Author: Scott Lane

Scott Lane is the Executive Pastor of Ministry at FBCSA.

Details

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 3:1-17 (day five). 

“The gold nails weighed fifty shekels. He also overlaid the upper parts with gold.”

Gold nails?  Even that part was intentional. Could seem extreme to our “be good stewards” culture. But not to Solomon, or to God.  What we can learn, is that God is aware and interested in the smallest details. Of this project.  Of our lives. It speaks to His all encompassing love and care. Does that encourage you?  Does that shape the way you pray (every detail shared in praise, confession, and supplication)?  God is aware of all of it. More than that, He cares about all of it.

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. –Luke‬ ‭12

Reflect

Re:Verse passage – 2 Chronicles 2:1-12 (day five)

“Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods.”

In Solomon’s mind the temple would reflect and remind the Israelites of the character and nature of God.  Not a small task at all. I wonder if Solomon wanted them to look up or be awestruck when they entered or even just passed by the temple.

I think we often overlook opportunities to reflect God’s character and nature as “living temples”. 1 Corinthians 3:16- Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

The way we love, serve, forgive, and even work can point and remind others of the greatness and glory of the Living God.

We see in Chronicles the preparation and planning required for so a great a task. We should also plan and prepare daily (scripture, prayer, repentance) for others to encounter God’s presence in us and through us. May we reflect an accurate picture and expression of God’s glory each and every day.

Joy

Re:Verse passage – 1 Chronicles 29:1-11 (day five)  

“Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.”  Previously, Davis has used this assembly meeting to challenge and commission Solomon to the work of building the temple. Now he addresses the leaders and other peoples of the assembly. I wonder if they were intimidated by “how much” David was contributing to the project.  Probably no one had that kind of wealth. I wonder if they had any reservations about their new leader who David describes as young and inexperienced.  I wouldn’t put that on a resume.

David then leads them to the secret of giving-  giving from the heart. When giving is made from the heart, instead perceiving obstacles and hardships, eyes are opened to the reality and opportunities of the Lord’s character and His work. The scripture says the people rejoiced  I wonder if that joy replaced any fear or uncertainty.

May we give and serve our Glorious God with our whole hearts!  May God bring us that kind of joy as we give and serve Him!

AND

Re:Verse passage – 1 Chronicles 28:11-21 (day five)  

“Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.”

I love the language David uses to encourage and empower Solomon for this great task ahead.  You must act AND God will be at work too.  It has one of the great promises that we find throughout scripture.  You will need to trust and do (act/work/disciple/baptize/teach) what God has called you to do AND God will provide His strength, wisdom, Holy encouragement, and constant presence.  It’s a beautiful partnership that believers have with the Living God. We must do what we are called and commanded to do and God does what only He can do (produce Godly fruit from our efforts).

Matthew 28 “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Philippians 2 “work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Legacy

Re:Verse passage – 1 Chronicles 28:1-10 (day five)  

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

David’s time on earth is coming to a close. As he thinks back on his life and looks forward to Solomon’s reign, David wisely points his son to seek and serve the Living God. What will be the legacy advice we leave (verbally or behaviorally) to our children?  Trust me, they are watching and listening (learning) from an early age. Will it be about finances? Relationships? Work ethic? Priorities? Successes? Failures?

David charges Solomon (and us) that the best and most important legacy we can leave our children and the next generation is a vibrant faith and intimate fellowship with God.  So we all need to ask… are our children and those of the next generation learning (from what they see and hear in our lives) that faith in God is our most treasured possession?  Are we intentionally encouraging them to seek and serve God? That, is a legacy that will last through the generations.

Family of God

Re:Verse passage – Mark 3:31-35 (day five)

“For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”  When Jesus proclaimed “the Kingdom of God is at hand” in Mark chapter 1, He was announcing that life would look and feel different as a citizen of this new kingdom. Being a citizen of God’s Kingdom would affect everything. Priorities, practices, prejudices, and now relationships were being redefined by love, service, grace, and obedience. Life in God’s Kingdom was/is larger and longer that people recognize.  It is fitting that Jesus reshapes they way we should think and feel about other believers too- family.  Vulnerability, forgiveness, sacrifice, accountability, and obedience all are distinguishing marks of the members in the “family of God”.

Discipleship vs Disciple-Making

Re:Verse passage – Mark 3:13-19 (day five)

“And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.”

It’s a new paradigm. Jesus has embraced a different strategy for growing His kingdom. He has gone from discipleship to disciple-making.  He did exhort and challenge people to “take up their cross daily, and follow Me”- discipleship. But now He is expanding the scope of His ministry and focus. The goal is relationship AND multiplication.  Paul echos the same purpose, “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also”.  There it is. Certainly the gospel is being taught/shared.  But now the goal is deeper and longer.  Believers who are compelled and capable of leading others to become believers who can then lead others to become believers who are compelled and capable… – multiplication.  Our time with the Lord AND our time investing in others who can then learn, lead, serve, and share is Disciple-making. An even greater perspective and privilege for growing God’s kingdom.

Perspective

Re:Verse passage – Mark 3:1-12 (day five)

“They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.”

We have another occurrence of the mounting tension between Jesus and the Pharisees. It seems relentless. We get a glimpse into their perspective.  They were looking for opportunities to accuse and confront Jesus. How did it come to this?  Why were they so unaware of who and what was going on?  They have completely lost perspective. The perspective of the law and subsequently the perspective of the mission and message of Jesus.

The Pharisees because of their inward and insecure focus, believed that the Law was designed and given to make men “like themselves”. When in actuality, the Law was given and designed to make man more like God- loving, serving, worshipping. As believers, the goal of the gospel- for us, for other believers, and for unbelievers is never to make others like us, but rather make them (and us) more like Jesus- the full and complete revelation of the living God.

The Danger of Legalism

Re:Verse passage – Mark 2:23-28 (day five) The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”  This is the second “interaction” (in a row) that Jesus has with the religious leaders over legalism. Previously, Jesus was challenged over fasting.  In the Re:Verse passage this week He is confronted by them, about sabbath rules. Jesus both recognizes and chastises their legalism.  Jesus has strong words against legalism. Why?  Because legalism impairs a right relationship with God. Legalism causes humans to look at the shortcomings in the lives of others rather than in themselves. (Notice how external this is) Legalism promotes a man-centered righteousness rather than a Christ-centered righteousness. Legalism is dangerous and destructive.
We can/must look to Jesus to find righteousness and abundant life- not follow man-made rules. That is the gospel. That is good news.

Religion vs. Relationship

Re:Verse passage – Mark 2:18-22 (day five) 

“Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.”  What the Pharisees wanted and practiced (some scholars suggest they were fasting twice a week) was a religion that focused on their “actions, habits, and rituals”. It ignored or minimized the presence and fellowship of God (bridegroom).  It made much of themselves.

In contrast, Jesus was pointing them to His mission and ministry- a right relationship with God through the Son (New Testament bridegroom). Jesus was teaching that the goal of actions, habits, and rituals should be to grow, strengthen, and nurture our relationship with God. His nearness/presence and fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit become reason for joy and celebration!!  It’s the reason we pray and fast- to be near/close.

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Oh, the pure delight of a single hour That before Thy throne I spend, When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God.
I commune as friend with friend!