“Now the end of all things is near…” (1 Peter 4:6a)
When an airplane nears its destination the pilot implements a number of procedures and checks for the plane’s final approach, in order to assure a safe landing. In these moments the pilot is “all business.” Everything has to be just right. The welfare of the passengers depends on it. Professionalism prevails.
Peter reminded his readers that we Christians are to live as those who are in a final approach mode. Every generation of believers is called to live as if Christ is to return in its generation. So, Peter calls for a set of procedures to be implemented.
We are to implement the discipline of prayer, for one thing. We are to stay in touch with the Lord. We are to practice a consistent communion with Him. In addition, we are to implement: love for each other, hospitality, serving others in God’s strength, and doing all the above to the glory of God. These are great procedures for a “final approach” in preparation for the Lord’s coming. Come to think of it, it’s also a good approach for closing out a year and moving on into the next.
Lord, Help us to live each day by the standards that glorify You. Amen.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Influences
“Therefore, His people turn to them and drink in their overflowing words.” (Psalm 73:10)
Interesting statement in that verse above, isn’t it? Let’s think about it.
Whose influence do you allow in your life, and why? What are those influencers like?
The psalmist observed that the people of God typically followed the lead of those who are successful by worldly standards. With regard to those in that successful category in his day and age, he considered these particular people evil in that they because wealthy through deceitful practices and with fully arrogant hearts before God. He was not decrying success. He was noting that these folks he described were arrogant, prosperous through evil practices, living a life of ease and good health, untroubled and unafflicted like the rest of the world was, prideful, violent, mocking, malicious, oppressive, and unafraid of anything including God Himself. Interestingly, he says that these are the people that the people of God in his day allowed to influence them, to set the standards for them. He said that God’s people were turning to these folks and “drink in their overflowing words.” In our day, we would say that they “hung on every word” these people spoke.
So, has humanity improved to the point that this kind of thing no longer happens? In our day and time, in our social and cultural context, who do the people of God allow to influence them? Who sets the pace?
Throughout the day, the challenge for you is to observe closely who and what influences your thinking and your decisions, and to observe fellow believers and who and what influences their thinking and decisions. Accepting the challenge could be enlightening. Especially, as we move toward the end of a year and prepare for a new year, we might need to have a clearer awareness of this.
Lord, Enlighten us today about what and who influences our thinking and decisions, and help us to then adjust accordingly. Amen.
Interesting statement in that verse above, isn’t it? Let’s think about it.
Whose influence do you allow in your life, and why? What are those influencers like?
The psalmist observed that the people of God typically followed the lead of those who are successful by worldly standards. With regard to those in that successful category in his day and age, he considered these particular people evil in that they because wealthy through deceitful practices and with fully arrogant hearts before God. He was not decrying success. He was noting that these folks he described were arrogant, prosperous through evil practices, living a life of ease and good health, untroubled and unafflicted like the rest of the world was, prideful, violent, mocking, malicious, oppressive, and unafraid of anything including God Himself. Interestingly, he says that these are the people that the people of God in his day allowed to influence them, to set the standards for them. He said that God’s people were turning to these folks and “drink in their overflowing words.” In our day, we would say that they “hung on every word” these people spoke.
So, has humanity improved to the point that this kind of thing no longer happens? In our day and time, in our social and cultural context, who do the people of God allow to influence them? Who sets the pace?
Throughout the day, the challenge for you is to observe closely who and what influences your thinking and your decisions, and to observe fellow believers and who and what influences their thinking and decisions. Accepting the challenge could be enlightening. Especially, as we move toward the end of a year and prepare for a new year, we might need to have a clearer awareness of this.
Lord, Enlighten us today about what and who influences our thinking and decisions, and help us to then adjust accordingly. Amen.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Powerful Thanksgiving
“With power you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.” (Psalm 77:15)
One of the great motivations for thanksgiving is the redemptive power of God. He is table to take any situation and bring His redemptive power to bear on it, bringing victory out of disaster.
We see this in the life of Jacob. Jacob fled from his brother Esau because he deceived their father, Isaac, obtaining Esau’s blessing through false pretenses. Esau vowed to kill Jacob, so Jacob thus “reaped the whirlwind,” so to speak. He departed and went far away to his mother’s clan, and he met God along the way. God redeemed Jacob. He blessed him and ultimately restored him to his brother and to his homeland. For that, Jacob gave thanks.
