October 31

Luke 18
One of my favorite parables is this one about the Pharisee and the tax collector.  I believe we could insert a number of people who are confident in their own righteousness.  It’s easy to imagine a self-righteous Christian standing before God and saying things, such as, “Lord, I believed in creation theory, the inerrancy of scripture, and the one true Jehovah God.  I thank you that I’m not like this liberal denominationalist who accepts evolution theory, the fallacy of Biblical writers, and three Gods in one.”  While the liberal stands off, simply saying, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  Insert any dogmatic doctrinal issue you wish.  It doesn’t really matter if the issue is sound or not.  The fact of the matter is the condition of the heart.  When we stand before His throne at that final judgment, we will not be judged according to our own righteousness.  At least, I hope not.  Because if I’m going to be judged in that manner, I’m already sunk.  In the words of the prophet, “All my righteousness is as filthy rags!”  No, on that day, I only want mercy.

October 30

John 11
One of the bits of Bible trivia has always been the shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”  And then there is some discussion as to why the Lord cried.  It would seem that to those who witnessed His tears, it was because He loved Lazarus and his family.  I find it hard to fault this interpretation.  However, beyond the love, could it be that He was disappointed in their lack of faith?  These were some of His closest friends.  They should have known better.  Yet, from the time He arrived, they expressed their doubt with constantly saying, “What if?”  It is never a question of what if, but rather, “When?”  Jesus is able to do whatever He wills, at any time He chooses.  I wonder if He weeps at our lack of faith?  Do our doubts cause Him to grieve?

October 29

Luke 16-17
I know that there was another post in this blog addressing this subject, but it comes up again in today’s reading.  I often hear Christians speak of a literal kingdom that is yet to come.  However, this is what scripture plainly indicates: Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”  There is no future physical kingdom coming.  The kingdom of God has already arrived, and if you are a Christian you are a citizen of that kingdom now and forever!

October 28

Luke 14-15
Jesus offers a parable to demonstrate that those who choose to humble themselves will be exalted.  He gives advice to His hearers that those who choose a lowly seat at the table will be honored when the host tells them to take a better seat.  My wife and I have often discussed our different ways of looking at life.  I tend to not have high expectations from life.  Then, when those expectations are met, I’m not disappointed.  However, most of the time my low expectations are exceeded, so I am very happy.  On the other hand, she tends to have high expectations.  Since, a large part of the time, life doesn't meet those expectations, she is disappointed.  Over the years she is beginning to come around to my point of view.  However, given the Lord’s advice in today’s reading, it isn’t my point of view at all.  Rather, it belongs to the Lord!

October 27

Luke 12-13
There are many passages in scripture that demonstrate God’s compassion toward mankind.  However, I don’t believe any are more poignant than this found in today’s reading:  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”  He looks upon those who have done such evil, killing and stoning God’s chosen messengers!  He compares them to babies that a mother brings under her protective cover.  This is God’s desire for mankind, in spite of our sinful ways!  Even though there will come a time when the wicked will face eternal torment, that is not what our Lord wants.  He would much rather gather them under His protective wings, shielding them from all harm for eternity.

October 26

Luke 10
We’re told in today’s reading that Jesus was filled with joy when the 72 He had appointed came back with positive reports from the mission field.  Max Lucado wrote a book entitled, The Applause of Heaven, where he describes God in terms of applauding those who enter into His eternal kingdom.  I’m conducting a class on difficult questions.  This Sunday we will be looking at whether or not hell is real.  Even though scripture is abundantly clear on the existence of hell and the final judgment, there is nothing in the word of God, or the life of Christ, that even hints at the Lord taking pleasure in condemnation.  On the other hand, He takes great pleasure in the salvation of any who choose to follow Him.  Isn’t it great that we get to share in His joy?!

