I have found that if I sit down to do a little quite time and my mind is too cluttered or frantic to grasp onto the words I'm reading, I probably need to read a bit more. Today, for instance, I'm trying to read 1 John 2:24-25. The verses themselves just flow over me like water, not taking hold and no understanding being presented. See, it's even hard to express how nothing is taking hold.
So I do when I don't grasp the verses I'm reading, I read the surrounding verses. A little context might shed enlightenment. But still no knowledge.
More time and prayer is all I can do. Hopefully God will calm my mind and share with me the truth He has for me to learn.
Monday, March 31, 2008
It's all about Faith and Reconcillia-che!
I was in Acts 15 today, and several points worth sharing came to mind:
#1 Acts 15:9, talking to the jews about God's view of the gentiles, Peter said: "He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith."
Simply this is a great reminder that our faith in God purifies our hearts and is a large part of the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). Lord, purify our hearts today from any wrong thinking!
#2 The Power of God's Reconciliation Acts15:36-40 "Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord."
Though Paul was upset and didn't want John Mark to come, by the time he was in prison in Cyprus during his last days, he wrote in 2Tim4:11 "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry."
God clearly healed the upset Paul felt; God worked and grew Mark from deserter to useful instrument. God is the God of the 2nd thru the 1millioneth chance! And no matter how we mess up he will prune us and grow us if we let him. God is truly our reconciler and redeemer in every sense of the word!
#1 Acts 15:9, talking to the jews about God's view of the gentiles, Peter said: "He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith."
Simply this is a great reminder that our faith in God purifies our hearts and is a large part of the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2). Lord, purify our hearts today from any wrong thinking!
#2 The Power of God's Reconciliation Acts15:36-40 "Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord."
Though Paul was upset and didn't want John Mark to come, by the time he was in prison in Cyprus during his last days, he wrote in 2Tim4:11 "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry."
God clearly healed the upset Paul felt; God worked and grew Mark from deserter to useful instrument. God is the God of the 2nd thru the 1millioneth chance! And no matter how we mess up he will prune us and grow us if we let him. God is truly our reconciler and redeemer in every sense of the word!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Inquiring Minds Want to Know...
First off, thanks to Jamie for the admonish to take a moment during the day and share what God is teaching me. Usually when I hit the blog, I make it more complex than it needs to be--do I have just the right verse, a clever title, a strong finish? Forget it. What God is doing in my life is good enough material...I don't have to be all USA Today about it. Now on to what God is doing in my life:
I Kings 22: 4-7
So he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the LORD."
So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go," they answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."
But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?"
What God taught me this morning in the middle of my trek through Kings is that I should seek His will above all else in making my job decision. Like the King of Israel, I've been seeking input from all sorts of people who have been very encouraging. However, I need to be more like Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, and be persistent about seeking the Lord's will for my decision. I also find myself falling into the world's mentality of trying to pick the "best" job--the right opportunity, the easiest schedule, the most coin, etc.
All the pro-con lists in the world don't matter: I need to be where I can do the most to honor God. I believe He will lead me to that place if I earnestly, persistently ask Him to show me His will. So that's what I'm doing this morning: inquiring of the Lord as to where He would have me be employed.
I Kings 22: 4-7
So he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the LORD."
So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, "Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go," they answered, "for the Lord will give it into the king's hand."
But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?"
What God taught me this morning in the middle of my trek through Kings is that I should seek His will above all else in making my job decision. Like the King of Israel, I've been seeking input from all sorts of people who have been very encouraging. However, I need to be more like Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, and be persistent about seeking the Lord's will for my decision. I also find myself falling into the world's mentality of trying to pick the "best" job--the right opportunity, the easiest schedule, the most coin, etc.
All the pro-con lists in the world don't matter: I need to be where I can do the most to honor God. I believe He will lead me to that place if I earnestly, persistently ask Him to show me His will. So that's what I'm doing this morning: inquiring of the Lord as to where He would have me be employed.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Thoughts on 2 Cor:3-10
"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
In purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."
Such a great passage! We have many obstacles we are called to overcome/endure: troubles, hardships, distresses, riots, beatings, sleepless nights, hunger. Some are more realistic for us today, and some are certainly harder to endure than others, yet let us not place stumbling blocks in anyone elses path on account of our own sufferings, but rather let us overcome these obstacles thru Christ! "Our weapons of righteousness" show God's truth amidst the world's circumstances: honor admist dishonor, good report though the world reports badly of us; rejoicing admist reasons to be sorrowful, having everything though the world would tell us otherwise, etc. Let us live to the truth of Christ today and continue to rejoice in our riches in Christ, and the realization that we truly possess everything!
In purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God;
with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."
Such a great passage! We have many obstacles we are called to overcome/endure: troubles, hardships, distresses, riots, beatings, sleepless nights, hunger. Some are more realistic for us today, and some are certainly harder to endure than others, yet let us not place stumbling blocks in anyone elses path on account of our own sufferings, but rather let us overcome these obstacles thru Christ! "Our weapons of righteousness" show God's truth amidst the world's circumstances: honor admist dishonor, good report though the world reports badly of us; rejoicing admist reasons to be sorrowful, having everything though the world would tell us otherwise, etc. Let us live to the truth of Christ today and continue to rejoice in our riches in Christ, and the realization that we truly possess everything!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Kill me now... no, wait.
I Kings 19:4 But he himself [Elijah] went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."
Sometimes when things are tough, I'll flippantly think "I'd be better off if I were dead." That attitude is not suicidal, but based in the reality of what lies behind the grave for me as a believer. Some days, I'd rather be in heaven that putting up with crap on earth. I guess I'm in good company, because Paul seemed to feel this same way:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better (Philippians 1:21-23).
However, today as I read the account of Elijah running from Jezebel it struck me what an affront this escapist attitude is to God's plan for my life and His ability to see me through whatever lies ahead. Instead of wishing for an easy way out, I should reflect on what God has planned for my life. I need to change my worldview from self-focused to Christ-focused. Not only will this help keep me at peace during the worst of times, but it will enable me glorify God no matter the circumstance. It looks like my good company came to this same realization:
yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:24-26).
Sometimes when things are tough, I'll flippantly think "I'd be better off if I were dead." That attitude is not suicidal, but based in the reality of what lies behind the grave for me as a believer. Some days, I'd rather be in heaven that putting up with crap on earth. I guess I'm in good company, because Paul seemed to feel this same way:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better (Philippians 1:21-23).
However, today as I read the account of Elijah running from Jezebel it struck me what an affront this escapist attitude is to God's plan for my life and His ability to see me through whatever lies ahead. Instead of wishing for an easy way out, I should reflect on what God has planned for my life. I need to change my worldview from self-focused to Christ-focused. Not only will this help keep me at peace during the worst of times, but it will enable me glorify God no matter the circumstance. It looks like my good company came to this same realization:
yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:24-26).
Friday, March 21, 2008
FATHOM THIS! Trust me you will want to!
Written by Jone Erickson Tada, and found in Joshua Harris' (boy meets girl) this story of the cross is going to rock your world . . .
“On your back with you. One raises a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier’s heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner’s wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier’s life minute by minute for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds molecules together? Only by the son do “all things hold together” (col 1:17). The victim wills that the soldier live on. He grants the warrior’s continued existence. The man swings.
As the man swings, the son recalls how he and the father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm – the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless – the nerves perform exquisitely. “Up you” - they lift the cross. God is on display in his underwear and can scarcely breathe.
But these pains are a MERE WARM up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during this day an unearthly foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but around his heart. He feels dirt. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being – the living excrement from our souls. The apple of his Father’s eye turns brown with rot. His father! He must face his Father like this…
From heaven the father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars against the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the son seen the father look at him so…never felt even the least of his hot breath. But the roar shakes the unseen worlds and darkens the visible sky. The son does not recognize these eyes…
Son of Man – Why have you behaved so? You cave cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped, murdered, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten, fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled and blasphemed. Oh the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name. What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk – you , who molest young boys, peddle killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents. Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons. Does the list never end? Splitting families, raping virgins, filming pornography, accepting bribes…perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions,, traded in slaves…I Hate, loathe these things in you. Disgust for everything about you consumes me, can you not feel my wrath??
Of course the son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The fathers knows this. But the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if PERSONALLY responsible for every sin ever committed.
Jesus cries…Father, father…why have you forsaken me?? The father rejected the son whom he loved. The father accepted is sacrifice for sin and was satisfied. The rescue was accomplished."
“On your back with you. One raises a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier’s heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner’s wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier’s life minute by minute for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds molecules together? Only by the son do “all things hold together” (col 1:17). The victim wills that the soldier live on. He grants the warrior’s continued existence. The man swings.
As the man swings, the son recalls how he and the father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm – the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless – the nerves perform exquisitely. “Up you” - they lift the cross. God is on display in his underwear and can scarcely breathe.
