You and I would never be tempted to turn a stone to bread. Why? Because the devil knows it is outside our power to do so. You and I would never be tempted to bow down and worship satan in order to receive a kingdom (thought maybe in other areas). Why? Because we know that it would not be in our power to just suddenly be given a kingdom. You and I would never be tempted to throw ourselves off a tall building in order to prove that angels could catch us? Why? Because we know it is not within our power to call down angels to protect us in our presumptuous acts…well maybe we don’t know this one as well.

But my point is this, Jesus was tempted as we read at the beginning of Luke chapter 4 in the areas in which He had POWER to act and actually have the temptation become reality.

Our temptations thought different in actual outward action are no different in manner, in as much as most of us are only tempted to the degree we are able to achieve the sin.

Luke helps us to understand this in John chapter 3,

“And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” -Luke 3:10-14

The issues John the baptist addresses with these people are directly related to the areas in which they have power to act or not act as the case may be. If a person has two tunics they then possess the power to either share with one who has none or to hoard selfishly for themselves. That decision is within their power and this therefore is an area where satan would tempt them. Tax collectors they had the power to rob from the people. The soldiers likewise. So these are the areas they would be tempted.

Let me give another example a modern example. Someone that has a temper is likely NOT going to be tempted be verbally or physically abusive to their employer, because they do not possess the power to ultimately control the situation. That individual will hold their tongue and watch their words in the company of their boss. This same person though may go home and berate his or her children or his or her spouse. Why? Because we are tempted in the areas we are most likely able to be in the position of power or control.

Most right thinking individuals are not tempted to pursue an illicit relationship with their favorite actor or actress. But many right thinking individuals are tempted to lust over their favorite actor or actress. Why? Because they know one is not realistic but the other they can control.

Where are you most secure? Where are you most comfortable? Where do you have the power?

This is likely the area you will be most tempted!

Next Reading: 2 Corinthians 11-13

The storyline which runs from Jeremiah 37 through Jeremiah 39 is all set-up by these verses…

Now Zedekiah the son of Josiah whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made king in the land of Judah, reigned as king in place of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim. 2 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the Lord which He spoke through Jeremiah the prophet. 3 Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray to the Lord our God on our behalf.” -Jeremiah 37:1-3

King Zekekiah didn’t “listen” to the words of the Lord, “YET” he still asked Jeremiah and others, “Please pray to the Lord our God on our behalf.”

The story continues several times God gave messages to the King through Jeremiah, each time hearing but never truly listening. The king in fact wanted to hear these messages, he kept asking for Jeremiah to be brought to him, “Do you have another message?” But the King though hearing failed to truly listen (do as God instructed).

The spiritual lesson for us is easy and clear, but I will point it out just in case. Just like King Zekekiah many talk to the Lord every day. They pray. They ask God to bless them to guide them. They ask God for answers. But their lives are such that even when God does answer (which He always does) they may hear but they don’t really listen (do what He instructs).

It would be like this, every day a person wakes-up and prays, “God please give me enough energy for this day. Please give me strength and make me productive.” They come to the end of the day and they don’t have energy, they didn’t have strength, they weren’t productive. Then the next day they pray the same prayer, but again they fill like their prayer isn’t answered. They start to question, “Why isn’t God answering my prayer?” But then we look at another part of their day, it turns out that each and every night this individual stays up to the wee hours of the morning playing video games, watching TV, working late. Here is God’s answer to that person,

“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” -Psalm 127:2

God did answer in the scriptures He told us to make sure we get enough sleep. Yes there are times this is impossible, but for most it is just bad late night habits. This is obviously an over simplification of what happened in Jeremiah’s day, but the principal is the same.

In this case the answer is get more sleep. If someone read their Bible or even if they listened to the Holy Spirit they would know that, yet they keep praying each day for more energy never getting it. All the while God has answered their prayer, “get more sleep” they just didn’t truly listen.

You see real listening is to also “do.”

King Zedekiah kept hearing from the Lord, but hearing is useless unless we do then what the Lord calls us to do.

One more example. If a person has no money, but they have the ability to work. Yet every day they ask God, “please provide for me, please send me some money.” Yet everyday they are still broke…is God not answering? No. More than likely they just aren’t listening,

“If a man will not work, he shall not eat” -2 Thessalonians 3:10

There are truly some that can’t work, but many can, yet they don’t. What do they do, they pray, “God please answer my prayer I need money, I need food for my table.” God’s already answered…”I provide through the opportunity to work.” Again hearing is not enough we must actually “listen” which means to do that which the Lord has instructed us!

