in your eyes.
So practice extending mercy to others.
Because as you do, you will begin to understand mercy in a new way, and you might actually understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true!!
For now, I love you! And as you practice mercy, May God Bless you!
Part 5 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Last September Kristi, Gavin and I drove from Naperville Illinois to Beufort South Carolina to candidate at a church. This was before we knew we were supposed to be planting a church. We were exploring every option. We went to an amazing church there that was looking at us for Senior Pastor. About half way through the weekend with them, we realized this wasn’t the right thing for us. It was a great church, larger than I could imagine stepping into as a first time sr. pastor, with strong English, Spanish, and generational ministries. But something wasn’t right. We were already starting to sense God calling us to launch a brand new ministry.
So as we finished the last night with the board and pastors, we felt this awkward sensation. We loved the people and the church, but knew we needed to say no. I felt it, Kristi felt it, even Gavin felt it!
As we got back to the hotel at about 8:30 at night, we were all ready to be home. To be honest, I drove out there because I already had a feeling it wasn’t the right thing, and I didn’t want to waste the church’s money on flying us out. And now we were in the hotel room, ready to go, but dreading the 15 hour drive home.
In addition, Kristi was starting to get sick. She had a fever, and felt awful. Things were just stacking up against us.
So I turned to Kristi and Gavin and said, “do you guys just want to get in the car now and take off?”
It was like something from a comedy. I barely got the words out of my mouth and they both had their bags in their hands fully packed and ready to go. So at about 9 o’clock PM, we drove to the gas station, and then right out of town and home to Naperville.
It was a rough drive!
About 10 minutes into it, both Gavin and Kristi were out cold.
They basically never woke up.
So I navigated driving through the night, driving twisting, winding roads through mountainous terrain, trying my hardest to keep from feeling tired.
But do you know the hardest moment of the drive?
At about 10:30 AM the next morning. . .
The sun was up, traffic was alive, and I could see Illinois just the other side of the broken roads of Indiana. . .
And all I could think about, was laying down in my nice comfy bed. . .
I could feel the cool air-conditioned pillow against the side of my face, and the fan breezing over me. . .This is my favorite way to sleep. And every time I blinked, my eyes begged to stay closed as I envisioned laying in my bed all comfy and cozy.
As soon as my mind went there, it was over. All I could think about was getting home and in bed. Every second felt like an eternity. And each time I looked at Kristi or Gavin completely zonked out, my inner self jealously cried out to be home.
The last hour and a half felt as long as the previous 13 and a half. . .
Everything in me was screaming out!
I stopped 3 times in the last segment of this drive, because I ached and longed for a break! I just wanted to lay my head down and be done with this drive.
Have you ever felt that type of longing before?
It’s a hunger and thirst.
It’s the inner self begging to be brought to a spot of resolution.
In Jesus’s opening to his sermon, we have been walking through the steps he laid out for us to become the person he is longing for us to BE. He started by making sure we remember how broken we are without him. Then he reminded us to mourn the effect of this brokenness, so that we can fully understand the humility inside of meekness that sees our human condition the way it really is. This will cause us to view others properly and want the best for people.
But now, in this fourth trait to becoming his intended human condition, Jesus says these amazing words.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
This is a good time to point out the simplicity of result behind each of these.
You are pour in spirit - you simply get the kingdom of heaven
You mourn - you will find comfort
You are meek - you get the earth
And now, you hunger and thirst for righteousness - you get filled! And what do you get filled with? Righteousness. It’s that simple. If you can hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will get it. And you will be completely filled with it.
First we need to understand what righteousness is.
It doesn’t mean that you are right. No person is able to be fully right. So how can we be filled with righteousness? It’s not being right all the time - it’s wanting what is right all the time.
When you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you learn to see what is right, and always want what is right over what is wrong.
See, here is the human condition. . . We might want right, but wrong never looks bad. If sin looked bad all the time, we would never worry about stepping into it. But unfortunately, sin never really presents itself as bad.
I mean, look at the very first sin we have written in the book of Genesis. God told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Yet what does it say about the fruit they were about to disobediently eat from?
Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and at it.
All these things were true about the fruit. Whatever the fruit was, God had made it and it looked good. Chances are, it was a fruit they could have already tasted, just from a different tree. God told them not to eat from a specific tree, not a species of tree. What if it was a fruit tree they already liked and so they knew how good it tasted. And now, the fruit brought with it the understanding of good and evil. See this was something they didn’t really have yet. God had not shown them evil in a way they could experience it, so they didn’t really have this knowledge yet. Eating of the tree would give them this knowledge.
It was pleasing to them. So they ate it.
This is how sin usually presents itself.
It’s money sitting out on someone’s desk, that you could easily walk away with and no one would catch you. It’s cussing someone out from the comfort of your own car, so that they don’t really hear you and no one “get’s hurt by it.” It’s taking a hit from a joint to ease the pain, or flirting with that coworker because it makes you feel wanted, or cheating on the test because you need a better grade. . . None of that presents itself as uninteresting. That’s why it’s called temptation. You are tempted to do it because you see the benefits.
The only thing that can outweigh this temptation, is a keen awareness to what is right. By having an understanding of what right looks like and how to follow it, you can fight temptation. But when this hunger for what is right is put to rest, temptation begins to look pleasing.
Adam and Eve knew what was right, But they stopped focusing on right, and looked at the benefits of the sin they were about to commit. So the sin won.
Listen, momentary gratification will always look and feel good. But righteousness is always more rewarding. When you give into instant gratification, you loose sight of the long game. And discipline never comes through shortcuts. You always have to practice and learn discipline.
So what do we do?
Practice wanting what is right.
Learn to stop and question, wonder, what is the right thing here? What would God want me to pursue? What would God have as best for me in this situation? It’s a real battle! Because, again, 2nd best never looks awful at first look. But it still misses God’s best. And when you miss the mark of God’s best, you find yourself in sin.
So here is a simple rule of life that we follow. It says, ‘Want What God Wants.’
In everything we do, we look to asking what God would want for us. We don’t want to settle for something that isn’t aligned with God’s will. We want to only pursue righteousness. But you can’t just want righteousness, you have to hunger and thirst for it. You have to understand the effects of forgetting righteousness, so that you can say, “Not me! I do not want anything but God’s best!”
This only comes from practicing pursuing righteousness.
And how do we practice?
Every small decision at a time.
I dare you to start asking this question, “What does God want?”
What does God want with my time? What does God want with my resources? What does God want with my talents, my family, my speech, my actions. . . What does God want with all of me?
When you really start asking that question in every area of your life, you begin to hunger and thirst for righteousness. And the beauty is, if you can truly do this, Jesus says, you will be filled!
You will begin to see right, and realize how much more rewarding it is than wrong! You begin finding yourself walking away from things that you wish you would never get entangled by, and you find more freedom! It starts with the simple things, and grows to the bigger things. Before long, you find yourself motivated by righteous living. And, you hunger and thirst for it.
So, ask the question and ask it often. What does God want?
And as you ask this, I pray you learn what you believe, and why you believe it to be true!
Until tomorrow, I love you, and I pray that as you pursue righteousness, May God Bless you!
Part 4 - Blessed are the Meek
Don’t you know who I am?
I used to always say that to my kids when talking about how I would deal with people. I constantly told them that I would just walk into a place and say, “Hey, I’m pastor Michael. . .” As if that merited some sort of response from people. Or I would tell my kids that if they were ever in a jam, just tell people, “well I’m pastor Michael’s kid.”
Now trust me, I said that jokingly. If anything, if they were at our church at the time, and they said, “I’m pastor Michael’s kid,” people would have gotten excited and said, “You are Pastor Michael Escamilla’s kid?” As they admired all over them. . . .
But in all truth, I would be lying if I said I never had that thought in a real way. There were times when I thought to myself, “Don’t they know who I am?”
We all carry a small sense of pride with us.
And it comes naturally. God designed us to want best for ourselves. So we in turn know and believe that we deserve best. The problem comes when we believe we deserve best, over someone else. It’s so easy to think that we deserve best without realizing that it usually comes with a price that other people have to carry.
Jesus, just 3 stanzas into this sermon, has laid out a masterful approach to putting ourselves in a right place. Start by being poor in spirit. Realize that you need a savior. And as you move on from this first step, mourn over the person that keeps you from God’s best. And once you get those two things down, it becomes no big deal to be meek. Meekness comes from our understanding of what we actually deserve, and the grief our sin causes us in the scheme of God’s holiness.
What is meekness?
Its the humble realization that I’m actually not better than everyone else. It’s the reality check that puts me in the place of the rest of humanity and needs the loving mercy of almighty God, coupled with the grace of Father God’s goodness. Here its he fun thing about being meek - it takes us to an automatic place of loving others and advocating for them. Because in our meekness, we see that all people are trying their best to just make life good.
When we can step back from ourselves and see through the disposition that we have failure written into our story the same as everyone else, it causes us to respond differently. The grace give us by Jesus extends out toward the people around us who need grace in their lives too.
When was the last time you looked at someone grumpy, angry, or grouchy, and just said to yourself, “I feel for them, they must be walking through something difficult.”
See, meekness is slow to anger. Meekness allows us to put the needs of others first, even if they re a complete jerk to us. It’s only through meekness, that we are able to love the unloveable. In fact, I think it is meekness that opens the door for the spiritual gift of love. Paul talks of this gift in 1 Corinthians 13. Let me remind you what this love looks like.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no records of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
First off, this is a spiritual gift. We cannot have this type of gift without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. But in addition, you will not be empowered by the Holy Spirit to have this type of love without Meekness.
Why?
A lack of meekness is in opposition to this type of spiritual gift.
Now here is the best part. Jesus said that if you can find the meekness to think of others in a proper, healthy, light, and in turn, remember your own weaknesses and your own failures, that meekness will cause you to inherit the earth.
What does that mean?
It is only when you are meek, that you will be content with the world. You cannot be satisfied if you are not meek. You will always want more, believe you deserve more, causing you to fight for more. But if you can change your disposition and become meek, you will inherit the earth. You will find satisfaction in the people and things around you, instead of wanting more because you feel like you deserve it.
So here is the practice for today.
Practice meekness.
You are probably asking HOW
Simple, think of others first. Find ways to put others needs above your own. Go into school today and think of how you can be a blessing. I pray over my girls as they go to work each day and pray aloud for them to hear. And one of the things I always pray is that their coworkers, boss, and customers are blessed because my daughters are working today. Not because of their greatness, but because of their ability to see the greatness in others, and treat them with the respect due to them. Think of someone in you life, that you can go and honor, by doing the most unexciting thing for them that you can imagine. Not unexciting to them, but to you. Maybe it’s taking out the garbage for them, or cleaning up a mess they made without feeling like they need to know you are cleaning it or that you are angry they left it. Buy them coffee for the sake of kindness. Do something that shows your are practicing the art of putting others above yourself. And as you do, it will help you learn meekness.
And, as you learn meekness, I pray it will help you know what you believe, and why you believe it to be true.
But for now, I love you, and as you go and put others first, may you inherit the earth, and may God bless you!
Part 3 - Blessed are those who mourn
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. . .
I’ve been sad before, and have even cried. I’ve been hurt deeply to the point of tears streaming down my face. I’ve grieved at the loss of a loved one, and I’ve been completely broken by the actions of someone close to me before. This type of pain is easy to mourn. It hurts, leaves you speechless, and causes deep emotion that doesn’t easily pass by.
I also know that Jesus cares about those emotions. He too has expressed deep sorrow and grieved at the loss of Lazarus, knowing the pain that death has brought to the earth. He grieved to the point of tears over Jerusalem when he saw the pain they would endure because of their stubborn rejection of him. Jesus knew and modeled pain driven mourning. This proved his humanity as he walked and lived amongst his closest followers.
Yet here, in this sermon on the mount, the pain of loss, and the hurt of disappointment, are nothing of what he talks about as he gives this list of beatitudes. I know it would be easy to just say that Jesus means he is with us when we hurt, but that isn’t justice to the text.
See, here, Jesus is listing a response to our behavior.
Starting with the first beatitude, we learn our desperate need for Jesus. We realize that without his mercy and grace, we are broken people. We become poor in spirit, and in turn receive the kingdom of heaven.
But what happens next?
When Kristi and I were dating, we had one major moment that set the trajectory for the rest of our relationship. We were on a walk one day and were talking. I don’t really even remember what the conversation was about, or what made me frustrated in the moment, it was so insignificant, that it’s not even part of my memory. Yet whatever the frustration was, I was still learning how to overcome a bad temper. See, the 4 years leading up to our relationship, I was a prison guard at a maximum security, adult prison. While working there, I learned really quickly how to have a tough, impulsively angered attitude. I mean, is someone is cussing you out and raising a fuss, it wasn’t like I can just simply say, “ok, well Jesus loves you, please go back into your cell now. . . “ NO! I had to get in their face, yell at them, maybe even talk about their mama. . . . and tell them to get back. I couldn’t be gentle in that environment, or else I would have been run over by the attitude of the inmates. . .
Now at the time of Kristi and my relationship, I was no longer a prison guard. But that didn’t mean the prison guard attitude wasn’t deep in me! So as Kristi and I walked along, she said something that I disagreed with. I don’t even remember what it was. But it made me snap. So as I turned, I kicked a large lump of mulch that was next to a tree. Little did I know, they had just laid that mulch down, and it was a large pile of loose mulch. So as I kicked it, it exploded into the air.
As I stood there watching the smoke clear from this amazing mushroom cloud of mulch ashes, I saw through the clearing a youn lady half was across the field walking away from me. It was Kristi. She got in her car and went home. She left me standing there without saying another word to me.
After walking 3 miles to her house, I threw pebbles at her window and called her down to the driveway. There I we had a conversation where she laid it all on the line. She insured me that she grew up around people with bad attitudes and wasn’t going to have it in her future. So the choice was mine. I needed to figure out which direction I was going to go.
I walked back home from her house that night with a prayer of desperation!
I knew that without a doubt I wanted to change. I didn’t want to lose Kristi, so I didn’t want to be he person I had become. In that moment, I had a broken spirit. I understood the brokenness inside my being that responded in a way I did not want to be. I cried out in deep desperation, grieved by the overwhelming anger and lack of self-control that had overtaken me.
I pleaded with God to make me new.
And while it was because I wanted Kristi to be part of my future, it was more than that. I did not want to be something that I despised myself. I wanted to be made right.
And God comforted me.
Now he didn’t take it all away at once, but, Kristi can testify that from that point forward something was different. God was transforming me from the inside out. All because I saw what was wrong, and grieved the result.
This is the realization that Jesus spoke of when he said blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. He will comfort those who mourn the flesh that controls them.
IN one of my favorite chapters of the Bible, Paul explains his wrestling with sin in Romans 7. He says he keeps doing things that he doesn’t want to do, and can’t get himself to do the things that he does want to do. And the realization he has, is that SIN is controlling him beyond what he can resist. It’s what he calls the human nature. But he gets to a point of mourning where he can’t take it any more. He wants to do what is right, but sin keeps attacking him, and he gives in. So he says this line of mourning that resonates deep in the chest. HE says, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me form this body that is subject to death?”
This is the art of mourning.
It’s the realization that sin is in you, which is not only bad, but it is damaging to the person you are meant to be. This awful thing called sin is eating away at you and causing you to behave in a way that you do not even want to do! What a wretched man I am!
Yet it is this type of mourning that leads to Paul’s very next statement.
When we realize the depravity of our sinful nature, it also leads us to understand the depths of God’s mercy and grace. So building off the first beatitude, Jesus continues, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Paul recognized his sinful failures. But then continued on to realize God’s loving kindness. He says, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me form this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
You see, once I become poor in spirit and realize the truth about who I am - that I need a savior- it should lead me to response. I should be able to stop and say that I am messed up! I need a savior. And who will rescue me? Jesus Christ our Lord!
That’s when you get the work of the cross. Jesus didn’t just die to pay the penalty for my sin. He died to bring me to a spot of realization that without him I am a wretched man. But with him, I am comforted. He has brought me wholeness.
There is a lost art of repentance in Christian culture today. It’s so instantaneous that there isn’t time for transformation. The Conviction of the Holy Spirit should sting! We should feel it and know that something is off. But we have focused on the was of forgiveness through Jesus that it doesn’t give us time to truly repent.
But here is the good news, when we mourn, we will be comforted. When we truly stop and admit our sin, understand the effects sin has on our being, and go to God with a repentant heart, he hears us and pulls us from it.
Now I also recognize there are two types of people listening right now.
Some of you are going about life with easily hidden sin. IN fact, for some of you it’s so hidden that you don’t even recognize it yourself. If I were to ask you if you sinned today, you might even have to stop and wonder if you did or not. Knowing how easy it is to sin, I can venture to say that you probably did sin somewhere. And that sin might seem hidden to you, but it is the fruit of an underlying sin you don’t even recognize.
What do I mean?
Impatience with the person driving in front of you might result in the sin of saying something disrespectful, or acting a certain way out of aggression. But the root of it is much deeper. Deep down, it might stem from a sense of pride, a lack of empathy for others, or even a complacency that keeps you from seeing others as image bearers of Christ. But the truth is, there is something deeper in you that keeps you from responding differently.
I would love it if you took some time in contemplative silence, and just asked the Holy Spirit to reveal this sin to you. Ask him to search you and know you. And in this process, reveal to you the things that drive you in the wrong direction.
But there is also a second type of person listening today.
You’ve been dealing with some sort of sin that you pray and pray and grieve and grieve, and yet you feel like it is not being taken away. You keep finding yourself trapped right back in the cycle of sin that controls you. While I know God wants to deliver you from this cycle, and I know you are earnestly seeking him, you need to know that he is still comforting you. You might not be healed from the sin, but you are healed from the scars that it creates as you keep on battling. So don’t give up! Keep seeking God and asking for him to set you free! And then find accountability to help you pursue that freedom!
But as long as you are looking toward Christ, and looking for freedom while mourning the sin that entangles you, You will be comforted. So keep bringing it to the Lord. And every time you do, you are becoming more pour in spirit. And the promise is, your is the kingdom of heaven.
So no matter what it is you face, whether a quiet hidden sin, or one that is constantly screaming in your face, take some time and get alone with God. Admit the pain your sin has caused. And let him comfort you.
And as you do, I pray you know more of what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. Until tomorrow, I love you, and as you mourn for the presence of the forgiving, loving, and merciful savior, May God Bless YOU!
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
The word Blessed here comes from the Greek word Markarios - meaning blessed, or happy, fortunate, and well off. It’s actually a picture of being content and fulfilled. This word blessed is an understanding that you are just fine with where you are at, because you get you, and where you are at. See, this is an awareness that you don’t have to look around and measure up, judge, compare, or even contrast how you would do things, because you are just fine accepting the grace you have been given for the situations you have been place in.
Let me further that thought for a second.
We have been given grace and mercy. The writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrew 4:16 - to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
What’s the difference between grace and mercy?
Grace is being given blessings beyond what we deserve. It’s the understanding that God is so incredibly good to us as he pours out his favor and kindness on us.
Mercy is not getting what we actually deserve. It’s the understanding that we deserve to be punished for our sinful rebellion, but instead, we were forgiven and redeemed. We should be cast out of the presence of the living God, but instead we were given a chance to build relationship with him.
These two things in our lives, the grace to be cared for beyond what we deserve, and the mercy to be forgiven and spared the punishment we should embody, both lead me to a place of gratitude. When I take the time to understand how good God has been to me, it makes me fulfilled, happy, full of contentment, fortunate. . . It makes me realized how blessed I am!
So Jesus starts with the reminder that Blessed are you, when you are poor in spirit. What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
Poor - the Greek word ptōchos (pto-khos’) indicating a state of helplessness, or powerless to accomplish an end on your own,
Spirit - the Greek word pneuma- referring to the rational of a person, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, or decides.
What Jesus is saying, is that you would do good to understand just how helpless you are when you are left to your own ability to feel, think, or make decisions on your own. You don’t have the power to always make wise, meaningful, thought out actions and thoughts. The flesh drives you to make bad judgements all the time.
It’s the condition of the heart. The heart wants what the heart wants. . .
The sooner you recognize that you aren’t perfect, that you give in to your fleshly desires all the time just like everyone else, the sooner you will be able to find satisfaction realizing the grace and mercy of God! In fact, Jesus takes it a step further. He said,
“Blessed are the Poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus basically said, there is no way to understand the kingdom in which he reigns, if you can’t understand your inability to deserve it in the first place.
This isn’t a moment of thinking poorly of yourself.
This doesn’t mean to evoke a “Woe Is Me” attitude.
It’s a simple reality that Jesus illustrated in John 15 when he said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart form me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
See, the poor in spirit are blessed and content, because they don’t need to look around and compare what opportunities others have been given, because they realize the breath in their lungs today is a graceful act of a loving God who breaths life into them, in stead of making them pay for the mess they have made around them. And when you understand that, you get the kingdom of heaven.
See without understanding this, you miss the kingdom of heaven because you are constantly thinking you deserve something better than what you actually deserve.
Now, here is an important piece that Jesus wanted them to walk away with. He wasn’t trying to knock them down or tear them down to size by saying this. He was reminding them of his goodness. He was helping them put the goodness of God into perspective.
You will be content and satisfied when you begin to realize that apart from God you can do nothing. You are but filthy rags. . . . But the kingdom of heaven amends this, because you aren’t apart from God. You have the forgiveness, favor, mercy, and grace of God in your life! So you can do all things. You are more than a conqueror. And this grace is no different than the grace of the person who you think has undeserved favor to be in a role and do things that you want for yourself.
So here is the rub. This is what I want you to think about, and then I want you to put into practice. . .
Somewhere you have looked at someone or a situation and have thought you deserve the opportunity to be given the chance. . . . I don’t know your exact context or what you feel slighted from, but it’s human nature. We all want the chance to prove ourselves. This is a drive that will cause you so much frustration, hurt, and pain. If you want to be blessed, if you want contentment in your life, you have to realize that apart from God you can do nothing. So all you really need is. . Jesus.
Two things to overcome this.
First - stop and admit to God that you need him. You don’t need the promotion, favor of mankind, opportunities, or anything else this world has to offer. You just need the presence of the living God. For if you can find this, you will be blessed. So take some time to admit your dependence on him.
But Second - if there is someone that you have been jealous of, someone who you feel like you could do their job better and so you have been bitter, angered by the fact that you don’t get the chance to. . but they do for some reason. . . . you need a reset of heart. The only way you can do that, is through prayer.
See, I told you that prayer isn’t something we do to earn the favor of God. The blessings aren’t being held out from you until you say a certain amount of prayers and earn your favor. But prayer helps you align your heart with God and get out of your egocentric thought process. So start by praying. Pray for the person you find yourself jealous of. Or pray for the one that isn’t handling things the way you would. Begin asking favor over them and a protection to make wise decisions. When you do this, you will begin to become a person who is poor in spirit. And the result, you will get the kingdom of heaven.
So wrestle with this today. And as you do, I pray it helps you understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. And until tomorrow, I love you, and as you learn to be poor in spirit, may God bless you!
Beatitudes episode 1
What does God expect you to do?
If I’m honest, There is a dangerous pressure that I have witnessed being placed on kids, and even adults, that sounds like this - God is going to use you to do great things!
I mean, I hope that is true! And I pray that over every one I come in contact with. But I refuse to say it. Do you understand the pressure it puts on someone when you say God has great things in store for them that he wants them to do. . . It puts pressure to perform, and an unreal expectation to do something that actually has nothing to do with us.
Does God really want people to DO great things?
Maybe you’ve been told this or have had someone speak over you that God was going to use your story to do something great in the lives of others.
Again, I pray that to be true. But is that what our story is for?
Are we supposed to hold it out like some sort of power source designed for some great purpose? Here is the problem, when we put that pressure on someone, it causes a misalignment of purpose and motivation.
Let me explain what I mean.
God never set expectations on people to DO.
The problem with today’s society is that everything, including relationship, is a performance based transaction. Society begs the question, “What can you do for me?” It is why people are primarily friends with those who agree with them and have the same ideologies as them. We have been tricked into thinking that the way someone performs is contingent on their ability to be loved and befriended. It is why you don’t want to be friends with that person that you “just don’t get anything out of the relationship.”
The tragic part is that this creeps into our relationship with God as well.
How many times have you thought to yourself that you would read your Bible more so that you could have more of God’s love.
Or have you fasted, just because you thought that if you didn’t, you wouldn’t get the blessings of God?
Now don’t get me wrong, Fasting is important, and we will talk about it soon, but fasting doesn’t secure a blessing. God doesn’t need you to read a certain number of verses in order to pour his blessing on you. And you aren’t expected to do something great for God in order to be called His. . . .
But while you aren’t called to do. . . . You ARE called to BE!
God isn’t concerned with what you do, but he is extremely alert to who you become!
There is a verse in Ecclesiastes that I love that says this, 6:10
“Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago wha tech person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.”
This is the wisdom of King Solomon. He is making sure we understand that God has put time and thought into what each person would Be. He made you intentionally the way you are. This isn’t a list of things to do. It doesn’t come with a task list that you check off in order to fulfill your purpose.
It is a hopeful formation of you as a person.
God wants you to BE who he designed you to BE!
And what exactly is that?
Well, a uniquely formulated image bearer of Yahweh - the Creator God.
God has ordained that you would become a person that represents him and is full of his presence. And the best part, is that you don’t have to focus on doing anything. You just have to become who God created you to be.
This is why Jesus starts off the very best sermon ever preached with a list of BEattitudes instead of DOattitudes.
Listen to this list in Matthew 5:1-12
Over the next couple of days, we are going to walk through this list of beatitudes one at a time. And as we do, the goal is to help you identify the type of person that God has called you to be. But I want to start by doing a practice that I believe will help you.
Open your Bible and re-read this list. But as you do, slow down and ask God to reveal to you where you have tried to Do instead of trying to Be.
Let me say it this way. . If you are pursuing a relationship with God the Father, the Living God who breaths life into all things. . . . He is so pleased and proud of you! Reading a set number of verses, or fasting a specific number of days won’t make him more proud. It will help you grow deeper and understand God’s ways more, but that’s a bonus for understanding who you are and who God designed you to be!
So I’m going to pray over, and then I want you to read this list again. And as you do, I pray that Holy Spirit reveals areas in your life where you are trying to accomplish, instead of just letting God help you become. And as we study this section together over the next few days, I pray it helps you to understand what you believe, and why you believe it to be true. But for now, I love you, and as you become who God designed you to be, May God Bless you!
JUST A NOTE! The Seattle event actually took place a couple of months ago. I was late on hearing about it.
This is the Tuesday content for the Exodus series. This week we learned about the final plague and Passover. The goal is to understand the distinction God made that brings life, verses the path of our own desires that leads to destruction.
April 4
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! We have been in the book of Luke, studying the life of Jesus. But today wanted to break for a moment. I was talking with my daughter Ava yesterday, and she asked a pretty profound question that I wanted to answer. . . So, this is Ava’s question. “If God were to stop thinking about me, would I cease to exist?”
I thought it was such a fun question to talk about, that I would bring it here and have this discussion with you. . . .
So, here we go.
At first, it was an easy answer. Of course not. God loves us and we exist because he made us full of life. We would exist simply because he would not want us to cease to exist. . . .
But then. . Is that right?
Understanding the nature of our existence brings this question into an interesting conversation.
So, follow me on a journey real quick as we open up this question.
First, I love the words of Paul that explains the purpose of Jesus. Remember, we would be foolish to ignore what we know about Jesus whenever we are trying to figure out theology around God. Jesus shows us the Father.
Listen to Colossians 1:15-22
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through I’m and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy. For God was pleased to have al this fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through is blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in you minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move form the hope held out in the gospel.
First off, the Son is the image of the invisible God. So again, he represents God. What you see about Jesus, is the same as what you can know about God. Jesus doesn’t live a separate life and have a separate authority than God. He IS God. They are one in the same.
Second - what you see about him, is that he is the head of the church. This shows the position of where he wants to be. Not just that he is in authority over the church, but that he is closely attached to the church. Without the head, the church would die. So he is needed in order for the church to exist.
And next, what was his pleasure? To come here and reconcile all things to him. This is a relational term. He made things right between us and him so that we would be in relationship with him. Why? Because this is how we were created. Reconcile means to bring things back to where they were supposed to be. God’s goal, was to make thing right so that we could be in relationship with him.
And the result, we are reconciled and free from blemish. This allows us to be in his presence and be his people.
Why is this important?
Because this unfolds the heart of God. He isn’t just creator, he is an active participant in the world he created. Remember, that’s why we use the word spiritual instead of supernatural. He isn’t removed from creation, he is part of it. His goal is a created world in which he is at the center. When you read revelation, we read of Zion - the newly formed city. And what is at the center of it? The throne of God. God’s heart is relationship with mankind.
And remember what the writer of Hebrews told us in Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
In other words, what we read about Jesus in Colossians is the same as the heart of God in Genesis 1 at creation, and is the same as Jesus on the throne in Revelation at the heart of the new creation.
So the summary of this part, God is a God of relationship who created us to be with him. He always has been this way, and always will be. . .
Which makes Ava’s question interesting.
Because If God is about relationship, and he always has been and always will be, then if he forgot about you, then not only would you cease to exist, but so would he. See, the God who always has been in love with you, who has always wanted you by his side, and who is the same for all of eternity, would no longer be a reality if he forgot about you for one second. And as Elohim, he didn’t just create the universe, he created it with the hope of being at the center of it with you along side of him. If he forgot about you, he would no longer be that same Elohim.
So by nature, if he forgot about you, he wouldn’t exist as that same creator.
His nature would be completely different and would not be the same yesterday, today, and forever. That’s how much you mean to him! He would make his entire existence as creator around making an interactive masterpiece that not only revolves around him, but needs him, and he needs and wants us. . .
But here is the good news friends, he will never forget about you. He will always love you and you will always be on his mind.
I've read this before, but I want to end with one of my favorite Psalms. 139, the first 18 verses.
You have searched me, Lord,
And you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts form afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
You, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
And you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
Too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “surely the darkness will hide me
And the light become night around me,”
Even the darkness will not be dark to you;
The night will sine like the day,
For darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
You knot me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
When I was made in the secret place,
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
Before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
They would outnumber the grains of sand-
When I awake, I am still with you.
Let that sink in today. You mean so much to God, that he would base his entire existence as Elohim, around the fact that he made a creation that he longs to be with. You, are the reason God chooses to be creator God. And he will not let you go!
n order to Love God with all of our heart, it is our practice to Want What God Wants. In order to do this, on Tuesdays we expound on what we learned during weekend content. Each week we will spend time learning God's plan and what he wants for our lives. Tuesday Teachings are our opportunity to learn more and align our lives with what God intends for us, in order to become the people he designed us to be!.
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! After a week talking about sex and sexuality, yesterday we wrestled with a great question from Grace who asked, “Is it just me, or does it seem like people really do frown upon homosexuality sin more than others? And if yes, why do you think that is? In my opinion, I think people should show love and empathy to others, even if they are sinners. And what if you have a close family member or friend who is gay, aren’t we supposed to love people no matter what?”
I wanted to talk about another piece of her question. How do we actually handle the LGBTQ community, especially when they are our family members?
This is delicate, and I understand each person has to come to their own conclusion on what God is leading them to do in regard with their family members. So let me just try and give some encouragement, starting with yesterday’s topic. Love over everything! ! ! ! ! ! People need to know that you love them before they know anything else!
Let me help you with the Great Commission for a moment.
Matthew 28:18 says this
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.
What is the progression of this command?
Go take disciples of all nations. What is a disciple?
The greek word here is - mathēteuō - meaning a pupil or learner. So the first thing we are to invite people into is a relationship where they learn something important. . . It’s not the rules and regulations God calls us to obey. What is the next part of the command? Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. IN order to baptize them in the name of the trinitarian God, they better be a pupil that learns and understands who this God really is. That’s the first part of the command. It is teaching all nations to have a relationship with the living God. Then, the final part of the command is - teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
So for me, there is a distinct difference between a person who claims to believe and know Jesus, and a person who has no idea what this is all about. They are in a different part of this journey. Those who have been baptized and claim to already know Jesus - they should be able to be called to a different standard. Because at that point, they are to be learning to obey everything Jesus has commanded. Someone who does not confess to be a Christian, who is struggling to understand why Christians talk the way they do and believe the way they do, my first job is simply to get them into a relationship where they understand the living God. I must introduce them to Jesus - not his rules. The Lord is relational. He wants all people to know him and be brought into relationship with him first and foremost. It is only through relationship that we learn to obey everything he teaches us.
Listen to 1 John 5:3
This is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
Why aren’t God’s commands burdensome?
Because when you actually come into relationship with the living God, you want nothing more than to continue in his presence. This leads you to obedience of his commands in a way that is pleasing to him.
See, I will never expect a non-christian to begin acting in a way that Christians should act. That’s the path of maturity after learning to follow Jesus. But the first step is to follow Jesus.
So for all of you who have friends living alternative lifestyles, love them to pieces! Don’t try to change them or tell them their actions are wrong. Introduce them to Jesus! After all, it is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict! Not ours!
So what about a family member, how do you handle this?
Well, you love them! You spend as much time with them as you possibly can so that you can show them who Jesus is! I make it my point not to tell others what I believe unless it is in a safe conversation that I am invited into. I do not openly give my opinion to someone about their lifestyle without them asking me to speak on it.
I personally would never go to a gay wedding. For me, marriage is such a sacred thing, that I feel the concept of a same sex marriage to be a blatant disregard of how God created marriage. I will not participate in that. However, I will bring them dinner, invite them over, find ways to have relationship with them. And should they ask why I didn’t go to their wedding, I will be ready to have a reason that helps them understand where I stand with marriage. Hopefully a door gets opened to tell them the love of Jesus.
Because that’s what it is all about friends.
We must be people who present Jesus to the world around us. That can only happen when we are full of love, and show others who Jesus is. So love, love, love. And when you are done loving - LOVE SOME MORE!
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! After a week talking about sex and sexuality, I have a great question here from Grace who asks this, “Is it just me, or does it seem like people really do frown upon homosexuality sin more than others? And if yes, why do you think that is? In my opinion, I think people should show love and empathy to others, even if they are sinners. And what if you have a close family member or friend who is gay, aren’t we supposed to love people no matter what?”
GREAT question Grace!!!!
Thank you for asking it!
And I hope everyone heard me on the last few weeks of podcasts. My goal was never to disrespect or treat people less than! Everyone deserves to be loved and respected no matter what. Our job is to love one another!
In fact, listen to this;
This is Jesus’s words in Luke 6:27-36
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
FEW!!
Great words from Jesus himself!
He lays it out clearly here to everyone. You should show love to everyone, including the people who are your enemies! Those that hate you - love them! Those who curse you - bless them. Someone who slaps you on the cheek - turn the other cheek to them. Give to those who ask and don’t expect repayment from them.
What is Jesus saying here? Everything he points to is countercultural to what the world would do. When someone is your enemy, it is expected that you would hold a resentment toward them. When someone hates you - it’s easily excused that you would do something in return to them that is brought to the level of their hatred toward you.
But Jesus is saying that we should be different. We should be the people so full of love, that we act in a way that the rest of culture wouldn’t act in.
So to Grace’s question, first of all - We should be a people more deeply full of love than any other group of people. And this is know by our demonstration of love toward others at times when it would make sense to right someone off. the type of love that Jesus talks of here, is a love that is so sincere, it silences any talk against it. There is not room for anyone to accuse you or to feel like your enemy.
And to your question, Grace, people do frown on homosexuality more than other sins. And this is a hard thing to navigate. The truth is, everyone has a level of sin that we are working through. There is not a person who is exempt from sin. We have all sinned. And some Christians would argue and say that homosexuality is deciding to live in sin openly and not turn away from it. Which is often justified as a sin then, that is much more severe. Yet, I know plenty of people who openly admit they do various sins and yet keep on doing them without worrying about the repercussions. Things like, spending money on wasteful things and creating a life without margin in a family they are supposed to are for. Or watching various inappropriate things and then justifying that they aren’t causing anyone any harm. . Or how about people who harbor bigotry and excuse it as - well that’s just the way I’ve been raised, or it’s because of the people I’ve worked with over the years. . .
There is no good excuse for treating others wrong. We are called to love people no matter what.
Now don’t confuse love and affirmation. They are actually two distinctly different things. And to love someone doesn’t necessarily mean to affirm them. The world has warped the idea of affirming someone. To them, love and affirmation are synonymous. Yet, a true loving relationship will love someone even though they don’t affirm their actions. For instance, if my son decided he wanted to play with hand grenades and started pulling the pins on them and throwing them up and catching them. . . I would have some very non-affirming words for his actions. Not because I don’t love him - but because I DO love him and don’t want him to get hurt. This is what real love looks like. I will do whatever I can to keep him safe, even if it means non-affirmation of his actions.
The tension that Christian’s have to navigate, is to balance loving people so well that they know you are there for them, but loving people so well that you have the chance to speak life into their actions that are detrimental to them.
I will say, Christians have gotten this so wrong for so long! We are so ready to call out sexuality as a sin, that we don’t care for the people who are battling such a lifestyle. We simply tell them what we believe.
Here is the last thing I will say to this, and I will probably talk more on it tomorrow.
If someone knows what I believe before they know that I love them, I AM IN THE WRONG!
People should know how much I love them no matter what! Whether I agree, or disagree with their choices and lifestyle, they need to know I love them! The rest is secondary to that.
So Christians, love your enemies. Go the extra mile to show people you care. Give them whatever you can without asking for it back in return. And show people what the true love of Christ is like.
I’ll answer more about Homosexuality and how we handle it tomorrow.
But for now, that’s all the time we have left for today. I love you, and God bless!
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! We have been discussing all things sex and sexuality. And today I want to address the question, does the Bible talk about transgender people?
