Out of the heart - Proverbs 7

Proverbs 7 is a very important chapter in Proverbs and in the Bible. The chapter gives us insight into the problem with man and the solution from God. The solution is stated first and last like parenthetical brackets around what is a compelling story of innocence lost and evil attempting to triumphant. Solomon makes an argument for watching over your heart in Proverbs 4:3 and states the reason for our diligence of heart monitoring is because the "springs" of life flow from it. Apparently the heart is a big deal to Solomon. Up to chapter seven he has used the word almost 15 times in the preceding chapters. In chapter seven he uses it three more times translated heart a couple more times as a derivative of the same word. Solomon may have actually observed a young man like the one mentioned in chapter seven when he was looking through the window of his house. He sees the young man and can notice from a considerable distance that this young man is weak in his heart (7:7 ... the words "senses" is the same word as "heart" in 7:3 ... it means the inner man). It is because of this lack of "heart" (strength in the inner man) that the young man is lead astray by the "outward" enticements of the women of the night. Solomon tells us to strengthen our heart (7:3) like Paul tells us to strengthen our inner man (Eph. 3:16; 2 Cor. 4:16). The temptations of life are from the outside to gain victory over the inside. The solution is to strengthen the inside with the meditation and concentration and focus on His Word. Note that Solomon tells them to attach God's word to the fingers; make it the center of their eye; call it a dear sister; make it your intimate friend; write them on the heart. God's word builds up the inner man while the tempter leads astray by the fine linen and sweet smell of the senses. Don't let the senses rule, make the inner man ... the heart ... strong.

Establishing Leadership - Psalm 75-77

Perhaps the hardest thing for believers to grasp in regard to God, let alone non-believers, is the teaching from God's Word that God is sovereign and in complete control of all things. It may be the most difficult doctrine to embrace because you can't have God "almost" sovereign. The word itself means that there is total control and complete autonomy. But in Psalm 75:6-8 we read that it is God who establishes leader. It is not the vote of the people that makes the leader but God who puts one up and takes another down (although God uses people's vote to accomplish his choice for leadership). In Psalm 76:10 we see the sovereignty of God talked about when Asaph the writer states that even the "wrath" of man praise God ... God so controls the world that the anger of man to man or the anger of man to God is somehow a way for God to be praised. God is in complete control. We need to embrace it and praise it. We may not understand it or be able to comprehend it but we must believe it by faith. Give God the glory for who He is. Don't reduce Him in size so that you can feel better about understanding Him. I have never understood why a man thinks he should be able to understand God completely and put Him in a box He has systematically designed. Who wants a God they can understand? If I can understand God that would make me ... god ... and that is the problem. Man so much wants to be a god he continues to reduce God to something or someone he can understand. If I reduce God I can actually be like Him .... that is the thought of modern man. Don't reduce God - Excalt Him.

Positive Deviant - 1 Kings 17-22

When King Ahab sought counsel from the prophets about the possible success of an upcoming battle he asked his normal "yes-men" prophets. They all told him he would be successful. Like mindless drones they told the king what he wanted to hear. That was the norm for the day and for the king. I can imagine how it must have been in the "prophet break room" when it they were told that the visiting King of Judah wanted to consult another prophet; one not with their unionized group. The consulted Micaiah son of Imlah. What ever Imlah did to teach Micaiah it must have been good. Micaiah was not willing to follow the social norms of the prophet-for-hire-mindless-group. Micaiah was willing to deviate from the norms. He was, in the minds of the King and the prophet group, a deviant. But, in God's eyes, Micaiah was a positive-deviant in that he was willing to go contrary to the norms of the day - different from the status quo and become a positive deviant for God. God is in the business of identifying and equipping and using positive deviants in today's society. God wants His children to be positive deviants for Him but loving when others hate, by forgiving when others say they won't ever forget and by serving when others want to be served. Be willing to be a positive deviant for God.

