Today’s post is actually an anonymous guest post. My friend who has been battling physical sickness at a level that is beyond my comprehension for the last 2 1/2 to 3 years sent me the message you’ll read below based on their reading of today’s passage. I chose to share it with you because to me it reveals the beauty of the Bible. The passages of Job 3 & 4 which may be discouraging to many, maybe even distressing give some going through struggles like Job HOPE! Yes today’s passage believe it or not can be a message of HOPE. Read the following and see what I mean:

“It’s funny that today’s reading was Job 3. Yesterday I had one of those days where I feel really discouraged. And I see it when I read Job, he’s just so tired, he doesn’t want to deal anymore and wonders why he’s there, what the point is, probably feels like he’s accomplishing nothing (we don’t know how long he was going through this, do we?), probably wonders if he’ll ever feel better. So we see Job having “one of those days” too. When I have those moments, I feel guilty like I should be stronger all the time, I don’t want anyone to know about how much I am struggling.  This passage is a reminder to me that when that happens (when I have a bad day and wonder how much more of this I can take), I don’t have to feel bad about those feelings! And then chapter 4 reminds me of how blessed I am by the friends and family I have who love me and offer support and prayers all the time. And when I come across those friends who tell me I’m sick because of my sins, I can remember Job and realize I’m in good company :)”

What I believe in my heart and what I find so beautiful is that when God inspired a passage like Job 3 & 4, a passage I don’t really understand and I wonder what is the point of this text in the scriptures, it’s okay that I don’t understand it because God didn’t inspire it for me in my present situation. He inspired it for my friend and others in similar situations. That is the beauty of the scriptures, there is a word of HOPE for everyone in every situation!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Isaiah 7-11

In Psalm 3 the first Psalm of our reading today one verse really ministered to my heart,

“I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.” –Psalm 3:5

How many nights have I been sleepless with worry, with stress, with fear? David’s own son was trying to usurp him, his own son had chased him out of the city he was king over. Yet David slept. This sentiment is again expressed in regards to a different matter in Psalm 4,

“In peace I will both lie down AND sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” –Psalm 4:8

Oh Jesus, help me to sleep even when crisis is in my life because I am at peace with You!

In Psalm 4 there was similarly a line that struck me,

“Tremble and do not sin…” –Psalm 4:4a

David acknowledges his fear, trembling is not the problem it is when that fear leads to sin. I’ll use something that most feel is innocuous in our modern society, but I see it as a result of sin in my life. As I have gotten older I’ve found that I deal with my stresses, anxieties by eating. Late at night when I can’t sleep to take my mind off the problem, I eat. To me this is sin. It is putting comfort in food, rather than God, “Tremble and do not sin…”

How?

“Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.” (4:4b)

David acknowledges anxiety, he lays down and thinks upon, meditates upon God, and then he is still. Oh Jesus, keep me from sinning in my stress!

And finally in the last Psalm of the day, Psalm 5 the following text convicted me,

“In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to you and eagerly watch.” (5:3)

Some neglect the first part of this verse, but many more probably neglect the last part of this verse.

David makes a commitment to God, “when I get up in the morning God You will hear from me!” Many of us do this though some of us don’t do it as often as we should.

But it was the second part of this text that convicted my heart to the core,

“I will order my prayer to you and EAGERLY WATCH.” (5:3b)

I read that “watch” in a couple different ways all equally convicting.

The second time I read it through (the first time I read each of these Psalms I got nothing, so I prayed and asked God to open my eyes and this blog is what He revealed to me after that prayer) this word “watch” meant to me that after I finish talking to God in the morning I won’t just rise-up and go on with my day as if nothing happened, no I will “watch” to see how God answers those prayers I prayed in the morning. I don’t believe enough folk do this. We pray and then don’t even keep our eyes open to see how God will answer.

But then the third or fourth time I read this Psalm the “watch” took on a different meaning to me, based on the rest of the Psalm following this verse.

I will “eagerly KEEP watch” so that I do not leave the presence of Jesus which I entered into in my morning prayers.

Why did I understand it in this way? Because verses 4-12 are all about staying in the ways of the Lord, not falling into sin. Not getting distracted by the wickedness of the world, staying on the pathway of God.

Both these ways of “watching” mean something to me, I will watch to see how the Lord works, and I will watch to make sure I prayerfully remain in Jesus’ presence all day long and not just in the morning!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Job 3-4

So this was a bloody reading. The picture of God in these chapters and really in the rest of the book of Joshua is a hard picture for many. It leads some to ask the question, “How could a loving God do such things?” When we ask that question we forget about the more appropriate question, “What was the true causation of death in the first place?”

