SCRIPTURE
Luke 7:41-43 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who has the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
OBSERVATION
Jesus knew what Simon, the Pharisee, was thinking about the 'sinful' woman who was fussing over Jesus (Luke 7:36-41). Simon was thinking that if Jesus was a prophet, he'd know what kind of woman she was. Jesus proceeds to explain to Simon, in a parable, how the person who needs to be saved the most, will be the most appreciative.
As I think about different people from different walks of life, who have been saved by Jesus, I can see how this would make sense. A murderer, drug addict, or the like may be more appreciative having been delivered from a pretty terrible life. I don't think that makes lifetime Christians, or those middle of the road sinners like me, any less appreciative of the price Jesus paid or the gift we have received. But, there can be a greater awareness of the lifestyle you've been brought out of or the danger you were once in.
My blog yesterday was about not judging others who look or act differently than us. These are many of the ones God loves and is wanting to save. But, at the end of the day, we are all lost and damned until we receive Jesus' gift.
APPLICATION
I don't want to ever take for granted what Jesus has done for me and my life. Not only the price He paid, but where I might be today were it not for Him. I can only imagine the downward spiral my life may have gone into had I remained on the path I was on.
As I look upon others, I can't become prideful. I was there once or easily could have been without my Jesus.
PRAYER
My prayer today is short. THANK YOU, JESUS! I don't even want to think about where I might be without You.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Do Not Judge
SCRIPTURE
Luke 6:37-38 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "
OBSERVATION
I've read this Scripture many times and reminded myself that judgment belongs to the Lord. I remember that I am not to judge or condemn; that I am to forgive and to give. And yet, no matter how many times I read these words, it's never enough. It's as though I need to be reminded every day.
Most of the time, our judgments are small and yet seem to be always present in the back of our minds. When we see someone or encounter people we know or even strangers, we make snap judgements - about things we know or don't know about them. It's our nature to be wary of people who are not like us. I find myself falling into this trap with certain categories of people - people who dress differently, people who are dirty or smell bad - and these are just the strangers. With the people I know slightly better, I can easily find myself disapproving of lifestyles, beliefs, certain language, bad habits, and so on.
We must constantly remind ourselves that a person's value is determined by God, not by us. Our value must come from God, not others. We have to rely on the Holy Spirit to give us God's eyes and heart in dealing with others so we do not fall into the easy trap of judgment and condemnation.
The Scripture goes on to state that the measure we use in giving will be given back to us. I don't know what 'pressed down, shaken together' means, but I do know what 'running over' means and I like the sound of it. However, we are to give with no thought of compensation but because it is what God desires for us. Our actions and motives are always before Him.
APPLICATION
Jesus' messages were always about loving others - particularly, the unlovable. I want to see all people with the value and love that God sees them. I want to put aside the outside persona of others. I want to see the child inside of everyone that wants only to be loved and valued by their Father. I want to give freely and generously of my time and resources.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to give and love as You do. Please give me wisdom and sensitivity in dealing with others and allow me to see beyond the exterior of individuals.
Luke 6:37-38 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "
OBSERVATION
I've read this Scripture many times and reminded myself that judgment belongs to the Lord. I remember that I am not to judge or condemn; that I am to forgive and to give. And yet, no matter how many times I read these words, it's never enough. It's as though I need to be reminded every day.
Most of the time, our judgments are small and yet seem to be always present in the back of our minds. When we see someone or encounter people we know or even strangers, we make snap judgements - about things we know or don't know about them. It's our nature to be wary of people who are not like us. I find myself falling into this trap with certain categories of people - people who dress differently, people who are dirty or smell bad - and these are just the strangers. With the people I know slightly better, I can easily find myself disapproving of lifestyles, beliefs, certain language, bad habits, and so on.
We must constantly remind ourselves that a person's value is determined by God, not by us. Our value must come from God, not others. We have to rely on the Holy Spirit to give us God's eyes and heart in dealing with others so we do not fall into the easy trap of judgment and condemnation.
