What Great Things Jesus Has Done

Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him.  But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you."  And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

 --Luke 8:38-39  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 31, 2013 of Psalm 126; Luke 8:22-39; 2 Chronicles 29-30:12.

Leaving Capernaum for a short time, Jesus wanted to cross over the Sea of Galilee.  While under sail, Jesus was napping when a fierce storm sprang up, with waves driven by the winds funneled down to the lake by the valleys leading to it, threatening to overwhelm the boat and all within it.  The disciples awoke Jesus in a near panic, fearing for their lives.  First Jesus rebuked the storm, and the wind and the seas calmed.  Then He rebuked the men, for having so little faith.  (Jesus never rebuked anyone for having too much faith!)

Once safe on the side of the sea opposite Galilee, they landed in the region of Gadara where they were immediately met by a wild man - demon-possessed, naked, and so crazed that not even chains could hold him.  When he saw Jesus he shouted, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" (Verse 28.)  The demon possessing this man, speaking through him, knew exactly who Jesus was, just as the devil acknowledged Jesus as the Christ when he tempted Him for forty days in the wilderness (please see "Lead Us Not Into Temptation").  Satan and his minions recognized Jesus as the Son of God even though man did not.  At least, not yet in our story at any rate.  Jesus asked the demon its name and was told "Legion", for there were many.  (A Roman Legion was comprised of from 3000 to 6000 soldiers, so this poor man was indeed possessed by many demons!)  Jesus ordered the demons out of the man, but at their request sent them into a herd of swine feeding nearby rather than to the great abyss where they belonged (and eventually end up).  Upon being possessed themselves, the swine raced down the hill and threw themselves into the sea and drowned.  The man, now clothed and calm, the raging sea within him stilled as the Sea of Galilee had been shortly before, really wanted to stay with Jesus, to follow Him.  But Jesus had other plans for him, instead sending him home to tell everyone all of what had just happened, and all the great things God had done for him.

Sometimes when we realize how much God has done in our lives and the amazing sacrifice Jesus made for us, we want to just stay with Jesus, to not leave His side.  We feel comfortable and comforted there, secure within His arms, knowing we can reach out to Him to calm the storms raging in our lives.  This may translate into our spending more and more time in prayer and in our Bibles, or more time at church and with other believers.  And this is all good.  We should want to do so.  But Jesus also wants us to get out of that comfort zone a little and share our own personal salvation story to others who might not yet believe.  He wants us to go to our "house", into our community, and tell everyone of all the great things He has done for us.  So go now, and spread the Gospel, the Good News, throughout the world, and tell of all the great things Jesus has done.  Amen.

Jesus, our Savior, please forgive us when our faith wanes and we cry out for You to calm the storms raging in our lives.  Thank You for ridding us of the demons that threatened to overtake us, and for keeping them away.  Strengthen us and embolden us, O Lord, to go out into the world and tell others of all the truly great and marvelous things You have done for us.  In Your wonderful name, dearest Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Like a Mountain

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.

 --Psalm 125:1-2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 30, 2013 of Psalm 125; Luke 8:1-21; 2 Chronicles 26-28.

The 125th Psalm presents us with a song of trust, and specifically the merits of trusting in the Lord.  In it the psalmist equates the stability God provides believers with the immovable Mount Zion and their security with that of Jerusalem itself, both holy and dear to God.  He goes on to encourage the people by reminding them that domination by foreign powers is and has always been temporary, and that God would not put more on them than they could endure.  He then asks the Lord to bless those who remain righteous and upright, and closes with the warning that the wicked will be judged harshly.  And as a benediction he wishes peace over all Israel.

Our psalmist frames his song with beautiful imagery, painting a picture in our mind of believers standing tall and strong, protected by the Lord of all creation.  All we need do is trust in the Lord and He will surround us just like the mountains surrounded Jerusalem, offering an impenetrable shield.  When we are true in our belief, our faith will be able to withstand any assault from the great tempter, Satan.  We can stand firm in our faith, nothing can move us, just like the very mountain of God.  Our Lord encompasses us with His love, which abides forever.

The psalmist probably didn't know it, but he was describing our relationship with Jesus.  Once we have accepted and received Him as our Lord and Master, He will strengthen us to face any circumstance we may find ourselves in.  Like a mighty mountain, no temptation or lure will move us away from God because Jesus is the very rock that forms our foundation, the basis of our entire being.  When the storms of life rage, we will hold our ground.  When the world batters us, we will not be moved but will abide forever, steadfastly and securely rooted in our Lord's love.  God's protective hands surround us, Jesus' love engulfs us, and the Holy Spirit fills us to overflowing.  We are His, from this time forth, and forever.  Amen.

O Lord Jesus, our faith in You gives us a power others may only dream of.  Through Your strength, we can stand as firm and secure in life and in our belief, safe from the constant attacks of the world and of Satan.  Your love surrounds us with a protective barrier that no force can break down.  Because of You, we can live forever in God's house.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for blessing us.  In Your glorious name, dear Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Cheerfully Giving

Then all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, brought their contributions, and put them into the chest until all had given.

 --2 Chronicles 24:10  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 29, 2013 of Psalm 124; Luke 7:30-50; 2 Chronicles 24-25.

Joash, who was anointed king over Judah at the tender age of seven years old, did what was right in the sight of the Lord for all the remaining days that the priest Jehoiada lived.  (His record after Jehoiada's passing was less than stellar, but that is for another study.)  At one point, it came upon his heart to repair God's Temple, which had been ransacked and damaged during the reign of his father Ahaziah.  Joash ordered the priests and the Levites to quickly go out through all the cities of Judah and gather money from the children of Israel for the repair and maintenance of God's house.  When they failed to act quickly as the king commanded, he complained to Jehoiada, reminding him that the law of Moses required that the tabernacle be properly cared for.  At the command of the king and his chief priest, a chest was constructed and placed outside at the gate leading into the Temple.  Then Joash and Jehoiada together issued a proclamation throughout Jerusalem and all of Judah that the people bring their contributions and deposit them into the chest, the collection imposed upon the people by Moses at God's command while they sojourned in the wilderness.  And then what to many of us today might be an amazing thing happened.  All the people, including their leaders, not only contributed to this effort, but they rejoiced at the opportunity to do so!

The Apostle Paul tells us in his second letter to the church in Corinth that God loves a cheerful giver (please see 2 Corinthians 9:7), and this is clearly evident in what comes next in our account of Joash's reign.  The collection chest filled quickly from the donations of all the people and had to be emptied daily.  The people may have felt somewhat compelled to give because of the king's proclamation, but they nonetheless gave freely and abundantly and even with joy because of their love of God.  And God responded by providing far more than was needed for the repairs.

God may have ordered that we give for the maintenance of Christ's church, and Jesus may have ordered that we feed His sheep, but we should willingly do so not because we are commanded to, but rather because we want to!  Our love of Jesus should flow over and allow us to love and care for our fellow man.  Out of this love we should give willingly, cheerfully, generously.  Let us rejoice as we make our offering, for God loves a cheerful giver.  Amen.

Dearest Jesus, You command us to feed Your lambs, to tend Your sheep.  Yet sometimes we give meagerly, if at all, because we feel we have to, or it is expected of us, or others will think us cheap if we don't.  But Lord, You want us to be cheerful givers, to want to give because of our love for You and our brothers and sisters in Your name.  Lord, please help us remember all that You and our Father give us and to rejoice when we give our offering back to the service of Your kingdom.  In Your most holy and precious name, Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Ultimate Authority

Then Jesus went with them.  And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.  Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.  But say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me."

 --Luke 7:6-8a  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 28, 2013 of Psalm 123; Luke 7:1-29; 2 Chronicles 21-23.