October 25

John 9-10
Once again, Jesus escapes when the Jews are wanting to seize Him in order to kill Him.  The time wasn’t right.  I find it interesting that He had a schedule, known only to Him.  The fact that He could easily escape their grasp demonstrates that when the time came, Jesus willingly gave up His life.  Any reasonable person would say one would be a fool to not take advantage of some escape route when their life is in danger.  When they came to arrest Him and take Him to the cross for crucifixion, Jesus could have escaped.  He had the power to call fire down on His accusers!  However, He chose to walk those streets, bearing the weight of the cross, after being beaten.  It wasn’t the nails that held Him to the cross.  It was His love for each and every one of us.  He knew that the time was right for Him to become the sacrificial lamb, making atonement for our sins, so that we might have the hope of eternal life!  Thank you, Jesus!

October 24

John 7-8
It’s interesting that those who professed to be children of God, the religious people of the day, wrongly interpreted scripture when it came to Jesus.  They would throw out verses to refute His teachings, proof-texting in a manner to support their erroneous positions.  Sounds very similar to what many do today.  The Lord gave a simple test for any to use in determining who was from God and who is not.  He invites anyone to judge by the works of the one professing to be sent by God.  Are they the works of God?  Do they glorify Him, or do they glorify the one doing the works?  Jesus always did and said that which would glorify the Father.  He sought to turn His followers toward the only true God.  Of course, there is one major difference between Jesus and us.  He is God, and we’re not!  This is what troubled His hearers more than anything else.  “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

October 23

Matthew 18
Peter asks the Lord how many times we should forgive?  Jesus goes on to provide a mini-sermon on forgiveness.  He, in essence, says that we should never not forgive.  Using a parable where a man who has had a great debt forgiven refuses to forgive a small debt owed to him, Jesus points out that we are each forgiven an insurmountable debt by God.  In fact, our sin is so bad that it required the sacrifice of His only begotten Son!  Therefore, if we refuse to forgive anyone, we stand in danger of not being forgiven by the One that really matters!  Are you harboring some infraction from another?  Do you want God to do the same with you?  Forgive freely, as we are forgiven freely!

October 22

Matthew 17; Mark 9
I firmly believe that most of us Christians have no idea how powerful a tool we have with prayer.  When the disciples were unable to remove the demon that had left a young boy mute, Jesus healed him.  The disciples asked why they were not able to accomplish this miracle?  Jesus answered that this kind can only come out with prayer!  Imagine that.  Jesus had given them a measure of the Holy Spirit, allowing them to heal the sick in a miraculous manner.  Yet, He says that even with that amount of power, prayer is needed to supplement it.  Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but it seems to me that He is indicating that prayer is more powerful than the gift of healing the apostles enjoyed.  This makes me want to spend more time on my knees, lifting up my requests to God in prayer.

October 21

Matthew 16; Mark 8
Many Christians are looking forward to a time when the Lord’s kingdom will be on earth, with Him reigning for a specified period of time.  However, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”  If we are to take Him at His word, then His kingdom came before the apostles died!  This can be understood if we quit looking for a physical kingdom, fashioned after our human designs.  In the gospel of John, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that the kingdom is made up of those who worship in spirit and truth, that it’s not about whether we worship in Jerusalem or on some mountain.  His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom.  He is already on the throne.  Christians are already citizens.  The only thing we have yet to experience is the eternal nature of the kingdom.  However, when we pass from this life, we will go on to be with the Lord, experiencing the eternal nature of the kingdom of which we are already a part.

