“God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water began to subside.” (Genesis 8:1b)
The story of Noah and the ark fascinates us. The events of that story are sometimes challenging, sometimes encouraging, and always interesting. Sometimes, though, we pass over details that teach great truth.
Many have the idea that the flood just lasted a few weeks or maybe a few months. The waters receded, but very slowly; painstakingly slowly in fact. The Bible says that in the 600th year of Noah’s life, on the 17th day of the 2nd month, the flood began (Genesis 7:11). Then it tells us (8:14) that the ground was dry enough for Noah and his family and the animals to exit the ark on the 27th day of the 2nd month of Noah’s 601st year. That means a total of 1 year and 10 days that it took for the waters to recede, which means also that Noah, his family, and the animals were on the ark for more than a whole year. That’s a long time to live on a boat.
We learn a truth from this that may encourage us today. Sometimes “floods” that come our way linger for long time. The only action possible when that happens is to wait patiently and persist in whatever opportunities and activities are available to us, maintaining our hope in the promises of God. We are to be faithful, trusting God as we wait for those waters to recede. And eventually they will.
Remember this the next time you see a rainbow.
Lord, We’ve all experienced some of life’s “floods,” but we know with the psalmist that You are King “over the flood.” So we trust You, and we will walk with You faithfully as the waters recede. Amen.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Passing Through
“He entered Jericho and was passing through.” (Luke 19:1a)
The story of Zacchaeus captivates children. Adults, too, actually. It is a story of compassion, repentance, forgiveness, redemption, restoration, and salvation. It touches our hearts. But the only reason the event happened was because Jesus was passing through Jericho, where Zacchaeus lived, on His way to Jerusalem and ultimately Calvary.
If Jesus were to pass through your neighborhood, would you be among those who go out to see Him? And if you did, what would you ask of Him? What an experience that would be!
BUT – we actually already have something better than that, don’t we? He dwells in us. We do not have to wait for Jesus to come to our town, and neither does He just pass through. He has “moved in” as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and in our minds. We are now one with Him. We can talk with the Lord any time. We can fellowship with Him any time. We walk with Him all the time. He is no longer just passing through. We have an eternal relationship with Him and He is now eternally present with us, and ultimately we will be eternally with Him.
Throughout the day, let Him remind you of this.
Indeed, Lord, please do remind us throughout this day and each day that You are with us as we walk through this life. Amen.
The story of Zacchaeus captivates children. Adults, too, actually. It is a story of compassion, repentance, forgiveness, redemption, restoration, and salvation. It touches our hearts. But the only reason the event happened was because Jesus was passing through Jericho, where Zacchaeus lived, on His way to Jerusalem and ultimately Calvary.
If Jesus were to pass through your neighborhood, would you be among those who go out to see Him? And if you did, what would you ask of Him? What an experience that would be!
BUT – we actually already have something better than that, don’t we? He dwells in us. We do not have to wait for Jesus to come to our town, and neither does He just pass through. He has “moved in” as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and in our minds. We are now one with Him. We can talk with the Lord any time. We can fellowship with Him any time. We walk with Him all the time. He is no longer just passing through. We have an eternal relationship with Him and He is now eternally present with us, and ultimately we will be eternally with Him.
Throughout the day, let Him remind you of this.
Indeed, Lord, please do remind us throughout this day and each day that You are with us as we walk through this life. Amen.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Freedom Threatened
“…and he killed James, John’s brother, with the sword.” (Acts 12:2)
Luke tells us that “Herod attacked some who belonged to the church.” Why he did so is anybody’s guess. It doesn’t seem to make much sense. The church was non-violent. It contributed positively to society by providing food for the poor. It did not intentionally antagonize the government or other leaders, though it did aggressively evangelize and teach. There is no evidence that the Jewish leaders of the day asked this of Herod, although Luke does note that when Herod saw that his beheading of James pleased the Jewish leaders, he took it to the next level and also arrested Peter and scheduled his execution. The church’s freedom was now on the chopping block. Indeed, the church itself was facing a potential bloodbath.
After Saul’s persecution of the church dissipated, there was a period of peace and growth, so this insane attack from Herod seems to have come from out of nowhere. It was completely unexpected, and it was the next major crisis the church had to face. We learn at least four very important truths from their experience: 1) Satan will do his best to do his worst when the church is least expecting it, 2) the greatest weapon available to the church to deal with severe crisis is earnest prayer, 3) we all must be prepared to take our stand with Christ whatever the cost, and 4) God will always preserve a witness to achieve His purposes. While all of this has application to the church, we should also note that it has application to individual believers as well.
Lord, We recognize that severe threat can produce severe fear, but earnest prayer can produce a powerful shield, because of who You are. Amen.
