Aaron Hufty

Silence

Re: Verse reading–Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (day two) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth…53:7a

He kept quiet. Our first reaction when we see injustice is to shout, rage against the machine, cry out for right. Jesus kept silent. Does this mean that we are to sit idly by and watch people endure cruelty or oppression? Certainly not, but Jesus had the long game in mind as he endured his affliction. If he would have called out or spoken up what would that have meant for me or you? His refusal to defend himself sealed our opportunity for salvation. If, when you witness injustice, you are filled with a righteous indignation stop and think of what Christ endured and how he allowed it to take place. For you.

Distractions and Detractors

Re:Verse reading–Nehemiah 6:1-16 (day two) So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” vs. 4

You have your assignment. It feels good to know that you are where God wants you to be. You have a purpose and a plan, and then…kids, sickness, distractions, and detractors. Is it supposed to be like this? Don’t we all assume that when we find ourselves in the pocket of God’s plan that it should go off without a hitch? Sounds reasonable, but we were never promised a distraction-free work environment. Moses had a clear assignment, but the Pharaoh didn’t exactly cooperate. Even Jesus had to deal with stubborn, sleepy disciples.

This, however, does not change our assignment. They are distractions, but not derailment. Stay the course. God chose you.

Joy in the Halls

Re:Verse reading–2 Kings 4:8-37 (day two)

Whenever I describe my time at the University of Texas to people who have never been to Austin, I often talk about how the campus pulses with energy. The downtown campus mixed with the tens of thousands of students is a recipe for energy. It is palpable. Not for everyone, I grant you, but it is undeniable.

Walking through the Sanctuary and the halls of the church the last two days has had that same kind of energy. Hundreds of kids mixed with volunteers, videos, music, and joy. It is palpable. Mixed in with all of that is the gospel. It is with deep gratitude and gravity that I pray for all those who are teaching and attending. May the Word fall on fertile soil, and may the Lord be pleased. Will you pray for Vacation Bible School?

We are Lame

Re:Verse reading–2 Samuel 9 (day two) So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king’s table regularly. Now he was lame in both feet. vs. 13

Twice in this narrative the writer tells us of Mephibosheth’s condition. Why is this important? What bearing does it play in David’s response to him? David was honoring a commitment of love and friendship that he had with Jonathan. There was no political motivation, no real need to honor this lame young man. He could not work or fight for him, but that was not the motivation in David’s heart. He was not interested in what Mephibosheth could or could not do, he was more interested in honoring a debt of love.

Sound familiar? What did you do to earn Jesus’ offer of salvation. What do any of us bring of worth to the author and perfecter of our faith? Even so he offers us a place at his table. He lavishes on us underserved blessing. This is an offer worth celebrating.

Re:Verse reading–1 Samuel 3 (day two) Then Eli discerned that the Lord was calling the boy. Vs. 8b

Have you ever worked a riddle, a puzzle, or some problem over in your head for what seemed like forever only to have someone who had experience with that particular problem explain it away in a matter of seconds. It can be both frustrating and rewarding. You know the answer is there, but you don’t have the experience or knowledge to figure it out. Sometimes God calls, he sends signals, he gives hints, and then he sends some of his veterans to help you fill in the gaps. I am so grateful to know so many faithful believers who have spent their lives in the service in the Lord and who have seen him work through their lives and the lives of others. Surround yourself with believers young and old. Share your story, and listen as they share theirs. Then marvel at the way God reveals himself through a church who desires every generation to know and love the Lord.

The One

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 11:10-32 (day two) Terah became the father of Abram vs. 27b

Often we spend our lives trying to be the one. You know, the one who cures cancer, or the one who breaks the record, makes the money, invents the machine, etc. We live in a place that encourages doers. As a people we are achievers, dreamers of dreams, risk takers.

What if that isn’t your assignment? What if, your job is to parent the one, and not be the one? What do we know of Terah, of Jesse, of Joseph? Their role was not to be a father of nations, the king of Israel, or the savior of the world. Their role was to shepherd the one who would be.

What if the child for whom you have prayed has an assignment that shapes the world? Does that diminish yours? Not in the least. The tears, the prayers, the guidelines you set forth for them will be the framework for who they become. Shape them well. Their story is yours.

Building Permit

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 11:1-9 (day two)

They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” vs 4

Isn’t this story familiar? Maybe not the building of a tower to reach into heaven, but the idea of making a name for themselves was not a new one. God had commanded Noah to be fruitful and multiply and to fill the earth. Humanity post-Noah was on a different trajectory. Stick together, we can figure it out for ourselves. We don’t need God or stories of a Garden and a Flood. The idea of confusing and scattering was to force man, once again, to look up. To surrender to a God that was greater than anything built on earth. We build our own towers, don’t we? We strike out on our own determined to figure it out, to make a name for ourselves. Take care to start building your own tower without getting a permit from God first.

One Generation to Another

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 10 (day two) One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4

Both the world and the church were now again reduced to a family, the family of Noah…of which we are the more concerned to take cognizance because from this family we are all descendants. Matthew Henry

Isn’t it incredible that the great God of the universe is also supremely involved and concerned with our individual lives? Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Through individuals and families God spoke truth, declared justice, and gave hope. It was then incumbent on those people to tell their children. It became their task to share their knowledge of the Lord and to display their trust in the almighty. The role of the parent to demonstrate and instruct their children in faith cannot be underscored. Ultimately these families led to the one individual who did indeed change everything. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to redeem. God still uses individuals, he still uses families. Your testimony matters.

God Blessed Noah

Re:Verse reading–Genesis 9:1-17 (day two)

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” vs. 1

120 years, can you imagine? Some 120 years after the original instructions were given, Noah steps off the arc and begins to walk in the dawn of the covenant promise of God. Noah remembers God by sacrificing the clean animals, and then God blesses him and his his family. Noah got ‘job well done’ pat on the back from God for seeing this work through. God does not forget us. He wants to show us his favor and shower his blessings upon us, but have we been faithful with what he has given us to merit a blessing? Our families, our jobs, our lives, do they speak of the sovereign grace of our Lord? He will not forget us, we should not forget him.

God Doesn’t Forget

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 7:1-4, 17-24; 8:1-5, 13-16, 20-22 (day two) But God remembered Noah…8:1a

Have you ever received a promise from God only to have to wait to have it fulfilled? How long did you have to wait? A month, a year, 120 years….probably not. God choose Noah and gave him instructions that came with the promise of salvation amidst destruction. Noah continued to believe and trust that promise. 40 days and 40 nights of rain may seem insignificant to 120 years of building an ark, but I would imagine there were some questions during the deluge. When will the rain stop? Will we ever see land again? God doesn’t forget. He knew all along the trial that Noah would have to endure. When then time was right the promise was fulfilled. If God makes a promise, you can bet not matter how long it rains, he will keep his word.