Ministers - Part of Offering; Part of Gift - Leviticus 7-9

You can't help but read this section and get somewhat lost in all the ritual forms of worship taking place by Aaron and his sons as the Priest of God. I would not claim to know all the ins and outs of the worship but I did note that when it was done right God blessed their worship with His presence (9:23-24). I also noted that Aaron and his sons took part in several aspects of this worship. Their hands were laid on the sacrifice to indicate their relationship with the offering, but more importantly with the sin the offering represented. Ministers are people who sin like their flock. Taking part in the offering is necessary for priest as much as parishioner. Aaron and his sons also had the privilege of eating parts of the offering. That was their "payment" for service. The Priest were able to "live off" the sacrifices of the people. If the people became disobedient to God the priest would suffer as they couldn't live off the worship. It is important to realize that that portion of the system is still part of the NT church and our worship today. Pastors (Ministers) should identify with the sin of the people but should also take part in the offering and be able to enjoy that aspect of the obedience of the people. Most churches today don't mind the pastor identifying with the sin but struggle a little with the minister "living" from the offering. God has promised to care for ministers but He does through by the obedience of the people.

You have a piece of lettuce on your face - Ephesians 4-6

I was sitting down to eat with a believer friend of mine and at some point in our eating and conversing a piece of his salad landed in the lower quadrant of his face. He can't see it - I can! What do I do? I don't' want to embarrass him but then again I don't want him to be embarrassed if someone else sees it. It is important that we realize as believers we have some interest in the way other believers look and act. In this section of reading there is so much to pick from to write about it is hard to narrow it down. However, I am struck by the words of in 4:25 that tells believers they should speak the truth with their "believer" neighbors (the context is obviously talking about Christian neighbors not geographical neighbors). We are to tell others the truth about what we see. If they have sin hanging off their sleeves we have a Biblical responsibility to tell them ... while at the same time making sure our own sleeves are clean of spiritual dirt. God tells us through Paul in Galatians 6 that we are to bear the weaknesses of our friends and to help them overcome sin. So, speaking the truth becomes the manner of which I am to correct my friends in Christ. Paul had just told them in 4:15 to speak truth in love. Now he tells them to speak truth because they are members with each other. If I realize that the stuff hanging off my friend reflects on me I would be quick to show him, in love, his need to wipe his mouth. Since a piece of lettuce hanging off his chin doesn't affect me I am tempted to let it ride. But, sin I can let ride since we are "members" one of another. Let's make sure we are ready to correct, in a spirit of Love, those who are brothers with us. Don't let sin hang on their chins because we are embarrassed to tell them to correct it. We just need to show them love and maybe hand the a spiritual napkin that they can use to clean themselves up.

No limit when you can show mercy - Luke 13-14

The religious leaders of the Jesus' day had orchestrated worship and acts of service to a refined pattern and set of designed rituals. Jesus' acts of kindness and healing and teaching didn't fit their prescribed ways or manners. That is true today in most religious circles, as well. Man has "outlined" what is acceptable worship and services and 'preferred" acts of kindness. In these two chapters we read about Jesus taking the opportunity (more than once) to heal on the Sabbath. The religious leaders objected The crowd wondered. God ruled. Jesus simply asks them if they had an ox that fell into a well on the Sabath (what kind of ox would fall into a well?) or even a son who fell into a well (I know the type of son), what would they do? They would certainly rescue said ox or said son. Yet, for some reason the Pharisees didn't like that Jesus healed someone. He called them hypocrites because they themselves would at the minimum release their ox to go get drink or food on the Sabath. Jesus point is that there are no limits to when we can show mercy and do acts of kindness. God words are not limited to Sunday's between 11:00 - 12:00 in the morning. God words - good works - are not forbidden on Monday morning. We must realize that to follow Christ is to do good when we see the need for doing good. Don't let religion get in the way of your following Christ. Christ wants us to show mercy 24 x 7.

New heart in a troubled times - Ezekiel 7-12

Ezekiel doesn't always have a positive message to bring. He is often asked to give warning and correction. That can't be easy as a prophet. Doom and gloom doesn't build a congregation ... or so we think. God, however, is not into building by flowery words and flattering speech. God is into truth and sometimes truth hurts. So, in Ezekiel you get a lot of truth and the truth hurts sometimes. That backdrop is what makes chapter 11 so refreshing. Imagine after talking about the departing of the Spirit and glory of God in chapter ten and beginning chapter eleven with the concept of judgement on evil leaders what it must have felt like for the prophet to prophesy the words of 11:19-22 ... that God is going to put a "new" heart into the remnant. Can you imagine who Ezekiel must have felt to be able to say that God was eventually going to take the heart of flesh out and put the heart of God into their lives in place of the heart of stone. Of course the great words don't last long. Quicker that Ezekiel could change writing positions God uses his prophecy to tell us that God will punish all those who have a heart of stone and refuse to consider the heart transplant God offers. But, like a Lily pad in a swamp 11:19-20 sit for us to see, enjoy and embrace. God is chaining hearts. We only need to let Him give us a new heart in the midst of a bad time.

