In the narrative of these first five chapters from the book of Samuel we see the contrasts between two parents. A humble woman who chooses to give her child fully to the Lord on one hand. The religious leader of the people who is willing to rebuke others (like he did Hannah when he thought she was drunk in the temple) but is unwilling to rebuke his own sons who are making a mockery of the things of God.

The religious leader of the God’s people raised children that were shameful to the cause of God.

The humble, barren woman raised a child that became the religious leader of God’s people.

Which parent are we? Have we dedicated our children fully to God or do we by our own unwillingness to parent in some ways keep them at a distance from God?

Tomorrow’s Reading: Psalms 30-32

There is always an excitement when I read a text and for the first time it hits me as significant. Today that happened,

“When Joseph came to them in the morning and observed them, behold, they were dejected.” Gen. 40:6

What a leader! He was so perceptive that he noticed and cared about the change of countenance in prisoners he was overseeing. I want to be that type of leader.

Now onto the main theme that caught my attention in today’s reading…

Patience that the Lord will work, even if there is delay.

When Joseph interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker, he said to the cupbearer, “don’t forget me down here. I want out of this house (jail).”

The cupbearer didn’t remember for 2 years.

When Joseph came to power the Bible takes special to care to tell us that Joseph is 30 years old. That caught my attention because the last time the Bible mentioned Joseph’s age was when he was telling his brothers his dreams and they were selling him into slavery…he was 17.

For 13 years Joseph was in bondage. 13 years of suffering. Before one day he is called to shave, put on clean clothes, and stand before Pharaoh and in an instance his life is forever changed.

At least seven years later, but more likely 8 years later his brothers are bending their knee before him just like he dreamed more than 20 years before.

God’s care and word are sure…but sometimes we must have patience for Him to reveal to us His will, His plan, and even His ultimate deliverance from a situation…and when I say wait I don’t mean a week or two…or even a month…most of us are only willing to be patient with God about that much time…

But Joseph shows us that our waiting on the Lord may be years, decades even!

Lord may I trust You and wait on You in all areas of my life even if it means I wait without understanding for years.

Lord help me to patiently wait!

Tomorrow’s Reading: We start a new book, 1 Samuel 1-5

Let us be honest there are some points in these two chapters that are hard for us to swallow in our modern culture and our modern philosophy of thinking.

The first comes in Paul’s call for the church to throw-out the member that is living in open sin, and as Paul points out such a degrading sin that even the pagans would be shocked…Paul obviously didn’t know the pagans of 2016…but I digress. This is a challenge to us because in our modern culture to disfellowship someone even those who are openly sinning and not even fellowshipping with the Lord we refuse to remove from the membership rolls. I remember back at my old church a member wrote a very strongly worded letter against Adventism and then asked to have their name permanently removed, some on my board wanted to deny such a move saying it wasn’t our right whether to remove someone or not. In fact they were correct in this case it wasn’t our right not to remove them, we had to respect the wishes of the individual, but that is not what was meant.

The second challenging concept to our minds is this, Paul states that this removal from the membership is to in fact save the individual that has fallen,

“I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 5:5

This is a challenge because almost no one in our modern culture believes firm discipline from a church actually works towards the salvation of an individual. By the way…if they repent we don’t kick them out or we let them back in (that is a little preview of 2 Corinthians dealing with this exact story 🙂 )

The third challenging point Paul makes is that we aren’t to hang out with a whole litany of people, but he isn’t talking about those outside who are professed secularists, which I believe means he expects us to spend time with these people, also a challenge to many a Christian mind. No Paul writes we shouldn’t hang-out with those in the church that are known to be living in these ways…which leads to…

The fourth challenge. Paul tells us to judge those within the church. I know, I know, “thou shalt not judge” people use it all the time. The concept is judging the heart of an individual or condemning them to eternal separation from God which did happen in Jesus’ day and probably still does today, but Paul is very clear as was Jesus if we really read His words closely…all of them…we are to judge the sinful actions of our fellow believers…not our preferences or cultural biases. Not our tastes or personal pet peeves but real thus saith The Lord stuff. If someone is smoking and destroying the temple of God we are allowed to say that is sin. The people we aren’t supposed to judge…their actions, are those outside the church. Why? Because I believe the point Paul is making is that those inside the church know better, thus judgement can take place, those outside, don’t and until they do we should not condemn their practices or them in association with their practices.

In chapter 6 the challenges to our modern way of thinking continue!

