Tag: trust

August 1, 2024

August 1st, 2024

Thursday – Letters

Reading – Revelation 1

Highlight Verse:

“I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Some would discredit Revelation because John claimed it would be fulfilled “soon”.

In verses 8, 17, and 18, we are reminded of the timeless nature of God.

He was here before creation and will be here at the end. In fact,

He is the beginning and the end.

2000 years may seem like forever to us but to God, it is the blink of an eye.

We would do well to spend the next 22 weeks learning what to expect at the end and how to act to be a part of want God wants to do in the end.

The book of Revelation is just as valid today as when it was written.

Does studying Revelation make you nervous?
Are you willing to look at it with an open heart and mind?
August 2, 2024

August 1st, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Jonah 1-2

Highlight Verse:

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.”
‭‭Jonah‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse struck me as funny.

I know the skeptics out there are saying, “Of course it’s funny. No one could survive 3 days in a fish or whale or any animal.

Other’s might say, “oh, it’s just a metaphor.”

I would say that it really happened and I don’t dwell on how because God is the one that made it happen and He can do anything.

But then, we’re all missing the point.

Jonah was in a place where he could do nothing.

He was left with only 2 choices, give up or turn to God.

He prayed to God from inside the fish.

Have you ever made such bad choices that you were suddenly left with no choice? Maybe facing jail time or bankruptcy?
Did you pray to the Lord Your God (implying that you truly trust Him) to deliver you from the consequences of running away from Him?
How did He bring you through it? (I assume He did since you’re reading this).
July 30, 2024

July 30th, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 27-28

Highlight Verse:
“Prepare these special burnt offerings, along with their liquid offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying grain offering. Be sure that all the animals you sacrifice have no defects.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭28‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was about to start writing about how we should give our first and best when I realized that I hadn’t yet tithed on last Friday’s paycheck.

Let’s just say I’m preaching to myself today.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has superseded the system of sacrifices and offerings spoken of in these chapters.

That doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can learn from today’s reading.

In fact, I’d say it’s very relevant.

We humans tend to be generous with what we have left over.

It’s easy to drop a little cash in the offering plate or donate some leftover items to the church yard sale or food drive.

In the old sacrificial system, the Lord required the first and the best of what a person had.

You see, when we give our first and our best, we demonstrate our faith in God to provide for us.

It’s an act that bolsters our faith when we find that God really will provide when we give by faith.

Our salvation no longer relies on what we sacrifice, but our faith will thrive when we do.

Usually, our financial situation will thrive more when we give than when we try to hoard our wealth.

What is your experience?
What has blessed you more, giving or getting?
July 28, 2024

July 28th, 2024

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Song of Solomon 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right.”
‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve worked with youth for years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard middle schoolers talk about their girlfriends or boyfriends.

It is tough not to lecture them each time they say that on why they shouldn’t even think about that sort of thing at their age.

Our culture encourages romance from the moment kids can talk.

It robs kids of all the friendships and fun they could have if they were just content to be kids.

I’ll step down off my soap box now and bring this more into context.

The young woman in this book shows her faithfulness to her “lover” by not giving in to Solomon’s desires to add her to his harem.

In the context of this culture, her relationship was probably prearranged by her parents. If that was the case,

she not only honors her lover but also her parents and her culture by staying faithful.

I see today’s highlight verse as a plea for help from the women of Jerusalem to keep her and all the other young women faithful.

What are you doing to stay faithful to the one to whom you are pledged or will be pledged?
How can you help others around you stay faithful?
July 15, 2024

July 15th, 2024

Monday – Gospels and Acts

Reading – Acts 5

Highlight Verse:

“The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭5‬:‭41‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s be clear, the apostles were just flogged.

Flogged!

Not slapped on the wrist with a fine or a warning.

Beaten with a whip.

There is nothing in the description about the severity of the flogging. Given the fact that they carried on as before tells me that it wasn’t debilitating.

But, if anything approaching that were to happen today,

we’d be suing for damages,

not to mention blasting it all over social media to get people riled up against a government that would do such a thing.

Instead, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy of suffering for Jesus, and then went right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Messiah.

Here’s my take on that.

No matter what they came up against, they stayed on target and kept spreading the word about Jesus.

All during this time, the Church continued to grow despite, or maybe because of the oppression from the religious leaders and government.

I don’t know about you but I can get distracted by the political climate.

When Christian opinions are blocked by the government or the media establishment, it really gets my hackles up.

Despite that, I need to always remember to stay on mission to help people to find and follow Jesus.

What is your mission?
Are there things that can distract you from that mission?
July 12, 2024

July 12th, 2024

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Amos 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“So the Lord relented from this plan. “I will not do it,” he said.”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How can such a simple verse open up such a deep theological conundrum?

It raises the question, “If God knows everything that is ever going to happen, how can He change his mind when someone prays?”

I would respond to that with another question, “If God’s will cannot be changed,

why pray at all?”

We could debate circles around this topic but I believe that simple answer is that God is sovereign. That means,

if He wants to change His mind, He can.

I also believe that God wants to hear from His children and allows us to influence His decisions.

He may even choose not to know what He will decide until it comes to pass.