But these pains are a MERE WARM up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during this day an unearthly foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but around his heart. He feels dirt. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being – the living excrement from our souls. The apple of his Father’s eye turns brown with rot. His father! He must face his Father like this…
From heaven the father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars against the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the son seen the father look at him so…never felt even the least of his hot breath. But the roar shakes the unseen worlds and darkens the visible sky. The son does not recognize these eyes…
Son of Man – Why have you behaved so? You cave cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped, murdered, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten, fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled and blasphemed. Oh the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name. What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk – you , who molest young boys, peddle killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents. Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons. Does the list never end? Splitting families, raping virgins, filming pornography, accepting bribes…perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions,, traded in slaves…I Hate, loathe these things in you. Disgust for everything about you consumes me, can you not feel my wrath??
Of course the son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The fathers knows this. But the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if PERSONALLY responsible for every sin ever committed.
Jesus cries…Father, father…why have you forsaken me?? The father rejected the son whom he loved. The father accepted is sacrifice for sin and was satisfied. The rescue was accomplished."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Cleaning House
Isaiah 31:7 For in that day every man will cast away his silver idols and his gold idols, which your sinful hands have made for you as a sin.
For me, today was one of those "in that day[s]", in that I took some steps towards casting away some of the idols in my life. The idols I dealt with today were family and conflict avoidance.
I've mentioned at SG for a few weeks that I'm considering a GI trip later this year. However, I had yet to break the news to my parents. My immediate family is very much a stay-close-to-home type of family. None of us have been outside of North America. Even when we ventured out of the States to Montreal for an Expos game, we didn't stay in Canada after the game--"let's just get back to Plattsburgh." So the news of my interest in a 2-week trip to Southeast Asia is sure going to be a shocker. Through Todd's current sermon series, I realized that my reluctance to move forward on this trip for fear of family concerns was nothing more than idolizing my family--putting them on the throne in place of God.
Through the wise counsel of one of the First Light guys this morning, I realized that a big part of my reluctance to tell my family was conflict avoidance. True, true. I go to great lengths to avoid conflict in all areas of my life, and I found myself doing it here again. To put the brakes on pursuing this trip because I'm not willing to face a little conflict with my parents suddenly looked and sounded a lot like idolizing the lack of conflict (and you know what they say about things that look and sound like ducks...). I was making peace the driving force in my life--not the Prince of Peace.
So, tonight--with much prayer and anticipation--I cleared away the idols and told my parents all about the trip. You know what? Worrying about it was much worse than actually doing something about it! They took it well. They asked all the questions I thought they would ask, but they never challenged my desire to go or tried to talk me out of it. Though I was willing to face conflict as a means of putting that idol away, in the end, there wasn't any conflict! Praise be to God. A small but powerful example to me that when God comes first, everything else really does fall into place.
For me, today was one of those "in that day[s]", in that I took some steps towards casting away some of the idols in my life. The idols I dealt with today were family and conflict avoidance.
I've mentioned at SG for a few weeks that I'm considering a GI trip later this year. However, I had yet to break the news to my parents. My immediate family is very much a stay-close-to-home type of family. None of us have been outside of North America. Even when we ventured out of the States to Montreal for an Expos game, we didn't stay in Canada after the game--"let's just get back to Plattsburgh." So the news of my interest in a 2-week trip to Southeast Asia is sure going to be a shocker. Through Todd's current sermon series, I realized that my reluctance to move forward on this trip for fear of family concerns was nothing more than idolizing my family--putting them on the throne in place of God.
Through the wise counsel of one of the First Light guys this morning, I realized that a big part of my reluctance to tell my family was conflict avoidance. True, true. I go to great lengths to avoid conflict in all areas of my life, and I found myself doing it here again. To put the brakes on pursuing this trip because I'm not willing to face a little conflict with my parents suddenly looked and sounded a lot like idolizing the lack of conflict (and you know what they say about things that look and sound like ducks...). I was making peace the driving force in my life--not the Prince of Peace.
So, tonight--with much prayer and anticipation--I cleared away the idols and told my parents all about the trip. You know what? Worrying about it was much worse than actually doing something about it! They took it well. They asked all the questions I thought they would ask, but they never challenged my desire to go or tried to talk me out of it. Though I was willing to face conflict as a means of putting that idol away, in the end, there wasn't any conflict! Praise be to God. A small but powerful example to me that when God comes first, everything else really does fall into place.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Confessions of a Serial Idolator
I've been a Christian for over a quarter of a century, and I've never had a sermon pinpoint my overarching problem like Todd's did on Monday night. Slowly over the past few years, I've realized how idolatry has creeped into my life. Even more recently, I've begun to see the detrimental effects of idolatry on my life--past and present. But never have I ever thought of the term "serial idolator"; and rarely have I felt a term fit me so precisely.