The answer is in our reading today.

In the seventh chapter of Joshua we learn of a man named Achan who sinned and did not follow the wisdom and counsel of God in the destruction of Jericho, due to this man’s action Israel loses a battle and 36 soldiers die (7:5). What is Joshua’s immediate reaction?

He blames God (7:6-9).

The Lord takes the blame for a time then He stops Joshua…

“Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?” (7:10)

God asks the question rhetorically, He knows Joshua is blaming Him for the consequences of life lost, and what Joshua perceives to be impending doom.

But then God reveals to Joshua the real reason lives are lost in three little words…

“Israel has sinned…” (7:11a)

The rest of our reading today and the rest of the reading of this book, rather than blaming God, maybe we should pause and remember those words…

Maybe we should substitute our name for Israel, “Chad has sinned…”

 “For the wages of SIN is death.” -Romans 6:23

God gets blamed but it is our sin and the corporate sin of all humanity that has lead to all physical and ultimately eternal death, both in the book of Joshua and beyond.

This warning was given to us (humanity) in the garden, we read it just the other day,

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” –Genesis 2:15-17

You sin, you shall surely die.

• “Israel has sinned…”
• “Chad has sinned…”
• “We all have sinned…”

Sin brings on death.

Let us lay blame at the proper feet…

Our own.

And I know our reading was in Joshua…

But I praise God for the rest of the verse in Romans 6:23…

“…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

How?

“He (Christ) Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Amen and Amen!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Psalms 3-5

Sorry I am getting to this blog so late! I didn’t have time to write prior to church and this is the first time I am able to settle in at home and share with you my thoughts on today’s reading, Genesis chapters 4 through 7.

Before I get into some of the spiritual lessons that spoke to me in these chapters I want to share with you a question that developed out of this reading that I don’t know that there is an answer to. At what ages and what stages in life were Cain and Abel when Cain killed Abel? I speculate it is much later in life than we have traditionally imagined in our storybooks. I believe this based on two passages.

First, after Cain kills Abel and God tells him what the consequences will be Cain speaks the following, “My punishment is too great to bear…whoever finds me will kill me.” (4:13, 14b)

What I want to know who are these “whoevers.” This to me implies that there are other people living, this means Adam and Eve would have already had to have other sons and daughters.

The second verse that further supports this idea is that Cain leaves his home and settles in the land of Nod and the very next verse states, “Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived…” (4:17) Maybe I am reading it wrong but it seems the spacing and transition of these verses again implies that this wife was already Cain’s before he left home.

What ages and stages of life were Cain and Abel? I think later than we’ve believed before, but of course there is no definite answer.

I see in verse 5 an allusion to faithful stewardship, “Abel on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock…” The “firstlings” Abel didn’t bring the leftovers, he didn’t give to himself or his family first, he brought the firstling, def: “the first agricultural produce or animal offspring of a season.”

We are to bring the first of our paycheck to God!

The question to Cain, “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?” (4:7a) shows that Cain knew right from wrong. Which means Cain decided God wouldn’t “mind” if Cain did it as he pleased rather than as God asked. Wow, how many things do we do in like manner in regards to both private and corporate worship?

In chapter 6 verse 4 there are some that believe this is speaking of Angels coming down out of heaven and sleeping with human women creating these super beings. Other people say, “No it wouldn’t be angels from heaven, but rather wicked angels.” I’ve never believed this but I for some reason have never had a great Biblical answer to combat it, ‘till I was reading today.

As I was reading verse 4 suddenly it struck me how verses 1 & 2 read, “Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.”

Notice in verse 2 it reads, “the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took WIVES for themselves…”

And now I have my argument against breeding between angels and men, yes folk many people believe this…

Here is the argument and not even an argument we will use Jesus’ words to support the theory both these groups are humans and not angels, “But Jesus answered and said to them,

“You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” (Matthew 22:29, 30)

Angels don’t take wives according to Jesus, thus Genesis 6:4 cannot be talking about some super humans because of angelic intermingling with humans.

Now does that mean I understand why these individuals were the “mighty men of old, men of renown”?

Nope. But I know it’s not because they had an angel parent.

I also do know that verse 2 is clearly condemning choosing spouses based on “whatever.”

Verse two also strikes me in that the scriptures here are laying out the beginning of the corruption of the whole earth and they start with Godly people intermarrying with the ungodly. This seems like a warning to all unmarried Christian folk that try and justify dating those with dissimilar beliefs. Not a good idea!

