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RE Verse reading–Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 116:1-9, Matthew 6:25-33 (day two)  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (23:1)  The words of the 23rd Psalm are exceptional.  No argument.  David’s language is simple, real and beautiful.  The experience, however, is common–at least for spiritual people.  Confidence in God’s presence and protection is something that all who know God gradually learn.  “Who am I that I should go to Pharoah?” he asks in Exodus 3.  “Surely I will be with you”, God tells him.  It is an answer that is higher than the question asked.  Paul heard the same in Acts 18.  “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking. . .for I am with you”  (vs 10)  It is what the disciples (then and now) experience when the Lord says, “Lo I am with you always”  (Matthew 28)  As we read David’s words this week, please remember that this confidence is something God intends  for all of us.  It is a normal Christian life.

RE Verse reading–Psalm 23, Psalm 27:1-5, Psalm 116:1-9, Matthew 6:25-33 (day one)  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”  (23:1)  Fairly often I meet people who have achieved a degree of success (career, personal, financial) but who are, nevertheless, still anxious, worried, restless.  These encounters always remind me of Jesus and His conversation with the Rich Young Ruler ( Mark 10)  “One thing you lack”, says the Lord and then proceeds to tell him how to establish a relationship with God (via faith) that would yield peace and life.  In what may be the most familiar passage of scripture in the entire Bible, David describes such a relationship–one that makes a person grateful and confident and hopeful, no matter the challenges being faced.  Friend, have you found such a relationship?  It is possible!  As we read this week, I am praying for God to show us how to NOT LACK THE ONE THING WE NEED MOST–a heart that is calm and confident in Him!

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18  (day seven)  God is great.  God is good.  Teaching children this prayer shapes their minds in a positive and powerful way. These words are a simple statement of brilliant theology.  Great is a word that means “big”.  God is huge, vast.  Think size.  Good refers to moral value.  God is kind, benevolent and fair.  After 13 weeks of prophetic instruction, it is good to be reminded that there is a beautiful balance within the Father’s heart. “The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations” (Numbers 14:18)  How can anyone possibly be both?  Some are big but not kind. (power makes them harsh)  Others are kind but weak.  (they want to help but cannot)  Only God is both great and good.  Happy Sunday, everyone!

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18 (day six)  “For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations”  (Psalm 100:5)  Sin’s deepest scar is anxiety.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately felt unsafe in the world, afraid and ashamed.  “The wicked are like the troubled sea.  It cannot rest”  (Isaiah 57:20)  When confidence in God is lost, every obstacle becomes insurmountable.  The lack of water in the desert sent the children of Israel into panic and rebellion. Anxiety ruled.  (Numbers 14)  Conversely, when confidence in God is regained (by the covering of sin and the exercise of faith) peace rules the heart.  “If God is for us, who can be against us?” says Paul with child-like confidence.  (Romans 8:3)  Never underestimate the positive power of this confidence!  The certainty that God is good and that salvation is free brings joy to the human heart.  It is the only thing that does.

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18 (day five)  “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above”  (James 1:17)  The Greek word for perfect is teleios.  It means “that which accomplishes its purpose” or “that which reaches its intended destination”.  I remember in college the attempt to justify the use of marijuana by this verse.  The argument went something like this, “If God made it, why shouldn’t we be allowed to use it?”  James would have been quick to challenge such logic.  Not every gift but every good gift, every perfect gift comes from God.  Those things that are used by man in keeping with the eternal and wise purposes of God are “from” Him.  In the same way, marriage and scripture and prayer and church and physical health. . .perfect gifts from a perfect God, but only when used for His intended purposes.  May our hearts be grateful.  May our wills be soft.

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18 (day four)  “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all generously. . . and it will be given him”  (James 1:5) When James (the brother of the Lord) says that God gives generously, he uses the word haplos.  It means “simple” (literally “not going on a trip”)  Single-minded.  Imagine a wealthy person who only has ONE passion, ONE charity.  The expected result is generous and regular support because His interest is undivided.  James says that God is the same.  He has only one agenda in the world–His Son and the people who are His by faith.  He is not distracted.  His eye is on us.  We can expect His generous help.  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  (Romans 8:32)  It isn’t complicated.  God is simply generous.

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-18 (day three)  “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17)  Remember Gary Chapman’s book  THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES?  It was a turning point for many.  1) Words of affirmation, 2) Touch, 3) Quality Time, 4) Acts of service, 5) Gifts. . . Chapman proposed that we all have a preferred language for expressing and receiving love.  What is God’s language of love?  Perhaps all, but certainly Acts of service.  “God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us”  (Romans 5:8)  He shows us His love by serving us, providing for us.  Picture Jesus on His knees washing the disciples feet!  If deeds are God’s language for expressing love to us, doesn’t it follow that He will receive love from us in similar fashion?  “If you love me, keep my commandments” said Jesus. (John 14:10)  Faith without works is dead.  Love without works is too.

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1, Psalm 100, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, James 1:17-8 (day two) “Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights”  (James 1:17)  I am excited about this summer study.  It already feels life-changing.  I am praying for you as you read and reflect.  Some of God’s best gifts are sun, moon and stars.  The ancients were particularly sensitive to the darkness, coldness and danger that would be present without them.  When James calls God “the Father of lights”  he is pointing to the giver of these gifts. Nature speaks of God’s generosity, even if it does so imperfectly.  Sun, moon and stars are all subject to seasonal changes.  By rotation of the earth and orbit around the sun, all are sometimes brighter/warmer than other times.  They are imperfect.  He isn’t.   Their valuable but variable contribution makes us grateful for a God who never changes in His generosity towards us.  Behind an imperfect world is a perfect heart.

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:1; Psalm 100; John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 8:8-9; Philippians 2:5-8; James1:17-18  “For God so loved the world, He GAVE His only begotten Son” (John 3:16)  Welcome to the summer study of FBC.  The weeks ahead look spiritually rich.  Rich in insight.  Rich in blessing.  For 13 weeks, you are invited to a daily/weekly consideration of various texts of scripture that speak of God’s generosity (and ours)  For us, generosity is a learned behavior.  It rises out of gratitude.  First we receive.  Then we give.  “To whom much is given, much is required”  (Luke 12:48)  With God, generosity is original, essential, unchanging. “Every good thing given, every perfect gift. . .comes down from the Father.(James 1:17)  Giving is normal for God.  It always has been. May the Lord guide us all to this life-changing discovery.  It may require some page turning.  It will require some reflection.  May He make this the most joyful summer of our lives as we meditate on this truth.  We serve a generous God!

RE Verse reading–Micah 6:1-8 (day seven)  “He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?”  (vs 8)  Have you had a good day?  Is Barak Obama a good president?  To answer either of these questions, we must answer a deeper one.  What is good?  More than semantics,  this question goes to the heart of every human choice.  In Luke 18, Jesus challenged the Rich Young Ruler to think more deeply on this subject.  “Why do you call me good?  Only God is good”, said the clearest thinker who ever lived.  Micah agrees.  Whether we want to be good people, or good parents, or members of a good church, our behaviors and attitudes must be connected to the expectations of a good God.  His definition/description is the only one available.  “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good” (Psalms 73:28)  Only when we see God clearly can we see what is good.