“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NIV)
If people living today need to get up in the middle of the night, other than the fact of having to get up, is that a problem for us? Usually, it is not. We have “night lights” stationed around the house, energized by electricity. Or, we can just flip on the light switch. But what if you needed to go outside for some reason? Again, you can either flip on the porch light, or you can pick up your flashlight and go out into the dark. It’s not a problem.
Life was no so simple in ancient times. They had none of our modern conveniences. No light switches and no electricity. They did not even have indoor plumbing. Imagine that. If someone needed to go outside during the night, they faced the possibility of stepping on a scorpion, or a snake, or stumbling over a half-buried rock. So, some enterprising Israelite developed an oil-lamp flashlight. The normal hand-held oil lamps could provide a little bit of light, but you had to hold those up high. The only way to get enough light on the path to see what was ahead was to hold the oil lamp down near the ground. So, this Israelite entrepreneur made a very small clay oil lamp, just big enough for a little bit of oil, put a wick in it, and made the lamp with a protrusion on the side with a hole in it. You could then insert leather thongs into the holes and tie the lamp to your ankles. That would put the light more directly on the pathway and light it for one or two steps ahead of you so you could see your way better. This was a lamp for your feet to light your path in front of you.
This ancient flashlight is what the psalmist was referring to when he wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” He was saying that God’s word is like that for us. It provides light to help us see the way. It provides for our protection against that which might harm us. It helps us to get where we need to go.
Today, may the word of God do all of this for each of us as it lights the way.
Lord, We thank You for Your word, and for the way You use it to show us Your way, to keep us on the path that leads us where You want us to go. Amen.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Pearl of Great Price
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46 CSB)
A couple of aspects about this parable are rather striking. One is the extreme nature of what is said: a priceless pearl, and a merchant who sold everything else to buy it. Obviously, the pearl was not actually priceless since it could be bought. And in the real world, no businessman would sell everything he had to buy one pearl. But also very obviously, neither of those items is the point anyway. Clearly, one of the points being made is this matter of the extreme of doing whatever it takes, regardless, to purchase that pearl.
A second aspect of the parable that is striking is the matter of value; not so much the value of the pearl itself, but the values of the merchant who was willing to do anything necessary to acquire the pearl. What was it about pearls that so fascinated him? Why was he willing to do anything necessary to buy it? The only possible answer is that within him there was a “value” that drove his decisions. For this man, the value of the pearl was not its price. It was “priceless” but not because of its price, in other words. What made it priceless was what it represented to the merchant. Its value was more intrinsic in nature. It represented the perfection of beauty, since there was nothing else in the world that could compare with it. It represented completeness or wholeness, since this is the one he had been seeking all his life, the one that represented the treasure of all treasures.
Parables were probably not intended to be analyzed to this level, but they do sometimes lend themselves to it because of the richness of meaning. Mainly, parables were intended to teach one main point, and the point of this one is that the kingdom of heaven is the absolute greatest value available to those who are seeking truth, and those who are seeking God will find their completeness and wholeness when they enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, Thank You for allowing us to enter into Your kingdom by faith. Help us in this day to share the truth of Your kingdom with others. Amen.
A couple of aspects about this parable are rather striking. One is the extreme nature of what is said: a priceless pearl, and a merchant who sold everything else to buy it. Obviously, the pearl was not actually priceless since it could be bought. And in the real world, no businessman would sell everything he had to buy one pearl. But also very obviously, neither of those items is the point anyway. Clearly, one of the points being made is this matter of the extreme of doing whatever it takes, regardless, to purchase that pearl.
A second aspect of the parable that is striking is the matter of value; not so much the value of the pearl itself, but the values of the merchant who was willing to do anything necessary to acquire the pearl. What was it about pearls that so fascinated him? Why was he willing to do anything necessary to buy it? The only possible answer is that within him there was a “value” that drove his decisions. For this man, the value of the pearl was not its price. It was “priceless” but not because of its price, in other words. What made it priceless was what it represented to the merchant. Its value was more intrinsic in nature. It represented the perfection of beauty, since there was nothing else in the world that could compare with it. It represented completeness or wholeness, since this is the one he had been seeking all his life, the one that represented the treasure of all treasures.
