The Great Escape

Acts 11-12

One of my favorite movies growing up was The Great Escape where Steve McQueen "escapes" from a German prison camp many times but is recaptured each time. Likewise I have always liked Peter's escape from jail when the angel leads him out of locked chains and doors to freedom. The irony of poor Rhoda answering the door at prayer meeting being held at Mary's house is so excited that she slams the door of Peter to run in to tell everyone that Peter is at the door.

We too have been set free... maybe not from a jail with armed guards, but from a prison with chains just as surely. Sin holds us in bondage as long as we will let it, but Jesus will set us free. He paid the ransom and we are free to leave... free to live, but here's the kicker, we have to decide to accept the freedom that he bought us.

Guards and Locks

Psalms 125-127

Unless the Lord protects the city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.

I've always found peoples fascination with lock and alarm systems somewhat humorous. I used to drive a Toyota 4Runner with a canvas top, I decided early on not to lock my doors since a small pen knife could "unlock" the soft top at a much higher cost than any contents that would be stolen. So often, locks, and alarm systems and similar protection devices only protect contents from people who don't want them very bad. Any thief willing to break glass and move quickly can defeat most systems if the Lord isn't on duty too. But when you add the protection provided by the the one who moves mountains, spits out stars, and creates planets, now you've got a real guard who is able to protect.

Hard Work?

Ecclesiastes 1-2

When Solomon claims that he tried to find meaning in building a large home and planting beautiful vineyards, and building gardens and parks, and built reservoirs to collect water... but didn't find meaning, it occurred to me that I doubt he built any of it. While I have had pleasure and indeed a measure of worth in building things, I can't see how the same feelings would be engendered if you had your slaves build everything for you. I agree that all the material pleasures of this world cannot give meaning, but I think that is especially true when the cost is small. That which comes too easy, will never have much worth, and certainly not meaning. Perhaps true meaning really requires something that transcends life... something outside of life to provide meaning to life. In other words, meaning is endowed by something greater to something lesser, thus for human life to have meaning, it has to be bestowed upon humans by something greater... like a Creator.

Demonic Evil

James 1-3

How do you define demonic evil? What class of actions fall into the category of demonic evil? If you are like most people a class of actions comes to mind that are reminiscent of witches and the occult, or gruesome violence, but the Bible has a different depiction of demonic evil... jealousy and selfish ambition are identified by James as examples of demonic evil. That we don't have a similar definition probably says more about us... like wanting to excuse our sin as minor, than it does to refute James. A righteous understanding of God's commands to us will bring us to a similar understanding.

Poison Blowfish Sushi

2 Chronicles 25-28

There is a certain type of sushi called Fugu that is made from poison blowfish. If prepared correctly it is a culinary delight, but if prepared incorrectly it paralyzes the diner and death results within hours. Reading through the slate of Judah's kings in 2 Chronicles reminds me of poison blowfish. It seems that some of the kings were prepared incorrectly and lead to the paralysis and death of Israel, while their fathers or sons were wonderful kings who pleased the Lord. What ingredient in the makeup of man is it that can go so wrong... it all goes back to the garden when sin and evil entered into the DNA of man. We need a savior who can cleanse us from the poison; praise God we have one.

I Wonder...

Deuteronomy 4-6

I wonder if anything would have been different if Moses had handled the situation at Meribah differently. When Moses struck the rock at Meribah with his staff instead of just speaking the word as God had directed him, God pronounced that Moses would not be allowed to cross over into the Promised Land. That Moses wasn't satisfied with God's pronouncement showed when Moses begged God to change his mind, but God told him "Enough!". Now Moses isn't saying anything more to God about it, but he's not finished talking about it. He keeps telling the Israelites that it was their fault that he doesn't get to cross over... that God became angry because of them. But that wasn't the case. I wonder what would have happened if Moses had taken complete responsibility from the start. We don't know... and can't know, but God seldom rewards those who fail to repent.

Just Rewards

Acts 9-10

During our lesson at church this evening, we discussed an Andy Stanley video about personal spiritual  disciplines using the text from Matthew 6:1-6...

Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. [...]  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. [...] But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

 One of the focuses, was on the reward part. Not that we do these things so that we receive a reward, but rather that when we do these things God does reward us. Today's reading from Acts shows the practical outworking of Jesus' words. There was a Roman Centurion named Cornelius who feared God, gave to the needy and prayed. An angel of the Lord appeared to Cornelius with this message... “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!”

Even though we may not know how or why God works in a particular manner, we can place our full faith and trust in him... and that is just rewards.