Scott Lane

Heart of the Matter

Re: Verse reading–Luke 18:18-30 (Day Five)
Ever wonder why Jesus didn’t talk about money or possessions to Nicodemus or Zaccheus (both wealthy and successful)? Because He knew their hearts. The kingdom of God is not about money, it is about the heart.

It’s an amazing conversation between the rich young ruler (RYR) and Jesus. As Jesus addresses the question posed by the RYR (with the scripture), He leaves out one of the commandments. I suspect the RYR knew the commandments by heart and maybe thought Jesus left out # 10 to cut him some slack. But Jesus interprets and applies #10 to his circumstances and his (RYR) heart. Brilliant!! Beautiful!! Alarming!! (That’s exactly what the Holy Spirit does now in the heart of the New Testament Believer)

God knows our hearts. He is aware of our motives, fears, pride, insecurities, failures, and weaknesses. God is not intimidated by the sin or darkness in our hearts. He challenges, questions, and confronts it. God’s design and desire is to have reign and rule over our hearts. Proverbs 4:23. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

40 Days of Prayer – Direction

As 2013 comes to a conclusion, I wonder how these 40 days of prayer, meditation, and scripture reading have shaped our hearts. Better yet, what will our lives look like “on the other side” of the “40 days of Prayer”.

When reading the Christmas Story in Luke and in Matthew, I am intrigued by the different directions that the Shepherds and the Magi took when leaving their encounter with Jesus. The Shepherds go right back to familiar settings and circumstances with hearts filled and over-flowing with wonder and worship. The Magi are instructed to take a different course. Same wonder and worship. New chapter and change of direction required.

Day35- Pray for God’s direction and leadership as you conclude this encounter (40 Days of Prayer). Proverbs 3:5-6

Whether the Lord requires new roads and new steps, or a renewed heart in familiar patterns, may our lives be filled with the same wonder and worship described over 2000 years ago.

Re: Verse reading- Luke 13:10-17 (day five)

40 Days of Prayer- Search

These are exciting days at FBCSA! There are SO many evidences of God’s presence and blessing in our church body. One of the ways I know God is continuing His Work and Leadership in our church, is that He sends us gifted and talented leaders/ministers.

Our church often will use search teams or committees to accomplish this work. The task of these teams is to prayerfully recommend candidates for specific leadership roles on our staff under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have one of these committees currently working and serving (Preschool/Children’s Minister), and another one being formed (Minister to Young Marrieds).

Day 28 – Will you pray for these committees as they search, pray, interview, and recommend candidates to serve on our staff. Pray that the Holy Spirit will lead them to the person God has prepared and purposed to serve our church at this time. Pray for wisdom, unity, and discernment as they meet and perform this “searching task”.

As God “calls” these new ministers to our church will you pray for these new staff members asking God to give them grace to serve and lead our church forward? What amazing opportunities await our church family as God brings us these new leaders!!

Re: Verse reading – Luke 12:13-34 (day five)

40 Days of Prayer- Prepare

It’s an interesting line in one of my favorite songs. “Let every heart prepare Him room”. As we have “prepared” our house to reflect the Christmas season. It took time, attention, and effort. What would our home look like if we didn’t do anything? It would look the same as always. What about our hearts? What would our hearts be like if we never “prepared” for His rule and living presence (time, attention, effort)? Every day (especially during this season of the year) there are things (some good, some bad) that compete for our affection and attention. If we don’t continually make “space” and “priority” for Him, our hearts and lives will look and sound common and even distressed. Nothing different or distinctive will be heard or seen, only anxiety and despair. We must intentionally prepare “room” in our hearts for His strength, influence, and presence.

Day 21- Will you “prepare Him room” (today and moment by moment) by praying and asking Him to be active, alive, and above all the daily stuff that competes for your thoughts and attention.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The result will be a life that reflects God’s love, His Joy, and His strength. All the competing pressures, tensions, relationships, and responsibilities will then find their rightful place (a distant 2^nd).

Re: Verse reading – Luke 10:25-37 (day five)

40 Days of Prayer – Leverage and Influence

It’s one of my favorite moments in scripture. Jesus calls Levi (Matthew) to be a disciple. Levi immediately throws a party. Jesus is the guest of honor and wouldn’t you know, Levi somehow managed to get lots of his “tax collector and sinner” friends there. (Luke 5:27-30) How did he do that? Two keys… Leverage and Influence. Levi used Leverage and Influence to gather his friends, colleagues, and associates in a place where they would be in the presence of the Savior.

