Author: Scott Lane

Scott Lane is the Executive Pastor of Ministry at FBCSA.

Opportunities

Re: Verse reading–Isaiah 6:1-8; Revelation 4:1-11 (Day Five)
What is it about God that compels or “draws” you into worship?  As we read the Re: Verse  passages this week we see several possibilities:  His Holiness, His Purity, His Sovereignty, His Beauty, His Kindness, His Graciousness, His Generosity, His Strength.  William Temple says worship is to “quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.”  Opportunities are available because the scripture says that God “seeks” worshipers (John 4).  Personal Worship, Corporate Worship, and Small Group Worship all present moments and experiences to see and hear from the Lord.  Worship begins with a holy anticipation and ends in holy obedience (becoming more like Christ)- the point and goal of each spiritual discipline we’ve studied this summer.

 

Do you believe…

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 103, Luke 17:11-19 (day five)
Do you believe that Jesus was the most “joy-filled” person who ever walked this planet?  Do we want to have that kind of “joy-filled” life?  If the answers are yes, then we must look at how He lived and what He taught.   It’s really what we’ve been doing all summer- studying the hows and whats.  Jesus certainly taught about thanksgiving and gratitude (Luke 17).  And He faithfully practiced it  (Last supper, feeding of 5,000, raising of Lazarus, and many more times)  There is a connection to a thankful heart and joy-filled life.  We need look no further than our Lord for proof and practice.  I read this week that Thanksgiving is a “confession of blessings”.  This practice causes us to remember (past), rejoice (present), and regain an eternal perspective (look to the future).

Starting with Nothing

Re: Verse reading–Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Matthew 25:14-30 (day five)

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.”  In this parable what can the slaves call their own?  What do they actually begin with?  Nothing.  They are slaves.  They depend on the master for food, clothing, shelter, and provisions.  Then he gives them “talents”.  It’s a humble place to start, but I believe that it leads to an insightful perspective.  Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”.

I read this week in an article “the more you own, the less freedom you have.”  It made me pause and think.  I wonder however, if these passages might change our perspective of the Lord and ourselves.  What about this:  The more we “steward” the more freedom (and joy) we gain.  Something to think and pray about.

The Other Symbol

Re: Verse reading- Mark 10:35-45; John 13:12-17; James 2:14-17 (day five) 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The disciples were so selfish and seemingly disconnected from what was really going on.  Jesus was communicating really BIG things.  Perhaps they picked up on the symbol of the cross.  It is the ultimate sign of submission and sacrifice.  I’m guessing though, they missed the other symbol.  The towel.  It is the symbol of service.  Most of us know deep in our hearts we are not the greatest.  No need to be convinced.  But, our pride and selfishness create this desire to not be “the least” (last).  “At least I’m better than some/most”.  Yet, Jesus challenges this idea with His teaching and actions.  So, they not only heard it (Mark 10), they saw it (John 13).

Freedom

Re: Verse reading- Psalm 24:1-6; Ephesians 5:1-16 (day five)  Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God… walk in love, just as Christ ”

Spiritual Disciplines- What’s the point?  What’s the goal?  What’s the “payoff'”?  Answer…   FREEDOM

Skilled musicians, world-class athletes, expert carpenters, and well-prepared students all demonstrate the “freedom thru discipline” principle.  They have a freedom to entertain, exhibit, and excel that others do not.

What about the Freedoms in the Disciplined Christian Life?  Freedom to understand and apply Biblical Principles- by memorizing and studying Scripture.  Freedom from spiritual insensitivity- by fasting.  Freedom from self-centeredness- by service and worship.  Freedom from guilt, anger, and consequences- by practicing purity.

The Freedom found in a spiritually disciplined life is:  The capacity to recognize and accomplish what God calls us to do, and the opportunity to imitate and display the character qualities of Christ and to glorify God through our own personalities.

Asking the Right Question

Re: Verse reading – Luke 11:1-13; 18:1-8 (Day Five)  Luke 11:1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”

Of all the questions the disciples could have asked, they chose prayer as the topic of this request.  Why not miracles?  Why not wisdom?  Why not prophesy or the future?  The disciples made the connection between the life of Jesus (power, peace, wisdom, hope, and joy) and the discipline of prayer that He faithfully demonstrated.  They saw in the Savior, a life they wanted to imitate.  They believed that this kind of approach to prayer was both possible and beneficial.  Do we?

Richard Foster says, “Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of spiritual life.  Of all the Spiritual Disciplines, prayer is the most central because it ushers us into perpetual communion with the Father.”

Lesson from Middle Schoolers

Re: Verse reading – 1 Samuel 15:1-35 (day five)
Social scientists tell us that middle schoolers facing rapid changes emotionally, physically, relationally, and socially will compartmentalize these different areas to be able to process and manage their lives. They are not capable yet of the required multitasking needed to navigate all the new and different environments they encounter daily. They will need adults to equip them and encourage them to think about the “whole” and how the separate parts fit together. They will need time as their brains grow and develop.  As they are discipled, they also need to recognize and understand how God deals with the “whole” of our lives and hearts. His Lordship reigns over our “whole” heart and life. His demand for our obedience is the same.  Not a compartment or a part of us, but our complete and undivided loyalty and obedience. Sometimes adults need that understanding too. God’s expectation for obedience and loyalty is very clear.

Love and Fear

Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 17:17; 1 John 4:7-21 (day five)
It’s been said that the opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference or apathy.  This caused me to think about love and fear.  What is the relationship between the two?  Opposites?  Antagonists?  Competitors?  Seems the scripture describes their relationship as enemies.  The bible speaks of a great conflict between the two.  1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out (drives out) fear, “.  So, maybe they are mutually exclusive (cannot exist together).  God’s Love will lead to healthy trust.  Fear will demand we have control.  Love will cause the human heart to look upward with hope.  Fear causes us to look inward with despair. Love brings freedom and optimism.  Fear leads to captivity and cynicism.  The battle between these two is waged day to day, moment by moment.

Clarity

Re: Verse reading–2 Chronicles 20:1-4, 13-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:1-3 (day five)

14 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah

I have heard it many times already this week as we’ve been at camp- teenagers that have had a clear unmistakable “word” or insight from The Lord.  (I will sit at breakfast this morning with another one-  He’s wants to “talk”)  It always amazes them when it happens.  It’s a reminder to me (hopefully us) that when you peel away many of the stresses, pressures, activities, responsibilities, and distractions that compete for our heart’s attention and affection, the still small voice of the Holy Spirit becomes louder, stronger and more recognizable.  It’s a discipline that must be repeated and recaptured often.  Fasting is one way to facilitate the possibility.  The result is the sweetest thing we could hope to hear and understand-  the voice of the Living God speaking into the human heart!!