4:2 - Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. - What trust have you been given? Some of you have been entrusted with a church, others with a family and some with wealth. Some of you have been entrusted with a leadership position, others with a skill or ability and others with a quality or characteristic. God expects all of us to use what we have been given for His purpose and His glory. One day we will be asked what we did with what God entrusted to us. what did you do with my church? What did you do with the influence I gave you? what did you do with the money I entrusted to you each month? What did you do with your family or your artistic ability or your compassion? Each one of us needs to live so that we have a ready and good answer.
4:4 - My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. - I find it frustrating how many people today believe that because they feel innocent they must be innocent. God is the judge and we would be wise to let Him tell us whether we are innocent of guilty. The problem for most of us is we are outside of conviction because we have convinced ourselves that what we feel is the truth. It may be that we are walking in disobedience and sin, but don't feel it. Go to God and ask Him if you are walking as righteously as you feel you are.
4:5 - Jesus will one day expose the motives of people's hearts. - Does that excite you or scare you to death? That might tell you something.
4:7 - For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
4:12-13 - We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world - right up to this moment. - This is a great job description of a Christian leader. The one that stands out to me the most this morning is the slander one. When someone at work slanders you do you respond kindly or do you fight back? A godly leader answers slander with kindness.
4:20 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. - YES!!! This is something God has really been working on me about lately. The kingdom of God is about His power being seen in the lives of people and not just studying or preaching or singing. It is about His Spirit moving in ways that are impossible. It is about instantaneous change and not gradual change. It is about instant healing and not just healing through doctors. It is about instant provision and not just a better job. We have nullified the possibility of the miraculous by settling for what the world offers instead. We no longer beg for instant healing instead we ask God to use the doctors. I am all for doctors, but why not ask the Great Physician first? We need to get back to the place where we expect the Spirit of God to do incredible things and quit just talking about it.
Love, Michael
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
1 Corinthians 3
I was reading 1 Corinthians 3 this morning and something really struck me. I have always understood that the letter to the Corinthians deals with division, but I have never seen how thoroughly it ties together. It has always seemed to ramble a bit, but then this morning it was like God was showing me how all of the pieces fit together. In chapter 3 when Paul is talking about human wisdom it is because our 'wisdom" is what causes us to become the source of division many times. We think we know better and so we divide the church.
Also, Paul says in verse 17 that "you TOGETHER are the temple." I have always heard this verse as "you are the temple" and don't do anything to hurt that temple. This is way different. This is saying we, the body of Christ and not just one individual, are the temple of God and if anyone divides that temple God will not be happy. Big difference from me being the temple and us being the temple.
3:1 - Infants in Christ still tend to be worldly in nature. This is important because it can increase our grace with them and it can also be used to teach others that they are acting like an infant in Christ when they live or reason by human standards. I would think it would be easier to help convict a person who has been a Christian a while that they need to change if you could help them see that they are an infant in Christ. The problem for most of us is we think we are so mature in Christ. Maybe helping people see what infant Christianity looks like will help them grow out of it.
3:3 - We should act different than mere human beings. I hear people saying things like, "It's only human nature." or "Everybody else does it too." We are not mere human beings. We have the Spirit of the LIVING God inside of us and so we do not do what mere human beings do. We live differently. We live victoriously. We live sacrificially.
3:6-7 - God alone makes the seed grow. Planting and watering are both good tasks.
3:13 - their work will be shown for what it is ... test the QUALITY of each person's work. - This verse is very interesting in light of how many of us believe. Many people believe that just loving Jesus is enough. This verse says that Christians will be judged in some way to test the quality of their work. I wonder if you are living in a way that will make this show and tell exciting for you or nerve racking. God is too God for us to just escape the flames. We should prove the depth of our gratitude by the quality of our Christian lives.
3:17 - ... you TOGETHER are that TEMPLE. - Makes a lot more sense in context than the idea that you individually are the temple of God.
3:18 - It is people thinking they are wise that leads to division. I can't tell you how many times I have seen churches struggle with division because someone thought they knew better. True humility follows its leaders when they are walking Biblically. If someone doesn't like a program or a direction or an idea, humility follows as long as it does not defy a salvation level teaching.
3:22-23 - ... all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
Love, Michael
Also, Paul says in verse 17 that "you TOGETHER are the temple." I have always heard this verse as "you are the temple" and don't do anything to hurt that temple. This is way different. This is saying we, the body of Christ and not just one individual, are the temple of God and if anyone divides that temple God will not be happy. Big difference from me being the temple and us being the temple.
3:1 - Infants in Christ still tend to be worldly in nature. This is important because it can increase our grace with them and it can also be used to teach others that they are acting like an infant in Christ when they live or reason by human standards. I would think it would be easier to help convict a person who has been a Christian a while that they need to change if you could help them see that they are an infant in Christ. The problem for most of us is we think we are so mature in Christ. Maybe helping people see what infant Christianity looks like will help them grow out of it.
3:3 - We should act different than mere human beings. I hear people saying things like, "It's only human nature." or "Everybody else does it too." We are not mere human beings. We have the Spirit of the LIVING God inside of us and so we do not do what mere human beings do. We live differently. We live victoriously. We live sacrificially.
3:6-7 - God alone makes the seed grow. Planting and watering are both good tasks.
3:13 - their work will be shown for what it is ... test the QUALITY of each person's work. - This verse is very interesting in light of how many of us believe. Many people believe that just loving Jesus is enough. This verse says that Christians will be judged in some way to test the quality of their work. I wonder if you are living in a way that will make this show and tell exciting for you or nerve racking. God is too God for us to just escape the flames. We should prove the depth of our gratitude by the quality of our Christian lives.
3:17 - ... you TOGETHER are that TEMPLE. - Makes a lot more sense in context than the idea that you individually are the temple of God.
3:18 - It is people thinking they are wise that leads to division. I can't tell you how many times I have seen churches struggle with division because someone thought they knew better. True humility follows its leaders when they are walking Biblically. If someone doesn't like a program or a direction or an idea, humility follows as long as it does not defy a salvation level teaching.
3:22-23 - ... all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
Love, Michael
Saturday, August 29, 2009
1 Corinthians 2
I am reading 1 Corinthians 2 today.
2:2-5 - a Great reminder not to try to preach with eloquence or human wisdom. It is so easy to try to preach so that people will enjoy it instead of preaching with the power of Christ where people will benefit from it. I am all for good preaching.but we have to be careful that we don't put creativity in front of truth.
2:4-5 - My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, SO THAT your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. - This is the reason we avoid trying to preach so the people will like it. People need help not entertainment. they need to have their faith on Jesus and not on their preacher. We can actually hurt people's faith when we focus on being better preachers at the cost of being better Christ followers. Let the truth of God coming through you and out of you be what teaches and not just some truth you found, wrapped up neatly and then presented with a sideshow. Let people see a demonstration of the power of God's truth to change their life. God forbid that anyone put their faith in me. After all, like one man said, we are just glorified newspaper boys selling someone else's truth. may they always see the truth and forget about me.
2:7 - The wisdom of God comes with mystery. In our culture we have lost our sense of awe because we try to explain and understand everything. sometimes the best thing you can do is sit back and enjoy God instead of trying to understand Him all the time. Not that we could unravel all the mysteries of God, but why try? Leave a sense of mystery in your faith and it will help you worship him.
2:9 - What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived - these things God has prepared for those who love him. - Besides really digging how good the things God has planned for us, I love the use of the word prepared. He has ALREADY done it. they are already waiting. It isn't like there is anything left to chance. God has already got it ready and He is just waiting on us now.
2:12 - We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. - Love this verse. God gives us the Spirit so we can understand the truths we need to know that will encourage us.
2:14-15 - Having the Spirit is critical to understanding.
2:16 - ... but we have the mind of Christ.
Love, Michael
2:2-5 - a Great reminder not to try to preach with eloquence or human wisdom. It is so easy to try to preach so that people will enjoy it instead of preaching with the power of Christ where people will benefit from it. I am all for good preaching.but we have to be careful that we don't put creativity in front of truth.
2:4-5 - My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, SO THAT your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. - This is the reason we avoid trying to preach so the people will like it. People need help not entertainment. they need to have their faith on Jesus and not on their preacher. We can actually hurt people's faith when we focus on being better preachers at the cost of being better Christ followers. Let the truth of God coming through you and out of you be what teaches and not just some truth you found, wrapped up neatly and then presented with a sideshow. Let people see a demonstration of the power of God's truth to change their life. God forbid that anyone put their faith in me. After all, like one man said, we are just glorified newspaper boys selling someone else's truth. may they always see the truth and forget about me.
2:7 - The wisdom of God comes with mystery. In our culture we have lost our sense of awe because we try to explain and understand everything. sometimes the best thing you can do is sit back and enjoy God instead of trying to understand Him all the time. Not that we could unravel all the mysteries of God, but why try? Leave a sense of mystery in your faith and it will help you worship him.
2:9 - What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived - these things God has prepared for those who love him. - Besides really digging how good the things God has planned for us, I love the use of the word prepared. He has ALREADY done it. they are already waiting. It isn't like there is anything left to chance. God has already got it ready and He is just waiting on us now.
2:12 - We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. - Love this verse. God gives us the Spirit so we can understand the truths we need to know that will encourage us.
2:14-15 - Having the Spirit is critical to understanding.
2:16 - ... but we have the mind of Christ.
Love, Michael
Friday, August 28, 2009
1 Corinthians 1
Starting 1 Corinthians today.
1:2 - When Paul uses the word church he means those who:
are sanctified/set apart
called to be holy
together with other Christians
If your idea of church doesn't match that it isn't the church of the Bible.
1:5 - enriched in every way - Do you believe that your relationship with Jesus enriches you in EVERY way? If not, there must be something undeveloped, underdeveloped or missing in your walk. Jesus enriches everything - marriage, parenting, work, play, rest. The life Jesus intends for us is one where He blesses every single part.
1:7 - Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gifts as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. - Remember, Paul is speaking to the church and not just one individual. He says that the church as Jesus puts it together does not lack any of the gifts it needs. We need to pay attention to the giftedness of each person so we can make sure to be the complete and mature church Jesus wants us to be. I think many times we think we lack what we need, but God has provided EVERYTHING we need for success and effectiveness.
1:8 - He will also keep you firm to the end, SO THAT you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:10 - ... no divisions among you ... perfectly united in mind and thought. - Jesus would have that we be completely united. I find it interesting how deeply everybody else's division bothers us. When someone at church goes their own way and does it their own way it deeply offends our spirit of unity, but how often do we look at the places in our life where we choose ourselves over unity? That is the first thing we can deeply impact anyway.
1:13 - Paul expresses that a couple of the key aspects of Christianity are the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and your baptism into Christ. Check out the word into.