In these chapters we have some tremendous examples of faithful people. Abel who obeyed God with his worship and it cost him his life. Enoch who walked so near to God that he was translated to Heaven before seeing death. Finally Noah, who stood apart not just from a group, but from the entire world in his day, talk about tough. We struggle when a friend or two is pulling us in a specific direction, imagine the hold world pushing against us? Yet Noah stood strong. It would be more than wise for all of us to pray, “let me be an Abel with my worship, an Enoch in my walk, a Noah in this wicked world.”

May God hear and answer that prayer in each of our hearts!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Joshua 6-10

I resonate with verses 1 and 2 of Romans chapter 3. Verse 1 asks the question is there any benefit to being a Jew and being circumcised. Here the question related to circumcision is not speaking of the physical benefits, but rather the act of knowing and doing the law. Verse 2 answers the question, “the benefits are great!” Why? Because the Jews whether they followed it or not or believed it or not they had been given the “truth.”

I said I resonate with this because when I accepted Jesus due to my upbringing I did not have a lot of mental hurdles to overcome about what is and isn’t truth. I had already been exposed, so even the things I had once not believed in, they were not new concepts to me and thus it was easier for me to embrace those ideas through faith as I saw them revealed through scripture.

All of us that have been raised in Bible believing homes should rejoice at the advantages we had over so many others. All of us that were able to attend Bible believing schools should rejoice at the privileges we had/have.

I’m going to go on a tangent here…this is why I believe that every Adventist parent should do everything in their power and through the resources offered to them through local churches to send their kids to Adventist schools. I know our schools aren’t perfect, neither was the Jewish nation, but Paul here under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us that even with all the imperfection…oh and what was that imperfection? Staunch legalism, at times idol worship, different factions some who believed in resurrection of the dead, some who didn’t, i.e. there were heretics in the camp, even the camp of leaders…even with all that imperfection Paul tells us that in “EVERY RESPECT” the benefit was great. Something for us to think about when we complain about our schools, not perfect, but still beneficial in the long run. Okay off my tangent.

Let me jump down to verse 20…the next text that resonated with today’s reading.

Let us get it straight once and for all, the purpose of the law is to show us that we NEED justification from Jesus, not to justify us!

And we do ALL need justification, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (3:23)

But we must maintain with Paul and all the teachings of scripture, “that a man (humankind) is justified by faith APART from works of the law.” (3:28)

Some people resist this, they just can’t accept that they are saved without any of their own works.

Others embrace this and go to the opposite extreme so Paul has a word for them too,

“Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! (or ABSOLUTELY NOT!) On the contrary, we establish the Law.” (3:31)

Paul then goes back to reaffirming the truth that justification PRECEDES works, he does so by pointing out that Abraham was credited righteous by faith PRIOR to being circumcised, “not while circumcised but while uncircumcised.” (4:10)

This is important because Abraham is then not just the father of the Jews, but also of all humanity! And when I say father I mean yes our ancestral heritage, but more importantly our example. (4:11-13)

Circumcision was a sign of righteousness. It was not righteousness it was a sign of faith in Jesus and commitment to Him. I believe in the garden of Eden that sign was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If you had faith in the promises of God you would stay away from it. Then the sign as Paul tells us in Romans, but as we also see in the Old Testament was circumcision, again it did not save but it showed that you trusted the promises of Jesus. Then I believe that baptism by immersion was the sign in the New Testament and continuing throughout history, a public declaration not that you are saved through baptism, but that you have faith in the promises of Jesus. And I believe at the very end of time, that the sign will be the seventh day Sabbath. I do not believe it is the sign yet, but that it will be (Revelation 13 & 14), again the Sabbath won’t save anyone or make anyone righteous, it will simply be an outward sign in the midst of opposition and standing against the world of one’s faith in the promises of Jesus. But this will come just like circumcision did after righteousness is received by faith, it will not precede and create righteousness!

Let me throw in maybe a disconnected comment about one of my favorite promises in all the Bible (4:17) and I like the way the New King James renders it,

“(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;”

This text is speaking of when God called Abraham, and He called Him not as He was but as God knew He could/would become.

I am grateful that God calls me/sees me not as I am but at what I can become through faith in Him!

Then I want to close with something I believe is very beautiful and shows the love and care God has for us,

“Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, (that righteousness was credited to Abraham through faith) but for the sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him (God) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (4:23, 24)

Why is that beautiful to me? Because God didn’t just say to Abraham your salvation has nothing to do with your works, God inspired it to be written down so that we would not be buried under the burden of thinking that we’d only have access to God through our own merits our own works. Too many of us still live like this, but it is not because God has taught it, it is because we believe the lies of the devil who says “you’re never good enough.” He’s right, praise to Jesus I don’t have to be, “He (Jesus) who was delivered over because of our transgression, and was raised because of our justification.” (4:25).

