Why you should look behind and look forward...

When I read about the early church in the book of Acts I am amazed by the attributes of God's people. Luke describes early Christians as lovingly devoted to the Lord and each other. It appears these early Christians were displaying the Kingdom of God through their lives. 

Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 4:32-33 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his son, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 5:12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.

This brings a question to the table. Did the Kingdom of God come through the early church? The people of God gave to each other as each had need, they lived lives devoted to prayer and the word of God, and the apostles healed sicknesses and performed miracles regularly. This looks like the Kingdom of God displayed in the life of the early church!

On the one hand it is the Kingdom of God displayed through the life of the early church! The Kingdom of God is among them! On the other hand, the Kingdom of God has not come in its fullness. Wickedness still prevails, Satan still deceives, persecution still exists, and Jesus is not physically reigning over the entire earth. 

This is the age of the church. This is the time for the Kingdom of God to spread through the witness of the church. During this time persecution continues, Satan still deceives, and wickedness remains, but the church grows.

There will be a day, however, when the Lord will return and rule over the entire earth. Jesus will be King, his people will rule with him, Satan will be imprisoned, and deception will cease. What a wonderful day that will be.

May we enjoy the beauty of God's Kingdom work through the church, but may we not forget what is to come. May it motivate us to live out Kingdom principles moment by moment.

How to avoid falling into despair.

I know who God is. I know his mercy. I know his love. I know his justice. I find security and comfort in the Lord and his presence although I don't always experience each of his attributes consciously. 

2 Samuel 22:1-4 And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said, 'The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

What I mean is this: I trust in who the Lord is. I focus on his wonderful attributes. I don't, however, always feel the effects of the Lord's goodness. My feelings often betray me. Sometimes I even get stuck in despair. 

What does this mean? It simply means I am human, therefore I am susceptible to temptation. My vision and experience does not always line up with reality. 

In truth, I am eternally secure. I am forgiven totally. I am redeemed. I am restored and made new. I am free from sin. I am a beloved child of God.

Sometimes I feel trapped. Sometimes I feel like a failure. Sometimes I anxiety overtakes my mood. Sometimes I feel worthless. 

This requires an active, consistent, and persistent focus on the presence of God almighty. I need to meditate on who he is and what he says about me. I have to remind myself day by day and moment by moment that I belong to him and he is the sovereign King of Kings and Lord of Lord. When I stay focused on his word I find myself resting in the beauty of his presence. 

Taken from reading 2 Samuel 21-24

Why idolizing a man leads to destruction

Sin leads to destruction and suffering.

2 Samuel 19:6-7

For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.

Look at all the destruction sin caused in the last years of King David's life. Betrayal, death, upheaval. It started with 'the man after God's own heart' following his lustful desires leading him to be a murderer. It ballooned into a full scale rebellion and civil war

The casual observer would not have put the two together but when you follow the flow of events you see the Lords judgment of David in Absalom's rebellion. 

David's heart and passion for the Lord gave us a glimpse beauty of a worshipful king. Sadly, David fell to sin like every other king. 

God's people needed more than David. God's people needed God as their king. They needed a perfect, loving, and compassionate king. They needed Jesus. 

Jesus would not fall to sin leading to judgment. Jesus took the judgment God's people deserved on himself. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. David was the glimpse. Jesus is the fulfillment.

Taken from reading 2 Samuel 16-20:

To not back down...

Who are we trying to impress? Who are we living to please?

2 Samuel 6:21-22

And David said to Michal, 'It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord-and I will celebrate before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes.

David celebrated as he brought the ark of God into Jerusalem. He danced before the Lord with all his might. In worshipping, David apparently undressed himself as he danced. This angered his wife, Michal. She accused David of honoring himself by being vulgar.

David could have bowed to Michal's accusation, but he did not. He stood up for his intentions and freedom to worship the Lord wholeheartedly. In his argument, David pointed toward his audience, the Lord, and his dignity, which he does not seek.

David's sole desire was to express his praise and worship to God. He did not care even what his own wife thought. He stood up for his passion and joy in the Lord and did not shrink back from criticism. What boldness and strength!

I look around at our world and see consistent criticism of Christianity for its morality and values. Christianity does not fit into what is called the 'progressive' movement. We are viewed as intolerant and ignorant by many because we do not agree with some of their leaders.

So Be It. We will worship the Lord. We will honor him with our worship and lives the best we can. We will be abased and contemptible in their eyes.