1:17 - This verse can be misunderstood to mean baptism is not or was not significant to Paul. In reality, when you consider the context of the passage you understand that Paul is expressing that faith is not in him. God did not call Paul to baptize people or bring people to faith in Paul, but in God through Christ.
1:21 - We are saved through what is preached.
1:25 - For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. - YES!!!!! Not that God has any weakness, but even if He did it would be stronger than our strongest strength.
1:26-31 - Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. ... - Read this section. What were you before you were in Christ? I was just a guy and now, in Christ, I get to share the most significant message of all time and eternity. What about you? Isn't it true that Christ has made you who you are?
Love, Michael
1:2 - When Paul uses the word church he means those who:
are sanctified/set apart
called to be holy
together with other Christians
If your idea of church doesn't match that it isn't the church of the Bible.
1:5 - enriched in every way - Do you believe that your relationship with Jesus enriches you in EVERY way? If not, there must be something undeveloped, underdeveloped or missing in your walk. Jesus enriches everything - marriage, parenting, work, play, rest. The life Jesus intends for us is one where He blesses every single part.
1:7 - Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gifts as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. - Remember, Paul is speaking to the church and not just one individual. He says that the church as Jesus puts it together does not lack any of the gifts it needs. We need to pay attention to the giftedness of each person so we can make sure to be the complete and mature church Jesus wants us to be. I think many times we think we lack what we need, but God has provided EVERYTHING we need for success and effectiveness.
1:8 - He will also keep you firm to the end, SO THAT you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:10 - ... no divisions among you ... perfectly united in mind and thought. - Jesus would have that we be completely united. I find it interesting how deeply everybody else's division bothers us. When someone at church goes their own way and does it their own way it deeply offends our spirit of unity, but how often do we look at the places in our life where we choose ourselves over unity? That is the first thing we can deeply impact anyway.
1:13 - Paul expresses that a couple of the key aspects of Christianity are the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and your baptism into Christ. Check out the word into.
1:17 - This verse can be misunderstood to mean baptism is not or was not significant to Paul. In reality, when you consider the context of the passage you understand that Paul is expressing that faith is not in him. God did not call Paul to baptize people or bring people to faith in Paul, but in God through Christ.
1:21 - We are saved through what is preached.
1:25 - For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. - YES!!!!! Not that God has any weakness, but even if He did it would be stronger than our strongest strength.
1:26-31 - Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. ... - Read this section. What were you before you were in Christ? I was just a guy and now, in Christ, I get to share the most significant message of all time and eternity. What about you? Isn't it true that Christ has made you who you are?
Love, Michael
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Ezekiel 40-48
I decided to finish up Ezekiel this morning so I powered through Ezekiel 40-48. Most of it deals with details for a new temple and a new way of worshipping. Here are a few verses that stood out to me.
44:8 - Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary. - I wonder if we do this. Do we take the holy things of God and tasked them or delegate them to other people? What would some of the holy things that God has entrusted to you be? Are you doing them or figuring out how to get others to do them?
44:34 - They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. - This is the job of any godly leader and yet we spend so much time teaching them other things. We need to get back to helping people develop the ability to distinguish so they can honor God in the way the live.
46:9 - The reason God had them enter through one gate, but make sure to leave through a different one may have been to help emphasize to them that they needed to leave differently than they arrived. How many times do we leave an experience with God and His people the same way we came. Being in the presence of God and of God's people should cause us to be changed in some way. If we go through a service or a small group or a day and we are not affected by it we need to check the hardness of our hearts. God changes you and so does being with His people.
Love, Michael
44:8 - Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary. - I wonder if we do this. Do we take the holy things of God and tasked them or delegate them to other people? What would some of the holy things that God has entrusted to you be? Are you doing them or figuring out how to get others to do them?
44:34 - They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. - This is the job of any godly leader and yet we spend so much time teaching them other things. We need to get back to helping people develop the ability to distinguish so they can honor God in the way the live.
46:9 - The reason God had them enter through one gate, but make sure to leave through a different one may have been to help emphasize to them that they needed to leave differently than they arrived. How many times do we leave an experience with God and His people the same way we came. Being in the presence of God and of God's people should cause us to be changed in some way. If we go through a service or a small group or a day and we are not affected by it we need to check the hardness of our hearts. God changes you and so does being with His people.
Love, Michael
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Ezekiel 39 and Jude
I read Ezekiel 39 which was pretty straight forward. No comments on it.
I also read Jude, just for something extra.
1:3 - contend for the faith - When I think of contend I think of someone fighting for and wrestling for and standing up for. Do you fight for the faith or just walk in and out of it? Do you defend it when it is attacked or just turn the other way? Do you work hard, breaking a sweat for the Kingdom of God or do you just half-heartedly put your back into it?
1:4 - ... They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign Lord. - Two sure signs that it is not of God - it allows for sin of any kind and it denies that Jesus is the ONLY way.
1:8 - Sin that leads to eternal destruction: pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse.
1:12 - shepherds who feed only themselves - There are a lot of these out there today - leaders who lead for their own benefit. We have to make sure we are shepherds who feed the sheep and not just feed off of the sheep.
1:16 - grumblers and faultfinders - Wow! I so don't like this verse. It points right to my heart sometimes. We have to quit the simple act of grumbling and complaining. It isn't blowing off steam it is dishonoring God and wrecking our faith. There is more power in our words than we care to admit.
1:19 - These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instinct and do not have the Spirit. - This is the basis of division. People who do what comes natural to them instead of what the Bible teaches and who do not walk with the Holy Spirit. There is a big difference between going to church and walking in the Holy Spirit.
1:20-21 - But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. - Great way to stay in Christ - build yourself up and pray.
Love, Michael
I also read Jude, just for something extra.
1:3 - contend for the faith - When I think of contend I think of someone fighting for and wrestling for and standing up for. Do you fight for the faith or just walk in and out of it? Do you defend it when it is attacked or just turn the other way? Do you work hard, breaking a sweat for the Kingdom of God or do you just half-heartedly put your back into it?
1:4 - ... They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign Lord. - Two sure signs that it is not of God - it allows for sin of any kind and it denies that Jesus is the ONLY way.
1:8 - Sin that leads to eternal destruction: pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse.
1:12 - shepherds who feed only themselves - There are a lot of these out there today - leaders who lead for their own benefit. We have to make sure we are shepherds who feed the sheep and not just feed off of the sheep.
1:16 - grumblers and faultfinders - Wow! I so don't like this verse. It points right to my heart sometimes. We have to quit the simple act of grumbling and complaining. It isn't blowing off steam it is dishonoring God and wrecking our faith. There is more power in our words than we care to admit.
1:19 - These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instinct and do not have the Spirit. - This is the basis of division. People who do what comes natural to them instead of what the Bible teaches and who do not walk with the Holy Spirit. There is a big difference between going to church and walking in the Holy Spirit.
1:20-21 - But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. - Great way to stay in Christ - build yourself up and pray.
Love, Michael
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Ezekiel 36-37
I read Ezekiel 36-37 today. Chapter 37 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. It talks about God breathing new life into dead bones.
36:21 - I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. - God has a deep concern for how we treat and represent His name. I wonder how He feels about the way we represent Him. When someone looks at you do they see the great love of God, the grace and mercy, the respect and awe you have, a sense of worship and obedience? Am I living so that others believe the best about God or would they think less of Him because of how I talk, walk, ....?
36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. - Beautiful verse.
37:3 - Can these bones live? - I love the picture God uses. There is a valley of dead bones all lying around in a huge heap and He asks Ezekiel if they can live again. Most of us would say no. Dead things never come back to life. But God is making the point that He brings dead things back to full life. If you have sinned and feel dead in an area of your life you need to know that one word from God and you can be alive again. Why stay dead if you don't have to?????
Love, Michael
36:21 - I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. - God has a deep concern for how we treat and represent His name. I wonder how He feels about the way we represent Him. When someone looks at you do they see the great love of God, the grace and mercy, the respect and awe you have, a sense of worship and obedience? Am I living so that others believe the best about God or would they think less of Him because of how I talk, walk, ....?
36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. - Beautiful verse.
37:3 - Can these bones live? - I love the picture God uses. There is a valley of dead bones all lying around in a huge heap and He asks Ezekiel if they can live again. Most of us would say no. Dead things never come back to life. But God is making the point that He brings dead things back to full life. If you have sinned and feel dead in an area of your life you need to know that one word from God and you can be alive again. Why stay dead if you don't have to?????
Love, Michael
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Ezekiel 34-35
Chapter 34 shows that God expects leaders to consider and take care of the people entrusted to them. Leadership is not position-focused, but responsibility focused.
34:4 - You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. - In this verse you can definitely see what God expects from leaders, especially shepherds or elders.
34:10 - Leaders are held accountable for my (God's) flock. - They have a responsibility to God for the condition and health of the people under their leadership. It isn't enough to get frustrated over their sin and weakness. We will be held accountable for what we do to help them. It is not that we have to change them, change is for them to embrace, but we must do everything in our power, the easy and the uncomfortable, to help them grow and one day we will be asked about what we did and how far we were willing to go.
34:11-16 - God will personally intervene to shepherd His people -JESUS!!!!! He will do several specific things that we should be doing also:
- search, look for and rescue the lost
- look after those who are near us
- bring them out of difficulty and into a place of peace
- pasture them (feed them) in good places
- tend to them and care for their needs. Pay attention to them.
34:16 - I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. - It might be easy here to think that God is picking on the strong, but He is speaking about those who have made themselves strong off of the meat and condition of the flock. It isn't strength God has a problem with, but making yourself strong off of other people.
34:17-19 - Really interesting section.
35:6 - ... Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. - I know here that God is speaking specifically to the people of Mt. Seir, the Edomites, but I think the principle is still true. When we do not hate bloodshed, but instead get involved in it and honor it we suffer the same fate, because our hearts become calloused. We have so many kids who live in our "Christian" homes who feed on violence everyday and we do nothing about it. In some cases we buy the guns, games and books. We need to teach our kids to value what God values. Turning the gore off doesn't turn the issue off. Death is the opposite of the God of life.
Love, Michael
34:4 - You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. - In this verse you can definitely see what God expects from leaders, especially shepherds or elders.
34:10 - Leaders are held accountable for my (God's) flock. - They have a responsibility to God for the condition and health of the people under their leadership. It isn't enough to get frustrated over their sin and weakness. We will be held accountable for what we do to help them. It is not that we have to change them, change is for them to embrace, but we must do everything in our power, the easy and the uncomfortable, to help them grow and one day we will be asked about what we did and how far we were willing to go.
34:11-16 - God will personally intervene to shepherd His people -JESUS!!!!! He will do several specific things that we should be doing also:
- search, look for and rescue the lost
- look after those who are near us
- bring them out of difficulty and into a place of peace
- pasture them (feed them) in good places
- tend to them and care for their needs. Pay attention to them.