Thank you Jesus!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Genesis 4-7

It is good to be in the Gospels for this day. I went to bed a little spent, but I was refreshed today as I was in the first 2 chapters of the book of Matthew.

Some little insights that are interesting: Matthew’s primary audience were the Jews. This is revealed right in the first verse,

“The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:”

This verse is revealing Jesus as King, “the son of David,” which was very important to the Jewish people.

Affirming this or connecting this kingship is verse 17,

“Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.”

If you dig deep on this I’ll just give you a heads-up there are more than 14 generations. Matthew skips some names. Why does he do this? Is the Bible inaccurate? Not at all! Many commentators believe that the divisions of 14 generations is simply a literary structure by Matthew not intended to set forth a strict biological lineage. The purpose of a genealogy is to document the proof of ancestry from the origin of the line to the person under discussion. Every individual need not be included, but only those necessary to establish descending relationship. Why then 14? Because 14 is the number of King David. The letters of the ancient alphabet had numeric value, D = 4 V = 6 D = 4 which all together equals 14. Thus again setting Jesus up as the King of the Jews.

Another evidence of Matthews desire to convince the Jews of Jesus’ Messianic fulfillment is seen throughout the book, but we see this phrase 4 times just in chapter 2, “took place to fulfill” or something very near that. And if we count the prophecy the Magi shared with Herod there are 5 prophetic references in chapter 2. Again all of this would be important to convince Jews of Jesus’ Messianic fulfillment.

All of this is more than just cool information it is a fine example to us of how to witness.

Three Questions this story teaches us to ask in our witnessing:

1. Who are we talking to?
2. What is important to them?
3. What in relationship to Jesus’ story would appeal to them?

After we have the answer to those three questions start there (where they are at) and share that first! Don’t start with what you like or feel is important. Scratch where they’re itching.

Each of the Gospels is to a specific group and each tells the story in a way that would appeal to that group. Great witnessing technique!

If there were nothing else in this chapter that were interesting there would be still three things about Jesus that I praise Him for.

• Jesus = Save His people from their sins. First of all I am so grateful that even as a sinner He considers me HIS, and secondly that His mission is to save me.
• Immanuel = God with us. The ministry of presence is one of the most important ministries. Just knowing that God is with us. And yes this was thousands of years ago, but God is still with us, He sent us another, “the comforter” “the Holy Spirit.” God is still with us!
• “And out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (2:6). = Not a ruler that dictates or rules with an iron fist. Not a ruler that simply pronounces judgments and decrees. A ruler that shepherds! What a different world we would live in all rulers led through shepherding.

I am so grateful for Jesus!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Romans 3 & 4

Prior to this reading I want to remind people. These blogs are not intended to be sermonic quality. They are also not going to be in depth exegetical works generally. I say that because I would tell you that understanding Isaiah 1-6 would best be understood with a solid commentary to assist in the study of this reading but really all of Isaiah, maybe a Biblical encyclopedia as well. What I will be sharing this evening…and I apologize for this coming out so late tonight…but what I will be sharing are the things that touched my heart, remember this is my personal devotions that I am doing daily so I’m not studying first for knowledge or first to teach, those things happen out of this, but when I read Isaiah 1-6 I must admit my heart was what engaged more.

So here goes…

I was struck by the strong, strong rhetoric of Isaiah 1:1-17 and then suddenly this is this heart cry appeal,

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet they will be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey…

I pause…Consent to what? I think consent to God’s appeal to be washed clean by The Lord,

“If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land…”

A lot of people know these verses? I wonder how many realize they come bookended by strong rebuke.

At the end of 1:23 the Bible states, “They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow’s plea come before them.”

This is the second time widow’s and orphans are mentioned. They are also mentioned in verse 17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”

True religion, religion that is honorable to God is not just obedience to personal rules, for the Jewish people he mentions offerings and burnt sacrifices or going to the temple (church) vv. 11 & 12.

True religion must involve caring for people.

Isaiah 2:5, 6 is a clear reminder that consorting with those of the world DOES have a negative influence. No matter what we may try to rationalize.

Isaiah 5:18-23 is a description of our world and even to many degrees modern Christianity. Verse 19 is particularly biting in light of verse 18, people who are really embracing sin and then being deceitful about it, yet are pretending (v. 19) to care about the works of the Lord and His return. Scary! Let all who express a desire for Jesus to return to pause and ask to search our hearts that vv. 18 & 19 are not true of us.