We see this further in Jacob’s son, Joseph. Joseph was beaten within an inch of his life then sold to Midianite traders, who sold him as a slave in Egypt. Although falsely charged, Joseph ended up in prison, but he never gave up on his trust in God. Ultimately, God redeemed Joseph and through giving him the ability to interpret dreams lifted him to the second position of authority in Egypt below Pharaoh. God used Joseph to preserve the lives of people. For that, Joseph gave thanks.
We see God’s redemptive power in the Israelites as well in the exodus. They were by then a rag-tag horde of people unprepared for war or desert life, but God redeemed them from Egypt and from the power of Pharaoh and from the ravages of the wilderness. He took their situation and brought ultimate blessing to them. For that, Israel gave thanks.
Give thanks to God for His redemptive power, graphically displayed on the cross of Calvary.
Lord, We thank You for Your redemptive power. You have taken our disasters and have redeemed us beyond imagination. For that, we give thanks. Amen.
One of the great motivations for thanksgiving is the redemptive power of God. He is table to take any situation and bring His redemptive power to bear on it, bringing victory out of disaster.
We see this in the life of Jacob. Jacob fled from his brother Esau because he deceived their father, Isaac, obtaining Esau’s blessing through false pretenses. Esau vowed to kill Jacob, so Jacob thus “reaped the whirlwind,” so to speak. He departed and went far away to his mother’s clan, and he met God along the way. God redeemed Jacob. He blessed him and ultimately restored him to his brother and to his homeland. For that, Jacob gave thanks.
We see this further in Jacob’s son, Joseph. Joseph was beaten within an inch of his life then sold to Midianite traders, who sold him as a slave in Egypt. Although falsely charged, Joseph ended up in prison, but he never gave up on his trust in God. Ultimately, God redeemed Joseph and through giving him the ability to interpret dreams lifted him to the second position of authority in Egypt below Pharaoh. God used Joseph to preserve the lives of people. For that, Joseph gave thanks.
We see God’s redemptive power in the Israelites as well in the exodus. They were by then a rag-tag horde of people unprepared for war or desert life, but God redeemed them from Egypt and from the power of Pharaoh and from the ravages of the wilderness. He took their situation and brought ultimate blessing to them. For that, Israel gave thanks.
Give thanks to God for His redemptive power, graphically displayed on the cross of Calvary.
Lord, We thank You for Your redemptive power. You have taken our disasters and have redeemed us beyond imagination. For that, we give thanks. Amen.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Obedience
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.” (1 Peter 1:14)
Peter wrote these words to believers in the churches of northern Asia Minor (Turkey). Apparently, there was a significant Christian population there at one time. These believers faced persecutions and pressures that were, in fact, causing some believers to consider reverting to their “former ignorance.”
There is a negative admonition here – do not be conformed. Peter is encouraging these believers not to give in to the social, cultural, and religious pressures that were being exerted against them by family, friends, and community. No one likes to be negative, of course, but this is a “positive negative,” so to speak. The former ignorance of these folks was idolatry, promiscuity, and evil, but they had exited that life through their faith in Christ. So, Peter admonishes them to resist, not to be conformed again to such a life.
The positive admonition is obedience. With a childlike faith (a thought Peter learned from Jesus) they were to obey the truth that is found in Jesus Christ. This is how someone can resist evil: obedience to the truth. The word of the gospel leads to a new birth, into a new life full of the light of truth. This word of the Lord endures forever. Thus, we must look beyond any immediate pressures that would lead to conformity, to the standards of the world around us, and instead follow after the Lord’s truth. Once we did not know the truth. We were ignorant of it. Now we do know God’s truth, and God’s call is that we faithfully obey His truths.
Lord, Help us today to follow You faithfully as we live out Your truths. Amen.
Peter wrote these words to believers in the churches of northern Asia Minor (Turkey). Apparently, there was a significant Christian population there at one time. These believers faced persecutions and pressures that were, in fact, causing some believers to consider reverting to their “former ignorance.”