34:16 - I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. - It might be easy here to think that God is picking on the strong, but He is speaking about those who have made themselves strong off of the meat and condition of the flock. It isn't strength God has a problem with, but making yourself strong off of other people.
34:17-19 - Really interesting section.
35:6 - ... Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. - I know here that God is speaking specifically to the people of Mt. Seir, the Edomites, but I think the principle is still true. When we do not hate bloodshed, but instead get involved in it and honor it we suffer the same fate, because our hearts become calloused. We have so many kids who live in our "Christian" homes who feed on violence everyday and we do nothing about it. In some cases we buy the guns, games and books. We need to teach our kids to value what God values. Turning the gore off doesn't turn the issue off. Death is the opposite of the God of life.
Love, Michael
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Ezekiel 29-33
I have read Ezekiel 29-33 the past couple of days.
33:9 - Implies that Ezekiel would not be saved if he was not faithful to fulfill his ministry. WOW!
33:11-20 - Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?'
"Therefore, son of man, say to your people, 'If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person's former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person's former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous, if they sin, will not be allowed to live because of their former righteousness.' If I tell the righteous that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things they have done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. And if I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' but they then turn away from their sins and do what is just and right— if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil, they will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins they have committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.
"Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just. If the righteous turn from their righteousness and do evil, they will die for it. And if the wicked turn away from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live by doing so. Yet you say, house of Israel, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But I will judge each of you according to your own ways."
One comment in the commentary I am reading along with Ezekiel really struck me. He says, "the one 'possessed hope without holiness,' the others were 'hearers of the word, but not doers of the work.'" WOW! That is so true of people today. Some have an unrealistic optimism based on how they were raised or what country they live in or some distorted view of what salvation is and others gather around to hear the Word constantly, but they never really apply it and do the work God has called them to do.
Another thing the commentator expresses is how the Bible always says that the way a man is living (in willful sin or striving for holiness) is what we are judged by and the Bible has no such concept as once saved always saved. God is not inconsistent if He saves a man and then that man chooses to live a sinful life that leads him away from grace. In those cases, God is consistent in holiness and judgment and the man is the one who is inconsistent. Isn't it funny how we can contrive a doctrine and then blame God if it doesn't work out. Our willing obedience is brought together with God's grace to save us. It would make God a very unjust God to save a man and then let him live like hell on earth, but somehow act as those His hands were tied to try the man for his sin. God is consistent and just and His grace is never ending, but obedience and grace will forever be tied together in the mystery of Christ.
33:31 - My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
Today we are headed out to the apple orchard with some friends to pick apples and berries. Should be a lot of fun. Man, I sound like such a yuppie and I don't even own a Volvo. HA!
Love, Michael
33:9 - Implies that Ezekiel would not be saved if he was not faithful to fulfill his ministry. WOW!
33:11-20 - Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?'
"Therefore, son of man, say to your people, 'If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person's former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person's former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous, if they sin, will not be allowed to live because of their former righteousness.' If I tell the righteous that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things they have done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. And if I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' but they then turn away from their sins and do what is just and right— if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil, they will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins they have committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.
"Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just. If the righteous turn from their righteousness and do evil, they will die for it. And if the wicked turn away from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live by doing so. Yet you say, house of Israel, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But I will judge each of you according to your own ways."
One comment in the commentary I am reading along with Ezekiel really struck me. He says, "the one 'possessed hope without holiness,' the others were 'hearers of the word, but not doers of the work.'" WOW! That is so true of people today. Some have an unrealistic optimism based on how they were raised or what country they live in or some distorted view of what salvation is and others gather around to hear the Word constantly, but they never really apply it and do the work God has called them to do.
Another thing the commentator expresses is how the Bible always says that the way a man is living (in willful sin or striving for holiness) is what we are judged by and the Bible has no such concept as once saved always saved. God is not inconsistent if He saves a man and then that man chooses to live a sinful life that leads him away from grace. In those cases, God is consistent in holiness and judgment and the man is the one who is inconsistent. Isn't it funny how we can contrive a doctrine and then blame God if it doesn't work out. Our willing obedience is brought together with God's grace to save us. It would make God a very unjust God to save a man and then let him live like hell on earth, but somehow act as those His hands were tied to try the man for his sin. God is consistent and just and His grace is never ending, but obedience and grace will forever be tied together in the mystery of Christ.
33:31 - My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
Today we are headed out to the apple orchard with some friends to pick apples and berries. Should be a lot of fun. Man, I sound like such a yuppie and I don't even own a Volvo. HA!
Love, Michael
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Ezekiel 26-28
I read Ezekiel 26-28 today. Good stuff.
Many people look at chapter 28 as an explanation for Satan falling from heaven, but it doesn't work if you read the context. Ezekiel is talking to the king of Tyre with several prophecies and the idea that he somehow shifts to talking about Satan is not a good interpretation of the passage. The truth is there is very little about Satan's origins in the Bible. Just thought you should know.
Have a great day.
Love, Michael
Many people look at chapter 28 as an explanation for Satan falling from heaven, but it doesn't work if you read the context. Ezekiel is talking to the king of Tyre with several prophecies and the idea that he somehow shifts to talking about Satan is not a good interpretation of the passage. The truth is there is very little about Satan's origins in the Bible. Just thought you should know.
Have a great day.
Love, Michael
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Ezekiel 24-25
Read Ezekiel 24-25 today. It deals with some of the judgment God was brining on other nations for mocking Israel's destruction.
Michael
Michael
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Ezekiel 22-23
22:12 - When a nation forgets God things get raunchy really quick. Want an example? Look at TV over the last 50 years or even the last 10 years.
22:15 - The Diaspora (the scattering of the Jews) was, in part, about cleansing the land of the evil that had been carried out in it.
22:26 - ... they do not distinguish between the holy and the common. - Do we?
22:30 - I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. - I think it is really interesting that Ezekiel and Jeremiah and the other prophets were not considered the men to stand in the gap. It seems like God was looking for someone among the people to stand up. I wonder if in Pueblo West God is saying that the preachers are not going to be the ones to fill the gap and save the city, but the people. Individuals who are willing to stand up and fill the gap to win this community to Christ.
23:24 - ... I will turn you over to them for punishment, and they will punish you according to their standards.
23:35 - ... Since you have forgotten me and thrust me behind your back,... - Simple question - Where are you thrusting God behind your back and why?
23:29 - The Israelites would sacrifice their kids in the fire as an act of pagan worship and idolatry and then trot off to the temple to "worship" God. How sick. Ever go to church and then watch something that dishonors God that same evening? Ever go to Bible study and then go home to get on the net to look at pics? Ever go on a retreat and then rush home to get drunk? Ever read the Word for the day and then hurry back to your anger, pride, lust or arrogance? We can learn a lot from the Israelites and what happens when your faith doesn't sink in and affect how you spend the rest of your day.
The Israelites were using the things God has blessed them with as part of their idolatry. I wonder how we do this today. Do we use the financial blessing of God to buy things that soil our souls? Do we use the blessings of freedom God has bestowed on us to take care of our own needs instead of looking to take care of the needs of others? Do we take simple things like the gift of travel and use it to worship the God of adventure or recreation instead of honoring God by using it to take the Gospel places? The things that God has blessed us with should be used for His purposes. Find where you are currently blessed and you have found part of your purpose.
Love, Michael
22:15 - The Diaspora (the scattering of the Jews) was, in part, about cleansing the land of the evil that had been carried out in it.
22:26 - ... they do not distinguish between the holy and the common. - Do we?
22:30 - I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. - I think it is really interesting that Ezekiel and Jeremiah and the other prophets were not considered the men to stand in the gap. It seems like God was looking for someone among the people to stand up. I wonder if in Pueblo West God is saying that the preachers are not going to be the ones to fill the gap and save the city, but the people. Individuals who are willing to stand up and fill the gap to win this community to Christ.
23:24 - ... I will turn you over to them for punishment, and they will punish you according to their standards.
23:35 - ... Since you have forgotten me and thrust me behind your back,... - Simple question - Where are you thrusting God behind your back and why?
23:29 - The Israelites would sacrifice their kids in the fire as an act of pagan worship and idolatry and then trot off to the temple to "worship" God. How sick. Ever go to church and then watch something that dishonors God that same evening? Ever go to Bible study and then go home to get on the net to look at pics? Ever go on a retreat and then rush home to get drunk? Ever read the Word for the day and then hurry back to your anger, pride, lust or arrogance? We can learn a lot from the Israelites and what happens when your faith doesn't sink in and affect how you spend the rest of your day.
The irony was that she used the gifts which God had bestowed upon her to advance the cause of idolatry.
(James Smith, The Major Prophets, pg 441)
The Israelites were using the things God has blessed them with as part of their idolatry. I wonder how we do this today. Do we use the financial blessing of God to buy things that soil our souls? Do we use the blessings of freedom God has bestowed on us to take care of our own needs instead of looking to take care of the needs of others? Do we take simple things like the gift of travel and use it to worship the God of adventure or recreation instead of honoring God by using it to take the Gospel places? The things that God has blessed us with should be used for His purposes. Find where you are currently blessed and you have found part of your purpose.
Love, Michael
Monday, August 17, 2009
Ezekiel 19-21
I read Ezekiel 19 yesterday.
I read Ezekiel 20-21 today.
20:6 - a land I had searched out for them...the most beautiful of lands. - I thought it was neat that God explained that He was the One who would search out a land for them. We get so busy trying to finding our own land (whether for a church physically or our place in the world) and yet God has promised to find the perfect place for us if we will simply follow Him and let Him do the searching.
20:11 - God explains that His decrees will bring life if people will obey them.
20:37 - I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of covenant. - I just love the sound of this verse. You have God saying He will act as the Good Shepherd who carefully watches for His own and then takes good care of them. I get the picture of a shepherd who is making sure to get every one of his sheep because he knows he will take good care of them and he loves them. He separates them from the others because the others will be treated harshly.
21:27 - A prophecy about Jesus.
Love, Michael
I read Ezekiel 20-21 today.
20:6 - a land I had searched out for them...the most beautiful of lands. - I thought it was neat that God explained that He was the One who would search out a land for them. We get so busy trying to finding our own land (whether for a church physically or our place in the world) and yet God has promised to find the perfect place for us if we will simply follow Him and let Him do the searching.
20:11 - God explains that His decrees will bring life if people will obey them.
20:37 - I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of covenant. - I just love the sound of this verse. You have God saying He will act as the Good Shepherd who carefully watches for His own and then takes good care of them. I get the picture of a shepherd who is making sure to get every one of his sheep because he knows he will take good care of them and he loves them. He separates them from the others because the others will be treated harshly.