Now I want to go back to the part of the reading that struck my heart most: Chapter 5 verses 1-4 are my favorite portion of this reading. It reminds me of the night I accepted Jesus, I heard Him say to me, “You’ve tried everything else, why don’t you give me a chance.”

I tried Him and I’ve never been disappointed. If I ever make a decision to walk away from God I will not be able to give any suggestion if asked, “What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it.”

God asked me to try Him, I did, and blessing after blessing I’ve received.

God there is nothing more You could do for me.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Matthew 1 & 2

Before I write anything about today’s reading let me share a couple caveats (and this is true for future posts on the book of Job as well). First, I believe the book of Job to be an absolutely true story, a historical account and not an allegory. Second, I don’t fully understand why it seems God “recommends” Job to be harassed by Satan. I understand it from the viewpoint of the great controversy, but not emotionally. As I’ve matured as a Christian I’ve learned to be okay with not always understanding everything, and I’ve learned that often times if I wait on the Lord in due time He does give me understanding. In my life I have discovered the immense goodness of God and so in Job 1 where I see something that does not seem so “good” I don’t accuse God, rather I recognize my own limitations and I choose to be as the just and live by faith and not by sight. That said I do have points of views on these texts that have helped ease my concern over the years, but since I cannot support them 100% Biblically I refrain from putting them out there. If you have similar concerns about the book of Job I encourage you to “taste and see that the Lord is good!” and then to live by faith when understanding is limited, remembering, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

Job 1 & 2:

Job was the greatest of all men of the east (1:3b) How? Job “was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil.” (1:1). Don’t be fooled the greatness comes from verse 1 not verse 3a. How do we know this? Because in chapter 1 verses 13 through 19 he lost all of what was listed in 3a and then we read in chapter 2 verse 3b, “There is no one like him on the earth…”

Greatness comes from character not possessions or accomplishments.

How could Job stay this great, and not sin in light of these challenges?

1:20, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and WORSHIPED.”

The scriptures do not say Job was okay with what happened. Or he said, “such is life,” no, he is broken, distraught, in such grief the strength in his legs has gone out…have you been there? I have!

Yet when he was lying on that ground in pain deeper than words can express, he worshiped, “Blessed be the name of the Lord” (1:21)

Incredible. I won’t give away the end of the book of Job…but knowing the end of the book makes all of this even more amazing to me…okay I’ll give it away, from what we read at the end of Job God never explains, God doesn’t give Job the insight He gives us into seeing that this was all a live action drama of the great controversy, in which Job is one of the greatest character witnesses on God’s behalf. Job doesn’t know any of that yet he remains faithful. Wow!

To close this post today I want to share the insights I read from the Facebook page of my good friend Kim Taylor after she read today’s reading:

1. May I be like Job…How awesome would it be if this is the way God described me to Satan: “Have you considered my servant Kim? There is no one on earth like her; she is blameless and upright, a woman who fears God and shuns evil.” (insert your name and gender rather than Kim’s)
2. May I not be a wife like Job’s…may I always support and pray for my husband no matter what he is going through (men may we be husbands that always support and pray no matter what)
3. May I be like the friends were at first… at the end of Ch. 2, when they first come, they just sit there and support him by being there but don’t say a word. If only they had stayed that way

Tomorrow’s Reading: Isaiah 1-6

The progression of the first verse of Psalm 1 is insightful. It is almost as if the psalmist is telling us that getting near (walking) wickedness will eventually lead us to pause and examine (stand) longer than we should in the ideas of sin, which then will lead us to fully invest (sit) in sinful ways.

What is the anecdote to avoid getting near, examining, and ultimately investing in this sinful world?

It is found in verse 2—We delight in the Word of God…not just occasionally, we see just like yesterday’s reading showed us the way to be strong and courageous in Joshua 1:8 is by meditating on scripture day and night, this is also the way to delight in the Word of God. I know me and I’m pretty sure I know a thing or two about most of humanity. If we are not reading the Bible every day then we are not thinking about the Bible every day, especially not day and night—which is basically a way of saying, “all the time.”

If we do meditate (think on) the scriptures day and night this will help us to be firmly planted in Jesus (v. 3). You may say I don’t see that in verse 3…I see it indirectly in this verse through the eyes of Paul, Colossians 2:6, 7:

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”

When the Bible speaks of being rooted it is speaking of being grounded in Jesus.

Speaking of Jesus, He is all over Psalm 2. It is a Psalm of David and we can see David addressing the things He is going through as King of Israel, but woven throughout are subtle or maybe not so subtle references to Jesus and prophecies regarding His time on this earth.

