304 Proverbs 7 – 9; Matthew 24.1 – 24.22
Headlines of the day "Adultery Is A Fools Game." For the completion of the thought, "Sex Outside Of Marriage Is A Fools Game." It used to be more of a man's game, but now women are wanting to jump in. For what reason do they want to join fools? I have no idea. One of the pictures that the wisdom writers use is a lady out on the street calling people to wisdom. She is called lady wisdom. Lady wisdom calls out to us not to live well, but to live at our best. I often tell people who talk to me about God's will that God's will in the Bible has to do with His moral will not finding the place, the person, etc. The study of the Bible will reveal that 99% of the time when God's will is talked about it is about God's moral will. In my time here on earth I have seen people fret more over finding the right job, the right mate, the right house, the right vacation etc., when we should be fretting over doing the known will of God--His moral will. When we do what is right, excellent living follows suit. This is why wisdom calls out that, "The Fear-of-God means hating Evil, whose ways I hate with a passion..."
The end is near--this is the message of Matthew 24. False Christ's, wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes--the whole way the world is wired is going to implode. In the end everything is connected, since God made it. The way everything is connected is going to be disconnected. The leader of the disconnectedness is the anti-Christ or as the Message puts it "The Monster of Desecration." A day is coming when we will be so glad that we are Christians. That same day will make some regret the day they were born. The mess will become more of a mess and then the Sweeper will come to straighten out the mess. The Christ will soundly beat the anti-Christ. We are on the victor's side--Amen!!!!!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
303 Friday, October 30, 2009
303 Proverbs 4 – 6; Matthew 23
Sell everything you have and get wisdom. Why? Wisdom will guard your life. In Proverbs a huge theme is that life is important, and therefore, how you live it is important. The everyday choices that one makes adds up to a life. In Psalms we are told that the Lord leads us in paths of righteousness for His names sake and in Proverbs we are told how to navigate those paths. It is a manual for living the good life. One of the ways to stay on the path is not to listen to the voice of one who tries to seduce us. Keep far from this person. For the married couple wisdom says you stay at home and invest in that spouse. Why would you trade a few moments with a prostitute or a seductive woman and throw away your life? Please take note of the seven things God hates.
The religious fashion show is happening somewhere in your neighborhood. People can talk the talk but they do not walk the walk. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were experts at this religious fashion show. We can become experts at this. We should seek out the humble place and give others the praise. Jesus continues by saying that these, so called, “experts” have become roadblocks to the kingdom of heaven. Those that were to be showing the way are now blocking the way. This is the travesty of each generation, that there are those who know the way but end up blocking the way. Pray that we not be or become those people.
Sell everything you have and get wisdom. Why? Wisdom will guard your life. In Proverbs a huge theme is that life is important, and therefore, how you live it is important. The everyday choices that one makes adds up to a life. In Psalms we are told that the Lord leads us in paths of righteousness for His names sake and in Proverbs we are told how to navigate those paths. It is a manual for living the good life. One of the ways to stay on the path is not to listen to the voice of one who tries to seduce us. Keep far from this person. For the married couple wisdom says you stay at home and invest in that spouse. Why would you trade a few moments with a prostitute or a seductive woman and throw away your life? Please take note of the seven things God hates.
The religious fashion show is happening somewhere in your neighborhood. People can talk the talk but they do not walk the walk. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were experts at this religious fashion show. We can become experts at this. We should seek out the humble place and give others the praise. Jesus continues by saying that these, so called, “experts” have become roadblocks to the kingdom of heaven. Those that were to be showing the way are now blocking the way. This is the travesty of each generation, that there are those who know the way but end up blocking the way. Pray that we not be or become those people.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
302 Thursday, October 29, 2009
302 Proverbs 1 – 3; Matthew 22.23 – 22.46
Psalms teaches us how to worship rightly and the Proverbs teaches us how to live wisely. If you want wisdom that will help you craft a mature and healthy lifestyle then you must first begin by bowing down to God. In other versions it says, "true knowledge comes from fearing God." The writer of the proverbs lets us know right off that moral choices leads to a good life. If you have an ‘all you can get’ attitude then, "the more you get, the less you are." In chapter two the wisdom writer lets us in on the secret to gaining more wisdom--make it a top priority. It seems so simple, but ask yourself, what do you work on more--your career or wisdom, hobby or wisdom, sports or wisdom? No, really, ask yourself!
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection so they came to trap Jesus with their questions about marriage in the after life. Christ lets them know that they do not understand the afterlife since there is no marriage in the afterlife. Also, Jesus lets them in on a little secret, "God is the God of the living, not the dead." Jesus has told us that he is the resurrection and the life and that if anyone comes to him they shall live. Thank God for the resurrection and that Christ has led the way. In the end that is our only hope that Christ raises us from the dead!!!
Psalms teaches us how to worship rightly and the Proverbs teaches us how to live wisely. If you want wisdom that will help you craft a mature and healthy lifestyle then you must first begin by bowing down to God. In other versions it says, "true knowledge comes from fearing God." The writer of the proverbs lets us know right off that moral choices leads to a good life. If you have an ‘all you can get’ attitude then, "the more you get, the less you are." In chapter two the wisdom writer lets us in on the secret to gaining more wisdom--make it a top priority. It seems so simple, but ask yourself, what do you work on more--your career or wisdom, hobby or wisdom, sports or wisdom? No, really, ask yourself!