Luke tells us that “Herod attacked some who belonged to the church.” Why he did so is anybody’s guess. It doesn’t seem to make much sense. The church was non-violent. It contributed positively to society by providing food for the poor. It did not intentionally antagonize the government or other leaders, though it did aggressively evangelize and teach. There is no evidence that the Jewish leaders of the day asked this of Herod, although Luke does note that when Herod saw that his beheading of James pleased the Jewish leaders, he took it to the next level and also arrested Peter and scheduled his execution. The church’s freedom was now on the chopping block. Indeed, the church itself was facing a potential bloodbath.
After Saul’s persecution of the church dissipated, there was a period of peace and growth, so this insane attack from Herod seems to have come from out of nowhere. It was completely unexpected, and it was the next major crisis the church had to face. We learn at least four very important truths from their experience: 1) Satan will do his best to do his worst when the church is least expecting it, 2) the greatest weapon available to the church to deal with severe crisis is earnest prayer, 3) we all must be prepared to take our stand with Christ whatever the cost, and 4) God will always preserve a witness to achieve His purposes. While all of this has application to the church, we should also note that it has application to individual believers as well.
Lord, We recognize that severe threat can produce severe fear, but earnest prayer can produce a powerful shield, because of who You are. Amen.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Children
“I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:17)
How does a child welcome the kingdom of God? They do so the same way they would welcome a gift. First, they generally trust the one giving it to them. Then, they accept it. They accept it with joy. They accept it with joy as theirs. They accept it with joy as theirs and then tell their friends. They accept it with joy as theirs, tell their friends, and then take their friends to the giver to see if they can get it, too.
Jesus says that whoever wants to enter the kingdom of God must welcome and enter the kingdom in the way a child would.
Lord, Being in Your kingdom is one of our greatest joys. Help us to share the good news of Your kingdom with others. Amen.
How does a child welcome the kingdom of God? They do so the same way they would welcome a gift. First, they generally trust the one giving it to them. Then, they accept it. They accept it with joy. They accept it with joy as theirs. They accept it with joy as theirs and then tell their friends. They accept it with joy as theirs, tell their friends, and then take their friends to the giver to see if they can get it, too.
Jesus says that whoever wants to enter the kingdom of God must welcome and enter the kingdom in the way a child would.
Lord, Being in Your kingdom is one of our greatest joys. Help us to share the good news of Your kingdom with others. Amen.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Trees
"And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.’” (Genesis 2:16-17)
Have you ever wondered why God put the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden in the first place? He could have precluded this whole sin thing just by not planting those trees there. There would have been no temptation. There would have been no disobedience. There would have been no need for the cross. Wouldn’t it have been much simpler to leave those trees out of the equation and just say to Adam and Eve, “Eat to your heart’s content from everything in the garden.”? Simpler? Yes. But what would you really have then?
If there was no possibility of temptation or disobedience, what you would have had, in effect, was basically a prison. You would have only a restricted freedom, not real freedom. Genuine freedom of the will must carry the potential for temptation and disobedience.
So what we have in these two trees is a test of relationship. The man and the woman were created in God’s image, which at least includes a genuine freedom. Those two trees represented a choice. The choice was total fellowship with the Creator, or death by disobedience. It would seem to be a no-brainer, but the fact of our freedom carries with it the appeal to self-will and the desire to grow and become. That was the essence of the temptation from Satan. He appealed to their desire to become “more.” Also, there is something in us that cannot conceive of our actually not being alive, so the death thing is a little difficult for them to grasp psychologically.
What the man and woman failed to understand was that relating to God positively has exponential possibilities of becoming more, of expressing freedom, compared to relating to Him negatively, which immediately creates limitations and actual self-imprisonment. Self becomes our dictator. Disobedience dominates. And Satan smiles.
Lord, Guide us by Your Spirit into full fellowship with You and wipe the smile off of Satan’s face. Amen.
Have you ever wondered why God put the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden in the first place? He could have precluded this whole sin thing just by not planting those trees there. There would have been no temptation. There would have been no disobedience. There would have been no need for the cross. Wouldn’t it have been much simpler to leave those trees out of the equation and just say to Adam and Eve, “Eat to your heart’s content from everything in the garden.”? Simpler? Yes. But what would you really have then?
If there was no possibility of temptation or disobedience, what you would have had, in effect, was basically a prison. You would have only a restricted freedom, not real freedom. Genuine freedom of the will must carry the potential for temptation and disobedience.
So what we have in these two trees is a test of relationship. The man and the woman were created in God’s image, which at least includes a genuine freedom. Those two trees represented a choice. The choice was total fellowship with the Creator, or death by disobedience. It would seem to be a no-brainer, but the fact of our freedom carries with it the appeal to self-will and the desire to grow and become. That was the essence of the temptation from Satan. He appealed to their desire to become “more.” Also, there is something in us that cannot conceive of our actually not being alive, so the death thing is a little difficult for them to grasp psychologically.