Did you see them? Verses 2, 7, 12 these all have reference to Jesus.

In closing though I want to look at verse 3 of Psalm 2,

“Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!”

This is the cry of the wicked they believe the bondage they feel is due to God and His ways. When really the bondage they are under is because they don’t really know His Son.

Psalm 2:1, 2 are a people plotting against Jesus. Why? Verse 3 because they feel like His ways are slavery.

If we are not rooted in Jesus, Psalm 1:3 we will feel like Jesus is slavery; the devil will convince us of this, just as he convinced 1/3 of the angels in heaven. Just as he convinced Eve. The devil is a liar though!

Can I testify that the freest I ever felt was the day I said “yes” to Jesus and His ways.

If you tear away the fetters of God and the cords of His Son and the Holy Spirit, you’ll find what it truly means to be in bondage, because sin is a terrible master!

Tomorrow’s Reading: (Poetry) Job 1 & 2

As I have done most years since I’ve been blogging I would like to share with y’all some of the “Top Lists” (this year it will be 15) of 2015.

I want to thank by the way the 17,879 people that read this blog in 2015. In 2013 there were 9300 readers, in 2 years we’ve almost doubled, so thank you, thank you!

Here are the Top 15 countries represented in my readership:

1. United States
2. Canada (which overtook Australia as my usual #2)
3. Australia
4. The United Kingdom
5. South Africa
6. Kenya
7. Brazil
8. Philippines
9. New Zealand
10. Indonesia
11. India
12. Netherlands
13. Germany
14. Zimbabwe
15. Jamaica

Here are the Top 15 States represented in my readership:

1. California
2. Maryland
3. Washington
4. Texas
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Michigan
8. Georgia
9. Ohio
10. Oregon
11. New York
12. Illinois
13. Colorado
14. Virginia
15. District of Columbia (I know not really a state :))

Here are the Top 15 cities represented in my readership:

1. San Francisco
2. Washington D.C.
3. Los Angeles
4. New York
5. Sydney
6. Atlanta
7. Chicago
8. London
9. Visalia (miss y’all)
10. Seattle
11. Portland
12. Brisbane
13. Dallas
14. Oronoko charter Township
15. Houston

And now for the Top 15 most read posts in 2015:

1. The Mess We’ve Made of Ordination
2. The Local Church is Killing Adventist Education : I wrote this in 2011 yet it received new life and a great many readers again this year.
3. A Sincere Inquiry to Those Opposed to Women’s Ordination
4. A Nice Man, But Still the Same System
5. The Four Most Important Evangelists in The Adventist Church I’m not sure how this is marked to have it found so often in google, but this post from 2013 has a consistent stream of readers.
6. I Miss My Friend!  a lament following the death of one of my closest friends, it still hurts.
7. A Response to Elder Stephen Bohr’s “Reflections on Deborah & Huldah” I’m not sure if it is Steve Bohr fans or foes that continue reading it, but it continues to be well read.
8. The Superiority of Adventist Education This one was also written in 2011 but continues to be a main stay on the leaderboard of posts.
9. Multifarious Thoughts on Women’s Ordination What a shocker another post on women’s ordination that gained traction in 2015
10. How I Hope Adventists Will Respond to the Kenneth Copeland/Pope Francis Video The interesting thing to note, the individual, Tony Palmer, that facilitated this entire thing died shortly after this in a motorcycle accident.
11. The Ordained Women Pastors of China Still love this video no matter how many times I see it!
12. Random Thoughts Concerning GYC & The ONE Project: There is actually no link to this post because I removed it. I removed it because there was such a defensive reaction by both groups, but in particular ONE Project supporters that I felt it wasn’t worth the hassle. However, after I removed it several associated with the ONE Project said I should have left it up and informed me they appreciated the perspective. You’ll just have to trust me it was well read 🙂
13. Sometimes You Have to Ask More Than Once to Get to Yes
14. Why The Recent Rhetoric in the Church Makes Me Want to Shout About “SPIRITUAL FORMATION”
15. Women’s Ordination: The Greatest Danger It seems only fitting that the first and last on this list are related to women’s ordination, a topic that very much dominated the thoughts of many in this General Conference Session Year.

Thank you for reading in 2015. I hope you’ll join me and invite your friends to read along as well in 2016. There will be at least one post every day in 2016 because I am blogging through the Bible daily in 2016. So check-in every day.

I love the book of Joshua. It is not because I am a war monger or because I revel in blood shed, there is a lot of both in this book. I love this book because in the midst of all the war there is a great deal of practical principles we can all live by.