Let me start by acknowledging that there are people who struggle with gender dysphoria and are trying to understand why they feel the way they do. I want to start by saying I love and respect you. I hate that you feel such discomfort and frustration. I don’t have to understand what you are feeling to love you and want you to find wholeness. I don’t bring up this topic to make you feel less than or that you don’t matter. I bring it up to help people understand what the Bible says and doesn’t say. I want to make sure people know the truth behind an ancient writing that helps us understand God through the eyes of the Hebrew people. For me, I believe this to be the best set of understandings about God. For fellow followers of Jesus, we hold the scriptures to be our source of life and pathway to truth. So it is important to understand what is written and why.
Please know, I will do anything to help you find wholeness and life. And if you don’t agree with my understood pathway to that wholeness, I will love you without imposing my understanding on you. But I will still try to clarify the Bible so that there is no confusion on what it says.
If you didn’t know this, This Wednesday the 12th is national detransition awareness day. This is a day set aside by people who have started the transition process, and either have stopped in the middle of it, or have regretted the process and tried to reverse whatever they could. The problem with it, is that most of the time there are pieces of the process that are irreversible. So this day is to help people stop and really process their options and outcomes - before jumping into a decision to transition.
There is a lot of work done on rapid onset gender dysphoria. Dr. Linda Seiler wrote a book called TRANS-Formation. In it she talks about her journey as a young lady wanting to be a boy. She gives a lot of data and research on how this phenomenon is so rapidly spreading and what we are to think of it. I won’t be addressing much of this in today’s podcast, but I encourage you to give her a listen and see what she says after writing her doctoral dissertation on rapid onset gender dysphoria and what it means for our children.
But today, I want to approach this by starting the conversation from a Hebrew understanding - This is important because this is the language and culture the Old Testament is written in, and is the culture and people the New Testament is written from. So it is important to think like a Hebrew when reading into scriptures that aren’t quite clear to us. It’s dangerous when someone takes a scripture and interprets it to mean what a modern western culture might understand it to be without stopping and asking the question, “does that align with the people of the Bible who wrote and understood this?”
So let’s start today’s conversation with one concept that was essential to the Hebrew people. It’s the word - ‘eḥāḏ - meaning - ONE. This is a word that the Jews say daily when they quote the Shema. You might not have hear the word Shema before, but I bet you’ve heard the first line of it, if not the entire thing. It is found in Deuteronomy 6:4 and says,
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
This, being an understanding of the character and parts of God, admits that though they are many, they are one. That word one - eḥāḏ
It is with the thought of this eḥāḏ that they understood Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Being - nep̄eš - meaning soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion - all in ONE.
It is an understanding that the ruah - breath of God - was breathed into this dust of the ground and caused the physical body and the breath within it to become one. Which by the way is the same understanding that takes place once Adam and Eve are married and become one flesh. There is unity in the concept of the person and the union between husband and wife. The Hebrew intrinsically understood the concept that a person isn’t in conflict with themselves. They are to be united body mind and spirit. The goal is alignment as God is aligned.
See, the presupposition for the Hebrew narrative is that a God harmoniously functioning as three in one, gave mankind the same treatment to harmoniously function in many parts as one. I mean listen to the next part of the Shema - Let me start it over with the beginning in Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
If you take the time to understand the Hebrew/Jewish culture, you begin to understand that the goal was oneness within self in order to align with the unified oneness of the living God.
The thought that someone wouldn’t align within their inner self, needing some sort of transition to change them, is such a contradictory thought, that it would never have been part of their teaching. They knew that the unified God, created the human being in his image. This was a call for the human psyche and the human body to be in such alignment that there was no duality of existence.
So when you hear people say that the Bible supports transgenderism, they are off base. Hear what I am saying though. Not because the Jews were transphobic. But because in their assessment there was no such thing as transgender. God only created a person to be whole as one - they were aligned in their thought as they were in the body. This is because they were made in the image of the unified single God who function in three persons.
And before someone says that they must have then tried to align their body with their mind, their belief is that a person is born with the ability to be aligned. So if the body is physically made by God, the breath of God in the person aligns the inside with the physical creation God made on the outside.
So to claim a verse is meant to be interpreted as trans affirming, is wrong simply by principle. The Bible doesn’t do much work on gender ideology for two main reasons. First, it is a more recent ideology. While in the past several hundred years we are able to point to various examples of people rejecting binary gender roles, the best we can do is interpret ancient writings to imply something we are addressing in modern times. There are no deep indications that there was an ancient dilemma of one finding their gender identity.
Second, the Jewish understanding didn’t leave room for people to rebel against part of their makeup. They were supposed to find alignment with the body and spirit as God assigned it. They didn’t leave room for anything other than harmony inside of a person. This is affirmed in Paul’s writing in the New Testament as well as throughout the Bible. The thought is that we are to take captive our thoughts, align our hearts desires, and transform the mind so that it aligns with the physical role God placed us in.
Do not conform any longer to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by - changing the way you think. Romand 12:2 (NLT)
And to read the Bible from the perspective of someone who didn’t write it, would mean you are missing something that was implied and presupposed. This is the danger with using Biblical texts to try and prove a modern ideology. It might not implicitly say something. But the text has to be contextualized for setting, audience, and author. All three of those. . . well. . . must eḥāḏ - be viewed as one, while reading the text.
Tomorrow we will address specific text that are often used to prove a point in this conversation.
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today I want to answer a question from a friend, who asks, “Is it ok to marry someone who has been divorced?”
This is a great question that has divided a lot of people. So I will do my best to answer why it is such a big question, why it matters, and what we can do about it today. But just to let you know, by the end of this, I will not give you permission to believe one way or the other. That is for you to wrestle with and try to understand.
But first, let me remind you why marriage is so sacred to the Lord.
Marriage is a contractural agreement between two people and God. If you listened last week to our sex conversations, it is through the union of two people that we experience unity in diversity, the purest intimacy possible, and companionship. All of these are meant to demonstrate the unity, intimacy, and companionship of the Lord. So God chose marriage as a symbol of what it looks like to be committed to someone in a lifelong relationship that works things out in order to build a healthy union.
The Bible often refers to marriage as representing Christ’s love for the church.
Paul instructs the men in Ephesus to love their wives as Christ loves the church. Listen to Ephesians 5:25-30
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemishes. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of this body.
See the comparison there. Paul is helping us understand that a husband and wife are symbolic for the relationship that Jesus has for the church. So this is held in high standards, because the love of Jesus for the Church is in high standards.
So that must mean divorce is a sin, right?
Well, I do think it goes against God’s best design. Again, he designed marriage to show his devoted relationship toward his people. It is a symbol of God’s love. And it is considered by God to be a contract. It is the joining of two people together as one. Listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 19:3-9
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife of many and every reason?”
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
When it says that last part, What God has joined together. . This isn’t just talking about God’s approval at a wedding. This is talking about God’s design. Did you know that when two people have sex, they exchange DNA with each other and literally mix their chemistry together. They become one in more than symbology. And the endorphins that are released while being together, imprint images and lasting connections with each other that can’t easily be broken. This is the design of God. So he longs for marriage to be a lasting thing that doesn’t get ripped apart.
But what is Jesus talking about when he says that Moses permitted divorce?
Well go back to Deuteronomy 24:1-4
If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and send her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes a wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and send her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD. Do not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Well now consider this verse. Moses allowed for divorce for various reason, and even ended this section by making sure they were free from brining sin upon the land. So he let them divorce if the man found something wrong with the woman, but wouldn’t let him remarry her if she married another man in that time.
So there are some inconsistencies even in the old testament law, that permitted divorce at certain times, yet did not allow it at others. .
So let me do my best to give the best answer I can give.
It is certainly not God’s desire and plan for someone to divorce. His desire is that two people would be covenantally united as one before him. This is his plan for our lives.
The unfortunate part of God’s plan for our lives, is that it often involves other people. And the problem with that is - we can’t control other people’s actions and lives. So while I might marry someone, and believe it is what God has for me as his plan for my life. But if that person doesn’t also seek out God’s plan and believe in his plan for marriage, the marriage might end due to their lack of understanding God’s plan.
At that point, does he condemn both people because one of them chose to ignore his plan?
When I study the scriptures, here is what I see around the topic of divorce. It is the most real object lesson of what it feels like to the LORD when we commit adultery with other gods. When we allow ourselves to be attached to things that aren’t part of God’s plan, we become adulterous and it is like a divorce that breaks God’s heart.
Listen to Jeremiah 3:1
If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled? But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers-would you know return to me? Declares the LORD.
Jeremiah is again showing the symbolism. Yet even in the symbolism, there is a hint of the grace God has to still forgive and accept his people back to him. He will not cast them away because of their adultery. I mean, that’s the whole book of Hosea. If you haven’t read it, then I suggest you go and give it some time. It portrays Israel through Hosea’s wife Gomer who is a promiscuous woman. Hosea continually goes and retrieves her from other men’s beds. And God is saying this is how he is toward Israel.
So I think the problem that God has with divorce, is that it displays the brokenness that he feels when his people turn their back on him. Marriage is meant to symbolize the commitment that God has for his people.
At the end of the day, God is gracious and loving. He is full of justice as well.
So divorce shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s not God’s plan. Yet it’s not his plan for a person to be cast away from redemption either. So navigate the conversation with prayer. Find wise counsel. And seek the Lord no matter what.
I think there is enough evidence to say that a divorce that resulted from an unfaithful spouse, leaves plenty of room for redemption with that person and another. But I would even say that God’s love is extended to those who did not want divorce, yet circumstance lead that way. Their life isn’t permanently broken. That’s the message of the gospel. So pray, seek counsel, and decide what you believe God is saying about that situation. Each situation is unique, and comes with a set of circumstances that have to be navigated through the grace of God, with the righteousness of God in mind.
In short, God does not like divorce, because it demonstrates the pain he feels when we walk away from him. And he loves marriage, because it demonstrates the commitment he has for us and longs to have from us as well. But even more, be sure to seek the Lord’s approval before you ever marry! Build a relationship with Christ at the center. And as you do, he will help you build a marriage that never has to worry about divorce. This will represent the marriage God seeks between Jesus, and the church. . . Hows that for a non-answer?
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! The last 4 days we have been discussing sex and sexuality. If you didn’t listen to march 3, 4, 5, and 6, go back and listen to those when you have a chance. Yesterday, I mentioned that I was going to address what happens when someone can’t have kids. Does that mean they are not part of God’s plan? So I want to do a little work on this today in order to continue the conversation.
There are plenty of people who cannot have kids who long for a family in this way. I am so sorry for those who are walking through this and struggle in this way. But you have to believe that this does not limit God’s plan for your life!
First of all, the conversation was around sex. Having children was another reason why God created sex in order to help us relate with him. We see that through procreation, we are invited into the process of creating, just as God created the entire world. And it helps reinforce unity of diversity. Children can’t be created without diversity. And the unity it brings helps us understand God’s uniting of two differing creations in order to extend life. But to be honest, the 4th reason for sex is more of an outcome than it is a reason. When we are united with God in this way, the outcome is that we have children.
Looking at it this way will help us understand this more. The first three reasons, unity, intimacy, and companionship, are reasons for sex, and the outcome is procreation. This is because the unity with another draws us into understanding communion with a triune God who is able to function as one. This process brings us intimacy at the highest level with our spouse. The result is that we have companionship and the ability to procreate.
Someone who is unable to have children for any reason, is still able to understand the first three reasons. To be honest, they are still able to understand procreation as well. They are just limited from experiencing it.
Why?
And why would God allow this?
I wish I knew the answer to this.
We don’t understand why God allows brokenness to continue with people who are seeking his presence. But we know it has been since the early days of the scriptures.
The one who was promised to become a great nation through which all people would be blessed - Abraham - he was married to a woman who was unable to have children. We read about it in the book of Genesis. She was unable to conceive, yet God called her to be part of building the nation that would lead to Jesus. The child who would anoint the first king of Israel - Samuel - was born to Hannah, who was unable to have children and came to the temple begging for God to open her womb. Elizabeth was old and unable to have children, yet eventually God heard her prayers and she conceived of John the Baptist. All of these are great stories of God involving women who couldn’t bear children into the process of the big picture of God’s plan. This shows that the wasn’t ignoring them and that something was wrong with them. It was because of their obedience and faith that thy were invited into the process through childbirth.
But perhaps the best story for this is the story of Jacob and Rachel. This is a great story that illustrates God’s love for those who do not have children.
Let’s read Genesis 29:31 - 30:1-22,
When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she name him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”
Then she said, “here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.”
So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her, and she became pregnant and bore him a son. Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea nd given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan.
Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived agains and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachell said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali.
When Leah saw hat she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilch and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Leah’s servant Zilch bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “What good fortune! So she name him Gad.
Leah’s servant Zilch bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she name him Asher.
During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?”
“Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”
So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.
God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she name him Issachar.
Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.
Some time later she gave birth to ta daughter and named her Dinah.
Then God remembered Rachel; he listens to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” She name him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”
Ok, let’s dig this apart a little.
If you don’t remember your Bible stories from being a kid, Jacob was tricked by uncle labon into marrying Leah, even though he thought he was marrying Rachel. He did not like Leah, and it was said that Rachel was far better looking. He was more attracted to her. But after working for 7 more years, Labon allowed Jacob to also marry Rachel.
Listen to what it said in Genesis 29 - Leah was not loved, so God enabled her to conceive.
This is why I said it is more a result of sex, although it is also a reason for sex. This is obviously how children are conceived. But it is not contingent for us to understand God as much as it is for us to participate with God. So God caused Leah to conceive, simply because she wasn’t loved by Jacob. She was missing the opportunity to find intimacy and companionship. So God showed special grace on her.
But listen to the meaning of her kids names. .
First Reuben - meaning misery - saying, “Because the Lord has seen my misery.” She even goes on to say, “Surely my husband will love me now.”
Then she had Simeon - meaning one who hears - saying, “The Lord heard that I am not loved
Then she has Levi - meaning attached - saying, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me
Then, she again gave birth and named him Judah saying, “This time I will praise the LORD.”
This forth child she was able to get away from the fact that she didn’t find intimacy and companionship with her husband, and was able to see that God was still with her. He was blessing her even if Jacob was not. Because of this, she doesn’t name him because of her pain and frustration with being unloved. She names him for the faithfulness and provision of God. And wouldn’t you know it. . . She gave birth to Judah. . Who would later become the Tribe of which is the family line of. . . . . JESUS! When she was able to understand God’s love, and celebrate it even though it wasn’t demonstrated by her relationship with Jacob, God gave her the son who would usher in the family line of Jesus.
See, children are a blessing. And unfortunately, because of the curse, not everyone is able to conceive. And in addition, some lose their baby or are taken away from their baby. There is a lot of result to the curse of sin. But childbearing is a result of sex more than it is a reason for sex. God wanted us to participate in creation. But there is still the call to rule over the earth. That is just as much a part of the creation process.
The funny thing is, God eventually remembers Rachel’s prayer and allows her to have children.. She understood the good ness of God and even understood God more because of her unity, intimacy and companionship. But God still wanted her to experience children, since it was such a strong desire for her.
And she gave birth to Joseph.
Jospeh means - may God add. Her prayer was that God would increase her family even more.
Later in Genesis 35, Rachel dies in childbirth of Benjamin.
This story is fascinating. Rachel knew God’s love because she understood her husband’s love. Leah had to have 4 children before she understood the love of God and the blessings he was giving her - all because her husband withheld intimacy and companionship from her.
See, children are a result of sex, and they help us participate in God’s creative process. But it is unity, intimacy, and companionship that build the relationship. It is through those things that we understand God at a deeper level.
I dont’ think God wants to withhold children from those who desire it. I think that is an unfortunate result of the curse brought on by sin. For those who can’t have children, I pray that God opens the possibility for you to have a baby. . But in the mean time, I encourage you to lean into the love of God through the relationship of you and your spouse.
Today I was at Starbucks and I met Bhushan. He is a new friend from India who is longing for a family. His wife went back to India to get the IVF treatments. So we prayed that they would be successful in creating a child. But I prayed closeness over him and his spouse. That God would bring them into a deeper relationship that helps them experience the love of God.
Children don’t do that. A right relationship with a spouse does that. It’s through true unity, intimacy, and companionship with our spouse, that we understand the deep love of God for us.
I know I’m talking to some people who lack that in their marriage. I talk with people every day who wish their spouse would treat them differently because they are lacking true companionship. I talk with people all the time who struggle with intimacy because they can’t stand their spouse and the way they act.
I think of Leah. A child won’t change that. And a child won’t even help you understand and experience God’s love. So I pray that God gives you a passionate intimacy and companionship with your spouse. I pray that more than anything else, you will put that person first. Because there, is where you experience the love God has for you!
Pray
Taht’s all the time we have left for today. I love you, and God bless.
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! The last three days we have been discussing sex and sexuality. If you didn’t listen to march 3, 4, and 5, go back and listen to those first. And, as I unfold this conversation a little more, if you have any questions, comments, or pushback, please feel free to reach out me at michaelgrove1@icloud.com or by messaging me on instagram and Facebook, or by calling or texting 630-995-1253…
So let’s recap,
Reasons that God created sex and sexuality. . .
1, unity
2, intimacy
3, companionship
And today number 4 - procreation.
See, we think that God created sex for having babies, or for pleasure.
Here is the fun thing about God. All things that God has put together for us to enjoy are pleasurable. That’s the type of God he is. He enjoys giving us the ability to enjoy life. So when he made sex, he made it in a way that would bring us pleasure. This helps us to understand the goodness of being with someone. It’s meant to keep us from wanting to simply be alone.
Psalm 16:11 says,
You make known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in your presence,
With eternal pleasure at your right hand.
God has a way that is full of pleasure.
When sex is done with the first three reasons in mind, it brings the most joy and pleasure. There is no fear, no embarrassment, no disappointment, no pressure. Just joy and pleasure. And the fourth reason for this, is that it is how we reproduce.
Genesis 1:28 says,
God blessed them and said to them, “be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
This was God’s command to Them in order to invite them into the unity, intimacy, companionship, of being part of the creative process. So God gave them dominion to rule over all things, and then the order to continue populating the earth. See, the animals don’t need to be told twice. They just naturally reproduce. So if Mankind is going to rule over the animals that are reproducing, we had better continue to grow in numbers as well.
All of this is God’s plan for sex. He designed it to help us be united. Again, its through diversity that we understand unity. And he wanted us to experience intimacy. So when we are united with someone, it brings us into intimacy. Then companionship grows. When we are truly one with someone, we have a companion that will be with us forever. So bringing kids into that type of relationship, the best thing ever!
So Here are four reasons I see in the scripture for why God created sex. All of them are designed to help us participate in God’s creative plan. When we have sex outside of these four things, we are missing God’s plan.
Some at this point will say, “But what about people who can’t have kids. Does that mean they are missing God’s plan?” No! Not at all! I will address that one tomorrow.
But for now, that’s all the time we have left for today. I love you, and God bless.
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! The last two days we have been discussing sex and sexuality. If you didn’t listen to march 3 and 4, go back and listen to those first. And, as I unfold this conversation a little more, if you have any questions, comments, or pushback, please feel free to reach out me at michaelgrove1@icloud.com or by messaging me on instagram and Facebook, or by calling or texting 630-995-1253…
So we’ve seen two reasons why God created sex and sexuality. The first one, is so that we can understand unity. When two things that are diverse agree together as one, they are unified like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Able to function as one, even though they are 3 parts.
Then yesterday we saw that sex is something that helps us understand intimacy inside of that unity. It is the most vulnerable and committed unity one might ever experience. It is important to note that each of these builds upon the other. So outside of unity, intimacy doesn’t happen the same way. An intimate experience between two diversely different beings takes things to a whole deeper level. Then, there is the next component.
Genesis 2:18-22
The Lord God said, “it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh’
She shall be called ‘woman,’
For she was taken out of man.”
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
This is a great text that actually covers all of the first three reasons God created sex and sexuality. Which, by the way, the three reasons I’ve given and am about to give, are not systematic. It’s not that God said here is the first reason, and here is the second. This is the order I am choosing to give them in, because I think they show the heart of what God is trying to get at even more than just naming them as they appear in the scriptures.
But look at the first one. God created sex for us to understand unity, Eve was taken out of Adam and was different. Yet the two became one. In fact, the text goes on to say that this is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. This is the unity of what God intended.
Second, we see intimacy. It says that they were naked and felt no shame. When sin comes in a the next chapter, shame is introduced because it breaks intimacy with each other. They then learn to not be intimate with God as they hide from him in the garden.
But the third reason God created sex and sexuality, is because Adam was alone. God brought all the animals to Adam in order that he might name them. This was God inviting Adam into the creation process with him. But there was no creature that would fulfill Adam. He was incomplete. Remember, that word good that we see in the creation narrative is a word of completion. It’s a functional word that shows something is able to exist in the way God designed it to. But Adam, could not. He was alone.
So God made a counterpart for him.
Why? Because he was alone.
There was no way for him to experience unity. No way for him to experience intimacy. And no way for him to experience what we will talk about tomorrow. He was alone. . . .
God didn’t want Adam to miss out on experiencing everything else, so he created him - what in the Hebrew - is a help mate. Someone to bring him into completion. Yes, Jerry Mguire had it right. To woman, man should say - You complete me. . .
See, true companionship comes - not from sex - but from unity, intimacy, and the ability to be together. When you have a spouse who works along side of you to help you become everything that you are supposed to be, that’s companionship. Marriages are build on people who are designed to complement one another. They fill in and compensate for each others weaknesses. Together, a couple can reach a stronger status of health and life, as they support one another through the best of times and the worst of times. Marriage is designed to be an example for those around you. This is what healthy life and relationship looks like. And, it is designed to model relationship with the Heavenly Father.
Now what does that mean for single people?
That is the question that most single people will ask me at this point.
And they are looking for some validation that they matter without a spouse.
And they do!
That however, has nothing to do with God’s created purpose for sex.
So I won’t address singleness in this podcast, other than to say, God intended this type of unity and intimacy and even companionship to be experienced through marriage. Does that mean that single people get ripped off unless they are married? Not at all. They get to stand as witness to what healthy relationships look like. They pull and learn from healthy marriages to understand the love God has for them as well. It’s why there are so many conversations about and around marriage in the Bible. Even the final banquet when we go to see Jesus is called “the marriage super of the Lamb.” But that doesn’t mean that single people are less than or have a less than relationship with the Lord. He uses marriage for all people to see and understand intimacy. It’s through marriage that he illustrates unity in diversity. And it’s through marriage that he shows others what true companionship looks like.
So what should you do if you are married?
Be the best example of unit you can ever portray. This looks like being one in how you talk and present yourself. It means being aligned in ideology and practices. It looks like keeping vows of intimacy to remain between husband and wife, making sure that no one else has access to the same level of intimacy with you than your spouse. And, it means being great companions with one another. Sharing the best and worst parts of who you are, how you feel, and what your day is like. If you do this, you will be perfectly aligned for the fourth and final part of why God created sex and sexuality.. . . . But I’ll tell that to you tomorrow. For now, that’s all the time we have left for today. I love you, and God bless!
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! If you didn’t hear yesterday’s podcast, we started a series on sexuality. As I stated yesterday, my desire is to present this in a way that is respectful and honoring to all people while also sharing the truth of the scriptures. So as I unfold this, if you have any questions, comments, or pushback, please feel free to reach out me at michaelgrove1@icloud.com or by messaging me on instagram and Facebook, or by calling or texting 630-995-1253…
Yesterday I talked about the first important piece of sexuality, and that is unity. I would love you to start there if you missed it yesterday. But the big point is this - God called us into unity. He uses our sexual beings to create unity between two differing things. In fact, we said that you only get unity out of diversity. You can’t have unity when things are the same. You only have sameness.
Today, I want to look at a secondary piece to this - intimacy.
Let’s start by reading a scenario that Jesus as confronted with in Matthew 22:23-33.
That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to this brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”
Jesus replied, “you are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead-have you no read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
So this is an interesting conversation. Let me break it down for you for a moment.
First off, the Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife. So their question to begin with is more of a sarcastic nature than anything. They are trying to play out a ridiculous scenario in order to give Jesus a hard time trying to answer it. But his response is brilliant - as usual.
He says they can’t answer this because they do not know the scriptures or the power of God. Which, to a group of people who believed they studied the law and all of it’s intent to the letter, this was and offensive suggestion. But he then goes on to say that at the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage;
Why?
They will be like the angels in heaven.
Now don’t stop and say that this verse means there isn’t marriage in heaven. That’s not necessarily what is meant here. Don’t focus on the component of marriage that Jesus responds with, focus on the location he focuses us into with his answer. Vs. 29-30, You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection. . . . . .
What is Jesus telling us here?
There is something with marriage here on this earth, that is not necessary in the resurrection. What is the resurrection? This is reference to our souls and bodies being reunited in the afterlife.
Jesus is saying that we won’t need marriage for the same security we have here on earth, because we will be reunited in heaven. And the key to this - we will be like the angels in heaven. What does that mean?
Now don’t get excited that you will have cute wings growing out of your back and will fly around on clouds with God all day. . That’s not heaven. I should do a podcast about heaven some day. But for now, understand that heaven is the reuniting of body and soul for the purpose of dwelling in God’s presence once again. We will be like the angels in the fact that we will understand full intimacy with God as we dwell with him. Jesus is focusing on a world that does not function like this one, with the primary difference being that the presence of God rules the future life we live in.
So then one must ask, what is sexuality for then on this earth?
Consider a couple of verses here. . .
Exodus 20:14 - one of the ten commandments - You shall not commit adultery.
Jeremiah - in talking of Israel’s unfaithfulness - says in 3:8
I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery.
Jesus’s words in Matthew 5:27-28
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Proverbs 5:3-6
For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
And her speech is smoother than oil;
But in the end she is bitter as gall,
Shape as a double-edged sword.
Her feet go down to earth;
Her steps lead straight to the grave.
She gives no thought to the wya of life;
Her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.
What is all this talk of adultery? Why is it warned so drastically in the scriptures?
Adultery is the breaking of intimacy with someone else. It is loosing sight of your true love and chasing after fleshly desires. It’s why in the book of Revelation there is talk of Babylon being a woman who seduces the kings of the earth and causes them to commit adultery with her.
See, adultery is symbolic for turning from Jesus and pursuing one’s own interest and desires.
In fact, all throughout the scriptures, we see the church, Israel, or God’s people described as a bride. There are several old testament as well as new testament references to a bride waiting for their groom. As well, there are several scriptures that refer to people who turn their hearts from God as adulterous.
Why?
Because the next purpose for sexuality is that it creates a model of intimacy between us and God. Someone who gives of themselves this way, should be committed to that person in a lifelong covenant that symbolizes devotion and - again - unity with that one person.
Being intimate with someone is the closest you can get to that person. It’s the most vulnerable and private expression of connection between two people. And it represents the closeness that God longs to be with his people. So when we turn our hearts away from him, it is adulterous. It causes us to replace that intimacy with him, for intimacy with someone or something else.
God gave us sex, as a way of first being united as two different pieces of creation. But second, he gave it to us for us to experience intimacy. To Jesus’s answer, once we get to heaven, we will no longer need sex to portray intimacy. We will be like the angels in that we will have immediate access to the full presence of God. We will know what full devotion to him feels and looks like.
But for now, we have intimacy with our spouse, as an example of what full intimacy looks like with God.
Now, let me stop and give a redemptive disclaimer here.
God also understands that we are adulterous people - meaning that our hearts wander and we chase after other desires at times. . . We all allow our intimacy with God to be corrupted by money, food, power, prestige, popularity, self gratification, and so many more things. So if you have given of yourself in sexual expression to more than one person, you are not broken any more than the rest of us! In fact, the beauty of God is that he is the most forgiving and jealously protective person of your love. He makes all things new! So it’s not about having one chance to get it right or else you fail. It is about understanding what intimacy and unity look like, so you can find intimacy and unity with God.
There are plenty of people who have done this their own way and regret it.
But let me suggest, the best way to understand unity and intimacy is in the confines of marriage with just one person for as long as you both are alive together. This is the demonstration of the commitment and love God has for you.
Ok. So recap
- Sex is a way for us to understand unity
- Sex is a way for us to experience intimacy as God desires with us.
- Sex is a way for. . . . . . oh. Wait. That’s tomorrow’s episode.
But for now, that’s all the time we have left for today.
I love you
And God bless.
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! So, I’ve put off diving into the topic of sexuality. But I’ve had a few people ask me questions about this. I want to handle this respectfully - not because I’m scared to share the truth. But because I never want to say things in a way that is disrespectful or harmful to others. So, I will take a few days. . . maybe even the next week or so, and share with you thoughts about sexuality, gender, pornography, and other things in alignment with this topic. My hope, is to make sure you understand a Biblical viewpoint of how all these things matter and what they mean for us today.
First, I want you to remember what I said back in January. God is a God of order. He created Wisdom first according to Proverbs 8. This shows that he has a specific plan for things and the way they should work.
Now a couple of days back I talked about Genesis 26 and how God said, “Let US make mankind in our image.” I want to start with this concept again. God is completely in unity with himself. That’s three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - all working in complete harmony with one another. While they are one, each of them has a different expression in how they work to bring all things into harmony with him as well.
Now this first part is often taken wrong by modern feminism so please listen through the entire things before shutting this off.
Genesis 1:27-28
“So God created mankind in his own image,
In the image of God he created them;
Male and female he crated them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves not eh ground.”
Here we have the first reason for sexuality. God created man and women. This implies that there is a distinct difference between two parts of the human race. One is meant to be female and the other male. This is a 50/50 line of diversity that God designed from the beginning. When we get to the gender conversation we will talk more about this, but know that this is the first invitation to unity with God. Just as the Triune God is one - he called male and female to be one together in unity as well. Unity can only happen when two things are different and they function as one. If two things are the same, they aren’t unified - they are just the same. When you bring two differing things together and they are able to function as one, then you see unity.
God invited us to join in with this demonstration of unity by bringing man and women together to function as one. And so we see this first command as a demonstration of that unity. Be fruitful and multiply. Now these are two different words but both leading to the same conclusion. Man and woman together have the ability to increase productivity on the earth.
So the first things we see with sexuality, is that it has a functional part designed into it. When a man and a woman come together, they have the ability to increase the earth. A man and a man can’t do that, and a woman and a woman can’t do that together. It has to be a man and a woman.
Why?
Because the purpose is that we would experience the same thing that God experiences when making the earth. The triune God was in unity with all three parts as the world came into existence. Remember what I said a few podcast ago. God the Father spoke, The spirit hovered over the water and began to breath through the person of Jesus to create the physical world. All three parts were in unison as they said, “Let US, make.. . “
And by inviting mankind into the process, God is making room for us to also be united with him in the unity of creation. But it starts with us experiencing the same unification that the triune God experiences. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, invite, Male and Female into the process of continuing creation on the earth.
This is why in Genesis 2:18 it says that “it is not good for man to be alone.” The word Good here actually indicates an incompletion. Everywhere else when God said part of creation was good, it was because he saw the pieces working together to fill the canvas and function in the way he designed them to function. Man alone - apart from woman - was not able to continue filling the canvas as designed. He was not able to experience the unity of creating with a co-part. So God gave male and female together in order to be united as one, that they might experience the same unity God has.
This is what is meant in Genesis 2:24 - “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” This is the process of becoming one. Male and female functionally fit together and they experience the unity of two different parts becoming one. That’s why the male and female body fit physically together like a puzzle. It’s to show what unity looks like between two differing body types.
Without this diversity in sexuality, the first point of God’s ordered design is lost.
So it isn’t as much about what God said not to do. This isn’t a defining of why a lifestyle is wrong or how it perverts God’s plan. It’s just an explanation of how it completely misses the first part of God’s plan. Without diversity of body parts - there is no ability to find the unity of becoming one.
So God created sexuality, that we might have the chance to become one flesh, and join in the process of being fruitful and multiplying while understanding the unity of God.
So what do we do with this?
Well, we understand it and pursue it for ourselves.
Culture has perverted sexuality and made it something it is not. I can tell you that a same sex couple will not experience the same unity with God and as a heterosexual couple will. It’s not because they don’t love good enough or that they don’t have the best intentions toward one another. There is a component of diversity that is missing which will always prevent the possibility for unity. Again, two similar things can’t be unified. They can only be the same. Two differing things on the other hand, have every opportunity to be unified. Which then gives them the chance to be fruitful and then multiply.
So to sum it up,
The first thing we see sexuality doing for us is showing us how to find unity. The same unity experienced by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I’ll just tell you from almost 23 years of marriage, there is nothing better than having someone who is so different from you that you are able to help one another fully thrive and complete God’s plan for each other’s lives. This is why marriage is so special, and so specifically made by a wise God full of order. When you do things God’s way, you experience the blessings of unity and grace!
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today I want to talk through something that a close friend and I were discussing. It’s something that perhaps will help you understand your theological stance on the role Jesus plays. So I want to start it with a question. Answer the immediate, first thought that comes to your mind.
Ready.
Why did Jesus come to this earth?
I’m guessing most of you said to save us from our sins.
That’s probably how most of us were raised. We learned that Jesus came to this earth, died on a cross, and rose again in order to defeat sin.
So next question - why did he need to defeat sin?
I’m imagining if you grew up like me, the answer is - so I can have. . . . what?
Did you say eternal life?
See, the way you answer those questions actually says a lot about your theology of Jesus and the cross. The real question is, did Jesus really come to earth, carry our sins, die a wrath filled death on the cross, and raise again simply so that one day we can have eternal life?
At this point, most of you would say no, but - it wasn’t just for the future afterlife that we hope to one day be part of. Yet, most of the teaching I have been around for the past 49 years of my life, focus on nothing other than Jesus being my savior. But isn’t he so much more?
Let me read you one of Luke’s stories that he told of Jesus’s interaction with sinners.
Luke 5:27-32
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
So in this story, Jesus called Levi out of tax collecting in order to follow him. In response, Levi held a banquet with all of his tax collecting buddies. What was Jesus doing?
Was he simply saving them from their sins?
Well, in verse 32, it says that he came to call sinners to repentance. So it must mean that he was just there to get them saved so that they could one day go to heaven.
Doesn’t it?
What do we know about tax collectors?
If you read ancient writings such as the Talmud, you find that tax collectors were quite despised. You find out that Rabbis excommunicated tax collectors from the synagogue. They weren’t allowed to come in. Tax collectors also weren’t allowed to exchange their money at the Temple treasure - which is really bad, because we know that Jesus saw how corrupt the temple treasury was and flipped the tables on them, driving them out of the temple. So if they were so corrupt that Jesus kicked them out of the temple, yet they wouldn’t even take the money from the tax collectors - how much were the tax collectors corrupt and despised? There is ancient writing that shows that the rabbis considered it lawful to lie in almost any conceivable way to avoid paying tax collectors. Which brings some light to why the Pharisees questioned Jesus on paying taxes. They tried to trick Jesus into saying what was common practice by many rabbis, even though they knew it to be wrong. But it was a way of life because of the damage the tax collectors were doing to ruin and impoverish people. The Talmud - which is Jewish rabbinic writing, even mentions that the Babylonians placed tax collectors alongside “murders and robber.” This shows how despised the tax collectors were.
See, the way you became a tax collector is by giving into the Roman government. You worked for them, but they empowered you to earn your own wages. The goal was for a tax collector to impose whatever kind of tax they wanted on their own people, in order to raise a set among of money for the Roman Empire. Anything the Tax collector was able to get above and beyond that amount, they could keep for themselves. They were robbing, imprisoning, and hurting their own people.
This - to Jesus - was not just a sin, but a sickness.
When he ate with them, he wasn’t just there to let them know that he was going to die for them and take away their sins, he was there to heal them of their corruption. And by doing so, he was there to heal their community of this corruption.
Think about Jesus’s response to John when he was in prison and sent his disciples to Jesus. Read this in Matthew 11:2-6
“When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
What is Jesus saying in response to John’s question?
Yes - I am the one. Can’t you see what I am doing? I am making life better for those who are hurting and in need. Not just spiritually saving them, but making their life here on this earth more healthy and thriving.
Or think about what Jesus said in John 10:10 - you’ve probably all heard this verse quoted before.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
What is life + life to the full?
That’s a lot of life isn't it?
Absolutely! Because it’s not just talking about eternal life. Yes, Jesus came to bring us eternal life. Which is actually more than just living for ever. Eternal life is actually about having our relationship with the Father restored. It is about living the the presence of the living God instead of the brokenness of the world we stand in now.
See, how you view all of this will change the way you live your life.
The disciples understood the wholeness that Jesus brought. IN fact, after a really hard teaching Jesus’s disciples were asked if they were going to leave his side. Let me read this verse, but maybe soon I’ll do a full podcast on this passage - because it’s a really good one.
John 6:66-68
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
See, they understood that the best life here on this earth is with Jesus. He isn’t just bringing us into an eternal life, he is bringing life to the full here and now.
See, the goal is for us to understand Jesus beyond salvation. If that’s where it stops for us, then we miss the point. The entire purpose of Jesus coming to this earth was to restore us into relationships with the triune God, both now and for eternity. We do this by understanding the life Jesus lead and what it means for the people around us. It becomes more about him being the Great Physician for all people more so than being the point of salvation for a future eternal consequence.
I think this is why Paul said that great verse in Philippians 3:10-11
I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
He isn’t just longing for eternal life. He is understanding that there was a process of restoration through is life and suffering. His death brought wholeness to the world. Paul is wanting to participate in this by dying to himself and helping to bring restoration to the people around him. It is why he is willing to be beaten, imprisoned, left for dead, and cut off from his own people. He would do whatever it takes to make sure people know the life that Jesus brings for all people.
Yes, Jesus still brought salvation. But if that is where the world of Jesus stops for you. . . You’ve missed the entire person of Jesus who lived on this earth and built relationship with the people around him.
So what do we do with this?
Well, when you stop focusing on Jesus being simply about salvation, you have a more tender heart toward those around you who are suffering. Jesus came for sinners. But he also came for the hurts and pains of this world. He came to show us that you can overcome the brokenness of life and be able to stand strong. He came that all people would understand life abundantly, not just life everlasting. It’s the new covenant that he made with this blood. We can be restored into right standing with God, while being made a new creation that thrives - even through the broken pieces of life.