There is a negative admonition here – do not be conformed. Peter is encouraging these believers not to give in to the social, cultural, and religious pressures that were being exerted against them by family, friends, and community. No one likes to be negative, of course, but this is a “positive negative,” so to speak. The former ignorance of these folks was idolatry, promiscuity, and evil, but they had exited that life through their faith in Christ. So, Peter admonishes them to resist, not to be conformed again to such a life.
The positive admonition is obedience. With a childlike faith (a thought Peter learned from Jesus) they were to obey the truth that is found in Jesus Christ. This is how someone can resist evil: obedience to the truth. The word of the gospel leads to a new birth, into a new life full of the light of truth. This word of the Lord endures forever. Thus, we must look beyond any immediate pressures that would lead to conformity, to the standards of the world around us, and instead follow after the Lord’s truth. Once we did not know the truth. We were ignorant of it. Now we do know God’s truth, and God’s call is that we faithfully obey His truths.
Lord, Help us today to follow You faithfully as we live out Your truths. Amen.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Eager
“God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.” (Psalm 63:1)
“I eagerly seek You” – what does that mean? Other versions read, “Earnestly I seek You.” The idea is: eagerly, earnestly, energetically, enthusiastically, experientially, and emotionally we seek God. Being in the desert at the time, David further described this feeling: “I third for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. (v1b) So, what does it mean?
First, we eagerly seek God through prayer. Our desire is to be in communion with the Spirit of God, to experience the warmth of His presence, the depth of His love, and the joy of His encouragement. A half-hearted approach to prayer is never very satisfying, but when we are eager in seeking communion with God, we experience a “soul-satisfaction.”
Second, we eagerly seek God through His word. It is often in the reading of God’s word that we hear Him speak to us, and when we begin to dig deep, to put down roots into His word, we are strengthened by the spiritual nutrition that comes from His word.
Third, we eagerly seek God through His church. When we gather together with fellow believers to whom we are committed as brothers and sisters, and when we together with one heart worship and glorify God, we experience a depth of fellowship that is virtually indescribable. That fellowship can meet some of the deepest needs of our lives.
Eagerly seek God.
Lord, May we turn to You throughout the day with energetic enthusiasm and simply know that You are God. Amen.
“I eagerly seek You” – what does that mean? Other versions read, “Earnestly I seek You.” The idea is: eagerly, earnestly, energetically, enthusiastically, experientially, and emotionally we seek God. Being in the desert at the time, David further described this feeling: “I third for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. (v1b) So, what does it mean?
First, we eagerly seek God through prayer. Our desire is to be in communion with the Spirit of God, to experience the warmth of His presence, the depth of His love, and the joy of His encouragement. A half-hearted approach to prayer is never very satisfying, but when we are eager in seeking communion with God, we experience a “soul-satisfaction.”
Second, we eagerly seek God through His word. It is often in the reading of God’s word that we hear Him speak to us, and when we begin to dig deep, to put down roots into His word, we are strengthened by the spiritual nutrition that comes from His word.
Third, we eagerly seek God through His church. When we gather together with fellow believers to whom we are committed as brothers and sisters, and when we together with one heart worship and glorify God, we experience a depth of fellowship that is virtually indescribable. That fellowship can meet some of the deepest needs of our lives.
Eagerly seek God.
Lord, May we turn to You throughout the day with energetic enthusiasm and simply know that You are God. Amen.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Impressiveness
“Jesus said to Him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.’” (Mark 13:2)
Jesus’ statement above was a response to one of His disciples’ observation about the massiveness and impressiveness and beauty of the stones used to build the Temple. Anyone who has seen some of those remaining stones understands just how impressive and massive they were. But Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple, and, in fact, in 70 A.D. the entire temple complex was leveled to the ground by Roman soldiers. No longer impressive.
This leads us to understand that that which we consider impressive is at best relative. It is also short-lived and fragile, fleeting. It seems that people are easily impressed by things that are so temporal. How many of us have stared in wide-eyed wonder at an “impressive” fireworks display? How many of us have felt a sense of the awesome in a huge sports stadium, or a massive mega-church building?
Maybe we should be more impressed by power that is permanent in nature. Jesus was trying to help His disciples to see beyond their myopia, to see beyond what normally impresses people, to look toward that which is truly impressive – the word of God spoken and then fulfilled in God’s timing.