Many will see and despise us. But some will see and know the Lord is God. Some will turn from sin and follow the Lord. We must be ok with the polarizing nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And we must not shrink back from honoring the Lord.

Taken from reading 2 Samuel 6-10

How to honor God by honoring his leaders

2 Samuel 1:19-21 Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, or fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

Why does David ascribe such wonder and value to Saul? Jonathan I can understand. He was David's best friend. David cherished Jonathan with all of his heart. Jonathan saved his life more than once although Jonathan could have easily led David to his death and taken the throne for himself. 

David mourned the loss of a man who sought to kill him many times. Saul treated David with contempt and jealousy. But why? Why did David's heart ache so much?

The answer may be seen in the way David referred to Saul throughout 1 Samuel. When faced with the opportunity to retaliate against Saul, each time David chose to not harm Saul because Saul was, 'the Lord's annointed' (Ex. 1 Samuel 24:6). 

It may be that David's honoring of Saul was more a reflection of David's heart to honor the Lord. David revered the Lord highly, as we see in his dependence on the Lord for victory. A perfect example of this include David's statement to Goliath, 'I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts...' before David killed the giant.

In this situation, David reveals he is a man after God's own heart. His focus was to honor the Lord and those the Lord has put in leadership. As many of us know, King David is a forerunner to the eternal King, the Son of David, Jesus Christ. 

Taken from reading 2 Samuel 1-5

How to not panic in the midst of conflict.

We see the final result of rebellion against God in Saul. He died. It would be easy to chalk up his death as a natural result of a hard fought battle, but it was much more than that. The Lord warned God's people including King Saul, that if they didn't follow the Lord  closely and obey his voice they would suffer defeat from the people of the land. An so they did.

1 Samuel 31:4-6 Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.

I look around the world and see conflict, hate, fighting and war. In many ways the fighting has never stopped. It continues on in different forms and fashions with different leaders and nations. Some of them are the same nations.

Some nations enjoy times of peace followed by war. Uprisings occur all over the globe to destroy the peace. I understand some of them but others are needlessly brought about by greed and idolatry. What will end to conflict? What will stop the killing?

Only the manifested presence of God himself will bring an end to this mess. When the Lord returns he will take the reigns and rule with an iron scepter. I long for this day. I long for peace. I long for joy. I long for clarity and loving authority. I long for rest.

I take comfort in knowing that day will come. In my lifetime? I do not know. In my children's lifetime? Still, I am not sure. I do find a level of peace in the knowledge of what is to come, what will be.

May we all embrace this wonderful vision the Lord has given us, even in the midst of conflict around the world.

Taken from Reading 1 Samuel 26-31

Plan

Whose plan do you have in mind? God's or yours?

1 Samuel 20:30 Your on of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established.

I am amazed when I read about Jonathan's love for David. Jonathan was the son of the King. The natural order of things in the surrounding kingdoms would have been to pass the kingship from father to son. Jonathan would have expected to become king and would have likely been told for much of his life that he would be the next king. 

Jonathan embraced David as his best friend. Jonathan loved David and their souls were knit together. What a great blessing to have a friend so close and caring, someone who will protect you from all harm. Even when Jonathan's father sought to kill David Jonathan did whatever it took to protect David from him.

Jonathan had God's plan in mind, not his own. You see, David's safety meant David would eventually take Saul's place as King of Israel. Knowing this, it would have been easy for Jonathan to prioritize his own advancement and allow David to be killed. But he didn't. Jonathan trusted the Lord and loved the Lord's man, David.

I gaze the horizon of life and see so many temptations I could fall into. I could idolize parenthood, marriage, wealth, sports, or politics. So many areas of life pull at you to pursue them wholeheartedly. But to what end? I have to constantly ask myself, 'What has my heart? Who has my heart?'

I find the answer in what I most earnestly pursue. Am I passionate about sports? Am I solely focused on family? Am I constantly preoccupied with politics? Am I, moment by moment, focused on the presence of the Lord?

In moments of crisis my heart is tested. When my vision and desires are not aligned with the direction of my life I must watch closely to see if I fall into the trap of pursuing my own vision instead of the Lord's. Discernment is difficult. Pain is a reality.

What about you? Where do you look? Who do you trust? What do you pursue first? My prayer is for you to seek the Lord, to walk in his ways even during times of testing and temptation.

May your heart be passionate and submitted to the Lord.

Taken from reading 1 Samuel 16-20

What you want

Be careful what you ask for. You just might get it.