Let me leave you with a word of Jesus that should give you hope. This shows what he came to do.
John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus knew we would have troubles. He knew that this world would be broken and even try to break us. But he didn’t come here just for salvation. He came to help us overcome the brokenness of the world. So take heart. He cares for where you are and what you are going through. He isn’t ok with the brokenness of the world. And he is looking for a people who will help usher in the kingdom of heaven here on this earth. A kingdom that is full of life, and beauty. A kingdom that is hopeful and loving. A kingdom that is full of the presence of the Lord. . . . .
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today I want to quickly touch on a question from Theresa whose 13 year old son Cody asks, “why does Genesis 1:26 say let us make man in our own image?”
This is a great question! And I am excited to talk about this today.
But first, let us read Psalm 139:1-18
David is the psalmist here and he is expressing a truth that he has found to be true. He can’t escape the presence of God. This isn’t because he wants to. He has found that God is like a persistent friend who won’t walk away no matter how badly they’ve been treated. This shows the desire of God. He has always wanted to have relationship with us! This has been his heart. In fact, this is why he invited us into the creation narrative. After creating mankind, he said in
Genesis 1:28 “God blessed them and said to them, “be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
God was inviting us into the process of participation in the earthly kingdom he had designed. He is so relationally oriented, that he called Adam into work by naming the animals and participating in the creative process. Then he called Adam and Eve into such close relationship that they were given the task of ruling over every living thing that God had made.
So we see that God is a relational God.
This is also why Jesus spent most of his time with the disciples teaching them how to love others and be a force of transformation in the world around them. Jesus, too, wanted us to be a relational people.
So while David explains that we can not get away from God, it is important to understand that this is because God is unified in relationship. He wants us to be part of that unity.
But who else is he unified with?
Well, we read in John 1:1-3 that Jesus was part of the creation narrative too. It wasn’t just God the Father creating, he did it through Jesus.
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John explains that Jesus was with God in the beginning. In fact, it was actually through Jesus that God created the physical world. This is because Jesus is the physical embodiment of God. He is fully God, yet part of the created world.
So “us” is talking about God and Jesus. But, there is actually one more part to this.
Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Enter the Holy Spirit.
Now it’s interesting, the role of the Holy Spirit today is to call people to relationship with God the Father, and to empower believers to be part of the restorative act of redemption. Whenever the Holy Spirit is empowering someone, it is for the betterment of the world. Romans 8 talks about the fact that the earth is growing with eager expectation to be restored and made whole again. And we too are filled with groaning of the Holy Spirit.
Why do we see the Holy Spirit playing this role? Well because that’s how we first saw the Holy Spirit. The Spirit started by creating life in the middle of chaos in Genesis 1 and continues to play that role today as Holy Spirit calls all people into redemption and restoration.
So there were three parts in one. This is what we call the trinity. Now, try as hard as you like, you will not fully understand this concept, but God is three persons in one. Father, Son, And Holy Spirit. They are not separate. They are one. Yet each seems to play a specific function in how we understand God. So when Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us. . .” it is referring to the triune God, father, son, and Holy Spirit, acting in unison to accomplish the goal.
Again, because God is a relational God. He is united with himself, and therefore calls us into unity as well. In fact, as I stated at the beginning, he is calling us into unity with himself in all three parts. He calls us to be in relationship with him in such a deep level that it creates unity.
So “Let Us” refers to the unity that was there when he brought us into existence, and implies the unity in which we are supposed to pursue as we seek out the presence of the Lord.
So seek God and search for his fullness that you might be unified with him, and find wholeness in the presence of the triune God.
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! This week, however, we are going to put a hold on the conversations dealing with why we believe what we believe. Today Kristi, Gavin and I travel to Costa Mesa California where we hope to plant a church by the end of the year. So I’m going to ask you all week long to pray with us. So I will share short prayers with you here on this podcast all week until we get back next Tuesday. In fact, I will be keeping you updated along the way so you know exactly what is happening and how to be praying for us.
I also wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you who have sent some support to us while we are heading out. This is greatly appreciated and so incredibly helpful. We will be attending a conference that you have held us attend. We will be meeting with a few employment options while there, and will be praying over the city.
When we get back, I will be launching our online church. So be watching for that so you can join our journey at a deeper level.
Our prayers over this week will be short and sweet. But I will give you direction as we pray, and will be asking you to pray the same thing for us. . As well as for you in the context you live in. We believe that each of us are called to ministry to those around us. So you are just as called as we are to minister to the community you live in.
Let me read Luke 4:14 - 21
“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogue, and everyone praised him.
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus is reading Isaiah 61:1-2 here. Now the scrolls weren’t broken up into verses. So it wasn’t like Jesus just opened a Bible to this verse and read it. Plus, scrolls were written in one long roll. And then rolled up so that the right side was able to roll up the scroll as the left side unrolled. Hebrew is read from right to left. But 61 chapters into it, means that 61 chapters of material needed to be unrolled and rolled back up into the opposite side. Yet Jesus seems to just unroll and go straight to the place that he was looking for.
Then he says, “today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Everyone would have been amazed at his quick handling of the scripture, and his ability to get to the place he wanted with such ease.
It makes me long for two things.
- Jesus was lead by the Spirit and empowered
- The ability to navigate scripture so easily, that I can find the right passages for the context of the people I am ministering to. Scripture is vital for revealing the nature of God. My prayer for you and for me is that God would make us so diversified in our memorization of scripture, that we are able to easily find answers for whatever we walk through. So God, let the scriptures come alive. Let us be so aware of your revelation in them, that we are able to easily point to scripture as we lead others into your presence.
- I pray that we would be anointed to preach the gospel. Jesus wasn’t worried about the people he walked in and spoke to. If you knew how important this text was, you would know how scandalous it would have been for Jesus to say that He was fulfilling this Scripture. Yet he had an anointing to preach truth even if it wasn’t something that people would have liked. He simply spoke the truth in confidence. My prayer, is that you and I would be able to speak truth to the people around us. That they would hear the truth about God in a way that makes sense, instead of frustrates them.
Please continue to pray this for us as well as for yourself. Let’s be people who God uses to show others his goodness and grace! Let’s be people full of God’s anointing.
Now go and be light to someone in your community. Preach the gospel in your work place. Preach the gospel in your school. Be the gospel to everyone around you as you live out the life, that God designed for you to be in as you represent Christ.
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today I want to quickly touch on a question from a listener who asks “Why don’t we see miracles anymore like in the Bible? Are they real?
This is a great question that I will need to take you on a bit of a journey to unfold the answer. First off, let me read a verse you all have probably heard before, but it is important to this conversation.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
What does this verse mean to you?
Let’s parse it out for a second. What are rulers?
What about authorities?
Or the powers of this dark world?
How about spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm?
Listen to this verse and tell me what you think of it. . . 2 Corinthians 4:4
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Who is the god of this age?
And why does Paul call him a god?
Ok, check out this verse -
Psalm 82:1
“God presides in the great assembly;
He renders judgment among the “gods”:
Now this verse has been often dismissed as simply talking about the rulers of Israel, yet the Hebrew word here is Elohim - meaning god, or godlike one.
Exodus 15:11 says this,
“Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you-majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”
Who among the gods is like you? ? What gods? ?
Listen to what Jethro says to Moses when he hears of all the great things God has been doing for them. This is exodus 18:11
“Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”
What does he mean greater than ll other gods?
In 1 Kings 9, God told David that he would bless him and the generations to follow if he would keep all of the commands God gave him. But then he gives him a warning about turning their heart from the Lord. List to what he warns him about. Starting in vs. 6,
“But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have give you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel form the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name.”
Go off and serve other gods? God almighty is saying this. Why does he address these other gods as if they were real?
Ok, let’s change this up a bit. . .
When Jesus traveled across the lake to the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed came out from the tombs and approached Jesus. Listen to what they said to him in Matthew 8:29
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” They shouted “Have you come ere to torture us before the appointed time?”
How did they know to call him Son of God?
And what is the appointed time they talked about?
Listen to an incident int he synagogue that Mark tells us about in the 23rd verse of chapter 1.
“They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you at with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!”
Wait, the demon once again recognized Jesus as the Holy One of God, and wondered if he had come to destroy them. . . . Why?
Listen to what happened in Ephesus in Acts 19:13 as some of the people tried to cast out demonic presence in the name of Jesus. .
“Some of the Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “int he name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”
What in the world is going on?
Ok, last question?
Do you confess to have a biblical worldview?
If yes. What does that mean?
If yes, what does that mean about the demonic, rulers and principalities?
See, most American Christians who say they have a biblical worldview, only have a westernized version of a biblical worldview.
Do you know that in other countries, they actually believe that there are rulers and authorities of the dark world that are in constant conflict with God’s plan? They are at battle with him, and anyone who would align with the LORD.
Which, by the way, is the biblical worldview, as well as what we saw with Jesus.
All throughout the Bible, there is an understanding that false gods, demons, spiritually dark forces of all sorts, continually fight against God and his people.
And because of this, they believe the spiritual to be intertwined with the physical. The biblical worldview is that there are dark forces against God and his people. So they also know what is warned throughout scripture - don’t turn to these other gods. . . .
You might be saying right now, but we don’t turn to other gods. . . why are you telling us this?
I am blown away at how much demonic presence is in modern music. I remember a few years ago turning the award show off after the second performance in a row had people dressed in all red while dancing around the stage like devils. Not only in music, every October Netflix is flooded with demonic movies that specialize in supernatural experiences. Or how about the fact that people are willing to do whatever it takes to get followers on social media. We have so many influencers, and all they want is to be elevated to a place of higher power and authority over others as they build a name for themselves. . . do you know what all of this is? It’s bowing down to gods that actually have the power to destroy life.
See, the verses I read to start with about gods, the verse in the New Testament about the demons recognizing Jesus, and the verses with Paul and the other early church followers, all of these show the biblical world view. And this is a view that understands, there is a spiritual battle. And this battle is against the dark forces of this world that try to destroy, simply because they are against Yahweh. They recognize him because they know they can’t win.
See, I think the biblical account is full of so many miraculous things, because they were alert and aware of the spiritual battle that was going on around them. They didn’t put their guard down, and they were making sure to keep themselves from the gods, demons, spiritual forces, and everything else that was in opposition of the Lord.
I started with this verse
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
See, I think we don’t see miraculous things happen as often anymore, because we don’t really understand this verse. We think this verse is about some cute devil that people dress up as for halloween, and that is the extent of it all. But READ YOUR BIBLE FRIENDS!!! There is demonic, rulers, authorities, and spiritual forces all around us. The gods of the Old Testament, these weren’t just fake idols they worshiped. These were demonic forces that they bowed to. This is why God was so adamant that they didn’t intermingle with other nations. These demonic powers were bent on trying to invade God’s people.
We have a real battle! And the more we let demonic things into our lives, the less likely we will be at seeing the power of God move in us. We are bending our knee to evil powers.
But yes. . . . I do believe miracles are for today!!!!
Kristi hurt her achilles a few months ago. She couldn’t even walk. It happened all at once. I immediately freaked out because we didn’t have insurance at them time. So she said, “Well pray over it.” So we did. As soon as we said Amen, she stood up and it was completely fine! Again, a couple of nights ago her elbow started hurting. It was like it was popped out of socket or something - which I looked and can’t really happen to an elbow. Every time she tried to bend it, it would pop, and you could see it move to the side. . .it was weird. And it hurt her so bad, that she was scared to bend it. So again, she asked me to pray. I did. . . As soon as I said Amen, she bent it, and it didn’t pop. God healed it. . .
See, God is wanting to do miracles. But we have to understand the spiritual forces around us are real. And if we are going to let them into our lives, we will limit the work we see God do in and through us. We have to understand that all these forces are trying to prevent us from knowing God. They don’t want us to see his glory and his power. So if we give them the chance, they will destroy our opportunity to see miraculous.
But if we keep ourselves free from these things. The power of God will work around us. See, in the end God wins. Remember what the demons said to Jesus? They know he eventually gets rid of them and finishes this battle. In the mean time, God is looking for a people who would purify themselves, and keep away from the things of this world that oppose God’s plan. If we can do this, we will see miracles! I believe that for you! In fact, I pray that over you today! Let the miraculous power of God flow in and through you today!
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You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! This week we started a quick series on the life of Jesus. Today I want to jump to Mark 6:7-13
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to his, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or list4en to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”
Jesus was the absolute best model of a great leader that we could ever look to!
This is one of the biggest leadership principles that he showed us. And it was how to multiply himself and raise up other leaders. I’ve been in ministry for 24 years and I will tell you, this is something that the church isn’t necessarily the best at doing this, but if they would, ministry would exponentially grow in ways we never could imagine.
Here is what Jesus did.
He first brought the disciples along and had them follow and watch what he was doing. They saw him do his miracles, heard his prayer life, and even witnessed his interactions with others. They were watching and learning the entire way. This is why he also shared the answers to parables with them that not everyone was privy to. He wanted his closest followers to be the ones who could understand his works and do the same things.
Then after they witnessed and learned these things, he allowed them to try. Listen to Matthe4w 17:14-20
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why codlin’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move form here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus allowed them to try, and when they failed, he helped them learn. So he did while they watched, Then they did while he watched and helped them learn. Now in Mark 6, he sent them out to do on their own.
This is true leadership.
Jesus was about raising up the next generation of those would would minister.
This is a lesson we should all learn.
First, if you are in the church, you should follow the practice of Jesus and teach others so that they can learn, and then release them to grow while you shepherd them, so that they can then go and do on their own while someone else learns from them.
If you are a business owner, the more you invest in your team, the more they will succeed. And the more they succeed, the more your company will have success.
And if you are just a Christian. . . . The more you invest in those around you, the more they will succeed. And the more they succeed, the more successful you will be in doin the things that God has called you to.
So if you are going to learn and be like Jesus. . . invest in others! Help them grow so that you can see them reach their fullest potential. And in so doing, you will be a great leader! And you will be like Jesus!
That’s all the time we have left for today. I love you, and God bless.
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! This week we started a quick series on the life of Jesus. Today we will continue that as we jump into more of Mark starting in chapter 2.
But first, let me ask you a question. . .
Have you ever had someone in your life who was hard to forgive?
Someone that you just couldn’t let go of the hurt and pain they caused you.
Listen to what Paul tells the people of Ephesus. He says in Ephesians 4:31-32,
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Think about those words for a second.
Just as in Christ, God forgave you….
We didn’t deserve it.
We were technically God’s enemies, having moved in a direction against him.
Yet Jesus died for us.
And then calls for us to forgive other too. . You know what the hardest part of forgiveness is? Feeling like we weren’t justified. When someone has wronged us, they deserve to pay for what they did. So when we hear of someone forgiving a person who deserves to be punished, we get angry FOR THEM. We don’t want to hear that someone has gotten away with something or that someone is being let off the hook when they deserve to pay a steep price.
Listen to what happened in Mark 2.
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying , “we have never seen anything like this!”
So there were two things in question here. First, who does Jesus think he is that he has the power to forgive someone of sins. That isn’t his place. But Jesus knew this was the thoughts that they were thinking. So he told them that he was doing this so that they would know he had the power to do such a thing. . .
But the second thing Jesus is actually addressing is this man’s right to deserve it. Think about this, the crowd was so big that there was no way to get in to see Jesus. So these guys climbed up, dug a whole through the roof, lowered the man down, and cut to the front of the line. I imagine people would have been annoyed with these guys. They were cutting and putting themselves before others.
Now I don’t know about you, but when I see someone cut me off, or if someone obviously doesn’t care how long I have been waiting or what I deserve, I want the worst for them. I will cut a bad driver right back off. I will yell at the person in a construction zone who drives up the shoulder and cuts into the front of the line in order to keep from waiting. . .
So I don’t like it when others get something when they don’t deserve it.
But Jesus. . . he stars by saying that his sins are forgiven.
He doesn’t give him a lecture on waiting his turn.
He doesn’t try to explain to others what this man’s needs are and justify why it’s ok for him to cut. He simply said. . . Your sins are forgiven.
I think we like to hold onto others sins. We like the idea that we have something over them that makes us feel better about ourselves. We want to feel justified being valued and honored ahead of others. But Jesus jumps right to forgiveness. In fact, it’s the summary of his ministry on this earth. He brought forgiveness for all people.
And he would ask you to do the same.
Forgive those who offend you.
Be gracious to those who you are annoyed with.
After Jesus had died and rose again, he want to his disciples to empower them into the same ministry of reconciliation that he was about. We read these words of Jesus in John 20:21-23,
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
See, Jesus gave us the power to forgive those who do wrong against us. It’s part of bringing peace. We can choose to hold the sins and wrongs of others against them. But when we do this, it only leaves unforgiven hurts and pains. Or, we can be the people of God who were given the ministry of peace. And in this ministry, we can be like Jesus. Which if this is what we choose, will lead us to forgiveness. . .
So who do you need to forgive today? Who has wronged you, disregarded your feelings, cut in and budged you out of something you deserved, or even just selfishly ignored you so they could receive their blessing? The challenge today, is to be like Jesus. Before any explanation, before any justification of their actions or your right to be angry. . . Forgive them. If we were this quick to forgive, think about how peaceful the world would be..
So forgive.
And when you do, ,you are practicing the way - of Jesus. . . . . .
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Yesterday we started a quick series on the life of Jesus. Today we will continue that as we jump into more of Mark 1.
Let’s start in vs. 14
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you-the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” Said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching-and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else-to the nearby villages- so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So they traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,, as a testimony to them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Jesus was indignant. . . That’s what verse 41 said.
What do we see in this last half of Mark 1?
Jesus, and people. Not just any people, but those who were in need. IN fact, the one who called out to Jesus for help was a person with leprosy. And what was it that this person said to Jesus? Look at vs 40 again.
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Why this terminology? IF YOU ARE WILLING. . .
The man is down on his knees. This implies that he was brought to a lowly spot. Now, we don’t know anything about this man. His family. . His job. . We don’t know if he was a person of prestige or a lowly peasant. But we know in this moment, his disease has caused him to feel the pain of being brought low. He is begging Jesus for help.
And then his words. . . If you are willing. . .
Why these words?
Well for a leper, it was a lonely and heartbreaking disease. You were cast out of your community, and left to fend for yourself. Often, family members would abandon you because of their fear of catching this highly contagious disease. So when the man said, “if you are willing. . .” this indicates the let down he was already feeling.
He could have had loved ones and people he thought would help him - actually let him down. They didn’t care for him and now he was out on his own. . .
Yet listen to Jesus’s response. Vs. 41 - Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
How was the man cleansed?
Jesus verbally told him to be clean.
Yet he still reached out and touched the man. Why?
Because what we learn from Jesus in this second half of Mark 1, is that he sees people. And he has compassion on them and is willing to not only be with them, but touch them. He wasn’t scared of what others thought, or worried for his own self. He wanted people to know his love and receive life. You see, a leper probably hadn’t been physically touched by anyone since they got sick. And as a sign of closeness and relationship, Jesus put his hand on the man. This wasn’t what needed to happen for healing the disease. This was what needed to happen for healing the heart. See, Jesus cares about people. He sees the ones who have been outcast, sick, hurt, demon possessed, and lonely. And he doesn’t just preach to them. He sees them and relates to them. He touches them and heals their pains. When everyone else would kick them out of their community and alienate them, treating them like the disease they carry - Jesus found himself right in the middle of them - loving them.
If there is one thing this world needs more of right now, it is a people who will act like Jesus. A people who will see everyone right where they are, and put the work in to love them. To sit with the broken, place a gentle touch of compassion on the alienated, look into the eyes of the ashamed and fearful, and let them know they are loved.
Listen, politically we are a divided nation. And unfortunately that divide has eaten up people. Both sides spew hate and frustration at the people opposing them. Yet we were called to a different standard. As people who long to imitate Jesus, we are called to love so deeply, that people go away transformed! When our pride, or even fear, gets in the way of us loving others, we are doing this all wrong! Be a person who strives to love others so well, that even the most outcasted, rejected, alien feels nothing but the love of Jesus as you talk about them, encounter them, and live along side of them. If you do this, you will truly be living like Jesus.
That’s all the time we have left for today. I love you, and God bless.
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today we will start a quick series about Jesus. For those who call themselves Christians, He is the main thing we look to for how to live this faith we have in the middle of the world we are in. So I want to talk this week about Jesus, through the eyes of John. . .
Now we already talked about Jesus being the light that the darkness could not overcome. So we won’t get into that today. But I want to start today in the book of Mark. But this week we will jump around the gospels a bit. So follow along in the text if you can. And while I am reading, I’ll give you some brief explanation of why each text is so important. So here we go, starting in Mark, chapter 1.
Mark 1
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
Who will prepare your way”
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
Make straight paths for him.’
This reference to Isaiah prophesying about the messiah coming, and just as importantly, the promise that someone would come and prepare the way for the Lord. Which if you go to John’s gospel, he says that John the Baptist was questioned about who he was, and he answered in the words of Isaiah - “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.” (John 1:23) So John the Baptist admitted that he was the one who would prepare the way for the Lord, just as Isaiah promised. And that is why this is just as important as the messiah coming. This shows God’s faithfulness to his promise. He won’t just do what he said, he will do it in a way that he promises. John the Baptist coming and preparing the way for Jesus was a sign that the prophecies would come true.
Mark continues by telling us,
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
So John went out into the wilderness and lived a different lifestyle than everyone else. He was weird!!!! He ate honey and locusts, and wore camel’s hair clothing with a leather belt around his waist.
Why is this in the text? Remember, everything written is in the text for a reason. .
Well Mark is tying John the Baptist to Elijah.
In 2 Kings, there is a story where a prophet gave an unfavorable word to King Ahazia’s servant and told him it was for the king. When the king asked who the prophet was that told him this message, the servant replied,
2 Kings 1:8
“He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist.”
The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.”
And this isn’t just a coincidence, they didn’t just have the same fashion advisor, Jesus acknowledges this as well. He talks about the importance of John the Baptist IN Matthew 11:11-14
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
So Jesus even acknowledges this parallel.
Why is this so important?
Elijah said that one would come. And he had an important role. Malachi tells of the role John would play -
Malachi 4:5-6
See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”
Did you know that John is responsible for Peter and Andrew following Jesus. They were his disciples first, and he told them about Jesus. When Jesus appeared on the scene teaching, John told them to go and follow him. He was preparing people to be ready for the messiah to come.
And how was he preparing them?
He was teaching them, telling them to repent of their sins, and baptizing them.
This prepared the people for Jesus’s ministry.
And Jesus came and modeled the importance of this ministry. Keep reading in Mark 1:9
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “you are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Jesus got baptized!
Why?
He was demonstrating for us, how to honor God. It starts with obedience. Jesus wanted to honor John and his teachings. And he wanted to show us what it looks like to repent and follow Jesus.
So baptism is important to us because of this.
It’s not what gets you saved. But it is a symbol of your salvation. It shows that you believe Jesus was buried by going down into the water. But then it also symbolizes his resurrection as you come out of the water a new person. When Jesus came up, the Holy Spirit landed on him like a dove. Not to mess up your childhood Bible pictures, but it wasn’t necessarily a dove or even a dove like figure that landed on him. The verbage here indicates that the spirit descended upon Jesus as though it were landing on him like a dove would. But what you have is the first moment in the gospels where Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are united in one place. The audible voice of God was heard, the Son was coming out of the waters of baptism, and Holy Spirit was gently resting upon Jesus in a form that was noticeable.
See, when we fully believe in Jesus, surrender our will to him, and obey him wholeheartedly, we begin to commune with him. And when I say him, I mean with the LORD. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus is set up to go into the wilderness and be tested, because he is in communion with his Father while also being full of the Spirit.
We don’t acknowledge the full trinity being involved in our lives enough.
We like to parse things out.
God answers prayer
In Jesus name we are healed
The Holy Spirit does neat tricks when we need it . . . .
But real communion with God, is understanding the Father at work in our lives while the Spirit draws us to the salvation that Jesus brought us. It’s all three working in our lives at the same time. And baptism is an understating that we believe the full triune God to be at work in us. We have salvation, sonship from the father, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Continuing in Mark 1:12, we read “At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”
See Jesus went into the wilderness and was tempted. While we know the church answer of how he was able to resist the devil, let me give you deeper answer. The church answer is he resisted him because he knew the Word of God. If you go and read the temptations in Luke 4, you will see that Jesus answered every temptation with scripture. But the truth is. . . JESUS IS THE WORD. So it wasn’t because he filled himself with he scripture that he was able to resist the devil. People think that knowing scripture will help you resist satan and keep from sinning. But knowledge doesn’t do that. What prepared Jesus, and what helps you resists the devil too, is being aware of the full presence of the triune God. Bing in communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is how we live the best life possible and resist the devil.
So what does that look like?
Spending time in prayer and meditation. Becoming aware of the fact that God is with you. Sitting still and allowing him to love you. Putting aside distractions and allowing the Spirit of God to rest on you like a dove. Being in God’s presence without having to do anything or focus on anything. Just resting and knowing God’s goodness. The more you become aware of the full presence of God, the more you will be able to resist the devil.
Think about it this way,
Would you willingly sin if you were in the same state of mind as when you are in deep worship of God at the altar?
NO!!!
Well the key is remembering that your life is an altar. You are the place where God comes to meet with you. He come to you, fills you, and leads you along the day. The more you realize this, and the more you spend time enjoying the presence of God, the more you will be able to resist the devil! And if you resist the devil, he will flee from you. . . . . .
So, to conclude for today,
Two take-a-ways. . . .
- Get baptized. If you haven’t already done this, it is a symbol of your obedience to God and your interest in becoming more aware of his presence in your daily-minute by minute- life.
- Spend time being in the full presence of God. Remove distractions, turn off all electronics - I would say including music - breath in the presence of God, and recognize that He is with you!
And if you make a habit of practicing this, you will begin to see the hand of God move you, as the Spirit of God leads you, because the Son of God has saved you for his glory! And that, is the lesson we can learn from Jesus in Mark 1.
That’s all the time we have left for today. I love you, and God bless!
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today’s question goes out to Ava - yes, she is my daughter! She asks, “If we believe in the Bible, what are we supposed to do with science?”
Great Question Ava!!!!
Burt first, let me give you some thoughts.
When a Hebrew child was born, they had to wait 8 days, and then be circumcised. This was prescribed by God in the book of Genesis 17:12. Listen to this instruction starting with verse 9.
Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to underdog circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner- these who are not your offspring.
After 8 days.
Now I know today we rush it and circumcise children just days into their existence. But science has proven this to be a risky way to do circumcision. Medical science has only recently discovered that blood clotting in a newborn reachers its peak on the 8th day. That’s when the coagulating factors in the blood are at optimal levels: vitamin K doesn’t reach sufficient quantity until after day seven, and day eight is when prothrombin is the highest, reaching 110 percent of the normal levels. If you are like me and don’t know what prothrombin is - it’s a protein in your plasma that aids coagulation.
Job talks about earth as a free floating globe in the middle of space. . Job 26:7 (which mind you, was written over 3000 years ago when there were no telescopes or other ways of seeing into space. Job 26:7 says, “He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.” The Bible proclaims that the earth is freely floating in space. This was written during a time when people had no clue about what the earth looked like from space, and before they even had way to tell what space is like.
And how about this, Isaiah 40:22 explains that the earth is round - it says, “It is HE who sits above the circle of the earth.” Back then, they had no working understanding of the shape of the earth. Yet the Bible writes about it’s shape - and got it right.
In the 1670s, French scientists, Pierre Perrault and Edme Marriotte researched and developed our understanding of water cycles here on the earth. They discovered how water evaporates into the air, comes down as precipitation, and even causes condensation. Yet, once again, thousands of years before their research, it was recorded in Job 26 that - He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. Later in chapter 36 we read, “He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.” So basically, Job had already done the work to understand the water cycle much before the French scientist made their discoveries.
And don’t forget Noah’s ark. Remember what I said a few weeks back? The floating buoyancy of a large cargo vessel keeps exactly half the weight below water. It’s recorded in the flood account that the waters rose to 15 cubits above the highest mountain. Which is exactly half of the 30 cubit high vessel of an ark.
Science. . .
There are pieces of science all throughout the Bible if you look. And the funny thing is, we don’t even realize how significant these discoveries are! The Bible makes claims about science far beyond the years it was written!
So when we talk about science, you should know that science is the understanding of the order God created in. It’s logical words to the spiritual mysteries of God’s great design in the cosmos. We should embrace science. It is the proof of God’s majestic power!
Not science that tries to experiment and recreate things that weren’t meant to be. That’s mad science. But science that strives toward learning and understanding will always lead us to a greater revelation of God’s majesty!
So learn more about the science of the world, and at the same time study your Bible deeply and see how science is laid out all throughout the scriptures. Science is mean to help us understand the God who created all things! So focus on the Bible, and then study science to see what amazing things are confirmed about scriptures!
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today’s question goes out to Alia - yes, she is my daughter! She says, "Why do we follow the Bible even though it’s old?” And I think a question I’ve heard people follow up with is - isn’t the Bible out of date?
Which is a great question!
I don’t know if you know this or not, but the Bible is made up of a bunch of different scrolls. It was written over a period of 1500 years by over 40 authors - some of which we don’t know for sure who wrote. It was written in three languages - Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
We believe these words were inspired by God for man to write them.
Listen to what Paul tells Timothy about scripture In 2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you have learned it, and how form infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Paul is telling Timothy that the scriptures are useful to help us grow and understand the wisdom of our salvation.
Ok, hold onto that set of verses for a minute.
Jump the the writer of Hebrews who tells us something important about Jesus. Hebrews 13:7-8 says to “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
The writer is telling us to remember the words that our leaders have taught us about Jesus. He has always been the same throughout the years, and he never changes. This is the thought that God is the same forever. He never changes - neither does the son of God. His heart is the same and always will be. Some might say, “Yeah, but what about the Old Testament. God ordered them to kill entire groups of people. Is God really loving then? Or did his heart change when Jesus came into the world?” I know some people think that way because I’v had that discussion before. Let me give you a brief answer now, and then I will discuss it further later this weekend.
God of the Old Testament was protecting the plan of salvation when he ordered nations destroyed. If you look, it was always nations that would threaten the existence of a Holy People. God’s love for mankind was so strong, that he refused to let anything step in the way of bringing salvation to this earth. So he was willing to destroy anything that would try and stop His plan of redemption from happening. This is because of his great love for us. Like I said, we won’t go into that now, but be watching for this conversation this weekend.
But here is the thing. Since God doesn’t change, His words never change. He said what he meant and he means what he says. So, we trust the word of God because it doesn’t change.
Listen to what Jesus said about the Word of God. This is Matthew 5:17-19
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teachers others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but however practices and teachers these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus came to fulfill the law.
What does this mean?
The law was given to help us understand what holiness looks like. But since we can’t accomplish holiness on our own, Jesus came to be our righteousness. Remember 2 Corinthians 5:21 - “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
The law proved our sinfulness and that we are unable to accomplish holiness on our own. So Jesus came to fulfill holiness and make us righteous. Remember, there is a meta-narrative of the Bible. It goes like this,
1.God created life in the middle of the Chaos
-
Mankind is drawn to the chaos
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God redeemed mankind through Jesus
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He calls us to bring restoration to the world.
So when someone says, “the Bible Says. . . “ they better be pointing to one of these four things. Not many single verses are worthy of “The Bible Says.” In order for those words to be true, they would have to be talking about all 4 parts of the Bible
Ok, now, back to the question - why do we still use the Bible if it is so old?
Unless one of the 4 pieces to the meta-narrative of the Bible changed, it still stands as a solid piece of instruction. So let’s check it.
- God created life in the middle of the Chaos. Did that change at all? Well, when I look through creation, all the way to now, I see destruction and ruin taking place. And in the middle of it, God is the only hope that comes from it. If you’ve gone on missions trips before, when you see people in third world living situations, they always seem to have the hope of Christ as a sure foundation. When you come across a person who is transformed by the gospel, and a life that is radically changed by the love of Jesus, God is still at work breathing life in the middle of the chaos. So that piece hasn’t changed.
- Mankind is drawn to the chaos. . . IN other words, mankind is constantly trying to find new orders instead of the created order of things. .Well, I think it’s safe to say this one hasn’t changed yet. People are trying to rewrite gender ideology, the meaning of sex, when life matters, and every law that God intended to help us grow. So I think it’s safe to say this hasn’t changed a bit. We will dig into some of those topics in the near future. But mankind is still definitely drawn to the chaos!
- God redeemed us through Jesus Christ. This one hasn’t changed. It is the only firm foundation we have. Remember, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. . .
- God has called us to participate in the redemption story. You are still God’s workmanship and the vessel that he has designed to help spread this gospel message of reconciliation. You are commissioned to go into all the world and preach the gospel and baptize people. So no. . .this hasn’t changed yet either.
So if none of the meta-narrative of the Bible has changed its relevance for today, we would we ever think the relevance of the Bible to be outdated? It’s still the message of hope and how God brought reconciliation to the world through his people.
So back to the words of Paul to Timothy about scripture In 2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you have learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Paul is telling Timothy, the scriptures are what help you understand the salvation God has brought you through Jesus, and then are able to train you to understand the other pieces of the narrative. Through an understanding of these things, you will be able to do every good work that God has already equipped you to do!
So, until human nature becomes outdated and salvation is no longer needed, the Bible will be the most relevant word you will ever read!
And that, is why I believe the Bible is still relevant for today.
Tomorrow we will answer Ava’s question - my other daughter - who asks, Well then, what do we do with science if we believe in the Bible?
Great questions!
Remember you can ask me your questions too by texting, emailing, or reaching out to me on Facebook, instagram. But for now, that’s all the time we have for today. I love you, and God bless.!
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today I am answering a question for a listener named Tony. Remember, you can ask me your question too and I will do my best to talk it thought. Find me on Facebook, Instagram, email at Michaelgrove1@icloud.com, or text me at 630-995-1253! Even feel free to text some thoughts and push back to anything I say! This way we can have healthy dialogue. But today want to talk through Tony’s question. Tony says, “Doesn’t saying we have free will imply that we saved ourselves? If it was my choice, then I didn’t need help from the Lord to make that decision. In essence, I decided to be saved myself.”
Great question Tony. If by the end of this you don’t feel like I’ve satisfied your question, please get back to me and let me know what you are wrestling with.
Ok, I believe in free will because of the verses and conversation we spoke of yesterday. If you didn’t get a chance to listen to that one, please go back and give it a listen! And I apologize, for some reason it didn’t post on Spotify properly. So apple podcast listeners got it in the morning while Spotify listeners didn’t have it released until evening. But listen to it before you listen to this one if you haven’t yet.
Because yesterday I gave the verses and explanation for why I believe the Bible points toward free will. But I started by saying that you have to understand a level of predestination as well. There are some things that are set up by God in order for us to find the purposes he has for us.
John Wesley did a lot of work on what he calls the different levels of grace. I want to give you a little bit of insight into these levels today.
Level one is what is called prevenient grace. This grace is the earliest grace people can experience in their lives. They receive it before they are even saved. This is the grace that draws you to the Lord. It’s the grace that makes you realize that there is something missing or something wrong that can’t be fulfilled on your own. Jesus talks a little about this in the book of John chapter 6. In vs. 44 he says,
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned form him comes to me. No one has been the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.
Here Jesus is saying that everyone is drawn to the father at some point. In fact, everyone is drawn to Jesus. There is a sense at some point that something is missing in life that causes people to be open to receiving the gospel message. Jesus is saying that the Father causes this. That’s prevenient grace. It’s the fist step of grace that is in our lives.
Then the second step is called convicting grace. This is the grace that calls us to turn away from our sinful lives. It is grace that allows us the chance to do what is right. James talks about it this way, in James 4:13-17
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “if it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
This is the idea that once we have been given the grace to be drawn to the Lord, the next thing he does is try to order our steps. Inside this stage we know the good we ought to do, we just have to make the decision to submit and do it. This stage of grace is meant otherwise teach us obedience and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit.
Because it leads to what Wesley called Justifying Grace. This is the point where the serious work of grace is taking place. Here the Lord is dealing with us and calling us deeper into his presence. In fact, Wesley says that Convicting grace is like the porch of the house, and Justifying grace is like the doorway into the house. We aren’t quite there yet, but are working our way in the right direction.
Listen to the words of 1 Peter 1:6-9
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Peter is understanding that through trials and grief, you are being transformed into a deeper understanding of God’s grace. You are growing and becoming justified. Paul adds this in romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
See, we go through suffering in order to build the character to seek out God. It is his grace that gives us this opportunity to grow and understand his goodness more. Which leads to Sanctifying grace. This Wesley says is like having moved from the porch, thought he door, and into the house. You live in the grace of God and continue to understand it more. This is the stage I think of Paul being in as he wrote these words to the Philippians in 3:10-11
I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
He then continues to day that he hasn’t yet obtained this, but he continues to press on in order to take hold of the prize.
See this is a grace that causes us to only want the things of God. We grow into this type of grace. We don’t receive it just because we choose to have it. God has to do the work inside us in order to get us there. it’s a grace we should all strive for!
See, each of these steps are up to us to pursue. But they are only there because God imbedded them into us. It is his Spirit that draws. He causes all things to work in us and grow us. His Holy Spirit draws us in and grows us.
So yes, it is up to us to be obedient. We have the freedom to ignore the calling of God. But should we choose to accept it, we will be able to, but only because God has done the work to draw us and set us up for success. This is why it is such a disrespect to God when someone chooses a life of sin. He has done the work to try and lead them out of this destructive path. It’s a blatant disrespect slap in the face to him. His grace has already done the work to lead us to deep spiritual maturity. We just have to submit and allow grace to do its work.
Let me leave you with one final verse. This is one of my favs. . . .
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
This goes back to yesterday’s conversation a bit. God’s grace is constantly trying to save us and grow us. This is because he has a predetermined plan for you life. If you will submit to his grace, he will lead you to do great works that are meant to honor him! He prepared them in advance for you!