October 20

Matthew 15; Mark 7
It’s interesting that Jesus would choose the command to honor your father and mother as an example of how the Pharisees placed their tradition and religion above the will of God.  It seems that they were using their religion as an excuse to keep from fulfilling this particular command.  Instead of honoring their parents, they were devoting that which would honor them to their traditional views of religion, actually proclaiming that it was the will of God!  Oh, how we fail as Christians when we use our faith as a tool to practice evil.  We fail to fulfill the weightier aspects of God’s will in order to satisfy our own desires.  Throughout my life I have felt a calling to minister to the aged, primarily because I have so often witnessed them being ignored by their own family.  They are lonely, often stuck away in a rest home and forgotten.  I once made a TV service call at an 85 year old man’s place.  When I arrived I discovered nothing wrong with his television.  He told me that it was his understanding that a service call gave him 45 minutes of service, so he wanted to fill those minutes with conversation.  He was willing to pay a total stranger for some company when his own son lived just twenty miles away!  He hadn’t seen or spoken to him in three months.  This sort of thing is repeated time and again.

October 19

John 6
Much of this chapter deals with the feeding of the multitude and the peoples’ attitude toward the Lord.  There is much to learn from what John tells us.  However, one verse in particular stands out for me.  Verse 40: “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”  Very often we seem to look for reasons to exclude others from eternal life.  Yet, if we were truly seeking the will of God we would be looking for any and every opportunity to include believers into the same hope we have.  It is extremely important that we realize our role, as opposed to the Lord’s role.  He is the one who is able to raise them up at the last day – we are not!  From the words of the One to whom we must look for our salvation, it is His “Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

October 18

Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9
There are many interesting points of discussion in today’s reading.  However, the one that really sticks out in my mind is Peter’s recognition of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration. You might ask, “What’s the big deal?”  Well, how did he recognize them?  There was no photography in the time of Moses and Elijah.  I suppose it’s possible that some artist painted their portraits, but it’s highly unlikely.  And, even if that had been done, how probable is it that those portraits would have survived the ages through all the turmoil, captivity, scattering, and disruption that the Jews were subjected?  So, no, I really don’t believe that Peter, James, or John had ever seen a likeness of these two great prophets of old.  Therefore, what gave them away?  I don’t have the answer.  But, allow me to propose this supposition: there is something within each of us that transcends our physical appearances, causing us to be known for whom we are and have been.  I don’t pretend to know what that something is, it just seems to me that it is such a strong element that God has placed upon each of us, that it transcends death and the grave, leading me to believe that we will know each other in eternity, just as we do in this life.  Food for thought.

October 17

Matthew 10
It’s interesting that as Matthew lists the twelve apostles he makes a point of identifying himself as a tax collector.  I don’t think this was meant to draw attention to himself.  Rather, it was to demonstrate that Jesus chose from the dregs of society those who would be representing Him.  Tax collectors have never been very popular, especially in that day and time, as most were corrupt.  I did my Matthew routine for a little while.  After leaving full-time ministry, I collected taxes for Tulare County.  Someone actually threatened my life during one collection!  At that time, I was reminded of a saying my mother would use: “The worse thing anyone can do is kill you.”  I always thought that was pretty bad.  However, Jesus offers the same word of advice in verse 28 of our reading: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

October 16

Mark 4-5
It's interesting when we look at the Lord's miracles.  He seems to have had a single purpose behind each of them, and that purpose was wrapped up in faith.  He was either performing the miracle to demonstrate who He was, thus creating faith in the witnesses, or He was demonstrating the power of the faith that some already had, such as, the woman who touched his garment and was healed because of her faith.  Whatever the situation or circumstance, faith was involved.  Later on Paul would write that faith comes through hearing the word of God.  Does that mean that there was a shift of sorts?  I suspect that may be the case, since the age of miracles seems to have passed.  At least, miracles in the sense of what Jesus and His apostles performed.  Our primary source for the development of faith in this age comes from the Bible.  It would be interesting to see if His miracles would have the same impact today.

October 15

Matthew 13; Luke 8
Jesus begins His teaching ministry using parables, healing people, and going where He is wanted.  We're told in this reading that His ministry is supported by the women who are following Him because of how He had touched their lives.  There is also the woman who touches Him and He feels power coming out of Him because of that touch.  Some of what stands out to me in this reading is that ministries should be supported financially and that Jesus knows when we have touched Him.  He is acutely aware of our presence and feels our faith intimately.  It isn't so much that we may be healed, rather, it is that we have faith in the One who is able to accomplish anything.

