Wednesday, November 30, 2011
November 30, Day 334
Today's four chapters are nuts and bolts, real-life instructions for God's people. As a pastor, I have referred to these sections over and over again. The nature of the church is to have conflicts and problems. Many of the prescriptive solutions are found here. Praise God for such practical help!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
November 29, Day 333
As we read 1 and 2 Corinthians over the next few days, I urge you to take the time to let it sink in. I found rich treasure in many verses today. For instance, God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. (1 Corinthians 1:28 NLT) I read on Black Friday where a pastor critically described it as the day we practice our deep beliefs in life, liberty and the purchase of happiness. Obviously the world around us grows more unhappy every year because we have missed God!
How about this one? My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. (1 Corinthians 4:4 NLT) Once our conscience is seared by the view that right and wrong are relative, even we believers must be careful to place everything in light of God's judgment.
Monday, November 28, 2011
November 28, Day 332
It's easy to think of the church at Corinth as carnal. Paul told them so in his letters. However, he loved them deeply. He stayed there a year and a half because God told him that He had many people there. Those people needed to hear the Gospel. Paul worked hard to tell them. He met new coworkers. They encouraged a very brilliant apologist named Apollos. Paul continued to travel and share the Gospel, ending up today in Ephesus. The riot there was just another tool used by God to open Gospel doors.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
November 27, Day 331
We just read in Acts what happened in Thessalonica: But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. "Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world," they shouted, "and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus."
The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them. (Acts 17:5-9 NLT) Now we read the powerful, encouraging letters Paul wrote to the church there. He needed to correct some falsehoods flying around about Jesus' return. He wanted them to stand firm and he was proud of them for the way they were walking in faith and truth.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
November 26, Day 330
Each year I find places to reflect as I read the Bible through. Today I did that in Acts 17. I could imagine Paul and his team in Thessalonica. Then in Berea. (By the way, he wrote two rich letters to the Thessalonians, but none to the Bereans, who were so faithful to search the scriptures -- hmmm.) Then they went to Athens, where he joyfully debated with their brilliant minds. (Our daughter lives within five miles of Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Boston College, Boston University and several other prestigious institutions of higher learning -- I think that's how Athens was in the Roman Empire.) Some of those debaters wanted to hear more and some were immediately ready to follow Christ. The power of the Gospel!
Friday, November 25, 2011
November 25, Day 329
It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. (Galatians 6:15 NLT)
That statement sums up this epistle. For you and me, it's like saying, "It doesn't matter whether we are religious or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation." We are free in Christ, but our freedom will be destructive if we us it as license to live for our own pleasure.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
November 24, Day 328
The theme of Galatiane is freedom through Christ. In these first three chapters, Paul describes his early experience as a Christian, when he was taught by studying the Scriptures and seeking God on his own. After many years, he went with Barnabas and Titus up to Jerusalem. Part of their meetings there are described in Acts 15, which we read yesterday. Later, back at Antioch, Paul confronted Peter about his hypocrisy. Paul uses these events to drive home the point that we are made right with God completely apart from the Law.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
November 23, Day 327
Yesterday we read the letter James wrote to clarify that faith must work or it's not genuine. Today we see the respect he had gained in Jerusalem: he spoke and the discussion ended. It was Peter, though, who stated the truth about Jewish legalism clearly and concisely: So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? (Acts 15:10 NLT) It is the nature of legalism to want to attract others to itself, even though it chokes the life out of its practitioners.
Paul, the fiery leader, and Barnabas, the encourager, were destined to see things differently. Their disparate views culminated in the case of young John Mark (who later wrote Mark). Paul took Silas and went back to the churches previously started, planting others on the journey. Barnabas took John Mark and planted churches on the island of Cyprus. The Gospel continued to spread and the men (including Paul and Mark) later reconciled.
As Acts 16 begins, one of the focus points was the region of Galatia. Tomorrow we will read Paul's letter to the churches there.
It is fascinating that God kept preventing them from further work in the province called Asia. Then Paul had the Macedonian vision and they crossed the water to bring the Gospel (for the first time) to Europe.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
November 22, Day 326
This is one of those times we are greatly assisted by reading chronologically. Tomorrow we will read in Acts about a large controversy in the early church. The controversy will be debated among Apostles and Elders in the Jerusalem church. Finally, one man will speak and everyone else will follow what he says. His name was James and he was the half-brother of Jesus. Today, as you read the book bearing his name, you will see some of the reasons he became the leader of the Jerusalem church. What's amazing is that he didn't believe Jesus to be the messiah until after the resurrection.