Burt remember this, You are God’s workmanship. That means he loves you and is proud of you. His eye is on you! He has trusted you enough that he has given you the chance to choose for yourself. But he knows that if you will trust in him and follow his plan, you will have the best life possible! So seek out growth. Allow the Holy Spirit to do the work to grow you. And when you do, you will find the sanctifying grace that keeps you deep in the presence of the LORD!
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! So excited to answer a question for one of our listeners. So this is for Nancy who asked the question, “Should we believe in Predestination?” let me reverse the questions a little and ask it this way. we will ask the discussing - today we will be asking, “Do we have free will?”
Let me start by saying that this is a complicated question, and one that has no perfect answer. In fact, theologians continue to wrestle the depths of this question over and over again. So let’s talk about some of the things we can deduce.
First of all, this question doesn’t sit in a neat, clean box that we put it in when looking for a yes or no answer. First of all, we have to acknowledge a level of predetermined outcome when God formed us. First Jeremiah was told by God “before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” This is Jeremiah 1:5. God was telling Jeremiah that he had purposed him to be in a specific place at a specific time for a specific purpose.
If we are honest, we all believe that God has a specific plan for our life. This would need us to believe a level of predestination in order for us to fully accept this. If God knew the plans for us and formed us specifically for a purpose, then he would have predestined us to be in this time and space.
In fact, you didn’t decide where to be born did you?
You didn’t decide what family to be born into, or in what birth order you would be in with your siblings. This was out of your hands completely. Yet we all love David’s words in Psalm 139 when he says,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God!” (13-17)
When it comes to those type of words, we love the idea of predestination. God foreknew us and had a plan for us. God knit us together and placed our specific gifts and talents into us. We had no choice in the matter. God did it out of his goodness and divine understanding. So first acknowledge that there is a level of predestination that is necessary for this to be reality. God did have a specific design for us.
Can we agree with this? Hopefully so. I can’t hear your answer right now. . . But hopefully you can agree that God predetermined a path that he would hope you would be on so that you could fulfill his will for your life.
With this notion in mind, listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 1:3-14
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment-to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of this will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked win him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-to the praise of his glory.
Here Paul is making some big claims. He is declaring that he is part of a group that has been predestined to represent Christ and bring his glory to this earth. But listen closely to his claim. He wasn’t saying he was predestined to be in heaven. He wasn’t predestined to be saved. He was predestined to be in a position where he would have the chance to believe. He even admits that he was among the fist to do what? PUT HIS HOPE in Christ. There was a decision for him to put his hope in Christ.
Now some might say I am stretching this to say he wasn’t talking about being predestined to believe and have eternal life. But listen to the rest of what he said. Talking to the people of Ephesus he said, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” Listen to the timing of what he said. He isn’t saying that they also were included before the beginning of time. He didn’t say they were predestined to believe, and so they were included. No - they were included in Christ WHEN YOU HEARD THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH. Once they heard the message, they received eternal life.
So Paul isn’t talking about people being predestined to be the ones saved for eternity. He is referring to what we already agreed on. That God predetermined each of us to have a specific role at a specific time in the timeline of the world. Yes, God predetermined a time when Paul and the apostles would live and walk the earth with Jesus. Again, if you believe Jeremiah, or David’s words about being fearfully and wonderfully made, you have to also accept that God determined the best time for you to be on this earth.
But not only that, God predestined that those who would accept him would have a specific outcome. Paul tells us about this in Romans 8:28-30
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What is Paul saying?
Well, that God foreknew he would have a group of believers who would carry this message forward. This is the predestination of God. That he would send Jesus into this world, and then Jesus would invest this message into others who would carry the message forward. The word predestined might be scary in this context, but think about it this way. God wasn’t going to send Jesus into this world to give up his life without there being a solid plan on how the message would go forward from there. So God made sure Jesus would spend 33 1/2 years on this earth building relationships and coworkers in the gospel message so that when Jesus left, the message wouldn’t just stop and fall flat. Now over 2000 years later we are still talking about this message because God planned out how to keep the message moving. It’s like having a business plan before opening a small business. You go and raise up a team, invest in them, and do the hard work to make sure it succeeds. But if you are that small business owner, did you predestine the team to work for you? No! You just knew what it would take to succeed, so you did the work that you needed to do.
For instance, kristi and I are going to plant a church. We know we need a team with us. So we are looking for the right people to go with us and carry out different parts of the mission. We will go, when the timing is right to have those people along side of us. Jesus did the same thing. Again, God predetermined when Jesus would enter into the world. Then he predetermined that Jesus would leave a legacy of followers who would carry on the message.
So does all of this mean we don’t have free will?
Not exactly.
While God determined the time and space in which each of us would be born, and he also determined that those who call on his name will be saved and brought into sonship with him, he still is waiting for us to make the decision to accept this grace he is handing us.
Now it has already been predetermined that every knee shall bow. Listen to Philippians 2:5-11
In your relationship with one another, have the same mindset of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
Did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
Rather, he made himself nothing
By taking the very nature of a servant,
Being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled himself
By becoming obedient to death-
Even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
And gave him the name that is above every name,
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
In heaven and on earth and under the earth,
And every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
Tot he glory of God the Father.
This was another predestined outcome set in motion by God. There is a way for people to be saved. They must confess that Jesus is Lord. And every person will come to that understanding. The question is, will they come to that understanding before they stand before him and see him in his glory?
Well, God is not forcing anyone to do that now. In the end, they will see his glory and accept this. But until then, he is leaving space for us to make that decision.
Listen to what Peter said in his second letter’
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
God is longing that everyone comes to repentance. He is patiently waiting to restore the earth for more people to come to him. Because once he starts restoring the earth, he is getting rid of everything that is evil. So those that haven’t accepted him yet, they will not make the cut. But he is patiently waiting.
If you weren’t able to listen last year as we read through Revelation, we read about the end times. In Revelation we have the events that lead up to the destruction of the earth in order for God to bring about the new heaven and the new earth. And what you see when you read Revelation, is that God is slowly destroying all things. He wipes out a huge portion by a place, then waits before wiping out another portion with famine, then another with some other disease. . . He doesn’t do it all at once - because he is waiting for them to repent and turn to him so he doesn’t have to destroy them.
See, We have the free will to make pursue God. All people have the right to become children of God by accepting Jesus. It is our choice. Listen to the choice given us as Paul describes in Romans 10:9-13
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Ok, so here is my conclusion . . Nancy, get back to me if this doesn’t answer your question.
God predestined that every knee should bow.. . One day everyone will bow before Jesus as Lord. He also predetermines who you are, where you will be born, what gifts you have, what timeframe you were born in, and even what part of the redemption story you are to be part of. But then, you have to make the decision to accept his free gift of love.
So there is a level of predetermined set up, with a hopeful outcome. But everyone is free to make this decision as Adam and Eve were in the garden when they disobeyed God. This is why it is so important to preach the gospel. God predetermined that he would utilize mankind to help spread the word. And since people still have the choice to accept him or not, they need someone to bring the gospel message to them. Listen to the rest of what Paul says in Romans 10:14-15
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Because people have the opportunity to accept Christ out of their own free will, we must preach the gospel to them. For if we don’t go, who knows if they ever will get the chance to hear the gospel message. So with your free will, go, preach the gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit. And when you do this, surely God will be with you always, until the end of the ages. . . .
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today we will ask the discussing - Can I just be good? Do I need a savior or can I just be good enough on my own?
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
What is the glory of God?
And how do we fall short of it? Aren’t we made in his image?
Ok, let me address the second part of this first. Please know that we were made in the image of God. That is often misunderstood to mean we are “like” God. We are not like him, we simply reflect him. We can carry his characteristics, but we are no way like him. Let me give you a few simple ways to deduce that.
God is eternal - he always has been and always will be. Have you always been?
God is eternal - The other side of this is that God is able to be in all time and space at the same time. Can you do that? I wish! My girls are on the other side of the country right now, and I so miss them that I would give anything to be with them right now.
Or how about his, God is omniscient - he is all knowing. . . Are you able to know all things? I would’t want to if I’m honest with you!
But there are so many ways to prove that we are not LIKE God. We are made in his image! And that’s not the constellation prize. That’s the beauty of his design. He made us to reflect his image. So while he made us in his image, we are not like him. . . He is Holy. Which is a word I’ll explain in a minute. Bur first, let’s go back to that verse that Paul wrote.
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Well what is the glory of God?
The word glory, is the workings of. . the glory of God is the way he operates and functions. It’s much more practical than some mystical cloud that just surrounds God. His glory is his perfection and ability to only give off right-ness. . . Which, if you go back to the conversations from last week, you know that he is a God of order. He created order in the middle of the chaos. His glory, is his ability to work all things for his good, because he aligns things into the proper order.
What’s the problem with that?
You and I like disorder.
So let’s go back to the word Holy for a moment. The word Holy means to be set apart. And what is God set apart from?
Sin - or the rebellion against the order God designed.
For God to remain Holy - or set apart from the disorder of rebellion, he cannot allow anything unholy to be near him. By definition, this would prevent him from being separated from sin. So when you and I carry sin with us, it is not a matter of just being good. We carry something that in opposition to God’s ability to be separate from sin.
So what do we do?
We have to have reparations for this sin. We can’t get rid of this on our own or by just being good. Once we rebel against God’s plan, there is no way of taking that back. We carry the chaotic darkness of rebellion in us. We have to pay the price for this. As we talked about yesterday, the only way to pay that price is death. It doesn’t go away on its own. So anyone who has ever rebelled against God’s plan in any way - whether intentionally or unintentionally - has sinned and falls short of God’s glory - or his way of doing things. This is why Paul says, “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)
What does it mean to become the righteousness of God? We were made right with him. And, We were set in the right as well - in light of our rebellion and desire to do things wrong - or out of order - sin.
It’s like this. . .
If you have contaminated water in a bottle, it doesn’t matter how much clean water you add to it. It all will all become contaminated. You have to clean the water of the contamination so that it doesn’t keep destroying the water you add to it.
The same with sin.
It doesn’t matter how good you are or how many good deeds you do. Until the sin is paid for, you are not made righteous. So you need to be saved from that sin in order to be made right again.
But the good news, Jesus came to take on that sin, in order to make you righteous again! So accept the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord so that you can be made right!!!!
Super excited, tomorrow I will be answering a listeners question that was sent to me about predestination vs. free will. So don’t forget to let me know what you want to hear on this podcast so I can get to it! But for now, that’s all the time that we have for today. I love you, and God bless!
You’re listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today we will ask the discussing - why death? Why is death needed for us to be set free from sin?
Exodus 24:1-8
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”
When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.
He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “we will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”
Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Ok, real quick, Moses is making a legal covenant with the Lord. The law that he was reading to them was legally bound by them saying they would do all that the Lord commanded, and then Moses sprinkling the blood on them. The very law that pointed out sin, was secured by the shedding of blood that represented death to the flesh. This was the covenant that they would obey the law. . .Let’s keep reading in
Leviticus 16:11-19
Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.
He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bulls blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. No one is to be in the tent of meeting form the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he come out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.
Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it form the uncleanness of the Israelites.
Wow!!!!
Lot’s of blood!
In fact, if you look through the old testament, there are close to 100 verses that talk about blood being shed during a sacrifice. And the blood was put on Aaron’s right earlobe, right thumb, right big toe, splashed against the altar, splattered at the entrance to the Tent of meetings, and even sprinkled on the people. Blood was everywhere during the sacrifice.
But why ? ? ? ?
this is important to know so that you understand because it will help you understand why Jesus died!
So the simple answer we all know is that the wages of sin is death. We’ve all known this since we will little if we grew up in church. It’s the easy way out of explaining why Jesus died. But it still doesn’t explain why death!
So let’s take a quick look at that for a moment and see if we can’t shed some . . . Iight - not blood - on the subject.
- You are both carnal and spiritual. If you have listened to any of the podcast over the past month, we have discussed the fact that God made you with both sides of your existence. You are meant to live in the physical world, but are part of the spiritual communion with God at the same time. The problem is, our foot in the physical world leads us to sin all the time. This was Pauls’ frustration in Romans 7 - remember - the things I want to do I do not do, and the things I do not want to do I keep on doing! What a wretched man I am!
This is why Paul talks so much about dying to the flesh. He understands that the human being in him will always be led into sin. He can not escape it because the chaotic darkness was let back into the world and is rapidly trying to consume all things. Remember - this darkness represents disorder, and causes us to miss the mark of God’s plan by getting us to reject the plans (or order) of God.
Now when Adam and Eve sinned, God made animal skins into coverings for them. This was the first death that took place. God took a piece of his own creation and put it to death in order to make clothing for them. This represented death covering the effects of sin. The animals died, and then were used to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve.
From that moment forward, throughout the OLD Testament, (pre-Jesus) animals were sacrificed for the same reason. The blood taken from the animal represented an end to this carnal world, and atoned for the sin of the people. It was the payment for getting out of sin. It represented being set free from this physical world in order to be free from sin.
So why death?
It is how we become heirs of Christ.
What is an Heir? Well it is someone who receives the full rights and benefits of someone upon their death. The word heir is a legal term for an official contract.
The legal right from the beginning of time was that we would rule the earth. God placed the earth and everything in it, into the hands of mankind to have dominion over. Once sin was brought back into the world, God was forced to roll up the deed to the earth and banish mankind from the garden. In revelation we read the unrolling of this deed before God makes the earth new again. But until death takes place, the deed has been sealed.
Death represents the ability for the deed to be presented to the benefactor. We were cut off from God’s full blessings because of sin. However, death, allows us to have access to the deed once again.
Listen to the writer of Hebrews on this. . .
Hebrews 9:16-22
“In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, “this is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleaned with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
Sin is part of our carnal life. So death represents passing into a freedom from sin. Our spiritual self is able to resist sin because it is something found in the material world. Romans 6:6-7 Paul says, “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”
Death is necessary, because it concludes the contract and unlocks the deed.
Listen to what Jesus says at the last supper about his own blood. .
Luke 22:20 - This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Jesus is saying that the new covenant is open because his blood represents the death needed to make us benefactors of the deed. It’s a legal term. We legally have right to be heirs, making us in line to receive the fullness of the kingdom of heaven.
Blood is a symbol of death because it is the lifeline of all living creatures. When blood is shed, it means that life has been taken, and the body is set free from sin.
So when Paul says that the wages of sin is death, he is referring to the fact that death had to take place in order for us to be cleansed from this carnal world of sin.
I love Pauls’ words in Romans 6:1-4
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
When we become followers of Jesus, we are baptized into his death. This is the symbol that we are being set free from sin. The death has paid the price and has opened the opportunity for us to be the benefactors of the deed.
And Jesus did this willingly, so that we would not miss out on the full blessings of God!
You don’t have to pay the price for your sins, Jesus did. He made sure that you were an heir to all things that belong to him when he shed his own blood. You were set free from the bondage of sin! So now, live in that freedom, and thank God for the blood of Jesus on the cross!
February 1 - If God is just, can he be merciful?
Your listening to OKY. The place where we discuss what we believe and why we believe it to be true! Today we will ask the question, if God is just, can he be fully merciful? And if he is merciful, can he be fully just?
I will proclaim the name of the Lord.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
And all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
Upright and just is he.
Deuteronomy 32:3-4
I was recently speaking at a camp, and I told the students to ask me questions anytime they saw me throughout the weekend. So all weekend long, young people came to me with random questions, trying to wrestle with things that they were struggling to figure out. One of the students came to me and asked, if God is just, how can he also be merciful? Don’t they cancel each other out?
So is God really just and merciful at the same time?
My answer is unequivocally - YES!
So let’s do a quick dig into it.
Just.
The Hebrew word ṣeḏeq is used 449 times throughout the Bible. Most of the time it is used in a governmental or authoritarian rulership. And it means what is right or normal, rights, justness. It infers a balance as in the weights of measurement. The imagery is that there is an equal punishment that fits the crime of an individual.
So the question is, if God is merciful, can he really be Just?
Paul tells us in Romans 6:23, that the wages of sin is death. This wasn’t his own words actually, this is something that God had told Adam and Eve. His instruction was that disobedience would bring death. If they ate from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, they would surely die.
Go back to the meta narrative of the Bible and you find that death came in as a result of sin. The chaos of the darkness was released to do whatever it wanted against humanity, ultimately leading to death. But not only that, death took place once Adam and Eve sinned. Genesis 3:21 tells us that God made clothing for Adam and Eve out of animal skins to cover them. This was the first death that took place because of sin - also the reason for animal sacrifice following this sin. Death is the judgement of sin. Something has to die in order to pay the price of sin.
This is the evenly balanced cost of sin. For God to be just, death has to pay the penalty for sin. . .
So how can he be gracious at the same time?
Psalm 103: 8-12
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
Nor will he harbor his anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
Or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is his love for those who fear him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Well this sounds like David is saying he is not just then, doesn’t it?
So this is the best part.
God is just!
He is true to his standard and holds sin accountable.
There is a payment and that payment is death!
But his grace is so strong for us, that he is compassionate toward us.
Romans 5:9-11
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, his much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
Or remember Romans 8:31-32
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Here is the thing.
God is gracious. That means you don’t have to be put to death for your sins. Though sin separates us from God and the only way back to him is through a sacrifice of blood - We will address that one tomorrow - God is gracious enough to keep you from making that sacrifice! He won’t let you die for your sins. He is, however, a man of his word! So death still has to take place!
So in his justice, he still allowed Jesus to die for sin! Listen to the justice side of God as described by Isaiah
“Surely he took up our pain
And bore our suffering,
Yet we considered him punished by God,
Stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The punishment that brought us peace was on him,
And by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to our own way;
And the LORD has laid on him
The iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted,
Yet he did not open his mouth;
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So he did not open his mouth
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
And with the rich in his death,
Though he had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer
And through the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
He will see his offspring and prolong his days,
And the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
See, a long time ago I stopped telling kids that God gets rid of their sins. That’s not actually true. He doesn’t get rid of our sins. If he got rid of them, there would be no reason for Jesus to have gone to the cross.
No, in his mercy he did not allow me to pay the price I deserved. But in his justice someone had to pay for my sins. They don’t just disappear. So Jesus took my place. But God still poured out the justice of his wrath on Jesus so that I would be redeemed - or purchased back.
But we will dig into that more tomorrow. But for know, the good news my friend is that yes! God is merciful! And God is just. . . But in his mercy, he took the wrath upon himself, so that we would understand his mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Tomorrow we will discuss death. Why was death the method for covering sin.
But for now, that’s all the time we have left for today!
I love you, and God bless!
Ok, the last couple of days we have been talking about the supernatural vs. the Spiritual.
Today I want to share with you why this is so important to me! Hopefully you will have the chance to process some of this and possibly even begin to view things a little differently as well. So again, I always love feedback! Feel free to text me at 630-995-1253, or always, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, or email at Michaelgrove1@icloud.com. I have this all in today’s show description as well.
But today, I want to start by reading Acts 1:1-10 and Romans 8.
So please, follow along with me if you can. In the end, I will take my time explaining some of it’s meaning and why it is so important to the conversant.
Acts 1:1-10
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by HIs own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit come on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Ok, Let’s talk about his one for a minute first, then we will jump into Romans 8 some.
So Luke is writing this. He had written his first book - the gospel of Luke - by interviewing people and finding out all that Jesus had done while he was here on this earth. When we jump into Acts 1, we are in this spot where Luke knows some of what happened leading up this, but is now in the middle of the Acts of the apostles unfolding. It is likely that he has a first hand experience with these events. We know this because Paul mentions Luke in several of his writings. So he was there with Paul as some of this unfolded.
But listen to what happened.
The people were there with Jesus, and he was about to leave them.
But before he left, he gave them a command. That was to say in Jerusalem.
Now for the Jewish followers, they were still waiting for the restoration of power to be given to the Jewish people. So they asked, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Now this is an interesting question, because Jesus had just told them what he was going to do. He said, “do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John Baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So they knew he was going to baptize them with the Holy Spirit. And the first question out of their mouth equates to this - Lord, are you doing this for our own sake? Will we be restored to power?
And Jesus answers them with this -
“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Now, if you didn’t know this, He just formed concentric circles around the ares they were to witness in. You have their central understanding of their home - Jerusalem. Then you have Judea and Sameria - these they knew, but were not necessarily welcomed in. In fact, if you go back through the gospels, you find that they were almost stoned to death, and even had a murder attempt on Jesus in these lands. And then the final piece extends out past these lands to the end of the earth.
What is Jesus telling them about the Holy Spirit here?
They will receive power, and it will take them into all of these lands to see the gospel preached. What is the gospel? The good news. The hope that Jesus is making all thing new for those who would turn their hearts to him.
So they asked if he would restore power to them, and Jesus basically said - not really. I will send you to restore all people from here to the ends of the earth.
Get this - The reason the Holy Spirit was given, was so that Jesus’s followers would go into the rest of the world and see people restored by the gospel message! And, this wasn’t a power that was going to be granted for special occasions during special events. . NO! This was a power that they were going to receive in their lives as the Holy Spirit filled each of them. Again, this wasn’t supernatural - this was the spiritual once again invading the natural realm to bring both together again. Which is what Jesus prayed for by the way. But in order to hear that one, you will have to listen tomorrow. . . .
Ok, but let’s jump now into Romans 8. This is one of my favorite text about the Holy Spirit.
We read the first part of Romans 8 the other day. So we won’t read it again. But if you forgot about it, this is Paul’s address that the Spirit brings us life as children of God. It was more proof that the spiritual is intertwined with our natural lives.
Let’s start in vs. 18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into freedom and glory of the children of God.
Let’s stop here for a second.
Paul is saying that the suffering they have gone through because of the gospel, is nothing compared to what God will do in their bodies as he restores all things. Get this, he isn’t thinking through carnal eyes here, he is understanding that God will restore all things in the future. And this restoration, is a physical one, not just a spiritual one. Catch that! He isn’t just believing one day he will be in heaven and all things will be ok. No, one day heaven will come down to earth and restore all things. In that moment, humanity will be made pure and brought into the full gory of God. In the mean time, there is a process that is taking place.
Then he explains the result of sin from the garden of Eden. He says that creation was subject to frustration, not by its own choices but by the will of the one who subjected it. . Remember, the earth was subject to the curse of man. God said the earth would produce thorns. It was going to be stubborn towards mankind trying to cause it to thrive. This wasn’t God’s prescriptive curse on the earth. This was a result of man’s sin. Not because God wanted it this way, but because by sinning, man brought darkness into the world. And this darkness does only what it knows how to do - consume all signs of life.
So the physical earth is subject to the spiritual curse that took place when sin entered creation. Again, spiritual and physical intertwined. But let’s keep reading
Vs 22
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
So stop there for a minute. The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
The imagery here is great!
What do you think of in this text. The groaning as in the pains of childbirth - There is pain. There is a tense amount of suffering. . But it all has hope that something new is about to happen. There is a rebirth of new life that will make all the pain forgotten and in the past. And the earth itself is crying out for this.
Here is what I think. The earthquakes, natural fires, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, floods and tsunamis, any sort of natural disaster - These things are the earths way of crying out! They are screaming for restoration! The cry of the earth is - fix me!!!! I didn’t want to be this way, it’s not my fault, now make it right!!!! PLEASE!
Get this, the so called Natural Disasters - they are really Spiritual cries of the earth begging for restoration! Get the power behind this! The earth is crying out to be made whole again! But it doesn’t stop there. Keep reading in vs. 26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Catch this! This is powerful.
In the same way the earth is crying out for restoration, the spirit fills us with the words and groaning that would make us desire the same restoration for everything around us! This is the power of the Holy Spirit. That we would have a deep desperation to see the people of the earth restored and made whole. But not just a deep desire. . . . A desperation! One that cries out with hurricane force and explodes with volcanic power, trembles with earthquake magnitude that we would see the lost restored in relationship with the Lord as the broken and desperate also find health and wholeness - through the ability to thrive!
This is what happens when the Spiritual collides with the natural world. The reaction is a desperate motion that would do whatever it takes to redeem all things back to God.
And listen to how Paul concludes this section. .
Vs. 28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died-more than that, who raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
FEW!!!!
That’s a power section!
And it all hinges on the understanding that the Spiritual is actively at work in the natural through and in you and me! The Holy Spirit was given to bring the powerful work of the Holy Spirit into your daily life, that you might be an agent of restoration to the world around you. And when you do that, Nothing can separate you from the love of God. Not only that, you bring the love of God to those around you! This all happens because the Spirit fills you and works through you to see - not supernatural things take place, but spiritual things. Spiritual things that are beyond the grasp of demon. Spiritual things that the whole physical earth and creation s in alignment with as it groans and screams out for restoration! Spiritual things that keep us and hold us in the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
And for that reason, the spiritual is more powerful and more consistent than anything supernatural. It’s not random acts that denote spontaneous manifestations of the LORD. It’s continual outpourings of the Spiritual realm that give us the power to be more than Conquerors.
So please. . .
Stop looking for supernatural!
It’s a waste of time! And quite frankly, so miniscule.
No, believe God’s power to do the spiritual. And the spiritual is constantly at work to restore all things no matter what the cost!
God uses the plagues to show the Israelites something that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not know about God's power.
Today we start the great book of Exodus which explains the desire for God to have a people who he can call his own!
here is a bonus track, as we end the book of Job, remember how much you mean to the Lord today!
As we continue through the book of Job, let this encourage you as you have hope and patience waiting on the Lord.
Wisdom - like a woman that should be married to your life.
Today we finish the book of Proverbs, and are reminded just how important and beautiful it is to have wisdom in your life!
Wisdom is a woman that is contrasted by a prostitute. Solomon is trying to show the devastation that a lack of wisdom can have on a person.
Happy Easter!
What do the scriptures do?
They reveal who God is.
and how do they do this?
By revealing who Jesus is!
Herod and Pilot became friends in the middle of Jesus trial after being enemies before this. What would have brought them together? Was Jesus' trial really that impressive that it would have made these enemies become friends? Luke 23:12 tells us that they become friends.
What is the Prodigal Son all about?
Are we the son? Is that what it is about?
Or is there a deeper reason that this story was told?
Today we look at the man who was willing to work the soil and help the fig tree grow so that it wouldn't be cut down.
Woe To you. . .
It's an intense phrase, but Jesus said it to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law.
What would it look like to be people who respond to a Holy God, calling us to Holiness?
What would it have been like to be the woman who was suffering from blood disease? She would have been an outcast and pushed away. Yet when she hears that Jesus is coming through, she presses through he crowds, sneaks up behind him, and touches the hem of his garment. This means she was on her hands and knees, pushing through the crowd - described as a mob - and reaching out to touch the lowest part of his robe.
What if we were willing to fight for and find ways to bring people to Jesus? Sometimes people are willing to give up, instead of the press through to reach out and touch him. This woman was tenacious. But what happens to those who don't care about the same drive to see the savior? How can we help them?
Today we are looking at the man who build his house on the rock as we read through Luke 5 and 6.
Today we read Luke 3-4. In this we hear the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. His response is strong, as he uses the word of God to defend himself.
Today we start reading the book of Luke. We are reading Luke 1-2. For this gospel, Luke went around and interviewed people until he was able to get a story of what was happening. He then wrote down everything so that we could get a good perspective of all the events around Jesus' life.
March 29
Mark 14-16
When Jesus rose from the grave, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene. "She went and told those who had been with him" (vs 9)
then he appeared to the two walking the road to Emmaus, "These returned and reported it to the rest" (vs 12)
He then gives the disciples the command to go out and preach the gospel, and "Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere..." (vs 20)
Listen to the end result - "and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it." (vs 20)
So they all saw Jesus and then went and told others what they had seen. This is the pattern that Jesus instilled in them. His great commission to us starts by telling us to "go into all the world." We have the chance to share our story as it intersects with Christ, so that others will see Jesus and get to know him!
We must work hard to activate people to go and tell their stories to others as well. Our goal is to see the church ignite with passion for sharing the love of Jesus with the people around them. We plan and pray for excellent services on Easter Weekend, but even more, we hope and believe that others will share their journey toward the Lord with the people around them. As we get even closer to Easter weekend, be praying for our body of believers. Ask God to make us bold enough to share our faith with other people in a way that shows them who God is! And then let's lead the way! If you haven't already, think of who you can share your story with. After you have the chance to share that with them, ask them to come to church with you!
March 28
Mark 12-13
Do you believe Jesus is coming back?
I don’t think many would say that they don’t, but do you really believe he could come at any moment? He could come before I finish recording this, or before you even get to finish listening.
But how often do we think about that?
Not very often I would say.
But is that even important?
Why does it matter?
Well, because Jesus’ words were to keep alert! Don’t let him come back while we are asleep!
He doesn’t mean that it is nighttime and we are resting. He means, don’t let the Son of Man come while we are asleep in our faith! We must remain vigilant in our faith and always watch for the Lord.
This helps us do two things
First, it keeps us ready for him. It is a great reminder to keep from allowing ourselves to get caught up in the world and the things that don’t matter. But second, it reminds us to help others know about the soon coming king! They too must be ready.
So Jesus reminds us to be ready! To make sure our life is about being ready for the Lord.
So stay alert! And in the words of Jesus - watch!
March 27-re-recorded
Mark 9-11
We just read a response in the Bible that I think is one of the most profound things written! The man who’s son was demon possessed was asked if he believed. His response was, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
We would be fooling ourselves if we thought for one second that we don’t all struggle with a level of unbelief! There is something inside all of us that is wrestling with what it really means to believe in God. And that’s ok!
If God’s mercies are new every day, and no one can truly see God face to face until we enter into eternity, then there is more for us to learn about God until we die and see him!
Which means there is something we should be wrestling with until we fully get it !
The man, however, had unbelief, yet still sough out Jesus. He wanted answers, and was willing to look for them.
How willing are you to look for answers?
We all need to find truth! But we have to be willing to look for it!
So make sure to be truthful with your unbelief, and then look to Jesus to help you overcome it!
March 27
Mark 9-11
Have you seen those movies where the underdog is about to face their biggest battle. This is the climax of the story and everything rests on this one last attempt to prove their worth. Its usually in this place, that some motivator comes in and reminds the underdog just how important or how worthy they are to take up this mantle. Then they go out and slay the giant, defeat the battle, and win the victory.
We get an insight into Jesus’ speech to his disciples.
They are for sure the underdog. The Jews despise them, the Romans oppress them, and they are facing trials of every kind. So we are given an up-close picture of what Jesus’ motivational speech looks like. He gathers the team together, points them in the right direction, tells them the authority he is giving them to drive out demons, heal the sick, and bless the people they encounter. . .
But just before they leave, he gives them one more motivator. . . . .
Jesus said, “look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers.
Then he goes on to warn them, “When you are arrested. . . .”
Let me just stop there. . . It doesn’t matter what he says next, because he just pretty much admitted they will be arrested. Isn’t this alarming to anyone? At this point, you would think they all took off and left Jesus.
Of all the pep talks I’ve heard, not sure this one takes the award for most inspiring. Yet they didn’t quit, they didn’t fade away. . In fact, you and I are here today because they had the tenacity to proclaim the name of Jesus - even in the face of these awful realities.
It isn’t easy to follow Jesus. That’s why so many people don’t do it, and the ones who do have such a timid view of their faith.
But what if Jesus already knew you would be ridiculed for your faith. What if he saw into the future and understood that people would try to label you, blame you, and say all sorts of evil things against you because you follow Jesus.
Oh, wait, he did. . .
In fact, remember what he said in the beatitudes?
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
It’s not easy to be a Christian.
People don’t like to be told there is a higher truth than what they want to believe for themselves. But Jesus is the only way to the Father. And it is our job to live in a way that points people to him.
So even if you get ridiculed, harassed, made fun of, and insulted in many ways. . . count it a joy, that you get to carry the name of the one they crucified for this faith.
And remember this, whoever acknowledges Jesus before others, He will acknowledge before his Father in heaven.
March 26
Mark 6-8
Have you ever felt unseen before?
I don’t mean when you are plowing down the road and someone pulls out in front of you. While that’s super annoying, that’s not what I mean by unseen.
I mean have you ever felt unseen - like no one gets what you are walking through, or what you are facing?
If you haven’t, you haven’t lived long enough.
We all go through moments where we feel like nobody gets us. We are just on our own trying to figure this whole thing out.
But the truth is, God sees you. And in our reading today, Jesus -as God in the flesh- proved it!
Jesus had just fed the 5000, and he sent his disciples across the water without him. Jesus then gets away to be by himself for a few moments, but at the disciples end up in the middle of the lake with large waves and strong winds threatening to crush them.
From their perspective, it probably felt frustrating! Jesus sent us ahead without taking care of us. And now we are out here working as hard as we can, and he is nowhere to be found! There they were struggling to get anywhere as they fought the current, the wind, and the waves, all alone!
Yet we read something in Mark that is pretty amazing. Jesus was on land, and they were in the middle of the lake in the middle of the night. Yet Listen to what Mark 6:47-48 says - Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn, he went out to them, walking on the lake.
So get this, they were in the middle of the lake, Jesus was on land alone. It as dark, and still before dawn. On top of that, the waves were fierce and the wind was blowing water and mist throughout the air. So for Jesus to stand there and simply physically see the disciples is extremely unlikely. So how did Jesus see them?
When it says Jesus SAW them, this word saw is the greek word Hor-ah’-o. Which means to see and perceive. It’s looking at something and knowing exactly what is happening and what is going on. So whether Jesus physically saw them or not, he knew what they were experiencing.
And that’s what Jesus does for use today too!
He not only sees you, but he perceives what you are facing. He knows how it feels and what needs to happen!
So let that be an encouragement to you today.
You might feel like you are all alone in the middle of the lake with the wind and the waves pressing against you, but Jesus sees you and knows what you need! And he will come out to you, in the middle of your deepest, roughest moments in life.
March 25
Mark 4-5
I just want to draw out a quick thought from the demon possessed man.
Jesus was in a secluded place where there weren’t other people. This was a grave yard that was located away from the town. And this is where the demon possessed man lived. Here is the first thing I see here, when someone deals with something that feels oppressive, they are often made to feel like they don’t belong anywhere, but on their own. This man was left on his own.
Not only that, we read that everyone had tried to chain him bind him with ropes. They were afraid of him and so they tried to tie him down.
Not many people are willing to help us get free from the things that torment us!
But when Jesus came along, he finds freedom for the man! He instantly calls out the demon and sees that this guy would be free!
Isn’t it interesting that people don’t always want to see us free. No matter how much they say that they love us, there seems to be a break between those who just say it, and those who would work to see us freed from our burdens.
Not only that, but the man had 1000 demons in him.
Isn’t it interesting that the more things we battle, the more isolated we feel..
So the interesting thing is when Jesus is about to leave and go across the water again. The man asks Jesus if he can go with, and Jesus tells him no. he says to go back into the town and be with his people.
Why was Jesus so cold hearted to deny this man the chance to be with him?
I think it is because Jesus wanted this man to feel community from the very people who rejected him. The ones who made him to live in the tombs, and who had tried to put chains and shackles on him, would witness the freedom he had in Jesus. What an amazing testimony of power and redemption. And this demon-possessed man would go back into the heart of the people who had cast him to the side. They would see first hand the life that came from the one and only true God, and in the process, this man would have restored relationship once again.
I don’t know what you face, or what you are battling, but I know God does.
You might feel embarrassed to be around others because of what you are walking through. You might even feel like you don’t belong because of what you face. But the truth is, God wants to restore you, and then use you to show those around you how good God really is!
So may you know the goodness of God today! May you see his mercy, and be set free from whatever holds you back. And may you show others the redemption of the life giving God as a testify to the freedom found in Jesus!
March 24
Mark 1-3
Ok, so let me make sure you heard this important part today in Mark 3.
It starts by saying that the Pharisees were watching Jesus on the Sabbath. And what were they watching him for?
To see if he healed the man with impure spirits on the Sabbath day.
Think for a second how profound that his. They weren’t worried about what he was teaching or saying, they didn’t worry about if he was leading his disciples. Hey were worried about whether or not he was going to heal a man. . .
Let me say that again. They were worried about whether or not he was going to heal a man. . .
A supernatural event.
Something that only the son of God could do.
Yet they weren’t in awe of his miraculous power over sickness and death. They were worried about whether or not he would follow their rules.
Would He heal on the sabbath?
I find that so odd. Jesus literally held the power of death and life in his hands, and all they could worry about was Jesus fitting into their perfectly defined box.
How could they really have been so blinded that they missed the all-powerful son of God?
So Jesus healed the man, and they got all distressed because of it.
What if we are the same?
What if we are so worried about how we want God to answer something, or what exactly we are looking for, that we miss the very proof of God’s existence and power because we are looking in the wrong direction.
This might look like us waiting for God to give us a clear answer, when he has been boldly placing signs in front of our face. Like those times when God keeps closing doors in front of us and all we can pray is, “God will you please who me the way you want me to go?”
Sometimes God is so loudly giving us a sign of his power and love, and all we want is to know if he is going to do what we are asking of him.
WE must be people that are openly looking for the goodness of God.
Sometimes he is answering our prayers right in front of us and all we can do is ask him for a sign.
I pray today, that you are able to see the signs of God’s goodness, as he openly displays it right in front of you!
Be someone who is alert to what Jesus is doing, and is receptive to his goodness through it!
Today we will read about Jesus's death and resurrection.
This is vital to our faith. But just as vital, is the final instruction that God has given us. Be sure to listen to the end and hear how we should view what God told us to do in the Great Commission!
March 22
Matthew 24-25
I think this ending piece really helps illustrate the heart of Jesus.
Following Jesus isn’t about knowing the most scriptures or praying the loudest and most often. It’s not about being able to worship the best or write a Psalm of praise.
It is about caring for others!
So how well do you care for those around you?
Jesus said, if you do it of the least of these brothers and sisters, you do it for him!
So stop and care for someone around you today!
March 21
Matthew 22-23
He tells he Pharisees that they are like white-washed tombs. They look good on the outside, but inside are full of death and things that defile them.