Fail to ponder, fail to know - Proverbs 5-6

The first nine chapters of Proverbs (and, actually all of Proverbs) is about the contrast between Wisdom and Folly. Both, at times in these chapters, are personified as a women. In chapter 8 we will read of wisdom as a women on the street soliciting passer-bys to turn to her. In chapter 7 we will read of folly as a prostitute doing the same thing on the corner of the street. In our chapters today we see a similar graphic description of folly. In 5:3 and 4 we see the contrast between a person of wisdom, whose "lips" hold onto knowledge and the "lips" of the foolish women (again, an adulterous) who rather than "ponder" her path finds an "unstable" road and doesn't even know it. Those who fail to ponder will fail to even know they are in unstable areas. Wisdom (that which flows from God and is found in Christ ... 1 Corinthians 1:30) is available to those who wish to hold it or or "reserve" it (5:3). But, to those who reject it (reject God and Christ ... Psalm 14:1) also reject safety and security. God will lead those who seek wisdom with discretion and clarity (5:1-2). But, reject it and instability and chaos takes over. Those who seek wisdom are warned to avoid this women of the street (folly) and turn to and trust God to supply their needs. Folly will pretend to supply what we want but only God via wisdom found in Christ can really provide stability and peace. Seek wisdom and avoid folly.

Outline for Leadership - Psalm 72-74

If you have ever wanted to know what a good leader looks like you can turn to a lot of places. There are hundreds and hundreds of books out on the subject and it doesn't take much to have a thought on leadership and write a book (I know, I've done exactly that). But, when a great leader writes something and gives you the clues to his great leadership you should take a moment and read his material. I think I am a much better leader because I read what great leaders say about their leadership. Psalm 72 is one of those examples. This Psalm may be short and it may not rise to the top ten reading list of the New York Times (highly overrated list by the way ... and, I'm not just saying that because my book didn't make their list). This Psalm, however, may be one of the best outlines for what a great leader should be. Note in the first verse that David asks that His leadership have two vital components: First, he wants to make sure that as a leader he is leading and judging like God would. That is the key to any leaders true success. To be a God-like, mirror-image is to be a good leader. But, the second aspect of a good leader is in the transition to whoever follows you. In the second part of the fist verse of this Psalm David asks God to make sure that His Godly leadership impacts those who will follow and lead after him. Too many leaders today only worry about their own legacy and their own success. Hezekiah made that mistake when warned by God bad things would happen after his death. He was simply happy that he would have peace in "his day" (2 Kings 20:19). This Psalm outlines what a good leader should do and how he/she should behave. Read it again sometime and simply think about how verse one is explained and elaborated upon in the rest of the chapter. But, realize that David is not simply concerned about his own leadership. David knew that a good leader is as much worried about those who follow after he is gone as he is about those who follow while he is in charge.

Leadership Transition - 1 Kings 14-16

Not everyone can handle leadership. Everyone wants to be the leader but not everyone can lead in the right way. In 1 Kings we have lesson after lesson about good and bad leadership. I have made a habit in my Bible to place in the margins with red ink the type of king that is being talked about in these sections of God's Word. I write in the sides of the stories either "good" or "evil." As I read each leader I realize that even the "good" kings weren't ultimately "good." They still sin and are still short of the glory of God (Romans 3). But, I also realize that when it comes to leadership some people lead others in the right direction and other leaders tend to lead in a wrong direction. Forsaking God becomes the definition of the bad leader or the 'evil" leader. The kings listed in these chapters who are good Kings do well in transition of power and leadership as they follow the commandments and will of God. Those who forsake those commandments and want their own desires meet will be evil leaders. The transition for one leader to the next is not based upon anything other than each persons willingness to follow God or not follow God. Good leaders follow God. Poor leaders follow their own wills. If you must follow a leader make sure you know who they are following. If they are following hard after God things will go well for you. If they are following hard after their own desires than things will go bad for you. That is simple leadership-followership thought but that is the basis of a good transition and a bad transition. If you are following a follower of self you will be in the wrong place eventually. Don't follow self leaders. Follow leaders of who follow God.

