262 Psalms 087 – 089; Titus 003
Where is God when it hurts? Where is God when life doesn't make sense? Years ago Bishop Robinson wrote a book called, "Honest to God." I never read the book, but I love the title. The raw honesty in these Psalms sometimes is a bit disconcerting. They were very honest as found in these words, "Why, God, do you turn a deaf ear? Why do you make yourself scarce?" You may or may not be able to identify with the angst of these words, but you have to see the freedom in being able to express yourself to the Father. We are told as believers in the N.T. to come boldly before the throne of grace. We are to go boldly where very few ever go.
Get perspective and get all you can. Paul lays out some perspective when he reminds Titus of the past with these words, "It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin..." Then he writes these words, "But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us form all that." The theology of but is an important subject. We are thus and so or have done thus and so, but then God steps in. Thank God He does not allow us to continue in our stubborn way. Be sensitive to God's Spirit. Ask God to give you a whole heart to follow Him. God will step in, be of good courage it is the Lord.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
261 Friday, September 18, 2009
261 Psalms 082 – 086; Titus 002
Judges and justice go together like orange and hunting. When the judges are corrupt or just plain ignorant, people are going to get hurt. God's prophets had to remind the judges that they have a Judge in heaven who will one day judge them. This was a constant message coming forth from the prophets. Asaph writes a prophetic psalm to the judges of that day. It is always a good time to pray for our judges and our judicial system.
We sing a song based on this verse, "One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches." The other day I was able to go on a prayer walk. The way God has built me is that I pray better on the move. That time with the Lord was some of the best time of the whole week. We have to fight our impulses, our culture, and evil itself to put ourselves in the position of spending some quality time with the Lord. Is spending time with the Lord better than your fantasy vacation?
Here are some insightful words, “This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.” As we say in preaching circles, "This stuff will preach!" We have a great new life right here and now, but it is only an appetizer for the main course. Jesus is coming back!!! Amen.
Judges and justice go together like orange and hunting. When the judges are corrupt or just plain ignorant, people are going to get hurt. God's prophets had to remind the judges that they have a Judge in heaven who will one day judge them. This was a constant message coming forth from the prophets. Asaph writes a prophetic psalm to the judges of that day. It is always a good time to pray for our judges and our judicial system.
We sing a song based on this verse, "One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches." The other day I was able to go on a prayer walk. The way God has built me is that I pray better on the move. That time with the Lord was some of the best time of the whole week. We have to fight our impulses, our culture, and evil itself to put ourselves in the position of spending some quality time with the Lord. Is spending time with the Lord better than your fantasy vacation?
Here are some insightful words, “This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.” As we say in preaching circles, "This stuff will preach!" We have a great new life right here and now, but it is only an appetizer for the main course. Jesus is coming back!!! Amen.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
260 Thursday, September 17, 2009
260 Psalms 079 – 081; Titus 001
The writer appeals to God's faithfulness when he pens these words, "You're famous for helping; God, give us a break. Your reputation is on the line." The Psalmist is reminding God that He has built a reputation for rescuing Israel and therefore if Israel goes down so does the glory of God. Moses used the same approach when God let Moses in on His plans to wipe Israel out and to start all over. God has tied His reputation to His people and that goes for today as well. In the N.T. the followers of Christ are constantly exhorted to walk worthy of the gospel of Christ. What does our life reflect back to people? What do people see in us?
We are still in the Pastoral letters of Paul. This time Paul is writing to Titus who has been trained to continue the work of the gospel. Part of his job is to appoint leaders at the recently planted churches. Notice again how a leader’s job with his family reflects on what kind of leader he or she is going to be for the church. Paul gives a very succinct but effective qualification list for leaders. I once heard a great preacher say, ‘we will never be ten's in all of these areas but we should strive to grow in them.’
The writer appeals to God's faithfulness when he pens these words, "You're famous for helping; God, give us a break. Your reputation is on the line." The Psalmist is reminding God that He has built a reputation for rescuing Israel and therefore if Israel goes down so does the glory of God. Moses used the same approach when God let Moses in on His plans to wipe Israel out and to start all over. God has tied His reputation to His people and that goes for today as well. In the N.T. the followers of Christ are constantly exhorted to walk worthy of the gospel of Christ. What does our life reflect back to people? What do people see in us?
We are still in the Pastoral letters of Paul. This time Paul is writing to Titus who has been trained to continue the work of the gospel. Part of his job is to appoint leaders at the recently planted churches. Notice again how a leader’s job with his family reflects on what kind of leader he or she is going to be for the church. Paul gives a very succinct but effective qualification list for leaders. I once heard a great preacher say, ‘we will never be ten's in all of these areas but we should strive to grow in them.’
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
258 Tuesday, September 15, 2009
258 Psalms 078; 2 Timothy 004
The Psalmist proclaims, "We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation---God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done." One of the most important tasks is to keep on passing it on. Do not let the flame die out. We must reach up to the Lord, we must reach into our souls to grow, and then we must reach out to all of those around us and let them know. How that looks may be different from individual to individual, but it is all the same as far as the mission.