Next Reading: Luke 3 & 4

One idea caught my attention in these Psalms and it appears at the very beginning of Psalm 57 and again at the very end of Psalm 59.

It is the idea of God as our refuge. Almost daily I speak with people who are going through distress…distress may be too mild of a term as to what is going on in many lives. I don’t believe the Bible guarantees immediate or even eventual delivery from that distress as long as our residence is in this sinful world. But what the Bible does guarantee and what I do believe is absolute truth in that distress as long as it lasts the Lord will be our refuge and through it all the constant in this refuge will be His “steadfast love.”

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
    for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
    till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
    he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! -Psalm 57:1-3

For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love. -Psalm 59:16b, 17

Next Reading: Jeremiah 37-41 (Remember I already did Job 39 & 40 with a previous day)

There are so many amazing leadership lessons in just these 5 chapters, but I am going to focus on just one in this blog post.

In 2nd Samuel 15:13-29 the story is shared of David fleeing Jerusalem in the wake of his son Absalom’s power move. What I see in this story and admire so much about David and am so grateful for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to have this placed in Holy Writ, is that David does not presume that God sees him as irreplaceable. Nor does David see potentially burning down all that God has built worth trying to hold onto power. He leaves Jerusalem to protect God’s Holy City. He sends The Ark of the Covenant back recognizing God is for everyone not just the King. He sends back the priests, because they are to be loyal to God (represented by the Ark) and not loyal to the King. And finally David acknowledges that he does not know if this is his end or not and he’ll leave that call in the hands of God not his own conniving,

“Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” -2 Samuel 15:25, 26

The lessons are obvious but I will state them just in case you didn’t pick-up on them in the reading:

• Don’t fight to hold onto power if it risks damaging what God has built. Whether that is an individual ministry, a volunteer position in the church, a pastoral position, an administrative position. Just walk away rather than seeing the work of God brought lower.
• The people that are loyal to you but that can be a blessing in the transition teach them and encourage them to use their gifts to serve the people not just “you” the previous leader.
• Those of us in leadership will all have our end of leadership and that is not for us to decide but God. Trust Him in that. “If God brings me back so be it, if not let Him do with me what best serves His cause.”

David was a brilliant leader mainly because he didn’t grasp power too soon (overtaking Saul) and he didn’t try to hold onto it when someone was trying to grasp it from him to soon. In both instances he waited on the Lord and the Lord established David’s authority. Oh that I would be found to be such a leader. Lord help me!

Our Next Reading: Psalm 57-59

You may have wondered, “What will Chad find to write about in these chapters.” I have to tell you the three things God impressed me with came quick and easy.

1. The people are to supply the materials for the building and the upkeep of the house of worship. I wrote on giving yesterday so I won’t say anything more about that here now.
2. God deserves the very best in the presentation of our buildings. God shows by the materials used and His own personal care in laying out the design of the sanctuary and all the article within the sanctuary that that which represents Him should be the best we can give. Almost all our churches (not just my church at Spencerville) all our churches allow for disrepair to manifest itself our churches that we would never let happen in our homes. Granted sometimes the repairs to a church are much more expensive, but if every member saw as their responsibility the upkeep and maintenance of the quality of God’s houses of worship then things would not be nearly as “expensive” per member. Also God shows that everything should have a function. We should have the highest of quality in our churches but we don’t need ornamentation just for the sake of ornamentation. Someone may say “the OT sanctuary was filled with ornamentation!” No, no it wasn’t, everything in that design had a purpose and reason for being where it was and the color it was and the layout it was, etc.. So our churches should be high-quality, kept-up/maintained by the generosity of the members, and have purpose and function in its design.
3. Call me old fashion but I still believe preachers (“priests”) should wear their best when they stand before God’s people to preach. Now what the priests wore in the OT I understand had functional purpose. The stones, the engraved names of Israel, the Urim and the Thummim. But still the best of materials went into the clothing of the priests. I don’t judge pastors that don’t wear suits. I love many of them, but I think in our modern culture if you’re going to go to a funeral in a suit or to see the President, then you should also stand before God’s people in a suit. I know some say, “Well I want the people to feel comfortable so I dress down.” Look I’ve been to Brooklyn Tabernacle, Jim Cymbala wears a suit and he makes all his deacons and elders wear suits and they are packed-out with people dressed in tank-tops and cut-offs. Dressing their best for Jesus doesn’t keep those who dress less away. If we want people to feel comfortable we should love on them and welcome them as they are, I don’t think it has anything to do with how the preacher is dressed! Like I said, call me old fashion.