An Offering for Sin - Leviticus 4-6

Perhaps one of the most unusual aspects of Christianity that the world has trouble relating to is the need for an offering for sin. Most non-believers or those who live a life without thinking of Christ substitutionary atonement (who really does live like they think about that all day) would readily agree that Jesus died for sins. But, most would be quick to admit they seldom think of substituionary atonement during their life, let alone during the week or day. In this passage of Leviticus we read several times about "if we sin" than we shoudl "offer" this sacrifice. The writer of Leviticus is not out to prove the need for an offering for sin but rather "when you sin" than "offer" this. The writer assumes the reader understands the need for payment for sin. Perhaps that is the flaw in today's society: They have neither a reference or desposition on the concept of "an offering for sin." If you don't think you need an offering for sin you won't, on your own, think about someone paying the offering for you. If we want to fully grasp what Christ did for us we have to come to the daily realization that our sins (that pile up moment by moment) have to be dealt with. There must be some payment for the sins that we do. Since Christ died once for all to pay for my sins I no longer stand in condemnation for them and can be free (Romans 6-8). I no longer need the offerings listed in Leviticus. But, the world doesn't think that way. They don't openly confess they are sinning, much less know or admit that sin must be paid for. To the world today, sin is like speeding on the expressway. Everyone is doing it and the only person who pays is the poor slob who got caught. The rest of us simply take the next exit and are home free - because we didn't get caught. The Levitical system works on two assumptions: One that we aren't looking to get caught but to openly admit we sinned and, two, that sin needs atonement, payment. Rejoice today that God has brought you to a point that you recognize your sin and the need for payment. Rejoice because Chrsit paid for that sin there is no more to pay. We are free. No more offerings. Rejoice.

God is the initiator of Salvation - Ephesians 1-3

Imagine what would happen in today's business world if Bill Gates tried to take credit for the iPhone or iPad or iWhatever. Although the rest of the world knows that Bill Gates is wealthy and the producer of some of his own great "inventions" I think Steve Jobs and the creators at Apple would be indignant and get rather legalistic if Gates tried to claim even a small portion of ownership in the creation and production of these nationally adopted products. Most of the world would agree with them. Bill Gates, smart and creative as he may be, didn't have anything to do with these technology tools. Imagine, what God must think, however, when we see man after man try to claim some aspect of his own personal salvation? When you read these three chapters of Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus you can't help but see that God is not only the provider of our salvation, but chapter one expressly tells us He and He alone, was the initiator of it. When I have long talks with my believer friends who want to take some responsibility in regard to "being saved" by their own will, own choice or own initiative (no matter how small), I simply ask them if they have ever studied Ephesians 1-3, or would like to study it. You can't read it or study it and not walk away without an express understanding that God created, initiated and provided salvation to us because (according to chapter 3) we would never even think of it or be able to make it happen on our own. Bill Gates couldn't get away with claiming he made the iPhone - we can't and won't get away with claiming we had something to do with our own salvation. It is truly and completely by God's grace (Eph. 2:8-10).

Be on the alert - Luke 11-12

There is so much in these two chapters it is hard to narrow our thoughts to a daily lesson take away point. However, the theme of Jesus' words certainly says, "be ready" or "get your priorities straight." When you think about our present world and social structure we seem to be quite concerned with the mundane and the non-important. Christ's words in these chapters call us to diligence and attentiveness to what really matters in life. You can't read too many of our social network comments to realize we are focused on the useless and concentrating on the futile. Our Lord's words in Luke 11-12 are to get us to look deeper into life and build a life that is "wealthy in God" not rich on self (12:33-34). We spend so much time "alert" and predicting the no vital things of life and worried about them. Just this morning before reading this section I looked at three weather sites to see what the day would be like so i could plan my day. But, Christ tells me to not be so concerned about the weather as about His coming and His business (12:554-56). We need to be on the alert but on the alert for what matters to our Savior and to our God. We are so alert about the trivial and the trite that we miss out on the weighty and the grave. Let's not focus on these treasurers here, but those that matter to God above.