God may live outside of time and have the capacity to know everything that has ever happened and ever will happen, I think He can choose what knowledge to access.

What is your opinion?
Are you a strict Calvinist believing that everything is predestined or do you believe that God chooses to let us influence what He decides and what will ultimately happen?
July 10, 2024

July 10th, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 13-15

Highlight Verse:

“Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded, and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. “Listen to me, Asa!” he shouted. “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It sounds harsh when you read that God will abandon you.

The effect is as simple as this; if you leave the Lord’s side, He will let you.

The abandonment aspect comes in when you realize that, on your own, you no longer have His protection to keep you safe.

Yes, that would feel like abandonment, but it is actually you stepping away when you turn your back on God.

Exposed to the attacks of the enemy and life in general, you could feel quite vulnerable.

Then, like the prodigal son, you might come to your senses and turn back to God.

Then God, the Father, will abandon all reservations and run to meet you!

Have you ever felt life without God?
How did that make you feel in terms of your security?
What was it like when you turned back to God?
July 6, 2024

July 6th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – John 11:1-44

Highlight Verse:

“Then Jesus wept.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of our members just lost their adult son to a long-term illness.

I cannot begin to express my sympathy for them. It is a situation that no parent should ever have to deal with.

As a father to an adult daughter who has multiple medical issues, the situation spikes my fears.

I don’t know what I would do in that situation.

But I know what Jesus would do.

He would weep.

He would sympathize with our sorrow. He is well acquainted with pain and sorrow.

There are times when He will step in and heal. I believe in healing and know that God is able to extend life.

I also know that all of us are only on this earth for a limited time.

In theory, I trust God’s timing.

I try to trust in practice as well.

Please join me in praying for that family who is dealing with loss that God would be their comfort and strength even as their faith is tested.

Thank you.
July 3, 2024

July 3rd, 2024

Wednesday – History

Reading – 2 Chronicles 10-12

Highlight Verse:

“But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is so tempting to say that Rehoboam blew it because he didn’t listen to the advice of older men.

It’s not that simple.

The fact is, not all older men are wise.

In this case, the men were advisors to Solomon, a man thought to be the wisest king ever. That’s some pretty high qualifications.

But, it’s also true that God had sent a prophecy that Rehoboam would lose the ten tribes.

Does that mean that God chose to force Rehoboam to choose poorly?

I won’t go so far as to say that is impossible. But I don’t believe that would be in line with God’s character.

But God did know what Rehoboam would choose.

For all his father’s wisdom, Rehoboam was not a wise King. He was unfaithful to God and the Kingdom of Israel suffered as a consequence.

Here’s the tough part – Was Jeroboam any better?

If not, the people of Israel had a very difficult choice – To follow the bad man or to follow the worse one.

The best answer to that is to follow God, not the imperfect human politicians.

What leader do you follow after?
What makes that person a good leader to follow?
July 2, 2024

July 2nd, 2024

Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 19-20

Highlight Verse:

“Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!””
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭20‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

They could have gone to Moses and begged him to ask God for water.

Mind you, they were still receiving Manna from God every morning except the Sabbath so

they knew God could provide.

Yet they dwelt on the negative.

Instead of asking for provision, they whined, complained, and tried to assign blame.

How often do we do that?

I work for a big corporation that swallowed up the smaller family company that I used to work for.

It’s very easy to look back at the family atmosphere of the smaller company and whine about that all being gone now.

I know because I’ve done it.

It’s not as easy to look at the positive side of working for a big corporation.

While I miss many of the good things of the past,

I find it makes my job much easier if I look at the advantages

I now have in the corporation.

Yes, it may be harder to find the positives, but they are there.

Even Moses got caught up in the negativity and it cost him entry into the promised land.

Is negativity taking a toll in your life?
What are some of the positive aspects of your current situation?

Tag: trust

He is the beginning and the end.

The book of Revelation is just as valid today as when it was written.

But then, we’re all missing the point.

Jonah was in a place where he could do nothing.

He prayed to God from inside the fish.

Let’s just say I’m preaching to myself today.

We humans tend to be generous with what we have left over.

You see, when we give our first and our best, we demonstrate our faith in God to provide for us.

It robs kids of all the friendships and fun they could have if they were just content to be kids.

she not only honors her lover but also her parents and her culture by staying faithful.

I see today’s highlight verse as a plea for help from the women of Jerusalem to keep her and all the other young women faithful.

Flogged!

we’d be suing for damages,

Despite that, I need to always remember to stay on mission to help people to find and follow Jesus.

How can such a simple verse open up such a deep theological conundrum?

why pray at all?”

if He wants to change His mind, He can.

The effect is as simple as this; if you leave the Lord’s side, He will let you.

Exposed to the attacks of the enemy and life in general, you could feel quite vulnerable.

Then God, the Father, will abandon all reservations and run to meet you!

He would weep.

It’s not that simple.

For all his father’s wisdom, Rehoboam was not a wise King. He was unfaithful to God and the Kingdom of Israel suffered as a consequence.

They could have gone to Moses and begged him to ask God for water.

they knew God could provide.

How often do we do that?

I find it makes my job much easier if I look at the advantages