Challenge number five–we are not to sue our fellow Christians in the worlds courts! Paul tells us we should have enough common sense within the church to decide and mediate such disputes. Wow! Can you imagine that?

Challenge six ties into the above it would be better for us to be wrong and defrauded than to go before the public courts with Christian opposing Christian.

Challenge seven: Paul indicates that it is the intimate act of sex that makes a person one with another. People can’t be frivolous in this area and not therefore expect their hearts to suffer more than with other sin. Paul then amps up the consequences of sexual sin…not the eternal consequences, the person who commits a sexual sin and does not turn away from it and receive the forgiveness of Jesus is not any worse off than the person who was greedy and did not turn away from it and receive the forgiveness of Jesus…but the temporal consequences of sexual sin are more destructive to us here on this earth. I used to think that when Paul writes,

“Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” (1 Cor. 6:18)

That this had something to do with the physical act and the physical consequences I now think due to the statement above about the “two becoming one” the sin is a sin against one’s own body because it damages the heart–the emotions of a person. David told us in the Psalms to, “guard our hearts” our hearts are hurt when we go down this path when not in God’s will. I am thankful for grace that we can get back to glorifying God with our bodies in spite of past mistakes!…but we do walk with a limp after such encounters.

These two chapters have a lot of challenges for those in our modern society. We would be weird if we lived by them but I think we may be more happy.

I like the practical approach of 1 Corinthians thus far…it is easier for me to grasp then the philosophical approach of much of Romans.

Happy Sabbath Y’all!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Genesis 40-43

Sometimes things are just communicated better through song or three:

I apologize this should have posted yesterday. Since it did not you will receive two posts today. One early and one later today.

I very much appreciated all 5 chapters from the book of Isaiah today. There are nuggets of beauty that can be taken from each chapter, like chapter 55 that holds one of my all time favorite life promises,

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” -Isaiah 55:10, 11

What a tremendous promise for those who are called to be witnesses and to share the good news of Jesus with others.

But in today’s post I want to focus on Isaiah chapter 53.

This is one of the most beautiful, complete, thorough prophecies about the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Read it through and see several of the characteristics of Jesus.

Humble in looks and comportment. While I am sure there were happy times Jesus was carrying sorrow for humanity as He looked around. Think about yourself when you see some of the wicked in the world, how much your heart aches, now imagine being the Creator and perfect and then seeing the decaying of society, the world, and your prize possession your people…you and I would have sorrows and grief also.

But in Isaiah 53 the great theme that jumps out at me is that Jesus died for us and because of our mistakes.

This theme jumps out in the following verses: 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, and 12.

Out of 12 verses 6 of them have reference to Jesus dying for you and for me.

Jesus was many things, He is many things for you and me but the greatest of all is Savior!

Next Reading: Matthew 26-28

Today a good friend sent me a text teasing me a ‘bit about it being “Job” reading day. She’s been reading my blog and knows I’ve been struggling through this book of the Bible, and today’s reading was no different.

I said to her that at one point the book of Job ministered to me so I don’t know why I am struggling through it so much now, and I teased, “My life just may be too chipper at the moment.” And when I texted that, though it was in a ‘bit of jest I realized I’ve been sorta down on this book, but there was a time when I was younger and battling some depression that the angst of Job ministered to my heart.

At that point in my life I could relate better to what Job was communicating through his words. Often times when I am going through hard times even though I know better…or at least I know better when I am not going through the hard times I still ask…”God why are You doing this to me?” It is not God it is the devil, but sometimes I like Job lay it at the feet of God.

Here is a whole book that speaks to people going through those moments. Having those questions and doubts and misunderstandings of the character and actions of God. A misunderstanding of the Great Controversy.

With that realization I reminded of something important, The Bible is not written for one type of person, dealing with just one area of life, or one challenging topic. The Bible is written to minister to all people, to all of us at all the various phases of our lives.

Job is not speaking to me now…

But Job has ministered to me in the past…

And maybe someday this book will again…

If Job is ministering to you right now, where you are at in your life. Know that that is a sign of God’s love for you. He inspired this book to be written for you at this point in your life, so that you would know He understands and though you may feel like Job like this is God’s punishment even if it is not, He does love you and He doesn’t forsake those who doubt that love in moments or even those who may blame Him.

Job is a reminder that God is big enough for every situation of our lives.

Thanks to my friend, you know who you are, for in your little teasing text God used you to remind me of His great love for all of us in all situations!

Tomorrow’s Reading: Isaiah 51-55