Now You'll Know - Ezekiel 1-6

Before each book of the Bible in the version I carry there is a synopsis of the book. It contains information about the date the book was written, something about the author and, more importantly, the theme of the book. It also gives us brief outline of the contents of the book. Before I start reading the book I read the introduction. Even though I have read through Ezekiel countless times it is good to be reminded of theme. The stated theme in the version I read states that Ezekiel is prophesying to the Israelites who were taken captive by the Babylonians. In their captivity God wants to remind them that "HE is God and there is no other." The book stresses the sovereignty of God - but not the lack of God's mobility. Ezekiel is going to tell us that God is in complete control but that control is not limited to a city (Israel) or a building (the Temple). Both the city of Jerusalem and its temple were burned and destroyed by the Babylonians. But, God wants the nation(s) to know that He is still God and not limited to working in a man-made-temple. God wants them to "know" that He is God. They had forsaken Him as their God so God is going to remind them of Who He is. To do that He calls Ezekiel, the priest turned prophet. Ezekiel will be asked to do some unusual things to convey God's message to His people. He must take a brick and pretend it is Israel and lay a siege against it. He must lay on his one side for over a year to show how long the siege will last - and then lay on his other side to demonstrate more of God's message. Ezekiel will have plenty of work to do as prophet. All for the purpose of conveying God's message to a rebellious house. Sometimes God must go to great lengths and use strange methods to convey His message. He uses people do covey the message to His people. Ezekiel was one of those prophets who God uses to convey a message that "He is still God." God doesn't need a place to work with His people. But, He chooses to use people to convey that message. He has chosen today's believers to convey the message of His love and salvation to a lost world. God wants everyone to know He is in control. He uses His people to convey that message. When you and I fear His control, or doubt His control, or when we lock Him up in a building, we fail to deliver the message we have been sent to deliver. God is in control and He is very mobile.

The walk should be getting brighter - Proverbs 4

When we think of the righteous and their battle with sin we get much from the Apostle Paul in his writings. However in Proverbs 4 Solomon gives us some added insight. Paul tells about the struggle we still have over sin despite being set free from the penalty of the sin. In Romans 6 and 7 he tells us that the power of sin has been wounded but even its weakness combined with its sheer presence it can still render us it's victim. Paul let's us know his own on-again-off-again walk in Romans 7. But, shouldn't we have more victory and less defeat if Christ is truly living in us, for us and with us? Solomon adds some great truth in Proverbs 4:18. He tells us that the walk of the righteous should be one that gets "brighter and brighter" as the walk draws closer to the "dawn.". Solomon tells us that victory is inevitable (the "dawn") but also growing in brightness (victory) each step. The believer goes forward into ultimate brightness. He doesn't shrink back into the dark. The unrighteous (verse 19) are entirely in darkness and don't know what they stumble over. Believers should be experiencing and realizing a brighter walk as they draw closer to their ultimate glorification. But, until then, we have perfect brightness in an ever growing bits and pieces. Rejoice in the brightness of the walk. It will be even brighter tomorrow; then even more brighter next week, next month , next year until we are home.

No Expiration Date - Psalm 69-71

It doesn't take a theologian to see that David is in great despair in these three Psalms. He is being hounded and ridiculed and injured by his enemies (whoever they are) and he feels distant from God and alone. Yet, he places his hope in God and as a result He is able at the end of Psalm 71 to ask God for great things for himself. Even though he is old and wounded He allows God to work in His heart and he returns to the God of his youth for strength. In 71:21 he even has the courage to ask God to increase his greatness. In the verse prior he acknowledges that God has shown him many difficulties but it is also God who will show him comfort and enlarge his tent (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). God doesn't have a expiration date on our lives. We don't get too old for His work. He is willing, ready and able to give us comfort AND strength as we grow old FOR HIM and IN HIM. We need to rejoice n the God of our youth and realize we can replace "wishful" thinking with "Prayerful" belief. God will use those who trust Him and not worry about their troubles and struggles. We need to rejoice in the God of our youth because he is also the God of our old age. God majors in using those who have grown weak and tired. When we ourselves see that we can't do it, God can. He doesn't have an expiration date for His servants. He only wants us to expire our own strength and trust in His.

