325 Esther 7 – 10; 2 Peter 1
The gallows you have built for someone else are going to be used on you. Haman never saw it coming. It all started with a generous gesture. The king asked the Queen what it is that she wanted. Queen Esther said she wanted her people to be saved from the massacre--that was about to happen. The king wanted to know who was behind this plot. She gladly answered it is Haman. Haman had built the gallows for her uncle Mordecai. Now Haman was hung from those gallows. Not only does Mordecai get saved from the gallows, he is appointed over the estate of Haman. The order was given by the king that the Jews could defend themselves against this attack. The Jews won every battle. It was almost unsafe not to be Jew. People were becoming Jews, I do not know their motivation. In a secular, religiously pluralistic society, the Jews were the buzz of the whole nation. By the way, have you found the name of God in this book? The book of Esther is the only book in the Word of God that does not have the name of God in it. God is behind the scenes all the time doing what God does. The name of God does not have to be used in order for God to be at work.
We participate in the very nature of God. God is in us through the person of the Holy Spirit. There is no time to waste we must build upon that great foundation. It might good for you to list the qualities that Peter lays out for the Christian. These words are great focus words. They grab your attention and help you measure some growth in your life. The next paragraph Peter calls Christians to examine their calling on Christ. Make sure you are one of His. Peter is not apologizing to his recipients for staying on the message of staying alert in order to serve Christ. He reminds them that he was a personal witness to this Jesus Christ. In other words, he is speaking the truth from a first hand account. Jesus is real!!! Act like it!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
324 Friday, November 20, 2009
324 Esther 3 – 6; 1 Peter 5
There is always one in the crowd. Everybody else is doing it, but that one person. There is always one in the crowd and in this case it is Mordecai. Haman was greeted by the king's servants by bowing down to him, but not Mordecai. Why wouldn't Mordecai bow down? Even though Mordecai was in a foreign land He still had a heart for God. He was not going to bow down to Haman. This of course infuriated Haman and now he is looking for a way to eliminate all the Jews in the kingdom. He gets approval from the King to destroy all the Jews throughout the kingdom at his own expense. There is a message sent out that this will happen and now Mordecai is mortified. He contacts Esther in hopes that she, as the Queen, can influence the King to rescind the order. One problem is that anyone approaching the king uninvited is killed. But, God has other ways and even uses a bad nights rest to help Xerxes go over past events. While studying the records he learns that Mordecai had exposed a plot to kill the king. Yet, nothing had been done to honor him. By the way, have you found the name of God in your reading of this book? God is at work around you. For such a time as this had Esther been born and raised to a place of honor.
Those in leadership of the church must be diligent in watching over the church. This care has to come from a heart of "I want to _____" not that "I have to _____." When the leaders are helping take care of the church they must keep in mind that the chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, is watching over all of us. Peter once again warns believers to stay alert for we have an enemy that wants to devour us. This theme of being alert is prominent in Peter’s book--why? Peter had let his guard down and failed the Lord. Stay alert in your spirit.
There is always one in the crowd. Everybody else is doing it, but that one person. There is always one in the crowd and in this case it is Mordecai. Haman was greeted by the king's servants by bowing down to him, but not Mordecai. Why wouldn't Mordecai bow down? Even though Mordecai was in a foreign land He still had a heart for God. He was not going to bow down to Haman. This of course infuriated Haman and now he is looking for a way to eliminate all the Jews in the kingdom. He gets approval from the King to destroy all the Jews throughout the kingdom at his own expense. There is a message sent out that this will happen and now Mordecai is mortified. He contacts Esther in hopes that she, as the Queen, can influence the King to rescind the order. One problem is that anyone approaching the king uninvited is killed. But, God has other ways and even uses a bad nights rest to help Xerxes go over past events. While studying the records he learns that Mordecai had exposed a plot to kill the king. Yet, nothing had been done to honor him. By the way, have you found the name of God in your reading of this book? God is at work around you. For such a time as this had Esther been born and raised to a place of honor.