Next Reading: 2 Samuel 15-19

In this post I want to focus on chapter 9 particularly chapter 9 verse 7,

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” -2 Cor. 9:7

Oh how DISAPPOINTING that this verse has been used by some preachers as an excuse not to preach on giving and even more DISAPPOINTING this verse has almost been used by some to reject appeals to give.

The unwise preacher says, “People need to give based upon what is in their heart not because I am guilting them into it with a sermon.”

The preacher who makes such a statement obviously hasn’t read the all of chapter 9, they’ve only read the verse 7. Because the entirety of chapter 9 is an appeal sermon for a church to give. It starts off with the stated expectation that they will give in abundance. Then a recognition that they may not, but they should and that is why Paul is writing. Then there is the verse some preachers would never dare say because they don’t want anyone to give under compulsion,

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” -2 Corinthians 9:6

Paul actually says, “The point is this if you’re cheap with God then you limit God’s blessing.” Wow!

Oh and the amusing perspective to me in regards to this text is that it is Paul’s text IMMEDIATELY before the text most preachers use to “NOT” preach or make appeals for money.

After then the text we all know, “…God loves a cheerful giver” Paul tells the people for the rest of the chapter why they should want to give and how their giving will help.

The unwise member says, “They (the church) shouldn’t ask me for money so I am not going to give so it is not under compulsion.”

Paul’s argument to that would be,

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” -2 Corinthians 9:15

In other words “the compulsion of your heart should always be towards greater and still greater generosity because of Jesus inexpressible gift of salvation to all of us. PERIOD.

After all that I feel like I should make an appeal.

Seriously…

Jesus in the 20 years and nearly 1 month (April 26, 1996) since He came into my heart has never allowed me to forget how horrible life felt when I was pushing Him away and what peace there was when I stopped pushing/running/dodging/denying and finally accepted that He loved me with all His heart! Because of what Jesus did for me, I have dedicated my life to making Jesus better known and better loved in the heart of every person I have the potential to reach. We, the Spencerville Church, have an opportunity through the use of modern technology (the internet, ROKU, etc) and in partnership with the HOPE Channel, to share globally the love of Jesus. We are in the midst of a project to build at the Spencerville Church our own little media center (without effecting the aesthetics of our beautiful sanctuary that Jesus has blessed us to be able to worship in) but making it feasible for the Gospel to go far beyond our walls. I know there are millions of people in the world, I know there are friends and family of mine, friends and family of yours that need to know the peace that comes when they stop pushing/running/dodging/denying the love of Jesus! Maybe, through our media ministry we can reach some of those people. Maybe your family or friend maybe mine or maybe someone all the way on the other side of the world can learn more about Jesus and thus love Him more through this ministry. Would you be 1 of 600 people to commit a one time gift of $200 or maybe a gift of $200 spread out over several months to help us at Spencerville fulfill the God-given burden placed on my heart more than 20 years ago, to make Jesus better known and better loved. If so you can very easily and safely give here: spencerville.church

I hope your heart is compelled to help us in this endeavor…if not I pray it is compelled to serve Jesus with your means in one of His many other ministries!

So let us all give cheerfully because Jesus loves us with an everlasting unimaginable love!

Next Reading: Exodus 25-28

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” -Luke 1:1-4

I like the book of Luke because Luke was a historian. He compiled an account from eyewitnesses and servants of the word. He investigated everything carefully, he checked and double checked his sources. He wrote out the story in chronological order. The other gospels are written with primary audiences in mind, the Jews or the Greeks, and while Luke states who his audience of one is, Theophilus (also his audience for the writing of the book of Acts). Due to the style structure and development of Luke’s Gospel it is truly a Gospel for the masses. This does not devalue the other Gospels. Matthew is wonderful because it helps us to understand Messianic prophecy amongst other things, Mark’s gospel is wonderful because his was probably the first gospel and thus the primary source material for others. John’s gospel is wonderful because his gospel seems to be written with those that struggle with unbelief in mind. Often when I people ask me, “Which book of the Bible should I start with?” I say, “The Gospel of John.” But Luke’s rendition of Jesus’ life I love because it is written as history, in the style it seems of the Old Testament maybe. Inspirational history.