With Wisdom in Honor - 1 Kings 10-13

In Proverbs 3:35 we read that the "wise will inherit honor, but fools dishonor." Solomon of course wrote this and, after reading this passage today (10-13) we can see why he did. In 1 Kings 10-13 we see Proverbs 3:35 born out in the life of Solomon. Because he sought wisdom from God, God showered Him with honor and praise from not only God Himself but from the unsaved and dieting world. Even those who do not believe in God took solace in wisdom - the wisdom that Solomon displayed and was given by God. Solomon reaped the benefits but it was God who supplied them. Yes, despite his much wisdom he not only fulfilled the first half of Proverbs 3:35, Solomon also fulfilled the second half. He was also the fool. In his strength he could not always choose wisdom. He chose to follow the gods of his many wives and lovers. Solomon had the benefits of a wise man but also inherited the benefits of the fool. Wisdom has much fruit but the fruit of wisdom will not always keep us away from choosing folly. Each day ... each moment ... we must submit to Christ and acquire wisdom and prudence to avoid the temptations that lay in the path of the wise that will lead him to the land of the fool.

Better than hands on the Lamb - Leviticus 1-3

Leviticus ... simply the name of the book gives most Christians the chills. Twenty-seven chapters of ceremonial law that is no longer in application today. We might has, why read it, at all? Why worry about a sacrificial system that has been replaced by the unltimate sacrifice of the Son? We already know that Jesus fulfilled all the "types" and "analogical" pictures of the book, so why go over the "shadow" when you can look at the real "light?" All these things are good questions to ask but you really don't have to read far into the book to discover some real practical truths for us today. Despite the fact that 2 Timothy 3:16 says that "all" Scripture is inspired and therefore "profitable" for reproof and correction and instruction, there are many truths to be found in Leviticus that we should apply today and make our walk with Christ vibrant today. In Leviticus 1:4 we have instruction that when the Israelite brought a sacrifice to offer before the mercy seat he was to "lay his hands on the head" of the sacrifice. This was to indicate the relationship of the worshiper with the sacrifice. That is the key to understanding the relationship we have with Christ and with the Old Testement system. Laying your hands on sacrifice was the limit and best approach we had to identification with the lamb. But, when Christ came along we were given a more substainial place for the identification process: WE were IN Christ. Chrst took us with Him through the death, burial and resurrection. Let us rejocie in the victory Christ had because we were with Him in that victory. To be "IN" the Lamb is better than having our "hands on the head of the lamb!'

Don't grow weary in doing good - Glatians 4-6

I am glad I am not a farmer. I simply don't have the patience. You plow the ground and then you plant the seed and then you wait for the rain and then you wait for ... That is the part I would not be good at. The "waiting" part. Simply waiting for the work to bear fruit, knowing it will, is very hard for me. I am just not that patient. You know the nutrients in the ground and the seed are doing their dance beneath the covering of the earth, but you still wonder if they will ever produce anything. Beneath the view of everyone the water, the seed, and the "stuff" in the ground begin to do their work. You can't see it but must believe it is all working together to produce the "fruit of YOUR labor" which is really the fruit of THEIR labor. But, although I am not a farmer, I do know what this is like. When you are "do ministry" you have to have the same mindset. You plant seed (His Word) and you wait for the rain (His Spirit). They do their "dance" and you wait for the fruit to produce what God intends. In Galatians 6:9 we read that we will reap spiritual fruit in our well doing if we don't grow weary. It is so hard to wait for God to do something. But, He is working beneath the surface and will produce fruit. The producing of the plant for the farmer is not his job. He is to tear up the ground, plant the seed and pull the weeds. God's process produces the fruit. In the same manner we are to tear up the soul of the ground, plant the Seed of His Word and pull weeds in the life. God produces the fruit. Let's not grow weary when we don't see fruit. Let's let God do His part and be happy doing our part. Don't grow weary in well doing.

One thing is necessary - Luke 9-10

There are so many great teachings in this section it is hard to pick one to journal and journey about. The 12 going out and preforming miracles and having authority over demons would be a great journal. Jesus on the mountain with Moses and Elijah teaches us some great things about God and His plan. The feeding of the five thousand, lessons on "who is the greatest in the kingdom," and denying self and following Jesus all have great journey significance. But, the one thing that jumped off the page for me in this section was the last piece written in Luke 10 about Mary and Maratha. We have Marys and Marathas in every church and in many homes across the country. Martha busy doing all the stuff that makes the eye pleased with the party and Mary focused on the greater purpose. Martha had Jesus, the Christ of God, according to Peter (9:20), right in her midst. Yet, she was so busy trying to impress everyone with her talents for baking, fixing and serving that she missed the entire point. Mary, on the other hand, decided to focus on Christ while He was in her presence. Christ had been telling them that He was going to leave, die, raise again and be separated from them. Perhaps Mary actual listened and understood. Perhaps she knew via the Spirit of God that the Christ was only there for a moment in physical form. Whatever the reason she decided to focus on Him. I love Christ's own words here. When seeing Maratha hustle and bustle about Jesus says, "... but only one thing is important." One thing! That one thing is not our daily appointments, not our accumulation of things and wealth, not our degree or, even our family. That one thing is a relationship with Jesus Christ. So many people put good things ahead of this one thing. We hear so many people say that family is the most important, or our health is the most important, or security is the most important. Christ, Himself, tells us that one thing is important: Putting Jesus first and foremost in your life. When Jesus is first and foremost in your life, nothing else will seem pressing, urgent or weighty. It is simply having Jesus at the center.