The Scripture goes on to state that the measure we use in giving will be given back to us. I don't know what 'pressed down, shaken together' means, but I do know what 'running over' means and I like the sound of it. However, we are to give with no thought of compensation but because it is what God desires for us. Our actions and motives are always before Him.
APPLICATION
Jesus' messages were always about loving others - particularly, the unlovable. I want to see all people with the value and love that God sees them. I want to put aside the outside persona of others. I want to see the child inside of everyone that wants only to be loved and valued by their Father. I want to give freely and generously of my time and resources.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to give and love as You do. Please give me wisdom and sensitivity in dealing with others and allow me to see beyond the exterior of individuals.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Lord, I Am A Sinful (Wo)Man
SCRIPTURE
Luke 5:8-11 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
OBSERVATION
Most people recall this story in Luke 5:1-7 of the miraculous catch of fish. We teach it to even the youngest of our Sunday school kids. It's one of the first miracles that Jesus performs publicly.
But, it's not the miraculous catch of fish that caught my attention during this reading. What I became aware of is Simon Peter's reaction to Jesus. When he hears Jesus teaching the people and then witnesses the miracle in his nets, he falls at Jesus' knees and confesses to Him what a sinful man he is.
It brings to mind the feelings I experience whenever I feel the strong presence of God during worship or prayer. I know that I am really in His presence when I feel the remorse of my sins and the humility of my humanness. It's as though the closer we get to purity and holiness, the more aware we are of our filth. Scripture tells us that our ideas of righteousness are like filthy rags to God. We just have no concept as it relates to His perfect goodness.
And what happens next touches me. While Peter is feeling so inadequate in Jesus' presence, kneeling there at his feet, Jesus tells him, "Don't be afraid . . .". He gives Peter the words he needs to hear to leave it all behind at the spur of the moment without hesitation or regret. He reassures Peter, that despite the sinful man that he is, it's going to be okay -- Jesus is going to use him anyway.
APPLICATION
I think God is delighted with us when we humble ourselves in His presence and admit how horrible we are. His love for us must be similar to the love we feel for our kids when they humble themselves and confess a wrong they've committed. We want to reassure them of our unconditional love and let them know that it's going to be okay. Just as God does for us. Yes, we are filthy and fall short. But, He can and will use us anyway if we will humble ourselves and follow His direction.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for loving me despite how many times I mess up. Forgive me for knowing so little of true righteousness. I humble myself before You, knowing that you can and will still use me. Thank you for demonstrating unconditional love and fatherhood for us all. Thank you for Your Son.
Luke 5:8-11 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
OBSERVATION
Most people recall this story in Luke 5:1-7 of the miraculous catch of fish. We teach it to even the youngest of our Sunday school kids. It's one of the first miracles that Jesus performs publicly.
But, it's not the miraculous catch of fish that caught my attention during this reading. What I became aware of is Simon Peter's reaction to Jesus. When he hears Jesus teaching the people and then witnesses the miracle in his nets, he falls at Jesus' knees and confesses to Him what a sinful man he is.
It brings to mind the feelings I experience whenever I feel the strong presence of God during worship or prayer. I know that I am really in His presence when I feel the remorse of my sins and the humility of my humanness. It's as though the closer we get to purity and holiness, the more aware we are of our filth. Scripture tells us that our ideas of righteousness are like filthy rags to God. We just have no concept as it relates to His perfect goodness.
And what happens next touches me. While Peter is feeling so inadequate in Jesus' presence, kneeling there at his feet, Jesus tells him, "Don't be afraid . . .". He gives Peter the words he needs to hear to leave it all behind at the spur of the moment without hesitation or regret. He reassures Peter, that despite the sinful man that he is, it's going to be okay -- Jesus is going to use him anyway.