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection so they came to trap Jesus with their questions about marriage in the after life. Christ lets them know that they do not understand the afterlife since there is no marriage in the afterlife. Also, Jesus lets them in on a little secret, "God is the God of the living, not the dead." Jesus has told us that he is the resurrection and the life and that if anyone comes to him they shall live. Thank God for the resurrection and that Christ has led the way. In the end that is our only hope that Christ raises us from the dead!!!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
300 Wednesday, October 27, 2009
300 Job 38 – 42; Matthew 22.1 – 22.22
The news headlines for Job: "Fortune Restored--Double" an unbelievable turn of events. Job finally faces God and gets a face full of God. God simply points out that he is God and Job is not. In one section God asks Job, "Are you making me out to be a sinner so you can be a saint?" This is straight talk from God. Job repents and even prays for his friends. It is after this turn of event that God restores to Job his health and everything else times two. What a great ending!
What is God's kingdom like? What value system does it employ? Jesus is telling these parables about the kingdom of God to give insight to how God operates. This is the story about the king throwing a wedding feast and the original guests do not come. The king then sends out his servants on the highways and byways to compel others to come. The "others" are not what you would call wedding feast material, but they come and the feast is on. The "others" in this story are the gentiles. God had invited Israel to come, but they had said no. You just never know who is going to come to dinner because God invited them. Stay tuned!
The news headlines for Job: "Fortune Restored--Double" an unbelievable turn of events. Job finally faces God and gets a face full of God. God simply points out that he is God and Job is not. In one section God asks Job, "Are you making me out to be a sinner so you can be a saint?" This is straight talk from God. Job repents and even prays for his friends. It is after this turn of event that God restores to Job his health and everything else times two. What a great ending!
What is God's kingdom like? What value system does it employ? Jesus is telling these parables about the kingdom of God to give insight to how God operates. This is the story about the king throwing a wedding feast and the original guests do not come. The king then sends out his servants on the highways and byways to compel others to come. The "others" are not what you would call wedding feast material, but they come and the feast is on. The "others" in this story are the gentiles. God had invited Israel to come, but they had said no. You just never know who is going to come to dinner because God invited them. Stay tuned!
Monday, October 26, 2009
299 Tuesday, October 26, 2009
299 Job 35 – 37; Matthew 21.23 – 21.46
You can sense that there is a view of God that if you behave then God blesses you and if you misbehave then God will punish you. This view that Elihu is espousing as well as the others is not a for sure deal in the O.T. and is surely not taught in the N.T. In the O.T. there is a bigger connection between obedience and blessing, yet there are countless times where God should have punished and He didn't. In the N.T. there is even more grace revealed and how God apart from us still blesses us. It is important that you know God!! Who God is determines how He interacts with His creation.
Jesus was so great in his interactions with the Pharisees. They were constantly trying to trap him and they ended up stepping in it. Instead of trying to get to know Him they were trying to throw him off his stride and pull him down. The Son of God stood right there and they chose to argue. Today let us choose not to argue but to open up our hearts to Him.
You can sense that there is a view of God that if you behave then God blesses you and if you misbehave then God will punish you. This view that Elihu is espousing as well as the others is not a for sure deal in the O.T. and is surely not taught in the N.T. In the O.T. there is a bigger connection between obedience and blessing, yet there are countless times where God should have punished and He didn't. In the N.T. there is even more grace revealed and how God apart from us still blesses us. It is important that you know God!! Who God is determines how He interacts with His creation.
Jesus was so great in his interactions with the Pharisees. They were constantly trying to trap him and they ended up stepping in it. Instead of trying to get to know Him they were trying to throw him off his stride and pull him down. The Son of God stood right there and they chose to argue. Today let us choose not to argue but to open up our hearts to Him.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
298 Monday, October 25, 2009
298 Job 32 – 34; Matthew 21.1 – 21.22
Now the youngest finally speaks out. He has kept quiet out of respect for the older men, but regrets it since he now understands wisdom comes from God not age. Elihu's point is that Job's claim to be pure before God is a misconception of the holiness of God. If Job knew exactly who God is and His holiness, he would not speak this nonsense. Elihu calls upon God's omnipresence to help Job know that there is no way God would not know what Job has done. He believes Job has compounded his sin by defending himself instead of confessing his sin. What a great discourse on suffering, pain, sin, and where is God in this mix?
Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem is followed by him kicking over the tables. His Father's house is to be a house of prayer. They were selling their stuff in the court of the gentiles, thereby pushing out the gentiles. The temple was set up so the gentiles could learn about God. The Jews had forgotten their mission. The place where the gentiles were to learn to pray was cut off. Money became more important than the mission. What has become more important for you than the mission of Christ?
Now the youngest finally speaks out. He has kept quiet out of respect for the older men, but regrets it since he now understands wisdom comes from God not age. Elihu's point is that Job's claim to be pure before God is a misconception of the holiness of God. If Job knew exactly who God is and His holiness, he would not speak this nonsense. Elihu calls upon God's omnipresence to help Job know that there is no way God would not know what Job has done. He believes Job has compounded his sin by defending himself instead of confessing his sin. What a great discourse on suffering, pain, sin, and where is God in this mix?
Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem is followed by him kicking over the tables. His Father's house is to be a house of prayer. They were selling their stuff in the court of the gentiles, thereby pushing out the gentiles. The temple was set up so the gentiles could learn about God. The Jews had forgotten their mission. The place where the gentiles were to learn to pray was cut off. Money became more important than the mission. What has become more important for you than the mission of Christ?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