21:27 - A prophecy about Jesus.
Love, Michael
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Ezekiel 17-18
WOW! Chapter 18 is awesome. I don't know how many times I have read through the Bible and Ezekiel 18 just jumps out there for the first time I can remember. It is filled with all kinds of theology, doctrine and the true heart of God. You just have to go read Ezekiel 18 and see all that is in there.
Chapter 17 is a neat parable to explain what Israel was doing.
17:8/23 - produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine. - I thought this was interesting from a strategic standpoint. Could you take this as the heart of God for all who follow Him?
18:4 - For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child - both alike belong to me...
18:7 & 12 - It seems like there are really only 2 options in God's eyes: give and provide for the poor and needy or be considered someone who oppresses the poor and needy. It doesn't seem like you can be neutral or uninvolved here.
18:20 - ...The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.
18:23 - Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? - God gets a bad rap as someone who likes seeing the wicked destroyed. From what I read in the Bible God is brokenhearted that any would choose wickedness, but He is swift and just in His dealing with them. God would rather that every person live well, but if they aren't He will protect those who are by bringing justice on the wicked. It may not seem like it at this moment, but God will deal with those who choose their own way over the way He has called Him to. In the meantime, He longs for every person to turn back to Him so He can save them.
18:24 - I wonder if this verse would help in a discussion about once saved always saved or whether a person can walk away from God after choosing Him.
18:31 - ...get a new heart and a new spirit....
18:32 - For I take no pleasure in the death of the anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Prent and live!
Love, Michael
Chapter 17 is a neat parable to explain what Israel was doing.
17:8/23 - produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine. - I thought this was interesting from a strategic standpoint. Could you take this as the heart of God for all who follow Him?
18:4 - For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child - both alike belong to me...
18:7 & 12 - It seems like there are really only 2 options in God's eyes: give and provide for the poor and needy or be considered someone who oppresses the poor and needy. It doesn't seem like you can be neutral or uninvolved here.
18:20 - ...The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.
18:23 - Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? - God gets a bad rap as someone who likes seeing the wicked destroyed. From what I read in the Bible God is brokenhearted that any would choose wickedness, but He is swift and just in His dealing with them. God would rather that every person live well, but if they aren't He will protect those who are by bringing justice on the wicked. It may not seem like it at this moment, but God will deal with those who choose their own way over the way He has called Him to. In the meantime, He longs for every person to turn back to Him so He can save them.
18:24 - I wonder if this verse would help in a discussion about once saved always saved or whether a person can walk away from God after choosing Him.
18:31 - ...get a new heart and a new spirit....
18:32 - For I take no pleasure in the death of the anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Prent and live!
Love, Michael
Friday, August 14, 2009
Ezekiel 16
I read Ezekiel 16 today. Talk about one of the most graphic explanations of what Israel did (and we do) when we turn our backs on God and forget who we are. In one section Ezekiel records the prophecy God gave to him and says:
WOW! Talk about God making a point. Sin and rebellion and selfishness and pride make us prostitutes with regard to our faith. We run after anyone and anything that will make us feel better and all the time we dishonor our God. He even goes on to say that Israel didn't even require payment for her prostitution. How many times do we turn our backs to God and our fronts to someone or something else and we don't even require payment? WOW!
Ezekiel likens Israel to other nations who had been unfaithful to God and he says the things that led to their prostitution were being arrogant, overfed, unconcerned and not helping the poor and needy. Sound like our society today? It does to me.
And yet through this passage God says that He will yet change things and make atonement for you for all you have done,...
Love, Michael
...degrading your beauty, spreading your legs with increasing promiscuity to anyone who passed by.
WOW! Talk about God making a point. Sin and rebellion and selfishness and pride make us prostitutes with regard to our faith. We run after anyone and anything that will make us feel better and all the time we dishonor our God. He even goes on to say that Israel didn't even require payment for her prostitution. How many times do we turn our backs to God and our fronts to someone or something else and we don't even require payment? WOW!
Ezekiel likens Israel to other nations who had been unfaithful to God and he says the things that led to their prostitution were being arrogant, overfed, unconcerned and not helping the poor and needy. Sound like our society today? It does to me.
And yet through this passage God says that He will yet change things and make atonement for you for all you have done,...
Love, Michael
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Ezekiel 14-15
Read some good stuff in Ezekiel 14-15. Instead of commenting on it I will share an article I wrote for our newsletter.
Nancy and the kids have a game they play in my house called - ONE MORE! Nancy will ask one of the kids for a kiss and they will give her one and then she will say - ONE MORE! The right response is to give her ONE MORE kiss and then she will say ONE MORE! This game can go on for a LOOOONNNNGG time.
The heart of that game is love. Nancy wants the kids to know that she loves them so much that one isn’t enough. And she wants them to know that two or three or four isn’t enough either. Just ONE MORE would be enough.
It is like the Diamond Rio song, One More Day. It is a song that talks about someone losing someone they love and how they would give anything for just ONE MORE day with them. They would pay more attention to them, hold them more, be with them more.
This whole week I have been ONE MORE-ing God in the morning. At our elders non-retreat we talked about a desire we each had to add worship to our daily life. I jumped all over it and have been totally blown away by how refreshing it is and how it helps keeps my heart and mind settled during the whole day. On Tuesday I started doing a little worship and ended up 2 hours later. Today, I was just going to worship for a few minutes and then it turned into about an hour.
Now this isn’t to toot my own horn, but to remind you that God is worth ONE MORE! He is worth ONE MORE try, ONE MORE minute or hour or day, ONE MORE percent, ONE MORE conversation, ONE MORE whatever. One day this life will be over and for those of us that walk with Jesus that will be a good thing. But I think many of us will look back and think, “Man, if I could just have ONE MORE day back there I would do it differently.” Why not live differently today and give God ONE MORE of whatever will make Him smile.
Love,
Michael
Nancy and the kids have a game they play in my house called - ONE MORE! Nancy will ask one of the kids for a kiss and they will give her one and then she will say - ONE MORE! The right response is to give her ONE MORE kiss and then she will say ONE MORE! This game can go on for a LOOOONNNNGG time.
The heart of that game is love. Nancy wants the kids to know that she loves them so much that one isn’t enough. And she wants them to know that two or three or four isn’t enough either. Just ONE MORE would be enough.
It is like the Diamond Rio song, One More Day. It is a song that talks about someone losing someone they love and how they would give anything for just ONE MORE day with them. They would pay more attention to them, hold them more, be with them more.
This whole week I have been ONE MORE-ing God in the morning. At our elders non-retreat we talked about a desire we each had to add worship to our daily life. I jumped all over it and have been totally blown away by how refreshing it is and how it helps keeps my heart and mind settled during the whole day. On Tuesday I started doing a little worship and ended up 2 hours later. Today, I was just going to worship for a few minutes and then it turned into about an hour.
Now this isn’t to toot my own horn, but to remind you that God is worth ONE MORE! He is worth ONE MORE try, ONE MORE minute or hour or day, ONE MORE percent, ONE MORE conversation, ONE MORE whatever. One day this life will be over and for those of us that walk with Jesus that will be a good thing. But I think many of us will look back and think, “Man, if I could just have ONE MORE day back there I would do it differently.” Why not live differently today and give God ONE MORE of whatever will make Him smile.
Love,
Michael
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
1 Peter 3-5
So here is the stuff from this morning.
3:4 - the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
3:6 - We don't submit because we are afraid. Afraid of getting taken advantage of. Afraid of being forgotten or becoming less significant. Fear keeps us from being the people God called us to be. And, if we cannot submit to the people God has put in our lives (husbands, parents, bosses, church leaders, etc) we cannot and will not submit to God the way we should. It is a truth most of us refuse to accept, but it is a truth none the less.
3:7 - Treating your wife poorly hinders your prayers!!!
3:9 - Those who bless receive a blessing.
3:15 - To have people ask you about your faith you have to have a hope that is seen. Is your hope so obvious that people ask you about it? We think people will ask us when we know more, but God says they will ask us when we hope more.
3:20 - God waited - WOW! Did you hear that? God waited. What in the world is so important that God would wait? What would cause God to step in line and wait instead of just walking to the front of the line and doing whatever He wants? YOU! God waited for the sake of saving Noah and His family. God waits today to bring the earth and everyone in it to justice because He wants you to be saved. God...waited (and waits).....for YOU! He won't forever, but He does right now.
3:21 - I am a baptism guy. I am one of those guys who has read through the Bible multiple times and I can't see baptism as something less than a part of God's plan for every person who comes to Christ. I love this verse that reminds us that even baptism would be meaningless without the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus is the centerpiece of our hope.
4:5 - But they will have to give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
4:8 - Above all, love... - Simple enough.
4:10 - Serving = administering God's grace
4:19 - Commit yourself to God and continue to do good - especially when you suffer.
5:2 - Shepherds, it matters why and how you watch over the flock. Be careful to judge and watch over your own motives.
Love, Michael
3:4 - the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
3:6 - We don't submit because we are afraid. Afraid of getting taken advantage of. Afraid of being forgotten or becoming less significant. Fear keeps us from being the people God called us to be. And, if we cannot submit to the people God has put in our lives (husbands, parents, bosses, church leaders, etc) we cannot and will not submit to God the way we should. It is a truth most of us refuse to accept, but it is a truth none the less.
3:7 - Treating your wife poorly hinders your prayers!!!
3:9 - Those who bless receive a blessing.
3:15 - To have people ask you about your faith you have to have a hope that is seen. Is your hope so obvious that people ask you about it? We think people will ask us when we know more, but God says they will ask us when we hope more.
3:20 - God waited - WOW! Did you hear that? God waited. What in the world is so important that God would wait? What would cause God to step in line and wait instead of just walking to the front of the line and doing whatever He wants? YOU! God waited for the sake of saving Noah and His family. God waits today to bring the earth and everyone in it to justice because He wants you to be saved. God...waited (and waits).....for YOU! He won't forever, but He does right now.
3:21 - I am a baptism guy. I am one of those guys who has read through the Bible multiple times and I can't see baptism as something less than a part of God's plan for every person who comes to Christ. I love this verse that reminds us that even baptism would be meaningless without the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus is the centerpiece of our hope.
4:5 - But they will have to give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
4:8 - Above all, love... - Simple enough.
4:10 - Serving = administering God's grace
4:19 - Commit yourself to God and continue to do good - especially when you suffer.
5:2 - Shepherds, it matters why and how you watch over the flock. Be careful to judge and watch over your own motives.
