June 4, 2018 Monday

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed —  always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.” (2Corinthians 4:5-12 NKJV)

            It is so easy to let our sharing be about our congregation, our denomination and our beliefs.  But Paul reminds us our message is to call people to “Christ Jesus the Lord” and nothing else!  We are also to show and tell that we are servants of God because we have been purchased.

            Paul then goes on to present to us a view of God and a view of what it means to be a Christian.

God is not only the Creator but is also the re-creator of those who come to Jesus and are recycled by God.  God is able to take His excellent power and puts that treasure into “earthen vessels” (cracked pots) of our lives!

Christians are called to serve the God who loves them and redeems them.  We are to be reflections of God’s light into a dark world and share God’s knowledge and power.

            Then Paul offers us a picture of his own life as a Christian and prepares us for the trouble and persecution that often is part of being a Christian.  If we remain faithful in our suffering people will more easily see and understand the suffering of Jesus.

            We are called to always be “carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”  Our lives and faith in the midst of suffering is a manifestation of the death of Jesus and the life we have receive through Jesus!

            Indeed if we live by faith we become a manifestation of God that will help people see Jesus and be more likely to come to Jesus.  There is a story that Gandhi thought the Bible was a book of truth and said he would become a Christian if he ever saw someone live it out.

            Do you think people do not come to God because of how you live?  Do you think people come to God because of how you live?  Are you “carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body”?

June 3, 2018 Sunday

“Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: “how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. “Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.” (Mark 2:23-3:6 NKJV)

            “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?”  While we can understand Jesus is teaching the Pharisees healing, blessing and saving a life on the Sabbath is good and allowed what about the part of the question about evil and killing?

            We have this picture of the nice Casper Milquetoast Jesus which really is a sign of our lack of understanding of the Bible and of God.  Jesus is both grieved and angry with the Pharisees because of their hardness of heart and their lack of concern.  These are supposed to be the spiritual leaders of Israel but instead they are lawyers and judges.

            The Pharisees do not see or understand the love God has for the lost and the sinners of society.  Like some religious leaders they are more interested in being correct then they are for lives and souls.  Jesus cared enough to love people where they were but as we see in this passage Jesus loved them enough to not leave them there.

            We can become Casper Milquetoasts ourselves by loving people enough to not only accept their sin but even declaring it to not be sin.  By doing this we “lead them to hell with a smile on their face”! 

            Perhaps Jesus’ statement about doing evil or to kill comes from two sides of religious people and what they believe.

The Pharisees saw the law as preeminent and it will cut off sinners with little hope of coming to God.

The Sadducees see the law as very flexible and will not call people from their sin because they want to enjoy their own sin.

Both religious parties do evil by cutting sinners from grace and thus not only kill their bodies but also cut them off from grace and kill their souls.

            As Christians we have a responsibility and obligation to share the grace and hope found only in Jesus Christ.  We must proclaim the message that God loves them as they are, but loves them enough to help them change who they are. 

            The greatest miracle you will ever see is not healing a hand but God “recycling” a broken life into a Child of God!

            Do you think you are a Pharisee or a Sadducee or do you depend on God’s grace?  Can you see the difference God has made in your life?  Can others?  Are you offering life and good or death and evil? 

            WHAT A BLESSING?  Even after a very busy Saturday (for me) I was able to go to worship at Asbury.  Jack Davis and I often have a good talk together and it is so enjoyable.  Bonnie does a wonderful ministry playing the organ.  I am so proud of her!  The rest of the day was crash but no burn!  My feet have been hurting terribly.

June 2, 2018 Saturday

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” (Romans 12:14-16 NKJV)

            While this is part of the same message and is still a definition of true love Paul spreads the power of love to those outside the faith and even to our enemies.  In a world where often the slogan is “Get even – first” God makes the incredible call for us to forgive those who persecute us.

            This call may seem very hard for us but Jesus while on the cross would out of suffering cry out “Father forgive them”.  Jesus asked forgiveness for those who crucified Him but I believe this forgiveness is offered to all of us.