Few. . .that’s harsh!
But Jesus is desperately trying to shake them.
Here is his problem, They are leading people away from what really matters and are setting an example that he doesn’t want anyone else to follow! He even says, you won’t be entering the kingdom of heaven, nor will anyone you are influencing.
If you didn’t know this, Jesus is very serious with how you present yourself!
Why?
Because how you present yourself, also determines how you Represent Jesus!
When people look at you, they might see someone who looks good and puts on a good show. But the truth is, the inside determines how we act and think, and more importantly - How we treat others! ! !!
God calls us to treat others in a wya that will lead them to him. His ultimate desire is that we help preach the good news so that all people will know him. But we have to do this in a way that represents him in every area of our life.
St. Francis said, Preach the gospel and when necessary, use words. I don’t agree with this for the mere fact that there has to be testimony attached to the good we do in order for it to point to Jesus. But I think the heart of what he was saying is this - the way you life and treat others is the loudest preaching a person will ever do! So make sure you are preaching the gospel. And then when the opportunity comes, be sure to explain the reason you live the way you so.
So I encourage you today, live a way that others will see God!!!!! Lead others to Jesus simply by your lifestyle and the way you treat them.
Or as 1 Peter 2:12 says, live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
March 20
Matthew 20-21
I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time with people who keep rejecting truth. Every time I turn around there is another lie being put out there for other people to believe. I heard a podcast from a supposedly Christian pastor, who was preaching against the divinity of Jesus and declaring our equality with him as a child of God.
The truth is, they just don’t realize that to say we have equality with Jesus is the same as saying we have equality with God. People who say things like this are heretics. They aren’t recognizing Jesus as the true son of God.
Now the hardest part of this is to identify whom Jesus was talking to in this story? He wasn’t talking to some nobody on the side of the road. He wasn’t talking to the person who professed to be in opposition of the one true God.
He was talking to the teachers of the religious law. These were like pastors in that day.
Here is the scary thing, there are hundreds upon hundreds of people with podcasts, YouTube channels, ministries, and other outlets, who would proclaim that they are teachers of God’s word, or leaders of the religious community. Yet what they preach, defies the Bible, or minimizes Jesus.
Here is something important to remember, Jesus says two things that we should take seriously.
First, we read in the book of John that he said, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.”
He also said, that not one single word of the scriptures will fade away. He didn’t come to abolish the law. He came to fulfill it.
In other words, Jesus is vital to our faith! He is the only way to salvation. And, he didn’t come so that we could ignore the law, he came so that it all makes sense.
If you are listening to voices that are willing to say scripture doesn’t matter, or are willing to take the words of the Bible and twist their meaning so that it fits their agenda, shut them off!!!! And if you don’t know if what they are saying is true, listen to the Holy Spirit who is trying to protect you! Find someone to help you navigate what they are saying. Test Everything! Find out what pleases the Lord. And guard your heart against the teachings of deception.
Just so you know, this is why it is vital for us to stay in a community of believers. Go to church! Find a small group. Look for a mentor! But don’t try to navigate all the deceitful untruths that are out there on you your own! And as always, if you have a way of getting ahold of me, I always love sitting down and helping people understand what scripture says, and more importantly - WHY it says it. Message me, call me, hunt me down. Let’s talk! Because the one true God came in the flesh, and paid the price for our sins, that we would be able to go through him, to the father. And that, is the best message ever heard!
March 19
Matthew 18-19
I just want to revisit this parable of the unforgiving debtor for just a second. Jesus told this parable about a man who was forgiven his debt, but then went and refused to forgive someone else’s debt.
In fact, the man was forgiven a large debt, but then wouldn’t forgive the debt of one of his servants who owed a small amount of money.
I know we can look at this story and think it is so mean that the man would do that. How could he forget that he was forgiven a huge debt and then turn around and be so mean? But remember, Jesus was telling this parable to everyone who would hear it because he knew that they all could relate to this story.
Right now you are thinking, How? I can’t relate with this.
But I want to ask you a question. Why is it so hard to forgive other people? Whenever I ask someone this, they usually respond with - but pastor Michael, you don’t know what they did to me. Or, But you didn’t walk through this. You could never understand.
Ok. That’s valid. None could ever truly understand why you feel the way you do. Even if their experience was exactly the same, they can’t bring your past, your chemical make up, your thought process, and your way of dealing with things into the exact same situation the way you can..
But here is the thing.
There is a reason that back in Matthew 5:23 - if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
God knows whether you can admit it to yourself or not - that when you aren’t in right relationship with someone for any reason at all, it strongly affects your relationship with God and others.
Think about it this way. If someone has offended you and said something mean about you, any time anyone says something that even remotely feels the same, you burst out at them. Why? Because you’ve associated the entire problem on them. When someone doesn’t put you first, and does something selfish, you take it out on everyone in your life that doesn’t start the conversation with “how are you today.” The list goes on.
Whether you are ready to admit it or not, unforgiveness affects the way you view the world!
So in Jesus’s parable, the man was forgiven a huge debt, but the moment someone else didn’t pay him back, he took it out on them. Think about this, if the man was about to be thrown in prison and lose it all, he probably thought through to everyone in his own life that owed him money. He probably blamed them or thought about how generous he had been even through he didn’t really have the money. So his unforgiveness blinded him to the fact that he was just forgiven so much.
The main point of Jesus saying this was to remind you how much you have been forgiven. That while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. In other words, Before we accepted the fact that we were forgiven - because we didn’t even know or care that we needed it, Christ paid the price so we could be forgiven. If he can do that for us, we should be able to forgive anything someone else does to us.
The truth is, forgiveness isn’t easy! It takes work!
But for your sake, and the sake of others in your life, find forgiveness wherever you can! Let go of the hurt, move past the pain, and release the hold someone else has over your life!
March 18
Matthew 16-17
The citizens are free. . .
What a profound statement by Jesus. The citizens of a nation reap the benefit of that nation. But the people who have been conquered by that nation pay an extra price.
You should know that Jesus always has a deeper meaning than what is at the surface. He isn’t talking about Rome, or human governments at this time. He is talking about Heaven. Those who belong to Jesus, have no fee for entering in. Their price has been paid. Those who do not belong to Jesus, have an eternal price to pay.
As we get close to Easter, I wonder who you know who would need to know the message of Jesus. You could save them an eternity of pain if you would introduce them to the one who paid it all.
Take some time each day over the next few weeks, to make sure you are inviting someone into your story of how Jesus changed your life forever!
March 17
Matthew 14-15
What did Peter lose faith in? What is it that he doubted?
Because when he saw the wind and could sense the waters about to overtake him, he lost faith, doubted, and started to sink into the water.
But I have to ask, what did he lose faith in?
It wasn’t Jesus. . . How do I know? Because when he starts to sink he calls out to Jesus, “Lord save me!”
It wasn’t himself, because he didn’t have faith in himself. He didn’t immediately jump out on the water and believe on his own strength that he could go out to Jesus. Remember what he said? Lord, if that is you, tell me to come to you. At that point Jesus told him to come, and he got out of the boat and walked on water.
So what did he lose faith in?
Well, he saw the wind. . .
Can you see wind?
Not at all! So what did he see?
He saw the wind pushing up the waves. He saw the wind threatening his safety. Yet it was still the same Lord that called him out of the boat. So what did he fear?
I think Peter had a moment of doubt, that Jesus would actually save him.
They had just recently gotten word that John was beheaded and was now dead. And yet, Peter stood there when John’s disciples came and asked if he was the one they were looking for. So maybe Peter asked the question - why didn’t Jesus save John? Why did he leave him in that prison cell to rot? NOt only that, Peter had just heard Jesus instruct the disciples to feed the crowds of people on the hillside. Yet they didn’t have any food. So Jesus did the work. And after feeding the people, he told them to go out on the water themselves. He stayed behind them.
Maybe, just maybe, Peter doubted if Jesus would really do what he was about to desperately ask him. . Lord, SAVE ME!
I think for Peter’s sake, and for our sake,
This audacious display of trust, to step out of the boat and walk on water, was really just an object lesson to answer this major question. . . . But will he save me?
That’s why the urgency to answer that question is in the text. Lord, Save me! An as soon as it is asked, the text tells us IMMEDIATELY, Jesus reached out and caught him.
I think we all deal with this a little! We all wonder, will God save me? Or am I one of those like John, who just get pushed to the side and left on my own.
Sometimes we feel like God has forgotten us and left us to our own demise.
But you must know today, God not only sees you and hears you, but he desires to save you from whatever it is you face.
If you haven’t felt that today, don’t give up. If you feel like you are still in the middle of stepping out onto the tumultuous water, and you don’t know if he will actually save you, know this - if he has truly called you out of the boat to do something that seems impossibly hard, he will save you. If you are taking a step of faith to trust him, He will reach out his hand!
So stand strong today! Know that God is for you! And know that He will save you from the waves around him, if you just trust him today!
March 16
Matthew 12-13
These parables Jesus spoke in were pretty intense. They all revolve around what the kingdom of Heaven is like. But the one that speaks to me the most is the parable of the treasure in the field.
Now many theologians explain this as the treasure being the gospel message, and when people hear this, they sell everything to obtain it.
The problem with that, is that we can’t purchase the gospel message. Not only that, Jesus himself talks in the parables around this one, about the work Jesus is doing to purchase and redeem other things. So let me give you my take on this parable.
In the middle of our dirt, God sees us.
He isn’t scared off by what we have done, what we have said, where we have been, or how we have treated him. When he looks at us, he sees unbelievable value and worth.
In fact, he looks at us and sees treasure.
So, without cleaning the dirt of the field off the treasure, and without removing the treasure from the field, God went and sold everything he had in order to purchase the treasure. Or let me say it in more biblical terms for you. For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
This is what the kingdom of heaven is like. That Jesus died for any and every single person - simply because they were worth it! Before the dirt was washed away, and before the treasure was removed from the field, Jesus paid the price!
Because he looks right at you, and sees a hidden treasure!
So remember today, no matter what you think the mess of your life looks like, Jesus sees the treasure in you!
March 15
Matthew 10-11
Let me ask you a question, do you trust God, or do you want him to do things your way?
I know, it’s an easy answer! You trust God.
But have you ever held out for something believing God needed to answer your prayer the way you wanted it answered?
John sat there in prison. And while he was there, he heard about all the great things Jesus was doing. People probably brought him food and provisions, and while they were there, they told him the many miraculous things Jesus was doing.
After hearing these things, John sends Jesus this message
“Are you the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”
What is John asking?
He knows what Jesus has been doing. But while Jesus is doing these things, John still sits there in prison. So his question isn’t about Jesus’s ability to do things that the messiah is able to do. He knows those things! He has heard them and has first hand witnesses telling him that Jesus is fulfilling the promises of what the Messiah would come and do. So Jesus answers him in what John already knows.
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
In other words - John, you know I am the one. You have heard and understand that the things I am doing proves this.
What was John’s problem then?
Well, that things weren’t playing out the way he wanted them to play out.
While the Messiah did what the Messiah does, John was still impassioned.
Then Jesus makes this super difficult claim. . . . Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.
What does Jesus mean by that? Blessed is the one who does not give up because things go the way God would do them and not how we would want him to do them. John eventually gets beheaded while in prison. It doesn’t end well.
But if you read the words that Jesus says next about John, he completely affirms and honors him. To the point of saying that there is no one born of women who has ever been greater than John the Baptist.
So why didn’t Jesus free him from prison?
Well, John had completed his purpose. Jesus reminds the crowds what Malachi had prophesied about John - that he would come and prepare the way for the Lord.
John did that, and he did it well. John baptized Jesus and prepared people to understand the Messiah. And now, Jesus was fulfilling his role. So while it didn’t go the way John wanted, He was fulfilling a specific purpose that was setting up the Messiah to be known among the people.
Listen, sometimes God’s plan for your life is more about other people than it is yourself!
That means that sometimes things won’t go your way! Sometimes you will have to be ok with discomfort, unanswered prayers, and even God answering no, if it means others coming into God’s plan.
So this is where I ask that opening question again.
Do you trust God, or do you want him to do things your way?
It is not always easy to trust God when things point to answers you don’t like. But if God is God and he is in charge, then he has a reason and a plan.
So what do we do?
We are honest with how we feel.
We confess our pain and frustration to the Lord
And then we gather the people around us who will help us walk through those difficult times.
I don’t know if you are in a season of answered prayers, or if you are in a season that feels like imprisonment. But I know God is in control and has it all figured out! So hang on to him and trust in him! HE will carry you through!
March 14
Matthew 8-9
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
What is Jesus really talking about here?
Well just before this, Matthew reports that Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
So when he says the workers are few, he is talking about doing this work.
There are few people who are willing to do the work of teaching, healing, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom.
This is an important note!
Again, Matthew is talking to the people who were supposed to be initiating this work! The Jewish leaders should be making this happen. Yet they weren’t So Jesus is noting that there is a lack,.
Matthew will eventually end his writing of this book with an instruction to go and preach the gospel to all nations - something we call the great commission.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to know about Jesus and the work he did to bring us life. It is our job, to ask God to send those who will make this happen!
So I pray and ask of the Lord today, that he would ignite you with the passion to go into every possible location, and preach the good news of who God is! That means when you go to work, when you are at school, hanging with your friends, or talking with your roommate. Be a harvester who is willing to tell others about Jesus!!!!!!!
March 13
Matthew 5-7
First, let me say that I read a chapter from tomorrow’s reading plan because I wanted to finish the entire sermon on the Mount. This is the title of the passage we read for today. It was Jesus’s first recorded sermon that gave a big insight to his theology of the scriptures.
The words theology simply means, the study of God - or the investigation to the things of God.
If I could sum up the sermon on the MT in one sentence, it is this - do to others, as you would have them do to you . . . Oh, wait. . . I’m not summing it up this way. . Jesus is. He said in Matthew 7:12 - “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
But you might be asking how this sums up the law and the prophets?
Well you have to take this in context of everything you know about the book of Matthew. He is writing this to the Jews - and specifically to devout Jews who know the scriptures. Remember, that is why he constantly says references to the teachings of the prophets and scriptures.
So now Jesus is talking with those who already know the “rules” if you will - to being a God-fearing Jew. But the problem comes when religiosity hinders relationship with others. So Jesus is setting the record straight. He is showing them that you can’t be in right relationship with God if you are not in right relationship with others. They have to go hand in hand.
How we treat others, is a direct reflection of our understanding in how God treats us.
For this reason, Jesus says to put others first.
In fact, did you realize, every time Jesus mentions something for “you” in this sermon, it is attached with the relationship it has with others.
You are the light of the world - so let it shine for others
You are the salt of the earth - make things favorable for others
If someone asks of you - give them double
Someone offends you - turn the other cheek so that they. . .
Jesus emphasizes this point over and over in these chapters, even to the point of saying that if you know someone has a problem with you, and you are about to leave a sacrifice for God. . Put it down, go make things right, and then come back and offer your sacrifice. In the context of his listeners of that day - THIS WAS HUGE! Jesus, you are telling me to forget the sacrifice we were instructed to make, in order to talk to someone who has a problem with me? Notice that he didn’t even say someone you have a problem with. It is with someone who has a problem with YOU. . .
You see, Jesus is showing us how vital relationships with others really is. You can’t have a clear conscious or a right heart, when there is a problem with others. We have to stop and make things right, so that we can have a right relationship with God.
Think about it this way. You don’t forgive others so that they are all right. You forgive others because if you don’t you hold anger and frustration with them. And that plagues your thoughts and drives a wedge between you and them, and you and God.
Or think about humility. If you are a humble person, you are able to get along with others much better than a prideful person,. Humility gives others the chance to be loved and honored properly. Pride, causes you to have faulty relationships and causes affects how you view what you deserve and what God should do for you.
Jesus had a perfect formula here. Put Others First! In fact, if you were to go through your day putting others first, you would find more peace than ever! It is usually the person who asks what others should do for them, or who thinks through what they believe they deserve, who end up miserable and hurt.
At the end of the day, I know this - I am a sinful person, who has made sinful decisions that break God’s heart. Yet he unequivocally loves me - even though I don’t deserve it. This is the example shown to me in scriptures through Jesus! So the more I am able to represent that type of love towards others, the more Christ-like I am becoming. And that, Jesus sums up the Law and the Prophets.
March 12
Matthew 1-4
One of the things you will find Matthew say throughout his writing, is repeated words of the prophets. He is very intentional about pointing out the fulfilled prophecies that were written about Jesus. This is for a good reason.
Matthew is writing his book to the Jews. He is familiar with them and what the law says, and is attempting to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah that they were looking for. So he continually says that Jesus did things that fulfill the prophets.
Which is why Matthew 2:3 is so disturbing. The Magi have come looking for the Messiah. They declare they have seen a star and want to worship him. They declare they are looking for the king of the Jews. But listen to what verse 3 says,
“When King Herod hears this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.”
So Matthew is writing to the Jews. Not only that, he is giving them this reminder of what happened. The ones in Jerusalem heard about the Messiah and were disturbed.
Why is this so important?
Because the ones who would have been living in Jerusalem were the actual teachers of the Law. In fact, he calls together the chief priests and the teachers of the law to tell him where to find the Messiah.
They declare the words of Micah 5, and explain that the messiah would come out of Bethlehem.
Do you see why this is significant?
The teachers of the Law and the chief priests, were disturbed and in an uproar because they heard that the messiah was born.
Instead of watching and waiting, instead of looking for the Messiah and being excited about the fact that he was possibly here, they were in an uproar. They didn’t know what to do!
What you find out, is that they were looking for the Messiah to come in a way that made sense to them. So they never really believed that Jesus was the Messiah. This is why Matthew is writing this account. He is trying to show them that, even though He didn’t come the way you would want him to come, Jesus is the Promised Messiah.
Sometimes Jesus doesn’t show up the way we thought he would. Sometimes we are looking for answers and all we see are signs that confuse us. But when you look back at the Old Testament and see all the prophecies that were fulfilled through Jesus, it is amazing to realize that God has always been faithful, he has always been in charge, and he is carrying out a plan to redeem all people!
And he always will!
God is good, and he proved it through Jesus. Don’t miss the fact that God’s never failing love was shown, through the Messiah Jesus. He loves you and will show up, in ways you will never expect!
March 11
Ecclesiastes7-10
Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless. . .
Again, the writer says that it is all meaningless. But what they really mean, is that it is all fleeting. Nothing is forever and it all fades away. So take care to do what is right while you can..
For this reason, the writer warns not to banish anxiety, and cast off troubles, because youth and vigor are a vapor. They will mist away.
Whatever you do today, take it in.
Take a deep breath,
Be in the moment,
Live in peace,
Love passionately
And find purpose in what you do!
The rest - is meaningless.
That’s all the time we have together today.
I love you
And God bless.
March 10
Ecclesiastes 1-6
Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless. . .
What an exciting start to a wisdom literature!
You are probably wondering why on earth this writing is in the Bible.
To understand that, you have to first understand the word Meaningless.
Now remember, the Bible wasn’t written in English. So many times we have a word that is simplistically translated to mean something, that completely misses the meaning of the word.
In Hebrew, the words we know as meaningless is Hevel. The word Hevel in Hebrew actually means vapor or smoke.
The writer is trying to show us the enigma of life. And to illustrate it, they are saying that life is like a vapor. It looks real and solid, but the moment you try to grasp it and hold onto it, it makes no sense at all! Like trying to grasp smoke, it can’t be contained.
Why would this be considered wisdom literature?
Well, because the author is trying to show that nothing makes sense unless it is through grabbing ahold of God instead of trying to grab the vapor of life. Life as we know it, means nothing! But when we hold onto God, there is purpose and meaning.
Here is what I’ve found over the years that I try to remember. LIfe is short, things that seem like the world to you, really don’t matter in the end. So dont’ take yourself so seriously. Live, love, forgive, and enjoy the moment while you can. Because everything else. . . is meaningless. Nothing but a vapor, here today, and gone tomorrow.
So, may you make the most out of the day today!
March 9
Song of Songs 1-8
What on earth did I just read?
There are some traditions that say young Hebrew boys were not allowed to read the Song of Songs until they were grown. Yet there are other Jewish traditions that read the poetic book as part of their Passover festivities. But why?
What does this sensual book mean, and why is it in the Bible?
There are a few different reasons for this book
First off, it tells the story of love.
The name of it is an idiom. Like king of kings, or lord of lords, or even Holy of Holies, the name simply means Song of Songs, or the greatest of songs.
This is a story of love. The emotions and passions, the feelings and desires of love. Ultimately, it is a story that ends with no resolution and shows the never-ending desire for love. The writer continually reminds the listeners to “not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”
Then the writers gives this clear depiction of what love and desire do to a person in 8:6-7
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.
This is showing that love is so consuming, overwhelming, and can’t be bought with any price.
So why on earth would this be in the Bible? And why would some Jews read it at passover?
This book has in it so much symbology and symbolism.
First off, the book shows the deep pursuit of love. And while it always seems out of grasp, there is something that is still driving the two lovers together. This demonstrates God’s passionate pursuit of us, and the fact that there is something that always seems distracting from us building that relationship.
Not only that, there are continual references to a garden. This garden seems to be the most fruitful place the couple knows. The garden is constantly referred to and spoken of. This brings the imagery back to the place where love was at its purist. The garden.
See, here is the thing. God designed love and desire. He gave us these feelings. Ultimately so that we would desire to be with him. But he gave us a human emotion to show us what it feels like. He longs for us, the way two lovers long for one another. He so passionately wants to be with us, that he would part heaven and earth and do whatever it takes to make that happen.
The Jews who read this on the Passover, understand that this is the ultimate story of God’s desire to free us from the curse caused by sin - the ultimate oppressor, and lead us into the promised land of his garden. A place where love is pure and uninterrupted.
When you read the words of Song of Songs, know that this thing called love - ultimately defines the passion, longing, heartbreak, and desires that illustrate God’s pursuit of relationship with us! Know that you are deeply loved, and longed for - by the creator of the world today! And that, is the deepest expression of love one could ever experience!
March 7
Nehemiah 8-10
Listen one more time to Nehemiah 9:28 - and when they cried out to you again, you heard form heaven, and in your compassion, you delivered them time after time.
Nehemiah is making a statement for the people to hear. He is talking with God and remembering his faithfulness. And he is doing this, at a time where the people are remembering their lack of faithfulness.
Ezra had just read the book of the law of Moses. And the interesting thing is that everyone old enough to understand stood there together and listened. This was probably around the age of 12 and older. And they all stood there listening for half the day. And after listening, they responded. They realized their corruptness that had been influenced by the people of the land. And they began to respond appropriately.
When was the last time you heard the word of God, and were convicted?
Because here is the things, we are all influenced by the world around us. The only way we get convicted of it, is through the reading of His word and a proper response to it.
So they all heard the word, and responded in humility.
So as Nehemiah says these words, he is reminding them of God’s faithfulness. He has delivered them time and time again.
You know, it is awfully easy to complain and wish things were different! If you are anything like me, you can easily identify the things you wish God would change. When we do this, it is easy to wallow in self-pity and wish life was just easier for us. But when we get focused on this, we forget that he has faitfhfully taken care of us over and over again!
In fact, can you take a moment and think of a time when God came through for you? Maybe it was by providing when there seemed to be a lack of resources. Maybe it was through supernatural forgiveness that reconciled a relationship. Or maybe it was healing for you or someone you love. If we stop and think about it, God has been so faithful throughout all the generations!
This is why we read the word of God.
It reminds us of his faithfulness and how he has provided for us. Even if only the fact that Jesus died so that we could have life, there is nothing better than that. But throughout the years, God has put up with human rebellion and has faithfully turned his heart toward mankind and delivered us.
Jesus is the biggest proof of this. Paul says it this way in the book of Romans - While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me.
This was just another example of God’s relentless pursuit of human relationship with him.
Did you know that God has been chasing after you since the beginning of time. He knew that our hearts were bent on rebellion. But that did’t stop him from chasing after us! He desperately wants to be with you, so he delivers us time and time again!
You might feel forgotten, abandoned, or even let down by God. But I promise you, God loves you more than you will ever understand! You are his loved piece of creation and he will not stop until you have the chance to be with him!
So, listen to God’s word. Hear how desperately God loves you. Learn how you’ve blocked him, and respond in humility. But most importantly, Let God love you today! Understand that he has proven that, and he will do it again and again and again, until you understand his desperate love for you!
March 6
Nehemiah 5-7
So I’m reading from the New International Version, and it feels like Nehemiah 7 ends mid sentence. And if you look at the NIV, as well as many translations, it actually does. First, remember that Nehemiah’s original writting was written without chapters and verses. It was written as a memoir of the rebuilding process and what was happening to Jerusalem and the Israelites.
The Jews in the 1400 divided Nehemiah into chapters and verses. This was to help them reference various writings about different times and events. The prophets and books of history are a little easier to divide because they center around pretty big historical events that are significant in the shaping of Israel.
This section is interesting however. We saw the rebuilding of the city walls. Israel was coming together to show that they were becoming a people again - a nation set apart to serve and honor God. And the first thing that needed to happen, was that they were building the wall to keep foreign influences from destroying them.
Because the first thing we need to do is to rebuild a division. A space that says we won’t allow the influences of social pressure, to control and dictate who we should be.
This, Nehemiah said he would not stop for anything. In fact, he told Sandballat that he would not come down because he was doing a good work!
It is a good work that we rebuild a separate purity in our homes and our community of believers. What do I mean by this? We must rebuild a standard of holiness that isn’t influenced by social pressures and ideological viewpoints. If we are to be set apart for the Lord, we must be free from influences that differ than God’s desire for us.
But this still doesn’t answer the mid-sentence ending to chapter 7.
For those who divided these chapters, this is a way of saying that what took place leading up to chapter 8, is a precursor to what is about to happen in next. You cannot accomplish what happens in the next chapter without what happened in the previous chapters.
Tomorrow we will read what happened next. But in order to understand why the people respond and are able to adjust in tomorrow’s reading, understand that it only happened by each household doing the work to stand strong and finish separating themselves from outside influences.
If we are going to see revival in the church today, it must start with each family removing outside influences from their lives. We must separate ourselves from things that are not of God. Place guardrails around your homes, and put them in your life.
And as we do, we will be ready to take the next step into the presence of the Lord.
That’s all the time we have for today.
March 5
Nehemiah 1-4
What a sight!
Nehemiah sees the walls and is broken. So he gets people to work. And while they were working, they were being threatened and ridiculed from all around them.
So he set it up, that people would stand there and protect the workers.
But this is the most beautiful part.
Ezra tells us of all the people who came to Jerusalem when they were released from Babylon. But Nehemiah gives us a picture of where everyone worked. And the best part is, they ALL did the work!
Why?
Because rebuilding the city and temple of the Lord that has been broken, required everyone to work together!
I think of this post COVID season, the political unrest, the sexuality and gender confusion, and the depression, anxiety, and fear that has overcome people over the last few years. There is a mighty attack on the people of God. And we are trying to rebuild what was broken into shambles. But it doesn’t happen easily, and it doesn’t happen by one or two people.
If you call yourself a follower of Jesus, there is work to do to rebuild the temple of the Lord. The temple - God’s people - are in desperate need! There is a sea of hope, love, affirmation, and strength that needs to be build into the church. And if you follow Jesus, it is your job to be part of making that happen.
Nehemiah set it up that some would jsut simply be defenders behind the workers. But even the skilled workers held a weapon in one hand, and worked hard with the other hand.
Today is the day for the People of God to work hard, while holding tight to the weapons that will defend them!
That is why this Bible reading is so vital! We must be people who know the word of God and can defend our faith. At the same time, we must do the work to rebuild the Church.
What does that look like?
Get involved somewhere! Serve in your local church! It is the only way we rebuild the broken walls of the church. Serve in kids ministry! !! ! ! It’s the generation that is growing up with the normative that we once thought crazy!
But even more, tell your neighbors about your interactions with Jesus! Let them know the savior you serve. And then invite them to come and see who he is! When you do these things, you are helping rebuild the walls of the city. You are creating the temple - a dwelling place for the Lord!
March 4
Ezra 6-10
Ok, I hope you enjoyed listening to me try and read those names!
It was funny, because every 15-20 names, there was one named something like Benjamin, or beniah. These are fairly easy names. Yet because of the other names, I struggled to pronounce even those names.
So why are these names listed for us?
Well, because something awful has happened.
Ezra about flips when he hears that not only have the other tribes of Israel taken wives from foreign nations, but the priests and the Levites have too. These are the people who were supposed to protect the holiness of their community, and they too have intermarried with other nations.
You might be asking yourself why this is such a big deal.
Well, when they married people from other nations, they also married their traditions and idols. Their false worship and pagan gods because part of their lives as well.
And when God instructed them to keep from doing this, and yet here they are not able to stand innocent, Ezra is broken.
It’s interesting, the kings of Babylon expected the Israelites to be pure. In fact, Darius is the one who tells them to go and build the temple, and instructs everyone to help them, so that they can honor their holy God.
Even this Babylonian king was able to identify the holiness that was represented by the temple. Yet, the priests were unable to remain pure.
It’s interesting. How often has it happened that God’s people have been unable to keep themselves pure from false practices, simply because they were too interested in being like the people around them? Could it be, that it is much easier to mix traditions and religions with false ideologies than it is to remain pure? It takes work to remain holy! It doesn’t come easily.
So when it is time to do the work of the Lord, Ezra has no one qualified.
What if God were to ask his church to do holy a work today? Would we be separated from the world enough, that we would be able to stand pure and ready?
I don’t know about you, but I want to present myself in a way that is ready for whatever it is God calls me to.
For that reason, I abandon all hints of worldliness on me. I choose today to push away the false ideas that are corrupting God’s people, and cling to the truth!
When the day comes, I want to be ready for whatever God would call me to.
It isn’t easy.
But it’s necessary!
And it isn’t always looked highly upon.
But it’s worth more than anything in this world!
So may you present yourself as holy to the lord today!
March 3
Ezra 1-5
It will never be as good as what we had!
You ever heard someone say something like that before?
Or how about his one, well back in my day. . we used to. . . .
Both sentiments are the same. For the person saying it, they are trying to hold onto what feels lost and forgotten. For the person hearing it, it feels like a jealous comparison of someone who can’t let go of the past, or celebrate the future.
After 50 years of captivity, the captives were finally freed to go and start rebuilding the temple. This was a joyful moment that was the start of being a freed nation again. It’s interesting that in Ezra 3, we read the work of the temple beginning. And as it was being built, people were excited. After all, this was equivalent to the exodus out of Egypt. Their ancestors had been promised to leave Egypt and receive the promised land. And if you remember what Moses was instructing, they would leave and worship God freely. Now about 1000 years later, the Israelites are once again being freed from captivity and have now been instructed to go and build the temple. Not only that, the very kingdom that exiled them, is now lead by a king who is instructing and resourcing them to build the temple.
Yet when they get there, the young people are so joyful and excited about what is happening, that the elders begin to get disturbed. They see the temple foundations and begin to weep. They are caught in a moment of selfish misery. It says in Ezra 3:13, that the weeping was so obnoxious and loud, that no one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise.
Listen to the next part of this verse though. It says that the sound was heard far away.
Now understand the literary style here. We could read this and say, “Really! How loud were they that people could hear about it so far away?” But this isn’t what this means. It doesn’t mean they were so loud that it was heard. They were so adamant about their misery, that they made a fuss and everyone talked about it and reported it.
You know, the interesting thing is that these same people had so desecrated the temple, that God allowed it to be completely destroyed! They didn’t care for or respect the temple. So why are they so upset?
They couldn’t handle the fact that the younger generation was now getting it right. And not only that, they had the favor of the king of Babylon, and were being resourced to make it happen. Maybe in that moment, the elders realized what they had done. But instead of being filled with joy and excitement, they selfishly commiserated with one another to the point of misery.
I’ve heard so many times, the negative about Millenials, or the hopelessness of work ethic in Gen Z, or the mess Generation Alpha is in. Yet I can’t help but feel excited for what God is doing in the next generation. While the world goes crazy and abandons reality and science, a generation is growing up and learning to seek God in a whole new way. And this makes me so excited.
Yeah, I remember when life was simple, and when we used to hang out after youth group and just spend time at the park with peers. I remember when things were simple and we could go on camping trips and do crazy outings. Things have changed over the years.
But the one thing that hasn’t changed, is God! And he is drawing the next generation close to him to carry a brand new mantle on their lives. It might look different, sound different, and have a different type of energy. But it is exciting! And I am so grateful that I get to see the foundations of the Christian faith being rebuilt by a desperate generation!
I beg of you, celebrate with this generation. Encourage them to victory! See them become the generation that builds a place for God to dwell in the midst of his people once again!
March 2
Revelation 19-22
If you didn’t have the chance to hear, when we first started the book of Revelation, I talked about what the real purpose of this book is.
It is revelation. But about what?
Some would say its a revelation of things to come
Others would add, it is a revelation of the way the end times unfold
Others might even say it is a revelation of the wrath to be played out across the earth.
But the truth is, It is a revelation about Jesus and the city he will dwell in.
So first off, what is revealed about Jesus?
Well, it is revealed that he is the one and only pure lamb, who is able to open the 7 scrolls. He is set apart from all things corrupt and evil. And though he was slain, he reigns victoriously. And the city in which he reigns is pure and holy and precious in every way.
Which leads to us. We are the city of God. It is his desire that he dwells in us, as his people. And right int the center of the city, is the throne of God, where the people of God encircle the throne.
The thing is, we heard the clear picture of what it takes to be part of that city. We must be a people who are set apart from all evil. The city that Jesus dwells in has no corruption and there is no way for corruption to enter.
While this is a future city, it is what is expected of the promised bride of Christ right now. God expects us to be holy and pure. We must rid ourselves of all impurity. Which again leads back to Jesus. He is the only way in which the people of God, are able to become the dwelling place of God.
And this is important.
Which direction did the city come from?
It came down from the heavens, to earth.
This shows God’s move to bring his glory to the earth for all people. The new heavens and the new earth both come down to the people. And those who come into the city, are the ones who have understood the revelation of Christ. Listen to what Jesus says at the end of Revelation -
Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
This book reveals to us, not the punishment of God, but the reward of those who endure. That we might be the people of Jesus who dwell in the city with him.
John then says that Jesus testifies to these things by saying, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Then John concludes,
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
March 1
Revelation 17-18
In today’s reading, John sees Babylon and begins to talk about her as a prostitute who is dressed like a royal queen. She has find garments on with jewels and precious stones. And she is riding on the beast.
Now John’s readers, who are in the middle of great persecution, would have listened to his description of Babylon and recognized multiple things that represent other nations, both old and new. By describing these kings that once were, now is not, and yet will come, John is showing them that the same desecration that has been happening throughout history, is still happening.
This isn’t about a single nation that is leading people astray, this is about a kingdom of darkness that is constantly trying to take over the people of God. Yet John is telling the church that it won’t always be this way.
This is not a prophecy about the destruction of a specific nation, but about the destruction of the kingdom of darkness that is trying to silence the people of God.
Here is the hard thing, and yet the good thing all at once. We know the ending of the story. And in the end, God wins! The darkness is finally defeated.
Until then, we hold on tight.
Come back tomorrow as we finish the book of Revelation. We will tie this all together as we conclude Johns words.
Until then, think about this. . . .
God’s patience is seen yet again. He is waiting for even Babylon - or the spirit of darkness - to change. Yet he won’t allow his people to suffer forever. So there is an end.
One day we will be restored back to our original makeup that is able to be close with God.
Until then, We stay focused, one day at a time, focusing on our Lord. Find time today to sit and focus on God. Let him speak to you and draw you into his safety.
February 28
Revelation 13-16
Multiple times in our reading today, John says, “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.”
This is an interesting statement.
Remember, this is - originally - being written to the persecuted church of John’s day. They were experiencing persecution on every side of them. It would have been so much easier to just give in and make exceptions to what they knew to be true. But God had called them to remain steadfast. They mustn’t give in to the pressures around them.
So John is giving them hope. God will remain true and righteous in the end, but they must be patient in the mean time.
Why?
Because God is giving people the chance to repent.
In fact, did you know that this is what God has been doing since the beginning of time?
He doesn’t want to destroy people. He wants all people to know him and come to repentance - that they might have the chance at eternal life! Think of 2 Peter 3:9. What does it tell us? The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you. . . . Why? It goes on to say - not wanting anyone to perish.
The good news is that God is patently waiting for all people to come to the knowledge of his love. He wants all people to have the chance at life. But that means we have to constantly put up with evil around us.
There are a lot of things happening in society today that are just evil and wrong! God’s name and his design for mankind are constantly being polluted and desecrated. And while that happens, more and more of God’s people are giving in to the pressures of society.
After all, It is easier to give in than to stand strong.
But the vision that John had, shows us the heart of God. Even to the end, he is giving people the chance to repent. They are being given the opportunity to do things differently. Yet John tells us, they refuse to repent.
That’s how loving God is!
He isn’t trying to punish anyone. He is trying to save all people. It is interesting that people are more quickly willing to show allegiance to the beast and the dragon than they are to the lamb of God. We must be people who illuminate the true king, so that all people are given the chance to know him!
So, may you stand strong, as you patiently wait for the glory of God to consume you!
February 27
Revelation 8-12
Yesterday we saw this image of the seven scrolls that only the lamb of God could open. Today we read about the war that wages on the earth, and the dragon that wages war against the woman and her offspring.
This is a picture of the church and its battle to stand strong against the dragon which is trying to wash it away.
Here is where it really gets interesting. The Dragon is trying to destroy the offspring but is unable to. Yet the threat is still there.
This is a sign for us. First off we see that Jesus was the only one to open the scrolls. Not only that, he is the one to set things into place and cause the times to start shifting for things to be restored. Jesus is the offspring of the woman that the dragon was waiting to devour. But the dragon was defeated and unable to devour the child. So instead, it looks to devour the rest of the woman’s offspring.
Satan could not stand against Jesus.