Love, Michael
1 Peter 1-2
I had a crazy day yesterday. It started out with an early morning coaching appointment and then moved on to me getting the chance to worship for about 2 hours, which was awesome. I was going to worship, read and then pray, but the worship thing got ahold of me and I didn't stop until after 10 AM. Then, when I got ready to go read and pray, God gave me a great opportunity to serve some friends and my community. By the time all was said and done it was after 9 PM, I hadn't read or prayed yet and I still hadn't eaten since lunch. We ordered pizza and I showered and then spent some time reading the Word. I didn't seem to manage a good prayer time, but I did enjoy my time in the Word. You will probably notice I jumped into 1 Peter. I didn't have my commentaries with me and didn't want to read just to read, so I figured I'd read 1 Peter last night and today and then jump back into Ezekiel tomorrow (Thursday). Hope you don't mind.
1:2 - ...Grace and peace be yours in ABUNDANCE. - I love the abundance part. Not just grace and peace, but large quantities of grace and peace. Costco or Sam's Club warehouse/bulk quantities of it.
1:5 - It is through faith that we are shielded by God's power.
1:7 - Faith is a big deal to Peter. Look at how many times he refers to it in his letter.
1:8 - ...filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. - Do you experience this? If not go back and reexamine your faith. This should be the normal experience for every follower of Christ.
1:11 - The prophets were filled with the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ). Cool to see the same God working the same way thousands of years ago.
1:13 - Your hope is not set on things here and now, but on things in the future.
1:16 - Principle - Be holy, because God is holy and He wants to give you a great relationship with Him. Sometimes we think the things God says are rules. Some of them are, but most of them are God's way of explaining to us the good He wants to do in our life and simply giving us the parameters for receiving those gifts.
1:23 - The word of God is living and enduring.
2:2 - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, SO THAT by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. - Love this verse. Get hungry for God.
2:5 - Your calling = to be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:9 - God's special possession - Get that - YOU are God's SPECIAL possession. I have a sword that was passed down to me from my dad from his dad from WWII. It is a special possession to me. I show it to almost everyone who comes over to my house because I am so proud of it. You are that in God's house - the thing He loves to show everyone and tell everyone about.
2:11 - foreigners and exiles - We need to develop this mentality more. Some of us are dual citizens and that never works.
2:16 - Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. - You are free for a purpose!!!!
2:18 - Slaves, in reverent fear of God... - I was struck by the idea that we submit not because the other person deserves it, that isn't even a legitimate question. We submit out of a fear and love for God. You do not submit to your boss because he is some great guy, but because you fear and love God and therefore you would rather honor Him no matter what it costs you. I have some friends who really struggle with their boss because he seems to be a man who struggles with pride and competency, and I would tell them, Honor your boss out of reverence for Christ Jesus and God the Father. How you treat him says a lot to the world around you.
2:21 - Suffering for good is part of the example we are to follow.
2:23 - ... Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. - One of my favorite verses. Really. I know I say that a lot, but this one really is one of my favorite out of my favorites.
Love, Michael
1:2 - ...Grace and peace be yours in ABUNDANCE. - I love the abundance part. Not just grace and peace, but large quantities of grace and peace. Costco or Sam's Club warehouse/bulk quantities of it.
1:5 - It is through faith that we are shielded by God's power.
1:7 - Faith is a big deal to Peter. Look at how many times he refers to it in his letter.
1:8 - ...filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. - Do you experience this? If not go back and reexamine your faith. This should be the normal experience for every follower of Christ.
1:11 - The prophets were filled with the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ). Cool to see the same God working the same way thousands of years ago.
1:13 - Your hope is not set on things here and now, but on things in the future.
1:16 - Principle - Be holy, because God is holy and He wants to give you a great relationship with Him. Sometimes we think the things God says are rules. Some of them are, but most of them are God's way of explaining to us the good He wants to do in our life and simply giving us the parameters for receiving those gifts.
1:23 - The word of God is living and enduring.
2:2 - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, SO THAT by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. - Love this verse. Get hungry for God.
2:5 - Your calling = to be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:9 - God's special possession - Get that - YOU are God's SPECIAL possession. I have a sword that was passed down to me from my dad from his dad from WWII. It is a special possession to me. I show it to almost everyone who comes over to my house because I am so proud of it. You are that in God's house - the thing He loves to show everyone and tell everyone about.
2:11 - foreigners and exiles - We need to develop this mentality more. Some of us are dual citizens and that never works.
2:16 - Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. - You are free for a purpose!!!!
2:18 - Slaves, in reverent fear of God... - I was struck by the idea that we submit not because the other person deserves it, that isn't even a legitimate question. We submit out of a fear and love for God. You do not submit to your boss because he is some great guy, but because you fear and love God and therefore you would rather honor Him no matter what it costs you. I have some friends who really struggle with their boss because he seems to be a man who struggles with pride and competency, and I would tell them, Honor your boss out of reverence for Christ Jesus and God the Father. How you treat him says a lot to the world around you.
2:21 - Suffering for good is part of the example we are to follow.
2:23 - ... Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. - One of my favorite verses. Really. I know I say that a lot, but this one really is one of my favorite out of my favorites.
Love, Michael
Monday, August 10, 2009
Ezekiel 12-13
My brother and his family took my family to a climbing club in the Springs yesterday after church. It was a blast. My hands and arms are still tired.
Not a lot for you today from Ezekiel, mainly because it is pretty self-explanatory when you read it. Israel is rebellious, her leaders lie because they are afraid of the truth and God is coming to sort things out.
12:2 - According to Ezekiel rebellion can be defined as having eyes, but refusing to discern what is going on and ears, but refusing to hear what God is trying to say. It appears that God has created us with the ability to see and hear, but we mess that up by the way we live. I wonder how many of us think we are doing all we can to walk with Jesus, but in reality we are living rebelliously because we refuse to see and listen. We want it to come easily, but it takes attention. God, forgive us for our lack of attention that leads us to rebelliousness.
13:6 - ... Even though the Lord has not sent them, the say, "The Lord declares," and expect him to fulfill their words. We have to be careful not to be people who speak for ourselves. It is easy to get caught up teaching what you think or what your opinion is, but the truth of God is all that truly matters. As leaders, teachers, etc. we have to stay focused on teaching His word, His way and let Him be the One that does the good work.
Love,
Michael
Not a lot for you today from Ezekiel, mainly because it is pretty self-explanatory when you read it. Israel is rebellious, her leaders lie because they are afraid of the truth and God is coming to sort things out.
12:2 - According to Ezekiel rebellion can be defined as having eyes, but refusing to discern what is going on and ears, but refusing to hear what God is trying to say. It appears that God has created us with the ability to see and hear, but we mess that up by the way we live. I wonder how many of us think we are doing all we can to walk with Jesus, but in reality we are living rebelliously because we refuse to see and listen. We want it to come easily, but it takes attention. God, forgive us for our lack of attention that leads us to rebelliousness.
13:6 - ... Even though the Lord has not sent them, the say, "The Lord declares," and expect him to fulfill their words. We have to be careful not to be people who speak for ourselves. It is easy to get caught up teaching what you think or what your opinion is, but the truth of God is all that truly matters. As leaders, teachers, etc. we have to stay focused on teaching His word, His way and let Him be the One that does the good work.
Love,
Michael
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Ezekiel 7-11
Yesterday I read Ezekiel 7-8. I was really struck by how it says I will judge them according to their conduct. four times. You know, now days we are told that what we do doesn't matter. Since we have grace actions don't matter. but that doesn't line up with Scripture. Our actions do matter. They are not the only thing that matters, but God will judge us in part based on our conduct. I wonder what God thinks when we say we love Him and then do nothing to adjust our conduct to honor Him. It is a lot like someone who says they love you and then goes out and cheats on you. Love is proven by what we do as a response to it.
In the commentary I am reading as I go through Ezekiel there were a few neat comments as well. The author, Smith, says, "This judgment would correct their faulty notions about the nature of God (7:1-4)." That is an interesting way of looking at this tough time in Scripture. God used severe punishment and trials to save a greater number of people. And then he quotes a man named Andrew Blackwood as saying, "the death of material property turned out to be the resurrection of faith." That is true. When we lose everything we go back to God. Why not go back to God now? The truth is sometimes it takes great loss before we see true value.
Today I read Ezekiel 9-11. Here are a few verses for you.
9:4 - Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it. - I wonder how many of us are grieved and lament over the detestable things done in our community. Do we cry out to God to change the rate of divorce or the hurt or the senseless death? Do we beg God to intervene and change people's hearts so they are no longer alone and isolated? god, that I might grieve and lament over my city in a way that honors you.
11:12 - ... but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you. - I am amazed at this constant warning in the Bible and how much we simply ignore it. When we as followers of Christ conform to the standards and patterns of the people around us we dishonor God and ruin our faithfulness. We cannot live like those around us. they do not live as God intends. No matter how we wrap it up, we have to live with a different standard and not just inside. The standard you live by is seen on the outside. Why are we so afraid of being different? One day our difference is what will save us and yet we shun it today. What silly Christians we are. We turn our backs on what will save us.
11:19 - I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. - Beautiful verse. God has the power to remove our hearts of stone.
Love, Michael
In the commentary I am reading as I go through Ezekiel there were a few neat comments as well. The author, Smith, says, "This judgment would correct their faulty notions about the nature of God (7:1-4)." That is an interesting way of looking at this tough time in Scripture. God used severe punishment and trials to save a greater number of people. And then he quotes a man named Andrew Blackwood as saying, "the death of material property turned out to be the resurrection of faith." That is true. When we lose everything we go back to God. Why not go back to God now? The truth is sometimes it takes great loss before we see true value.
Today I read Ezekiel 9-11. Here are a few verses for you.
9:4 - Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it. - I wonder how many of us are grieved and lament over the detestable things done in our community. Do we cry out to God to change the rate of divorce or the hurt or the senseless death? Do we beg God to intervene and change people's hearts so they are no longer alone and isolated? god, that I might grieve and lament over my city in a way that honors you.
11:12 - ... but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you. - I am amazed at this constant warning in the Bible and how much we simply ignore it. When we as followers of Christ conform to the standards and patterns of the people around us we dishonor God and ruin our faithfulness. We cannot live like those around us. they do not live as God intends. No matter how we wrap it up, we have to live with a different standard and not just inside. The standard you live by is seen on the outside. Why are we so afraid of being different? One day our difference is what will save us and yet we shun it today. What silly Christians we are. We turn our backs on what will save us.
11:19 - I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. - Beautiful verse. God has the power to remove our hearts of stone.
Love, Michael
Friday, August 7, 2009
Ezekiel 4-6
Some really tough prophecy because of Israel's choice to turn it's back on God and live like everyone around them.
I was struck by how often the pain in our life is from choices we have made to turn our backs on God and then how we get mad at God for it. The way we live towards God dynamically effects our lives. When we live with rebellious and sinful hearts we hurt ourselves.
