Aaron Hufty

Speakers vs. Teachers

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 2:1-3 (day two)

…just as there will also be false teachers among you…v. 2b

There are a lot of good speakers in the world. However, not all good speakers are speaking what is good. Discerning the difference is the responsibility of every believer. As we are bombarded with reels, memes, and sound bites, we must ask ourselves what is being said in the larger narrative. Every speaker has talking points that re-emphasize their agenda, but they are so often couched in language that is inflammatory or exaggerated to get maximum coverage. Whether from the pulpit or in politics, this is a technique that we must be wary of. Yes, it is good to trust your pastors, but it is also incumbent on each of us to pray, read, listen to the Holy Spirit, and to ask questions. Even the best of us can make mistakes; it is whether we acknowledge them as such that separates us from the world. Don’t fall victim to people that always say what you want to hear. Don’t stop asking questions. Don’t stop trusting God’s Word.

Lamp

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:16-21 (day two)

So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. v. 19

I was once at a conference where Michael W. Smith was talking about how his friend, Amy Grant, wrote the song “Thy Word.” She was at a retreat and she had been out walking long past sunset; and as she made her way back to her cabin, she was in complete darkness. She fumbled around for a while in frustration, but then spotted a lamp that was in a cabin window that led her back. That lamp may not have illuminated the entire landscape, but it gave her enough to take one step at a time. This is how prophetic words work in our lives. In the midst of a world walking in darkness, these words offer a step by step path to follow until we get to a place where the day dawns and all the truth is made clear. May we cling to the Word of God as our lamp for each step we take today.

Remember

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:12-15 (day two)

And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind. V. 15

Peter has the heart of a teacher. His desire for the church is not to remember the great things that Peter had done, but rather to be equipped to carry on without him. The legacy of faith is not dependent on personality, but on the character of Christ. Peter’s hope is that the believers know how to discern for themselves what is true, good, and beautiful. People may not speak our name the way we speak of the Apostle Peter, but the legacy of faith that we give our children will speak for generations. Giving people in our care the ability to know truth is a gift. May it be the first we give. May we hope for others to remember our lessons of faith long after they remember our names.

Focus

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:8-11 (day two)

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; v. 10

“These things” refers to the fruit of the spirit mentioned earlier in the text. (Moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, and love) This is the list we studied last week. Returning to these hallmarks of our faith journey will keep us centered and give us a purpose. Frankly, by focusing on these attributes of faith, they will begin to consume our thoughts and actions and take the place of anything that would hinder us from growing. The stronger we become in these areas the more likely we will weather any crisis. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith.

AND

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:5-8 (day two) …and…v. 5, 6, AND 7

Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts inventory? When you get results you will hear people saying, “I have the gift of hospitality, or patience, or kindness, etc.” This isn’t the way Peter presents this list in these verses, and I am certain that Paul would agree. If we are not careful when we take those assessments, we will tend to think gifts are some sort of side dish that we can choose one with our meal – but you can only get one! Peter says apply diligence as a starting place, and then add – and, and, and, and. There should be a measure of all these characteristics in our walk. Sure, you may have an abundance of one gift, but in some measure, they should be present in us all. So, add some love, AND joy, AND peace, AND patience, AND kindness…you get the idea.

His Victory

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 1:1-4 (day two)

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: v. 1b

I am reading a devotional that includes poetry, song, scripture, and wisdom from great men and women of faith. I love the heart of George Herbert. This is a portion of “The Authour’s Prayer Before Sermon”

Thou hast exalted thy
mercy above all things; and hast made our salvation, not our
punishment, thy glory: so that then where sin abounded,
not death, but grace superabounded; accordingly, when we
had sinned beyond any help in heaven or earth, then thou
saidest, Lo, I come! then did the Lord of life, unable of him-
selfe to die, contrive to do it. He took flesh, he wept, he
died; for his enemies he died; even for those that derided
him then, and still despise him. Blessed Saviour! many
waters could not quencn thy love! nor no pit overwhelme it.
But though the streams of thy bloud were currant through
darknesse, grave, and hell; yet by these thy conflicts, and
seemingly hazards, didst thou arise triumphant, and therein
mad’st us victorious.

The faith that we have received from Jesus came at great personal cost to him, but his victory over death was also our hope of salvation. We must continue to walk in the honor of his victory. We did nothing to earn or deserve it, but by his mercy we are able to partake in it. Thanks be to God.

Discipline

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 13:15-22 (day two)

Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. v. 20

Discipline is a part of every part of life. Relationships take discipline, education takes discipline, work requires discipline, children need discipline. If we are to be true disciples, we must be disciplined. This happens in many ways. We must develop habits of faithful obedience. We must practice skills that will help our understanding of others and tasks. We must also be prepared to receive discipline when we step out of line. We don’t often talk about church discipline anymore, but there is solid ground for the church to take action if its members step out of line. This was the case in Nehemiah’s time. His approach was to shut the gates to remind them that they were not to work on the Sabbath. It is likely that we have areas of our spiritual lives that need to be brought under better discipline. Don’t be in the position to have the doors shut on you; practice those habits that will keep your heart focused on the Lord.

Joy of Jerusalem/Shouts of San Antonio

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 12:40-47 (day two)

…and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar. v. 43

Pastor Don used to exhort us to sing so the seven year-old passing us by on the sidewalk would stop and wonder what was going on. I heard him use that illustration several times over the years. The age and gender of the passerby would change each time, but the sentiment was still the same. Our praise should radiate. When we gather it is a declaration that Jesus is Lord over everything and everyone. He has conquered death; he has given us life, and we have reason to rejoice. Does this reflect how you worship? Or does this make you uncomfortable? We have a declaration of victory to proclaim to the world. We gather in thanksgiving to glorify the Lord for his goodness, and in so doing, we cannot help but shout our praise. I can’t wait for Sunday.

Borders

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 10:28-30 (day two) are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law…v. 29a

It is not difficult to misuse this passage of scripture. At first glance there is a distinct xenophobic directive given. They were to separate from foreigners, and not associate in any way with outsiders. Taken straight out of context this gives the impression that one people group is better than another. God is speaking directly to his people, in our modern context his people is not a nationality, a bordered identity, or a racial identifier. God’s people are marked with the blood of Jesus, and as such, are together redeemed. Nehemiah is reminding the people that to associate with the Lord is to take on the yoke of the law. It is a ponderous burden, and it is difficult to keep, but it is the responsibility of the people of Moses. They could not be of two minds. If they followed the rest of the world, they were of the world. If they were to follow the Lord, they were to keep the Law. Our modern reading has nothing to do with foreigners, and everything to do with grace. May our obedience to Jesus be marked by his mercy and grace toward us all.

Confess and Worship

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 9:1-3 (day two)

While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God. v. 3

The confession of God’s people should be a cathartic experience. Whenever we confront our sin, we cycle through many emotions. No one wants to grieve the heart of God, and shame can often accompany our confession. Our confessions may recognize hurt and anguish as we let go of self and assume a repentant posture. When viewed from the outside this seems to be a lonely and uncomfortable place to be, and for anyone who has repented their sin they can attest to that discomfort. Whatever has brought us to a place where repentance is needed should grieve our hearts, but the catharsis is the release. Even without the promise of forgiveness, which we have, the unburdening of our hearts is cause for worship. To have a God who will hear our cries is a tremendous comfort. Worship may feel different when we are in a repentant posture than we are celebrating, but it is no less genuine. May our repentance always have an element of worship.