1 Samuel 8:7 And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they rejected me from being king over them.

1 Samuel 8:11, 18 He said, 'These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you...And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen from yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.

When the people of Israel turned their hearts toward the Lord he brought them peace. He restored their land and cities. He brought them success. This is what the Lord promised them all along. They were to follow the ways of the Lord in the land and he would provide for them.

This was not enough for them. They wanted a king. They wanted to be like the nations around them. They wanted power and pride of man. In their hearts they rejected the Lord as their King.

It is interesting that the Lord simply told Samuel to grant them the request. The Lord did not redirect them again. He let them have what they asked for. He warned the people what the outcome would be and left them to their vice. The results were pretty devastating. War, conscription, the king hoarding wealth for himself, debauchery, idolatry, and eventually exile.

There were many years where having a human king seemed like a great idea. Israel had many years of power, pride, and wealth. But they did not have what they truly needed; the intimate presence and blessing of God. This was a turning point for them.

God is the King they truly needed. Eventually, he would come as the true King, Jesus Christ. He was a king who lived a perfect life, served his people, healed his people, loved his people, died for his people's sins, and rose from the grave to save his people. This is the description of a good and godly King.

I look around at my life and wonder, 'Have I ever sought what I should not? Have I ever pursued what I should not?' Maybe I have? Maybe I have chased after things I should not have chased? Maybe I have opened doors the Lord told me to leave shut? And maybe I am experiencing the consequences of those pursuits in some areas of my life?

I desire clarity of mind and heart. I desire to know if and where I went astray. I desire to pursue the things the Lord wants for me, to experience the life he called me to. I desire to experience a fresh closeness to the Lord, to live step by step in his presence, and to know him more and more.

May I live like this all my days. Amen.

Taken from reading 1 Samuel 6-10

To Know the Lord

What does it mean to 'know' the Lord? 

1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, 'I have asked for him from the Lord.'

Knowing the Lord is not about family heritage. Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, grew up in the house of the priest. They must have heard the stories, read the scriptures, and seen their father's faithfulness to the Lord. The people of God were all around them worshipping, sharing, and testifying about the Lord.

Knowing the Lord is not about position. Hophni and Phinehas walked wickedly as sons of the priest. They forced people to give them meat, defiling the sacrifice. They fornicated with women who were serving at the tent of meeting. 

Knowing the Lord is about faithful relationship. Hannah, a barren wife who was ridiculed by her counterpart. She cried out to the Lord for help and he answered her cry. Hannah devoted her child, Samuel, to serve the Lord. Samuel became a great prophet for the Lord. It was Samuel who later anointed David as King of Israel.

What am I seeking? What are you seeking? Do we seek to use our associations for power and self-indulgence like Hophni and Phinehas? Do we squander the position the Lord has given us by acting wickedly? Or do we worship the Lord and serve him, depending on his provision for our blessing, like Hannah?

All we have is his. When we embrace this eternal truth we will walk in humility before the Lord. May we do this.

Taken from reading 1 Samuel 1-5

What is truth?

The whole idea of truth is difficult. Truth is true whether you accept is as true or not. Your age is what it is. A tree is wood. Five plus five equals ten. Etc.

Confusion sets in when truth is difficult to swallow. When feelings get involved people often desire redefine or change what is true in order to fit their emotional experience. I don't think this can ever end well.

Eventually, the truth will hit you right in the face. For some, truth hits during this life. The irresponsible young person who does not give his best efforts in school sees the consequences when he attempts to apply for colleges. The love drunk teenagers who engage in fornication sometimes end up pregnant.

For others, the truth does not hit during this life. They see life they way they want to see it, do what they want to do and there is no negative outcome they can see. This leads many to believe their actions are just fine, whether they were in tune with the will of the Lord or not.

We end up with a world of mixed emotional experiences and a mixed bag of truth claims. Some truth claims come from interpreting moral experiences. Others stem from an ultimate source of authority.

How do we know what is right or wrong morally? How do we discern truth? Do we depend on our limited experience here on earth to form our own version of morality? Do we trust cultural changes? Do we hold tightly to received tradition?

When I read Jesus' words to Pilate I am comforted to know the Lord has revealed truth to his people. We have the truth we need in Jesus Christ and the scriptures. Trust him. Know him. Love him. At times, life seems to affirm his commands. At other times, life seems to contradict his commands.

In the end, we will all come face to face with God Almighty at the judgment. At that time, all our feelings and experiences on earth will be seen through the light of eternal truth. Live with this in mind.

