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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.”

RE Verse reading–1 Corinthians 15 (day five)  “For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that he was raised on the third day.”  (v 3-4)  Good reminder.  Christianity is not, first, an organized church, nor a theology, nor a moral system.  It is first a set of facts.  A report that God has acted in the world in a particular way with a particular meaning.  1)Christ died.  For our sins.  He was a substitute.  “By His stripes we are healed”.  2)He was buried.  His death was real.  Not a swoon.  3)Christ was raised.  Part of God’s character and activity is supernatural, super-scientific, miraculous.  God is above the laws of nature because He created them.  4)All as scripture predicted.  “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet.”  Christians believe/report these facts.  Faith in them gives LIFE.  Always has.

RE Verse reading–1 Samuel 8:1-10, 1 Samuel 12:1-5 (day six)  “But his sons did not walk in his ways.  They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.”  (8:3)  I wonder.  Did Samuel ever ask himself, “What did I do wrong?”  Did he ever feel guilty or responsible for his sons’ character or choices?  The scripture suggests no such blame.  None.  Faithful parents can have unfaithful children.  The prophet Ezekiel warns us against typical logic.   The old proverb was,  “The fathers eat sour grapes, but the children’s teeth are set on edge.”  In other words, the father’s choices are felt in the life of the child–for good or for bad.  Not always so in spiritual things.  ” ‘As I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.  Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son.  The soul who sins will die.’ ” (Ezekiel 18:2-4)

RE Verse reading–1 Samuel 8:1-10, 1 Samuel 12:1-5 (day five)  “As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me. . .so they are doing to you.” (8:8)  No hiding from it.  Who I am, the true condition of my heart, will eventually show up in every relationship.  If I am stubborn and independent with God,  I will be the same toward people.  If I love God, I will love others. (see 1 John 4:20)  The “real me” eventually comes out.  When Samuel was deeply disappointed with the people of Israel, God had to remind him.  They were only doing to Samuel–ignoring his counsel, following their own desires–what they had been doing to God for years.  Good reminder.  The true goal of the gospel is a changed heart.  “Search me, O God, and know my heart. . .lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23-24) Until our hearts change toward God, our relationships with others will also be unchanged.

RE Verse reading–Genesis 37:2-28; 29:1-12 (day seven)  “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered. . .(the Lord) gave him success in everything he did.”  (29:2-3)  There are two ways to live.  Only two.   One is oriented toward the world.  Our focus and hope is in people and things.  The other is oriented toward God.  Focus and hope is on Him.  Joseph was one.  His brothers were the other.  Joseph learned this life-attitude from his father.  Explains why Jacob loved him more than his other sons, why he didn’t reject off-hand Joseph’s dream of being the leader of his family.  See 37:5ff.  Jacob learned this lesson late in life.  Certainly he would have taught it to his sons, those who would listen.  39:2 (see above) describes the impact on Joseph’s life.  Life was unfair but God blessed him!  “The eyes of the Lord search over the earth. . .to prove himself strong in behalf of the man whose heart is perfectly His.”  2 Chronicles 16:9  Two ways to live.  One much better than the other!

RE Verse reading–Psalm 95 (day six) “Come, let us worship and bow down. . .your fathers tested me. . . ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”  (vs 6, 9, 11)  The first sentences of Psalm 95 (vs 1-7) call us to sing, to worship, to bow down.  Expressions all of reverence to God.  Declarations of His holy worth.  The second part of the Psalm (vs 7b-11) tell us what happens when we refuse reverence.  We forfeit rest.  The powerful illustration comes from Israeli history before the wilderness wanderings.  The people tested God.  Tested His patience.  Tested His mercy.  Demanded more and more proof of His care.  Far past the point when they had sufficient evidence for trust. Do you notice that these attitudes are the exact opposite of reverence?  Not to worship God, not to declare His trustworthiness even during difficult times is a crime against Him.  A crime also against ourselves.  No worship.  No rest.  “Come (reverently) unto Me. . .I will give you rest.” says the Lord.

RE Verse reading–Psalm 40 (day four) Have you stopped recently to consider who God is and what He has done?  40:5 says, “Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which you have done,” The Psalmist was acknowledging the mighty works of God.  Verse 5 says, “…If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.” When we recognize how complete and extensive God is, what should be our response?  Look at verse 9…we are to proclaim the works of His hands.  The Psalmist says his words cannot be restrained…he has to speak of His faithfulness and loving kindness.  Verse 16 also shows us a response…it is worship.  “The Lord be magnified!” Back to the original question, have you reflected on the majesty of God lately?  What was the result of your experience?  Hopefully, it is declaration and worship!  God sustains us in our need and we must be faithful to exalt His name…even when the world presses in upon us.

 

RE Verse reading–Psalm 40 (day three)  “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened—burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.”  People use their ears for more—much more—than listening.  Often, ears function as filters: You hear what you want to hear.  Ears also serve as early warning systems: You recognize the voice of someone you don’t wish to see, so you go somewhere else.  God calls us to hear him—to stop even our religious observances lest they become a substitute for paying attention to him.  Jesus often punctuated his teaching with a call for people to use their ears to take his words into their minds and think: “He who has ears, let him hear.”  If we listen, we can ponder; if we ponder, we can pray.  If we pray, we  God will hear.

 

RE Verse reading-Psalm 40 (day two) My thoughts were interrupted as I wrote this by the sudden and sad news from Boston, and this week’s passage became even more significant. “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help” (40:1). As senseless suffering and death again strike our people, can we find help? The song writer says, “Yes.” “He brought me up…making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth.” Easy for him to say, right? God helped him, but what about those people in Boston? Not so fast. The song writer’s story is not finished. “Troubles without number have surrounded me…my courage leaves me” (40:12). This is not a song about rescue from trouble but rather rescue through trouble. Help is needed precisely because troubles are still present. The hope is that help has come, a help that carries us through. Perhaps Jesus had this on his mind when he said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33).

RE Verse reading–Psalm 40 (day one)  “Then I said, ‘Behold, I come. . .I delight to do Thy will, O my God.’ ”  (vs 7-8)  Ancient Judaism had a problem.  It was a system of worship designed around animal sacrifice which everyone knew was insufficient to change a heart.  “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin.”  (Hebrews 10:4)  What was needed, then and now, was a perfect sacrifice, a volunteer, perfectly holy and yeilded.  David describes the exciting moment when this “Lamb” presents Himself.  It is a prophecy of Christ in His full surrender.  It describes HOW we are saved (by the death of a voluntary innocent).  It also describes WHAT we will be when we are saved.  Yielded.  Surrendered.  Obedient.  Had Christ refused God’s will, He could not love us.  When we refuse His will, we do not love Him.  These are Christ’s words and they should be ours.  “I have come to do thy will”. (Hebrews 10:7)