APPLICATION
I think God is delighted with us when we humble ourselves in His presence and admit how horrible we are. His love for us must be similar to the love we feel for our kids when they humble themselves and confess a wrong they've committed. We want to reassure them of our unconditional love and let them know that it's going to be okay. Just as God does for us. Yes, we are filthy and fall short. But, He can and will use us anyway if we will humble ourselves and follow His direction.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for loving me despite how many times I mess up. Forgive me for knowing so little of true righteousness. I humble myself before You, knowing that you can and will still use me. Thank you for demonstrating unconditional love and fatherhood for us all. Thank you for Your Son.
Friday, January 2, 2009
I Said No, You Can't Have That!
SCRIPTURE
(Genesis 3:1) "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Indeed, has God said, You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"
OBSERVATION
To distort and control what God had created, satan played upon Eve's desire for what she couldn't have, and spoke through a serpant to her. He wanted Eve to focus her thoughts on the one tree that God had restricted them from so he asked if they had been restricted from them all? The answer of course was,"no, just one." Now he has her thoughts fixed on what she cannot have.
APPLICATION
There is now something in our fallen human nature, placed there by Adam and Eve, that wants to experience that which is not good for us. And we don't want anyone telling us we can't or shouldn't partake of it. Satan still whispers in our ears, "you deserve it, it's not going to hurt you, they just don't want you to have any fun." The root of sin comes down to self-gratification or self-exaltation. There are still experiences in life that if you listen with your spirit you will hear God saying, "I said no, you can't have that!"
PRAYER
My God, give me ears to hear Your restrictions, and keep my eyes focused on You, not on what I think I'm missing out on in life.
(Genesis 3:1) "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Indeed, has God said, You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"
OBSERVATION
To distort and control what God had created, satan played upon Eve's desire for what she couldn't have, and spoke through a serpant to her. He wanted Eve to focus her thoughts on the one tree that God had restricted them from so he asked if they had been restricted from them all? The answer of course was,"no, just one." Now he has her thoughts fixed on what she cannot have.
APPLICATION
There is now something in our fallen human nature, placed there by Adam and Eve, that wants to experience that which is not good for us. And we don't want anyone telling us we can't or shouldn't partake of it. Satan still whispers in our ears, "you deserve it, it's not going to hurt you, they just don't want you to have any fun." The root of sin comes down to self-gratification or self-exaltation. There are still experiences in life that if you listen with your spirit you will hear God saying, "I said no, you can't have that!"
PRAYER
My God, give me ears to hear Your restrictions, and keep my eyes focused on You, not on what I think I'm missing out on in life.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
You're Lookin' Good!
SCRIPTURE
(Genesis 1:26&27) "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
OBSERVATION
Are you aware that you look like God? When you criticize or are unhappy with some aspect of your character or your physical being, you are criticizing the image of God. Were you also aware that part of God's image is to rule. He gave us authority to rule the earth and the things in and on the earth. Are you lookin' good in the way you rule? Or is life and it's current pressures ruling you?
APPLICATION
If you recognize that you are created in God's image with a specific empowerment to rule, what keeps you from reaching your potential? Fear and doubt are two pollutants that distort our self perception and create dissatisfaction in what God has created us for. Perfect love, God's love, casts out fear! Faith overcomes doubt.
PRAYER
God, give me the assurance to act in Your image, and rule over my own fears of what others think. May others see You when they look at me.
(Genesis 1:26&27) "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
OBSERVATION
Are you aware that you look like God? When you criticize or are unhappy with some aspect of your character or your physical being, you are criticizing the image of God. Were you also aware that part of God's image is to rule. He gave us authority to rule the earth and the things in and on the earth. Are you lookin' good in the way you rule? Or is life and it's current pressures ruling you?
APPLICATION
If you recognize that you are created in God's image with a specific empowerment to rule, what keeps you from reaching your potential? Fear and doubt are two pollutants that distort our self perception and create dissatisfaction in what God has created us for. Perfect love, God's love, casts out fear! Faith overcomes doubt.
PRAYER
God, give me the assurance to act in Your image, and rule over my own fears of what others think. May others see You when they look at me.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
What a Day of Rejoicing That Will Be!