There seems to be a lack of fairness in the casual reading of the announcements of both John and Jesus’ conceptions. Zacharias asks a question (1:18) and it is treated as doubt and he is left mute for the next 9 months. Mary asks a question (1:34) and she is in no way chastised or “disciplined.”

Honestly this may have never even occurred to you in your reading of these stories, but it has always…yes always, bothered me…so this morning I examined the story more closely.

And here is what I have come up with.

When Gabriel announces to Zacharias the notice of his soon to be conceived son, he shares with him all the pertinent details including the one that assures him of why:

“This is in response to your petition”

Zacharias is now old, so this must have been a long ago petition. A reminder that God never forgets our prayer requests!

At the end of the description Zacharias asks a question. The wrong question,

“How will I know this for certain?” -Luke 1:18a

When Gabriel announces to Mary the notice of her soon to be conceived son, he also shares with her all the pertinent details including the one that assures her of why:

“Favored one The Lord is with You”

At the end of the description and all the pertinent details Mary asks,

“How can this be, since I am a virgin?” -Luke 1:34

The only thing I can see is that Mary was not asking for a sign she is asking about functionality. She knows what she is and she also knows what she is unwilling to do, loose her virginity prior to the appropriate time.

Asking, “How can I know for certain?” Is a question of doubt. So God gave him a sign, muteness.

Asking, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Is a question of function. Method. It would be almost better stated, “I believe you, but can you let me know though how you’re going to make this possible? Because I haven’t had sex and I know you’re not going to ask me to break God’s moral law.”

That is how I understand the seemingly incongruent responses to two similar questions in Luke chapter 1.

Next Reading: 2 Corinthian 9 & 10

“So they went into the court to the king, having put the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the secretary, and they reported all the words to the king. 21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the secretary. And Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials who stood beside the king. 22 It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him. 23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot.24 Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments. 25 Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the secretary and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them.” -Jeremiah 36:20-26

This brazen attitude demonstrated by King Jehoiakim is, I feel, being repeated in our modern world and even by many leaders within our nation. Granted we are not a theocracy, I understand that, but the utter disregard to many of the clear teachings of scripture in our current culture by our governmental leaders who claim to follow God is a dangerous position. It would be better for them to say, “we know the Bible does not agree with us and we are not doing this based on a Christian worldview” than to make some of the decisions that are being made under the banner and the false assertion that we are a “Christian nation.”

Tonight we had a heartbreaking experience in our home and I realized something…

Our dog Bear, a beautiful and sweet girl, was hit by a car and died. I let her out in our back yard to go to the bathroom after I had fed her. After about 15 minutes the normal amount of time she usually likes to go out after this feeding to do her business I went to the back door and called for her. I was tired and wanted to have an early night and so I wanted to get her in her crate for the night and head to bed myself. I called, she didn’t come, so I went around to the front of the house and it was then that I heard a car door slam and a lady scream there were some kids out by the road and everyone seemed to be upset…then I saw something lying on the ground. I ran out there and it was our beautiful sweet Bear. The poor lady was heartbroken, she kept apologizing I hugged her not really even thinking about anything else…she had white hair like my mom and my heart hurt for her, but all the while I was looking at my dog that was sleeping so peacefully.

I picked-up Bear’s lifeless body and placed her in a bag and then carried her back to the house.

Telling my boys was the hardest part. Although Bear was only with us about 6 months I knew their hearts would break. Dayton and Landon were distraught Levi didn’t shed a tear at first his lower lip quivered and he just kept saying, “Daddy tell Jesus to make her alive! Daddy tell Jesus to make her come alive!” When Levi did see her in the bag though the tears broke loose, Bear truly was his best buddy.

I know this is a morbid tale, but I can’t sleep and I need to process it out.

I have often times joked in front of my church to pray for me because I don’t know what I was thinking getting a dog. Or I would joke about how I wanted to get rid of her, Christina and I would say to everyone that said she was cute, “Do you want her? You can have her!” We acted like we meant it, now we are both just so sad…And though I wouldn’t call us dog people…I would say this, I’ve lost cats before and been sad…but there is definitely something much different about losing a dog.