The phrase Then they will know that I am the Lord. is used 60 times in this book. God wants us to know Him for who He is. When we see Him for who He is we will understand He deserves our every obedience. How will the lost world see Him if we choose to live our own way? They have to see the value of God through our expressions of submission and love before they will understand.
I loved the part in chapter 6 where God says some will remember and be grieved at the way they have lived. Some of us will remember one day and we will be grieved. why not prevent that in our own lives bu looking at Him for who He is today?
I was struck by how often the pain in our life is from choices we have made to turn our backs on God and then how we get mad at God for it. The way we live towards God dynamically effects our lives. When we live with rebellious and sinful hearts we hurt ourselves.
The phrase Then they will know that I am the Lord. is used 60 times in this book. God wants us to know Him for who He is. When we see Him for who He is we will understand He deserves our every obedience. How will the lost world see Him if we choose to live our own way? They have to see the value of God through our expressions of submission and love before they will understand.
I loved the part in chapter 6 where God says some will remember and be grieved at the way they have lived. Some of us will remember one day and we will be grieved. why not prevent that in our own lives bu looking at Him for who He is today?
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Ezekiel 1-3
So, I am looking for the next place in the Bible to read and I decided on Ezekiel. For those of you that don't know, Ezekiel is a book full of prophecy and some pretty hard to understand imagery. I want to assure you I have no clue about most of it, but I do want to go through it along with a commentary on Ezekiel and see what good things God has stored in there.
One of the main themes of the first three chapters (and I'm guessing the whole book) is that the house of Israel is rebellious, obstinate and stubborn. The whole reason for Ezekiel's call to go to the people and tell them what God had to say was because they refused to listen to God at all. These people did what they wanted irregardless of what God taught. Not to much different from Christians today. Many of us do whatever we want no matter what God has spoken through His word. We listen and then do what suits us best. It's no wonder our faith is so weak and we have so many issues. Obedience leads to health and when we choose our way over obedience we are once again walking away from God.
One thing I found really fascinating was the commentators explanation for the 4 faces of the living creatures. He says that the four faces (man, lion, eagle and ox) represent that God is supreme and rules over man, wildlife, birds of the air and livestock. It is the idea that God is supreme over everything. He also says that the motion of the wheels and the eyes on everything refer to God as all-knowing and always present. Neat ideas.
Here are a few verses:
2:7 - You must speak my words to them, whether they listen of fail to listen, for they are rebellious.
3:7 - But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate.
3:11 - ...whether they listen of fail to listen.
3:14 - ...I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. - I am not sure how to take this. It could be that Ezekiel was mad the experience was over. It could be that he was angry with a righteous anger. Maybe he was mad God had called him. For some reason he was pretty upset.
3:18-21 - When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their lives, those wicked people will die for their sins, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sins; but you will have saved yourself.
Again, when the righteous turn from their righteousness and do evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sins. The righteous things they did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself. - WOW! Talk about accountability. God says that when we withhold the truth because we are afraid of how people will react, we are held accountable for what happens to them. See, we want to choose accountability, but it has already been chosen for us when we accepted Christ. We are accountable for all those we know. We can complain and moan about that much like some of the prophets did early on or we can embrace it and start helping people get right with God.
One of the main themes of the first three chapters (and I'm guessing the whole book) is that the house of Israel is rebellious, obstinate and stubborn. The whole reason for Ezekiel's call to go to the people and tell them what God had to say was because they refused to listen to God at all. These people did what they wanted irregardless of what God taught. Not to much different from Christians today. Many of us do whatever we want no matter what God has spoken through His word. We listen and then do what suits us best. It's no wonder our faith is so weak and we have so many issues. Obedience leads to health and when we choose our way over obedience we are once again walking away from God.
One thing I found really fascinating was the commentators explanation for the 4 faces of the living creatures. He says that the four faces (man, lion, eagle and ox) represent that God is supreme and rules over man, wildlife, birds of the air and livestock. It is the idea that God is supreme over everything. He also says that the motion of the wheels and the eyes on everything refer to God as all-knowing and always present. Neat ideas.
Here are a few verses:
2:7 - You must speak my words to them, whether they listen of fail to listen, for they are rebellious.
3:7 - But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate.
3:11 - ...whether they listen of fail to listen.
3:14 - ...I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. - I am not sure how to take this. It could be that Ezekiel was mad the experience was over. It could be that he was angry with a righteous anger. Maybe he was mad God had called him. For some reason he was pretty upset.
3:18-21 - When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their lives, those wicked people will die for their sins, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sins; but you will have saved yourself.
Again, when the righteous turn from their righteousness and do evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sins. The righteous things they did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself. - WOW! Talk about accountability. God says that when we withhold the truth because we are afraid of how people will react, we are held accountable for what happens to them. See, we want to choose accountability, but it has already been chosen for us when we accepted Christ. We are accountable for all those we know. We can complain and moan about that much like some of the prophets did early on or we can embrace it and start helping people get right with God.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
2 Corinthians 12-13
12:6 - ... so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. - I like this verse. We should live not so that others can think too highly of us, but so that they will think the right thing about us. The hard part here is our fleshy nature thinks we are better than we are. We tend to overstate how important we are or how hard we work or what a great sacrifice we are making. The truth is we need to see ourselves honestly and we need to strive to help others see us that way. When someone praises you beyond your true ability or actions you need to take caution and maybe even help them see otherwise. Some of us are seen as heroes to others and it inhibits their ability to be taught. They figure you are so far ahead of them that what you are teaching is true for you, but could never be of them. Also, we make it so that others don't feel like they can rebuke us. Honesty would be a blessing to them and us.
12:9 - My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. - God loves to work through the weak so no one is confused about who is doing the good work. We hate to be weak! We choose to be seen as strong rather than to be used by God. What would happen in your life and faith if today you found your greatest area of weakness and asked God to use you there?
12:10 - ...For when I am weak, then I am strong. - It is true. When you can admit you have no strength God comes in to make up the difference. When you think you can work it out on your own He lets you and you and I normally fail.
12:14 - ...what I want is not your possessions but you.... - This is how I feel about The Oasis.
13:4 - For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him in our dealing with you.
13:5 - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; tests yourselves.... - We are called to examine whether we truly are IN the faith and not just near it. We have to be careful not to trust our feelings or our desires, but to test our faith against the word of God to see if we are who we think we are. There would be nothing worse than to get home to heaven and have Jesus say, You aren't who you thought you were. Leave.
13:11 - Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. - What a great call for those of us in the body of Christ. We should make this one of our rallying cries.
13:14 - May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - Cool verse. Gets all three - God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit - in there and talks about grace, love and fellowship. I could see this being used as a blessing for people as they leave a Sunday service or a LIFE Group or something like that. Isn't it funny how weird many of us would think it would be to have someone bless us as we leave and yet how Biblical it is? I wouldn't want to hear the same thing week in and week out, but from time to time a blessing over the body would be really powerful.
Love, Michael
12:9 - My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. - God loves to work through the weak so no one is confused about who is doing the good work. We hate to be weak! We choose to be seen as strong rather than to be used by God. What would happen in your life and faith if today you found your greatest area of weakness and asked God to use you there?
12:10 - ...For when I am weak, then I am strong. - It is true. When you can admit you have no strength God comes in to make up the difference. When you think you can work it out on your own He lets you and you and I normally fail.
12:14 - ...what I want is not your possessions but you.... - This is how I feel about The Oasis.
13:4 - For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him in our dealing with you.
13:5 - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; tests yourselves.... - We are called to examine whether we truly are IN the faith and not just near it. We have to be careful not to trust our feelings or our desires, but to test our faith against the word of God to see if we are who we think we are. There would be nothing worse than to get home to heaven and have Jesus say, You aren't who you thought you were. Leave.
13:11 - Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. - What a great call for those of us in the body of Christ. We should make this one of our rallying cries.
13:14 - May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - Cool verse. Gets all three - God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit - in there and talks about grace, love and fellowship. I could see this being used as a blessing for people as they leave a Sunday service or a LIFE Group or something like that. Isn't it funny how weird many of us would think it would be to have someone bless us as we leave and yet how Biblical it is? I wouldn't want to hear the same thing week in and week out, but from time to time a blessing over the body would be really powerful.
Love, Michael
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
2 Corinthians 10-11
10:1 - By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you - In an elders' meeting I was a part of this past Sunday I was reminded of the wisdom of approaching people with meekness, gentleness and patience. It is easy to want to go wring necks, but Christ never did that. Even when He was turning over tables it was out of a deep love for His Father and the people. Except in extreme circumstances we need to approach and deal with people out of grace and not through power.
10:2 - ... people who think that we live by the standards of this world. - I find this verse alarming because I know so many Christians who really do believe we live by the standards of this world. They live their lives as though we had to be like the people around us. Look at our houses, cars, schedules, values, vacations, checkbooks. We have bought into the lie that to be effective we have to be like the people around us. We need to engage the culture, but we do not have to be so familiar with it that people can;t tell us apart from those whose only hope is this culture. We should live by such a different standard that others notice. We try so hard not to let our Christianity show. We have been convinced it is wrong, people will mock us and we will be more effective if it isn't obvious. It is right to let your Christianity be evident, you will be mocked and effectiveness comes through grace and truth and not cleverly disguised games to cover up our faith.
10:5 - ... we take captive EVERY thought to make it obedient to Christ.- I think most of us think of our thoughts like wild horses that just run and run and we have no obligation to harness them, but Paul says we are to take every single thought we have and make it submit to Jesus as Lord. We focus on lust and greed and all of that many times, but I think he is saying to take the good thoughts and the neutral thoughts captive as well. Some of us think so much about career advancement and let it run wild in our heads that it, left unharnessed and not submitted, affects our hearts until what we want is not what we strive for. Some of us want adventure so badly that we let it go unchecked and eventually nothing satisfies us except the next thing. What an ungrateful way to live. We need to take every thought captive to Christ.
10:8 - ... the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, - WOW! What a great verse to tell us why God gave us authority. It isn't to over-protect or to force others to produce, but to build them up. We protect and help others produce, but it is for their benefit in Christ and not our fear or need for control.
10:12 - ...When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. - One of my favorite verses.
10:15 - ... Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand. - This is our hope. To expand the sphere of activity in your life so that others can know Christ as well.
10:18 - For it is not those who commend themselves who are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. - I wonder how concerned we are with being approved. I think many of us think that once we accepted Jesus we could just hit auto-pilot, kick back and do whatever. The New Testament is filled with passages that say we should work hard to be approved. I am not exactly sure how all of that works out, but I do know this: One day God will ask very Christian how they lived and we had better have a great answer. What will the outcome be if we don't? Paul talks about escaping as one barely getting out of a burning building and who wants to thank Jesus for saving them by barely getting by?