What the man and woman failed to understand was that relating to God positively has exponential possibilities of becoming more, of expressing freedom, compared to relating to Him negatively, which immediately creates limitations and actual self-imprisonment. Self becomes our dictator. Disobedience dominates. And Satan smiles.
Lord, Guide us by Your Spirit into full fellowship with You and wipe the smile off of Satan’s face. Amen.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Waiting
“We wait for the Lord; He is our help and shield. For our hearts rejoice in Him, because we trust in His holy name. May Your faithful love rest on us, Lord, for we put our hope in You.” (Psalm 33;20-22)
If you find yourself waiting in a doctor’s office waiting room, what do you expect is going to happen? You expect that within a certain amount of time a nurse will open the door to the doctor’s office and call your name, so you can see the doctor. You keep waiting because first you expect this to happen and second because you trust it will happen.
Every human being on the face of the planet is familiar with the “waiting” concept. It’s as common an experience as breathing air. Probably no one likes to wait. You will never hear me say, “I just can wait to get in line at the store so I can wait some more.” But waiting is generally the result of not having a choice but to wait to achieve the outcome we desire.
So why do we wait for the Lord, as the psalmist says? When we find ourselves in situations where the only acceptable outcome must come from the Lord, then we do not run ahead of God and try to resolve it ourselves. We simply wait on Him, and we do so because we know the Lord is our help and our shield. We wait on Him because it is in Him that we rejoice and find our reason for being. We wait on Him because we have come to trust Him through the years.
Waiting for the Lord is simply trusting God faithfully.
Lord, We confess that we do not like to wait, but we also recognize that waiting for You is one of the ways we express our trust in You. Thank You for the joy this gives us. Amen.
If you find yourself waiting in a doctor’s office waiting room, what do you expect is going to happen? You expect that within a certain amount of time a nurse will open the door to the doctor’s office and call your name, so you can see the doctor. You keep waiting because first you expect this to happen and second because you trust it will happen.
Every human being on the face of the planet is familiar with the “waiting” concept. It’s as common an experience as breathing air. Probably no one likes to wait. You will never hear me say, “I just can wait to get in line at the store so I can wait some more.” But waiting is generally the result of not having a choice but to wait to achieve the outcome we desire.
So why do we wait for the Lord, as the psalmist says? When we find ourselves in situations where the only acceptable outcome must come from the Lord, then we do not run ahead of God and try to resolve it ourselves. We simply wait on Him, and we do so because we know the Lord is our help and our shield. We wait on Him because it is in Him that we rejoice and find our reason for being. We wait on Him because we have come to trust Him through the years.
Waiting for the Lord is simply trusting God faithfully.
Lord, We confess that we do not like to wait, but we also recognize that waiting for You is one of the ways we express our trust in You. Thank You for the joy this gives us. Amen.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Concealment
“Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You took away the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:5
Christians try to avoid sin. We recognize its hurtfulness to others or to our selves or to our relationship with the Lord and with others, so we try to stay away from it. Sometimes, however, we mess up and sin. Because it is personally embarrassing, we may typically keep it concealed from others. Some even try to conceal it from God. Why anyone would try, though, is puzzling.
David said that he acknowledged his sin to the Lord and did not try to conceal it. He apparently realized at some point that it was not possible to conceal anything from God. God knows it already. In fact, there is nothing about us He is not aware of. Nothing is hidden from Him.
David learned that the acknowledgement and confession of sin to God brings forgiveness and cleansing because of His compassion and grace. When God forgives He takes away the guilt of our sin. It is done, complete. And we need then to let it stay with Him. In other words, we need to NOT try to take the guilt back from Him. That is then how we know the joy of forgiveness and restoration.
Lord, Help us to live free today from all guilt through confession and forgiveness. Amen.
Christians try to avoid sin. We recognize its hurtfulness to others or to our selves or to our relationship with the Lord and with others, so we try to stay away from it. Sometimes, however, we mess up and sin. Because it is personally embarrassing, we may typically keep it concealed from others. Some even try to conceal it from God. Why anyone would try, though, is puzzling.
David said that he acknowledged his sin to the Lord and did not try to conceal it. He apparently realized at some point that it was not possible to conceal anything from God. God knows it already. In fact, there is nothing about us He is not aware of. Nothing is hidden from Him.
David learned that the acknowledgement and confession of sin to God brings forgiveness and cleansing because of His compassion and grace. When God forgives He takes away the guilt of our sin. It is done, complete. And we need then to let it stay with Him. In other words, we need to NOT try to take the guilt back from Him. That is then how we know the joy of forgiveness and restoration.
Lord, Help us to live free today from all guilt through confession and forgiveness. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)