October 14

 
Luke 11
Jesus often created circumstances that would afford the opportunity for an object lesson. We have just such a circumstance in today's reading. As he enters his host's home for a meal, He purposely sits at the table without having washed His hands. When His host points this out, Jesus provides a lesson demonstrating that God looks upon the intent of the heart, while we tend to base our judgment on the external. What is more important, clean hands or a pure heart? I'm reminded of David's prayer after his sins with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. In Psalm 51, David prays that God would create within him a pure heart.

October 13

Matthew 11
Because John the Baptist didn't eat fine foods or drink wine the people said he was possessed by a demon. When Jesus came eating and drinking they called Him a glutton and a drunkard. Essentially, there was no way to please them. Things haven't changed much, unfortunately. We still have those who stand in judgment of others because they don't live their lives in the manner expected. A friend of mine was seen having a beer with the construction crew working on the new church building. He was soundly reprimanded by the elders. However, he was able to extend the gospel to the workers with whom he shared a cold beer on a hot day. I suppose the Lord was just fine with that.

October 12

 
Matthew 9; Luke 7
When Jesus is looked down upon for allowing a sinful woman to wash his feet with her tears, He offers a truth that has more power than is often not realized in the church. Those who have been forgiven much are more grateful than those who have been forgiven little. Very often our most diligent workers in the church are those who have had a very dark past -- those who have tasted the worst of what sin offers. It is these who are amazed that God can, and does, forgive their sins and transform them into pure servants of God. Their witness is invaluable!

October 11

Matthew 5-7
Perhaps the most famous sermon of all time, the Sermon on the Mount, has been a guiding force for people throughout the ages because of its common sense approach to righteousness.  As I go through each section I am convicted, because I am found wanting.  However, there is one verse that troubles me more than any other.  It comes at the end of chapter five, where Jesus encourages us to be perfect as God is.  I don't know about anyone else, but all I can do with this injunction is to fall to my knees, proclaiming, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner."

October 10

Matthew 12; Mark 3; Luke 6
Jesus chooses the twelve.  He reads their hearts and knows what role they will fill in the promotion of His kingdom.  Judas would even have a role, albeit, a negative one.  It's interesting when we consider the diversity of the apostles.  As we look at the big picture, diversity is seen throughout the Bible.  From the prophets, through the kings, and then the New Testament churches, diversity is key to the success of God's design for mankind.  He created us as individuals with unique personalities.  He then demonstrates how individuality works in His plan for eternity, accepting each of us through an attitude of grace and mercy.  Dare we do any less?

October 9

John 5
Jesus engages the religious leaders of His day over His healing a man on the Sabbath, and His claim to be the  Son of God, making Himself equal with God.  Unfortunately, those issues are still with us today.  Many lay claim to some form of legalism as a foundation for their faith, and then seek to place their restrictions on others.  There are others who can't wrap their minds around the deity of Jesus Christ.  One would think that the life, death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord would have settled these issues for all time.  He constantly preached against legalism, promoting the spirit and truth of God and His ways.  His apostles reaffirmed these teachings, yet, we still have many who pervert the gospel of grace reducing it to a legal requirement.  As to His deity, the empty tomb and His ascension speaks for themselves.  It's sad that anyone who professes faith in God would disregard these proofs and the Lord's own words.  But, we should take heart, because a day is coming when all will be revealed in full, and the scoffers will be no more.

October 8

 
Matthew 8; Mark 2
The story of the paralytic and his friends has always impressed me with its opening into the heart of Jesus. Here are some young men who are so determined to reach the one person their friend feels can help him, that they actually dig a hole in the roof so they can get to the Lord! Jesus is so touched by their faith that He immediately offers the greatest gift of all -- He forgives the young man's sins! The healing of his body only came to demonstrate to the unbelievers that He had the power to forgive sins. In this story we find the heart of God, and it isn't in our physical circumstances. He is only concerned with our spiritual health; that which will place us into an eternal relationship with Him.