11:2 - I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, SO THAT I might present you as a pure virgin to him. - I so feel this way about The Oasis. I want to present her to Christ without stain or blemish. A lot of us live lives that would offend a groom. I pray we can live in such a way that the Groom is honored.
11:8 - I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. - I can understand this verse.
11:15 - ...Their end will be what their actions deserve. - Our actions will have a huge say in what we receive at judgment. Our society has taken action completely out and said everything is based on grace. Your actions don't matter. That is simply not true from the Bible's viewpoint. Our actions will be judged. To be honest, our actions prove the authenticity of our faith.
11:23-29 - This passage reminds me of the statement the Lord made to Ananias when he was sent to Paul. The Lord says, "I will show him how much he must suffer for the Name."
Love, Michael
10:2 - ... people who think that we live by the standards of this world. - I find this verse alarming because I know so many Christians who really do believe we live by the standards of this world. They live their lives as though we had to be like the people around us. Look at our houses, cars, schedules, values, vacations, checkbooks. We have bought into the lie that to be effective we have to be like the people around us. We need to engage the culture, but we do not have to be so familiar with it that people can;t tell us apart from those whose only hope is this culture. We should live by such a different standard that others notice. We try so hard not to let our Christianity show. We have been convinced it is wrong, people will mock us and we will be more effective if it isn't obvious. It is right to let your Christianity be evident, you will be mocked and effectiveness comes through grace and truth and not cleverly disguised games to cover up our faith.
10:5 - ... we take captive EVERY thought to make it obedient to Christ.- I think most of us think of our thoughts like wild horses that just run and run and we have no obligation to harness them, but Paul says we are to take every single thought we have and make it submit to Jesus as Lord. We focus on lust and greed and all of that many times, but I think he is saying to take the good thoughts and the neutral thoughts captive as well. Some of us think so much about career advancement and let it run wild in our heads that it, left unharnessed and not submitted, affects our hearts until what we want is not what we strive for. Some of us want adventure so badly that we let it go unchecked and eventually nothing satisfies us except the next thing. What an ungrateful way to live. We need to take every thought captive to Christ.
10:8 - ... the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, - WOW! What a great verse to tell us why God gave us authority. It isn't to over-protect or to force others to produce, but to build them up. We protect and help others produce, but it is for their benefit in Christ and not our fear or need for control.
10:12 - ...When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. - One of my favorite verses.
10:15 - ... Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand. - This is our hope. To expand the sphere of activity in your life so that others can know Christ as well.
10:18 - For it is not those who commend themselves who are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. - I wonder how concerned we are with being approved. I think many of us think that once we accepted Jesus we could just hit auto-pilot, kick back and do whatever. The New Testament is filled with passages that say we should work hard to be approved. I am not exactly sure how all of that works out, but I do know this: One day God will ask very Christian how they lived and we had better have a great answer. What will the outcome be if we don't? Paul talks about escaping as one barely getting out of a burning building and who wants to thank Jesus for saving them by barely getting by?
11:2 - I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, SO THAT I might present you as a pure virgin to him. - I so feel this way about The Oasis. I want to present her to Christ without stain or blemish. A lot of us live lives that would offend a groom. I pray we can live in such a way that the Groom is honored.
11:8 - I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. - I can understand this verse.
11:15 - ...Their end will be what their actions deserve. - Our actions will have a huge say in what we receive at judgment. Our society has taken action completely out and said everything is based on grace. Your actions don't matter. That is simply not true from the Bible's viewpoint. Our actions will be judged. To be honest, our actions prove the authenticity of our faith.
11:23-29 - This passage reminds me of the statement the Lord made to Ananias when he was sent to Paul. The Lord says, "I will show him how much he must suffer for the Name."
Love, Michael
Monday, August 3, 2009
2 Corinthians 9
WOW! What a beautiful chapter about giving. I am blown away but how much it has to say about our hearts and the way God works when we give. It is so easy to get caught up with the dollar signs and commas and all of that, but God goes right to the heart and He talks about the power of our generous giving. And He makes some really cool promises.
9:2 - Your enthusiasm in giving can spur others on to action.
9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. - This is really seen as true in life. Those who keep their hands closed only get what is in their hands, but those who live with hands wide open continually receive from God. So many of us want to plant two seeds and have acres of harvest. What you receive back is in direct proportion to what you put in. If you want an abundance of grace and provision and joy than invest yourself in those things first. The truth is every single one of us is getting the true return on the investment we have made. If you don't like the return increase the investment.
9:7 - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - I have heard tons of people quote this verse as a reason for not giving. That's crazy. God loves a cheerful GIVER. To not give because you aren't cheerful doesn't please God in any way. The heart of the teaching is to get your heart so right with God and grace and generosity that you are cheerful. It is not to have an out for giving. God would have everyone of us be cheerful in our giving to the point of giving everything. That is what Jesus did. What if Jesus had had your approach to giving when it came to His sacrifice for your sins? Would you be in great shape or would you be in great need? We need to give with hearts absolutely overwhelmed by the gift already given to us. Enough of this not giving because we can't be cheerful about it. Let's change our hearts and not neglect our giving.
9:8 - And God is able to bless you abundantly, SO THAT in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will ABOUND in every good work. - Here is a promise for you. You trust your resources to God and HE will take care of everything. I can tell you I have seen a lot of people who wanted to take care of their own finances and it has ended in ruin. God sees now and around the corner, so there is no fear in giving to God.
9:10 - I love the words increase and enlarge here. We so often worry about the deficit when we give to God in God's way, but here Paul speaking through the guidance of the Holy Spirit says that God does the opposite of what you expect. You expect because you gave something away you will have less, but God increases what you have and enlarges your ability to do what God has called you to do. It is an amazing tie - giving and fruitfulness other places. You might think your giving is an area all by itself, but your giving, and your heart when giving, deeply impacts so many other areas of your life.
9:11 - You will be made rich in every way SO THAT you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. - God empowers us with wealth SO THAT we will share it with those in need. When we are faithful with what we are given God entrusts more to us. I would love to be able to be generous in EVERY opportunity and occasion and Paul says the key to that coming true is to be faithful and generous with what you currently have. So many of us are waiting for things to change before we become generous and God is waiting for our generosity so we can change and help to change others.
Man, this is good stuff. As Americans we struggle with talking about money, because it is such a god to us. As Christians we need to take the stigma away from this and see that God has called us to a blessing and to be a blessing in this area. As we learn to put God in front of our finances we will experience more of the life He always intended for us.
Love, Michael
9:2 - Your enthusiasm in giving can spur others on to action.
9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. - This is really seen as true in life. Those who keep their hands closed only get what is in their hands, but those who live with hands wide open continually receive from God. So many of us want to plant two seeds and have acres of harvest. What you receive back is in direct proportion to what you put in. If you want an abundance of grace and provision and joy than invest yourself in those things first. The truth is every single one of us is getting the true return on the investment we have made. If you don't like the return increase the investment.
9:7 - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - I have heard tons of people quote this verse as a reason for not giving. That's crazy. God loves a cheerful GIVER. To not give because you aren't cheerful doesn't please God in any way. The heart of the teaching is to get your heart so right with God and grace and generosity that you are cheerful. It is not to have an out for giving. God would have everyone of us be cheerful in our giving to the point of giving everything. That is what Jesus did. What if Jesus had had your approach to giving when it came to His sacrifice for your sins? Would you be in great shape or would you be in great need? We need to give with hearts absolutely overwhelmed by the gift already given to us. Enough of this not giving because we can't be cheerful about it. Let's change our hearts and not neglect our giving.
9:8 - And God is able to bless you abundantly, SO THAT in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will ABOUND in every good work. - Here is a promise for you. You trust your resources to God and HE will take care of everything. I can tell you I have seen a lot of people who wanted to take care of their own finances and it has ended in ruin. God sees now and around the corner, so there is no fear in giving to God.
9:10 - I love the words increase and enlarge here. We so often worry about the deficit when we give to God in God's way, but here Paul speaking through the guidance of the Holy Spirit says that God does the opposite of what you expect. You expect because you gave something away you will have less, but God increases what you have and enlarges your ability to do what God has called you to do. It is an amazing tie - giving and fruitfulness other places. You might think your giving is an area all by itself, but your giving, and your heart when giving, deeply impacts so many other areas of your life.
9:11 - You will be made rich in every way SO THAT you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. - God empowers us with wealth SO THAT we will share it with those in need. When we are faithful with what we are given God entrusts more to us. I would love to be able to be generous in EVERY opportunity and occasion and Paul says the key to that coming true is to be faithful and generous with what you currently have. So many of us are waiting for things to change before we become generous and God is waiting for our generosity so we can change and help to change others.
Man, this is good stuff. As Americans we struggle with talking about money, because it is such a god to us. As Christians we need to take the stigma away from this and see that God has called us to a blessing and to be a blessing in this area. As we learn to put God in front of our finances we will experience more of the life He always intended for us.
Love, Michael
Sunday, August 2, 2009
2 Corinthians 7-8
7:1 - ...let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
7:6 - God who comforts the downcast, comforted us.
7:9 - ...not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.... - There is a difference between being sorry and being sorry in the way that God intends to lead you to life. Godly sorrow changes your heart. Many of us are sorry we got caught or sorry we feel a certain way, but godly sorrow is sorry deeper down that the transgression occurred within us in the first place.
7:11 - Godly sorrow brings earnestness, eagerness, indignation, alarm, longing, concern and a desire to see justice done. If you do not experience these in connection with your repentance it may be you are just sorry, but not in a godly and fruitful way.
8:2 - In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity, - WOW! What a verse. I wish it could be said of us. The worse the economy gets the greater our joy should be because we are not from this place and our hope becomes richer as we are reminded that this world has nothing for us. Our difficulty financially ought to remind us of our eternal hope in Jesus and cause us to give BIGGER! When we can't give in difficult times it says something about where our faith truly lies.
8:3 - They gave BEYOND their ability. Beyond. They knew what they could handle and they gave more. That is some serious faith and some serious love. We have to be careful not just to give what we can. Grace gives BIG and BEYOND!
8:4 - the privilege of sharing - Wouldn't it be awesome if we all saw it this way? God gives us the privilege of joining with Him. It is like a multi-billionaire inviting you into a business with him. God invites us into changing eternity with Him and we get all uptight about it. It is a gift and an opportunity. We should take our two nickels, our hundreds of thousands of dollars or whatever we have and join with God in what He is doing. We should give as those who feel highly blessed to even be invited to give towards what God is doing. How we must insult God with the way we give at times.
8:5 - having given themselves first of all to the Lord, - Money is not the issue and yet you can see the issue through money. We are to give ourselves FIRST to God and if we do it shows through how we give.
8:6 - Giving is an act of grace.
