Author: Don Guthrie

Re:Verse reading–Philemon 1-25 (day one)

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Sometimes to get forward we need to go back.  Back to a broken relationship.  Back to a past wrong that needs to be made right.

After coming to Christ, Onesimus knew that he had to go back to make things right with Philemon, his former master.  Roman law had a clear position on runaway slaves.  To stay a fugitive and a felon was not an option.

And Paul was no passive observer.  He got involved.  Coaching Onesimus.  Persuading Philemon.  Like Jesus, Paul began to intercede, to mediate.

The relationships in a church ARE your business.  When the disciples argued (Luke 9) Jesus confronted it.  When brothers were broken, Paul inserted himself.  “If you consider me a partner, accept him!”–v 17

When He prayed for the church to be one, the Lord knew that we would need to help each attend to broken relationships.

Re:Verse reading–Acts 12:1-19 (day one)

“Peter was kept in prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”–v 5.

It is a small word in Greek.  We saw the same this past Sunday in the Nicodemus story.  De is a “disjunctive conjunction”.  It separates.  Points out contrast or change in direction.

Peter had been arrested by Herod.  Bad!  Herod had already executed James and was enjoying his “approval rating” bump.  Very bad!  Peter was being held in a maximum security prison. The worst imaginable!  Dangerous, depressing situation.

BUT prayer was being made!   An undefeated church.  A God for whom nothing is impossible.  It ain’t over til it’s over!  So they pressed into the Lord.  Together.  On their knees.  Loud cries.  Real prayer.

“God does NOTHING except in response to believing prayer, and EVERYTHING  with it.”–John Wesley.

Most of us know what happens when we don’t pray.  Wonder what would happen if we did?

Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day one)

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”–v. 8

Must have been a delicious idea for Nicodemus.  A life of liberty and power!  Unexplainable but undeniable.

For the past two weeks, Holly and I have been with Madelyn Grey Guthrie.  She is 2 months old.  Our third grandchild.

A sweet, happy baby, Maddie looks (to her grandfather, at least) like Alex.  Shouldn’t surprise anyone.  We all (and always) give birth to some version of ourselves.  What we create is marked by our character.

People who are “born of the Spirit” share His life of liberty and power.  He moves!  He acts!  His children are like the Father in this way.

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty”–2 Corinthians 3:17  Are you born of the Spirit?

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day one) “

O’Why could we not cast it (an evil spirit) out?’ He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.’ “–Mark 9:28-29

“Ask of ME is the one condition God puts in the advance and triumph of His cause.”–E. M. Bounds.

“The story of every great Christian achievement is the history of answered prayer.”–E. M. Bounds.

A forgotten reality in an everyone-gets-a-trophy age.  Sincere belief does NOT guarantee  certain measures and expressions of His power will be present in every church or Christian.  Certain conditions apply.  The first and greatest is prayer.

Mark 9 is the reminder.  The struggle in heavenly realms is more real than we imagine. The power of darkness is deep and resilient.  Human strength and effort snaps like a twig against such a foe.

If breakthrough is needed (and it is) the power of God is required.  God’s condition for our access to liberating power is prayer.

Re:Verse reading–Hosea 1, 3, 14 (day one)

“Take words with you and return to the Lord”–14:2

If you have ever had a broken relationship, you know.  Words matter.  They heal or cause further harm.  Bridges or barricades.

Hosea prophesied a time when Israel would return to God.  His harsh discipline having accomplished its purpose, they would realize how foolish and unfaithful they had been and would come back to Him, seeking restoration.

“Take words with you”, says the prophet.  Consider and prepare what you will say.  No easy or irresponsible “sorry” will be accepted.  Own what you have done.  If you don’t know what to say, you are not ready.  The way back is paved with words.

Read Psalm 51.  (David)  Read the Prodigal Son.  Honest, pride-discarding words.  Words of apology.  Words that accept guilt and ask for forgiveness.

“Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord” (Psalm 19:14)  Especially when I have been unfaithful and foolish.