October 7

John 2-4
At this, the beginning of the Lord's ministry, we begin to get insight into His motives. He is able to control the natural elements, demonstrated in the turning of wine into water. He confounds the wise with the simplicity of God's offered salvation, as seen in His dialogue with Nicodemus and that most favorite of all verses, John 3:16. Finally, He brings those considered the most undeserving into the fold when He offers living water to the Samaritan woman at the well. Through this exchange we discover one of the deep secrets of God when Jesus tells the woman, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23

October 6

Matthew 4; Luke 4-5
In today's reading, Jesus offers His inaugural address, outlining His ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 By extension, this is also our ministry. To be a Christian quite literally means to be Christ-like. There is no better way to be like Christ than to fulfill this ministry.

October 5

Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3
John offers some foreshadowing of the Lord's teachings. For example, in addressing the responsibility of the followers of God, John says, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:11 As followers of Christ, we sometimes mistakenly believe that our responsibility to Christ ends with our confession of faith. Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus warns us in Matthew 25ff, that He will separate the sheep from the goats at the final judgment. He identifies the sheep by how they have fulfilled these responsibilities, identifying Himself with the broken, hungry, homeless, and naked. These are sobering words and should spur all of us toward love and good deeds.

October 4

Matthew 2
My hat’s off to Joseph!  Here, he is betrothed to Mary and she turns up pregnant before he can lay a hand on her.  She gives him this story about a miraculous conception, with the angel of the Lord confirming.  The child, who is not his, is born into a threatening environment.  Joseph takes up the mantle and starts doing whatever is necessary to protect mother and baby.  In so doing, he is putting his life in jeopardy.  However, we never see a hint of doubt.  Joseph doesn’t receive a lot of ink, but he fulfilled a purpose with courage and devotion.  What a responsibility, to be given the task of saving the Messiah’s life!  So, here’s to you, Joseph.  You da man!

October 3

Matthew 1; Luke 2
Joseph and Mary were reminded of the prophecy Isaiah had given about the birth of Jesus, where he says the child shall be called Immanuel, which means, God with us.  I wonder how many times they reflected upon this as the child grew?  Do you suppose they thought about the infant with poopy diapers as being God with them?  As they walked the floor with the fussy baby cutting teeth, were they reminded that the squalling baby was God with them?  At the age of twelve, Jesus reminds them that He is God with them, as He lets them know that He had to be in His Father’s house.  How did knowing that God was with them effect the way they lived?  How would it impact you?  Well, we can’t visibly see Him, but God is with us just as surely as He was with Mary and Joseph!

October 2

Luke 1; John 1
I find it interesting that John and Jesus are cousins, yet John didn’t know Jesus before He came to be baptized.  We do get one clue, in that John was raised in the wilderness.  It just seems odd to me that as close as Mary and Elizabeth appear to be that they seem to have broken off relations for three decades.  I wonder what happened?  Did they have a falling out?  Perhaps Elizabeth died.  I don’t really have any idea.  But, I do know that when John saw Jesus approaching he knew that He was the chosen One, the Messiah!  The Lord was requesting baptism from John to fulfill all righteousness, which leads to my next question.  Why do some resist baptism?  It just seems to me that any believer would want to follow the Lord’s example.  I understand that baptism isn’t the saving agent, just as prayer, serving, teaching, etc. aren’t.  These are simply things Jesus did, and we strive to follow His example.  So, what makes baptism any different?

October 1

Malachi 1-4 The last numbers I saw on the average percentage most Americans give to their church was around 2% of their income. The number has been in decline for several years. I don't know if there is any correlation, but as contributions go down it appears that poverty increases. Perhaps there's a clue in today's reading, Malachi 3:10: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.