Matthew 11-13
Jesus invites us... "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Why then are so many followers of Christ languishing under a burden of cares no man can carry? Could it be that although they come to Jesus, they just can't seem to trust him to properly carry their burdens, so they fail to let loose of their burdens.
Reminds me of the old story of a man walking down a country road with a heavy load upon his back. A local farmer in a horse drawn wagon comes upon him and offers a ride. The man accepts the ride, but keeps the load upon his back, whereon the farmer advises that he set his load down in the wagon. The man replies that he is quite thankful for the ride, but couldn't impose upon the farmer to carry the load too.
He is able and competent to carry our load... if we will let him, and then he will give us rest.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
In Due Time
Psalm 12-14
Three different psalms... three different beginnings... one God.
Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! -- When the oppressed cry out, one God is there to hear their cries and preserve them from this wicked generation. Whether it is the orphans in Haiti who cannot get relief because of the machinations of a global "compassion" organization or the elderly widow who is cheated by her children, God sees that they are "speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts." He is not fooled. God knows... just as surely as the sun rises in the east that the wicked are deceitful and he will judge... in due time.
O Lord, how long will you forget me? -- When the lonely, the down-hearted, the one in the midst of the darkness of the soul cries out to God that he would "restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die," God hears... he hears through the loving compassionate ears of a mother to her child, wanting only to bring them to her in loving embrace... in due time.
Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” -- The earth is populated by fools. As nations gain worldly knowledge, wealth and success... they seem to get a free dose of foolishness to go with it and in their greed cannot turn away from anything free. How long will the foolish shake their fist at the creator and proclaim their greatness? How long will they turn away from God in disobedience? Don't they know that "God is with those who obey him... [that] the Lord will protect his people." God saves... he longs to give all good gifts, he desires that none should perish... in due time.
Three different psalms... three different beginnings... one God.
Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! -- When the oppressed cry out, one God is there to hear their cries and preserve them from this wicked generation. Whether it is the orphans in Haiti who cannot get relief because of the machinations of a global "compassion" organization or the elderly widow who is cheated by her children, God sees that they are "speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts." He is not fooled. God knows... just as surely as the sun rises in the east that the wicked are deceitful and he will judge... in due time.
O Lord, how long will you forget me? -- When the lonely, the down-hearted, the one in the midst of the darkness of the soul cries out to God that he would "restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die," God hears... he hears through the loving compassionate ears of a mother to her child, wanting only to bring them to her in loving embrace... in due time.
Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” -- The earth is populated by fools. As nations gain worldly knowledge, wealth and success... they seem to get a free dose of foolishness to go with it and in their greed cannot turn away from anything free. How long will the foolish shake their fist at the creator and proclaim their greatness? How long will they turn away from God in disobedience? Don't they know that "God is with those who obey him... [that] the Lord will protect his people." God saves... he longs to give all good gifts, he desires that none should perish... in due time.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Woe to the Hard-Hearted
Isaiah 23-28
Was reading John MacArthur's A Tale of Two Sons on the plane yesterday. He writes about how the parables were designed to both enlighten the true followers understanding of the kingdom, and to mercifully withhold understanding from those who look, but don’t really see and hear, but don’t really listen or understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them. Jesus' words... but quoting from Isaiah 6.
Isaiah's heart burns for his people to turn back to God and laments that they will not. Here he says "For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor." How sad... how incredibly sad that some -- both younger brothers and elder brothers, are too stubborn to be saved. Reminds me of a lesson that our instructor taught us in Lifesaving class... if you go to rescue a drowning person and they fight you, then back off a little until they have almost drowned, so that you can save them without endangering your own life. Lord, please give me a soft heart, pliable to your desires.
Was reading John MacArthur's A Tale of Two Sons on the plane yesterday. He writes about how the parables were designed to both enlighten the true followers understanding of the kingdom, and to mercifully withhold understanding from those who look, but don’t really see and hear, but don’t really listen or understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them. Jesus' words... but quoting from Isaiah 6.
Isaiah's heart burns for his people to turn back to God and laments that they will not. Here he says "For this is a people without understanding; so their Maker has no compassion on them, and their Creator shows them no favor." How sad... how incredibly sad that some -- both younger brothers and elder brothers, are too stubborn to be saved. Reminds me of a lesson that our instructor taught us in Lifesaving class... if you go to rescue a drowning person and they fight you, then back off a little until they have almost drowned, so that you can save them without endangering your own life. Lord, please give me a soft heart, pliable to your desires.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
What Am I?