In the Garden of Eden, God said that the serpent would strike the heal of the child, but the child would crush the serpent's head.
Jesus did this when he died on the cross. But until Jesus’s return, the serpent, or the dragon, will continue to strike at the rest of the offspring, the church.
This is why we must be strong and courageous. WE must not allow the dragon to throw us off track and get eaten by his deceptive ways.
John’s vision of this dragon is also showing the church that the Roman Empire and all who are persecuting the church, are not the real enemy. The true enemy is the evil spirit of the dragon that is causing the people to act out and persecute them.
What does this mean for us?
We should be ready to battle the spirit that is waging ward against us! There is an evil that is much stronger than the way someone treats us or what someone says about us. This evil is actively looking to devour the church. It might come in compromise, gossip, prejudice, or any other form that would cause God’s people to loose sight of his glory.
We must be on guard! Ready to stand strong and focus on the Lord.
So don’t be discouraged! Don’t allow the enemy to divide the church, or cause us to fight with one another. Because if we can stand strong, the reward will be that we see the defeat of the Dragon, and we enter into the presence of the Lord.
So, may you be wise! May you know the tricks of he enemy, and may you stand firm, as you seek him out today!
February 26
Revelation 4-7
I just have one quick thought for you today, and it will help you understand tomorrow’s reading.
When John sees the Lord seated on the throne, he is holding a scroll with 7 seals on it. This scroll holds the judgments that are about to take place on the earth. But the question proposed to John is, “Who can open this scroll.”
John answers honestly, and simply says that he doesn’t know, but that the they know.
And then it is revealed to him. The only one who can open the scroll is the lamb that was slain.
You and I understand this to be Jesus. He was the lamb that was slain..
Heaven and earth’s future rest in the hands of the Lamb of God. And there in Johns vision, he saw the 12,000 from every tribe assemble. Yet when he turned and looked, there was the lamb once again, and with him were people from every tribe and every nation. And though they still suffered, God was attentive to them and heard their prayers.
This is setting up chapter 8. So be sure to hang in there until tomorrow. But what we need to understand is that Jesus paved the way for eternity. It is not only what Jesus said in the words, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.” Here in revelation, we see that Jesus literally is the only one who could set things into motion. All of heaven was waiting on him to open the seals.
This represents God’s patience for people to understand Jesus. He desires life, and is wiling to make sure everyone gets the chance to meet Jesus and have life.
May you know Jesus, and understand how vital he is to our future with God in eternity today!
February 25
Revelation 1-3
So here we are in the most debated book of the Bible. What is it? What does it mean? How can we understand it today?
If you are looking to me for all those answers, you are in deep trouble! Because Revelation is a book that doesn’t have even the deepest of theologians singing in unity. In fact, there are 4 distinct ways people read the book of Revelation. However, I am not trying to get into each of these in this podcast. So I will try to remain strictly in what we know about the book.
First off, it is written by John. We think it might have been John the beloved follower of Jesus - because of some of the writing cues - however, we do not know with certainty who it is.
The book’s name - Revelation - comes from the Greek word Apoc-a-lupsis or as we say, Apocalypse. Now with all the post apocalypse movies out there, we have a missed view of this. The word apocalypse comes from a writing style in Jewish literature that reveals a heavenly perspective on history - in light of its final outcome. It looks at history, current times, and what it means for future revelation.
The biggest understanding about this book, is to whom John is writing this revelation. He is speaking to 7 specific churches that represent the people of God. Each of these churches is facing persecution of all kinds, but has not yet seen the extent of what persecution might come their way.
John starts by warning them that though they are persecuted and have unfair circumstances, each of them is still participating in behavior that is unpleasant to God. Not only that, he is warning them that things are going to get worse. He tells them of persecution that will yet come.
But the reason for this persecution, and even more for this warning, is to make sure the people prepare their hearts to receive the Lord. He is giving them a word, written in the style of the ancient prophets, that extends into today’s church.
Here is the overarching word from the first 3 chapters. Stop allowing yourselves to be corrupted by the practices of the culture around you! You were called to belong to God. Yet you keep allowing the rituals and practices of the day to taint your purity. And each time he gives a specific word, he says “Let those who have ears hear.”
John is giving them the truth, and then warning them that not everyone will listen. But those who do listen, will be given the chance at a second life.
This is just as strong of a word today, as it was then. Though we are by no means in any simple version of persecution like they were when John wrote this, we still live in a society that is morally corrupt. Not only that, the church is ever giving into this corruption and making excuses and exceptions against God’s word.
What do we do?
Open our ears and hear. We don’t like to believe that God’s word would really mean what it says at times. We hope that there is an exception to everything God says leads to purity and holiness. But if John were to write this to us today, I believe he would say to separate ourselves from culture. Don’t keep letting the practices of this world taint the holiness of his promised bride.
But for that, we must be a people who listen closely to his word, and then respond as people who have heard him.
So, may you have your ears wide open as the Holy Spirit searches you. May you allow yourself to respond out of obedience. And may it cause you to look forward to the second life that will find you in the presence of our one true king.
February 24
John 18-21
Have you ever heard the term Scapegoat before? Did you know it is as old as the Bible?
There was a custom with the Jews during Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. This was the day when the High priest offered a sacrifice for the sins Israel had committed for the year. During this ceremony, we hear about he scapegoat.
For that, let’s go back to Leviticus 16:6-10
This is the instruction God gave Moses on how to handle this day. “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to cast lots for the tow goats-one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.
So every year on the Day of Atonement, the Israelites participated in this practice. Two goats were presented, Lots were drawn, and that received the largest lot, would be sacrificed. However, the one who had the smaller lot, had the priest lay his hands on it’s head, confessed the sins of the people, and then it was taken to the edge of the city and released into the wilderness.
This was a symbolic representation of God’s grace to forego punishment for the sins of the people. A sacrifice that should have been made, was set free. And the sin was placed onto another sacrificial lamb.
Now you know where those two terms came from.
When Pilate came out to the people and brought Jesus and Barabbas, he said, John 18:39) But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover.” Now we learn from the book of Matthew, that this was a tradition that was set up by the Roman government. However, what does it remind you of? Two were brought before the people, one with sin and the other without sin. The one with sin was set free and the one without sin was put to death.
Even if the Roman government had started this tradition of releasing the prisoner, it was God’s idea. He had established it with the Jews back at mt.. Sinai. The Jews witnessed a real-life example of the scapegoat and the sacrificial lamb.
I don't know about you, but I find it so amazing that God orchestrated so many symbolic examples throughout the scriptures that were played out through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is one of the ways I know I can trust the things that were written throughout the Bible. It all tells one cohesive story of God’s unfailing love!
So, may you know that God has set you free, even if you didn’t deserve it. May you understand that God has been proving his loving grace since the beginning of time. And, may you receive the freedom that God has designed you to walk in, having been redeemed by the blood of the lamb Jesus Christ.
February 23
John 13-17
I could talk about God’s unbelievable love he has for us as seen in these chapters. I could even talk about the unity he prayed that we would have in order to not be torn apart by the world. I might even speak about the great advocate that he sent us - the Holy Spirit - Whom speaks the words of Jesus directly to us.
But I just have one thought for you today.
Jesus said in John 17:5, And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the gory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus came to this earth, lived a perfect life, and eventually died on the cross. Yet it wasn’t until he was resurrected that he displayed the full glory of Who he really is. Then, he was made perfect again like the days before creation even began.
There is so much more to know about God than you will ever understand. That is why we are the Bible. It reveals the heart of God. Jesus said, if you know me, then you know the Father. It was funny, because the disciples were like a bunch of kids. I can see them just rolling their eyes out of impatience as they said this next part, “. .. just show us the father then.” It was like they were saying, UGH!!!! Just show us the father!
But here is the truth. We see the heart of God and understand what he is like when we study the scriptures. As we read this part of John, go back and listen to how loving and sincere Jesus was about his people. He truly wants us to know how desperately God loves us. And that, is the heart of God. You can know God, by looking at Jesus.
So may you know that you are loved today! May you look at Jesus, and understand the love the Father has for you. And may you have the Advocate beside you, as you are lead into the presence of the Lord.
February 22
John 11-12
Why did Jesus allow Lazarus to die?
It’s actually a pretty funny scene if you play it in your head. Jesus says that Lazarus is asleep - meaning dead, but the disciples think he is asleep. So they get excited. Saying, “Oh, good. If he is asleep, he will get better.” I can see them all absentmindedly shaking their heads to one another.
So Jesus cuts to the chase. . . Nope. He’s dead.
But what he says next is the craziest part.
He told them, “And I’m glad I wasn’t there so that he would die.”
What? You couldn’t have prevented this, but you simply let it happen. Then throughout the next several verses we read this point over and over again as John reminds us how long Lazarus was dead, and how easily Jesus could have gotten there.
But Jesus is setting up a great revelation of God’s intent and power.
So Lazarus laid dead in the tomb, and Jesus looks up to heaven.
HIs prayer is basically this - Lord, I know you always hear me, but I’m saying all of this for the people - so that they will believe in you as well.
Then he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him to life.
So here is my takeaway from this.
I like to tell people this one statement that has transformed my life. It simply goes like this - Did you know that God’s plan for your life is more about other people than it is yourself. Let me say it again. . Did you know that God’s plan for your life is more about other people than it is yourself.
God used Lazarus to show all the people there just who he was, and the authority that God had even over death. May and Elizabeth walked through the suffering and pain of loss, Lazarus physically died, and all the people were hurting. And yet, it was all a great big object lesson to show God’s faithfulness and sovereignty.
I think this is why Jesus wept. It wasn’t because he was sad Lazarus was dead. He knew he was about to raise him back to life. But I think Jesus was broken that Mary and Martha had to go through this. And not only that, he realized the pain others were about to go through as Jesus himself went to the cross. And all of this was simply so that people could understand the glory of the living God. And later, we read that people came to see Jesus, simply because they had heard what he had done for Lazarus.
You see, God wants you to be blessed. He wants you healthy and whole. He even wants you to find favor with others and be able to enjoy life. But not so that you can just do your own thing. God wants those things in your life, so that you will help others know God too.
Even our hurts and pains are part of a larger story of telling people God’s redeeming story.
So, may you find your story in the middle of God’s even bigger story. May you allow God to use you any way he wants to show others his glory. And,, may you come to life in a way that shows others the goodness of God today!
February 21
John 7-10
Listen to what Jesus said in John 7:6 - My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.
There are a couple of times in our reading today that we hear Jesus talk about it not yet being his time. Let me ask something. If Jesus was going to die and raise again, why would he need a specific time for that? Couldn’t he have just let it happen whenever?
Did you know that there was a specific time that Jesus died, and that it happened -at that time- in a very symbolic way that was meant to teach us a lesson?
While Jesus was being walked to the cross, the temple would have been echoing with the cries of the Paschal Lamb. This was the Passover lamb. It would have been prepared and tied to the sacrificial altar - at the same time Jesus was being hung on the cross. And as Jesus uttered his last words, and breathed his last breath, the priest would have been sacrificing the lamb at the exact same time.
Jesus represented the final Passover. The sins of mankind were finally being atoned once and for all through Jesus.
So sure, he could have died any other time, and still risen again. But if he had let man be in control of when that happened, It never would have been as significantly symbolic. Jesus was literally dying to replace the sacrificial lamb of Passover. He was taking the place of all sin and breaking the curse it brought mankind.
So when you see that the people wanted to kill Jesus - and even tired at times, yet he simply walks away without any harm - it is because God had such a symbolic gesture of his love and freedom, that he wanted it to go exactly as planned. He was showing us the final sacrifice that would set us free.
So what should we learn from this?
God has every detail figured out! He knows exactly what we need, how we are to get it, and what it is going to mean. He planned all the way back in Genesis 3, that he would save all people through Jesus Christ our Lord. And from that point on, he was aligning details, putting family lines in place, and orchestrating every single moment leading up to this life-sized object lesson of love.
So may you rest assured that God knows every detail of what you are facing. May you understand the plans of our all-knowing God. And, may you be grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus, that reconciled us back to God forever!
February 20
John 4-6
Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood. . . .
Few! This is tough teaching. In fact, it was so tough, that we read many of Jesus’s followers walked away from him. Bu Jesus tied this to the question that was asked about mana. It’s important to note that we are told all of this happens the synagogue. This changes the conversation.
This is the time when a teacher would have opened the scrolls and read from them. Perhaps this was his moment to open Exodus and begin reading what was written in the wilderness as God delivered them from their oppression.
So now, in the synagogue where he was explaining God’s plan of rescue. We know from vs 4 that the Passover festival was near. So the people are already preparing their hearts to remember the work that God did as they left Egypt. They are about to celebrate their most significant festival as they thanked God for his freedom to save them.
Yet as they read these things, they ask Jesus for a sign. They basically said - we hear the teachings about the mana in the wilderness, we are preparing for the Passover, these are all signs that God was with us and was saving us. . . So what kind of sign are you going to give us?
Jesus answers them figuratively in a way that made no sense to them in the moment. Eat my flesh and drink my blood. This was cannibalism and a complete desecration of their pursuit of holiness. And Jesus said it right in the synagogue where they worshiped.
But Jesus wasn’t talking about actually eating his flesh. He was talking about his body that was about to be broken for the payment of our sins. And he didn’t mean to ritualistically drink his blood, he was talking about his shed blood that would create a new covenant.
Here is the key piece. The people were preparing and talking about Passover and how God had saved them from their oppression. Jesus was also talking about how he would soon save all of mankind from our oppression. And just like Passover was celebrated through remembering the sacrificial lamb whose blood was painted over their doorpost, Jesus would too allow his blood to cover the entry to our hearts.
The truth is, some people simply won’t accept this and will deny Christ. It is sad, and we must continue to show them who Jesus is. But in the end, anyone who accepts this sacrifice that Jesus made, will receive life everlasting!
Remember the three words I reminded you about in yesterday’s reading? Come And See. . .
This is why it is so important for us to help people come and see who Jesus is. He is the final Passover lamb for all time. He died and shed his blood, that we would partake and have life again.
So, may you acknowledge the body of Jesus that was broken for you. May you be thankful for the blood of the lamb that covered your life, And may you know that Jesus is calling you to him, as he rescues you from the oppression of the enemy.
Here are some additional things to look into from today’s readings. Did you know that the place where the well rested, was the land in which God had originally confirmed his promise to Abraham that he would be a blessing to all people on earth? Now Jesus is sitting at that well talking to a group of people who had been ignored by the Jews. How does that change the meaning of what you are reading? It’s not just a group of hated people. It’s a group of hated people on the place where God promised all people on earth would be blessed. And the one who was going to be that blessing, was now sitting there talking to the hated Samaritan woman. Go back and read Genesis 12 to see this picture of what God was doing for Abraham and now fulfilling through Jesus.
February 19
John 1-3
There are so many good things in just these three chapters that it is hard to single out a quick thought. So let me leave you with a few simple things that you can look up and study later.
First off you have this famous verse from John 1 vs 14 that says “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Let me give you two quick thoughts about this verse first. The word flesh is a pretty crude word. It simplifies things down to meat that hangs off the bones and blood of a living animal. This wasn’t a pretty picture of the Son of God becoming a beautiful human being. This was a dichotomy between the living God and the broken flesh of humanity.
But the next piece of the verse is key. . “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The word Dwelling is from the greek word Skay-no’-o which means to tabernacle or make a dwelling among us.
This is the next piece of God’s intent to bring us into his presence. He was making a dwelling, or a tabernacle right in the center of humanity. What was the purpose of the tabernacle? It was to bring people back into a relationship with God again - which is the exact purpose of Jesus. He was here to reconcile us to God.
So let me give you another quick thought.
John said he was simply there to testify about Jesus. It was his job to let people know about the one that - as he says - he isn’t even worthy to tie the sandals of. So when his disciples follow Jesus and ask where he is staying, Jesus simply says, “come and see.” Then later, Philip tells Nathaniel that he has found the one they have been waiting for. Nathaniel can not believe it so Philip simply says, “come and see.”
You will hear this phrase a few times in the book of John. By the way, John’s intent was to write a very relational gospel that shows the relationship of Jesus with mankind. So as people are confronted with the Messiah, they simply find others to come and see what they have seen. Jesus started by inviting the disciples into his life, and then they continued by inviting others to come and see as well.
Get this, the holy Son of God, gave up his royal place at the right hand of the Father in order to become a chunk of fleshly meat. And he did this so that you would come and see just how much the father loves you. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. And he has invited you to come and see what that looks like, so that you will invite others to come and join that journey!
So let me ask you, have you taken the time to come and see what the Messiah is like? If so, have you invited someone else to come and see yet. Because we have all been invited into this close relationship with the Son of God - and if he has changed your life, you should invite someone else to come and see what you have experienced as well!
So may you be alert today. May you truly come and see what the Messiah is like. And may it cause you to invite others to come and see as well.
If you want a few more things to look up from today, the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it. This is a present progressive term. What does it mean that the darkness has not overcome it?
Also, Jesus used wash basins for ceremonial cleansing at the wedding at Cana. What does this signify if anything? Why would he use jars for washing as he did his first symbolic miracle at a wedding of all places.
Finally, John 3:14 referees to Moses lifting up the snake in the wilderness. . How does the Son of Man and this instance in the wilderness compare?
But for now, that’s all the time we have together today.
February 18
Daniel 7-12
First, let me apologize. I was supposed to read chapter 7 yesterday, but missed it somehow. So I added it to today’s reading. But I’m ok with that. You know why? Because it fit well into today’s reading.
Have you ever been confused about end-time prophecy?
There is so much out there and it is confusing as can be! When I hear some of it, I don’t even know where to start. And I’m a pastor! So if you hear prophecy and have no idea what to do with it, remember that even Pastor Michael gets overwhelmed with it at times.
But I heard the key to it in today’s reading.
Chapter 9:23 Gabriel comes to Daniel while he is praying. Daniel is confessing his sin and the sin of the people of Israel. While he is in deep prayer, Gabriel came to him and said, “Daniel, I have now dome to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.”
You see, Daniel was extremely concerned and confused by what he was being shown in the visions. So all he could do was pray. And he cried out on behalf of himself and on behalf of the people of Israel. And because of it, God sent Gabriel to give him clarity and a word of knowledge and understanding. And this all happened because he was highly esteemed.
So how does one get highly esteemed in order to receive and understand prophetic words like this?
By being in the presence of the Lord!
This is the biggest thing God has been teaching me over the last few months. The more I get into his presence, the more I understand what he would say about circumstance, and the world as it unfolds.
There is no limit to the presence of God. He is more amazing, more holy, more pure, more loving, more merciful, and more compassionate than we could ever understand! When I spend time in his presence, I am transformed.
So how? How do we spend time in his presence?
Start by praying! It might be a simple prayer if you haven’t done this much. It might sound as simple as you saying, “God I want more of your presence. I want to be more like you. Will you make me like you!” Listen, a simple prayer like that for the first time ever, is more impressive to God than a well-thought-out eloquent prayer of a veteran prayer warrior.
Spend time contemplating his goodness, reading his word, and listening for his voice. As you do this, God reveals things to you and speaks over you. All because you become highly esteemed in the sight of our Lord.
Imagine that. Being thought of as highly esteemed by the Lord Almighty! It happens, when you spend time in pursuit of him.
So, may you find yourself deeply captivated by the presence of the Lord. May you call out to him and draw near to him. May you find revelation about deep mysteries in the Lord. And, May you find yourself highly esteemed, as you pursue the Lord today!
February 16
Daniel 4-6
What was Daniel doing in the lion’s den?
If you have ever seen a portrayal of this, you just said that he was praying.
But did you know that the text never tells us that he prayed all night. In fact,I don’t think he prayed at all in the den of the lions.
Daniel was a man of integrity. He was known to do the right thing and be honorable. So the people who rallied against him, used his relationship with the Lord to trap him. They knew that he was faithful to worship God, and could see that he wouldn’t budge with that relationship. So they devised a plan to trap him through this devotion.
So when Daniel was in the lion’s den. . . I don’t think he did anything different than he normally did. He knew that God was with him and the he would be ok.
Here is the thing.
When we saturate ourselves in the Presence of the Lord, we don’t have to do anything different when trouble come. We just continue to live in His presence, and allow him to rescue us.
This is what he decree of king Darius was so profound.
He didn’t say that now everyone must pray to Daniels God.
He didn’t say that the people of the land must worship him.
He said, “Issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom, people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.”
You see, when we have a holy fear and a reverence toward the Lord, people see his power. I don’t want people to think God’s favor is ever on me because I pray. While that might bring me peace and an aligned mind, it isn’t what brings the favor of the Lord to me. I don’t want people to think the favor of God is on me because I read the Bible, or worship the Lord.
I want to carry the power of God to all people because I’ve been in the presence of the living God. I want to have such healthy fear of the Lord, and reverence for who he is, that it’s seen in the rest of my life.
When I carry this presence of the Lord with me, then people will know who he is!
So, may you revere the name of the Lord. May it show in how you live your life, and the things you are willing to participate in and talk about. And may people know the living God because of you today!
February 16
Daniel 1-3
This story of Shadrach Meshach and Abednigo is so familiar. IF you have grown up around church as a kid, no doubt you have heard this story! It’s one of the great stories that we all love to talk about. But the thing is, it is more relevant to today than you probably realize.
We live in a day and age where we are constantly being told to bow down to an image that doesn’t represent our God. It looks different than in those days, but it is just as prominent and profound,.
It looks more like you being told to adjust your values, change the way you see things, and learn to accept things that are wrong. It’s not as obvious, but just as forceful.
This is why we live in a generation that finds it hard to disagree with someone about your faith. We don’t want people to feel bad, or like we don’t like them. And the things we are told to bow down to, are so discreet, that we feel like we have to give in so that we are not seen as being wrong.
But these three men knew the key. First they said that God would save them, but if he didn’t they still wouldn’t compromise. They knew they served the one true God and that his ways are right. So God saved them from the fire. But listen to this part after the king recognizes this.
King Nebuchadnezzar admits that these three men were willing to defy the king and sacrifice their lives in order to worship their God.
The pressure from society was all over them. They were ratted out by a group that already despised them for their faith. And yet they stood up for what they believed. And this lead to the king’s realization that they were willing to worship the one true God.
There is an impossibly hard battle that is taking place right in front of us. Society pressures Christianity to give in to differing ideologies or accept varying lifestyles or choices. If we don’t we are threatened, bullied, and made to feel wrong. So we give in.
We must stand up for what is right and what we believe! We can not bow down because we are scared of a little fire.
Now listen, there are proper loving ways to address things that are wrong. We must not be people who are rude and ignorant towards people. But that doesn’t mean we need give in, just because everyone else says to.
This is why this Bible reading is so important! We must be people who know God’s word and what it means. Saturate yourself with God’s presence and his love. When you do, you will know what, where, and how to stand up to the false gods of todays society.
So, may you be filled with wisdom as you pursue the Lord!
May you know his truth, and seek out his face.
And may you have the confidence to stand up for what is right, as God protects you and rescues you from the fire!
February 15
Ezekiel 46-48
Listen to how this book ended. . .
The name of the city will be called - The Lord is there.
Wow! That is profound!
Listen to how the land was set up. . There were 6 tribes to the North from east to west, and 6 tribes to the south from east to west. And right in the center of it all was a spot set up for the priests and the sanctuary of the Lord.
God wanted to reestablish what was always supposed to be. He wanted to be the center of their lives and their towns. So he divided the land he had brought them to, and established himself in the middle of it.
Here is the best part, anyone willing to let him reign at the center, was allowed land. God was establishing himself as the middle of their lives. And because of that, he was able to name the city - The Lord is There.
So let me ask you a tough question today?
Can you name your village that? Is God at the center of everything you do? Does he dwell in the middle of all your interactions, your coming and going? Is he the center of it all?
For the people to fully embrace the covenant God was making with them, he was helping them establish his rightful presence in the center of their lands. In the same way, God desires to be at the center of our lives. So have you made him LORD of all things?
Does he have the center seat at your finances? Is he the center decider of what you watch? Do your relationships make room for him to dwell in the middle of them? This is what God was getting at with the Israelites, and I believe what he wants for us as well.
So I’ll leave you to think about this today. Is he really the center of all you do? If not, ask the Holy Spirit to search you and help you figure that out, so that you can make him the center of all you do Today.
February 14
Ezekiel 43-45
Listen to Ezekiel 43:10 one more time. . . Son of man, describe the temple to the peoepl of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sin. Let them consider its perfection.
What a contrast.
Tell them about the perfect temple, so that they can be ashamed of their sin.
What does God mean by this?
Simply this, he was reestablishing a people who would be disgusted by sin, because they knew the holiness of their God.
God isn’t looking for perfect people. He is looking for peoepl who will be passionately in love with him. Someone passionately in love with him, can be made perfect through Jesus.
So how in love with God are you today?
You will know this answer, by the wya you pursue him!
Remember when you first fell in love with someone? If you haven’t been in love yet, remember when you realized you were drawn to someone, or that you at least liked them? What did you do?
You spent time getting to know them and chasing after them!
God is the same way!
If you will chase after him and desire to know him more, he will draw close to you and show you his goodness! He isn’t holding you hostage to your failures. He wants you to realize his love for you - despite your failures!
So, may you know that the perfect God, desires your heart. And in that, may you chase after him with everything you have today!
February 13
Ezekiel 40-42
But first, let me measure my computer. . . ok, looks like it’s 1 cubit by one chord by a length of a rod. . . by a cubit. . by a length. . . WHAT!!!!!
I’m sure as you read and listened to this, you were going crazy with all of these measurements. This is a lot of exact measurements with exact symmetry that seemed to repeat itself. I mean, if the north wall was 5 cubits and the south wall was 5 cubits, and the east wall was 5 cubits. . . I bet the west wall was 5 cubits.
Why is all of this in here?
God was showing Ezekiel a perfect picture. And when I say perfect, I mean perfect!
He was giving Ezekiel an image of what a perfect temple of the Lord was like. Everything was in its place and was decorated to be beautiful. Cherubim and palm trees, wood coverings and grand doorways.
God was showing Ezekiel what this perfectly crafted temple looked like.
I bet Ezekiel couldn’t help but wonder if this was the new temple that was to be built. After all, Jerusalem was just sieged, and the city lay in shambles. Maybe God intended this magnificent temple to be built in its place.
Whatever the deal, God was showing Ezekiel a perfect temple. This was to reestablish God’s perfect relationship with Israel. God wanted to show that every aspect of his presence was meticulously thought out and ready for the people of God.
This exactly measured temple is how we should approach a relationship with a holy God.
Which makes this next point even more interesting.
The day Ezekiel gets this message from the Lord - about the restored relationship God is preparing for the people is noted in Ezekiel 40:1 as the 25th year of exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the 14th year after the fall of the city. . . If you go by their religious calendar, this was the beginning of preparations for Passover.
So on the day when they were to start remembering how God allowed the death angel to pass over them as he brought them out of Egypt, God was giving Ezekiel a picture of a perfect temple where his presence could dwell.
Which is merely a precursor to the perfect messiah who would ultimately be the Passover lamb of all time!
Isn’t it interesting to see how consistently God is chasing after his people. All he ever wanted was a people whom he could dwell with. So he shows Ezekiel his plan - to make a perfect relationship between God and man, so he could be with us.
Did you know that god loves you immensely? He would do anything to be with you! Even rebellious people in the middle of exile were all he wanted to be with. That’s the beauty of our God! He desires nothing more than to be with you.
Paul says it this way in Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So may you remember, there is a God who so desperately loves you, he would cross heaven and earth to be with you today!
February 12
Ezekiel 37-39
The valley of the dry bones is such an interesting read!
God has Ezekiel look at what seems impossibly dead, and call life into it.
Where there was only bones and dirt, God commands life and breath. What seemed empty and dead, God instructs fullness and life.
This was a sign of what he was doing to restore Israel. He was calling them back to be his people. He even reminds them that they will have David as their king. This is the promise that the covenant given to David will remain.
And that covenant was for all of us.
Jeremiah 33:17 says, “For this is what the LORD says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel”
This was God’s command that the line of David would last.
Why?
Because it was already promised to Abraham, Isaac, and then Jacob, that through them all nations will be blessed. This refers to the promise of God that a true king of kings would one day be born of David’s line who would ultimately restore all mankind back to God. Who was that king? ? ?
Jesus.
You see, God is in the business of restoring people! What we see as nothing more than dead bones, God sees as an army. He wants to restore the dead things in your life and bring you into a place of strength and wholeness. His promise has always been to sustain you and keep you in his care.
So, may you look at the dead areas of your life and believe for something more! May you know that God is actively working to breathe his breath into you. And, may you rise up, as strong as an army, as you are filled with the spirit of God today!
We are on day 40 of our year-long bible reading plan. Pastor Michael Grove has started reading the passages and they are available to listen to here!•As a church, we’re committed to biblical literacy as we continue our journey of becoming fully devoted followers of Christ. Let’s dive into the Bible together and become more familiar with God’s Word!•calvarynaperville.org/bible
February 10
Ezekiel 32-33
Ezekiel warned the people over and over for the past 32 chapters. Yet over and over again the people would not listen. He told them that Jerusalem would fall. Yet they continually boasted in arrogance and pride, not believing that they would ever see any destruction for their wickedness.
Yet here in Ezekiel 33, we hear that Jerusalem has fallen. And it is at this point that God opens his mouth again so that he can speak. God was keeping him from wasting his words and prophesying to a people who would not listen. Now that they are able to hear of the destruction of Jerusalem, they are able to understand that this is for real!
It’s funny, we all have a way of justifying what we are doing and what the true effects of it are on our lives. For instance, have you ever talked to someone who watches shows that you wouldn’t ever consider watching? And if you were to say something to them, they might respond with - well, it really doesn’t effect me that much. I’ve seen worse in real life. Or if you challenge someone on their music choices and the words that are being repetitively repeated in their ears, they might argue - I just listen to the beat, it isn’t really influencing me in any way.
Integrity always seems to be threatening to people. If you question something that might lead to deeper reflections of a person, they constantly push back and justify. Take it deeper to a conversation about how someone is spending company money, or relationships they are dabbling in that are inappropriate, and you often hear a proud person boast of their super human ability to resist the very evil they are flirting with.
Look, when someone is unwilling to listen to a concern you see in their life, it is likely that they have already deceived themselves into believing that they are above failure. But the truth is, none of us are above failure!
Listen to what Galatians 6:7-9
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
I think sometimes, doing what is good is so intentional, that it is just easier to do wrong. The carnal side of us wants what it wants. And the truth is, unless we do the work of redirection, our flesh will win! It actually takes work to do what is right. It’s effortless to just go with the flow.
Ezekiel is told to prophesy against a people who have just mindlessly followed their fleshly desires. And they kept trying to convince themselves that they would be ok. In fact, up to the point of the destruction of Jerusalem, they would ignore the words of Ezekiel, unable to head the warning he was giving them.
Who do you have in your life who will call you out? Who can act as a watchman around your life? Because if you don’t have that person, you will definitely fall victim to the things that are going to ruin you. You might think you are above failure, but the truth is, we all are! And what you do will return with its reward. Sow to please your flesh, you will reap destruction. But sow to please the Spirit, you will reap eternal life.
So, may you examine your life today. May you find accountability in a good mentor who will protect you as a watchman. And may you keep from becoming weary in doing good. For at the proper time, you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up!
February 9
Ezekiel 29-31
God is preparing the land for His people to be released back into it. What we are reading today, is a prophecy and judgement against Egypt. This is the nation that first led Israel to stray from God. The Israelite nation that was lead out of Egypt brought too many detestable traditions and worship with them. So God is making sure that the land gets cleansed of these violations of his covenant.
Which just gives me one quick thought.
When was the last time you rid yourself of things that lead you away from the Lord? As we pursue God, he brings us closer to his holiness. But in order for us to be there, and then stay there, we must remove the things that cause us to stray.
When was the last time God asked you to remove something from your life?
If the goal is to move closer and closer to holiness, then we should have a regular tension of cleansing our life from things we picked up from the world. }
Today, take some time and ask God to cleanse you. Ask him to show you what things need to be removed from your life, and allow him to make a new place for him to dwell in your life.
February 8Ezekiel 24-28
So this is where it starts getting a little interesting. God has been speaking through Ezekiel to publicly call out the sins of the Israelites. He is using these crazy visual depictions to show the depth of their rebellion. And in today’s reading we heard that Jerusalem was brought down in ruin.
But listen to what word comes to God next.
Tyre, or as some pronounce, Tyre, is a glorious seaport city. It is a hub for trade that many nations are able to converge around. This makes this city highly sought after and important.
But God gives a word of complete destruction. This was a prophecy that was later fulfilled by Nebechadnezzar. And with this prophecy, God is not jsut placing judgement on a nation, but he is reestablishing Israel. While Tyre is destroyed and centuries later even ruined by Alexander the Great, Israel is brought out of exile and once again restored.
Remember, God’s plan isn’t to destroy or punish for the sake of judgement. God’s judgement is meant to rebuild a people and set them up to be who he designed them to be. This is a drastic contrast he is showing.
His ultimate intent is to purify his people so that they can bring him Glory.
Listen to the last part of chapter 28
“When I gather the people of Israel form the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations.”
We should invite God’s discipline into our lives. It is only for our good that God would discipline us and help us to grow. His intent isn’t punishment and harm, but to help us become who he designed us to be. If we weren’t his people, all he would do is punish and destroy. But because we are his, he desires to rebuke, and then rebuild so that we can be healthy and strong in who he has called us to be.
The writer of Hebrews says it this way, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11
So, may you embrace God’s gentle discipline, so that you may avoid his painful rebuke. May you grow into the godly person you were designed to be. And my you live in a way that shows God holy, as you chase after him today.
February 7
Ezekiel 21-23
Ok Ezekiel. .. this is getting repetitive and heavy isn’t it!
We get it, Israel is awful. . . But what we are reading is about to happen as the Jerusalem is being seized and destroyed.
So while the people are realizing they have done something wrong, they have yet to witness the full depth to their sinful disobedience. But God is about to show them something that will cause them to stop and understand this rebellion. After all, Jerusalem is their Holy city. The place where they have known that God has set them apart as a nation.
But the point God is trying to get them to understand is made clear in Chapter 22. He has described them as prostitutes over and over throughout the last few chapters. Again in this chapter he is saying that they are worse than prostitutes because they are chasing after the things they know to be wrong. So they know it’s wrong, but don’t care. In Chapter 23, this is the comparison of Oholah and Oholibah. . .
Oholah is Samaria - a city that chases after things that are detestable. And after God has pointed out what is detestable and wrong, Oholibah - being Jerusalem - Knows better and still chases after those things.
We can look at this and think that the people of Israel are so foolish! How could they be so dumb!! They knew what was wrong, and still lusted after it. . . What disgusting people! !
Because, you know, we would never chase after something that is wrong! That’s why we only eat the foods that are good for us, and keep from ever gossiping about others, and tithe with happy hearts in order to put God first, and . . . the list goes on and on. We would never do things that God in wrongful order.
But let me get back to chapter 22. Because this is a key piece of this entire read today. . .
Vs. 19 says, Because you have all become dross, I will gather you into Jerusalem. As silver, copper, iron, lead and tin are gathered into a furnace to be melted with a fiery blast, so will I gather you in my anger and my with and put you inside the city and melt you. I will gather you and I will blow on you with my fiery wrath, and you will be melted inside her. As silver is melted in a furnace, so you will be melted inside her, and you will know that I the Lord have poured out my wrath on you.”
Oh yay! Thanks pastor Michael, that is so uplifting! God will pour out his fiery anger on us. . . . How delightful!!!
But it is if you understand this verse. He started by saying we have become DROSS. What is dross? It is the scum that melts off precious metals as they are heated and melted. Dross has the impurities, but is mixed with the metals.
So why is this important? Because God is still recognizing that Israel is meant to be the precious metals that need refining. And God is willing to burn away the dross so that all is left is precious.
No one like punishment. Including God! He isn’t about punishing people, he is about refining people. You see, the exile into Babylon, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the oppression of the Israelites was not punishment. It was the fiery wrath of God sent to realign the people of Israel around the heart of God. Often it is only under the pressure of failure and disaster, that God is able to get our attention and redeem our hearts. This is so that we won’t be completely destroyed. But will be redeemed. Because deep down under the worthless dross, is something precious. And God is more interested in exposing what is precious than he is in punishing what is broken!!!!
So, may you openly invite the Spirit of God to point out what is broken. May you embrace the correction of the Lord. And may you grasp the preciousness of who you are, as God refines you today!
February 6
Ezekiel 18-20
Have you ever noticed how stubborn people can be who are wrong?
I’m an enneagram 8. If you don’t know what that is. . . It’s not a big deal, the enneagram analyzes the personality and behavior types and declares how someone tends to act. As an 8. . I tend to always think I’m right. . . probably because I am. But this also means that I think I know best, understand how things should be done, and have my own way of judging others.
So when I see the attitude of the people Ezekiel is talking to, I’m not surprised. I kind of understand them. Though they know they are wrong, they justify themselves by questioning if God will really take out his judgment on them..
Little do they know, they are only a few short months away from Jerusalem being destroyed.
But here is the takeaway. We want God to be just and for him to carry out judgment. . until it is time for him to be just and carry out judgment on us. Then we want grace.
It’s funny how we want a God who has rules and standards. But we would rather do things our way and make up our own standards. So when his judgment comes, we can’t understand why he would be against us. After all, Isn’t he loving?
The Israelites were so stubbornly blinded by their sin, that they refused to understand that God was desperately calling to them. He was giving Ezekiel these visions and prophecies so that they would understand why God was allowing their Holy City to be destroyed. It was to capture their hearts and get them to turn away from their sin.
But as the stubborn usually do, they remained stubborn.
Here is the truth friends, we all have sin. You and I are no different. Each of us has something that has crept into our lives and is battling to harden our hearts. God uses his word to help us see that sinful paths always lead to destruction. If we are too hard to listen to the word, and we continue to walk our destructive paths, we will end in destruction as well. God doesn’t want that. So he warns us, sends people to call us out, and continually fights for our attention.