Monday, November 21, 2011
November 21, Day 325
As you read today, please take time to let your mind grab the significance of this first recorded missionary work. Notice how some were so open to the message while others were so opposed. If you saw the move Thor this year, you can imagine how the people of Lystra thought that they were gods who came down to earth. That false, demonic view of deity was rampant in that time and place. Watch how the crowd swiftly goes from the desire to sacrifice to them to a murderous rage. Then, see how Paul and Barnabas got to the end of the journey and went back to strengthen each new church before they went home. If a picture is worth a thousand words, these two chapters are worth a thousand pictures!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
November 20, Day 324
Last week I met with church leaders to talk about change. Most or all of them were from churches that struggle with this and are losing ground in their quest to proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom to as many as possible. The initial reaction of the Jewish believers to Peter demonstrates that change resistance is far from a new thing. Praise God that they embraced taking the Gospel to the Gentiles when they heard the story of how God had orchestrated it.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
November 19, Day 323
I wonder what it was like for Peter as he knelt beside Dorcas' bed. Did he sense a "sure thing" as he prepared to speak life to her lifeless body? O was he willing to take a risk and see what God might do?
Notice the power of these words: Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. (Acts 10:34, 35 NLT) No favoritism. We have a story to tell to the nations. We must expect many to fear Him and do what is right.
Friday, November 18, 2011
November 18, Day 322
Did you notice these verses? Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. (Acts 8:5, 6 NLT) A few years earlier, Jesus traveled through Samaria and met a woman at the well. (John 4). "Come and see!", she said. No doubt a remnant there still believed and were ready to invite their friends when God's man came.
When we go in God's power, we should expect that He has been preparing the way ahead of us! So, let's obey God and go.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
November 17, Day 321
What a transition today. Notice the simple, bold faith of Peter and John before the religious leaders. Imagine what it was like for the Jewish leaders as the church grew rapidly to 5,000 men, plus women and children (15,000-25,000 people would certainly be a mega church in our culture). Ponder the prayer life of the people, crying out to God for their city; then see how their boldness increased.
Did you notice God's fierce holiness in the case of Ananias and Saphira? He obviously would let nothing corrupt the purity of His power at that early stage. Then, see how problems came as the church grew even more. They sought wise ways to handle those problems without short-circuiting the work of the kingdom.
Then it started really heating up. The apostles were warned with beatings, even as wise Gamaliel intervened. Then Stephen was arrested. Martyrdom was about to begin. The path of the Gospel is paved with the blood of the martyrs.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
November 16, Day 320
The Acts of the Apostles, we have traditionally called it. I'm not sure that was the way Luke originally titled it. It is certainly the history of the early apostolic age, but the "acts" were more clearly the acts of the Holy Spirit among God's people. It was the days of the early church and we still have much to learn from them two millennia later.
In Acts 3, I suddenly had a picture of what it must have been like for Peter, the crusty fisherman, to be addressing a crowd of city dwellers (no doubt far more educated than he): "People of Israel," he said, "what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? (Acts 3:12 NLT) I think that Peter didn't even look religious! How could such a display of power come through him? It is time for us to quit thinking that clergy are the only channels of God's power -- in fact I expect the opposite these days. God is using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. And God gets the credit!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
November 15, Day 319
"And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven." (Luke 24:49 NLT) God is changing many hearts in our church. One area of repentance is to become more faithful sharing the Gospel. As I read the above verse, it struck me that sometimes we are tempted to go out too soon. We haven't really prayed and waited for God's power. Staying precedes going. Both are command.
Monday, November 14, 2011
November 14, Day 318
"He isn't here; He is risen just as He said." The sweetest words in all history!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
November 13, Day 317
The duplicity of the Jewish leaders always baffles me. They accused Jesus of inciting rebellion against the Roman government. That would insure that Pilate had Him executed. On the other hand, they demanded release of Barabbas. What what Barabbas' crime? Inciting rebellion against the Roman government!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
November 12, Day 316
Fatigue does interesting things. I am moving at a fast pace this week and feel a little of the effects this morning. The two chapters we read today are about the pivotal day in human history. No matter how the secularists attempt to dilute it, history must be seen through the lens of before God came in human form and after He changed everything on the cross. Today I read about that pivotal day. But, in my fatigue, it didn't sink in enough.