Luke tells us of a centurion whose name we never learn, but one thing we do know about this man is that he was not the typical Roman officer.  Pax Romana, the Peace of Rome, was established and maintained with an iron fist.  Its army was fierce, powerful, and feared.  Its troops, while well disciplined, could be cruel, their officers humorless and with little or no compassion.  Many of the soldiers of the famed Roman Legion were pressed into duty from the ranks of the defeated people in Rome's relentless conquest of foreign lands.  Perhaps our centurion was one of these, for he certainly does not fit the image of the usual leader of a hundred Roman soldiers.  According to Luke, this man showed great compassion, to his servant and to the Jewish people under his charge.  Luke accompanied Paul on many of his journeys and spent time with him while Paul served under house arrest in Rome, chained to Roman guards day and night.  So Luke would have closely observed many soldiers and their leaders over the years.  He tells us that this centurion treated the Jews kindly, even building a synagogue for them.  They, in turn, apparently respected him, for their elders were the ones who approached Jesus on his behalf, saying he was deserving of Jesus' help.  For the centurion asked for nothing but the healing of his servant, who meant a lot to him and who was very ill and near death.

The centurion must have sensed exactly who Jesus was, because even though he was a powerful figure in Capernaum and was held in high esteem by the Jews under his control, he felt himself unworthy to talk to Jesus in person, to approach Him, or for Jesus to even enter his house.  But he knew that all Jesus had to do was say the word and his servant would be healed.  And here's the kicker.  Being a commanding officer, he still served under others and his authority came to him from and through those above him in rank.  This atypical Roman centurion recognized that Jesus acted and served with authority, and he knew just where that authority originated - from God above.

Jesus acknowledged the faith this Gentile centurion held in God and His ultimate authority and how he saw this authority being passed to and exercised by Jesus, and so granted the centurion's request and healed his servant.  If we have the same faith as this centurion who had not been told the full story of Christ as we have the blessing of knowing, then Jesus will answer our prayer just as He restored the health of that dying servant so long ago.  God, in His compassion for us, gave Jesus the ultimate authority over all creation, to serve us, and to save us.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, You saw the great faith this humble centurion showed when he recognized Your authority.  His authority was over a few men and came from another man, from Caesar.  Your authority is over all creation and comes from God.  As the centurion tried to serve the people under his charge, You came not as a conqueror but as a servant, not to condemn the world but to save it.  And all we have to do in return is just what that centurion did - to believe in You.  In Your holy and beautiful name O Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Glad to Go to Church

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."

 --Psalm 122:1  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 27, 2013 of Psalm 122; Luke 6:20-49; 2 Chronicles 18:28-20.

Psalms 120 through 134 are all titled "A Song of Ascents" and together form a hymnal that was used by the children of Israel on pilgrimage to Jerusalem (for "going up to Jerusalem", hence "ascents") for the holy annual feasts like Passover and Pentecost.  Psalm 122 is one of four written by David, in which he recounts his own experience as a pilgrim to Jerusalem, the city he praises in his song as both the spiritual and civic heart of the nation.  In its verses he calls to the people to be in prayer that Jerusalem, and by extension all of Israel, be at peace.

David begins his song by expressing the joy he felt when told it was time to go on his pilgrimage.  We can sense his absolute delight at the opportunity to go up to the tabernacle in Jerusalem, to the house of the Lord.  We can feel his anticipation, his growing excitement, as he prepares for the short trip.  As I read his first verse, I envision a child going to bed on Christmas eve, unable to sleep because of thoughts of what wonders would be revealed under the tree come morning.  Was this the source of David's gladness, knowing the wonders that awaited him in the house of the Lord?

Wouldn't it be totally amazing and truly marvelous if everyone who calls themselves Christian would be so excited about going to church each Sunday morning (or some other time during the week if need be)?  We should be, since the wonders of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will meet us there if we gather in Jesus' name.  And the fellowship and support we can find there with other like-minded individuals is unparalleled in any other area of our life.  We should climb into bed on Saturday nights thinking, "I can't wait to go to church in the morning!"  The excitement should build and then burst upon us as we walk through the doors of the house of the Lord, the building that shelters God's people, our family in Christ.  But too many of us seem like we can't be bothered to spend an hour or two within those walls even just once a week.  We may have good reasons, most likely we don't.  God gives us so much, and asks so little in return.  The very least we can do is to spend a little time with His family every week and worship Him.  Please don't begrudge Jesus those few hours.  Amen.

Father in heaven, we should be glad to come into Your house with our brothers and sisters in Christ and worship You.  Our delight should be so great as to be infectious, spreading to all with whom we come into contact.  We should be excited and look forward to each weekly visit with great joy.  Yet we too often feel it more of a duty, something we must do if we wish to be considered Christian.  Our misguided importance on church attendance trumps the true meaning of coming together to love and support each other as we thank and worship You for all Your many blessings.  Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not keeping You in our hearts as we should.  Help us delight in Your presence.  In the name of  Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we pray.   Amen.

Serving God

So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.  And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

 --2 Chronicles 17:9-10  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 26, 2013 of Psalm 121; Luke 6:1-19; 2 Chronicles 16-18:27.

Asa had been a good king of Judah who followed God's commandments and rid his kingdom of most of the high places (for idol worship), but when threatened by Baasha, King of Israel, he turned to Syria for aid rather than to the Lord as he had done earlier when attacked.  This displeased God who constantly seeks ways to show Himself strong for His people against those who would oppose them.  Asa suffered some serious disease that originated in his feet and died.  His son Jehoshaphat then took over and reigned over Judah in Asa's place.  And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he obeyed God's laws and walked in the ways of his ancestor David.  Like his father in Asa's earlier years, Jehoshaphat did not permit or condone idolatry as did Israel, but instead destroyed any remaining false gods and their places of worship in Judah and permitted all those who wished to serve the Lord to dwell in his kingdom without fear.

God looked with favor upon Jehoshaphat and firmly established the kingdom of Judah under him, showering him with riches and honor.  And in turn Jehoshaphat heeded God's voice and delighted in His word, so much so that he sent some of his leaders and some chief Levites throughout the cities of Judah to teach the law of God to all the people.  And as they taught, God's word was spread and shared in all the region, causing the fear of the Lord to fall even upon neighboring kingdoms so that they were afraid to make war with Judah lest they upset God Himself.  Instead, some of the people's enemies of old brought gifts of silver and flocks of sheep and rams as tribute to Jehoshaphat, further increasing his wealth and power.

Here we see almost a reciprocal arrangement between God and Jehoshaphat, and certainly a pattern of behavior we should consider copying.  Jehoshaphat loved the Lord and obeyed His commandments.  In return, God favored Jehoshaphat and raised his level of influence in the kingdom.  This made Jehoshaphat want to serve God even more, so he had the law of the Lord taught over all of Judah, in every city and village, and not just by any teachers but by the leaders among his most trusted advisers and ministers and Levites.  And for this God assured peace for Judah with her neighboring kingdoms.  When we obey God's voice and follow His Word, His Son, He will give abundantly to us in return.  If not in this life, then in the next we will be rewarded for serving our Lord.  Amen.

Generous Father, we know we should serve You unconditionally, without any thought of personal reward.  But Lord it is wonderful to find assurance in Your holy word that You will indeed gift us with treasures beyond our wildest imaginings.  In this life You provide for our needs and strengthen us in our struggles.  You give us happiness and peace.  In the next our treasure already awaits us.  Thank You, Father, for Your many blessings.  In the name of Your Son Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Calling All Sinners

"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

 --Luke 5:32  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 25, 2013 of Psalm 120; Luke 5:17-39; 2 Chronicles 13-15.

In chapter five of his Gospel account, Luke provides a wealth of information about the character and capabilities of Jesus as He begins His ministry.  Luke opens by telling us about Jesus meeting and recruiting Peter, John, and James (and Peter's brother Andrew, although he is not named here by Luke), all by His act of telling them where to cast their nets and their hauling in a catch so huge it threatened to capsize their boats.  Next we meet a leper who knows Jesus can cure him completely if He is only willing to do so.  Jesus is indeed willing and the man is cleansed.  Because of His healing miracles, the crowds gathered around Jesus, followed Him, pressed in on Him, to the point where He often "withdrew into the wilderness and prayed" (verse 16).  Then we are shown how four friends carried a paralytic to be healed, but unable to get near enough to Jesus because of the throng around Him, they cut a hole in the roof of the house Jesus was in and lowered their friend down in front of Him, bed and all.  Because of their faith, Luke tells us, Jesus healed the man by first attending to his greater need and forgiving his sins.

