Starting tomorrow, I will be posting at http://davesbiblejournal.wordpress.com It's going to be a lot easier for me in terms of posting on the go. Thanks for checking in!
Dave
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Matthew 5:13
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost it's taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
I was thinking about the implicatons of being referred to as "salt". There are concepts of flavor and preservation, but what it comes down to for me is having distinct positive qualities that are brought into a situation that needs them. I only add seasoning to food because that seasoning brings a flavor to the dish that is lacking. If the food already tastes like paprika, why would I add more paprika?
I need to make sure I am mindful of how much I "taste" like the world. Just yesterday I struggled with a difficult day and had to wrestle with grumbling and complaining or having a joyful disposition. Those closest to me know how I fared. If I cannot be distinguished from the rest of the world, God will have no use for me and throw me out to be trampled. It's a hard task (impossible, really), but thankfully our Lord has given us His Word and His Spirit to provide the means and the strength to be "salty".
Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Help me to submit to Him and to bring Your "flavor" to those around me. Amen.
I was thinking about the implicatons of being referred to as "salt". There are concepts of flavor and preservation, but what it comes down to for me is having distinct positive qualities that are brought into a situation that needs them. I only add seasoning to food because that seasoning brings a flavor to the dish that is lacking. If the food already tastes like paprika, why would I add more paprika?
I need to make sure I am mindful of how much I "taste" like the world. Just yesterday I struggled with a difficult day and had to wrestle with grumbling and complaining or having a joyful disposition. Those closest to me know how I fared. If I cannot be distinguished from the rest of the world, God will have no use for me and throw me out to be trampled. It's a hard task (impossible, really), but thankfully our Lord has given us His Word and His Spirit to provide the means and the strength to be "salty".
Lord, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Help me to submit to Him and to bring Your "flavor" to those around me. Amen.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Matthew 4:5,6
"Then the devil took Him... and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "He will command His angels concerning you," ' "
I found this to be a scary reminder of how resourceful the enemy can be. We've heard of the many tactics of the devil, but here he's using scripture, which is frightening. I've encountered many people who have misinterpreted God's Word, but I've never really looked at it as a scheme of Satan.
I am extremely blessed to have spent the last 18 years in a church that puts the study of Scripture of foremost importance. Even so, I need to guard against lazy reading and falling victim to Satan using the Bible against me. Many evil purposes in history have been predicated on supposed adherence to the Word of God (Joseph Smith comes to mind...)
Lord, thank You for Your holy Word. Help me to approach it with respect and submission to Your Spirit guiding me into truth.
I found this to be a scary reminder of how resourceful the enemy can be. We've heard of the many tactics of the devil, but here he's using scripture, which is frightening. I've encountered many people who have misinterpreted God's Word, but I've never really looked at it as a scheme of Satan.
I am extremely blessed to have spent the last 18 years in a church that puts the study of Scripture of foremost importance. Even so, I need to guard against lazy reading and falling victim to Satan using the Bible against me. Many evil purposes in history have been predicated on supposed adherence to the Word of God (Joseph Smith comes to mind...)
Lord, thank You for Your holy Word. Help me to approach it with respect and submission to Your Spirit guiding me into truth.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Genesis 6,7,8
8:20 "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar"
After Noah and company unload from the Ark, Noah presents a burnt offering to God and it is described as a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord. My whole life, I've been mildly puzzled about why God told Noah to bring seven pairs of every clean animal on the ark, but only two of the unclean animals. Then today, when I was reading, it struck me for the first time: "If Noah sacrificed animals right when he got off the boat, wouldn't they be extinct?" Give time for the hamster to turn the wheel in my brain... I get it now! Once again, God proves that He knows what He's doing.
I don't know if I'm just dense or if I never took the time figure out what was going on here, but I never saw this here before. The Word of God truly is living and active. This is so cool! God provided the sacrifice! Just like the ram in the thicket with Abraham and Isaac, just like Christ in a manger, God provides the sacrifice. Pastor was preaching on thankfulness this morning and it's fitting to what I found in the Word today. Whether it's my paycheck to allow me to give back to the Lord, or Jesus being sent to pay for my sins, I can be thankful that God provides the sacrifices he desires and requires. Hallelujah!
Lord, thank You for providing the sacrifices you require! Thank You for your lovingkindness and your faithfulness!
After Noah and company unload from the Ark, Noah presents a burnt offering to God and it is described as a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord. My whole life, I've been mildly puzzled about why God told Noah to bring seven pairs of every clean animal on the ark, but only two of the unclean animals. Then today, when I was reading, it struck me for the first time: "If Noah sacrificed animals right when he got off the boat, wouldn't they be extinct?" Give time for the hamster to turn the wheel in my brain... I get it now! Once again, God proves that He knows what He's doing.