Those in leadership of the church must be diligent in watching over the church. This care has to come from a heart of "I want to _____" not that "I have to _____." When the leaders are helping take care of the church they must keep in mind that the chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, is watching over all of us. Peter once again warns believers to stay alert for we have an enemy that wants to devour us. This theme of being alert is prominent in Peter’s book--why? Peter had let his guard down and failed the Lord. Stay alert in your spirit.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
323 Thursday, November 19, 2009
323 Esther 1 – 2; 1 Peter 4
I hope you read Esther slowly and as you read it try to find God's name mentioned in it. There are so many things to highlight in this book. I find it amusing that the Queen would not come to King Xerxes when he had commanded her to come. She did this while the King threw a party for “the guys”. When the men saw what the Queen had done they immediately went into protection mode. ‘Wait a minute, your Kingship, if the women get wind of what the Queen has done here there may be a feminist outbreak!’ Oh my things have not changed that much, if at all. They actually pass a law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked, that the Queen is forever banished from the Kings presence. Now a new show will air that will be a contest to find a new Queen for the King. Let's call it "Queen." How original is that? You’re ahead of the story if you are thinking that Esther, a Jewish girl, might win this contest. God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. This fight between the Queen and the King ends up being the event that triggers other events that save the lives of the Jews. God is at work around you.
Peter is teaching us about a mindset that we must have as Christians. It is so easy to fall prey to the thinking that when everything is going smoothly or at least with just a few bumps that God is blessing us. Peter wants us to deeply understand that part of the Christian's life is to suffer. It is not fun to suffer but we can pass the test. We can hang in there by His grace and His power. It is a time of refining in order to bring out the true richness of life. It is so easy to get caught up in the things that do not count. Let's stay focused and let God be God in our lives.
I hope you read Esther slowly and as you read it try to find God's name mentioned in it. There are so many things to highlight in this book. I find it amusing that the Queen would not come to King Xerxes when he had commanded her to come. She did this while the King threw a party for “the guys”. When the men saw what the Queen had done they immediately went into protection mode. ‘Wait a minute, your Kingship, if the women get wind of what the Queen has done here there may be a feminist outbreak!’ Oh my things have not changed that much, if at all. They actually pass a law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked, that the Queen is forever banished from the Kings presence. Now a new show will air that will be a contest to find a new Queen for the King. Let's call it "Queen." How original is that? You’re ahead of the story if you are thinking that Esther, a Jewish girl, might win this contest. God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. This fight between the Queen and the King ends up being the event that triggers other events that save the lives of the Jews. God is at work around you.
Peter is teaching us about a mindset that we must have as Christians. It is so easy to fall prey to the thinking that when everything is going smoothly or at least with just a few bumps that God is blessing us. Peter wants us to deeply understand that part of the Christian's life is to suffer. It is not fun to suffer but we can pass the test. We can hang in there by His grace and His power. It is a time of refining in order to bring out the true richness of life. It is so easy to get caught up in the things that do not count. Let's stay focused and let God be God in our lives.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
321 Tuesday, November 17, 2009
321 Lamentations 3 – 5; 1 Peter 3
Here is the point when God has "ground your face into the gravel." It comes down to "God's loyal love couldn't have run out, His merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left." Even when we are being disciplined by God, or questioning God; go with God! It is counter-intuitive, but it is right. The Lord is all we have to begin with and it is all we will have in the end.
What is more important the outward or the inward? Christians and a lot of non-Christians would say it is the inward that counts the most. Peter is drilling that point home when giving instructions to husbands and wives. It is the inward that counts the most. Yet, how much energy, thought, and actual time do we spend on the inward? In the next forty-eight hours do some real time examination on the thoughts given to the inward. Maybe, you could even carry a small notebook to keep a record.
Here is the point when God has "ground your face into the gravel." It comes down to "God's loyal love couldn't have run out, His merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left." Even when we are being disciplined by God, or questioning God; go with God! It is counter-intuitive, but it is right. The Lord is all we have to begin with and it is all we will have in the end.
What is more important the outward or the inward? Christians and a lot of non-Christians would say it is the inward that counts the most. Peter is drilling that point home when giving instructions to husbands and wives. It is the inward that counts the most. Yet, how much energy, thought, and actual time do we spend on the inward? In the next forty-eight hours do some real time examination on the thoughts given to the inward. Maybe, you could even carry a small notebook to keep a record.
Monday, November 16, 2009
320 Monday, November 16, 2009
320 Lamentations 1 – 2; 1 Peter 2
We cannot turn ourselves to the will of God, but we can be broken towards it. Suffering is a part of life. Life is difficult. Lamentations is the blues book of the Bible. The message is that God is faithful in the midst of our suffering. We can turn from the Lord when all is well, just out of neglect. When we suffer we can doubt God, His love, and certainly His wisdom as one who plans our life. When we were born, it was destined that we would suffer. The Quester heard this loud and clear. We can run from it, medicate it, philosophize about it--the fact remains we hurt. God is faithful! Turn towards the Lord and seek His comfort, it is our only hope.