In Joshua chapter 1 verses 6, 7, & 9 God states to Joshua three times, “Be strong and courageous.” The repetition of this phrase shows the importance of an idea. Now we would put an exclamation mark on a big idea, but in the Bible repetition is like an exclamation mark.

“Be strong and courageous” is God’s appeal, His command to Joshua but the appeal does not come without justification for why Joshua should be strong.

• Be strong and courageous: (v. 6) because I have made a promise years ago and I always keep my promises.
• Be strong and courageous: (vv. 7, 8) Joshua you will find all the strength and courage and at the end of it success through God’s Word.
• Be strong and courageous: (v. 9) because the Lord is always with you!

I like verse 8 of chapter 1: careful obedience to the Word of God requires careful study, “you shall meditate on it Day & Night”

In chapter 2 Rahab’s story is such a lesson of faith driven works for believers!

1. Rahab was a prostitute, but she ends-up in the family line of Jesus, Matthew 1:5
2. Rahab was a prostitute, but she is found in the Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11:31
3. Rahab was a prostitute, but James cites her as an example of justification by faith which produces works, James 2:25

In Joshua 2:3-6 are the actions that show the legitimacy of Rahab’s faith statement found in Joshua 2:9-11.

Some believe that the scarlet cord that Rahab was to hang-out her window has relation to the blood posted above the doorposts at the time of the Passover in Egypt.

Rahab should be a witness to us that God did not destroy one group simply to build-up another group. He saved all who were willing to be saved, Israelite and pagan.

I love 2:21, it is a mini-sermon on preparation for the second coming. The spies tell Rahab that if a red cord is not in the window when they return they will not be responsible for her death, so in verse 21 we read, “So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied a scarlet cord in the window.” Logically she had to have known they wouldn’t return that night, but she wasn’t going to miss out on not being ready. The moment they were gone she started to prepare for them to return. Jesus is in heaven right now, but we should be preparing like He is coming back immediately!

What a witness this woman is to us!

In the last chapter of our reading today, chapter 5 I love the final verses! They leave with us an important truth to remember.

“Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

Joshua here encounters the pre-incarnate Jesus Himself, and just like Moses he is told to remove his shoes because the ground is holy.

But what I love about this text and I believe other versions than the NASB capture it a little better, Joshua asks the individual “whose side are you on?” And the NASB translates it, “No” but what the Lord was saying is, “neither”

This is a good point for us to remember. God is not on my side or your side. He’s not on the Christian side or the Muslim side. God is on His side and He calls us to join Him, to follow Him, to recognize His holiness letting Him lead the way.

Tomorrow’s reading: Psalms 1 & 2

Before I begin with my official blogging of today’s reading, I want to let you know these blog posts are not going to be of sermonic quality…maybe you want to leave now? What I will be writing in these blogs is what touches my heart, my mind. What questions I have. You’ll find sometimes I won’t have the answers to those questions, and if that bothers you I apologize. Basically what I’ll be blogging are the thoughts that I’ve written in the margins of my Bible like this:

For those of you that may be wondering, I am doing my daily devotions primarily in the New American Standard Bible but I also have a New Living Translation (they call it a translation, though I would say the word “translation” should be used loosely in regards to the NLT), I am not necessarily a fan of the NLT for exegetical study…I haven’t actually read the NLT since I was a Senior in academy…but I am using it because this edition of the NLT uses not only red letters in the New Testament, but also blue letters in the Old Testament to highlight references to Jesus or texts related to something Jesus did or said in the New Testament. I really love it and am glad one of my elders told me about this “Jesus Centered” Bible.

So here we go…If you’re still with me up to this point I hope you’ll join me all 365 days. Oh and please comment on these posts if you so desire. Keep the comments kind and kosher. Comment on the text not at the individuals that may also comment please…

Okay…day 1

Romans chapter 1 & 2

Romans 1: 3, 4: Jesus’ birth shows His humanity (v.3) His resurrection shows us His divinity (v. 4)

Romans 1:12 is a beautiful reminder of one of the great purposes of the church and why no one should think being a loner Christian is truly productive. Paul wanted to connect with the Roman Christians so they could be encouraged by him and he by them.

The doctrine of a literal 6-day creation and God/Jesus (John 1) as creator is being attacked. I believe it is because the devil knows that God’s creation reveals “His (God’s) invisible attributes, His eternal power, and His divine nature (character)” (Rom. 1:20)…the saddest thing about these attacks, people within the church are assisting the world and thus assisting with the machinations of the devil. SMH. The Bible has a word for these folk, FOOLS (Rom 1:22).