Don’t be so hardened that you miss the signs of destruction for the path you are on.
Allow God’s spirit to call you out, catch your attention, and redirect you away from harm.
So, may you hear the voice of he Lord today. May you know that he is trying to get your attention. And may it cause you to turn from your destructive path, and align your heart with God.
February 5
Ezekiel 16-17
Wow! So today was some pretty heavy and graphic reading! The Lord starts by comparing Israel to a prostitute and then, after proving the point quite graphically, says actually, Israel is worse! This is pretty intense!
Now if you put yourself into that day and age, you would know that the entire word that Ezekiel is saying here, is meant to smack the listener in the back of the head as if to get their attention. The fact that they were described as being left naked in their own blood after birth, was so offensive to the Israelites. Then to still be naked later on, only shows the detestable state that the Lord was describing them in.
Then, as he describes the Israelites as a prostitute who has abandoned her husband, he turns around and says that actually, she chases after men trying to give herself away. In this way, she is worse than a prostitute.
What is the Lord talking about?
The answer to that can be undestood in this statement - like mother, like daughter.
If you are like me, you’ve heard that said in a fun, sarcastic way, that sometimes even is used to describe good traits. But to be sure, after reading this, I don’t know if I will use that term ever again.
The land of Canaan was detestable to the Lord. When God instructed the Israelites to go in and conquer the land, he specifically gave an instruction. We read in Leviticus 18:27-28, that they were to keep from doing the same practices that the Canaanites had done. In fact, they were to act completely differently. But what Ezekiel is saying here, is that they not only did the same exact things that those who they had driven out had done, but they took it a step further.
You might be asking, how could they have taken it further than the ungodly people before them. Well, they knew what was right, yet chose to do the same things wrong. This is why Ezekiel’s word refers to them not only as a prostitue, but as adulterous wife become prostitue.
You see, the Israelite people knew what God wanted, and why he wanted it. Yet they chose to live like the people of the land before them. Their rebellion was blatant and disregarding of the things of the Lord.
So God is using this graphic depiction, to make sure they get the level of disrespect they are showing the Lord.
But don’t worry, the imagery ends with a great promise. God says that he will restore them, even though they are wicked. He will bring them back to a place of knowing God and living in his blessings. Because that’s the God we serve. No matter how far away we have gotten ourselves, or how detestable we have made ourselves in his sight, he is always at work redeeming us!
Remember, God’s number one desire is to be with you!
And he would do anything to prove that!
So, may you examine your life. May you see what things have rejected the calling of the Lord on your life. May you know his will and hold fast to it! And no matter what, may you feel God chasing after you, as he reconciles you back to him.
February 3
Ezekiel 9-12
First off, Ezekiel is telling us that he is seeing the Likeness of the Glory of the Lord, - remember, this is the description of the presence of the Lord that was on Mt. Sinai, and also rested on the Ark of the Covenant, and covered the tent of meetings. . . This same likeness of the Glory of the Lord was now leaving Israel.
Not only that, he recognizes and realizes that this was the same imagery that he saw in Babylon. So he is saying that they have forsaken the Lord, and he is moving about through the foreign land because of the rebellion of God’s own people.
Then we see something interesting. Jaazaniah son of Azur and Palatiah, son of Benaiah get introduced to our story. They are among the 25 men who were represented as priests. These 25 are the same number of priests who were worshiping the sun in yesterday’s reading. But what is significant is that their names are said. These names have significant meaning. Not necessarily the people, but the names.
Jaazaniah means - Jehovah hears, Azur means the helper, So Jaazaniah son of Azur means, Jehovah hears, son of the helper. . . .
Pelatiah means God rescues, Benaiah means Jehovah builds. So Pelatiah son of Benaiah means God rescues, Jehovah builds.
But then Pelatiah was suddenly killed. God rescues, Jehovah builds. . . But then put to death.
This brought Ezekiel to fall face down on the ground and cry out to the Lord, “Ah Lord God! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?
This is God showing Ezekiel that he is removing his presence from the people who have rebelled. At the same time, he is showing Ezekiel that his promise is still the piece that will remain. Jehovah hears, the helper is coming.
Yet chapter 12 tell us an important part of the story. Verse 2 says, “son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.”
Again, he is talking about the Israelites. Not the Babylonians who have exiled them. God’s own people have forgotten to listen and look for God. So he is removing his presence from them.
And he says in Ezekiel 11:12 - For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you.
You see, in the vision, Ezekiel sees the priests acting in rebellion and listening to the ways of the Babylonian culture. But the priests here merely represent the people. God is showing Ezekiel that the people as a whole have completely rejected him and cut off the presence of the Lord from the land of Israel. But then the key words of Ezekiel are remember, he reminds us that this is the same presence of the Lord that he saw in the vision as he sat at the Kebar River - in Babylon. . .While the presence of the Lord was driven away from the temple by their rebellious idolatry, he had gone into exile with them. God would raise up a people who would remember him.
So what can we learn from this?
First, God is looking for his people to be separated from rebellious culture.
But second, God will not stop chasing after us! No matter how hardened we make our hearts, or how blind we make our eyes, he will give us a softened heart, and help us see him.
So, may you know that God is chasing after you today. May you have the ears to hear his voice, and the eye to see his hand at work on your behalf. And, may you know that God is with you where ever you may go!
February 2
Ezekiel 4-8
We read in the beginning of chapter 8 that a year has gone by since Ezekiel received the first vision from the Lord. By now he has given the message of rebuke to the people of Israel, and though God told Ezekiel that the people would probably be stubborn, I can’t help but think that there might be hope that the people have turned their hearts to the Lord.
Yet what do we read?
Listen to 5:7 - You have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even conformed to the standards of the nations around you.
Did you hear that?
You have not even conformed to the standards of the nations around you. In other words, this vile nation that has taken you captive has higher standards than you have right now! Which goes against everything that God had set up the Israelites to be. He wanted them to be a Holy nation, set apart from all sin. Yet here they are disobeying God and living such vial lives that they don’t even live up to the Babylonians.
Then God takes Ezekiel to the temple. And what he sees here is even more vial. The holy places that have been set apart for the Lord, now have idols and idol worship. People have desecrated what was holy!
Why?
Because what we allow to happen in our Christian society, always makes its way into the temple. What is permissible among the people of God, works it’s way into the church.
So God ultimately showed Ezekiel that he was removing his presence from Israel. And as the people worshiped the sun from the very temple of the Lord, he left his people to understand what they had done.
You see, God desires holiness. We don’t like to talk about that very much, be he is holy an desires his people to be holy.
This isn’t easy. And it comes with navigating social pressures and things that don’t make sense. But the same is today as it was back then. God wants a holy people.
The Israelites had seen the detestable ways of the Babylonians and took it a step further. They ignored God and traded in worship for him with worship of idols.
What pursuit of holiness do you have today? Because the truth is, we all live in a society that is wandering further and further away from the Lord. The more we live in this blinded world, the more we become accustom to the ways it offers. Eventually, we don’t even realize that we have become accustomed to things that are far worse than what we ever could imagined.
So, find a place of holy worship of the Lord today. Remove the idols that distract you, and separate yourself from the things of the world. And May you find the face of the Lord, shining back on you, as you pursue him today!
February 1
Ezekiel 1-3
Ezekiel was a priest who had been living in Jerusalem during the first Babylonian attack on the city. Though they spared the city, they took a group of Israelites and hauled them off into exile in Babylon. Ezekiel was one of those exiles.
When the book of Ezekiel begins, it is now 5 years after all of this. We get that because Ezekiel starts by giving us a pretty clear time stamp from the beginning of the writings. Not only that, we know that Ezekiel is now 30 years old.
This is significant because, at 30, Ezekiel would have been installed as a priest in Jerusalem. This was the year he would have been given the opportunity to serve in the temple.
One day as he is sitting out by the river, he sees this crazy vision! IN this vision, he sees what he describes as the appearance of the likeness of the Glory of the Lord. This is the word Kavod in Hebrew. It’s used to describe the cloud that comes down over mt. Sinai when Moese meets with God, or the cloud covering the tabernacle in the wilderness, or the presence over the ark of the Covenant.
This is the most astonishing part of his vision, because now for the first time, Ezekiel is seeing it in Babylon - this city that has captured them and has exiled God’s people. It was supposed to be over the ark in Jerusalem in the temple.
This is the interesting part. We will later see that Ezekiel has a vision of why God left the temple in Jerusalem and has come with his people into exile. Not to spoil it, but it is basically because the people of Israel have abandoned God and have turned towards other gods.
This vision was to show Ezekiel that while God is hurt by the people abandoning him, he is still moving with them and chasing after them.
Just how far gone are the people though?
This is what the rest of the vision is about. Ezekiel hears God’s warning and is instructed to speak out against the rebellion of the people. Yet what do we hear over and over again? Will the people listen? Nope. Because they are stubborn and rebellious people.
So Ezekiel is getting the great news that he will be the one to warn the people, but they will ignore him.
Not so sure he wants to be a priest any more at this point.
But what are we to learn from this?
First off, know that God is desperately chasing after us. When we are rebellious and with hardened hearts, God still finds ways to capture our attention. But are we listening?
Second, Ezekiel wasn’t concerned with approval from his own people. He wasn’t given the privilege of sitting and drowning in his sorry of exile. He was still called to a priestly standard of hearing from God and intervening on behalf of the people.
This, is our job. Those of us that understand the Lord and know our rebellious condition - we are to listen to the Lord, and help others find his truth. In the middle of the most confusing and dark places in society, we still have the chance to function as God’s priest, as we help others hear and understand the word of the Lord. So. . . May you listen to the Lord today. May you know his words and understand how he longs to separate you from society. And may you help others hear of the goodness of God as he uses you to be his mouthpiece.
January 31
Psalm 146-150, 2 Samuel 23-24
David knew what he had done was wrong. But if you are like me, you are wondering what he did that was so wrong.
First, 2 Samuel 24:1 is a little confusing. It says, Again, the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them. When you look at the original Hebrew, this reads a little differently. It more accurately says that God was angry, and this instigated something inside David.
So let me paint a better picture for you. The Lord was angry with Israel, because of their consistent rebellion, and Davide allowed this to instigate him. So he took a census.
You might be wondering why this is so wrong.
Well for that, you have to go to Exodus 30:12. Here, while talking with Moses on the Mount Sinai, God instructed, “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them.”
In other words, when a census is taken, they were to give a sacrifice to the Lord.
Why? Because in doing the census, they are number the people who belong to the lord. So they must be reconciled as clean through a sacrifice. But when David did his census, he did not do this. After all, he wasn’t taking a census on the Lord’s behalf, he was doing it on his own behalf. It was almost like he was proving to God that he was in charge of a great people. But God already knew this. After all, they are HIS great people.
Joab pleads with David that this is a bad idea. Yet it says that David’s words trumped what Joab was saying. Isn’t it interesting, we all have a spot that enough is enough. When we hit that spot, we won’t listen to reason. So David does the census despite being warned not to. And this brings sin into David’s life once again..
We must be people with accountability. What I mean is, we must have someone in our life that has the authority, privilege, and right, to speak whatever they want to us - and we listen! Sometimes our own stubbornness and stupidity can cause us to do things that we know are wrong. Yet we are so blinded by our emotions, that we don’t think reasonably. David knew this was wrong. Unfortunately, he didn’t catch up to his senility until after the sin was already committed. If only he had listened to Joab. Then he never would have had to deal with this plague that killed 70,000 men.
Whom do you have in your life?
I don’t mean the people you like hearing from because they always make you feel good, or they always encourage and tell you what you want to hear. I mean, who do you have in your life that will straight up tell you no? Who do you have around you who will make sure you don’t go down a road you never wanted to travel? If you don’t have that person, find them!
I like to say it this way, compromise eats integrity all day long. But accountability will block compromise every time!
So may you find the accountability to keep you from making unwise decisions. May you listen to those who warn you and help protect you. And may you know the goodness of God, as you trust in him in all you do.
January 30
Psalm 141-145, 2 Samuel 22
I have just one quick thought for you today. How do you praise the Lord?
When you listen to the words of David, he addresses the discomfort and frustration he has walked through. He understands that bad things happen, and that the Lord is still the one to bring him through those times. And what comes next is words of praise and adoration.
So what about you?
How do you praise the Lord?
David gives us 51 verses of gratitude towards the Lord. This is his song of praise, despite all that he has gone through.
If you believe the Lord is worth it, I encourage you to take a moment and thank him! NO matter what is in front of you, what you have walked through, or what might be happening right now, if you believe him to be God, then he is worthy of praise!
So today I want to end a little differently than normal. I want to lift up a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord. Let this not only be my prayer, but yours as well today. /And then take time, to let God know your praise! He is worthy of it!
January 29
Psalm 136-140, 2 Samuel 21
The four descendants of Rapha in Gath. These were giants. We know that one of them was a brother of Goliath because it tells us this. But we aren’t for sure if the other three were brothers of Goliath or not.
What we see, however, is the reversal in roles. While our quest with David starts with his mighty defeat of Goliath, while the rest of Israel cowered in fear. Now we read of David becoming weak and faint, while his men stepped up and fought the battle.
I just have one simple thought for you today.
David knew God was on his side. Psalm 139 is an understanding of God’s infinite love and understanding. He knew that there is no escape from God, which stems from his love for us. So now, in his weakness, 4 giants - possibly more mighty than Goliath, have come out against him. But at this point, he has mentored the men around him enough, to not be afraid, because they know God is with them.
So this begs the question. Who are you mentoring in your faith? Who are you helping to trust in God, so that the day of your weakness, they can help carry you.
A friend of mine went through a terrible loss this past December. It has been paralyzing, what he has gone through. But because of the brother in Christ that he is, I have commit to carry him when he can’t carry himself. So I text him regularly, pray for him without stopping, and send him words of encouragement as often as I can.
Find those that you can encourage so that on the day the giants come up against you, they will stand for you.
So may you trust in the Lord today. May you know that there is nowhere you can escape his presence. May you share this faith with those around you. And may you find support from those who you do life with, as you trust in the Lord together.
January 28
Psalm 128-135, 2 Samuel 19-20
Our Psalms talked multiple times today about Zion.
What is Zion?
First, it is a Canaanite hill fortress in Jerusalem captured by David, also called the City of David. It’s name means, mountain. So when you hear one of the writers of the Bible talk about Zion, they are either talking about the place in Jerusalem that David had captured, or they are talking about Jerusalem itself. But there is still yet another major meaning of Zion whenever we read it.
Revelation 21 talks of a new Jerusalem that descends out of the Heavens. And in this Jerusalem, there is a throne, right in the middle of Zion. ON this throne, Jesus himself will be seated. And what is this Zion that is referred to?
None other than the people of God.
You see, Zion represented to David, a place of peace and comfort. It is where he chose to go to to find the salvation of the Lord.
Zion, as we move forward, becomes the city in which the Lord will dwell. Not a city made by buildings and shops, not one with streets and yards. But one made of people. Those who would allow the Lord to sit enthroned in their life.
Listen again to Psalm 132:13-14
For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired if for his dwelling, saying, This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
You see, God’s biggest desire is to sit enthroned, not on some far off distant palace, but right in the midst of his people.
David calls to the tribe of Judah and asks them why they haven’t brought him back to his throne. By doing this, David is making sure that his royal family line is seen putting him back into power. He is reconciling this plan that God had for bringing the messiah through the line of Judah.
In the same way, God is actively restoring people, back into the city of Zion, so that he can sit enthroned once again, in the middle of his people.
Take joy today, in knowing that you are the very city the king desires to dwell in. It is you, who is part of Zion, seated around the throne of the most high.
So, may you find joy in the Lord today. May you position him on the throne of your heart. And May you find great value, as the king of Zion, brings you rest.
January 27
Psalm 120-127, 2 Samuel 17-18
Absalom wanted to take over the kingdom. He so selfishly wanted power and prestige, that he was willing to do whatever it took to get it. It all started at the gate while David was still sitting in his palace. He cleverly positioned himself to hear people’s complaints. He wanted people to come to him instead of the king. Eventually, he knew this would lead to people’s love for him over love for the king.
Don’t be so judgie!
I see this happen all the time.
You know, you are at work, at your boss is making a rough decision, so you allow people to come to you and voice their concern. Or, a friend does something you don’t like, so you allow others to talk to you about how that friend is acting.
It’s all alike. It is an attempt to make a name for yourself, over support someone else.
Absalom was so overtaken by his greed for power, that he wouldn’t even listen to the advice of his advisor Ahithophel. So with disregard for what he was being advised, Absalom makes the fatal decision to pursue David.
He was blinded to his own quest for power.
How blinded are you? The truth is, we all get blinded by what we want. It causes us to not think clearly and miss the danger signs in front of us.
Imagine Absalom, hanging in the tree by his hair, thinking to himself, How did I get here. He was leading a battle against his own father the King.
Stop and think for a moment about your life. What decisions have you made, that can be traced back to greed? I know that no one ever likes to admit having been led by greed. But the truth is, every one of us has had our footsteps shaped by the lusts for more.
But there is always time to turn back! There is always time to soften your heart and let God redirect your footsteps. All you have to do is ask.
So, may you take a guard your heart from greed. May you find yourself carefully weighing your every move, and making wise decisions. And May you find the peace of God, as you allow him, to build your future.
January 26
Psalm 119, 2 Samuel 15-16
Psalm 119.
This is 176 verses long. It is a Psalm full of reminders for God’s word. What is the theme? That every time I get off track, I can go back to God’s word and it will realign me. God’s word is given to us to illuminate the path we should take. Without it, we continue to wander and be lost. But with God’s word, we are given the keys to keep from sinning against God.
I don’t know if you have a practice of memorizing scripture or not. But I want to encourage you to start! God’s word will always bring us back to a place of pursuing God’s heart. It’s important for us to plan his word deep into our hearts. In fact, start with Pslam 119:11 - I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
And as you do,
May God keep you from straying from his commands. May he illuminate your path, And may me make your ways straight, as you live in the blessings of the Lord.
January 25
Psalm 116-118, 2 Samuel 13-14
Well, this was a disturbing story, wasn’t it?
Amnon raped his sister Tamar, and Absolom killed Amon for it. . .
And you thought you had family drama!!!!!!
What is happening inside the king’s family?
I just have one quick though for you today.
This is another part of the mess that David had gotten himself into.
But here is the big picture I want you to see. When Samuel anointed Saul to be king, he was frustrated with Israel. But do you remember what God told Samuel? He told him not to be angered. Then he reminded Samuel that the people weren’t rejecting him, but they were rejecting God. So now what are we witnessing? We are seeing what it looks like to do things man’s way instead of God’s way.
Even king David is watching things unravel in front of him, because man’s ways are not God’s ways. And as long as we chase after the things of man, we will always see ruin. Remember as long as we fail to pursue God’s way, we will always be caught in the repercussion of our sinful natures.
So, may you stop in the middle of the chaos, and realign your heart with God’s. May you stop and recognize the plans of the Lord. And May you ask God to lead you and guide you toward righteousness today.
January 24
Psalm 111-115, 2 Samuel 11-12
Even king David, who is a man after God’s own heart, made foolish decisions. I almost said foolish mistakes. . . But the truth is, sin, isn’t a mistake. It’s a foolish decision that you know better than. . .
How did this start?
Well, 2 Samuel 11 starts out by telling us.
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. But what does it say? But David remained in Jerusalem.
Have you ever asked the question, how did I get here?
I’ve sat with so many people over the years who were in a mess, and all the could think was, “How did this happen? How did I get here?”
You know, I’ve never met someone who said, “I just woke up today and thought - I think I’ll make a mess of my life today!” That’s not how it usually happens. It starts with one small decision, and that decision leads to another, which leads to another. . . and before you know it, there is a massive mess that needs to be dealt with.
In the time when David should have been off to war, he decided to send his men, while he said home. And what did this little decision lead to? Having an affair with Uriah’s wife. Which lead to her getting pregnant and him trying to cover his shame. Which lead to trying to deceive Uriah in order to hide David’s sin. Which lead to David putting him to death and committing murder. Which lead to the death of his son. . .And will eventually lead to his own son fulfilling God’s punishment on David. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but eventually Absalom fulfills God’s words by sleeping with David’s wives on the roof of the Palace where all could see.
All because of one little decision to stay behind instead of doing what he should have done.
I’ve heard this said before, Sin will take you further than you wanted to go, keep you there longer than you want to be there, and cost you more than you ever could have imagined.
And it starts. . . One little step at a time.
The truth is, we all give in to sin. Not one of us is able to fully resist sin. But the good news is, God brings beauty out of ashes!
And David showed us how. . He humbly laid with his face to the ground, crying out for God to realign his heart and forgive him. And afterwords, he went to the house of the Lord and worshiped him. You see, God is a forgiving, loving God. He will forgive you if you ask. And if you have a right heart, he will bring blessing out of disaster. Through David’s broken spirit, God allows Bathsheba to become pregnant. And she gives birth to a son named Solomon - the next king of Israel.
Here is the beauty of God - no matter what you have done, no matter how you got there, and no matter what the consequences of your actions are. . . God can, and desires to, bring blessing and beauty to you. All you have to do is have a humbled heart.
So, may you allow the Lord to search your heart. May you respond in a way that is humble and honest. May you find God’s forgiveness to sustain you and give you strength.. And may you find the blessings of the Lord, as he lifts you up and reestablishes you name today.
January 23
Psalm 106-110, 2 Samuel 9-10
Mephibosheth
Its a fun name to say. . . Try it. .
While I might have a fun time saying it, the name actually means - from the mouth of shame. . .
Imagine being Mephibosheth. You might remember from 2 Samuel 4:4 that when his nurse heard that Saul and Jonathan were dead, the nurse picked Mephibosheth up, and in a hurry to escape, dropped him, causing him to be crippled.
By the time David found him, he has already lived about 8 years as a crippled young man. Imagine what those 8 years were like. He has now lived with his disability and has probably wondered if David’s men would ever come for him. After all, he is the grandson of the king who was trying to kill David.
Then one day it finally happens. As Mephibosheth sat in his home, a band of David’s troops march up to the home. They carry him out and bring him before David. Imagine the emotion and shame, fear and anxiety as he is brought before the king. And remember, this king is in the middle of multiple military campaigns.
Mephibosheth quickly drops to the ground in humble respect. Yet king David picks him up, and declares a blessing over him. And remember, this blessing was nothing like anyone had ever heard before. He brings Mephibosheth to his personal table, allowing him to eat as one of his sons. Then he restores the land that was his grandfathers to him. Making sure the servants know they are to tend the land and care for Mephibosheth.
This sounds too good to be true doesn’t it!
Yet get this, this is a symbol of what would come through David’s family line.
Jesus, the son of the king, would intercede for us, while in the midst of fighting off our enemies, only to restore us to the banquet table of the great king. This is the reconciling work of God. Restoring all things that are broken and bringing glory to his name.
So David took a crippled young man whose name meant “from the mouth of shame” and turned the shame into glory. Just as Jesus has done for us.
I don’t know if you carry guilt and shame. I don’t know if you’ve tried one more time to let go of things that you are embarrassed for, or hurt by. But I know that the great king of kings and Lord of Lords loves you, and is turning your shame into glory today!
So, may you know that the king loves you. May you find glory in the middle of your shame. And may you rest, knowing that you are invited into the banquet hall of our Lord and Savior.
January 22
Psalm 101-105, 2 Samuel 7-8
Imagine David walking about his newly constructed palace. It felt so luxurious and noble. He must have been proud, and felt highly honored. Yet as he looked out across from this grandeur, he saw the tabernacle. . It was old, worn out, and simple.
His thought was noble.
I will build a house for the Lord.
Yet God told him no. But then what is it that God did in his message to David? He began to reaffirm him and declare his blessings over David. He reminded him that God had brought him out and appointed him ruler over the people of Israel. He reminded David that he had been with him and was helping him defeat his enemies. The Lord even declared that he would establish David's name forever and allow his own offspring to build the temple.
What was all of this about?
Before God would allow a house to be built for him, he was making sure David knew that he was establishing David’s house. This was the household that would bring forth the Messiah Jesus. David’s name was important to God because he was establishing his new covenant.
David is an intricate piece to God’s plan for redemption. David’s line would become the royal line of Israel. This would be known for generations to come, as the line the Messiah must come through. This way they would be a royal heir to the throne. So as David sought out to honor the Lord, God answered him, by showing him the best way he could ever honor the Lord. And this, was to simply be the leader, God had designed him to be, so that the reconciling work of God would go forth.
God has a mission. That mission is to redeem all of creation back to him. The beauty of it is that God has entrusted this mission to his people. Each one of us, created in the image of God, with our own unique gifts and talents and personalities, has a specific participation in this plan. God made you and designed you for a specific piece for redeeming all things back to God.
So, may you allow God to establish your house. May you seek his name in your home and approval for you life. And,, may it drive you towards the work of God, so that his name will be established among all generations!
January 21
Psalm 96-100, 2 Samuel 5-6
Why did God kill Uzzah?
Picture this, the ark of God is on a brand new cart, They are simply guiding and helping it along when the oxen stumbled that was pulling the cart. If he had not reached out and touched it, the ark would have fallen and it would have crashed to the ground.
So why did God kill him?
The answer to that goes back to the original intention for the ark.
But first, remember what the ark of the Covenant represented. It was the very place where the presence of God had come down and talked with Moses - right between the cherubim on the lid of the ark. God intended that the Israelites remember the sacredness and holiness of God when they were around the ark. There was a great respect that was demanded for the ark.
While they had built a new cart for the ark to go on, they had missed God’s intention. Now remember, the ark has sat in Abinadab’s house for over two decades. It is likely that the people had forgotten how the Ark was to be handled.
So let’s refresh ourselves. What was the violation here?
When you go back to Numbers 7, Moses is giving instructions for how to handle the things of God. Remember, at this time, Israel is mobile and moves quite often. So God gave them instructions on how to handle the things of the Tabernacle. Listen to the instruction of Numbers 7:8-9 he gave the Mararites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.
The last part here about carrying it on their shoulders comes from Numbers 4. When we go back there, we find out that Aaron was to cover all the things of the tabernacle and prep them for moving while the Kohathites prepared themselves to be clean.
There was a pretty important ritual to moving the ark. So when David and the Israelites place it on a new cart and just move along with no regard to how it was supposed to be handled, they were breaking the rituals set in place for handling the ark.
Understand, this is the presence of the Lord they are mishandling.
So what’s the big deal? Why was God so angry?
In regards to the things of God, there is a lot of symbology that takes place. The ark, representing the presence of God, rested on the shoulders of the priests through the poles there were inserted into it. This was a reminder to the Priests that they carry the weight of bringing God’s presence with corrupt and perverse people. It was through respect of the presence of God, that the Levites were able to reconcile the relationship between God and his people. This was - and still is - a big deal.
Now the beauty is, Jesus, replaced the ark. We carry the name of Jesus with us wherever we go. This story is equivalent to the story of Ananias and Sapphira that we will read about in the book of Acts. There is a blatant disrespect for the reconciliation work that God is doing between himself and mankind. And he won’t put up with that.
Here is another key point to realize. When the Israelites stood in Abinadab’s house and decided to place the ark on the cart, they would have still had to insert the poles and lift the ark onto the cart. They saw the proper way to respect the presence of the Lord, yet for some reason ignored the respect of this holiness.
I think it is so easy for us to disregard the presence of the Lord today still.
We come to church and enjoy worship, we hear the Word of God, and even spend time in Holy communion, and fail to stop and realize the magnitude of the Holy God we serve. And here is why God was angry with Uzzah, later with Ananias and Sapphira, and maybe even with us today. . . .
His design is that the people of God, would carry the weight of reconciling people back to him. The priests interceded on behalf of the people and God, and Jesus did the same on the cross. Yet today, you and I, too, have the unbelievable opportunity to be part of the Mission of God. And that mission is still reconciliation. When we carry the weight of people, and help bring them to Christ for a new life in him, we are working in the same regard. So when we disrespect the presence of the Lord, or misrepresent him to the people around us, we are handling God no differently than Uzzah as he reached out and touched the ark.
WE must be people who join in the mission of God, by joining in his work to redeem all mankind. That has to start, with a holy respect for the presence of God!
So, may you represent Christ well today. May you take proper time to prepare your heart. May you slow down and look around you. And may God lead you as you carry the Holy name of Jesus, to the people around you.
January 20
Psalm 91-95, 2 Samuel 3-4
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
What does it mean to dwell in the shelter of the Most High?
The word dwell is translated from the Hebrew word Yaw-shab and means, to sit, remain, dwell, or stay put.
In other words, whoever stays put and remains in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. But in order to find this rest, you must dwell in His shelter - or stay put in his shelter.
Isn’t it interesting, the more comfortable we feel, the less we rely on the Most High.
What does it really look like to dwell in the shelter of the Most High?
I remember years ago when I was taking on a position at Calvary Church, I was coming from a much smaller church and was not sure what I was doing. In fact, I was quite under confident and overwhelmed at the thought of joining such a large staff and being entrusted with such responsibility!
One day on my way to the office, in a moment of overwhelming anxiousness, I pulled over and began to pray. I remember saying to God, “Lord, I need you now more than ever!” I don’t know if God audibly spoke to me or not, but I remember it so clearly that I didn’t need it to be audible if it wasn’t. But he clearly and emphatically said to me. . . Michael, you don’t need me now more than ever, you just realize it now more than ever.”
What did he mean by this?
Well, that I didn’t need God more than ever. I always need him the same amount. Without him, I can accomplish no good thing. He IS my source and strength. But every now and again, something comes along to remind me, that I must stay in that same spot where I have an understanding of my need for him. If I could have a constant reminder that I desperately need God, then he would also give me rest in his shadow. But in order to find this rest, I would need to dwell in His shelter.
Looking at David’s life up til this point is overwhelming! He was constantly surrounded by war, conflict, murder, and troubles of all sorts. Yet he was able to find rest, by constantly reminding himself of God’s sovereignty.
How much are you dwelling in God’s shelter? You will be able to answer this, by how much you are stressing when things aren’t going the way you hoped. Do you trust in him? Or are you spending all your time and energy to make sure you get things done the way you hoped? If you will admit your constant need for the Lord, he will help you find rest!
So, may you dwell in God’s presence. May you find your eyes looking to him, even when things seem to be going well. And may you find rest in the Shadow of the Almighty, as you declare, He is my refugee and my fortress today!!
January 19
Psalm 86-90, 2 Samuel 1-2
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
This was Psalm 90:12
I’ve spoken at so many funerals over the years. Each time, people are left with a sentiment that says, I wish we just had more time. …. .
But I’ve also been with families of several people who have affirmed - they just lived every day to the full.
There is something different when you are with someone who has a view of eternity in their mind. They know that life if fragile and there every day matters. To this type of person, they aren’t easily frustrated by others or by their situation. They don’t hold grudges and they know what this life is really all about. When you are around this type of person, the atmosphere just feels different. It’s warm and friendly. It feels really good to be around them.
The truth is, we can often forget that this life is fleeting and that every moment matters. And when we do this, we take ourselves too seriously, and let things bother us.
So Moses makes this his prayer.. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
He wants God to help him remember the frailty of his mortal person. And he asks for the reminder, not to be a morbid person. . . But to learn to have a heart of wisdom.
Notice that he isn’t asking God to make him a wise person. . . He is asking for a heart of wisdom. The heart is what leads us, drives us, and has us make decisions. Moses wants the piece of him that has this much influence, to be filled with wisdom! For if he can move his heart this way, his decisions and actions will follow.
Maybe if we had more of a heart of wisdom, we would move past some of our frustrations and hurts. WE would realize that life is too short to fight and argue. . . Maybe then, we would have a better view of eternity and what this life is all about.
So, may you remember the frailty of life. May it drive you to live out your days with purpose. May you live your best every single day, and may it come from a heart of wisdom!
Psalm 81-85 1 Samuel 30-31
Listen to the words of Psalm 84
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked”
Think about this profound verse for a minute.
We spend our life chasing after success, fame, fortune, materials, and all sorts of other things that in the end will do nothing but wither away. Yet when it is all said and done, how much of it is really fulfilling? How much of it brings satisfaction?
Yet the Psalmist gets it. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
In other words, I would rather serve God, and work in his house, than have all the possessions and success, but be covered in the burden and pain of the wickedness around it.
Now think about David. He has ran for his life, hidden in the desert, slept in caves, and fought for his life and the lives of the people with him.
For what? For his kingdom..
At one point in today’s reading, a large portion of the men can’t even keep going the way they have because they are too worn out. Have you ever felt that way before?
And as we continue reading David’s story, you will see that it only gets worse and muddier as it unfolds.
Don’t you ever get tired of chasing after the things around you? Isn’t it exhausting to try and find success.
But God has created us for more than what we see here and now. He has created us to be in his presence. He has given us the chance to be with him in his courts. And that, is more precious than anything we can chase after here on this earth.
I dont’ know what your are facing today, but I, like you, am always busy! And I wonder if God would’t want us to slow down, and focus on what really matters. After all, better is one day in God’s courts than a thousand elsewhere. Wouldn’t you rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
But here is the beautiful thing. God isn’t satisfied with you being the doorkeeper in his house. He longs to sit with you and dine with you. So it doesn’t stop there. But in order to understand this, you have to stop and rest. You have to let go of everything that only has earthly value, and take a moment to pursue the presence of the Lord.
So, may you let go of the things that wear you down. May you find pleasure in being in the presence of the Lord. And may you be satisfied, as you sit at the feet of Jesus, as he blesses you today!
January 17
1 Samuel 28-29
Picture this, David has now embedded himself in the Philistine camp. He is so accustomed to being with them at this point, that he is proposing to go into battle with the Philistines against the Israelites.
Achish has now taken to David and has allowed him to come with. But as the leaders of the Philistines are traveling through the ranks, they spot David and are angered.
Knowing the strength of David and his fighting abilities, why wouldn’t they want David along side of them? After all, he’s a pretty strong force to be dealt with. The Philistines are traveling north. They are headed up North to meet the Israelites at Jezreel. To the West, the Philistines control the land. To the East, wilderness and the Dead Sea. Yet straight ahead, Jezreel where King Saul has camped and is ready for battle against the Philistines.
Yet what rests just past king Saul’s location?
A little brook, running along the Valley of Elah. And what did the Philistines know this brook for? 1 small smooth stone. 1 Stone that was pulled from the waters by the small young hand of a shepherd boy. 1 stone that was placed into a slingshot and whirled around and around. 1 Stone, which was released from the slingshot, traveled through the air until meeting the head of a philistine champion named Goliath. 1 stone, that defeated an army, causing the Philistines to lose control of the route. And that 1 stone came from a man, who now sat at the back of their army lines.
So the Philistines were reminded of the battle they already lost and were angry that the one who frustrated their plans, now marched in their army.
So they reason, “what’s to stop him from turning on us and defeating us.” Which I think was a wise discernment for them. After all, They were going out to fight the very king that was delivered over to David twice, yet he would not harm. What was he going to do in a battle against this king now?
So David turned around and headed to the land that was entrusted to the kings of Judah- Ziklag.
Not to ruin the story, but this would become the battle that defeated King Saul. David would not have been open to being part of that battle. After all, he held deep conviction against lifting a hand towards Saul. So he went back to the land that was given to him, and let the battle play itself out.
Sometimes, we need to stop looking to help the situation find a resolution. Sometimes, we just need to sit back and let God’s story unfold. Because in the end, God’s plan will always triumph.
So, may you rest in the hands of the Lord. May you stop trying to work for a solution, and let God bring resolution. And may you rest in the blessings of the Lord, as his story unfolds in your life, today.
January 16
Psalm 76-78, 1 Samuel 26-27
I want to take a look at a name that we have read about several times in this story of David. PHILISTINEs
If you look up the meaning of the name, you find that it means griever, burrower, and weakener. The etymology of the word is from the Hebrew Palash - to burrow or to grieve loudly.
This is important to note.
It is also important to remember, that at this point in David’s story, he has already defeated Goliath. And when defeating Goliath, you will remember that he was not afraid. Why? Because he recognized the Philistine army as a group of people who were defying the God of Angel armies. . .
So why would this Philistine community - who’s name literally means to burrow or to greave loudly - now become such a desirable place for David to hide? If you read 1 Samuel, you see that David said he would hide and that Saul would not pursue him anymore if he were in the Philistine territory. But Perhaps there is something more to this.
Maybe David went to hide in the Philistines because he too was grieving aloud. I mean, think about this for a moment. In the past three chapters, we have read of two distinct moments where David could have destroyed Saul and his army. Yet he did not, and both times he admits that God has given Saul into his hands.
Yet David was so bitter, and so frustrated and angry, that he would rather relate in this moment to the very people who previously defied the God of Angel Armies, than live in the constant frustration of being pursued.
This is how Asaph, the author attributed with Psalm 77 - was so attuned to what was happening around King David. And listen to what he wrote in Psalm 77:7-9
Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again/ Has his unfailing love vanished forever Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
Have you ever felt like this? You -like David- know God is sovereign, you know he is good, you even know he is in charge and is leading you to the right paths. . . yet you find yourself in a situation that doesn’t make sense. So you are left with grief and misery.
David goes to the Philistine land and is forced to bury himself in his misery. This is the only way he sees to escape from the oppression of the real problem.
But the good news is this. God not only cares about how we feel, he already knows it! He is actively working, even when we don’t feel it. And while we might try to burry ourselves in our misery, God will always do something to remind us that he loves us and is with us.
King Achish gave David Ziklag. This was a land that belonged to the kings of Judah from that day on. Did you hear who it belonged to? THE KINGS OF JUDAH. . .This is an embedded reminder for us that is written in 1 Samuel 27. While David was surrounded by his grief, God was setting up his kingdom.
Remember this, God is not done working! He never quits! And while you feel that all you have left is tears, God is setting up your inheritance. God is actively working on your behalf, as long as you honor him in the process.