Re:Verse reading–Daniel 6 (day one) 

“Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents. . .because an excellent spirit was in him.”–v 3

The Bible has a peculiar concept of spirituality.  Larger than most of us imagine.  More comprehensive.  His Spirit lives in us.  Animates us.  Motivates us to excellence in every field of endeavor.

Politics can be a an expression of spirituality.  Should be!  Marriage. . .yard work. . .medicine. . .childcare.  In these and other material duties, the believer has opportunity to demonstrate the difference the Spirit makes.  Faithfulness.  Integrity.  Innovation.  Daniel excelled because the Spirit was in him.

Christians do not deny the value of material things.  We subordinate them to a larger and better love of God.  Material things are blessings and duties from God rather than competitors to Him.

Do you have an excellent Spirit in you?

“Aim at Heaven and you get Earth ‘thrown in’.  Aim at Earth and you will get neither.”–C. S. Lewis.

Re:Verse reading–Jeremiah 29:1-14 (day one) 

“When Babylon’s seventy years are completed, I will visit you and will fulfill my promise to you.”–v 10

Two parallel stories merged in Babylon in 586 BC.  Two nations.  Both groups known to God.  Both groups dealt with in great fairness, even if on separate paths.

God gave Babylon seventy years to repent.  To hear the gospel.  To turn from idolatry.  Many (some) did.  It was a window of grace and opportunity.

The exiles from Israel were under God’s discipline. ( Please see Hebrews 12:5-13.  It is one of the reasons that we still fear God, and should!)  For a time, they are commanded to live in Babylon and be “lights for the Gentiles”.

How wise God is to work together two stories for the purpose of grace!

Consider, please.  The way that God is currently working in your life may be much about lost people around you.  He is writing more than one story, here.

Re:Verse reading—Psalm 27 (day one)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear. . .though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.”–v 1, 3

There is a beautiful confidence that God promises His children.  Part of His ordinary grace.  Regular armor for every soldier.  Peter and John had it.  (Acts 4:13)  David too (today’s text)

It is not really the absence of fear, rather the presence of a larger confidence/focus.  God is near.  I can, therefore, be confident.

Many believers I know (myself included) fall short in our experience of this great gift.  We are worried and distracted and anxious.  Why?

The secret is in seeking the Lord.  “Seek my face!” says the Lord in v 8.  “I do” says David in response. “I will” he says in v 4.

People who seek  God when danger is NOT present find Him near when it IS.  Is HE what you want, even when things are calm/easy?

Re:Verse reading—Psalm 23 (day one)

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”–v 1.

Who knows when young David discovered this life-changing connection!  HOW I am rests on (rises directly from) WHO He is.  My condition.  His character.  Same.  Same.

For years (?) David faithfully cared for His father’s sheep.  Silly animals.  Not smart.  Their safety depended on David’s presence and attentive care.

In a profound moment of clarity, David realized that he had the same relationship with God that his sheep had with him.  “I am a sheep” he must have whispered to himself.  “The LORD is my shepherd.”

It is a no-win situation.  I have tried, believe me.  Finding security in self and situation is a useless and anxious endeavor.  Courage comes only (and hope with it) when I look, with David, to the Lord and discover Him strong and near.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.” Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

Re:Verse reading–2 Kings 5 (day one)

“Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”–Acts 16:31.

“Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.”–Genesis 15:6

“Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored.”–2 Kings 5:10

If we are honest, sometimes we miss God because we overcomplicate the path.  Like Naaman in 2 Kings 5, we expect something hard, something that requires much effort. (See his protest in v 11.) But the seed and center of salvation is always simple faith.  Obedience that rises from it.  We are invited by the Spirit to a new certainty that–that God is good and worthy to be trusted.  Nothing hard or complicated.  Childlike and pure.  Believe Him (rather than yourself) you will be saved.

“His word shall not fail you–He promised.  Believe Him and all will be well.”–Helen Lemmel.  Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.

But sometimes people miss salvation because it seems too easy.