I still don’t know what I was thinking getting a dog and now I hate to think of what it will be like to not have Bear!

I will never again say to a dog person, “It is just a dog.”    

I decided to finish off the book of Job tonight. Since chapters 38-41 are all of a similar theme, God’s response.

I love God’s response to all the questions of “why?” in the book of Job. His answer, “you have spoken without understanding.” Then God delivers a laundry list of natures attributes that demonstrate His power and wonder. It is almost in a much probably firmer way than we are used to or we would like for God to speak to us, but to me I almost hear God saying, “You just have to trust me! Look at everything in nature, trust me I can handle your world!”

Three points that struck me in the last few verses of the final chapter:

1. Even though Job’s friends were very unsupportive during his crisis, he still prayed to God on their behalf and they were protected and blessed due to Job’s ministry unto them, even though they had encouraged Job just to give-up and die when he was in struggle.
2. Job left an inheritance to his daughters (Job 42:15). I don’t believe this verse is in there by accident. I believe it illustrates the abundant fairness of Job. Not due to him being just a good dad, but because he was righteous.
3. Job 42:17 = “And Job died, an old man and full of days.” The book ends with reality though. Even though Job’s health was restored and the rest of his life was a blessing, he at the end of it all still died. We all will have the same fate if the world lasts long enough. Death will eventually meet us all…and we like Job, because we are powerless against death, must trust in the God described in chapters 38 through 41. We must trust He who makes the dawn, He who stops the waves, He who does not fear the javelin, it is He who also gave us victory over the grave through His life, death, and resurrection.

Next Reading: Jeremiah 32-36

My margin notes from the Psalms:

The response to this:

Behold, God is my helper;
    the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5 He will return the evil to my enemies;
    in your faithfulness put an end to them. -Psalm 54:4, 5

and this,

For he has delivered me from every trouble,
    and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. -Psalm 54:7

Is this…

With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
    I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. -Psalm 54:6

Not TITHE–freewill offerings are our token of “thanks” to Jesus for everything!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Bible even speaks to what it feels like to be betrayed by a friend…

For it is not an enemy who taunts me—
    then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—
    then I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man, my equal,
    my companion, my familiar friend.
14 We used to take sweet counsel together;
    within God’s house we walked in the throng. -Psalm 55:12-14

What is the solution when this happens?

Cast your burden on the Lord,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved. -Psalm 55:22

Jesus is a friend that will not forsake even when other friends have!

Next Reading: Job 37 & 38

We all know the story…well all that grew-up in church…of 2 Samuel 11…the infamous story of David, Bathsheba, and Uriah the Hittite. This is a story of many lessons.

• Don’t be where you aren’t supposed to be (the roof at bath time)
• Look away (don’t gaze on a naked woman)
• Idle hands… (David should have been out at war)
• Don’t try and cover things up (you only make them worse)
• Other people get hurt even if we are only thinking we are hurting one person (many husbands died when Joab pulled back support)
• etc.

But one of the most important lessons precedes the story of David and Bathsheba and it is encapsulated in these verses,

And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.” -2 Samuel 10:18, 19

Just in case you missed the lesson of those verses in connection to the story of David and Bathsheba here it is from what I wrote in the margins of my Bible:

After great victory is when we are most susceptible to have our greatest fall.

I know the English and flow of that sentence is poor…it was a margin writing.

I don’t say this simply from David’s sorrowful tale. I unfortunately have had some of my biggest blunders after or in the midst of some of my greatest “triumphs.”

So here is the lesson then. I’ve learned to be more on guard in those times and I hope you will too. More on our knees, more in the Word, more in accountability to the Christian community Jesus has put around us!

Next Reading: Psalms 54-56

As is the case in the Bible there are things I cannot fully explain in a way that would fully appease the modern day mind. I think there are things in these 4 chapters of Exodus that would be appalling to our 21st Century Western conditioned minds. For instance, I don’t know that any jury would be willing to give a person the death penalty because their animal killed another person…even if they knew there was a potential it could happen. I am sure there are some that feel if a dog kills a child then the owners should die, but again no jury would enforce such a sentiment.