Lord, Help us to look beyond our tendency of short-sightedness and be impressed more by Your glory and Your eternity rather than temporary buildings and such around us. Amen.
Jesus’ statement above was a response to one of His disciples’ observation about the massiveness and impressiveness and beauty of the stones used to build the Temple. Anyone who has seen some of those remaining stones understands just how impressive and massive they were. But Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple, and, in fact, in 70 A.D. the entire temple complex was leveled to the ground by Roman soldiers. No longer impressive.
This leads us to understand that that which we consider impressive is at best relative. It is also short-lived and fragile, fleeting. It seems that people are easily impressed by things that are so temporal. How many of us have stared in wide-eyed wonder at an “impressive” fireworks display? How many of us have felt a sense of the awesome in a huge sports stadium, or a massive mega-church building?
Maybe we should be more impressed by power that is permanent in nature. Jesus was trying to help His disciples to see beyond their myopia, to see beyond what normally impresses people, to look toward that which is truly impressive – the word of God spoken and then fulfilled in God’s timing.
Lord, Help us to look beyond our tendency of short-sightedness and be impressed more by Your glory and Your eternity rather than temporary buildings and such around us. Amen.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Scribes and Widows
“’They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show…’ And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little.” (Mark 12:40, 42)
This episode began as Jesus was sitting near the temple treasury, which was in the Court of the Women. Jesus first warned His disciples to beware of the scribes.
Scribes were part of the religious leadership in the Temple and in the synagogues. They performed the valuable function of copying Scriptures. By hand. Scriptures were written either on animal skin or on papyrus parchment, both of which wore out or dried out and cracked over time. Thus, they had to be replaced. So scribes spent their entire work days copying Scriptures onto fresh animal skins or papyrus parchments, and they receive their income for this work from the temple treasury.
Jesus, however, observed a spiritual pride in these men, which He pointed out to His disciples. Scribes allowed the importance of their service to lead to a spiritual pride: they loved walking around in long robes, wanted public recognition in marketplace greetings, said long prayers for show, wanted the front seats in synagogues, places of honor at banquets, and devoured widows’ houses.
In contrast to the scribes, a poor widow walked by the treasury and, almost unnoticed, put her two tiny coins into the offering box, making no perceptible sound as they fell against the copper funnel on top of the box. Jesus had different ears, however, and He made sure His disciples heard what He heard and understood that her gift outweighed all the others because she gave out of poverty and gave all she had to live on. In contrast to the spiritual pride of the scribes, she demonstrated spiritual humility and total trust in God.
Spiritual pride is insidious and deceptive. We guard against it by a daily recalibration of our priorities, attitudes, and walk with God.
Lord, Help us today to walk with You in spiritual humility and trust. Amen.
This episode began as Jesus was sitting near the temple treasury, which was in the Court of the Women. Jesus first warned His disciples to beware of the scribes.
Scribes were part of the religious leadership in the Temple and in the synagogues. They performed the valuable function of copying Scriptures. By hand. Scriptures were written either on animal skin or on papyrus parchment, both of which wore out or dried out and cracked over time. Thus, they had to be replaced. So scribes spent their entire work days copying Scriptures onto fresh animal skins or papyrus parchments, and they receive their income for this work from the temple treasury.
Jesus, however, observed a spiritual pride in these men, which He pointed out to His disciples. Scribes allowed the importance of their service to lead to a spiritual pride: they loved walking around in long robes, wanted public recognition in marketplace greetings, said long prayers for show, wanted the front seats in synagogues, places of honor at banquets, and devoured widows’ houses.
In contrast to the scribes, a poor widow walked by the treasury and, almost unnoticed, put her two tiny coins into the offering box, making no perceptible sound as they fell against the copper funnel on top of the box. Jesus had different ears, however, and He made sure His disciples heard what He heard and understood that her gift outweighed all the others because she gave out of poverty and gave all she had to live on. In contrast to the spiritual pride of the scribes, she demonstrated spiritual humility and total trust in God.
Spiritual pride is insidious and deceptive. We guard against it by a daily recalibration of our priorities, attitudes, and walk with God.
Lord, Help us today to walk with You in spiritual humility and trust. Amen.
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