People get bits and pieces of the O.T. and usually come away believing God was ticked off most of the time. I heard a Jewish comedian the other day say, "God was angry throughout the O.T. and you know why?---(then he screams) they were always screwing up!" He got it. In part two of this Psalm we gain this insight, "Over and over he reigned in his anger, restrained his considerable wrath." God was so patience with the Israelites. The Lord gave them chance after chance and then some more, yet they remained in their sin. The judgments that were handed down to Israel were their own fault!!!!!!!!! Their lives were marked by disobedience, stubbornness, and a propensity for surrendering to their own desires. God could have been harsher and would of been totally justified. God is good and full of mercy and grace. What does that do for you?
Paul warns Timothy that there will be a day that people will have no stomach for solid food, but will fill up on junk food. The church seems to go through cycles of demanding His strong food and then they want to go on a junk food binge. The leaders must stay strong during those times that people want the junk food. What does your diet look like?
The Psalmist proclaims, "We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation---God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done." One of the most important tasks is to keep on passing it on. Do not let the flame die out. We must reach up to the Lord, we must reach into our souls to grow, and then we must reach out to all of those around us and let them know. How that looks may be different from individual to individual, but it is all the same as far as the mission.
People get bits and pieces of the O.T. and usually come away believing God was ticked off most of the time. I heard a Jewish comedian the other day say, "God was angry throughout the O.T. and you know why?---(then he screams) they were always screwing up!" He got it. In part two of this Psalm we gain this insight, "Over and over he reigned in his anger, restrained his considerable wrath." God was so patience with the Israelites. The Lord gave them chance after chance and then some more, yet they remained in their sin. The judgments that were handed down to Israel were their own fault!!!!!!!!! Their lives were marked by disobedience, stubbornness, and a propensity for surrendering to their own desires. God could have been harsher and would of been totally justified. God is good and full of mercy and grace. What does that do for you?
Paul warns Timothy that there will be a day that people will have no stomach for solid food, but will fill up on junk food. The church seems to go through cycles of demanding His strong food and then they want to go on a junk food binge. The leaders must stay strong during those times that people want the junk food. What does your diet look like?
Monday, September 14, 2009
257 Monday, September 14, 2009
257 Psalms 075 – 077; 2 Timothy 003
In Psalm 77, the last Psalm in this reading, we find the writer in the pits and bellowing out to God, "Why me?" We have all been there and there is a good chance we will visit there again. The writer moans, ' "Just my luck," ' I said, ' "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him." ' I love that take on our life. God is in the rescue business and just when we need a little help the shingle is hung out "closed." How does the writer climb out of the pit? Here is the way this man did it. "Once again I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts." This verse is a great way to start each day and for us to kick off the weekend. Ponder what God has done, not what He has not done.
In Psalm 77, the last Psalm in this reading, we find the writer in the pits and bellowing out to God, "Why me?" We have all been there and there is a good chance we will visit there again. The writer moans, ' "Just my luck," ' I said, ' "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him." ' I love that take on our life. God is in the rescue business and just when we need a little help the shingle is hung out "closed." How does the writer climb out of the pit? Here is the way this man did it. "Once again I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts." This verse is a great way to start each day and for us to kick off the weekend. Ponder what God has done, not what He has not done.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
256 Sunday, September 13, 2009
256 Psalms 073 – 074; 2 Timothy 002
There are portions of Scripture where you think to yourself, "if this was not in Scripture, I'm not sure I would fully understand suffering or name another subject and how to get through it." In the case of Psalm 73 it is the subject of suffering of the saints and how the wicked seemingly slide right on by. David is the King of Israel and a man after God's heart, but he is suffering. He looks over and sees the wicked kings and other sinful people prospering while thumbing their noses at God. Hence, why David starts the Psalm with these words, "No doubt about it! God is good---good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But, I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness." What David had forgotten as he moaned about his lot in life is the end of the wicked is that they will totally fall apart, but not the followers of Yahweh. When we suffer here we must remember that our lot is in heaven and that is forever. Those that thumb their nose at God and have a "good time here" do not know that is all the good time they will ever have, for there will be none in eternity for them. We must take the long term perspective of life or we will crash in our blindness. Is it worth it--serving God with a whole heart? Yes--even when life does not turn out the way we want it to turn out. We may have broken dreams, but they are dreams built upon unbroken promises, delivered to us by our Loving Savior.
There are portions of Scripture where you think to yourself, "if this was not in Scripture, I'm not sure I would fully understand suffering or name another subject and how to get through it." In the case of Psalm 73 it is the subject of suffering of the saints and how the wicked seemingly slide right on by. David is the King of Israel and a man after God's heart, but he is suffering. He looks over and sees the wicked kings and other sinful people prospering while thumbing their noses at God. Hence, why David starts the Psalm with these words, "No doubt about it! God is good---good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But, I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness." What David had forgotten as he moaned about his lot in life is the end of the wicked is that they will totally fall apart, but not the followers of Yahweh. When we suffer here we must remember that our lot is in heaven and that is forever. Those that thumb their nose at God and have a "good time here" do not know that is all the good time they will ever have, for there will be none in eternity for them. We must take the long term perspective of life or we will crash in our blindness. Is it worth it--serving God with a whole heart? Yes--even when life does not turn out the way we want it to turn out. We may have broken dreams, but they are dreams built upon unbroken promises, delivered to us by our Loving Savior.
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