8:7 - ...see that you also excel in this grace of giving. - HA! I can just see our hearts screeching to a halt at the word excel. I think many of us want to just get a passing grade when it comes to giving. We don't have any intention of being an A+ giver. C- will do just fine.
8:12 - for if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. - The beauty in partnering with god is that the amount is never the issue. God is pleased when we give our tithes and offerings from what we have. 10% is within the reach of every follower of Christ where $1,000,000 wouldn't be. god says, "Let me make it easy for you. No matter what you make give me the first 10%, that way all of you can be a part of this." Every one of us has the power to obey this teaching.
8:13 - The goal of Paul's comments was equality. He wanted each person to do their part. It is funny how many people withhold because they are concerned others won't do their part. If we would be faithful to give what God has called and instructed us to give and not worry about others things would change dynamically. Our gift is to God and He can make even a few fish and some bread given faithfully be enough for thousands. Our hearts is the issue and God loves a cheerful giver.
8:15 - Paul uses an illustration that speaks volumes. He likens giving for the Corinthians to the deal with manna in the desert. If you don't know that story, the the Israelites were in the desert and didn't have any food. They cried out to God and He answered them with bread that they named manna (literally what is it?). God's instruction was to gather a certain amount each day, no more and no saving it for other days except for the day before the Sabbath. They could collect 2 times as much on Friday and it would not rot. The teaching was and is dependence on God. Paul uses the same analogy. We need to trust that God's provision is enough and know that if we do it God's way it will be okay. So many people do not give because they fear they will go without. god has made a promise and proven Himself over and over through thousands of years of human history. god blesses faithful giving and He does not let the faithful go hungry or in need. A lot of our financial troubles occur because we do not trust god so we do not give faithfully. We have a million reasons, but it is a trust issue. God has promised to provide for our every need if we will put Him first. As you give in faith you will not go without.
Love,
Michael
7:6 - God who comforts the downcast, comforted us.
7:9 - ...not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.... - There is a difference between being sorry and being sorry in the way that God intends to lead you to life. Godly sorrow changes your heart. Many of us are sorry we got caught or sorry we feel a certain way, but godly sorrow is sorry deeper down that the transgression occurred within us in the first place.
7:11 - Godly sorrow brings earnestness, eagerness, indignation, alarm, longing, concern and a desire to see justice done. If you do not experience these in connection with your repentance it may be you are just sorry, but not in a godly and fruitful way.
8:2 - In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity, - WOW! What a verse. I wish it could be said of us. The worse the economy gets the greater our joy should be because we are not from this place and our hope becomes richer as we are reminded that this world has nothing for us. Our difficulty financially ought to remind us of our eternal hope in Jesus and cause us to give BIGGER! When we can't give in difficult times it says something about where our faith truly lies.
8:3 - They gave BEYOND their ability. Beyond. They knew what they could handle and they gave more. That is some serious faith and some serious love. We have to be careful not just to give what we can. Grace gives BIG and BEYOND!
8:4 - the privilege of sharing - Wouldn't it be awesome if we all saw it this way? God gives us the privilege of joining with Him. It is like a multi-billionaire inviting you into a business with him. God invites us into changing eternity with Him and we get all uptight about it. It is a gift and an opportunity. We should take our two nickels, our hundreds of thousands of dollars or whatever we have and join with God in what He is doing. We should give as those who feel highly blessed to even be invited to give towards what God is doing. How we must insult God with the way we give at times.
8:5 - having given themselves first of all to the Lord, - Money is not the issue and yet you can see the issue through money. We are to give ourselves FIRST to God and if we do it shows through how we give.
8:6 - Giving is an act of grace.
8:7 - ...see that you also excel in this grace of giving. - HA! I can just see our hearts screeching to a halt at the word excel. I think many of us want to just get a passing grade when it comes to giving. We don't have any intention of being an A+ giver. C- will do just fine.
8:12 - for if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. - The beauty in partnering with god is that the amount is never the issue. God is pleased when we give our tithes and offerings from what we have. 10% is within the reach of every follower of Christ where $1,000,000 wouldn't be. god says, "Let me make it easy for you. No matter what you make give me the first 10%, that way all of you can be a part of this." Every one of us has the power to obey this teaching.
8:13 - The goal of Paul's comments was equality. He wanted each person to do their part. It is funny how many people withhold because they are concerned others won't do their part. If we would be faithful to give what God has called and instructed us to give and not worry about others things would change dynamically. Our gift is to God and He can make even a few fish and some bread given faithfully be enough for thousands. Our hearts is the issue and God loves a cheerful giver.
8:15 - Paul uses an illustration that speaks volumes. He likens giving for the Corinthians to the deal with manna in the desert. If you don't know that story, the the Israelites were in the desert and didn't have any food. They cried out to God and He answered them with bread that they named manna (literally what is it?). God's instruction was to gather a certain amount each day, no more and no saving it for other days except for the day before the Sabbath. They could collect 2 times as much on Friday and it would not rot. The teaching was and is dependence on God. Paul uses the same analogy. We need to trust that God's provision is enough and know that if we do it God's way it will be okay. So many people do not give because they fear they will go without. god has made a promise and proven Himself over and over through thousands of years of human history. god blesses faithful giving and He does not let the faithful go hungry or in need. A lot of our financial troubles occur because we do not trust god so we do not give faithfully. We have a million reasons, but it is a trust issue. God has promised to provide for our every need if we will put Him first. As you give in faith you will not go without.
Love,
Michael
Saturday, August 1, 2009
2 Corinthians 5-6
5:2 - Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, - When was the last time you groaned waiting for heaven? It is so easy to get so caught up in this life that heaven is a nice thought, but not a longing. I pray that we can get to the place where we long for heaven like we long for food when we are hungry or a drink when we are thirsty. If we could live content with what God has given us and discontent (in a good way) until we reach heaven it would change our hearts and the outcome of our lives.
5:5 - Now the one who has fashioned is for this very purpose is God, - I love verses that remind us that God has personally and intimately created us for His very purposes. The word fashion reminds me of someone intricately working a piece of wood. God intricately designed you for His specific purposes.
5:7 - We live by faith, not by sight. - The unfortunate truth of our lives is we live by sight when we should live by faith. We live by what we see and understand and know. God has called us to live in faith. The picture I have always gotten is that while our eye sight only allows us to see a few feet ahead, we walk confidently and steadily trusting that God sees far ahead.
5:10 - Everyone will face a judgment based on what they have done and how they have lived. The Bible says that those without Jesus will be judged for rejecting Him and they will have to deal with the penalty for their own sin and those who walk in Christ will be saved, but will be judged based on how they lived that saved life. I fear there are many Christians who will have a hard time as the enter Heaven because they did not take the responsibility of this Christian life seriously.
5:11 - Because we fear/revere God we try to persuade people to walk with Jesus. If we are not trying to persuade people it may be that we do not revere God at the proper level.
5:14 - for Christ's love compels us... - If we aren't compelled to share Christ than are we really living in and exercising Christ's love?
5:15 - And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. - I am amazed at how deeply selfish living has its hooks in some of us. I think we think selfishness is a problem for the weak or immature. In reality, selfishness is so deeply ingrained in most of us that we don't even realize how selfish we are. We sit back thinking we serve and give and love all the time when in reality we have hearts that see ourselves first and get mad at every inconvenience.
5:16 - So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. - Are you here yet?
5:18 - God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. It is a privilege and a responsibility that every Christian has. We are called, invited and expected to be those who work hard to reconcile people to God. notice it doesn't just say to get them baptized or to say a prayer. We are called to help them reconcile people to God. This takes a lot more time and effort, but God is looking for disciples and not just decisions.
5:21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin (the sin offering) for us, SO THAT we might become the righteousness of God. - Beautiful verse.
6:1 - We have to be careful not to receive God's grace in vain.
6:11 - ...opened wide our hearts to you. - Those of us who lead need to open wide our hearts to our people. We can't see it as us and them. We need to open our hearts wide!!!!
6:14 - do not be yoked together with unbelievers. - Don't be tied to someone who isn't tied to Jesus. Watch your relationships so that you don't let one grow that is going to draw you away from your faith in the long run.
6:17 - Come out from them and be separate... - We have to live separate. Our culture says to make our faith, our lives and our churches as much like the world as possible. But what does this verse say about that? There is a balance between reaching the world and mingling with the world.
Love, Michael
5:5 - Now the one who has fashioned is for this very purpose is God, - I love verses that remind us that God has personally and intimately created us for His very purposes. The word fashion reminds me of someone intricately working a piece of wood. God intricately designed you for His specific purposes.
5:7 - We live by faith, not by sight. - The unfortunate truth of our lives is we live by sight when we should live by faith. We live by what we see and understand and know. God has called us to live in faith. The picture I have always gotten is that while our eye sight only allows us to see a few feet ahead, we walk confidently and steadily trusting that God sees far ahead.
5:10 - Everyone will face a judgment based on what they have done and how they have lived. The Bible says that those without Jesus will be judged for rejecting Him and they will have to deal with the penalty for their own sin and those who walk in Christ will be saved, but will be judged based on how they lived that saved life. I fear there are many Christians who will have a hard time as the enter Heaven because they did not take the responsibility of this Christian life seriously.
5:11 - Because we fear/revere God we try to persuade people to walk with Jesus. If we are not trying to persuade people it may be that we do not revere God at the proper level.
5:14 - for Christ's love compels us... - If we aren't compelled to share Christ than are we really living in and exercising Christ's love?
5:15 - And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. - I am amazed at how deeply selfish living has its hooks in some of us. I think we think selfishness is a problem for the weak or immature. In reality, selfishness is so deeply ingrained in most of us that we don't even realize how selfish we are. We sit back thinking we serve and give and love all the time when in reality we have hearts that see ourselves first and get mad at every inconvenience.
5:16 - So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. - Are you here yet?
5:18 - God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. It is a privilege and a responsibility that every Christian has. We are called, invited and expected to be those who work hard to reconcile people to God. notice it doesn't just say to get them baptized or to say a prayer. We are called to help them reconcile people to God. This takes a lot more time and effort, but God is looking for disciples and not just decisions.
5:21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin (the sin offering) for us, SO THAT we might become the righteousness of God. - Beautiful verse.
6:1 - We have to be careful not to receive God's grace in vain.
6:11 - ...opened wide our hearts to you. - Those of us who lead need to open wide our hearts to our people. We can't see it as us and them. We need to open our hearts wide!!!!
6:14 - do not be yoked together with unbelievers. - Don't be tied to someone who isn't tied to Jesus. Watch your relationships so that you don't let one grow that is going to draw you away from your faith in the long run.
6:17 - Come out from them and be separate... - We have to live separate. Our culture says to make our faith, our lives and our churches as much like the world as possible. But what does this verse say about that? There is a balance between reaching the world and mingling with the world.
Love, Michael
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