Parables were probably not intended to be analyzed to this level, but they do sometimes lend themselves to it because of the richness of meaning. Mainly, parables were intended to teach one main point, and the point of this one is that the kingdom of heaven is the absolute greatest value available to those who are seeking truth, and those who are seeking God will find their completeness and wholeness when they enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, Thank You for allowing us to enter into Your kingdom by faith. Help us in this day to share the truth of Your kingdom with others. Amen.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Cause for Courage
“Listen, Israel: Today you are about to engage in battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4 CSB)
What is the “enemy” that we, as Christians, face? In a word: Satan. He is our enemy. But not just Satan, all the “expressions” of Satan become our enemy as well. For example, the enemy is sin, such things as pride, fearfulness, and all of those vices listed in the Ten Commandments. The Bible makes it very clear what sin is, and sin is what Satan tempts us toward.
The words of the verse above were focused on a different enemy, of course, one that was somewhat more tangible. The people were poised to pounce on the Promised Land. They would face enemies with swords and spears, armies larger than their own. But the priest was to say the words of this verse to the people, to remind them that God would go before them and fight for them and give them the victory. They were to go forth in faith.
We are not in a physical fight per se, but there is a spiritual warfare going on. We can take the same promise applied then and apply it now. The Lord our God goes with us to fight against our enemies to give us the victory. Our strength is His strength. Our victory will be His victory. Sin and any other expression of Satan can be overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the hearts of all those who come to faith in Jesus. It is the authority of His Name that leads us to victory, and we simply need to follow Him in faith.
Lord, Guide us this day in the way of faith and faithfulness, and lead us on to the victory You have for us. Amen.
What is the “enemy” that we, as Christians, face? In a word: Satan. He is our enemy. But not just Satan, all the “expressions” of Satan become our enemy as well. For example, the enemy is sin, such things as pride, fearfulness, and all of those vices listed in the Ten Commandments. The Bible makes it very clear what sin is, and sin is what Satan tempts us toward.
The words of the verse above were focused on a different enemy, of course, one that was somewhat more tangible. The people were poised to pounce on the Promised Land. They would face enemies with swords and spears, armies larger than their own. But the priest was to say the words of this verse to the people, to remind them that God would go before them and fight for them and give them the victory. They were to go forth in faith.
We are not in a physical fight per se, but there is a spiritual warfare going on. We can take the same promise applied then and apply it now. The Lord our God goes with us to fight against our enemies to give us the victory. Our strength is His strength. Our victory will be His victory. Sin and any other expression of Satan can be overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the hearts of all those who come to faith in Jesus. It is the authority of His Name that leads us to victory, and we simply need to follow Him in faith.
Lord, Guide us this day in the way of faith and faithfulness, and lead us on to the victory You have for us. Amen.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Can or Will?
“When He entered the house, the blind men approached Him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I can do this?’” (Matthew 9:28 CSB)
Two men followed Jesus, either with the help of friends or by following the sound of the crowd, since they were blind. They evidently had heard from someone that this man from Nazareth could heal people, so they sought healing from Him. They found a way to follow Jesus into a house, and there Jesus responded to them.
The question Jesus asked these men is interesting. He did not ask them if they believe or if they had faith to be healed. Rather, He asked them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” His question focused not so much on the faith to be healed as it did on whether they believed He had the ability to do what they were asking. The question was more about Him than about them, that is, what they believed about Him. They responded that they did believe, and then Jesus said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” Then they were healed.
Sometimes we have the idea that, in order to be healed or otherwise blessed, we just have to ratchet up our faith in its intensity, thinking that if we just have enough faith we can be healed or blessed. The emphasis is on us and our ability. But this story shows us that healing or blessing depends really more on the ability of God. We seek God’s blessing or healing, we ask for it, and we believe He has the ability to do this, but at some point we just have to trust Him to do whatever is according to His will. Sometimes God heals, and sometimes He does not. Only He understands the reasons why He does or does not heal everyone. And we just have to trust Him.
Lord, You have all power, and certainly You have the ability to heal us or to bless us in ways that only You can bless. We seek this from You, and we simply trust You to carry out Your will. Amen.
Two men followed Jesus, either with the help of friends or by following the sound of the crowd, since they were blind. They evidently had heard from someone that this man from Nazareth could heal people, so they sought healing from Him. They found a way to follow Jesus into a house, and there Jesus responded to them.