Clean your life up. We can get sloppy with this gift of salvation. Stop it! Peter is forthright about our lives. We are the living stones built upon the living Stone. Alleluia!! The living Stone can be the cornerstone for your life or it can be the death of you. Build your life upon the Stone and not your own wisdom. With all this in mind Peter reminds us that this world is not our home. We are but pilgrims passing through. We have to be so careful not to get attached. Live life with a loose grip on this stuff and a tight grip on Jesus. So get a grip--on Jesus!
We cannot turn ourselves to the will of God, but we can be broken towards it. Suffering is a part of life. Life is difficult. Lamentations is the blues book of the Bible. The message is that God is faithful in the midst of our suffering. We can turn from the Lord when all is well, just out of neglect. When we suffer we can doubt God, His love, and certainly His wisdom as one who plans our life. When we were born, it was destined that we would suffer. The Quester heard this loud and clear. We can run from it, medicate it, philosophize about it--the fact remains we hurt. God is faithful! Turn towards the Lord and seek His comfort, it is our only hope.
Clean your life up. We can get sloppy with this gift of salvation. Stop it! Peter is forthright about our lives. We are the living stones built upon the living Stone. Alleluia!! The living Stone can be the cornerstone for your life or it can be the death of you. Build your life upon the Stone and not your own wisdom. With all this in mind Peter reminds us that this world is not our home. We are but pilgrims passing through. We have to be so careful not to get attached. Live life with a loose grip on this stuff and a tight grip on Jesus. So get a grip--on Jesus!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
319 Sunday, November 15, 2009
319 Ecclesiastes 8 – 12; 1 Peter 1
Part of the job of wisdom is to interpret the meaning of life. The other part of the job is to then craft a life full of meaning based upon that interpretation. The first part then is very important, because if you do not get the interpretation right, the building of that life will be wrong. Who is in control? The king who is now the Quester is letting us in on the biggest truth of all--God is in control and not us. The King--not a peasant is telling us--give up--you are not in control. This is coming from one who would have a lot of control. Then the preacher turns his attention to the fact that all suffer the some fate--death. In the face of these two truths, we are not in control and we are all going to die--seize life. What?!?! Yea, you heard the preacher. Get on with living and stop worrying. Go to the end of the book and it really makes sense as to what the teacher is going after. In the end, "Fear God. Do what He tells you." The Westminster Catechism tells us that, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." The life that God has given you--live it! Live that life for the Lord.
Peter lets us in on a little secret. In the end, God will find our faith more important than our possessions. Peter had lost his faith when he needed it most. It is no wonder that he starts right off the bat telling us to hang onto our faith, it is very precious. Peter points us to the fact that Jesus is coming back and we should be ready. The pattern of evil that we once attended to needs to be avoided at all costs. In light of Christ's return live a life that is wholly given over to our Savior. Amen.
Part of the job of wisdom is to interpret the meaning of life. The other part of the job is to then craft a life full of meaning based upon that interpretation. The first part then is very important, because if you do not get the interpretation right, the building of that life will be wrong. Who is in control? The king who is now the Quester is letting us in on the biggest truth of all--God is in control and not us. The King--not a peasant is telling us--give up--you are not in control. This is coming from one who would have a lot of control. Then the preacher turns his attention to the fact that all suffer the some fate--death. In the face of these two truths, we are not in control and we are all going to die--seize life. What?!?! Yea, you heard the preacher. Get on with living and stop worrying. Go to the end of the book and it really makes sense as to what the teacher is going after. In the end, "Fear God. Do what He tells you." The Westminster Catechism tells us that, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." The life that God has given you--live it! Live that life for the Lord.
Peter lets us in on a little secret. In the end, God will find our faith more important than our possessions. Peter had lost his faith when he needed it most. It is no wonder that he starts right off the bat telling us to hang onto our faith, it is very precious. Peter points us to the fact that Jesus is coming back and we should be ready. The pattern of evil that we once attended to needs to be avoided at all costs. In light of Christ's return live a life that is wholly given over to our Savior. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