So, may you find comfort in knowing that God is actively working for you! May you voice your grief, in honesty and pain, knowing that God hears you. And may you understand his promises, as he moves on your behalf, today!
January 15
Psalm 71-75, 1 Samuel 25
Peacemaker. . . I know today’s story about David is. . . Well, weird. He was going to slaughter Nabal and his entire household. He was taking action into his own hands as he threatened to destroy Nabal.
There are so many confusing stories in the Bible, and we don’t really have time to look to deeply into this one today. But I want to pull something from this story that we should all be able to understand.
It’s Abigail the peacemaker.
She saw the condition of her husband's heart, and knew what she was causing over the family. So she acted in a way that would bring peace to her home. By sending gifts to David and going out to meet him, she protected herself, and everyone who lived in her home. She could have easily sided with her husband Nabal and just kept quiet. But she knew the disaster that was about to break out on her home.
What does it take to be a peacemaker?
When we look at this story, you have a warrior with his men and a stubbornly selfish landowner. You and I might look at the story and wonder why Nabal was so selfish and rude. We might also wonder why David was so aggressive and mean. But Abigail had the discernment to know what was taking place. She saw calamity and knew that she needed to take action.
You see, being a peacemaker - requires discernment from the Holy Spirit. Because the truth is, you and I are quicker to cast judgment and even plot out revenge than we are to make peace. Abigail saw both sides of the situation, and had the discernment to see the trouble it would cause.
She even discerned the proper time to confront her husband instead of just letting him know how foolish his decision was.
We live in a world that is ready to pick a fight! It’s so easy to offend people because they are easily offended! We live in a society that is split and polarized. But God has called us to be peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9 reminds us that “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Maybe, instead of responding to that post, or having the last comment in an argument, or going toe to toe with your coworker just to prove your worth. . . Maybe there is more blessing in being a peacemaker. Maybe your resistance to making peace, is bring calamity on your home. Ask the holy spirit to give you the discernment, to make peace with those who have wronged you, and honor those who deserve it.
So, may you be filled with the spirit of God. May it bring you discernment beyond your understanding. May you stand in the gap, between those who are wronged, and those who are offended. And, may you find blessings, as you live as a child of God, and make peace today!
January 14
Psalm 66-70, 1 Samuel 24
Which is more important to you today? Vindication, or God’s plan?
It’s a simple question that we all would like to answer rightly. We all want to say that we want God’s plan. But the truth is, we all want vindication! Imagine David, sitting there in the Cave, with his pursuant right there in front of him. He could end all the trouble he is facing, right there in that moment. He could put an end to Saul’s life, and go back home.
Yet, he saw the plans of God and wanted to honor the process. To David, it was more important to pursue God than to want his own plans to succeed.
Now here is the interesting thing about this. David was already anointed to be the next king. God himself had declared through Samuel the prophet, that God would make David the king. So David could have justifiably taken position as king by defeating Saul in the cave. After all, God had already said he would be the next king - remember, he was looking for a man after His own heart, and David was anointed to be that next one.
Yet David knew something important. The journey is as important as the destination is. God was building David’s character, and teaching him lessons of leadership along the way. So David, as hard as it was, sat back, watched the process, and submit to the Lord.
What are you looking for today?
The funny thing, is that we often feel like David in Psalm 70 - Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me.
Yet he had the presence of mind to know, God will cause things to unfold in His rightful way. So he sat back, watched God work, and didn’t try to force God’s hand.
When we want things to change, it is so easy to try and push God to work for us. But in the process of God unfolding his plan, there are great blessings, and lessons to be learned.
So, may you be patient with the Lord today. May you rest assured that he is working on your behalf. May you see his blessings, and know that he is still good. And my you enjoy the journey, as God unfolds his promises in your life.
January 13
Psalm 61-65, 1 Samuel 22-23
Have you ever thought about the earth rejoicing?
Luke tells us in Luke 19:40 that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem around the time of Passover. As he was coming into the city, the people who were following him were shouting and singing his praises. The Pharisees came to Jesus and commanded that the people be silenced. But Jesus said, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
Paul tells us in Romans 1:20 that Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
There have been times when I’ve looked at my son Gavin, and knew his crazy actions, were no different from mine. He is part of me. He represents me. And just as Jesus says that he is a perfect representation of the father, so is all of creation.
That vast expanse of the mind-blowing universe, the beauty of a warm sunset on the beach as the sky is painted with pastel colors, the strength of the mountains, rising over the landscape of a snow-blanketed village,
All around us are signs of beauty that proclaim a magnificent God.
David too talked about it. He said in Psalm 65, The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.
David is saying that the beauty of the world around us is literally singing the praises of God.
How profound that Jesus would then explain, that if the people aren’t going to sing the praises of God, the rocks will cry out.
I think of Saul, killing the priest for something he was innocent of. Or even the bloodshed that followed the Israelites all throughout the Bible. What has mankind done with the world we were entrusted? When God saw the earth with Noah, he was dismayed that he had even created mankind. It was like he knew that the hearts of man would always be prone to hurt, destroy, and ruin one another. Yet not so with the rest of his creation. It was crafted and formed in such a meticulously beautiful way, that it would proclaim the glory of God, even if mankind refuses to!
As we approach MLK weekend, I am reminded that man has been vile. We have allowed sin to cause division, pain, hurt and suffering. But just like creation, you and I have the awesome opportunity to turn things around. We too have been called to participate in his mission. And like the rest of creation, we can sing the praises of God. We do this when we fight for those who are wronged. When we are able to help bring justice, peace, and hope to those around us, we too are proclaiming the work of a redemptive God. David took Abiathar and made him part of his own family. He worked to redeem a person who was wronged. And like creation, it sang the beauty of a redemptive God.
Whatever you are doing today, wherever you find yourself, and whatever you put your hands to, may you sing the redemptive beauty of our living God. May you proclaim the goodness of Jesus, as you join the song of creation, in praising our Lord!
January 12
Psalm 56-60, 1 Samuel 20-21
I wanted to take a moment today and talk about this rhythm we see in David’s Psalms.
Have you caught onto it at all in our readings together? He has a pattern that flows through each of his psalms. And it usually starts with something that we don’t often promote throughout the church. Do you know what it is?
He starts with being real with how he feels.
Listen to the intensity of how he feels in Psalm 57:4 - I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts - men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
If you stop and think about these words, they are intense. Or let me give you a few other words that we’ve read of David’s over the past few weeks.
Psalm 13 “How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Or how about these words form Psalm 22 that even Jesus quoted - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?
David has an amazingly raw way of expressing how he feels, and who is he expressing it too? ? ? God!
It’s funny because we try not to express our feelings to God sometimes. Many of you have not only started this year with a Bible reading plan, but have also entered into a prayer commitment for this month as well. I talk to people all the time who don’t want to pray because they don’t have anything they think God would want to hear, or because they just don’t feel like talking with God because of what they are going through. But what David shows us, is that we can be honest with God.
Think about it this way, God already knows who you feel or what you are thinking anyway. So why try to hide it from him? Just be real about it!
You know what being real does? It get’s you to the next piece of David’s pattern. He always moves from a place of honesty, to a place of acknowledging his experience of God in the past. And through this acknowledgment, he is then able to bring a word of praise to the Lord.
Think about David in our reading today from 1 Samuel. He was so afraid for his life, that he felt the best line of defense was to act like a crazy man. He literally faked mental illness in order to allude King Achish. Just imagine what that conversation must have looked like later as David talked with the Lord.
I don’t know what you are feeling today, or what you have walked through, but God does. In fact, he not only knows details about your situation that you don’t even know, he also knows how you feel about it all! And he loves you so much, that he would want nothing more than to hear you express those words yourself! I think it’s also important for you to know, that each day as I record these, I am praying for every person who will hear this. I believe God will show you his love and mercy, even when you feel like David - and the only thing you can say to God is, How long? Will you forget me forever. . . .
So, may you find the strength to be real with how you feel. May you take the time to express raw emotion before God. And may you find him gently answer, as his spirit wraps around you and gives you strength.
January 11
Psalm 51-55, 1 Samuel 18-19
Jealous. What does it mean to be jealous?
The definition of Jealousy is the state of feeling envy for someone else’s achievements or recognition.
Now that’s not a lot of help, because envy and jealous are pretty similar words. So it’s like using the word to define the word. So let me give you what Jealousy really is.
Jealousy is our emotions telling us that we feel cheated or devalued. Jealousy is our ego desiring the recognition that others have earned or deserve. In other words, Jealousy is caused by a gap in our desired appreciation and the level of acknowledgment we receive from others.
Jealousy, at its root, stems from selfishness. It’s essentially a person saying, “I deserve that, more than you do!”
David had favor with God. It was obvious by the anointing that was on David. The funny thing is, Saul was still king. He was ruler over an entire nation. Yet he saw the praise others gave to David and did not like others placing him in a position of honor that he desired for himself.
The problem with jealousy is that it causes you to act and say things that you don’t fully mean or believe. When we are jealous, it brings a response that is unfair and hurtful.
Saul, seeing David and recognizing his favor, becomes so angry that he is unable to control himself. He desperately desires to be recognized as the same type of person with the same type of gifts.
Here is the ironic part - if you go back to Samuel anointing Saul, you read that Saul is the tallest, best looking in the land. He was anointed with the ability to prophesy and showed signs of God’s favor. Yet he allowed his heart to turn away from God. So God removed that anointing. Now he is looking at David, and what he sees, is actually the very elements that he himself previously held in order to have God’s favor. Instead of this driving Saul to a place of repentance and seeking out the Lord, it drove him crazy. He was enraged with jealousy. And in his jealousy, he threw a spear at David trying to kill him.
Why? Because when we are jealous, we always take it out on innocent people. You know what I mean. . . It’s why you are a little more sharp with the person with the beauty you envy, or why you look at your superior with annoyance at times, or act like you don’t like that kid in your school, simply to offset their popularity. . . These are the fleshly responses from an emotion that feels cheated or devalued. And the only way to repay what was cheated or bring value where you feel devalued is to bring things down to a level playing field.
So how does David deal with this act of jealousy towards him? How does he keep from feeling cheated and under appreciated? With these words in Psalm 55:22-23, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.”
David redirects his tensions, and remembers that it is God who is in charge, and he will remmed er the righteous. So be righteous!
Look, Jealousy is an emotion that comes to all of us. But do not be controlled by it. Allow God to be your reward. He never lets the righteous be forsaken. He will bring about justice to those who seek him out!
So, may you live in humility today! May you know that God sees your actions and knows your heart, and he will reward you even if no one else takes time to notice! And may you trust in God, as he leads you and sustains you as you cast your cares on him!
January 10
Pslam 46-50, 1 Samuel 17
Have you ever played dodgeball?
I feel a bit sorry for young kids today who aren’t allowed to play such violent sports during their gym time. When I was a kid, we played against older classes, and even often found ourselves defending against teachers as they tried to smash our faces with a dodgeball.
One thing was sure though - there was always a really big kid in the class that everyone hoped to be on their team! If you were on their team, there was a chance of survival. First, because they wouldn’t be targeting you. But also, because you knew that you would be able to stand victorious against the weaker team. There was a kid named Jack in my class who was huge! He was stronger than most of the teachers, and was tough enough to fight anyone who tired to oppose him. I remember how relieved I was one day when I ended up on his team for dodgeball. He was the type of kid who could catch a ball in one hand, while completely obliterating a kid with a ball from the other hand at the same time. He was huge!!!!
At the end of the day, no one came up to me and said, “Oh, Jack was on you team, that’s why you won!” No one said, “Hey Michael, great leadership of your team! Without you they wouldn’t have been able to do it!” Instead, it usually sounded like people saying, “Well you only won because you had Jack on your team.” Which was true. . . He was unstoppable. When we read David and Goliath as a story, I think it is easy to assign this same type of strength to God. It sounds like us saying, David won because God can’t be defeated. While this is true, this isn’t the reason David won.
God had a plan for Israel. He would establish his throne through David’s family line. God would bring Jesus into the world and allow humanity to be saved through the Israelites as the vehicle for bringing Jesus here.
So while God has the power to crush any threat against his plan, the reason David beat Goliath, is because the Philistines were threatening to wipe out the Israelite. They were actively working to destroy God’s plan this was bigger than the Israelites. This was God’s method for salvation that was being threatened. And this, David knew, God was not willing to let go!
So he confidently stood up and said to Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” It wasn’t about David defending the Israelites. It was about David defending the plans of God. He was making sure all people knew that God would stop at nothing to keep his plan of redemption from being ruined!
If you didn’t know this, God would do anything to be with you! Nothing is able to stop this! David understood this and found strength in being on God’s side to bring salvation. As Paul tells us in Romans 8:39, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God would do, and has done, absolutely anything it takes to be sure and make a way to be with you. That’s how much he loves you. Anything that threatens his relationship with you, rest assure, God can and will destroy it just to be with you.
So, may you find strength in knowing that God’s biggest desire is to be with you! May you stand strong when you feel like giving in. May you know what God almighty is doing to make a path for you to be with him. And may you find extreme value that God’s focus has always been, on being with you! And nothing can ever separate you from his love!
January 9
Pslam 41-45, 1 Samuel 15-16
Have you ever heard the words of a beautiful poem and found yourself wrapped up in what it was saying?
Listen to the beauty and depth of these words written by David Crowder in his song “From Here is our King” He says, “From wherever searching comes the look itself, A trace of what we’re looking for, so be quiet now and wait. . And what was said to the rose to make it unfold, was said to me, here in my chest, so be quiet now and rest. So be quiet now and rest.”
These words are deeply beautiful and profound. They come from a deep understanding of what God desires, and his ability to bring life in the coldest, darkest of places. And in the middle of this understanding, Crowder is still able to assign the beautiful restoration power to the almighty God. Listen to the words the Sons of Torah attribute to their king in Psalm 45:1 “My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the King; My tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”
What their king means to them is so etched on their heart, that it is literally coming forth from their mouth in a way that is natural. They don’t need to write things down or try to form proper words for this moment. They have a natural bent of expression that flows from a place so deeply believable in their hearts, that they don’t need rehearsal. It’s just part of who they are.
Can you imagine having such a deep, passionate love for Jesus, that you don’t have to sop and think about it. You don’t need well-written words or thought-out expressions. You just naturally lean towards expressions of adoration and love when you speak of him. This comes from knowing him in an intimate way. This clarifies the first part of Psalm 42 - “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”
When there is such a deep love and passion for the true living God, it brings about a response of beauty and hope. King Saul had lost this passion for the Lord. For him, there was no joyful praise that flowed smoothly from his lips. Instead, he saw the commands of the Lord, heard the direction of his voice, and it left him thinking that he knew best. He ignored the commands of the Lord and did things his own way.
What praise is on your lips today? Are you quick to bring a word of affirming beauty to the Lord, or do you question, wonder, and suspect his plans? Are you more convinced of the direction you would take, than the direction the Lord would lead? I’m not saying that you have to have some eloquently formulated word of praise on your lips. But if you don’t even have a song in your heart that would lead you towards praising the Lord, maybe stop and ask him for that type of adoration. This comes from a deep longing for the Lord.
So, Like a deer panting for water, may you long for the Lord. May you deeply desire the presence of our living God. May you allow yourself to be so caught up in the Lord, that it brings a natural word of praise to your lips. And, may you so intimately know him, that you sing the praises of our living God today! . .
January 8
Pslam 36-40, 1 Samuel 14
What’s right? What is wrong? And what does it lead to?
Have you ever found yourself in one of those spots where you aren’t quite sure what the right answer is? The world loves to make trivial, situations that should be clearly defined. So we find ourselves in a world full of what people might “call grey areas.”
David starts our reading today with a message from God. He says, “I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful: they fail to act wisely or do good. Even on their beds they put evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.”
You see, the more we let ourselves be drawn into sin, the more grey ears will appear. When we allow our hearts to continually drive from the Lord, we find the ways of the Lord making sense, less and less.
This brings him to one of the most profound verses written in one of his Psalms. 37:3-4 “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
When you desire to do good, when you try to find delight in pleasing the Lord, he leads and directs you. He helps you to find what is right and gives you the desires of your heart. - why? Because your heart desires to please him. So he leads you to ways of fulfilling this.
When King Saul had already let his heart drift from the Lord, he was still trying to lead in a way that would bring the Israelites victory. Yet he had already let his heart begin to drift. In yesterday’s reading, we saw that he had ignored the direction of the Lord and had handled the sacrifice in a way that was dishonoring to the Lord. So when he goes out to fight the philistines, he makes a decree that came out of his own desire, and not out of God’s direction. And the irony of it, is that it almost sounded like something that God would have wanted of them.
“Cursed by anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.
Yet his son Jonathan went out and trusted in the Lord to defeat a large camp of the Philistines. And when he came back, he ate honey and it brought him strength. In doing so, he went against his father - the king - and disobeyed his command.
When Saul finds out that Jonathan had disobeyed him, he calls his own son to death. Yet the people stood up for Jonathan and would not allow his death.
Do you see where Saul’s focus was? He was only concerned with his own victory and own avenging. This caused him to make selfish decisions and to hold others accountable to a set standard that only made sense in his own conviction.
The truth is, his heart wasn’t set on delighting himself in the Lord. His heart was set on his own agenda and his own vengeance. If we are to navigate seemingly impossible decisions and make the wise choice, we must take delight in the Lord. Then and only then will he give us the ability to make wise choices, and not walk down a path that will ultimately destroy us.
So, may you seek out righteousness today. May you search for God’s heart, and find out what pleases him. May you have the wisdom to navigate decisions that seem impossibly confusing, May you trust in the Lord and do good; so that you may dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. And, may you take delight in the Lord, that he will give you the desires of your heart.
January 7
Pslam 31-35, 1 Samuel 13
Out of all these verses today, one really sticks out and is often misunderstood. It’s 1 Samuel 13:14 - “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
What does it mean for David to be a man after God’s own heart? I mean, do you know his full story? He has an adulterous relationship with a married woman, get’s her pregnant, kills of her husband so that he could marry her, isn’t allowed to build the temple because he is a warrior and has too much spilled blood on his hands, mistreated the ark and brought death to Uzzah for touching it when it almost fell from a cart. . . David has a lot of ruthless roughness to him. How could he be called a man after God’s own heart?
What does it mean to be righteous? This is often misunderstood to be someone who is so perfect that they are free from sin. But do you know what righteousness really is? It’s the pursuit of what is right. It doesn’t mean someone who always gets it right. It refers to someone who always wants to know what is right and centers their life around that pursuit.
Though David often failed and did things that were wrong, he had the heart to do what is right. Saul, while wanting to have the favor of God, pursued God’s favor without pausing God’s righteousness. He offered sacrifice to God in order to be blessed by God, yet did not want to follow the commands of God to get there. He was more interested in what God would do for him than the act of drawing into God’s plan.
We can often get so legalistic that we believe our work for God, or our act of worship and devotion to be an attempt to attain the blessing of God. But the truth is, God’s blessing only comes in pursuit of God’s heart. When we align our hearts with God, we see the blessing of his hand in our life.
This becomes the key that David knows leads to God’s favor. He said in Psalm 31, “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.” David knows that his life is riddled with failures and downfall. Yet he also knows that in God, there is righteousness that will rescue him. He doesn’t ask God to deliver him from the effects of his shortcomings. Instead, he asks God to deliver him into God’s righteousness.
He knows that where his heart is, and where God’s intentions are, has a gap between them. The only way to fill that gap, is to pursue the righteousness of God.
Samuel addresses King Saul after his failure to obey the commands of God. He brings Saul the judgment - If you had only kept the commands of God, he would have established your throne forever. But because you have not, he will cut it short.
God doesn’t judge and convict our failures. He judges and convicts our heart. The truth is we will all fail and fall short of the Glory of God. But a heart turned towards God will be redeemed. We will be brought back into his fortress when we realign our hearts with what is right. This is the work that Jesus came to do - so that no matter what, there would be life for those willing to pursue it!
So may you pursue the righteousness of God today. May you allow the spirit to convict you and draw you back onto the right path. May you have a heart that pursues the heart of God. And may you know his mercy, as you continue to experience the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
January 6
Pslam 26-30, 1 Samuel 11-12
The Lord rescues. . . .
This is what makes him such a great God that is worth chasing after! David is able to say in Psalm 26 that “My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.”
Interestingly enough, he starts the 26th Psalm by saying that he has led a blameless life. But did he really lead a blameless life? David’s life is plagued with sexual immorality, murder, conspiracy and bloodshed. Yet he stands before God on level ground?
How? David knows and is able to attest to the fact that God is actively at work forgiving and strengthening him. He says in the 27th Psalm, Do not hide your face form me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.”
David knows, that not only does God take us for who we are - he also has a plan for us and rescues us from evil.
The Israelites were ready to give in. They thought they were in a helplessly desperate situation. The Ammonites were oppressing them to the point of physically dismembering them. With the threat to gouge out an eye, the Israelites were forced into a spot of discomfort and surrender. They didn’t believe there would be rescue for them.
Yet God is always faithful. In the final hour, when it seemed like there was no hope, God brought Saul along and showed them that rescue was God’s plan! Saul brings a solid word of rebuke and tells them to be strong. And in a moment of defeat and surrender, God rescued them.
God’s heart is rescue. He isn’t trying to make you suffer and pay for your sins. He wants to save you.
And just like the Israelites in the middle of what seemed like a painful and desperate situation, God stepped in with Saul and saved them. Remember, this was a man that they were unsure was able to lead them. They were surprised that God could use Saul to bring about hope and restoration. Yet God used him in the middle of what seemed impossible, and completely turned the situation around.
There is hope in God. He brings restoration when it seems impossible. When things seem desperate and confused, God is actively at work making a way where the seems to be no way.
I don’t know what you are facing, or what it looks like to be rescued. But I know God can do it! I’ve seen him make a way where there seemed to be no way. Though David worried that he would be left alone, he was able to rejoice in the rescue of the Lord. He says, “praise be to the LORD for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shelf; my heart trust in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
So may you find the rescue of God in the middle of your deepest darkest battles. May you know that God provides a way when it seems like there is no other way. And may you trust and believe that freedom will come, even in them midnight hour.
January 5
Pslam 21-25, 1 Samuel 9-10
What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
Think of what the people saw as this young man Saul started prophesying right alongside the other prophets. This was such a contrast to what they had known, that it became a saying among the people - Is Saul also among the prophets?
I think we all believe and know that the power of God can transform lives. I just don’t think we really believe it to be true. We see people who are bent on doing things their own way and ignoring what is right for others, that there seems to be not hope that they could or would ever change.
The problem with seeing things this way, is that it bleeds into two we feel about ourselves as well. If others can’t change, then it must be the same for us. While we say we know we can change, deep down inside we accept who we are and what we are destined for as being intrinsically flawed. Yet listen to what David says in Psalm 25
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
David is recognizing that God works redemption through the greatest of iniquity. He takes what is wrong and broken about ourselves, and uses it for his glory.
Even king Saul was able to be redeemed for the purposes of God. The people saw it and couldn’t believe it.
What is your story?
You might think that you have been too far gone for God to redeem you into his story. But the truth is, THAT IS GOD’S STORY! He is actively redeeming all things for his glory - you and I are part of that redemption narrative.
No matter what we have done, or where we have taken the direction of our lives, God can and will use you for his glory, if you allow him to.
Unfortunately Saul’s story takes a major shift. He refuses to maintain his anointing by rejecting God. We all have the ability to do that. But this doesn’t stop God from trying! This is what David recognizes as he admits, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefor he instructs sinners in his ways.”
I don’t know what you have been through, or what you think disqualifies you from God. I don’t know what other say or believe disqualifies you from God. But I know this - just like Saul, God is actively at work trying to bring you into his plans! He is moving to make you part of his story. Will you respond? Will you allow him to bring you into this story? Saul almost rejected it form the beginning. He couldn’t accept that God was about to use him. But when he did, God placed him in a seat of honor. So may you know that God loves you today! May you understand that nothing could ever separate you from the love of God. May you hear God call to you, and may you respond with excitement and obedience. And may you be fully blessed as you actively participate in the story of God’s redemption plan!
January 4
Pslam 16-20, 1 Samuel 7-8
Are you a rule follower?
I dont’ know about you, but I don’t usually like people to tell me what to do. In fact, when I use maps for directions on my phone, I can’t stand to have the audio on. I hate someone telling me what to do. I would rather struggle to keep up with looking at the direction while trying to drive, than to have someone tell me what to do.
Listen again to what David says in Plsam 19.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the hart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
All of them are righteous. Do you believe that?
Because here is the thing I’ve found. Everyone wants a just God who opposes the proud and humbles those who rule with dishonor. We want quick justice against those who cause harm and pain to the innocent and will blame God when we see evil triumph throughout our world. Yet, on the other hand, we want to be able to pick and choose which instruction of the Lord we follow. We live in a society that would rather redefine the things of God than learn to follow the instruction of God. And every time we push God’s plan away and follow our own, we reject his ways as righteous and declare our plans to be better than his.
Israel had seen the way other nations had suffered through their kings. So when they reject the plans of God, they ask for a king. God gives them the very clear truth. “If you get a king, he will take your sons to war, concubine your daughters, take the best of your land and wealth, and enslave you for his purposes.”
The opposite plan was that God wanted them all free to worship and serve him as He had designed them to do. Yet they still heard this rebuke, and chose to abandon the purposes of God. They, too, thought the plans of God to be less righteous than their own plans.
Sounds arrogant and silly doesn’t it?
Yet I woke up today, and thought I knew best for what my day would look like. I chose to pursue my own ideas and agendas today over seeking out God’s plan. In fact, I find it easier to pursue my own ideas than to stop and trust the God who has the ultimate plan of righteousness. The plans that David describes as more precious and pure than gold, sweeter than honey,
So he asks for God’s discernment. Because he knew that his natural intent was to pursue what he wanted over what God planned. He says, Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your event also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. - his heart, was to recognize his own desire to do things the way he wanted, and to shift his ways to pursuit of God.
So may you throw off the endless pursuit of your own ways. May you be filled with the discernment of the Holy Spirit, and May you find the blessings of God, as you actively seek out his ways!
January 3
Pslam 11-15, 1 Samuel 5-6
Do you believe in the sovereign hand of God?
Sometimes it can feel like we have been left alone to figure things out for ourselves.
David writes from such a place of despair when he says the words in Psalm 13
“How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hid you face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?”
This is the sound of a person struggling with what they are facing in life. You might understand this struggle if you have ever walked through something that doesn’t make sense. Have you ever noticed that it can be so easy to trust God, that is, until it is put to the test. The truth is, we don’t know what we really believe until it is tested.
David, in this testing moment, shows us that it is ok to be honest with God - to let him know that we feel unheard and even unseen. Yet listen to how he ends Psalm 13
“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”
When the ark of the Covenant had been taken from Israel, there was a sense of despair. They knew that God had allowed his presence and hand of protection to be removed from them due to their arrogance. Yet they also knew that God is sovereign and that he is always at work.
While the Ark of the Covenant was in the Philistine camp, God was actively at work making sure that his presence was able to be realigned with his people. Using supernatural power, God allowed the philistines to understand the true power of the living God. So while they pursued their own gods and ignored the power of the sovereign God, they were introduced to the God who holds all things in his hands. And their response, was to send it away. They couldn’t handle the fact that they weren’t in control and that there was a sovereign power at work.
We love to know that God is in charge and that he has a plan - that is, until it calls us to let go of our plans. Then we get so distracted and turned off, that we would rather compartmentalize the presence of God, than adjust how we are living, thinking, and acting. So the Philistines sent the most powerful, most Holy, most majestic presence of the almighty God away, in order that they might maintain their devotion to false ideologies.
Don’t get so caught up in your ways, that you forget there is a sovereign God who is in charge and in control. He isn’t forgetting you and hasn’t allowed you to be tormented. Though evil things happen, it isn’t because God doesn’t care and that he is punishing you. In fact, he is working a way for you to be with him. This was the ultimate plan for Jesus coming to this earth. It was God’s way of reconciling our foolish abandonment of His plans, back into alignment with him.
So may you feel the presence of God today. May you know, that though you feel alone, you are being pursued by the living God. And May you rest patiently, in the middle of your storm, knowing that God has already made a way fro you to be with him, through Jesus Christ our Lord!
January 2
Pslam 6-10, 1 Samuel 3-4
arrogant - having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance.
But listen to what David writes in Psalm 8
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them little lower than the angels and crowed them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet…” He then goes on to say, “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
This is David, pausing and understanding that he isn’t that impressive in the sight and understanding of the Lord God. This is why he was able to always keep a healthy view of himself in light of God’s awesomeness and plans. In fact, there is a time when David is being chased by King Saul and in the back of a cave he has the opportunity to kill Saul and put the chase to an end. Yet we will read later in 1 Samuel 24, that David refused to harm Saul, because he knew that God is in charge. And if God is in charge, the plans of God and the people around him matter more than his own ego or pride.
So the anointed king of Israel, hides in a cave from the King who had turned his back on God. And instead of taking advantage of what seemed like an easy set up for David to reign, he humbly respects the king who was trying to kill him.
This is what a lack of arrogance looks like. This is why David is able to question why God would allow mankind to reign over the earth the way we do.
The opposite of this humility, looks like Hophni and Phineas. Though God warned them and Eli, that he would allow their demise, they still refused to change their ways. They believed they were above the plans of God and could do whatever they wanted to do. So they took the ark of the Covenant and handled it how they wanted to.
Let me make sure this is clear to you. The ark, is where the Israelite people recognized the power and presence of God. They knew that when they saw the ark, they would have the favor of God and he would bring them to victory. This is why the people cheer when they saw the ark come into the camp.
Yet their lack of respect for God, and the arrogance to think that God would bless them without expecting respect, lead them to death.
And think about this, Eli heard both his sons were dead, and was saddened. But it was when he heard that the Ark of the Covenant had been captured, that he fell backwards from his chair and died. He knew that the arrogance of his sons, lead to the absence of God’s presence.
We all have a bit of arrogance in our lives. It’s why we honk out the person who cuts us off, or why we fight for the closest parking spot and get jealous at our coworkers getting the promotion. But if we are going to stay in the presence of the almighty God, we must be people who humbly go before him and think of others above ourselves.
So may you live in humility today! May you understand that your worth and value comes from the favor of God above. May you understand that His ways are better than your ways, and May you find yourself humbled by the Love of a Father, who places you in a spotlight of honor!
January 1
Psalms 1-5, 1 Samual 1-2
There is a common theme here in these readings. It centers around he thought of righteousness and evil..
Now we don’t like to hear our disobedience or sin as evil. We love the soften version of “mistake or error.” These words tend to feel better about choosing to disobey or follow the path of evil. But the truth is, the rejection of what is right is evil. When we choose a path that leads us to what we prefer over what is right, it is simply wrong. There is no way to soften that truth.
Psalm 4:4 gives us this instruction
“Tremble and do not sin; When you are on your beds, Search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.”
It’s in your bed when you lie down that you re able to silence the world around you and listen to what is really in your heart. It’s then that you are able to get a clear indication of what your true intentions are. The instruction here, is to be silent and listen. Then offer sacrifices of the righteous. Seek out what is right over what you want. The only way to do this, is to trust in the Lord.
When we jump to 1 Samuel, we read this horrendous story of Hophni and Phineas. Eli knew of their sin, and yet allowed it to happen. They understood that their ways were self gratifying instead of righteous, and yet continued to chase after these ways instead of wanting what was right. Because of this, God allowed them to go deeper and deeper into their sin. God saw the foolishness of their hearts and realized they were not turning back to him. So he left them to their desires. What they wanted, he was allowing them to get as emerged as they wanted to be.
Note, it is their own actions that lead to their demise. Though the Scriptures say that the Lord declared Eli’s sons would die and this family line would be cut short of life, this isn’t the wrath of God that we are reading about. We read of self inflicted punishment. Eli’s sons bring about their own demise and cause there to be a deep wickedness in their own family. God simply allows the path they are on to run its course.
God isn’t trying to punish you. In fact, he is wanting what is best for you. This takes your participation as well. Seek out what is right and desire righteousness. When you do, God takes the things that you miss, and replaces the effects of them with his grace. But it takes a heart of righteousness!
Go back to Psalm 1 and hear the blessing behind this.
Blessed is the one who doesn’t not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of makers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which eyelids its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.
So may you be full of righteousness. Remembering that righteousness doesn’t mean you are always right, but that you desire what is right. May you search your heart and allow God to redirect your ways. In doing so, may you be like a tree planted by streams of water, always bearing fruit, and always full of God’s blessings!
In this episode, I lay out the four main parts of the Bible. These parts explain the story of the Bible and should be the lens in which all scripture is examined. When a verse is taken on its own without consideration to the story of the Bible, it is weaponized and misused. All collections of verses point towards at least one piece of the overall story of the Bible. There aren't many verses that can fulfill the declaration of "the Bible Says." in order for a verse to say this, it must point to all four pieces of the Bible story.
- God created all things with order
- Mankind was drawn to disorder
- God created a way for mankind to be reconciled back to him.
- We are given the privilege to help reconcile all things back to God.
Once you understand what is being said in the Bible narrative, verses begin to make more sense. For instance, John 1 starts with profound theology. When John gets to the point of saying "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can not overcome it." it is a profound understanding of creation and the potential unity of heaven and earth.
Listen to this podcast. And then join me this year as we do a daily reading through the Bible plan. I will follow a reading plan and then give a few thoughts around the readings before praying a blessing over you. Together, let's read the Bible and allow it to draw us into the presence of the living God!
Have you ever wondered what the God of the Bible is really like? If you just read the Old Testament, without knowing what God is doing and what his plan really is, it can be really easy to think that God is a mean, viscous God who wants to wipe everyone out. You might even think he is so vengeful against sin that he wants to destroy sinners. But the truth is, all that God shows us in the Bible is that he is loving. He spent all of history chasing after you! There is nothing as important to him as being in relationship with you. And he won't let anything stop his plan!
In this episode, we discuss why God is misunderstood and what his plan really looks like.
The ultimate answer - he is desperately in love with you!
In this episode, we discuss Natural Gender VS Social Gender.
This episode centers around the idea that there is Natural Gender (exhibited in natural science through the study of the natural self) and there is Social Gender (measured in the social science of sociology and based on one's psychological ideology)
This episode is designed to help express how people who hold to a Natural Gender should treat those who disagree with them. The goal is to help create a conversation that encourages love and respect without a mandate to abandon one's values and ideological understandings.
This episode holds Biblical content to the bonus feature at the end of the episode around 20 minutes in. If you are interested in the Biblical formation of this conversation, please either stay until the end of the episode, or fast forward to the bonus feature.
Do we have religious freedom?
If the government is forcing us to believe in and affirm a psychologically based ideology, are we really free to believe how we want?
Even more, what is a Christian to do with this selective religious freedom?
The answer -
Be more selective!
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
For this, I want to read the words of Paul in Romans chapter 7.
I don’t know about you, but I can relate to Paul’s words here. He is talking the tension I feel on a regular! I don’t want to do certain things, yet, I can’t help but give into them.
I didn’t want to lose my temper gain, or say those things
I didn’t want to selfishly spend that money instead of saving it
I didn’t want to give into that person again - I said I wouldn’t!
Yet I did.
Or even more, how about the other side of the coin that he talks about -
I wanted to get up early and spend quite time alone,
I wanted to invest in my financial future and save,
I wanted to change my attitude towards that person,
Yet I didn’t. . .
Why is there such a polarizing pull between what we want to do, and what we actually are able to pull our efforts towards? Why are we always torn as people. And I’m not just talking about Christians here, I’m talking about all people! If you are being honest right now, you are able to relate to what I am talking about!
Is this because we are evil, bad people, who have no hope?
I’m happy to tell you - NO! You were created good and have every opportunity to be good!
So what is the problem?
I recently had someone in my office talking about their son, who said he feels like a woman. He is attracted to females, but is still pursuing gender reassignment in order to find himself inside the body he feels like is supposed to be feminine. This would make him a male, transitioned into a female, who is sexually attracted to females.
Confusing right!
I responded with interest. But my question was this, “You know it’s impossible to feel like a gender, right?” That’s true though. You can’t feel like a man or feel like a woman.
Don’t believe me.
Try it! Describe how it feels to be the gender you are.
Today’s a very hot topic.
I pray that it is met with openness and a right heart. Because it’s a pretty heavy conversation. Today I hope to talk through the confusing, gender confusing, confusion.
I know. . . Right?
You might think my title to be a bit presumptuous. But the truth is, the world has tried to create such a confusing narrative that nobody seems to be able to understand it. So I hope to give some perspective that will help clarify why this is a big deal, and how we should treat it.
Is it possible to love someone without affirming them?
Technically? or according to society?
Because those might be two different answers.
In this episode of OKY? I talk about the tension between having a Biblical world view around sexuality, and how society has confused that to mean we aren't allowed to love people of the LGBTQIA community.
But maybe, there is something we are missing in the conversation too. Is it possible to have a set of moral convictions, and still love someone properly?
I would say- not only is it possible, but it's also expected by God. Join me as I work through this difficult conversation around sexuality and a Christian's response.
What is Morality?
Who Defines it?
Is it possible, that a Christian's point of reference for Morality could be different than that of culture?
How does culture define morality?
Is there really a higher power that helps to define it? If not, then can we all define morality how ever we feel like it should be?
If we are going to understand morality, then we have to understand who defines it. Be ready, this will look different if you choose to call yourself a Christ follower!
What is the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice conversation really about?
In this first episode of OKY, we will take a look at the conversation and try to identify why there is such a muddied confusion around the conversation. Could it be that the conflict is actually around something different than what the conversation presents itself as? Join this conversation as we take a look at what the truth around the conversation really is.
Hey thanks for joining me on this journey! OKY is dedicated to helping you work through the "Why" behind what the Christian faith is all about. This podcast isn't going to simply take things at face value! Everything we discuss will be met with conversation about history, word meanings, tradition, social norms, and every nuance you can think of. This way we will find healthy conversation around why we believe what we believe to be true.
Be sure to invite people in on this conversation as we build our faith together!