When they left that place, Jesus and His disciples came upon Matthew (who Luke calls Levi), a tax collector working at his toll booth.  Jesus said simply, "Follow Me", and amazingly Matthew laid aside his books and collections and did just that.  Apparently Matthew was overjoyed, somehow sensing the salvation Jesus offered, so he threw a big feast for the Lord, inviting all his tax collector friends and others looked down upon by "polite society" and the religious leadership.  And of course the Pharisees and scribes complained, asking why He would dine with tax collectors and sinners.  Jesus let them, and us, know in no uncertain terms exactly why He came to earth: not to call those who are already righteous and don't need Him, but to call out to sinners, that they might repent and come to know Him.

Jesus points out that only the ill and sick truly need the services of a doctor.  Likewise only those lost in sin need the services of a Savior.  But we are all sinners, we are all born into sin, we all need Jesus.  Our Lord came to mankind when the whole world was dead in sin.  He came to seek out the lost and return them to the right path.  He came to save all who would believe.  He came to sacrifice Himself so that His blood might wash us clean.  He came to forgive us if we but admit to our sin, give up our sin, repent of our sin, and follow Him.  Just as Jesus came to call and save sinners, so should we.  We should step confidently outside the walls of our church into the world and approach others as Jesus did, offering to help lead them if they would just accept Jesus' offer and follow Him.  Amen.

Precious Lord Jesus, thank You so much for coming into this world and walking among sinners, calling out to us to repent and follow You.  Thank You for forgiving us and standing at out side before God our Father when we heed Your call.  Please give us the strength of will to encourage others to follow You.  In Your beautiful name O Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Let My Soul Live

Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me.

 --Psalm 119:175  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 24, 2013 of Psalm 119:169-176; Luke 5:1-16; 2 Chronicles 10-12.

Today's focus verse comes from the last stanza of the 119th Psalm, according to the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Tau.  Throughout this lengthy wisdom psalm, the Lord has been praised for the giving of His law, which our author steadfastly seeks to comprehend and obey.  The song reveals that everything man needs to know is contained within God's law, if we would only strive to search it out and understand it.  The Lord blesses those who heed His Word so we, like the psalmist, should want to be more obedient.  And through our earlier studies we know that God's Word is His Son, Jesus the Christ.  This knowledge should further strengthen and encourage our desire to follow Him, and by doing so to obey the voice of God our Father.

In this last stanza the psalmist almost summarizes his work while wrapping it up in a neat package.  Here he shows us how the Word of God impacts us in ways we can easily relate to.  He tells us the Word affects our mind ("give me understanding" in verse 169), our mouth ("my lips shall utter" in verse 171 and "my tongue shall speak" in verse 172), our will, and specifically our free will ("I have chosen" in verse 173), our emotions ("Your law is my delight" in verse 174), and even our conscience ("I have gone astray" in verse 176).  If we were to substitute the word "Son" for the word "law" in verse 174, I believe we would see a defining statement for all those who strive to follow Jesus: "And Your Son is my delight".  For in a very true sense Jesus came to us as the human embodiment of God's law, of God's Word.  Jesus taught us that while obeying God's commandments is important, doing so will not redeem us.  Only through our faith and belief in Jesus will we be saved, and it is for that belief that we desire to obey God's voice.

Because through Christ we live, we want to praise God.  Jesus working in us and through us begins a new creation within us, to be completed on that day when He comes to us again.  We want to keep this new person going and growing, to get closer and nearer to Christ and to God.  And one way to do so, as the psalmist so wisely observes, is to use God's judgments as a guide.  We can read in our Bible of the Lord's past judgments over His people and of His judgments to come when Jesus returns and treat them as warnings as to what could happen to us.  And we can also take to heart any judgments God has already pronounced in our own life.  God does not just capriciously cause hardship and pain for no reason, and especially not for His own entertainment.  He does so for our good, so that we might learn and improve ourselves.  So that we might live forever with Him in Paradise.  Let God's judgments help us.  Amen.

Gracious Father, thank You for all You have done for us in our lives.  Thank You for Your commandments and for Your Word, for Jesus who offers redemption and salvation.  Because He grants our souls life, we will praise You.  Please help us with Your judgments so that we might grow nearer to You.  In the name of Your beautiful Son and our Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Wisdom and Wealth

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions, having a very great retinue, camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.

 --2 Chronicles 9:1  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 23, 2013 of Psalm 119:161-168; Luke 4:14-44; 2 Chronicles 8-9.

We do not know her name, but we know her legend.  Sheba was a region of southern Arabia, near the base of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the land of the Sabeans where our anonymous queen reigned.  Solomon's presence was felt even to the Gulf of Aqaba, for his fleet plied the entire length of the Red Sea bringing back wealth to Jerusalem.  The rulers of the region may have feared that Solomon's reach threatened the caravan routes that brought great riches into southern Arabia, and that may have prompted the queen's visit.  But for whatever reason, she traveled about 1200 miles on camel-back to meet this man Solomon and to see for herself if everything she had heard of him was true.  She not only bore great wealth in her caravan to present to the king, including around four and a half tons of gold (120 talents; please see 1 Kings 10:10), she also prepared and brought along a series of difficult questions, most likely clever riddles, with which to test the reputed wisdom of this king.

Solomon prepared a feast for the queen, in her honor.  As the two came together and talked, the queen posed her questions to the king.  He was able to answer each without hesitation or a hint of difficulty.  She asked nothing he could not explain.  And when she heard his answers, saw his house and the Temple of God, ate at his table and witnessed the demeanor and the attire of all those who served and ministered to him, the queen realized that all she had heard of Solomon, of his wisdom and his wealth, had not been exaggerated but instead had only scratched the surface.  Both his wisdom and his wealth exceeded what she had been led to expect.

This tale presents two interesting points to consider.  The first is that sometimes, like the queen of Sheba, we need to go to whatever lengths are necessary to check things out for ourselves rather than take someone else's word for it.  The same can be said for our relationship with Jesus.  We need to establish it and grow it ourselves, learning as much about Him as we can from what He tells us in our Bible, rather than listen to the world that would prefer we not believe in Him.  The second point is that all the wealth Solomon amassed did him little good in the end.  He died like the rest of us will, taking nothing with him.  Even the great wisdom God gave him he used poorly, for he was not wise enough to follow God's commandments throughout his days.  Our wealth is laid up for us in heaven if we are wise enough to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, You gave Solomon more wisdom and wealth than any other king throughout all history, yet in the end it did not really help him.  You bestow upon us so many blessings each and every day, that if we consider all You give we should feel just like Solomon.  Please forgive us when we take Your blessings for granted.  Thank You for our treasure that awaits us when we come home to You.  In the name of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ we pray.   Amen.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.  And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

 --Luke 4:1-2  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 22, 2013 of Psalm 119:153-160; Luke 4:1-13; 2 Chronicles 6:12-7.

Luke tells us that Jesus was about 30 years old when He began His ministry (Luke 3:23).  Now earlier, Luke assures us that his chronicle of Jesus' life is given in chronological order (Luke 1:1-4).  So with his being an orderly and ordered account, we can surmise that Jesus began His ministry on earth just after being baptized by John, the son of Zacharias and Jesus' kinsman through His mother Mary.  After leaving the Jordan River, where the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and filled Him, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness region near Jericho.  There, Luke tells us, Satan tempted Jesus for forty days!  Sometimes when reading the Gospel accounts it may seem that the devil's efforts were too brief or meaningless to mention (as in Mark 1:12-13), or that he only offered three lures to Jesus (as in Matthew 4:1-13 or what follows in Luke 4:3-13).  No, Luke clues us in to the fact that Jesus had to withstand far more temptation than that.  For forty days Satan poked at Jesus, whispering in His ear, pestering Him, tormenting Him.  For forty days the devil tried to turn our Lord away from the path He knew He had to walk.  For His part, Jesus fasted and prayed and ignored the devil's bait.