Friday, November 11, 2011
November 11, Day 315
I noticed something that Jesus did and said in today's reading. In Chapter 14, "but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. (John 14:31 NLT)" Then, in Chapter 15, "When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. (John 15:10 NLT)" Jesus showed His love by doing what the Father required. He told us to show our love that way, too.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
November 10, Day 314
It's easy to believe that knowing the final outcome of a trial will make the trial easier to endure. However, notice this verse: Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. (John 13:3 NLT) Did that make it easier for Jesus to face the cross? If so, why did He agonize so in Getsemani?
Actually, the above verse gives me comfort. I know where I am going and that everything will work out in the end. That won't always make the journey easy.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
November 9, Day 313
"You have said it." Jesus spoke those words twice in Matthew 26. The first time was to Judas the betrayer, who had spoken openly of the betrayal when he accepted thirty pieces of silver as blood money. No doubt Jesus knew what Judas had said; He was told by the Spirit in the same way He knew what Nathaniel had said under the fig tree in John 1.
The second time, Jesus was referring to what the High Priest had just said: "I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." (Matthew 26:63 NLT) The same simple words: spoken with earth-shaking power.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
November 8, Day 312
The bridesmaids were foolishly neglecting what was important, thinking the bridegroom wouldn't care. The servant lived in fear of the master's harshness, neglecting to use what he was given. The goats closed their eyes to the hurting world around them. In each parable, they had a false view of God and it cost them. I don't want to make their mistakes.
Monday, November 7, 2011
November 7, Day 311
False Messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes…all are happening with increasing intensity. Are we living in the last days?
Sunday, November 6, 2011
November 6, Day 310
The last days of Jesus' earthly ministry were characterized by changes from the earlier times:
1. He became increasingly blunt with the religious leaders.
2. He became very clear about his impending sacrifice.
3. He spoke (as in today's passage) in great detail about the last days and His ultimate return.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
November 5, Day 309
Jesus had been speaking and debating with the Jerusalem religious leaders since he was 12 years old. He asked them difficult questions and He answered their attempts to trap Him in something He said. Now, as He neared the cross, He told them plainly what they looked like from a spiritual perspective. I'm certain that He could have used the same description of me at various times. By His grace, I never want to be that way again!
How about you?
Friday, November 4, 2011
November 4, Day 308
Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: (Mark 12:18 NLT)
If you read today's passage carefully, you will get a glimpse into the normal life of the the religious leaders in Jesus' day. They stood around and argued about mundane subjects, trying to outsmart each other. In many ways, the were the "intelligencia" and they hated Jesus for drawing more attention from the people than they got. The scene was set to crucify Him!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
November 3, Day 307
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, `May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too." (Mark 11:22-25 NLT)
We have been studying the model prayer. In the same way that He had taught His disciples how to pray, Jesus tied answered prayer to forgiveness. If we maintain an unforgiving spirit, it will cut off our prayer effectiveness.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
November 2, Day 306
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." (Luke 19:10 NLT) That has become one of my favorite verses.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
November 1, Day 305
Today is a good time to talk about the contrast among details in the different Gospels. For instance, Mark described James and John as coming to Jesus to ask the blessing of sitting on His right and left in His kingdom. Matthew said it was their mother who made the approach. Is this a contradiction?
Or, in another scene, Luke describes an anonymous blind man asking Jesus for his sight. Mark says his name was Bartimaeus. But Matthew says there were two blind men together at the side of that road. Clearly this might be a contradiction. Hmmmm.
If one subscribes to the theory that the Holy Spirit mechanically dictated the Scriptures, then surely He wouldn't contradict Himself. However, if "Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit…" (2 Peter 1:21) and God led them as they wrote within their own limited vocabulary, their own limited knowledge of the events and their own limited sources, then it's not contradiction, but the God-inpired recording of history.
Mark was written first, but he wasn't there; his source was Peter. Luke was the consummate historian, but he wasn't there; his most likely source was Jesus' mother Mary. Matthew, the tax collector, was there from the time he was called. John, the beloved, was there. Matthew was surely educated; John was not. But John was "the disciple whom Jesus loved" and was very close to Jesus from the beginning.
Not contradictions. Contrast. Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the "synoptic Gospels". The word means that we see the whole together through them. They tell most of the same events from different perspectives.
I hope I didn't bore you today, but this is critical in your understanding of Scripture.
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