I was the guy he was talking about who overcame one idolatry only to fall into another. In my life, the most striking example was my recent overcoming of idolatry to a major sin only to become an idolator of the pursuit of purity. Don't get me wrong--I'm still riding shotgun on the purity bandwagon. However, I realize that much of the first two years that I have been free from the pattern of habitual sin were spent putting purity on the throne at the expense of asking God to move over a little. What a shame. I missed the obvious point that when God comes first, everything else falls nicely into place.
As tough as it is to see my faults laid wide open in front of me, it's comforting to finally see what's behind the struggles I've felt so often. I'm so excited to be able to combat feelings of emptiness, confusion, and burning desire by asking God to take His rightful place on the throne of my life and fill me completely. As a serial idolator, I've already had several chances to practice this just since Monday night.
I Cor 10:14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
I was the guy he was talking about who overcame one idolatry only to fall into another. In my life, the most striking example was my recent overcoming of idolatry to a major sin only to become an idolator of the pursuit of purity. Don't get me wrong--I'm still riding shotgun on the purity bandwagon. However, I realize that much of the first two years that I have been free from the pattern of habitual sin were spent putting purity on the throne at the expense of asking God to move over a little. What a shame. I missed the obvious point that when God comes first, everything else falls nicely into place.
As tough as it is to see my faults laid wide open in front of me, it's comforting to finally see what's behind the struggles I've felt so often. I'm so excited to be able to combat feelings of emptiness, confusion, and burning desire by asking God to take His rightful place on the throne of my life and fill me completely. As a serial idolator, I've already had several chances to practice this just since Monday night.
I Cor 10:14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Fatalities and God's Mercy
My quiet time today was in Acts 5:1-12 and I mulled over the story of Ananias and Saphira:
"Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events."
At first glance, I struggled alot with this story: "Why so harsh God? Surely you didn't have to kill these two it doesn't seem fair" or thoughts like that. . but when I really get down to it, it's the FEAR I feel toward this story that bugs me. "Have I ever been dishonest with God?" The answer alarmingly over the course of my life is yes. I've often quickly decided my own will and made it God's for my life. I've often lied but just a little bit, to get my way, then not claimed that as sin. I've often as Ananias & Saph. did, have been greedy and 'kept back' my own money, time, etc. and yet claimed not to in front of others and God. It was surely not wrong for Ananias to keep part of it, but his decision to be dishonest about keeping it, that was his fatal sin. How are we in honesty before God? As the Acts church was forming it seems very plausible that God used this tragic couple to "set an example" to remind them/us to fear him and to dissuade a pattern of dishonesty from developing in the area of giving. Let us take away a renewed reverence to fear God and remember that all sin is fatal! May we be willing to continually seek out and confess/surrender away areas in our lives of dishonesty so that he not use us "to set an example"! Praise God with awe, reverence, and in gratitude for sparing us the full consequences of our sin! Amen.
"Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events."
At first glance, I struggled alot with this story: "Why so harsh God? Surely you didn't have to kill these two it doesn't seem fair" or thoughts like that. . but when I really get down to it, it's the FEAR I feel toward this story that bugs me. "Have I ever been dishonest with God?" The answer alarmingly over the course of my life is yes. I've often quickly decided my own will and made it God's for my life. I've often lied but just a little bit, to get my way, then not claimed that as sin. I've often as Ananias & Saph. did, have been greedy and 'kept back' my own money, time, etc. and yet claimed not to in front of others and God. It was surely not wrong for Ananias to keep part of it, but his decision to be dishonest about keeping it, that was his fatal sin. How are we in honesty before God? As the Acts church was forming it seems very plausible that God used this tragic couple to "set an example" to remind them/us to fear him and to dissuade a pattern of dishonesty from developing in the area of giving. Let us take away a renewed reverence to fear God and remember that all sin is fatal! May we be willing to continually seek out and confess/surrender away areas in our lives of dishonesty so that he not use us "to set an example"! Praise God with awe, reverence, and in gratitude for sparing us the full consequences of our sin! Amen.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tidbit from Psalms 103
I was reading through the promises of Psalms 103 today. It's an amazing chapter but today I focused specifically on103:11-13 where we're reminded of some great promises for those who reverently fear him:
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
Praise God for height(heavens/great is his love), width (sin/ seperated east as from west), & depth (of his compassion for us)! May we grow in knowing God in each of these dimensions today!
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
Praise God for height(heavens/great is his love), width (sin/ seperated east as from west), & depth (of his compassion for us)! May we grow in knowing God in each of these dimensions today!
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