God sent His Son to man as a mere baby, born in the inglorious setting of a stable, laid down to sleep in a straw-lined feeding trough.  God's Word was given flesh and made into a man, not that God could know how man feels, for God knows all, but so man could better identify with God.  Just like we have to daily endure the temptations Satan offers and the stumbling blocks he lays in our path, so did Jesus.  But unlike us, Jesus resisted every one of Satan's attempts.  Knowing full well that this was the Son of God, Satan attacked Jesus for forty days because He was the ultimate prize.  If he could cause Jesus to sin, then he would completely thwart God's plan for the redemption of man.  He would disqualify the Savior and man could not be saved so would be lost forever.  Instead, he was foiled.  Remember that it was the Holy Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness, knowing perfectly what was to come.  God took a huge chance giving Satan the prime opportunity to do his worst.  But Jesus could not be turned.  Christ remained sinless, guaranteeing our redemption and salvation if we but believe.

We don't possess all the resources of Jesus, but we do have Jesus and God's Holy Spirit within us.  He will help us resist Satan just as He resisted if we only turn to Him for help.  And if we fail, if we fall prey to the devil's allure, Christ allows us to repent and turn back to Him and our merciful Father will forgive us.  The devil may not ever give up on us in this life, like He finally gave up on Jesus and left Him alone, but neither will Jesus give up on us.  And with His strength we can resist all temptations.  Amen.

O Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily Bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  In the glorious name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray.   Amen.

I Hope in Your Word

I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word.

 --Psalm 119:147  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 21, 2013 of Psalm 119:145-152; Luke 3; 2 Chronicles 4-6:11.

In the 19th stanza of the 119th Psalm, following the Hebrew letter Qoph, the psalmist cries out to be saved, to be delivered from his afflictions, because he has obeyed God's commandments and promises to continue heeding His laws.  He puts his whole heart into this plea, begging that God hears him.  He almost sounds as if he is trying to make a deal with God when he says, "Save me and I will keep Your testimonies" (verse 146b), or maybe he's just appealing to the Lord's sense of fair play when he adds, "Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness" (verse 149a).  But clearly the psalmist is dedicated to God's law, as he lies awake at night meditating on His word.  And while he fears that those who refuse to heed God's commandments have drawn near to him, he takes comfort in knowing that God is also near, closer than his enemies, and His law, which the psalmist follows, is truth.  Our psalmist closes this stanza by proclaiming that God's laws have not changed throughout history, have held true through all time, and have been founded to endure forever.

In today's focus verse our psalmist lets us get a sense of the angst he feels, giving us just a taste of the bitterness life must be dishing out at that moment.  His day begins before sunrise, when he climbs out of bed and immediately seeks God's help.  He knows he needs God to get through the day, to survive the next series of setbacks and attacks.  We all have days like that, and sometimes they run on day after day, week after week, until it seems as if the last couple of years have been nothing but a constant battle, a sequence of conflicts broken only by fitful periods of sleep.  We feel battered and bruised and wonder if things will ever get better again, if our life will ever return to more peaceful times or has this tempest become our new normal.  The first thing in the morning and with our last thought before sleep at night we cry out to God for help, praying He will respond to our plea.

The psalmist provides the answer we desperately need to hear and understand: we must hope in God's Word.  The Word is Jesus and in Him we can place all our hope and trust.  Why?  Because through Him and our belief in Him we are redeemed of our sins of this life and granted eternal life in heaven.  While each day on this earth may seem like hell, this will pass shortly and then we'll have an eternity in Paradise.  Take hope in God's Word.  Take hope in Jesus.  Amen.

Dearest Jesus, You came to this earth to live among us, to teach us the path we must walk, to show us the way to our Father and heaven.  No matter how difficult it may become just to get through each day, we can go to bed at night assured of Your love and Your redeeming grace in our lives.  What we face now will be forgotten when we see Paradise.  In You, precious Jesus, we can place all our hopes and trust.  And in Your holiest name, blessed Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Your Word Is Pure

My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.  Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.

 --Psalm 119:139-140  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 20, 2013 of Psalm 119:137-144; Luke 2:21-52; 2 Chronicles 1-3.

God is righteous, and so is His word.  That is the message our psalmist delivers in the 18th stanza of the 119th Psalm, the eight verses associated with the Hebrew letter Tsadde.  This is clear from the opening verse, when he recognizes God as being righteous and His judgments upright.  Normally when we look at the word "righteous", we consider it as being and doing right, living correctly, in the eyes of God.  But how does it apply to God Himself?  Being righteous can also be defined as being free from guilt or sin.  That is certainly true of God.  He could never break His own commandments or sin against Himself.  If He ever should, in that very instant the whole universe would fall apart for everything there is depends upon God and His being true and faithful.  So the Creator of all cannot be guilty of breaking His own laws, nor can He sin against Himself.  Another definition of righteous is to be morally right or justifiable.  The psalmist states that God's judgments are upright, meaning they are morally just, and justifiable.  And since God Himself is righteous, then so must His word also be righteous, morally right and justifiable.

With this basic premise established, we can look at today's focus verses where the psalmist shows how his adherence to God and His laws provide him an edge over those who torment him.  Of course, even in the psalmist's eyes it isn't his love of God's word that gives him the advantage, it comes from God Himself.  Because the psalmist follows God's word and his enemies don't, God favors him over them.  The psalmist readily admits that because God's word is pure (another way to describe righteousness) he loves it.

And that brings us to God's Word, which we know from the Apostle John is Jesus our Christ, who was with God from even before time began (please reference John 1:1-5).  The psalmist declares God's Word to be righteous and pure.  Jesus indeed fits this description and all definitions of righteous and upright apply to Him as well.  Jesus as a man was free from sin, the Spotless Lamb sacrificed for us all.  God's Word strengthens us to stand and face our true enemy, Satan.  Through Christ we gain the advantage over the powers of this world, and only through Him do we gain salvation.  Jesus is righteous and pure and we, His followers, love Him.  May we always be His servants.  Amen.

Son of God and Son of Man, You are the true Word of God - righteous, upright, and pure.  In You all our hopes are founded.  In You our salvation is assured.  May we ever praise Your most holy name.  May we ever acknowledge Your sovereignty over our lives.  In Your beautiful name, Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Seek the Lord

"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever."

 --1 Chronicles 28:9  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 19, 2013 of Psalm 119:129-136; Luke 2:1-20; 1 Chronicles 28-29.

King David was nearing the end of his days.  He had already named his son Solomon to reign as king after him, and God had chosen Solomon to build His temple.  David turned over all his plans and all his wealth to Solomon for the construction of the Temple of God, and now was leaving his last blessings and instructions for his son and for his people, the children of Israel.  David tells his son to know the one true God, and to serve Him loyally and willingly.  But he cautions that the Lord can search man's heart and mind, that He knows everything we think and feel.  Not only is God aware of our actions, but He even knows the full intent of our actions.  Jesus also cautions us not to do things so as to impress our fellow men, but so as to please God.  Our charity should be unassuming and heartfelt, not boastful or done toward fulfillment of some hidden agenda.  Nothing can be hidden from God.  David warns that neither Solomon nor we can hide from His all-seeing eye, but he then encourages that if we seek God we will find Him.  Unfortunately, the reverse also holds true.  If we abandon God completely, He will turn His back on us.