Abundant Love - Lamentations

This book of Lamentatioins is the only book in the entire Bible that is about lamenting, crying and morning. It is about the fall of Jerusalme (Zion) and the temple. It is about the mothers who ate their babies and now morn about it ... but at the time still did it. It is about the fact that there is no prophet left to give a true word of the Lord ... but at the time they rejected that prophet. It is about the time their enemies conquered them rather than when they were conquered by Israel. This is a bad time in the nations history and their is nothing but lamentations. But, like all books in the Bible it still has the message of hope ... and maybe it is a book that shows we can have hope in the midst of our own discipline. In chapter three (sandwiched in between the bread of sorrow) we have the meat of the issue. Jeremiah, the assumed author, gives us some of the greatest words ever penned on God's love, faithfulness and kindness. Our great Christian classic, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" is written off these words in the great Lamentations. The author tells us that "when he recalled to mind" the faithfulness and kindness of the Lord "he had hope" (3:21). And, that is the key to the book and to the Bible and to life. He "recalled to mind" God's faithfulness and that gave him hope. When you and I sin and we are being disciplined by the Lord; or, when we fall into pain and suffering just from the difficulty of life, Satan doesn't want us to "call to mind" the things of the Lord. He wants us to fear and fail. God is in the business of showing us His compassion and love for us. He wants us to "call it to mind." The next time you are in a difficult situation and finding yourself lamenting and looking for comfort, "call to mind" the compassions of the God ... they are new every morning. When you "will" is having a tough time engage your "mind" to remember your God.

Inheritance Matters - Proverbs 2 & 3

When you get my age you suddenly get inundated with all types of advertisements, phone calls, emails and text messages in regard to your retirement. Since I think I have at least another 20 years to work I don't pay much attention to these things. However, the material often talks about how you can set yourself up for life and "leave an inheritance to your kids." I assume that is a good thing and who doesn't want to leave something to their kids? When I read Proverbs chapter two and three I can't help but think of these "retirement and inheritance" packages I read about every day. These two chapters are all about your inheritance. They are both summed up (and the subsequent chapters in Proverbs) in 3:35, "The wise inherit honor, but fools display dishonor." That one verse is the summary of these chapters and the next. It is about your current inhertitance, however, not just your future left overs. These two chapters in specific and Proverbs in general are all about how the choice between wisdom and folly. People who fear the Lord and live according to His Word will be honored (today and tomorrow). People who don't fear the Lord and don't live according to His Word will find dishonor today and tomorrow. It is that simple. You can't read the chapters without finding that truth. So, the question is what life will you lead and what life will you leave? Wisdom lives and leaves honor. That is my choice.

The earth is praising God - Psalm 66-68

This morning I looked at the weather forecast. After months of snow, rain, cold and two days of extreme heat, the next seven days are calling for sun and the seventies. Seven days of seventies and sun!!! When you live in Western Michigan that is an extreme pleasure. Winter and spring can be tough ... certainly inconsistent. When I read the forecast this morning to my wife we rejoiced - living on a boat and ridiing a Harley makes sevenities and the sun a popular commodity. It didn't dawn me, however, until I read Pslam 66:4 this morning (no pun intended) that what the earth was doing with this great forecast was "praising God." When you and I see beauty in creation what we are really seeing is creation screaming out praise for God. The most fantastic shots of scenery are really just creation screaming praise to our God. We we express things like, "It's such a nice day," we are really just worshippiing creations worship. When we visit great places like Yellowstone or the Grand Caynon we are really just visiting the earth's worship center where it cries out in worship to the God of the universe and we notice the beauty of that worship. The sun dawned this mornign and was beautiful. My appreciating it ought to include my worship and praise to God, not simply noticing the worship of the sun for God. Praise God with the elements today. Don't simply praise the elements.