The question Jesus asked these men is interesting. He did not ask them if they believe or if they had faith to be healed. Rather, He asked them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” His question focused not so much on the faith to be healed as it did on whether they believed He had the ability to do what they were asking. The question was more about Him than about them, that is, what they believed about Him. They responded that they did believe, and then Jesus said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” Then they were healed.
Sometimes we have the idea that, in order to be healed or otherwise blessed, we just have to ratchet up our faith in its intensity, thinking that if we just have enough faith we can be healed or blessed. The emphasis is on us and our ability. But this story shows us that healing or blessing depends really more on the ability of God. We seek God’s blessing or healing, we ask for it, and we believe He has the ability to do this, but at some point we just have to trust Him to do whatever is according to His will. Sometimes God heals, and sometimes He does not. Only He understands the reasons why He does or does not heal everyone. And we just have to trust Him.
Lord, You have all power, and certainly You have the ability to heal us or to bless us in ways that only You can bless. We seek this from You, and we simply trust You to carry out Your will. Amen.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Word and Promise
“Remember Your word to Your servant; You have given me hope through it. This is my comfort in my affliction: Your promise has given me life.” (Psalm 119:49-50 CSB)
In our walk with God two “rocks” stand firm: the word of God and the promises of God. When uncertainties swirl around us, we know that we can always turn to those rocks and count on them.
Words are powerful. They are the single most important medium for our communications with one another. They are expressions of inner thoughts that drive us to do what we do. Words convey thought, emotion, intent, and imagery. They can carve, sculpt, draw, and depict, and they can destroy, mutilate, injure, and hurt. They are like fire: wonderful when applied appropriately, and terrible when used inappropriately.
Given the importance of words to human relations, the word of God takes on an even greater significance, for these words come from the Father of all creation. God’s word is rock-solid truth that we can count on, and God uses His word to strengthen, correct, rebuke, and encourage us.
The promises of God are life-builders. Promises, like the words of God, are received into our souls by faith, and they engender trust. God has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Jesus has promised, “I will be with you to the end of the ages.” The bible is full of the promises of God, and as we come to them in our reading of the word and claim them into our lives, we discover that they truly do build up our lives. What a great and encouraging resource to have.
Father, Your word and Your promise are to us an oasis in the difficulties and crises of life. We thank You for providing these as life-resources for us. Amen.
In our walk with God two “rocks” stand firm: the word of God and the promises of God. When uncertainties swirl around us, we know that we can always turn to those rocks and count on them.
Words are powerful. They are the single most important medium for our communications with one another. They are expressions of inner thoughts that drive us to do what we do. Words convey thought, emotion, intent, and imagery. They can carve, sculpt, draw, and depict, and they can destroy, mutilate, injure, and hurt. They are like fire: wonderful when applied appropriately, and terrible when used inappropriately.
Given the importance of words to human relations, the word of God takes on an even greater significance, for these words come from the Father of all creation. God’s word is rock-solid truth that we can count on, and God uses His word to strengthen, correct, rebuke, and encourage us.
The promises of God are life-builders. Promises, like the words of God, are received into our souls by faith, and they engender trust. God has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Jesus has promised, “I will be with you to the end of the ages.” The bible is full of the promises of God, and as we come to them in our reading of the word and claim them into our lives, we discover that they truly do build up our lives. What a great and encouraging resource to have.
Father, Your word and Your promise are to us an oasis in the difficulties and crises of life. We thank You for providing these as life-resources for us. Amen.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Building a Happy Life
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great.” (Matthew 7:24-27 CSB)
Do you remember the song from childhood Sunday school? “The wise man built his house upon the rock; the wise man built his house upon the rock; the wise man built his house upon the rock, and the house on the rock did stand.” And vice versa.
These words of Jesus came at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, from Matthew 5-7. The sermon began with the word “blessed.” Some translations use the word “happy.” Whatever the translation, the whole idea of the sermon was “build a happy and blessed life.” And then Jesus showed them how. He ended then with a challenge and a warning.
Building a happy life has all to do with foundations. There are only two possible foundations. One is a foundation of sand, or essentially no foundation at all. Ignoring what Jesus had to say about building a happy life is the same as building a house on the sand. It may stand for a while, and it may do well, actually; but when the crises come the house will not stand. Devastation will replace any sense of happiness or joy.