John 17:3

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

John 17:20-21

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 18:37

'You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world-to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.' Pilate said to him, 'What is truth?'

Taken from reading John 16-21

Love one another

God's people have to start loving each other the way Jesus loved his disciples. He cared for them. He washed their feet. He laid down his life for them. He taught them, led them, and cared for them.

Our reality looks far different.

Church life, in many cases, looks more like attending an event rather than engaging with the family. This is not good. We need relationships, truth, and prayer together. Conversations, sharing, helping, encouraging, rebuking, teaching, and laughing all need to be a part of our engagement with our church family. When we invite people into our church family we are inviting them to a people, not a place. We need to invite them into a family, not a place.

When I read these passages about loving one another and serving one another I cannot help but look at my own life and ask how I am doing in this regard. I did the best I could for many years.  Now I am reflecting on the results. Obviously, I continue walking as faithfully as possible.

Many people have said kind things about me and how I operate but that is not what I am looking for. I want to know what the Lord says about my life. The Lord's judgement is the only one that truly matters. People will see and discern from their own limited perspective. Some will agree with my choices, but others will not. That has to be acceptable.

I hope you can ask yourself questions like this as well. I pray you can explore the inner parts of your heart and learn how you can honor the Lord more in your Christian relationships. 

May you love each other the way Jesus Christ loves you.

John 13:3-5, 14

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him...If I then, your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 15:12-13

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Taken from reading John 11-15

Who is he?

Who is he? This was such a tough question for the people of Jesus' day. They had studied the scriptures their entire lives. They thought they knew what to expect from the Christ. They thought they grasped the plan and purpose of God...until Jesus came.

John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'

John 8:31-32 If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Jesus defied the expectations of the religious leaders of his day. He put them to a decision; a difficult one considering their backgrounds. They did not respond well.

He taught them who he was. 'I am the bread of life...I am the light of the world...Abide in me...and you will know the truth and the truth will set your free...before Abraham was I am.' Such groundbreaking and clear teaching. Only, if it was not truth then Jesus was crazy.

When it all comes down to it the religious leaders did with Jesus what their hearts led them to do. Their hearts were hard. Their minds were made up. They rejected him. They killed him.

But some followed. Some believed and lived wholeheartedly for the Lord. They saw the beauty in what Jesus taught. They realized the way was paved by their fathers before them Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and Isaiah. They walked the path of faith in the life Jesus laid down for them. They experienced the victory of Jesus' resurrection. They embraced the Holy Spirit in their lives.

And he used them in mighty ways.

Taken from reading John 6-10

Life and Redemption

Maybe redemption in not an event, but a lifestyle. 

Ruth is a wonderful story of a widow and her mother-in-law, Naomi. They both lost their husbands and were left with nothing in the land of Moab. Upon returning to the land of Israel, Naomi's homeland, the women desperately needed to provide for themselves. Noami sent Ruth to the fields of Boaz, a redeemer of theirs, to glean in the fields. 

Boaz treated Ruth exceptionally well noticing Ruth's character quality and hard work. Naomi advised Ruth to reach out to Boaz and request that he take them in as their redeemer. After clearing the decision through the closest redeemer Boaz took Ruth in as his wife, affectively redeeming her. Naomi and Ruth were then secure in the house of Boaz. 

Boaz was a wealthy and righteous man. He treated people with respect and dignity. Boaz loved the Lord and spoke kindly to his young men and treated his young woman with generosity. In the end, it is through Boaz, the redeemer of Ruth, that the Lord brought David, King of Israel, and eventually Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Redemption.

I look at my life and see patterns of this wonderful event. First, and foremost I look at my life and the mess I was before the Lord redeemed me. I was at the bottom, without hope and headed toward disaster. The Lord redirected me, saved me, and placed me in his loving arms. 

God's people were gracious to me. They taught me what it means to serve the Lord. They showed me the pattern of redemption through their lifestyles.

Maybe redemption is not an event. Maybe it is a lifestyle. God takes the helpless and provides for them. The Lord uses his people to love and support the hopeless. 

Let this be me. I was shown such grace. May I, in response, show the same grace to those who are at the bottom, without hope and headed toward disaster.

Taken from reading Ruth 1-4

Posture

Our society will degrade but we must not.

Judges 17:6

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges 19:22

As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, 'Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.'

Judges 19:25

But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning.

Judges 21:25

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

God's people degraded so far. Worshipping other gods, kidnapping, murder, rape. In the end, they were guilty of the same sin Sodom committed. The stories are parallel in almost every way.