SCRIPTURE
(Revelation 19:5&6) "And a voice came from the throne, saying, 'Give praise to our God, all you His bondservants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.' And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the almighty, reigns.'"
OBSERVATION
At the end of the judgements upon fallen mankind, a voice calls for praise of the most high God. After cleansing comes praise. Once justice has been served the way for Christ's return is open. And just like His triumphal entry into Jerusalem before His crucifixion, there will be a triumphal entry this time for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with enough celebrating that it sounds like thunder.
APPLICATION
When we allow Christ to cleanse our lives, praise results. All who become servants of the most high God have reason to rejoice. Those who have made themselves their own god will pay the price for sin and wail for eternity for their hardness of heart. You can wail in agony or you can rejoice in praise. It all depends upon what you do personally with Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, let me be found faithful sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with all who will hear. I want to be a part of that great choir ushering in the triumphal entry at the second coming of Christ.
(Revelation 19:5&6) "And a voice came from the throne, saying, 'Give praise to our God, all you His bondservants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.' And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, 'Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the almighty, reigns.'"
OBSERVATION
At the end of the judgements upon fallen mankind, a voice calls for praise of the most high God. After cleansing comes praise. Once justice has been served the way for Christ's return is open. And just like His triumphal entry into Jerusalem before His crucifixion, there will be a triumphal entry this time for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with enough celebrating that it sounds like thunder.
APPLICATION
When we allow Christ to cleanse our lives, praise results. All who become servants of the most high God have reason to rejoice. Those who have made themselves their own god will pay the price for sin and wail for eternity for their hardness of heart. You can wail in agony or you can rejoice in praise. It all depends upon what you do personally with Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, let me be found faithful sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with all who will hear. I want to be a part of that great choir ushering in the triumphal entry at the second coming of Christ.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Wrath of God, Should I Duck?
SCRIPTURE
(Revelation 15:1) "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished."
OBSERVATION
Do not think that because God is merciful, forgiving, and compassionate, that He is not also angry, just, and a dispenser of wrath. The sins of mankind have not gone unnoticed. The book of Revelations, which literally means disclosure, is about the judgement of God against His fallen creation, disclosed or revealed at the end of time.
APPLICATION
There is a cost for sin that must be paid. We can apply the redemptive work of the cross, paid by Jesus to remove our sins, or we can pay for our sins ourselves. If you chose the later, you better duck! However, that will do you little good. The plagues and the judgements that will be poored out on sinful mankind leave no place to run or hide. The agony and the pain of God's wrath is a price that is tooo heavy to pay for momentary selfish gratification. With the blood of Jesus poored on our sins we can and are made holy, blameless, and perfect. No need to duck.
PRAYER
God, give me Your urgency to share the hope of Jesus with a generation Hell bent on pleasing themselves. Let my words be seasoned with Your love to bring conviction and repentence to lost souls in my realm of influence.
(Revelation 15:1) "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished."
OBSERVATION
Do not think that because God is merciful, forgiving, and compassionate, that He is not also angry, just, and a dispenser of wrath. The sins of mankind have not gone unnoticed. The book of Revelations, which literally means disclosure, is about the judgement of God against His fallen creation, disclosed or revealed at the end of time.
APPLICATION
There is a cost for sin that must be paid. We can apply the redemptive work of the cross, paid by Jesus to remove our sins, or we can pay for our sins ourselves. If you chose the later, you better duck! However, that will do you little good. The plagues and the judgements that will be poored out on sinful mankind leave no place to run or hide. The agony and the pain of God's wrath is a price that is tooo heavy to pay for momentary selfish gratification. With the blood of Jesus poored on our sins we can and are made holy, blameless, and perfect. No need to duck.
PRAYER
God, give me Your urgency to share the hope of Jesus with a generation Hell bent on pleasing themselves. Let my words be seasoned with Your love to bring conviction and repentence to lost souls in my realm of influence.
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