The other foundation is to build on the rock, and in this sense that means to build on the words of Jesus, to hear the words and act on them positively so as to carry them out. Living life the way Jesus described it in the Sermon on the Mount is the same as building the foundation on rock. When the crises come, the house will not only stand but will endure and even thrive. Most translations call this person “wise,” though the Christian Standard Bible uses the word “sensible.” That is the idea of wisdom. Building a life foundation this way is the only thing that makes any real sense, after all.
So, are you building a happy life?
Father, Guide us today as we build on the foundation of the Rock, our Lord Jesus. May our strength be found in Him and His words. Amen.
Do you remember the song from childhood Sunday school? “The wise man built his house upon the rock; the wise man built his house upon the rock; the wise man built his house upon the rock, and the house on the rock did stand.” And vice versa.
These words of Jesus came at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, from Matthew 5-7. The sermon began with the word “blessed.” Some translations use the word “happy.” Whatever the translation, the whole idea of the sermon was “build a happy and blessed life.” And then Jesus showed them how. He ended then with a challenge and a warning.
Building a happy life has all to do with foundations. There are only two possible foundations. One is a foundation of sand, or essentially no foundation at all. Ignoring what Jesus had to say about building a happy life is the same as building a house on the sand. It may stand for a while, and it may do well, actually; but when the crises come the house will not stand. Devastation will replace any sense of happiness or joy.
The other foundation is to build on the rock, and in this sense that means to build on the words of Jesus, to hear the words and act on them positively so as to carry them out. Living life the way Jesus described it in the Sermon on the Mount is the same as building the foundation on rock. When the crises come, the house will not only stand but will endure and even thrive. Most translations call this person “wise,” though the Christian Standard Bible uses the word “sensible.” That is the idea of wisdom. Building a life foundation this way is the only thing that makes any real sense, after all.
So, are you building a happy life?
Father, Guide us today as we build on the foundation of the Rock, our Lord Jesus. May our strength be found in Him and His words. Amen.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Proof in the Fruit
“So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:20 CSB)
Have you ever driven by an orchard and wondered what kind of trees were there? In the winter when all the leaves are gone it is difficult to tell. To non-experts, even when there are leaves it isn’t easy to know. When the fruit appears, however, then you know – these are peach trees or apple trees or whatever tree. The proof is in the fruit.
So, how do you know that a Christian, or a pastor, or a deacon, or a Sunday school teacher, or any other church leader is the real thing? Same way – the proof is in the fruit. What fruit is being produced in and through that person’s life?
Authenticity is established by the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit dwells in the hearts of the people of God, those who belong to God, and when He does, He always produces fruit. The fruit of the Spirit includes: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. When you see these produced consistently in the life of someone who says he or she is a Christian, you can be certain that is the truth. The proof is in the fruit.
Does this mean that Christians are perfect people who never commit sin? Not at all. Christians do sin, but when they do they always return to the Lord in repentance, seeking forgiveness. Their desire is that the Holy Spirit continue to produce fruit that honors God. The proof is in the fruit.
Lord, Today and each day, may we be filled with Your Spirit so that fruit will be produced in and through us, for Your honor and glory. Amen.
Have you ever driven by an orchard and wondered what kind of trees were there? In the winter when all the leaves are gone it is difficult to tell. To non-experts, even when there are leaves it isn’t easy to know. When the fruit appears, however, then you know – these are peach trees or apple trees or whatever tree. The proof is in the fruit.
So, how do you know that a Christian, or a pastor, or a deacon, or a Sunday school teacher, or any other church leader is the real thing? Same way – the proof is in the fruit. What fruit is being produced in and through that person’s life?
Authenticity is established by the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit dwells in the hearts of the people of God, those who belong to God, and when He does, He always produces fruit. The fruit of the Spirit includes: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. When you see these produced consistently in the life of someone who says he or she is a Christian, you can be certain that is the truth. The proof is in the fruit.
Does this mean that Christians are perfect people who never commit sin? Not at all. Christians do sin, but when they do they always return to the Lord in repentance, seeking forgiveness. Their desire is that the Holy Spirit continue to produce fruit that honors God. The proof is in the fruit.
Lord, Today and each day, may we be filled with Your Spirit so that fruit will be produced in and through us, for Your honor and glory. Amen.
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