This is the result of a society given to its own desires. They become slaves to sin and destruction is the only result. Without godly authority people cast off restraint and fall down an endless hole of depravity.

Sadly, we are seeing this very thing in our own society. Sure, we never were in a theocracy. Obviously, America was never God's covenant nation, however the downward spiral of depravity still persists. God's people are more and more demonized for their convictions.

So what should our posture be in a warped world? I look at Jesus' posture and see truth and love. I see honesty about who God is and what sin is. I see love for people of all kinds. I see confrontation against legalism. I see self-sacrifice. I see him calling his followers family. I see new life through faith in him. I see a different society within first century Judea.

This is the same posture we must take. Honesty about who God is. Honesty about what sin is. Love for everyone. Truth to everyone. Seeing Jesus' followers as family. Lay down our lives for each other. Confront legalism. Offer the good news. Enjoy the Lord's presence in our lives.

Our society will degrade but we must not. We need such intimacy with God that we find joy in his good ways and in his truth.

Taken from reading Judges 16-21

Trash and Treasure

God often uses for great purposes what men reject.

Judges 11:1-3

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. And Gilead's wife also bore him sons. And when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, 'You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.' Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and wen you t with him. 

Jephthah is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible. When the writer of Judges describes Jephthah I think of a rugged, burly, tough guy like William Wallace's uncle in the movie Braveheart.

I imagine Jephthah carried horrible pain with him. The only family he knew rejected him and drove him out of their home. He was left alone and hated by his brothers. Tragic. Sad. I imagine countless nights crying out to God.

I see some real beauty in God's plan though. Jephthah found community among 'worthless fellows'. Does this mean they were also rejected? Does it mean they were sinful? Maybe both? Either way, it is wonderful how the Lord provided community for Jephthah in the midst of his rejection.

It is also amazing to see God's bigger plan for Jephthah. The Lord created Jephthah as a mighty warrior. Though his family rejected him because he was born of a prostitute, the people of Gilead needed him when they faced attack from the Ammonites. They sent for him to lead them.

It is unlikely but beautiful how God's plan works out. God often uses for great purposes what men reject.

This amazing story points to an even greater story of rejection. When God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, the world rejected him and killed him on a cross. It is in Jesus' rejection and resurrection that the Lord saves sinners. God used the most unjust rejection to display the most wonderful act of grace in history!

Many of us have also experienced painful rejection. Our hearts break. Our lives crumble. We wonder if we are 'worthless fellows'. Maybe the world tells us we are worthless...maybe not. Either way, there is only one opinion that matters...God's. The Lord knows us. He designed each of us. His plan is magnificent and we each play a role in it. 

Embrace the rejected resurrected Son of God. Experience Life Transformation through faith in him!

Likewise, embrace the Lord's design in you. Be who he has called you to be. Live the way he called you to live.

Taken from reading Judges 11-15

Weak and Strong

Sometimes God chooses the weak to overcome the strong in order to display His strength.

Judges 7:2

The Lord said to Gideon, 'The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'

Gideon is a strange character. He was weak. His family was weak. His people was weak. He was also afraid. The only reason I can see why the Lord chose him is to put the Lord's glory on display, rather than man's. There is no way Gideon would have succeeded in any of his ventures without the direct hand of God on what he was doing. All of the decisions, actions, and strategies recorded are from the Lord. God made an amazing display of power through a weak man.

This is how God works sometimes. When we look at the life of Jesus. He was a humble carpenter from Nazareth (so it appeared). He lived a perfect life, died on a cross, rose from the grave, and saved us from our sins. What an amazing work form such a humble person.

This story gives me hope. I am a simple man from a humble background. Many of us are. When we look at the huge problems in the world it is easy to be overwhelmed by the challenges that exist. Can I make a difference? Why would God use me to impact the world? These are the questions that haunt many of us. 

The answer to these questions is an astounding, 'YES!' God can use you! God uses the seemingly insignificant to impact the world all the time! And when he does it he gets the glory!

Taken from reading Judges 6-10

Then and Now

We are always a generation away from total abandonment of God's ways. The twenty first century is no different than the time of the judges in this regard. 

Judges 2:10

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the world that he had done for Israel.

Joshua and his generation saw all the Lord did. To free the Israelites from Egypt, sustain them in the wilderness, and defeat their enemies. They knew the Lord although they did allow a root of rebellion to creep in. The next generation compromised the Lord's commands therefore did not receive his promises.