We know from the scripture that although Solomon loved God and wanted to serve Him, almost from the beginning he started turning from God's ways.  He burned incense and offered sacrifices in the high places (please see 1 Kings 3:3).  He married the daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt (1 Kings 3:1) and he loved and married many foreign women, of the Moabites and Ammonites and Edomites and Sidonians and Hittites (1 Kings 11:1-3), even though the Lord had commanded His children not to intermarry with the women from these lands because they could turn God's people away from Him (Exodus 34:12-16 and Deuteronomy 7:3).  And sadly, this is exactly what happened.  In his later years, Solomon's wives turned him completely away from the Lord and to the false gods of these other lands.  For this, his people suffered.  The united kingdom split in two after his passing.  The people were defeated and taken into exile, with many lost.  The Temple was destroyed.  God cast them off, but not forever.  By His grace He relented and sent His Son Jesus to offer us one more chance.

Solomon probably thought that since he loved God and served Him by building His Temple and by generally doing good, it would be OK in God's eyes for him to bend God's rules a little, ignoring the parts that didn't fit the lifestyle he wanted to live.  We may all be a little guilty of this behavior.  We truly do love the Lord and believe in Jesus and try to follow His ways.  But we also from time to time ignore His commands and do things that displease Him because we want to, doing so feels good, it is more convenient, it fits the lifestyle we desire and find comfortable.  If we truly love the Lord, we must remain true to Him and seek Him and only Him.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, please forgive us when we think we deserve some sort of special consideration, when we allow what we want to become some sort of false god that draws us away from You.  Help us to stay focused on You, knowing full well that You can see even the very motives behind our thoughts and deeds.  Search our hearts, Lord, for the love we have for You.  In Your most holy name, Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Dedicated

This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things which King David and the heads of fathers' houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated.  Some of the spoils won in battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the Lord.

 --1 Chronicles 26:26-27  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 18, 2013 of Psalm 119:121-128; Luke 1:57-80; 1 Chronicles 26:20-27.

The scripture in today's Old Testament reading tells us that the Levite named Ahijah was in charge of all the treasuries of the house of God.  Serving under him were Shelomith, also a Levite (as were all who served God and His priests), and those of his house, who had responsibility "over all the treasuries of dedicated things".  These dedicated things were gifts given to the service of God in the maintenance of His house, many by prominent people, and many of which were obtained as spoils of war.  This treasury would have included gold, silver, bronze, and iron, jewels, gems, and precious stones, even expensive lumber.  These would have been the kind of items one king would present to another in tribute, or the finer booty the victors would take after battle.  David was perhaps the primary benefactor (for instance, please see 1 Chronicles 18:8-11), some of which Solomon made good use when building the Temple (1 Chronicles 18:8, 2 Chronicles 5:1).  But Samuel, Saul, Abner, and Joab are also noted as having contributed to this treasury (1 Chronicles 26:28).  And all of this was under the control of Shelomith and his brethren.

What a great treasure this cache of gifts dedicated to God would have contained!  Just storing it all must have required an immense amount of space, and guarding it fell to the hands of Shelomith and his kinsmen.  That would be quite a responsibility.  These were the gifts of kings, of holy men, of mighty warriors, all freely given and dedicated to the service of God.  No word of tithing is mentioned, so each man donated as moved by his heart and by the Spirit.  And as we read in other accounts of how these gifts were used, there was no shortage of wealth in this treasury.

What does our treasury of gifts dedicated to the Lord look like, what does it contain?  God has richly blessed us in so many ways, what have we set aside to return to Him, for His use?  Have we dedicated anything for the advancement of His kingdom?  I'm not talking just precious metals and gems, nor even physical wealth.  Money is nice and can always be used in service to our Lord.  But we have other gifts we can donate as well.  We can sing, we can teach, we can watch over, we can visit, we can clothe and feed and provide water, we can even just sit and listen.  Jesus tells us that as we treat even the least among us, so we treat Him.  Let's open up our treasury of gifts and dedicate them to the Lord's service.  Amen.

Loving Father, You have blessed us with glorious gifts and continue to heap more upon us every day.  Help us remember, dear Lord, that all we have comes from You so that we might return just a little of our great riches for Your service, to further Your kingdom, to fulfill Your will.  Help us understand that when we give, we receive far more in return ourselves.  In the dearest name of Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Magnify the Lord

And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord."

 --Luke 1:46  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 17, 2013 of Psalm 119:113-120; Luke 1:26-56; 1 Chronicles 24:20-26:19.

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a small city in the region of Galilee.  There he appeared to a young woman named Mary, a virgin betrothed (a deeper commitment than our "engagement") to Joseph, a son of the house of David.  Much scripture in the Old Testament points to the Son of God who will reign as King forever coming from the descendants of David.  We see references mostly in the stories of David's life, such as in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, but also in the words of the prophets like Isaiah.  To fulfill prophecy, to complete God's will, the final and eternal King would be from the succession of David's offspring, and Joseph was of that line.  But Joseph was only to be the future King's earthly father, for Gabriel revealed to Mary that not only was she soon to become pregnant, but that God through His Holy Spirit would be the child's Father and the child Himself would be the Son of God, which carries the additional meaning of "just like God" or "the same as God".  So here is this young girl, likely an early-years teenager, being faced by a glorious angel who tells her she, who has not yet had any sexual relations with a man, would give birth to God.  How absolutely stunning and surreal would that be!?  What could anyone possibly say to a revelation like that?  Mary basically replied, "As God wills, let it be done."

Such a calm response to an amazing and startling scenario gives evidence to the faith and trust Mary put in God.  Her only question of how she could give birth without being with a man being answered by Gabriel, she quietly accepted God's will for her life.  This strong faith would be shown again when Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, who herself bears the child that will be called John the Baptist, the forerunner for Christ, the voice crying out in the wilderness.  The child in Elizabeth's belly leaped for joy at Mary's greeting, and Elizabeth knew that Mary carried the Lord within her.  As they both acknowledged this remarkable and wonderful fact, Mary responded with today's focus verse: "My soul magnifies the Lord."

With all that was happening, with everything she had been told, with her entire world falling apart and being rebuilt right before her eyes, Mary's faith never wavered.  Her trust in God allowed her to stay calm.  With everything she was, with her very soul, Mary magnified God to all who could see; both God in heaven and God she would soon give birth to.  How strong is our faith?  How great is our trust?  But the more important question is can others see Christ in us?  We must let our souls, our very being, magnify the Lord.  Amen.

Father God, You filled Mary with Your Holy Spirit and with Your Son.  Thank You for blessing all of creation by this great gift to us all, and by the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.  Please grant us the strength of faith so that all might see You in us.  Please, may we always magnify You from our very souls.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Know the Certainty

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

 --Luke 1:3-4  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 16, 2013 of Psalm 119:105-112; Luke 1:1-25; 1 Chronicles 23-24:19.

Luke was a Greek by birth, a physician by training, and an evangelist by inspiration, inclination, and desire.  He was very likely the only Gentile author of any of the New Testament, penning both his Gospel and the book of the Acts of the Apostles.  And he was a close friend and frequent companion of the Apostle Paul, often accompanying him on legs of his missionary journeys.  In fact, it is quite possible that Luke wrote this Gospel account while spending time with Paul during his two-year imprisonment in Caesarea.  In his second letter to Timothy, Paul notes that "Only Luke is with me" (2 Timothy 4:11).  Since this letter was written shortly before Paul was martyred, it is sadly possible that Luke was with Paul at his execution.

In his Gospel account, Luke gives us more of the human side of Christ, showing us the compassionate Son of Man offering salvation to the world.  Luke provides us with pieces of the mosaic not mentioned in the other three Gospels, such as Gabriel speaking to Zacharias announcing the coming conception and birth of his son, who would be John the Baptist.  Luke shows great interest in medical matters, especially as they related to the acts and miracles of Jesus, and presents what we might call the human interest story of Christ's life, focusing a good deal on individuals.  He also gives special attention to prayer, the prominent role given to women, and the dichotomy of poverty versus wealth.  In all, Luke's telling is one of humanity and the human form of God in Jesus.

