Re: Verse reading–Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Matthew 25:14-30 (day two)
Recently I read an article of a former classmate of mine who has just been named to a highly esteemed position in the early music world in New York City. I was delighted to hear of his success, but then the inner voices began; you know the ones. He’s younger than you…this will bring him fame, and fortune…look at all his success. It is so easy to covet and lose sight of what God has done for each of us. As I reread the Parable of the Talents, I was quickly reminded to make the most of what God had given to me. God’s measure of success is vastly different from mine, and it would be folly to think that I know how to better use my gifts than the Lord. God has uniquely blessed each of us, and we are to find a way to cultivate it, so there will be a great return on His investment.
Author: Aaron Hufty
Aaron Hufty is the Associate Pastor for Worship and Music at FBCSA.
Wally
Re: Verse reading–Mark 10:35-45; John 13:12-17; James 2:14-17 (day two)
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
My first HS job in Texas was at O’Connor High School here in San Antonio. The head band director and Fine Arts Chairman was Wally Dierolf. Most of you know that 5A band directors rank almost equal to 5A football coaches; it is a lofty position at the school. Even though he had 400+ students and the largest program in the district, every day at lunch he would take brown paper bag and sit on the floor at the front of the “M” building to make sure no one entered the building during those lunch periods that wasn’t supposed to be there. He could have easily requested another duty, and frankly could have requested to not have one at all. He did this lunch duty so that the rest of the fine arts teachers could have a break. He worked so we could rest. He sacrificed so that we could do our jobs better.
He was a tremendous band director, but I will never forget the lessons of servant leadership that he learned from Jesus and taught to me.
Visible
Re: Verse reading – Psalm 24:1-6; Ephesians 5:1-16 (day two)
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.
Just having returned from the land of the midnight sun, I certainly have a new appreciation for light. If you have ever spent time in the far north where you get 16, 18, 20 or more hours of sunlight a day, it changes you. I saw a child’s birthday party happening in a city park…at 9:45 at night!! But there it made sense. The sun was up, and you wanted to be out and in it. I couldn’t believe the amount of energy I had at 11:00 PM, simply because there was light.
When things are visible and seen they have energy from the light that shines on them. This is the same for us. When Jesus’ light shines on us, the darkness is driven away and we are made visible. Be in the light!
Persistence Pays
Re: Verse reading – Luke 11:1-13; 18:1-8 (day two)
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
Even in our flawed state we know how to treat someone who is persistent in their requests. If this is the case for us, how much more will this be true for the Father when he hears us consistently pray as we should. He has given us the pattern, and commanded us to follow. Won’t you?
Partial Obedience….
Re: Verse reading–1 Samuel 15:1-35 (day two)
But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen….and all that was good. 1 Samuel 15:9
We have a saying in our house, perhaps you do too. Partial obedience is disobedience. This has been a challenge to teach. Inevitably we hear a list of the things that were done, and to specification, and “didn’t I do a good job on this part?” Apparently, this was a hard lesson for King Saul as well. We don’t have the whole picture, we may never understand the whole outcome, all we may have is our assignment and our duty to obey. The cost was very steep for Saul. We will do well to learn a better kind of obedience, complete obedience.
Calvary is the Sea
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 17:17; 1 John 4:7-21 (day two)
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us. 1 John 4:10. One of my favorite anthems that the Chapel Singers sing is Calvary is the Sea, and I love it most because of the text that says: “No sacrifice I could give to you could match what you’ve given me, for my everything is but a a drop of dew and Calvary is the sea.” He deserves the fullest measure of our devotion, but that could never compare to the act of love that he demonstrated for us. What is more wonderful is that this love is an ongoing, every-filling constant that will never run out. His love is our everything.
Community
Re: Verse reading–Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:3-13 (day two)
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. Acts 2:46-47
We were made for community. When we come together around a meal we create a community of sorts that is a picture of the body of Christ. We share our provisions, which nurtures everyone around us. We talk, laugh, and become closer through our fellowship. This picture can extend to our times of worship. One of the functions of corporate worship is to build community. When we come together we join our voices with the saints around us and are strengthened. As you come for worship next week consider getting to know someone you don’t currently know. If they came to your house, you would certainly learn their name, so do the same here. Sit in community with others, gain from the beautiful fellowship of singing, praying, and growing together.
Cleanse
RE Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day two)
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Wash your face. What outward sign are we to give that we are being cleansed from within? An outward cleanliness. Jesus instructs us to show the result, not the nitty gritty of the process. By fasting we are being cleansed, purified, made ready for use. Let us approach the concept of a fast with this mindset. Jesus is making us ready for his purposes, and that should cause us to show outward joy when we focus on the result rather than the process.
Leaning
Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10 (day two)
Lean not in your own understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge him…Proverbs 3:5-6. Picture yourself leaning against a tree or a wall, something that is seemingly stationary. What position is your body in? Probably some angle to the ground other than a right angle. You are off-balance, right? Imagine if that tree or wall suddenly disappeared, what would happen? You would stumble for sure, and if you had all your weight pressed up against it, you would fall. It’s an interesting picture of faith. God gives us feet to stand, but when we trust our own strength or understanding we deviate, sin, decay. It is only when we get off-balance from our own thoughts and lean totally against the almighty that we can walk straight. Although the tree or wall may fall down, Jesus never will. Lean into that trust.
Restore
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9 (Day Two)
Restore to me the joy of your salvation Psalm 51:12. Look back at the words that pertain specifically to David’s sin: blot out, wash away, cleanse me. Such vivid imagery creates a landscape that we can all understand. This picture of a broken man, not a king, but a man caught in sin. We can relate. But what is astounding is not the picture created of David’s sin-nature, but the hope of restoration. All of these terms deal with a renewal. To be brought back to a former relationship. Sometimes when we have sinned we cannot imagine how we can be forgiven much less how we can be brought back to a right relationship with the Almighty. But hear David’s cry, once he has confessed his heart longs for the Joy of His Salvation. What a beautiful thought, to be made clean again with the same life and strength as that first time you prayed. Don’t let the weight of your sin cause you to buckle, His joy is still waiting for you. He is faithful, He is just and His burden is light.