            If we are honest, by our sin we “persecute” Jesus and caused the need for the crucifixion.  Jesus bore our sin and our suffering and paid for our “persecution” and disrespect of God.  Jesus in love did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

            Some may think it unfair for God to call us to love our enemies and even those who harm us or our families but Jesus did that for us!  Over the years I have developed what I call theologies which includes,

God never asks anything of us He hasn’t already given to us and God never asks us to do anything He hasn’t already done for us.

            In this spirit we are called to care for others sacrificially and share their joys and their tears.  We must learn to do more then be envious of those who succeed and offer platitudes to those who hurt and grieve. 

            This call means we must prepare ourselves for these situations and ask God to guide us in what to say and do.  If we are guided by our own wisdom we can cause more pain rather than the help and support they need.  We must be guided by Jesus who spent time and prayer and always acted in obedience to the Father.

            Do you use the sacrifice of Jesus as an example of how to treat people?  Do you use the example of Jesus to pray and seek to be obedient to God in how you live and treat others?  Are you willing to love those who hate you, persecute you and harm your family?

            Went to Men’s breakfast at Asbury and Bonnie went to the Asbury Women’s breakfast. That night Jonathan and Bonnie’s mom came over for supper and movie night.  It is always a good time to be together.  I pray I will be able to go to worship tomorrow.  It has been a long time since I have done so much in one day.

June 1, 2018 Friday

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” (Romans 12:9-13 NKJV)

            While this may seem to be a long list of things to live out which is impossible for us maybe we should see this as a call to love and the rest of the call as a way for us to see if we truly want to love?

            Some parts of this passage reminds us of Paul’s definition of love in 1Corinthians 13 which is some of the most beautiful and amazing writing.  It is very easy to see love as a feeling or to see lust as love but true love is very different.

            There is not enough space here to discuss the four main words for love in Greek and that is a good study to make and see the different levels of love.  A good book on love is The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis.

            In defining love Paul helps us see true love is made up of the choices we make to put someone before us and with joy serve and care for God and those in our life.  Love is offering ourselves to others and seeking to help them find stability so they can grow.

            We are called to “abhor” evil and its destructive nature.  Love is NOT allowing people to remain in their sin but seeking to call them to God and to a life of loving God by faith and obedience.  Our love for God is a choice as is our obedience just as God’s love was a choice to redeem us and the obedience of Jesus to offer His life for us.

            To love God is to spend time developing a relationship with God by reading the Bible which is 66 love letters from God and spending time in prayer.  To love others is to lift them to God by praying for them and guiding them to spend time in the Bible.

            Love is so much more than those without God can understand (sometimes even those who know God).  The proof is seen in the drastic difference between Valentine’s Day and Saint Valentine. What started as recognition of the Saint who lived out love has become a day of merchandise and often lust.

            How do you define love and how do you live love out?  Is your love more about you or about God and others?  What difference does love make in your life?

            It continues to be very painful and hard times.  I pray for God to enable me to go to worship Sunday.

May 31, 2018 Thursday

“The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever. The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.” (Psalm 29:10-11 NKJV)

            “The LORD” is proclaimed over and over because God is not a lord but the LORD!  In a world of multiple religions and cults God stands above them all and declares I AM – THE LORD!  In truth there is only the LORD and all others are shadows of the evil one!  (I know this will seem narrow minded but I do believe God said something about a narrow door.)

            “The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood,”.  Notice it says the Flood not a flood so we know the Psalmist is talking about what we call Noah’s flood though all Noah did was survive it because of God’s warning and help.

            The glory of God is seen in the dominance over and destruction of sin!  While we get angry at God for killing those people why do we not get angry at those who murder, enslave, steal from, destroy and degrade others?  In the Flood, the sacrificial system and on the cross God revealed a deep love for us and that death can bring new life!

“And the LORD sits as King forever.”  How many rulers have been in power in your lifetime?  Rulers last a short time but God sits as King forever!  Forever means the LORD was King before time, during all time and after time has been fulfilled!  The word sits in the days of the Psalmist means a king is at rest because they are in supreme power.  The LORD has no enemy to fear!

“The LORD will give strength to His people”.  This same LORD who has no enemy to fear gives us strength!  If the LORD is your lord you are not limited by your own strength and power but can receive the full power and might of your LORD!