I look out at the landscape of our country now and sigh. All I see is division. Not much peace. I see little cooperation among our leaders. How are our children to learn how to work together if all they see are angry mobs clashing against each other? They wont. They will follow the patterns they see. The only way they will change is if they see a different example and are taught a different way. Divisiveness only breeds more of itself.

The people of Israel began the descent away from the Lord during Joshua's generation. By the time their children were grown rebellion had fully taken root. 

The beautiful part of this story is the fact that the Lord did not forget his promise to his servants Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Joshua. Though God's people would suffer oppression God would not release them to oblivion. He would fulfill his promises to his people. He would send his son, Jesus Christ, to save his people from their sin and rebellion.

This is the hope of every culture. This is the answer to every wrong.

Taken from reading Judges 1-5

How to use time

How do I want to spend my life? Life is time. Every moment passes, never to return. Moments never stop. There is no pause. There is no break from this moment to the next and the next. Always forward. Never stop. Never backward. You cannot relive a moment.

We do have an option though. We can use every moment for its best use. We can choose how we use the time. Every choice leads to another and another and another. Better choices lead to better and even better ones.

The Lord has provided us with time. He has given us eternal purposes and ways in which to live. Those of us who know Him can walk in his ways knowing we are using this life for its grandest purpose. May we do this. May we be ever prepared for the time that comes to us all, whether He returns or we pass on.

This is my heart for the moment, the hour, the day, and the year.  

Luke 21:34-36

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon your suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Taken from reading Luke 21-24

Faithful with Little

Faithful with little.

Luke 16:10-11 One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

If we saw reality as it truly is, nothing really belongs to us. God is the sovereign king of all things. He owns all of it. Each of us is allowed to manage a small sliver of creation. Everything I see around my house, my town, my state, my nation, my world actually belongs to God. He watches us deal with each other and handle his creation.

He calls us to handle resources in a way that honors him. He calls us to give and live. He calls us to put others first, to help others in need.

I know there are ways I can handle God's resources better than I do now. There are things I can improve on. That is my desire, to walk in total faithfulness to the Lord. I desire to glorify the Lord in how I steward his provision.

I am so thankful for what the Lord has allowed me to have and to do. I am truly blessed beyond measure. I must take inventory of what I manage and not allow any to be squandered. All of it belongs to God and I will give account one day for how I manage it.

All of us will.

Life is about change

Life is about change. Not just any change though. Life is about changing the whole person. You can tell when a person is acting a part and you can tell when a person truly has been transformed from the inside out.

Luke 15:21-24 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring thee fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to celebrate.

There is something about struggle that elicits real and lasting change. It is like digging out the roots of a weed as opposed to just clipping it off. If you just clip it off it will grow back quickly. If you dig it out from the root it will be gone forever.

The lost son began as an arrogant and entitled brat. He squandered all his inheritance from his father and was left with nothing. He ended up working with pigs, an animal Jews despised as unclean. It was here, in the lowest of points, the young man's heart was changed. He saw in his mind's eye the results of his sin, poverty and suffering. He saw the love of his father to provide for him.

In this moment the root of pride and arrogance were dug up completely. His father did not have to yell at him and shame him. On the contrary, his father allowed him the freedom to take his inheritance and do with it what he wanted.

Upon his return the father showed the son how much he cherished him. The love of a father is as deep as the ocean.

There are moments in life when you will be at the bottom, like working with pigs. Maybe you squandered opportunity or maybe you didn't but the fact remains: this is the time to see your life for what it truly is. This is the time to allow your heart to be transformed by your Heavenly Father. He will rejoice at your return. And you will find home in his loving arms.

What foundation?

On what are you building your foundation?

Luke 6:46-49

Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 'Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broker against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well build. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.

Our lives are a little crazy right now. We are going through a major transition out of a church and trying to find another church. Our friend circles have drastically changed. My time is spent on much different activities now compared to three months ago.  This is the first time since 2003 I am not on staff at a church. 

So many emotions. So many thoughts.

At this point we do not have an anchor in this world, other than our business, tying us down. This situation brings some excitement and some insecurity. It tests us in ways we have not been tested in many years.

But there is one thing I do not doubt: my life is built on the foundation of Christ Jesus. Knowing this brings stability, security, and hope.

The Lord knows what is going on in my life. He has me. He loves me. He cherishes me as his beloved child. For this I am amazed and thankful. I know not matter where we end up and no matter what we do we will serve the Lord. He is our foundation and our rock. May we glorify him with our lives.

Taken from reading Luke 6-10