We don't really know who Theophilus was, but he must have attained to a high ranking ("most excellent Theophilus") and he must have been a convert ("in which you were instructed").  He may even have been a close friend or associate of Luke's.  Who Theophilus was doesn't matter as much as what Luke told him.  First, we can see that Luke was not an eyewitness to the life of Jesus, was not one of His disciples who followed Him on His walk.  This is evident from the second verse when he states that those who were with Jesus "from the beginning", the actual eyewitnesses, delivered the word "to us", to others and to himself.  But while he may have received the accounts of Jesus' life from others, today's focus verses assure us that he diligently researched each piece of information, like a trained physician, and put it all in chronological order.  So we can be assured everything he tells us is true, accurate, and ordered correctly.  Like Paul, Luke was truly touched and inspired by Jesus.  We know with certainty everything he tells us is true.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for touching Luke and inspiring him to carefully research and chronicle Your walk upon this earth, going back to before even Your cousin John's birth.  Thank You for all of the Gospel writers, with each providing a slightly different perspective on Your life so that we might see the different sides of You.  Through Luke's account, we now know Your humanity.  May we continue to grow in our relationship with You through our study of our Bible, our fellowship with others, and in prayer with You.  In Your beautiful name Christ Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Sweeter Than Honey

How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

 --Psalm 119:103-104  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 15, 2013 of Psalm 119:97-104; Colossians 4:2-18; 1 Chronicles 21-22.

The psalmist continues with his praise of God and his burning desire to better understand and follow God's laws in the 13th stanza of the 119th Psalm, associated with the Hebrew letter Mem.  Here he gives some very valid reasons why we should heed God's voice, because doing so will lead us both to wisdom and to greater purity.  He opens the stanza by noting that by meditating on God's word daily, he becomes wiser than his enemies who are always besetting him, implying that he is able to resist them because of this greater wisdom.  And his devotion to studying God's law gives him a better understanding than even his teachers, so the student can surpass the teacher by devoted study.

But gained wisdom is only one half of the equation.  The other half is an increase in purity.  While the former dealt with perhaps more mental or passive aspects of life, the latter involves more physical and active attributes that result in spiritual gain.  Because of his longing to more closely follow God's law, the psalmist is highly motivated to stay on the right (and righteous) path, to avoid straying in his walk through life, to direct his feet away from evil.  He holds tight to the true meaning and purpose behind God's judgments.  All these strong action words describe his spiritual journey that lead him toward purity.

The word of God is so sweet to the psalmist, so very desirable, that it makes him hate any way other than God's, any false path that may leave a sour taste in his mouth.  What is sweeter to the believer than the name of Jesus?  Far sweeter than the finest honey tastes in our mouths is the Word of God made flesh and bone.  Once we receive Jesus as our Lord and Master, our love for Him makes us want to more closely follow the way He led, and God's Holy Spirit filling us helps us avoid straying from this path.  As we daily study our Holy Bible and pray and build a closer and deeper relationship with Christ Jesus, we begin to understand what truly matters in this life.  We become wiser.  Our ability to withstand the attacks of our real enemy increases, giving us more strength to resist Satan, who is always at our side whispering in our ear to turn aside.  And the more we dwell on Jesus, the more righteous we appear in God's sight.  It all begins with the Word of God, Jesus our Lord, far sweeter than honey.  Taste and believe.  Amen.

Dearest Lord Jesus, please help us to more closely follow the path You laid out for us, the example You set.  O Word of God, may we always keep You close in our hearts and our thoughts, that we might not stray.  By heeding Your voice, our Christ and Savior, we can gain wisdom in this world and purity in our Father's eyes.  Thank You, Father God, for giving Your Word to the world when we were lost in sin, that He might show us the way to salvation.  In the sweetest name of Jesus Christ we pray.   Amen.

Who Am I To You?

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: "Who am I, O Lord God?  And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?  And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O God."

 --1 Chronicles 17:16-17a  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 14, 2013 of Psalm 119:89-96; Colossians 3:5-4:1; 1 Chronicles 17:16-20.

Some find fault with God for putting thorns on roses.  Others thank and praise Him for putting roses on thorns.  David would be counted among the latter, especially in light of his prayer of praise that begins with today's focus verses.  David had the grand plan to build God a permanent house after moving the Ark of the Covenant and setting it up in the Tabernacle tent in Jerusalem.  God had just given him a new home so he thought the least he could do was to return the favor.  But God, through Nathan the prophet, said No, that would not be for David to accomplish but for his son who follows him.  (And Indeed Solomon did build a wonderful Temple for God.)  This must have been a huge letdown for David, but rather than mope or wallow in disappointment and self-pity, he humbled himself before the Lord there in the Tabernacle, thanking God for all He had done for him so far and marveling at what God promised for the future.

The opening to his prayer bears a strong resemblance to lines in two of David's psalms.  In one he asks God, "What is man that You are mindful of him?"  (Psalm 8:4a.)  And in the second he poses the question, "Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?"  (Psalm 144:3a.)  David asks, "What am I to You, Lord, a mere man, that You would consider me so important You would show all these kindnesses to me, that You love me so much You so richly bless me?"  This great king and mighty warrior, leader of a powerful army and ruler of an entire nation, David knew he was still just a man.  So he bowed down before God, lost in awe and wonder at all He had done, realizing that even though all this was tremendous and great to David, it was but a very small feat to God, the Creator of all.

David modeled for all believers just what the proper response should be when God's will is revealed to us.  It was God's will that Solomon build the first Temple, not David.  Rather than sulk and feel rejected that his son would receive the privilege he sought for himself, he instead showed gratitude for what he had received and rejoiced in the promise of future blessings for his descendants.  We need to think of this the next time we see someone else get what we asked God for.  Rather than pout, we need to thank God for all our blessings and rejoice in the other person's good fortune.  Rather than blame God for the thorns, we need to thank Him for the roses.  For this too is God's will and Jesus' command to us, to truly love one another.  Amen.

Father God, too many times we only see the bad things that happen to us, taking all the good for granted.  Please forgive us when we fail to acknowledge and rejoice in our blessings, focusing too much on the setbacks.  We need You, Lord.  We need Your blessings.  In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray.   Amen.

Empty Deceit

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

 --Colossians 2:8-9  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 13, 2013 of Psalm 119:81-88; Colossians 2:6-3:4; 1 Chronicles 16:7-17:15.

Colosse was located east of Ephesus near Laodicea (see Revelation 3:14-22 for Christ's letter to the church there) and Hierapolis, and was an ancient commercial center that was now, at the time of this letter, in decline.  Epaphras apparently founded the churches in these cities and played the major role in their evangelism and growth, because it is evident from verses 1:4 and 2:1 that Paul had not visited there but had only heard of the churches from Epaphras.  Indeed, Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians as he did to the Ephesians, while imprisoned in Rome.  Epaphras must have filled Paul in on some of the activities in the church in Colosse that were not in keeping with his and Paul's teachings, for Paul writes to them to specifically address issues noted there, as indicated in verse 2:1.  The church was falling prey to a worldly blend of Jewish legalism (probably from Judaizers), Greek philosophy, and Oriental mysticism.  Paul cautions the people not to allow themselves to be cheated by any of this nonsense because it does not conform to what they have been taught about Christ.  He effectively counters the false teaching arising from this witch's brew by using some of their own lingo and buzzwords (like "basic principles of the world") to belittle their arguments (such as referring to their philosophy as an "empty deceit").

To combat the heresy at Colosse, Paul emphasizes the significance of Christ as the Lord of all creation and the Head of the church.  The beauty of verse 2:9 exemplifies this.  "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."  All the divine attributes and nature of God, all His power and wisdom and mercy and sovereignty, everything that is God came to earth in the human form and body of Jesus Christ.  Though He came to us as a humble servant, Jesus had all the authority of God and could have exercised that power at any time, yet He chose not to but rather to set the example of how we should live.