I don't know if I'm just dense or if I never took the time figure out what was going on here, but I never saw this here before. The Word of God truly is living and active. This is so cool! God provided the sacrifice! Just like the ram in the thicket with Abraham and Isaac, just like Christ in a manger, God provides the sacrifice. Pastor was preaching on thankfulness this morning and it's fitting to what I found in the Word today. Whether it's my paycheck to allow me to give back to the Lord, or Jesus being sent to pay for my sins, I can be thankful that God provides the sacrifices he desires and requires. Hallelujah!
Lord, thank You for providing the sacrifices you require! Thank You for your lovingkindness and your faithfulness!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Matthew 2
2:16 "Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under..."
The reason this caught my eye was that I found it interesting that this "ruler" of Israel had just ordered the same heinous act of Israel's most notorious oppressor, the Pharaoh of Egypt from Exodus 1. Granted, Herod was an evil and depraved impostor (so expectations were pretty low), but it's still quite ironic that God's people fled this kind of horror only to have it now come on them again.
I was thinking about if I have ever been blinded by my own ambition only to become that which I despise. One thing that I know I struggle with is my attitude towards parenting. Sometimes I get so focused on teaching conformity to rules that I forget that parenting is about cultivating hearts towards Christ. When you lose sight of that, voices get louder, tempers flare, and learning is replaced with bitterness. I won't compare myself to Herod, but there's a warning here to watch what you are striving for. Herod had an opportunity to fulfill his charge as a leader and protector by presenting Christ to the nation as their true salvation and deliverance. It's pretty obvious... he blew it.
Lord, help me to make my desires conform to Yours. Help me to shepherd my kid's hearts towards You. Please draw my family closer to You.
The reason this caught my eye was that I found it interesting that this "ruler" of Israel had just ordered the same heinous act of Israel's most notorious oppressor, the Pharaoh of Egypt from Exodus 1. Granted, Herod was an evil and depraved impostor (so expectations were pretty low), but it's still quite ironic that God's people fled this kind of horror only to have it now come on them again.
I was thinking about if I have ever been blinded by my own ambition only to become that which I despise. One thing that I know I struggle with is my attitude towards parenting. Sometimes I get so focused on teaching conformity to rules that I forget that parenting is about cultivating hearts towards Christ. When you lose sight of that, voices get louder, tempers flare, and learning is replaced with bitterness. I won't compare myself to Herod, but there's a warning here to watch what you are striving for. Herod had an opportunity to fulfill his charge as a leader and protector by presenting Christ to the nation as their true salvation and deliverance. It's pretty obvious... he blew it.
Lord, help me to make my desires conform to Yours. Help me to shepherd my kid's hearts towards You. Please draw my family closer to You.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Matthew 1
1:1 "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
It would be easy to read this first verse as part of the physical lineage of Christ, but it's significant that Jesus is first and foremost identified with David and Abraham. David and Abraham are symbolic of the promises God has made to Israel. Abraham was promised to have a family line that would bring blessing to the entire world (Gen 22:18), and David was promised to have a family line that would have an enduring kingdom (2 Sam 7:16). Matthew begins his book by presenting Jesus as the culmination of these promises.
I would do well to remember that our God makes and, more importantly, keeps promises. "I will never leave you or forsake you"; "and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ"; "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you". If I spent more time thinking about the promises God has made, I will be more aware of how he is keeping those promises and will in turn be able to more effectively praise Him.
Lord, thank You for Your promises and Your faithfulness. Help me to be less consumed with what I am doing in this world and more consumed with what You are doing in this world
It would be easy to read this first verse as part of the physical lineage of Christ, but it's significant that Jesus is first and foremost identified with David and Abraham. David and Abraham are symbolic of the promises God has made to Israel. Abraham was promised to have a family line that would bring blessing to the entire world (Gen 22:18), and David was promised to have a family line that would have an enduring kingdom (2 Sam 7:16). Matthew begins his book by presenting Jesus as the culmination of these promises.
I would do well to remember that our God makes and, more importantly, keeps promises. "I will never leave you or forsake you"; "and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ"; "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you". If I spent more time thinking about the promises God has made, I will be more aware of how he is keeping those promises and will in turn be able to more effectively praise Him.
Lord, thank You for Your promises and Your faithfulness. Help me to be less consumed with what I am doing in this world and more consumed with what You are doing in this world
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