Yet this is what God commands,

“If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death.” -Exodus 21:29

Also we read this,

 “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life,24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” -Exodus 21:24, 25

But it is contradicted by Jesus here,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” -Matthew 5:38, 39

One seems to teach just punishment is equal revenge and the other that equal retribution is to be avoided.

So did God suddenly become enlightened over the ages? Did Jesus and God the Father not agree on this principle in the first place and now that Jesus is on earth and has the captive attention of the people He’s going to get His two cents in? Was God just having a bad day when Exodus 21 was inspired and feeling much better about things by Matthew 5?

I don’t believe any of the above make sense. One common argument is that it is not about the specific laws but the principles. But then one could ask why would God order someone to be killed in order to teach a principle.

If someone were to say, “Well God wanted people to understand the importance of personal responsibility” say in regards to the law of the careless Ox owner, I would say I don’t think I like a God that is willing to take a life in one century to teach me a principle centuries later.

Could I say this…I don’t understand all of these laws…

But I know the God who saved me and loves me and is coming back for me and until He chooses to give me insight I will wonder, but I will not doubt. I will be confused, but I will not be dismayed. I will be curious but I will not search after other gods, because I know that I am not God, He is, and one day I will see…even if that day is not now, or maybe not ’till eternity.

Next Reading: 2 Samuel 10-14

Two types of guilt or “Sorrow” as it reads in my Bible–

“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” -2 Corinthians 7:10

All humanity is convicted over certain things…we often times call it guilt. I don’t like to use the word “guilt” in association with God, but for lack of a better term at this moment that is what we are going with. Guilt is often misunderstood but Paul here states very clearly what is a Godly “guilt” or conviction and what is a “guilt” conviction from the devil or the world.

If we feel “guilt” conviction and it leads us to repent…now remember repentance is not just saying sorry, or feeling bad, or regretting something. Repentance is all those things, but it is also TURNING AWAY from sin, we may have to turn away several times, but it is still turning away from it. But if we feel a “guilt” that leads us to repent then we are experiencing this in the Spirit of God.

If we feel a “guilt” conviction and we may say sorry, or feel bad, or even have regret, but it does not lead us to turn away from that sin or mistake it is not truly a God led conviction. Also though if we feel “guilt” and even after we repent we continue to feel miserable and like we want to die…then that guilt is a false guilt and it is from the devil! Jesus’ conviction will never lead us towards a desire to die. That is the persecution of the devil!

One other thought I had in this reading:

We see in chapter 8 another reason to give to God’s work here on earth monetarily. Not just in our labors or our words, but actual physical gifts. Paul starts off chapter 8 by sharing about a church that gave generously, even beyond their means.

He then ends chapter 8 with this:

“Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.”                          -2 Corinthians 8:24

Paul is challenging the church in Corinth to show that they are just as loving as this other church….how? Through their monetary gifts. In our modern culture Pastors can get in trouble for saying, “we need to prove our love through our tithes and offerings” and yet it seems like such a position is Biblical…oh and by the way we aren’t proving our love to God in this, this is not a work of legalism, we are doing it as a witness to our fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus and thus encouraging them to do the same.

Next Reading: Exodus 21-24

My notations from this reading:

“And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.” -Mark 15:21

I never noticed this before, Simon of Cyrene’s son’s names are mentioned in this text. Why does that matter to me? It tells me that this one encounter with Jesus changed the life of Simon and thus the life of the entire family, so much so that years after Jesus’ death Mark knew not only the name of the man that carried the cross but he knew his family as well, because Simon and his family were part of the disciples family now. The power of an encounter with Jesus, converting hearts even while He is headed to the cross.

Of course He also converted hearts while hanging on the cross,

And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” -Mark 15:39

The interesting point about this text is that this centurion, a Roman centurion, is the first in all the book of Mark to acknowledge Jesus as the “Son of God” which then in a way is Mark affirming the heart of this Roman soldier.

Then immediately after that the women that followed Jesus were affirmed,

There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. -Mark 15:40, 41

Mark is just going after all the biases in one fell swoop!

“After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.” -Mark 16:12, 13

Based on the two texts above the disciples should have already been out spreading the good news of Jesus’ resurrection…but they weren’t which is why,

“Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.” -Mark 16:14, 15

This text to me is powerful because there are some of us that at times think we would have greater faith if we could have seen Jesus face to face…it seems Jesus doesn’t see that as a legitimate excuse for not believing. The testimony of another is enough in the Lord’s eyes.