Job 7-8
In his agony Job asks "What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention?" In Hebrews that same question comes out as "What is man that you are mindful of him?" I am his creation, fashioned in his image and for whom his son poured out his blood. I am his bridemaid... the one whom he loves. It is so great to be alive and to be loved by the Creator... in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow... because my Redeemer lives. Who or what am I... whatever he desires me to be!
In his agony Job asks "What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention?" In Hebrews that same question comes out as "What is man that you are mindful of him?" I am his creation, fashioned in his image and for whom his son poured out his blood. I am his bridemaid... the one whom he loves. It is so great to be alive and to be loved by the Creator... in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow... because my Redeemer lives. Who or what am I... whatever he desires me to be!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Amor Vincit Omnia
Romans 7-8
Where do you start in a critique of Rembrandt? How do you advise Shakespeare on the composition of a sonnet? How do you expound upon or otherwise provide insight into Romans 8? ... Love Conquers All.
Where do you start in a critique of Rembrandt? How do you advise Shakespeare on the composition of a sonnet? How do you expound upon or otherwise provide insight into Romans 8? ... Love Conquers All.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
On a Path...
Joshua 16-20
Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh were given allotments of land that included the dwelling place of the Canaanites, but they failed to drive the Canaanites from the land. They complained to Joshua that they were very large tribes and needed more room. Joshua's response... cut down the trees in the hill country and expand there. Not to be outflanked so easily, they whined on about how the Canaanites had iron chariots. But the Lord had picked Joshua as leader for a reason... since you are so large and strong, he told them, you can drive them out. Though they never completely drove out the Canaanites, they did subdue them and made them slaves (as Noah had foretold centuries earlier). Rather than trust in the Lord in everything as their ancestor had, the descendants of Joseph wanted to take the easy road, and it led them to destruction.
Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh were given allotments of land that included the dwelling place of the Canaanites, but they failed to drive the Canaanites from the land. They complained to Joshua that they were very large tribes and needed more room. Joshua's response... cut down the trees in the hill country and expand there. Not to be outflanked so easily, they whined on about how the Canaanites had iron chariots. But the Lord had picked Joshua as leader for a reason... since you are so large and strong, he told them, you can drive them out. Though they never completely drove out the Canaanites, they did subdue them and made them slaves (as Noah had foretold centuries earlier). Rather than trust in the Lord in everything as their ancestor had, the descendants of Joseph wanted to take the easy road, and it led them to destruction.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Here's Where We Part
Genesis 12-15
The differences between Abram and Lot couldn't have been greater when things really counted. While both were blessed by the Lord with abundance, Abram thought of others first... Lot thought of himself; Abram chose righteousness... Lot sidled up with sin. Though related by birth, their lives took different paths. Abram seemed to be constantly picking up the pieces from his nephew Lot's life... recuing him from Kedorlaomer and later asking God to spare his life in Sodom and Gomorrah. When they first returned from Egypt after the famine, their herdsmen began to squabble, and it was Abram that chose the high road and parted company with Lot. Small wonder than God chose to bring his blessings to the descendants of Abram rather than Lot.
Though we wish to save our brother, there comes a point when we must part company or be pulled into the unrighteousness of or brethren. Such a tough call to divine the line where we begin to fall out of grace; rather than bringing our brother before the throne of grace. Even though Jesus ministered to the sinners, he never accepted or excused their sin. His clarion call (to all who would listen) was to repentance. How do we best follow suit... to forever reject even the slightest sin, without rejecting the person behind the sin? How best to encourage all to seek and follow the Savior, when we have a hard time surrendering our all to Him? ...by grace alone.
The differences between Abram and Lot couldn't have been greater when things really counted. While both were blessed by the Lord with abundance, Abram thought of others first... Lot thought of himself; Abram chose righteousness... Lot sidled up with sin. Though related by birth, their lives took different paths. Abram seemed to be constantly picking up the pieces from his nephew Lot's life... recuing him from Kedorlaomer and later asking God to spare his life in Sodom and Gomorrah. When they first returned from Egypt after the famine, their herdsmen began to squabble, and it was Abram that chose the high road and parted company with Lot. Small wonder than God chose to bring his blessings to the descendants of Abram rather than Lot.
Though we wish to save our brother, there comes a point when we must part company or be pulled into the unrighteousness of or brethren. Such a tough call to divine the line where we begin to fall out of grace; rather than bringing our brother before the throne of grace. Even though Jesus ministered to the sinners, he never accepted or excused their sin. His clarion call (to all who would listen) was to repentance. How do we best follow suit... to forever reject even the slightest sin, without rejecting the person behind the sin? How best to encourage all to seek and follow the Savior, when we have a hard time surrendering our all to Him? ...by grace alone.
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