The world enjoys its philosophies and mysticisms.  New rages in ways of thinking come and go on a regular basis, sometimes returning for repeat performances because they were so popular the last time around.  Like fad diets, we are told we must eat this or do that or believe in only this if we want to find true happiness or fulfillment or enlightenment.  Bosh!  All are nothing more than empty deceits, designed to draw us away with impossible promises from our only hope.  They tell us there is no black and white, no absolute right and wrong, only shades of gray.  But we who believe know better.  We know evil exists in this world, that there are rights and wrongs.  Jesus is right, Lucifer is wrong, and anything shaded in gray is Satan's attempt to confuse us.  We must trust in Jesus, for in Him all the fullness of God dwells, then and now and forevermore.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, Son of God and Master of all, You and You alone provide our means for true enlightenment and fulfillment.  The world will lie to us, confuse us, make promises it can never keep, just to lure us away from You.  Keep us strong in our faith, O Lord, that we might resist Satan's pull.  In Your glorious name, Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Maturing

Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

 --Psalm 119:73  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 12, 2013 of Psalm 119:73-80; Colossians 1:21-2:5; 1 Chronicles 14-16:6.

The psalmist continues to seek greater clarity into God's word with the 10th stanza of the 119th Psalm, dedicated to the Hebrew letter Yod.  He wants to mature in his faith by better understanding the law.  He readily acknowledges that he is God's creation and therefore His possession, as are we all, and by this we can infer that we should want to do as God wants us to do.  If we can say we are His possession, we should feel obligated to observe and obey God's law.  Of course, God also gives us free will and the freedom to ignore Him, to rebel against His law if we so wish.  But is that an action we should really desire to take?  Do we want a better understanding of our Father's will for us, as did our psalmist, or would we rather defy the Creator of everything, as does Lucifer?

The psalmist includes one other somewhat surprising aspect in his seeking spiritual maturity and growth.  In verse 75 he admits that the Lord's judgments are right and just and because God is faithful to him He has afflicted him!  Basically, the psalmist is thanking God for punishing him!  As children, we don't really appreciate it when we are punished for doing wrong.  But as we mature, we come to realize that punishment for misbehavior is not always so much punitive as redemptive.  We are punished for doing wrong in hopes that it will motivate us to do right.  We are punished now so that maybe we will not have to suffer even more, be punished far more severely, in the future.  The psalmist realizes, as should we, that when we face our afflictions and suffer through them while maintaining a proper attitude and doing what is right in God's eyes, whether our affliction is brought on by God's right judgment or Satan's wicked devices, we can use the experience to further mature in our faith and avoid greater punishment in our final day.

God has made us.  We are His.  For that reason alone we should obey His word.  But mankind wouldn't listen and sinned against its very Creator.  Finally, God in His infinite mercy and love made His Word become flesh and Jesus entered our world as one of us.  He is still with us, dwelling in us as God's Holy Spirit.  We should want to learn from Him, desire to understand Him, long to obey His voice, yearn to do everything He wants us to do.  For only in this way, through our faith and our belief, can we ever be received into heaven.  Our original sin separated us from our Father and our individual sin keeps us from Him.  Only Jesus can bring us back to Him.  Only Jesus provides the means for us to avoid eternal punishment, but rather enjoy eternal life with God.  Only Jesus.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge You created us.  We should long to obey Your Word, Lord, but we are a stiff-necked people and too often rebel against Your sovereignty.  Thank You so much, Father, for sending Your Son to us that we might be washed clean by His blood.  Thank You for making Your Word flesh so that we might more easily follow Him.  Forgive our rebellious nature, loving Father.  In the merciful name of Your Word Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Mighty Men of Valor

And they helped David against the bands of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor, and they were captains in the army.  For at that time they came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God.

 --1 Chronicles 12:21-22  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 11, 2013 of Psalm 119:65-72; Colossians 1:1-20; 1 Chronicles 12-13.

Before David was forced to flee Saul's service out of fear for his life, he led part of the king's army against the united kingdom's enemies.  He proved to be a powerful warrior and capable leader, respected and loved by those who served under him.  Some of his senior officers remained very loyal to David and stayed with him as he fled Saul.  Others came to him later, as the king strayed further from God's voice.  We see in the scripture that all of these men who joined David were mighty men, courageous and loyal, and very skilled and accomplished in the ways of war.  They formed a bodyguard around David, protecting him from the raiding bands of bandits that roamed and worked with seeming impunity in the wilderness area through which David fled.  They stood by David against Saul, their king and countryman.  And as the followers of David accumulated, these mighty men became the captains of his army.  Now this was no small force.  By the time David came to Hebron, this "great army", described as being "like the army of God", numbered about 350,000 fighting men.  What an awesome sight they must have presented, like God's army in formation.  They came from all over Israel and Judah, from every tribe of the sons of Jacob.  This shows the broad-based support David received from the people, who came together for the sole purpose of turning the kingdom over to him.

All this came about as God willed, "according to the word of the Lord", we are told in verse 23.  Saul did evil in the eyes of God so He willed that David would take over as king, the man after His own heart, the one who He had declared would be king while he was still a youth.  God proclaimed it, so it had to happen.  The Lord was with David and gave him the talents and skills he needed to succeed.  God surrounded David with strong, skilled, valiant, loyal men.  And God drew David's followers into a great army, gathered from all the children of Israel.

Each person in this slice of history had a specific role to play in effecting God's will.  Each person had to do their part for the Lord's plan to be accomplished, for they were directed by God.  Mighty men of valor, fully equipped to serve God as He willed.  We may not consider ourselves mighty, but we can be valiant and loyal as we stand by Jesus and our faith in Him.  We can carry out His commission to us by spreading His Gospel throughout the world, or at least in our neighborhood or circle of friends.  And we can be a part of fulfilling the Father's plan and some day every knee will bow to Jesus and every voice will call Him Lord.  Be mighty for Jesus.  Amen.

Father, we may not be mighty in stature, nor skilled for doing battle against our true enemy Satan, but we can be mighty in spirit and stand against our greatest foe with Your help.  Lord we long to be a part of Your great army, the real army of God, and stand up for Jesus against His detractors.  Please give us the strength and courage to face those we fear will ridicule us.  Help us be loyal and brave in every battle we face each day.    In the holy name of Your Son Christ Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Be At Peace

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.

 --Philippians 4:8  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 10, 2013 of Psalm 119:57-64; Philippians 4:2-23; 1 Chronicles 11.

Paul packs a lot into this short letter to his friends and supporters in the church in Philippi, and the fourth and last chapter is no exception.  Paul has discussed the pattern of Christian life which believers should follow, using the humility of Jesus as their example.  He gave them clues to the prize in store from their Christian life, exhorting them to be like him in following Christ and not heeding the Judaizers who wanted to reinstate the law that Jesus freed them from.  And now Paul closes his epistle to the believers by wishing them the peace that can come with living a Christian life, encouraging them to be at peace with others, at peace with themselves, and at peace with any circumstances they face.  Interestingly, when he addresses the first of these, for the people to be at peace with each other, Paul specifically mentions two women by name, Euodia and Syntyche, urging them to live in harmony in the Lord.  We don't know if these two had some kind of conflict between themselves, some sort of feud or fuss, or perhaps experienced difficulty with others in the community.  All we do know is that they are believers who Paul likely worked with previously and that Paul cares enough about them that he wants to see them at peace and enlists the aid of others of the church to accomplish that goal.  In this Paul shows his love for the people.

Speaking of finding peace no matter our circumstance, Paul explained how we can cope by writing the words that form my favorite Bible verse: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  (Philippians 4:13.)  But before this, when encouraging us to be at peace with ourselves, perhaps the most difficult of the three, Paul really gives the key as to how we can achieve and maintain this inner calm he keeps writing about.  "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:7.)  We don't have to 'find' peace or come up with it on our own.  We can get it directly from God through our relationship with Jesus.

And this leads to today's focus verse.  If we want to have any chance of being at peace, of remaining calm while the storm of life rages all about us, we must keep our eyes squarely on Jesus.  We must keep our thoughts (our minds) and our feelings (our hearts) completely in line with how He lived His life and how He taught us.  We need to distance ourselves from all the bad and evil and wickedness in life and dwell only on the good.  Whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, or praiseworthy, these we should focus on, these we should study, these we should emulate.  Look only to Jesus and receive God's peace.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, please help us look solely to You for guidance and inspiration.  Thank You for strengthening us when we feel we can go no further.  Thank You for sharing God's peace when the turmoil all around us threatens to overwhelm us.  Thank You for giving us an example to follow, and the Way to our Father in heaven.  In Your beautiful name, Christ Jesus we pray.   Amen.