Day 15 – Will you pray for “Gospel Leverage and Influence” with your family, friends, and colleagues?

It’s hard work. It demands risk. It requires strategic timing. It is tense for sure. Seasons like the one we are currently in, can easily lend to conversations and experiences that are “eternal” in context. Will you look and listen for moments where you can begin or develop relationships for Gospel Leverage and Influence? It may come at the cost of safety, comfort, and time. (Sounds a lot like the Christmas Story to me). The battle takes place at precisely the point where believers must personally and willingly invest in lost friends (and family) and influence peers who desperately need Christ.

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

40 Days of Prayer- Practice Makes…

In Luke 11, the disciples ask Jesus to “teach them to pray”. I often wonder why. What was the real motivation for the question? What did they see? What did they hear? What did they observe? Was it His wisdom? Was it His patience? Was it His power? Was it His repetition? Was it the real and vibrant relationship with his Heavenly Father?

Day 8 – Will you ask God to help you be teachable and learn how to pray?
In the remaining 40 days, let’s ask God to make us people of prayer. Let’s train ourselves (practice) to be Godly in our praying. (1 Corinthians 9:25) What if our time in prayer each day caused us to change? What if others noticed Christ-like wisdom, patience, and strength in us? What if they noticed a real relationship with our Heavenly Father? “Practice doesn’t make perfect. It reduces the imperfection.”

Re: Verse reading–Luke 5:12-26.

He Has Promised

Re: Verse reading–2 Peter 1:1-12 (day five)
It’s a promise that I have had the privilege of sharing with many teenagers over the years. It’s a promise that prompts hope. It’s a promise that stirs courage. It’s a promise that encourages vision.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)
This semester 2 different teenagers on 2 different campuses in our city have had the vision/burden to start Bible Studies on their campus. May sound easy enough, but this requires courage (talking to administrators). It also demands hope. (Will students come? Will a faculty member sponsor and provide a classroom or meeting space?). It evidences vision. (Christian students growing in their faith. Lost students hearing the Gospel and being around a community of believers.) So, as you pray, study the scriptures, and worship (privately and corporately) are there ways God is leading you that spark courage, hope, and vision? Remember, as you move forward, He Has Promised!!

Really??!!

RE Verse reading–1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:1-11 (day five)
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

God inspires Peter to write about humility. Really??!! Peter?? He could apply to be the poster child for arrogance, impulsiveness, and stubbornness. Yet God does a work in his heart and life through Jesus that changes Peter forever. And 30 years later, Peter is willing to share the truth he has learned about humility. Do you suppose it is the alarm clock Peter hears most mornings (rooster crowing) that causes him frequently to remember and rejoice. Peter remembers how easily sin and pride can hijack the human heart. And he rejoices that God gives grace that restores and strengthens the human heart. Isn’t that how God works so many times in so many hearts? Really!!

Lessons from the Moon

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 2:11-3:9 (Day Five)
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Ever marvel at the beauty of the moon? (Its color, its texture, its shape) Ever wonder how helpless and un-noticed it would be if not for the sun? In an interesting way the moon “glorifies” the sun. Any notice of it from our vantage point is because of the sun. The moon does nothing to create its own light or energy for that matter. The only way the moon can be seen or recognized is when its “position” to the sun is such where we can see the effects of the sun on the moon. In verse 12 we are told that our lives can glorify God. How? I think it’s the same as with the moon. We must live our lives in obedience, sacrifice, and purity (in right “position” or relation to God). To be certain, it is a battle, struggle, and intense (see verse 11). It demands constant attention and determination. But the end result is a life that is beautiful and observable. To those that are watching, it will point them to a strong, holy, and loving God.

Who Am I??

Re: Verse reading–1 Peter 1:1-12 (day five)
I Peter 1:1-2 “To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces …, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood”
Because of my ministry with teenagers, I know the answer to this question is HUGE. Identity formation is the major task of adolescence. Getting this right is crucial to SO many aspects of our lives. Mark Driscoll writes, “How you answer that question has far-reaching, belief-revealing, life-shaping, and identity-forming implications.” I believe we wrestle with this question and answer it everyday, even as adults. It seems fitting that Peter starts this letter by addressing the question. The answer (that ultimately and completely brings power and joy to the human heart) to “Who am I?” is found in the One who says He is the “I Am”.