“The LORD will bless His people with peace.”  We sing about peace, we pray for peace but do we really know what peace is?  Many think peace is the absence of war or danger but true peace is to have a correct relationship with God.  When we are at peace with God we can have peace even in the midst of warfare or trouble.  The LORD alone can make peace with us which has been done through Jesus Christ!

            Who is the LORD to you?  Do you blame God for all the terrible things or do you see God as a source of hope?  Have you experienced God’s peace in your life? 

            Still very weary but we were able to have our devotion and prayer time.  Went to see Dr Barker and they seemed to have some things which helped.

May 30, 2018 Wednesday

“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”” (Psalm 29:3-9 NKJV)

            The Psalmist is describing the power and might of the voice of God and the impact on creation.  The word voice means to call aloud and as God calls aloud we see the terrible impact on God’s creation.

            The description of what happens when God’s voice proclaims seems like many storms and disasters we see around the world.  Got has the power to destroy us but if you look harder there are also many blessings and wondrous power.  God will divide “the flames of fire” just as God parted the seas to save Israel! 

            Water is one of those double meaning words as it means to be refreshed but also means danger and violence.  And that is true of water as the rains bless us and help grow the food we eat but it can also come as storms and floods which destroy.  But the floods can nourish the soil as it does in Egypt where the annual floods make the soil very rich.

            The voice of the Lord is part of the continuing creation we see around us.  Where evolution sees the change as proof of Darwinism and evolution the Bible reveals God is still active and working in His creation.  The evolving of animals to meet their circumstances is Biblical as we see in the drastic changes in people and nations as well as animals.  But the idea all was created through death is opposed by the Biblical view of a creation of life!

            To the Jews the temple was a set place where everyone had to go to so they could offer sacrifices but now each person is a temple and within them dwells the Holy Spirit.  As Christians we should see the working of our planet, the universe and even the storms of life and in awe declare the glory and wonder of God!  Not in fear but in love for the God who loved us first and died for us!

            When you see the storms of life do you react with fear or in worship of the might and glory of God?  Do you see creation as an act of death through evolution or through life by God’s power and love?

            We found out that the doctor’s office did not have us in the computer because of a computer glitch so we will go tomorrow on a fit in basis.  Still fell terrible and it seems as though it is hard to get an answer as always.  But God is so good and always sees us through.  On Wednesday I think of the dinners at First Jeff and the people there.  What a blessing it was to serve there even if we were there for less than two years.

May 29, 2018 Tuesday

“« A Psalm of David. » Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, Give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:1-2 NKJV)

            How can I give God “glory and strength”?  How can I give anything to God who is everything?  How can I “Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness”?

            God created us to have a relationship and so we could walk and talk directly with God.  To put it simply God wanted us to know His love and to love Him!  Adam and Eve had a direct relationship with God and enjoyed walking and talking together!

            How can we begin to understand such a thing?  Because of our sin and brokenness even through Jesus Christ we are only able to draw so close to God.  To see God face to face is still only a sweet and lingering hope of our soul.

            One of the saddest statements in the Bible is when it says men began to call on the name of God!  The more sin became who we are the farther from God we became until we no longer could relate with but had to call upon God. 

            Some say God gave up on us and that is why the distance grew.  Beliefs like that are only our attempt to blame God for the results of our brokenness and sin.  Like an addict we do not want to admit our responsibility for all that destroys us.

            God is holy and our sin makes us unholy and unable to come into God’s presence.  So God made the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus to rebuild that relationship.  God had every right to destroy us outright or to simply let us destroy ourselves but chose to make a way for us to return to God and to life!

            We must be holy to come into the presence of a holy God but we are unable to make ourselves holy.  Through Jesus Christ we are made holy and are able to come into God’s presence.  Some believe salvation is the goal of God but in truth salvation is the way for God to achieve the goal of us having a relationship with God!

            By becoming holy through Jesus Christ we reveal the glory of God and strengthen God’s message that we can once again have a relationship with God!  By this we not only reveal God’s holiness and strength we also make God smile!

            Have you sought to be made holy through the forgiveness we can receive through Jesus?  Have you sought to honor God and seek to honor and lift God up?

            Once again I woke early and could not get back to sleep.  When this happens I cannot go to sleep but I feel weary to the bone.  I see Dr Barker tomorrow and hope she can help.