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Words

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 26:47-50, 57-66; 27:11-26 (day six)

It was a loud mess, a cacophony of voices, some hushed and others loud, as Jesus was paraded into Caiphas’ courtyard in the middle of the night. It went from courtyard to courtroom with the raising of the high priest’s hand; everyone went silent, and every eye on Jesus. The silence lasted for only a moment when one, then two began to make accusation against Jesus in disjointed coordination, as if they had rehearsed what they would say. Three. Four. Ten. A pause and then ten more just the same. Each pause was followed by feverish anticipation of what this man might say in his defense. As if to raise the stakes and rouse a response, each accusation became more outlandish than the next.

Silence. And yet without even a word his very presence spoke with authority, and they felt it, and hated him for it.

He would eventually speak, making a declaration rather than a defense. His words, albeit few, sealed his fate. Their plan was working, so they thought; they had sprung their trap. Little did they know that his words, which brought him condemnation and them triumph, played into the hand of a sovereign and gracious God. Words.

But now

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day seven)

“But now a righteousness from God. . .has been made known. . . [which] comes through faith in Jesus Christ”–v 21-22.  For three chapters, Paul has described what “was”.  A sad picture.  Honest.  Hard to hear.  The fair judgement of God on the human race.  Gentiles.  Jews.  “But now” he says with great energy and excitement!  Something new.  The righteousness of God.  That righteousness that God intrinsically has.  That righteousness that He requires of all who would be part of His Kingdom.

The riddle is solved!  (Mercy offered) How could God be merciful to people who did not deserve it?  How could He love those who had not loved Him and, at the same time, maintain His own Holy standards?  Christ is the solution to this problem that no human could have imagined.

Christ became our redeemer.  Christ became our propitiation.  His blood paid our debt.

In ages past, this wasn’t clear.  BUT NOW it is!

Let it go

RE Verse reading–Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-11 (day seven)  “Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.”–Exodus 20:9-10.  Unless you’ve been on another planet for the past few years, you have heard (or heard of) the Disney movie, “Frozen” and the featured song, “Let it go”.  As Queen Elsa “lets go” of her fears to embrace her strengths, believers “let go” of our fears to discover our strength in union with Christ.  It is a weekly spiritual rhythm called sabbath.  WORK for six days!  This is the command of God.  Get up!  Think! Innovate!  Achieve!  Subdue!  Rule! (see Genesis 1)  But, on the sabbath learn a different skill.  Let it go! Rest!  Pray! Seek His face!  Engage the world with courage, then retreat from it to declare your trust in Something higher.  We are double-sided creations, dual-natured.  God commands us to work, and then to let it go.

Different Perspective Required

Re:Verse reading – Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:17-21  (Day Five)  Often times as believers, it seems a logical course of behavior and living would be to withdraw from society and forego the tension, unkindness, and overall lack of integrity found in secular culture. Its influences of scheming, cheating, and dishonesty bring unwanted problems and difficulties.  But Jesus’ words in Luke 6 would indicate a different approach to this issue.  Instead of insulation and isolation, Jesus promotes love, forgiveness, and compassion.  He unapologetically presumes that believers should and will interact in secular culture and He truthfully shares what can be the result.  Yet, when weighed against eternal perspective and promises (Luke 6:35), enduring these reactions and responses from “enemies” pales in comparison.

 

 

Good Friends

Re: Verse reading–Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 Samuel 20:1-17, 27-42 (day two) 

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Have you ever heard the saying “I may have to love you, but I don’t have to like you”? It’s true that we are called to love one another, but does that mean that everyone must become your BFF (best friend forever)? Those who will share that privilege are very few. Jesus had a small circle of friends who shared everything together. David and Jonathan are the example that we are reading this week. These types of friendships challenge us and help us to grow. They sharpen us as iron would sharpen iron. They defend us and keep us accountable. Remember to thank God today for those dear and close friends.

Whose image?

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day seven) “They brought [Him] a coin, and He asked them, ‘Whose IMAGE is this?’ ‘Caesar’s they replied.’ “–Mark 12:16.  With a Mayoral election coming up on Saturday, my mind is on this story.  “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, but RENDER TO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD’S.” These are unforgettable words and wisdom from Christ.  The backstory is from Genesis 1.  Jesus knew, assumed we would know as well, that God stamped His likeness on us, His image in us.  Like a Roman coin, we are marked off as God’s property for God’s purpose.  While we owe something to the state, and should gladly return to it attentive and informed involvement, we owe everything to God, our very lives!  So, go vote on Saturday, but come worship on Sunday (and every day of the week).  All of us have two loyalties. One should always be higher than the other.  We belong to God!

Remember

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 14:1-4, 10-31; 15:1-2, 20-21 (day five)

Exodus 14:12  Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

The people of God were already showing signs of “memory loss”.  They had quickly forgotten about God’s power and faithfulness to act and protect them as they were being freed from Pharaoh’s captivity.

The Israelites had trusted God for their salvation (Passover) but were having difficulty in trusting God in their circumstances (wilderness).  The cloud and pillar were close and present, but these people became less aware because of the tension, stress, and uncertainty of their circumstances.

The promise of Psalm 46:10-11 becomes our prescription for understanding and security 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  We do well to remember God’s promises and power in the midst of our circumstances.

Inner honesty

RE Verse reading–Ezekiel 20:1-32 (day six)  “As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me.”  (v 2)  When the elders of Judah got a “no comment” response from God, it must have been a shock.  Isn’t God supposed to “let bygones be bygones”?  Isn’t He supposed to be available whenever we are ready to talk?  Yes, but the condition for such a conversation is inner honesty.  What God is not willing to do is have a conversation with people who avoid the long issues that impact the relationship.  Idolatry, a pattern of disobedience, disregard for the Sabbath, address these issues and the heart of God will open in mercy.  Pretend they don’t matter and hear Heaven’s silence.  “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom”–Psalm 51:6.  Facing  the truth about ourselves is always the hardest task.  We all avoid it, but God requires it. “Come, let us reason. . .”

Set menu

RE Verse reading–1 Corinthians 15 (day seven)  “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?”  (v 12)  Have you been to one of those wok restaurants?  You decide the ingredients and they stir-fry it up for you?  Christianity is NOT like that.  Not even a little.  What we believe, what we teach is not subject to individual change or personal preference.  Jude calls it “the faith once delivered.”  Paul expresses the same idea.  “How is it,” he asks with disbelief, “that you have the brashness to call yourself a believer and yet deny the proclamation of the apostles and church?”  It is a bitter pill for moderns to swallow.  The message is fixed and for all time.  We are not free to omit the parts We don’t like.  “How FIRM a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word.”

Knowing Who not how

RE Verse reading–1 Corinthians 15 (day six)  “Behold, I tell you a mystery;. . . we will all be changed. . . in the twinkling of an eye. . .the last trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable.”  (v 51-52)  Mystery is the Bible’s word for something we know via the revelation of God.  We know because He has promised, not because we can imagine it or figure out how it works.  Resurrection is one example.  Will we be young?  Will we look like ourselves?  Will our friends recognize us? (I believe the answer is “yes”.  When Moses returns in the transfiguration story, he is immediately recognized–see Matthew 18)  What we don’t want to do is limit our confidence in this promise simply because it is beyond our imagination or logic.  We trust the promise because we trust the Promiser.  “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”