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 6-8

The blog is back-up and here is last night’s post:

I thoroughly enjoy the flow of Jeremiah and today’s reading was no different. The entire reading is interesting and I would encourage you to delve into it; but what I am going to focus on is one of the most quoted scriptures in all the Bible which also happens to be one of the most misapplied scriptures in all the Bible…

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

Or in the NIV

“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.”

How many graduates will receive this “promise” in a card or on the inside cover of a book or in a graduation speech over the next several weeks? And how many will receive this promise in a misused fashion?

Too many read this text and apply this text as if God is our vending machine that is just going to make everything “hunky dory” but what about the graduate from college that reads this card and then for two years can’t find a job with the degree he/she just paid $10,000’s of dollars to receive? What about the couple that gets married and they receive the promise, “I know the plans that I have for you…to give you a future and a hope,” and within two years they are filing for divorce. What about the family that on the day of the dedication of their child they receive a card affirming the promise God has for this little baby, “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.” And then a few months later the baby is diagnosed with a terrible disease and the family realizes their child of “promise” has almost no future…no more than five years.

It is funny this text is used as a prosperity text but notice the actual context…

In chapter 28 a “prophet” named Hananiah prophesies in the empty temple of Jerusalem, it is empty because Babylon ransacked the city and took the temple pieces and most the people back to Babylon, but this guy gives a prophecy that in just two years all the people and all the belongings will be restored to Jerusalem. Jeremiah actually affirms the prophecy, not that he believes it, but, “yeah I wish God would do that…but He’s not going to…”

Then with the backdrop of a false promise of prosperity from Hananiah Jeremiah sends a letter to the Israelites exiles in Babylon and says this is what is really going to happen, “You’re going to live there a long time. Many of you will die there. Your kids will grow-up, get married and die there. And so you might as well make the best of a bad situation. In fact God states very clearly the best way for these folk to prosper in the midst of bad,

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” -Jeremiah 29:7 

That sounds a lot different than the greeting cards with promises of abundance because of Jeremiah 29:11…

So how does Jeremiah 29:11 then apply?

No matter how bad things get God does not forget and eventually all will be made right. And isn’t that a more accurate promise than prosperity here on this earth?

We are journeying through this world and the promise isn’t in this world we’ll have the greatest experience, that we’ll have no calamity, that we’ll always prosper, that we have a great future here on this earth ahead of us…

The promise is that one day maybe still years from now…maybe long after we’re gone…maybe even long after our children our gone…all things will eventually be made right…sin will be no more, death will be no more, sorrow will be no more, we will not hope against hope, no our hope will ultimately be completely fulfilled, ’till then the best thing for us to do is as we are able pray for the nations we live in and seek to live like Jesus in the midst of those that don’t believe around us and God will ultimately bless them through our prayers, and us through their blessing in some way ’till that day of ultimate blessing.

Oh and one more thing…that ultimate promise comes as a result of relationship with our Lord…

“Then you will callon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” -Jeremiah 29:12-14

Better than a false prosperity promise of Jeremiah 29:11 this year let us give to our young people and our fellow man the promise of an eternal hope that can be ours and theirs as we daily seek the face of Jesus.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Mark 15 & 16

As I have so often reading the book of Job I struggled to find the meaning of the text for myself…or even in the larger context and so I searched for help. I liked what I read in the Asbury Commentary and wanted to share it with you:

Elihu’s fourth speech has two distinct parts. In the first part he moves beyond the penal concerns of the three comforters and emphasizes the remedial implications of suffering (36:1-25). In the second part Elihu focuses on God’s activities in nature, thereby anticipating the speeches of the Lord that follow (36:26-37:24).

Although God is mighty, he does not despise his creatures (36:5). Contrary to what Job claims (21:7), the wicked are not allowed to live (36:6). When the righteous suffer, it is to alert them to their sins (v. 9) and to lead them to repentance (v. 10). Through such suffering God speaks (v. 9). If the righteous learn from their discipline, prosperity and contentment will follow (v. 11). If they do not, doom will overtake them (v. 12). Elihu now applies this principle to Job (vv. 16-21), but this strophe is so problematic that it is not clear whether Elihu is encouraging or warning Job. While there is strong scriptural support for suffering being remedial in nature, the prologue precludes its application to Job. Job’s suffering is neither penal nor remedial. It is a demonstration of his integrity.

