Aaron Hufty

40 Days of Prayer – The Celebrations

Throughout scripture we read of the importance of music and singing. Both Isaiah (Is. 6) and John (Rev. 4) describe scenes in Heaven where the seraphim surround the throne and cry out Holy, Holy, Holy without ceasing. Even if that doesn’t turn out to be singing, I’m sure that’s quite a site. 2 Chronicles 5:12 describes the roles of the Levites who were to sing in the temple 24 hours a day. What is then about this season that makes everyone think about music to help celebrate? I could provide you with an answer to that, but instead, I will ask you to pray.

Day 12 – Will you pray for the music of the season?

Sounds a bit odd doesn’t it? That may be true, but when we sing these carols that everyone loves to sing we don’t do it for nostalgia. We sing them because they contain truth and point others this message of Jesus. It is always easy to get a good crowd for a Christmas presentation, but our heart’s desire is not to entertain. Rather, it is to soften hearts to hear the Word. This is why we put such effort and thought into these programs. Will you please pray for your music ministry? Pray that they will still find the joy in singing this message. Pray for the directors, coordinators, accompanists, and helpers who work with every age to teach these great songs. Pray that those in our audiences and congregations will hear these words and understand this good news. But most of all, sing your heart out!

Re: Verse reading – Luke 7:1-17 (day two)

40 Days of Prayer – Acknowledgement and Gratitude

Do you have a pattern to your prayers? Jesus gave us the best possible scheme for talking to the Father through the Model Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Notice the first sentence carefully. “Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Day 5 – As you pray will you acknowledge God’s greatness?
What do you notice? Before we intercede, petition, cry or say anything else we must first acknowledge the one to whom we speak. I find that no matter what state of mind I am in when I first verbalize how grateful I am that God is sovereign I feel a greater sense of propriety to my prayer. It is not about me, and even at my core when I am hurting and want comfort there must first be a word of gratitude to the Father. For over three years now when I begin my prayers in the morning I begin with a line from a poem by e.e. cummings: “I thank you God for most this amazing day”. Put your focus first on Him and be amazed at how your heart grows.

Re: Verse reading–Luke 5:12-26.

Light Shining in Darkness

Re: Verse reading–2 Peter 1:16-21; 2:1-3; 3:1-18 (day two)
“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” I am drawn to words and how people use them. Whether Peter intended it or not these verses border on poetry. What strikes me most is the image that is created as you read them. Look at the descriptive words used: light shining, dark, dawns, morning star rises. Any good poet seeks to create for you a picture that will become concrete. Now look at the context. What could Peter possibly be talking about with such creative language? The Word. He was witness to the life of Jesus, but he also knows that many who read his words will only have these stories. How important, then, are these stories? They contain life, truth, and hope. We must continue to read them, discuss them, hide them in our hearts so that the Light will continue to overcome our own darkness and the darkness in the world.

Great and Precious Promises

Re: Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-12 (day two)
“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires.” Have you been looking for a way to escape corruption and evil desires? Who hasn’t? This word of comfort is so much more than a platitude it is a call to discipline yourself. The passage goes on to remind you how you can take part in that divine nature; by adding goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Against these there is nothing on earth that can shake you from those promises. This is not an inactive faith, as we discipline our minds and hearts we come closer and closer to those great and precious promises.

Providing Examples

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day two)
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you…shepherd the flock of God among….voluntarily….with eagerness…providing examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:1-3

What amazing comfort it is to be led and loved by one who is familiar and acquainted with sorrow. Peter is encouraging those who have walked the path of pain to be a lighthouse for those who have just begun to encounter suffering. This is not an absolution from pain, but a reminder to us that it is guaranteed part of the journey. Peter is wisely admonishing a structure in the life of the church that will ensure no one will suffer without being able to look to the faithful leadership of the saints who have persevered. I am grateful today that I serve a church that values the wisdom of those who are much farther along the path than I.

Waging the War of Goodness

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 2:11-25; 3:1-9 (day two)
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:12 NIV) It’s truly amazing how much faith and trust we put in institutions, and how utterly devastated we are when those same institutions fail us. It can be anything from an investment portfolio, to social security, a government, or even your favorite team. When they let us down it can be depressing. Why should that surprise us? What were we really expecting? The only unfailing institution we can rely on is the power of salvation give to us through Jesus. Then why are we instructed to follow these secular structures that are destined to fail us? Regardless if that pagan world is overtly persecuting the church or not, they will all take notice of our love. When we are let down, they will notice where our hope comes from, and that is how we begin to share our Savior with those whose hope has been dashed. Do good, love others, hope in Christ, the world is watching!

Chosen is not Entitled

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 1:13-25; 2:1-10 (day two)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a Holy Nation a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” In the very true nature of the God’s wonderfully complex story this is another example of how His ways are not ours. It is so easy to look at the the descriptors in that sentence (chosen, royal, holy) and get an elevated sense of worth. We see fame as a lofty exalted thing to which many aspire, and all admire. However by the end of the sentence it is clear that is not how we are to use God’s favor. We have been made this wonderful things for a purpose; to proclaim the greatness of our God. If we are given a chosen position it should only serve to elevate the one who placed us there. Give Him the glory for your life today, and take whatever opportunity is presented and proclaim His excellencies so that others may come from darkness to light.

New Heart

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 1:1-12 (day two)
I was reading this morning the words of the Prophet Jeremiah who spoke of hearts that are beyond cure. (Jer. 17:9) A very grim assessment, but so very true. Where then is our hope if we are beyond cure? “In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection.” (1 Pet. 3) This isn’t about fixing what is broken, it is about newness of life. We are granted a new heart that longs to know Christ more. This doesn’t absolve us from suffering or the refining of our sin nature, but with a new Spirit guiding us, we now have the Hope we could never have with our diseased former hearts. Press On.

Entertaining Angels

Re:Verse reading-Hebrews 12:25-29; 13:1-9, 20-21 (day two)
“Let the love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Sounds like quite a dinner party doesn’t it? As I re-read this text I am convicted that this has less to do with some overt act of benevolence as it does understanding the nature of humanity. We all have the privilege of bearing the image of God, it is simply a truth of how we were made. Regardless of the vile corrupt nature of our hearts, we were all made to reflect the beauty of God’s image. Therefore, it comes down to Christ’s greatest command, “Love”. We do not love because others think like us, or act a certain way, have the means to help us, or vote like us, no, it is more grand than any of those reasons. It is because they bear the image of Christ, and whether or not they acknowledge that truth does not absolve us from understandings God’s great design for us all. Think on this as you meet someone today, you are meeting more than an angel. You are meeting an image-bearer.

Joy Beyond the Cross

RE Verse reading-Hebrews 11:1-2, 32-40; 12:1-3, 12-17 (days two) “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right and of the throne of God.”

This passage has always been dear to me for the simple reason that I had to memorize it as a youth. It is one of the great examples of binding the Word to my heart, it has never left me. The inherent paradox of the verse above has long been fascinating. Who would ever count joy in such unimaginable pain? No one would say that Christ enjoyed the cross so what gives?

The cross was certainly in the cross hairs of what was before Him, but that is not where Jesus was focused. The joy set before Him was just beyond the cross. It did mean that the journey to joy was unbelievably harsh, but the promise of joy was so eternally greater it was worth it. Jesus clearly saw the forest in the midst of all the trees. This is why there was joy, He has sat down at the right hand of God.

This is another example of Christ saying to us, “I’ve been there, keep your head up”. Joy doesn’t mean happy and it clearly doesn’t mean easy, but using Jesus as our example, we can endure and not grow weary and lose heart. There is joy in what is beyond our sights.