Tag: God

Pursue Faith

Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10 (day five)
The next 2 weeks our teenagers will be at youth camp.  The theme is Pursue (from 2 Timothy 2:22).  Timothy is challenged to pursue: righteousness, faith, love and peace.  These are such pivotal moments for teenagers to test, grow, and solidify their faith.  They are transitioning to “faith ownership” as they become young men and women (that’s what we want for them).  Will you pray these next 2 weeks for them and their “faith”?  Will you pray for The Holy Spirit to speak the truth and wisdom of the Gospel into their hearts and minds through Scripture, Youth Ministry Staff, and Camp Counselors?

That process should never stop, even for adults.  From our camp curriculum:  “It is normal for teenagers to doubt and question what they believe. Searching for who and what we believe helps answer tough questions. There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt comes from a struggling mind while unbelief comes from a stubborn will that refuses to surrender to God.”

Invisible

Re: Verse reading–Proverbs 3:5-6; Galatians 2:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10 (Day Three)
“In all your ways acknowledge him.”  Before there was a material realm, there was a spiritual realm.  Without the spiritual realm, no material realm would exist.  “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”  Therefore, the material realm is dependent upon the spiritual realm for its origin and continued existence.  Because this is true, every question that comes before you has a spiritual side to it.  If we decide matters by only taking into account the finite, visible side, we will produce things that will not last.  If, on the other hand, we take into account the infinite, invisible side, then we begin to acknowledge God in all our ways.  Perhaps a helpful prayer is this: Lord, what am I not seeing?

True confession

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51:1-19; 1 John 1:9 (day seven) 
“If we confess our sins. . .”  Confession in the Bible is a more specific word than we normally think.  Homologeo (the Greek word) means “to speak the same thing”  Homo=same.  Logos=word.  So, confession is more than secret sins finally admitted.  More, even, than sorrow or regret.  True confession is an agreement reached between a holy God and a sinner.  A shared perspective, a joint statement of purpose going forward.  It is an agreement on sin and the damage done.  Good question.  Have I waited for God on the subject of my sin?  Do I know what He feels, thinks about it?  Both are true–sin separates us from God and separation from God is our sin.  “Come, let us reason TOGETHER,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”–Isaiah 1:18.  Have you had this hard and helpful conversation with God?  It is what the Bible calls true confession.

The GREATNESS of Thy compassion

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51:1-19; 1 John 1:9 (day six) 
“According to the GREATNESS of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.”  (v 1)  When I feel guilty, my focus usually goes to the wrong place.  All I see is my failure.  All I feel is shame, a lonely separation from God. I fear the consequences to come.  Recovery requires a new place to look.  When David knelt to pray out his confession in Psalm 51, he focused on God’s character.  Slowly, powerfully his vision cleared to see the GREATNESS (size) of God’s compassion.  Ultimately, the only reason that sinners can be forgiven is that God wills it.  Only the GREAT mercy of God, His eternal purpose that sinners be rescued and restored can assure our troubled hearts. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for us sins.”–1 John 4:10.  This is our hope.  Our only hope.  God’s mercy is great!

Mercy

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9 (Day Five)  When pondering the nature and character of God we take note of His Majesty, Wisdom, and Justice.  In Psalm 51, David teaches us the sole basis of any approach to God by sinners is His Mercy.  vs 1- “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions..”

Where does our understanding of God’s merciful nature come from?  It comes from God Himself.  Exodus 33:19 “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”  Hebrews 4:16- “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

So maybe this week, as we read this passage, we can be reminded that what we need to know about God, is that He is merciful.

God’s mercy is also depicted as Unfailing Love and Great Compassion.

One further thought and reminder (thanks to James Boice), Unfailing Love points to the continuing operation of God’s Mercy, and Compassion teaches He does feel our infirmities.

A Contrite Heart

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51:1-19; 1 John 1:9 (day four)  What kind of sacrifices do you offer the Lord?  Church attendance…weekday bible study…special offering at Christmas…occasionally tell someone what church you go to…or even go on a mission trip?  All of these are good things, but God does not delight in them if you heart is not right with Him.  Verses 16-17 say, “For You do not delight in sacrifice otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”  A broken and contrite heart is a heart that recognizes the vast glory and righteousness of God and their own sinful and hopeless state.  When Moses recognized he was in the presence of God at the burning bush, he hid his face.  Isaiah, when he saw the Lord, said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, “  God delights in humility rather than sacrifice!

We need to talk.

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9 (Day One)
  “Have mercy on me, O God. . .For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against you, and you only have I sinned.”  (Psalm 51:1, 3-4)  We need to talk!  Ever had a friend say this to you?  Something hurtful has entered the relationship.  Anger.  Disagreement. Left unaddressed this tension will weaken the friendship and possibly destroy it.  Only an honest, vulnerable conversation can deal with the disappointment and restore trust.  Same with God.  It is called confession.  Not to priest, but to God Himself, by means of prayer.  The subject?  Sin.  Hard?  Yes.  Embarrassing?  Yes.  Necessary?  Yes.  Psalm 51 may be the best know prayer of confession in the world.  After his affair with Bathsheba, after he murders his friend to cover-up, David comes clean in a conversation with God.  We all have much to learn from his example.  Listen carefully, friend, you may hear the Lord say, “We need to talk.”

Wise for salvation, equipped for service

RE Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (day seven) 
“From infancy you have know the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. . .that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  (2 Timothy 3:15, 17)  We are caught in a philosophical conflict.  The world against the Spirit.  Hugely important!  Is there a God?  Is He NECESSARY for life?  Most of us tend toward philosophical humanism.  The bias of the present age.  Consequently, we believe that we are capable of making good decisions and free to do so (even when we fail) without fear of being criticized because we were “true to ourselves.”  The scripture denies such SELFishness.  It declares that a “word” from God is necessary.  His word and wisdom, external to us and higher than us, is something we desperately need.  Ego-shattering!  Life-giving!  Only through Holy Scripture can we have wisdom for salvation and equipment for God-planned good works.

Godly examples of Bible study

RE Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (day six) 
“Continue in what you have learned. . . because you know those from whom you learned it.” (2 Timothy 3:14)  One reason I believe the Bible is that God has given me godly examples of people who study and obey it.  Jesus is first on the list.  Reading the New Testament, it is hard not to notice how often Jesus reflects His own confidence in Scripture.  Quoting it in temptation, referring to it in conflict, the Lord’s testimony is clear.  Scripture is the reliable voice of the Father.  Add to the Lord’s example (as if it were necessary) that of my grandmother and the people who led me to Christ and the godly professors I encountered in college and seminary.  With one voice they all declared the same truth, “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable.” (2 Timothy 3:16) The people you respect–what do their lives teach you about the place that God’s word should have in your life?

The Best Gift

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 119:9-16; Acts 17:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (day five) This Sunday we will celebrate the accomplishment of 30 High School Seniors.  We will encourage, we will cry, we will cheer, we will remember our own youth, and be reminded of our own mortality.  Perhaps the BEST thing we will do for these young men and women is give them a Bible from ALL of us at FBCSA.  It really signals the best things about this church:  our love for the Scripture and our hope (God will continue to grow His Kingdom now in a downtown church, and in future generations).  This gift really is from all of us since we have held each Bible and highlighted hundreds of verses that have given us hope, life, strength, peace, and joy from our collective experiences and wisdom.  And Sunday, we will pray that by these scriptures they will find the Lord and then the Life He has promised.  Psalm 71:18 “O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”