Job Openings

All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve.  They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages.  David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted office.  For in this trusted office were four chief gatekeepers; they were Levites.  And they had charge over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.

 --1 Chronicles 9:22,26  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 9, 2013 of Psalm 119:49-56; Philippians 3-4:1; 1 Chronicles 9-10.

After going through all the sons of Jacob and their descendants the genealogies of Israel end.  But the lists continue, although they are somewhat more specialized in nature.  Chapter 9 of the first book of the Chronicles of the kings begins with some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem by their house of Jacob and by individuals.  The priests were listed by name and by familial relationship, as were the Levites, those separated for and dedicated to serving God.  Headcounts are given, such as the sons of Benjamin numbering 956 men, all mentioned as being "heads of a father's house in their fathers' houses", which would be highly placed positions within the community.  Perhaps more interesting is the number of priests, given as 1760 (nearly twice as many priests as those descended from Benjamin) and again recognized as being heads of their fathers' houses.  But the priests were also noted as being "very able men" for their work serving God and their number included Azariah who had the very responsible position of being the officer over the house of God, the Temple itself.  All of these men are shown in a very positive light for their exalted positions, their abilities, and their service.

Some of the more prominent Levites are listed next, including those named as gatekeepers of the tabernacle.  The previous assignments of some are given along with how their fathers had served.  Today's first focus verse tells us that only 212 men of the house of Levi were chosen to serve as gatekeepers, yet it is easy to see that our author placed much emphasis on this position.  The first indication is the amount of space provided for their description, about 23 verses.  Next is that our author calls their job a "trusted office", not once but twice, denoting the importance of the position.  And finally we are told that each one of the gatekeepers had been specially appointed by King David and the holy man Samuel.  It is obvious this was considered a critical position, available by appointment only, and the second of our focus verses provides a clue as to maybe why:  they had charge over all the rooms and the treasury of the Temple.  Only very responsible men could be named to this trusted office.

Each of us have been appointed to fill some trusted office.  Our appointment comes not from any man or earthly king, but from Jesus, the King of kings.  Each of us has a position to fill, a role to play in the advancement of God's kingdom, and our Father has already equipped us to do that job.  It is up to us to figure out what our particular calling is and then to accept the appointment.  Be responsible and serve.  And some day you will be welcomed to paradise with the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."  Amen.

Father God, You have something very specific in Your grand plan for each of us to do.  You have given us everything we need to do the job well.  Jesus, we humbly accept the appointment You have assigned us.  We only ask for greater clarity and discernment into Your will for us, a clearer job description of what You would have us do.  In the holy name of Jesus Christ we pray.   Amen.

Let Your Light Shine

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

 --Philippians 2:14-15  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 8, 2013 of Psalm 119:41-48; Philippians 2:12-30; 1 Chronicles 8.

The church at Philippi, a Roman colony and military outpost city, was founded by Paul during his second missionary journey and was his first in present-day Europe.  Paul always maintained a close and warm relationship with the church and wrote to them with great gentleness, even when addressing their faults, which are only briefly and somewhat indirectly touched upon in what is basically a Thank You note.  The church had provided Paul with financial support twice earlier and once again now while he suffered in prison, for Paul was under house arrest in Rome when he wrote this letter and sent it with the return of the Philippian Epaphroditus.

Even though the bulk of this letter is very personal, with Paul offering words of encouragement to his friends in Philippi and exhortations for them to continue in their faith, this epistle also contains perhaps one of the most important doctrinal passages in the New Testament.  In a few very polished verses surrounded by warmer, more informal, more personal prose, Paul conveys the humility of Christ who, even though God, did not come to the earth as God but humbled Himself to come as a servant.  In Paul's way of thinking, this is part of Christ's uniqueness throughout all the history of mankind, both in the person of Jesus and in His works on earth.  In today's focus verses, Paul makes the point that we (although he was directly addressing the members of the church in Philippi, we know Paul is speaking to all believers throughout all time) should have the same disposition of Christ, that we should follow the example that He set.

Paul reminds the Philippians, and us, that while God is firmly behind us, we still have obligations to keep in following Christ's example, we must still stand on our own against the popular culture's influences, with Christ strengthening us.  When we are confronted by the traps and stumbling blocks Satan places in our path, we should contend with them without making a big fuss, and without complaining about our fate.  The tendency of the modern world is to over-dramatize everything; Christ did not do so and neither should we.  We should react to adverse situations the same way Jesus did, and in so doing we can be seen as blameless and faultless children in God's eyes.  Jesus came as a Light unto the world (please reference John 8:12, 9:5,   and others).  If we faithfully follow His example, we can carry on as His light shining brightly to this crooked and perverse generation.  As did Jesus, be a servant, be a light.  Amen.

O Jesus our Savior, thank You for setting an example for all of us to follow so that our Father in heaven may see us as His children and hold us blameless and faultless.  Thank You for coming to us not to be served, but to serve, and by doing so exemplifying the life we ourselves should live.  Thank You for being a Light in this dark world, and for allowing us to shine Your glory among man so that all might come to know You and believe.  In Your glorious name, our dearest Jesus we pray.   Amen.

No More Worthless Things

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.

 --Psalm 119:37  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on July 7, 2013 of Psalm 119:33-40; Philippians 1:21-2:11; 1 Chronicles 7.

Today's focus verse comes from the fifth stanza of the 119th Psalm, the octet of verses associated with the Hebrew letter He.  I'm not sure if there is any special significance to the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, but our psalmist certainly devoted its stanza to express his wish to receive God's instructions.  We can almost feel his longing to better know and follow God's law.  "Teach me Your statutes", he implores of the Lord, "and I'll obey them to the end of my days."  OK, so that's a bit of a paraphrase, but we can easily read our psalmist's nearly overwhelming desire to faithfully follow the Lord's commandments.  He wants to observe them with all his heart, to walk through life in their path.  He needs for God to know that he fears Him, respects Him, and that he considers God's judgments to be good.  He longs to live in righteousness.

Mosaic Law began with the Ten Commandments God decreed man to live by.  These were embellished a goodly amount by Moses in conversation with and as instructed by God while the children of Israel still sojourned through the wilderness.  Many rituals were added, with specific offerings and sacrifices for all manner of sin.  The book of the law quickly filled with do's and don't's.  By the time Jesus arrived to walk the earth among us, the law under the Pharisees and Sadducees had become so convoluted and complex, no one could possibly keep it all to the letter.  Not even the religious leaders of the day, who would change things as necessary to fit their own needs.  The problem with the law is that it is based on doing things and not doing things, do this but don't do that.  In other words, a person's salvation depended on their works according to the law.  Jesus came to free us from all this, from the utter futility of trying to obtain salvation through adherence to the law, a feat not possible for mortal man.  Jesus instead offers redemption and eternal life based solely on faith and belief in Him as the Son of God.  We can never be saved by the works of our own hands, but only by the grace of our merciful God.

The psalmist does offer good advice, though, and advice we should heed.  If Jesus is our only path to salvation, if only by our faith and belief in Him can we be redeemed, then we ought never take our eyes off Him and that ultimate goal.  Nothing in this world should distract us from following our Christ.  All the things of this world are worthless except for when we put them to use expanding God's kingdom.  But the only thing that holds value for us where it really matters is Jesus.  In Him we can be revived.  Through Him we are saved.  Amen.

Precious Lord Jesus, thank You so much for the sacrifice You made for us.  Thank You for doing all the work for us because we could never possibly do enough to earn our way into paradise.  Only by our Father's goodness and grace and Your intercession on our behalf are we given the great gift of salvation.  Thank You, Savior.   In Your most holy name, Lord Jesus we pray.   Amen.