Scott Lane

“What Did You Get?”

Re: Verse reading – John 8:31-47 (Day Five)
It is a question that floated around yesterday at our house. From instagram to text messages, from facebook to phone calls, I looked and listened with curiosity as my kids answered the question “What did you get?” Their responses revealed their evaluation of importance, significance, and relevance.

Jesus teaches that the ability and capacity to hear, understand, and apply the Word of God is invaluable. Look at verse 47- “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” It is a gift given to every true believer. Do we perceive its importance, significance, and relevance? R.C Sproul says, “There is no greater gift we could ever receive from God than to have our ears opened, to have the scales taken from our eyes, to have our stony hearts softened so that they become beating, pulsating, responding hearts of love as we hear the Word of God.”

Farming Lessons

Re: Verse reading–2 Timothy 1:6-14; 2:1-15 (day five)

6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

Paul uses the image of a farmer as a picture/example to teach Timothy (and us) lessons about the Christian Life. What is it about the farmer that helps us better understand that Christian Life? Hard Work? Yes! Certainly effort and energy are required. But consider Paul is also illustrating a blueprint for growth and strength in the relationship between God and each believer.

Jerry Bridges writes, “Farming is a joint venture between the farmer and God. The farmer cannot do what God must do (sunshine, germination, rain), and God will not do what the farmer should do (plow, fertilize). We can say just as accurately that the pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on His own part”.

Prone

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 6:3-19 (day five)

11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

Do you get tired of constantly being reminded or repeatedly urged and encouraged about things you already believe or understand? Most of the time my response is a dismissing “I Know, I Know!!” Paul reminds Timothy of “trustworthy sayings”. He urges remembering doctrinal truths. Over and over, he calls for Timothy to teach these same things to believers in Ephesus. Why? Paul knows the human heart. He knows that the human heart is wired to pursue. It’s just often we pursue the wrong things. Sometimes we pursue the right things but for wrong reasons. So, maybe if we frequently made (sang) honest confessions and earnest pleas, the Spirit would give our hearts needed “course corrections”.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Youthfulness

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 4 (day five)

12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

It’s a scripture used in Youth Ministry to encourage teens to grow and lead now. So, what can we learn from Youth these days? Here are recent conversations with teens at FBCSA.

Evangelism: “I wanna learn how to share my faith with my friends so they can know Christ”.

Hunger: “Which book of the Bible should I read next? I just finished Ephesians and it was AWESOME!”

Selflessness: “Before I go into the workplace, I wanna serve in a foreign country.”

Obedience: “How can I get to Africa? I believe God wants me to go to there.”

“How do I start a Bible Study at school? God is calling me to lead a group.”

“How do I teach the Bible? God is telling me to share scripture with my friends.”

Strong and Visible

Re: Verse reading–1 Timothy 3:1-13 (day five)

Paul goes into great detail in describing the qualifications and character traits for the servant/leaders of the church. He doesn’t mince words in his prescription or perspective. The result of this kind of outlined leadership leads to a church that is strong and visible. See verse 15- “which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth”. The church as a foundation will keep the true doctrines of the faith strong against heresy and withstand the tension that will always come from the surrounding culture. The church as a pillar will lift high the Name of Christ and the Truth of the Gospel. Great Privilege! Amazing Opportunity! Incredible Responsibility! May FBCSA be both strong and visible!

NextGen

Re: Verse reading – 1 Timothy 1:1-19 (day five)

²To Timothy, my true child in the faith:, ¹⁵It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance,

A new strategy we began last year was to partner teenagers in a “leadership track” with mentors, and have them meet regularly over the course of a year. The marked difference in their faith, perspective, and emotional stability was noticeable. As we read 1 & 2 Timothy, we catch glimpses of a phenomenal mentoring relationship. One of the primary desires in the NextGen Ministry is to “Partner with Parents” in the faith development of their kids. I’m wondering if mentoring (both to kids/teenagers and parents) might be a good picture of how a church can invest and grow the “Next Generation” of believers and leaders in God’s Kingdom. Let’s look for ways to teach and encourage “trustworthy statements” of our faith, and the life lessons learned through our own mentoring or personal experience.

Don’t Miss the Gospel

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-9 (day five)
It is easy for me to read these words and let my thoughts race towards expected behaviors and attitudes spelled out for husbands and wives in this passage. “This will be Hard for me to do!” “Will this really make me Happy?” Seems that this puts “me” as the focus of the text. Not a hopeful perspective.

But, if I see the Mission and Work of Jesus in this text, then something amazing happens. I am thankful and humble because of His title- Savior (v23). I am reminded of His Great Love and Sacrifice (v25). I am aware that His intention was to make people (made dirty, ugly, and depraved by sin) beautiful, clean, and Holy (v26). I see His great eternal hope for humanity (v27). I then, am filled with the same optimism and eagerness in my marriage and relationships with others. I have a completely changed perspective “Filled with the Hope of the Gospel”.

Thank You? Thank You!

Re:Verse reading–Ephesians 4:17-5:20 (day five)
²⁰always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father

Giving Thanks for all things is an indication of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can help a person understand at a deep invisible level that at the center of both triumphs and tragedies is a loving God who acts and works for the Glory of His Name and the Good of His People. The songs, prayers, and declarations are dramatically different in each circumstance, but all will reflect the work of the Holy spirit- an attitude of thanks, trust, and hope. John Piper says, “giving thanks for all things is an outrageous idea unless you have a deep, Biblical theology of God’s sovereign goodness.” Our hearts can cry out “Thanks” at some level each day even if it’s with a question mark (amidst burdens and questions) or exclamation point (when we clearly see God’s visible work and provision).

Keep these Together

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day five) There must always be a close relationship between Theology and Biography in the Christian Faith. What we do must be a reflection of what we believe. What we believe must be reflected in what we do. Paul shifts from Theology in chapters 1-3 (deep meaningful images, metaphors, and doctrinal statements) to Biography in chapter 4.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Seems the type of believers Paul has in mind are those who study, understand, and process the deep rich and mysterious truths of the Scripture, yet “walk” and act in a manner that makes them easily approachable and highly relational.

Keeping a “sound” Theology and a “worthy” Biography together will take discipline, determination, and God’s grace.

Learn from Our Prayers

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 3 (day five)

I have sensed the Lord pressing me to journal more in this particular season of my life. It’s not a skill I am good at, or fond of doing. But it is SO helpful to me to see how the Lord is working and has worked. It can also be a subtle reminder that God is speaking and I need to listen and hear as much as possible.

This week I will begin to journal my prayers too. Reading Paul’s prayers in Ephesians (3:14-21) has been so rich. Paul’s insights, passion, and priorities are remarkable. I was also challenged by John Stott’s words this week: “One of the best ways to discover a Christian’s chief anxieties and ambitions is to study the content of his prayer and the intensity with which he prays them.”