I see vv. 23, 24, 26, 27 as a result of denying God as creator. I see vv. 25 & 28 confirming this truth. “exchanged the truth of God for a lie…worshiped creature rather than creator.” (v.25); “they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer” (v. 28) Why? Romans 1:20 Because they ignored the evidence of God seen through creation.

Two sins Paul mentions: idol worship (vv. 23, 24) and same gender sexual relations (vv. 26, 27).

Was Paul inspired to highlight these two sins because they aptly illustrate in their own manifestations the consequences of denying God as ultimate creator and thus our ultimate authority?

Idol worship in this context is actually worshiping something that is crafted…CREATED…by the hands of men. Making man the creator and thus all powerful, thus the authority.

Same gender sexual relations denies the creative power that God gave us and is an attack against what is the pinnacle of the sixth day of creation (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:18-25).

I do not believe Paul was highlighting same gender sexual relations because it is a “greater sin” as some purport.

In fact it is almost as if Paul anticipated some would feel this way…so then he lists, while not highlighting, but he still lists a bunch of other sins. A list that includes many sins I think we’ve all committed at some point or another: “gossiping (guilty), disobedient to parents (guilty), unloving (guilty), unmerciful (guilty)” and I’m sure we could throw in many others I’m guilty of.

And here is the real dagger for any of us that only want to condemn one of the two sins Paul highlighted Paul doesn’t just say the first two sins, idol worship and same gender sexual relations are worthy of death, v. 32 “that those who practice such things” Which things? All of the above and more I’m sure! “are worthy of death.” And wow this really hits me, by embracing certain sins and being okay with certain sins we embrace ALL the sins “they not only DO THE SAME, but also give HEARTY approval to those who practice them.”

Are we gossips? It is as if we had homosexual sex…yep that is how I read Romans 2:1, “Therefore you have no excuse, EVERYONE of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge PRACTICE the SAME things.”

This fits with James 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”

But then Paul as if he would know that then people would say, “see, see, don’t judge me for my sin.”

Turns to that crowd and states, “do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance.” (Rom. 2:4)

Paul here tells one group “if you deny your sins by judging others and not looking at your own you’re guilty.” To another group he then says, “If you don’t think you need to repent (confess and turn away from) as a result of the kindness and patience of God you’re guilty too.”

In closing what struck me during this reading is something I was convicted to do as I read Romans 2:17-29…maybe you’d like to do the same.

Every time Paul writes “Jew” insert the word “Adventist.” And then when I read the word “circumcision” I replaced it with the word “Sabbath”—though probably any doctrine that you know at times you judge others in you could put in there…that just happens to be mine.

Verses 28 & 29 of chapter 2 bring context to all the statements regarding law keeping in Romans 1 & 2.

If someone read all of this (Romans 1 & 2) and thought, “oh I have to work harder to keep the law,” they’d come to verses 28 & 29 of chapter 2 and realize if it isn’t out of a response from my heart…if it is just a rule…if it is just a law…if it is just about doing right to earn something…if it isn’t a response of my heart to the invisible attributes, the eternal power, and the divine nature of God then it is all for naught!

“For he is not a Jew (Adventist) who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision (Sabbath) that which is outward in the flesh (attendance at church). But he is a Jew (Adventist) who is one inwardly; and circumcision (Sabbath keeping) is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”

Do you want more joy & faith in 2016? Would you like to make better decisions in your professional, family, and private life in 2016 than you did in 2015? Would you like to know there is ONE thing the devil can never take away from you? All of these are reasons to daily spend time reading the Bible in 2016.

This is the message I shared with my the Spencerville Church family this past Sabbath (Saturday December 26th, 2015). You can listen to that sermon here when it posts in a couple days or watch it here again in a couple days.

At the conclusion of my sermon I challenged our congregation to read through the entire Bible with me in 2016. I admitted to my church family that I need accountability on this journey. That accountability is going to come in the form of this blog. Every day I will be blogging through the reading from scripture I have done for that day. I invited members and now I invite you that are reading this and would like to join myself and the Spencerville Church on this journey, to feel at liberty to harass me if I miss a day.

The reading plan I will be following is not a straight line from Genesis to Revelation. I have done that in the past and wanted a new look at things, so I will be using this plan. What I like about this plan is that I will be in a different genre of scripture every day, with Sabbath being a day spent in the Gospels, which seems very appropriate!

If you’d like to join me I’d encourage you to start with the same plan.

Please pray for me as I go on this journey and let me know if you’re joining us and I’ll pray for you as well.

Look for the first post on Romans 1 & 2 this Friday morning January 1st.