Elihu now turns to the greatness of God as revealed in nature (36:26-37:13). This portion begins with an emphasis on the power of God as seen in the storm. God has not only created the forces of nature, he controls them. He sends the rain (vv. 27-28), the thunder (v. 29), and the lightning (v. 30). The destructive qualities of the storm suggest God’s anger and his judgment (vv. 31-32). There is no break in thought here even though the speech extends into the next chapter where there is a shift from an attitude of awe to expectation. The thunder is recognized as the voice of God (vv. 29, 33; cf. Ps 29) and the medium of a theophany. It is in the storm that God frequently reveals himself (Ex 19:18ff.; Ps 18:7-15; Jn 12:29). These verses are a preparation for the theophany Job will experience.

Do you agree w/ this commentary or no?

Tomorrow’s Reading: Jeremiah 27-31

Let us be honest for a moment. Everyone who has committed a truly horrific sin…maybe even some that have minor sins…are really, really, really glad that Psalm 51 is in the scriptures! I am raising both hands to testify of this!!

• We are glad because we see a great man that God loves who is broken over his sin and it gives us hope.
• We are glad because we are glad to know someone else, even if it is someone else from thousands of years ago can relate to what we are feeling under the weight of our sin.
• We are glad because we intrinsically know that the answer to David’s prayer is, “I forgive you My child.” And we believe and know, “then I can be forgiven too!”

Oh it is a Psalm I have gone to more times than I care to admit in my life…this and Psalm 32

I want to point out a couple key thoughts that come to me from this 51st Psalm:

“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.” Ps. 51:1

David doesn’t appeal to God based on His past actions, “Oh God remember how well I’ve served You and that I have been basically good ’till now…” No, David knows that there is no reason he deserves forgiveness but that forgiveness is accessible to him through the love and power of God. Our appeals for forgiveness should not be based on negotiation of our merits, but simply asking Jesus to pour out His compassion…which He has in abundance…unlimited even.

“For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.” -Ps. 51:3, 4

David’s confession does not try and justify or rationalize his actions. There is no, “Well I was under pressure, and I messed-up this once.” He just confesses.

“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.” -Ps. 51:6

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” -Ps. 51:10

“For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” -Ps. 51:16, 17

David doesn’t spend a lot of time talking about the actual sin of his adultery and murder…in fact read the Psalm again and notice he never mentions it directly. I point this out because how many times do we spend talking to God about the outward action of our sin but not the true sin, the true issue. David understands that the ultimate sin was not what took place with Bathsheba or Uriah, the ultimate sin was what took place in his heart that allowed him to get to that level of action. So he goes to God and acknowledges and asks God to deal with the root of the problem, his heart…what is one the inside.

“Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.”-Ps. 51:13

David’s commitment to God–as you give me the joy of salvation I will teach people about You and I will lead people to follow You. I will do evangelism.

Do we go back to our sins so often because after we confess and ask forgiveness we don’t then GO TO work for the Lord’s cause?

Tomorrow’s Reading: Job 35 & 36

I was once told or read…I honestly do not remember which…that in the days of Israel’s early history that when a Kingdom was conquered by another Kingdom that the rulers of the conquered Kingdom would be stripped down naked and forced to dance before the people as they entered their new city. Since hearing that, if this is in fact true I have always had a new perspective on 2 Samuel 6:12-16,

“Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.” David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, that when the bearers of the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouting and the sound of the trumpet. 16 Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.” 

If the historical assessment at the top is accurate than understand what David is doing…

The Ark of the Lord is being brought into Jerusalem and David is, of his own free will, stripping down and dancing before the Ark. What is he indicating? To me based on the historical understanding I have, David is communicating to the people that he, the King of Israel, is actually subject to the King of Kings. Wouldn’t this make sense as to why Michal his wife is so upset? This was the behavior of a conquered king, not a ruling king!

“But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!”” -2 Samuel 6:20

She is saying David acted like a servant, not a king…

But David understands something about Godly leadership that Michal does not, that her father King Saul did not…

“I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.”” -2 Samuel 6:22

Servant leadership is the greatest power amongst God’s movement and God’s people.

Tomorrow’s Reading: Psalm 51-53