Catch the vision of the fathers - 1 Kings 5-9

Solomon has set out to build both the temple and his own palace. His father David had put in his heart to build it and was told "NO" by God. So, the son now finishes what the father started. The son catches the vision of the father. That is our lesson for today. It is so easy to miss what is happening here, but when David dies and Solomon takes his place, he could have gone in any direction his heart lead him. However, he decides to finish what his father couldn't. It is important to note that Solomon, the author of most of the recorded Proverbs, repeatedly recorded words about "following the instructions of your father." In Solomon's words and his life we see this fulfilled. Solomon caught the vision of his father and went to work on it. That calls for two very important elements: First, the father had to have a proper vision and, second, the son had to be willing to see that proper vision, the importance of it and bring it to fruition. The continued carrying forth of the vision for God is a key element in what God is trying to accomplish on this earth. In our Christan faith we are to carry out the vision of our Father to spread the gospel to the world around us. That is His vision. We are to build the church on the foundation of the apostles, our spiritual fathers who had a vision to build the body of believers according to God's holy plans. Our generation is not simply to do as it pleases, building and crafting things in the shape of their own values and dreams. We have been given a dream to follow and to fulfill. Like Solomon, our life mission is not our own. We are to follow the dreams of our fathers.

Obedience then Concecration then Glory - Exodus 37-40

The pattern really hasn't changed. Just because we are in the NT age the pattern God put together in the OT is still the same. I am not referring to the pattern of the tabernacle, although there may be some lessons with that as well. What I am referring to is the pattern of how the work on the tabernacle was completed and the resulting filling of the glory of God. God does not approve and fill you with His glory until you concecrate yourself to Him; and then only after we have completed the work He has given us to do, according to how He prescribed the work to be done. The workers on the tabernacle, curtains, utensils and clothes completed them based upon the pattern and instructions God gave them. Moses then offered them in consecration (set apart for holy use) to God. It is only then that God's glory filled the tent of meeting. The pattern is the same today; be obedient, consecrate yourself to the Lord and God's glory will fill the place.

Not before men - Galatians 1-3

Paul is about to unload some of his best doctrine to the churches in Galatia. This book of Galatians is to silence those who thought we need to get saved by faith and then perfect that salvation by keeping parts of the law (3:1-5). We have some of those people today. They agree we begin in faith - but want to continue in faith by keeping parts of some law; give by men. But, before Paul gets into his doctrine he must silence those who believe they have more authority (or, at least stronger authority) than Paul. After stating the premise of his letter in 1:1-10 Paul begins to defend his ministry. The overwhelming argument he uses is that his ministry is not from men or before men or unto men, but it is used to glorify God by men. When it comes to ministry it is so, so easy to get into the man-watching business. We want to watch for man's reaction and see if they approve our ministry. In fact, that is how we get called to a church, is it not? We offer our services to the church and a group of men (literally, at times) make the call that "they" believe God has called "x" man to pastor "y" flock. It is all by men. What Paul tells the Galatians, before he corrects their doctrine, is that God had called him, sent him, gave him his message and enabled him. Paul has what most of today's ministers don't: He is more concerned about his message and the one who sent him than the one who pays his bills and gives him applause. Paul lives in the fear of the Lord and not the fear of man. Paul plays for Christ not the Crowd. Paul wants sound doctrine not tickled ears. My the pastors of today be so like minded.

Jesus and His authority - Luke 7-8

Jesus had authority. People of faith must believe that.

Bad things happen for protection - Jeremiah 47-52

Sometimes God allows bad things to happen so that we are protected, or His interests are protected. In this final section of Jeremiah we see that the prophet is proclaiming the doom on the surrounding nations, especially Babylon. In each indictment Jeremiah explains that God is doing this to that nation because of their pride and failure to believe on God. However, God has used these nations, especially Babylon, to punish the Jews for their own disobedience and pride. At the end of the book, however, there is a very interesting commentary on the last days of the nations autonomy. When Babylon comes to take the final captives captive, the Babylonians ransack the temple. The take all the precious items that Solomon had overlaid with gold in his day that were used for the purpose of worshipping God. We might think this is just a common act of theft and expected when a nation is pilfered. If the items would have been left there, however, who knows what would have happened to them. Instead they are taking back to Babylon and put into the royal safe. It would be almost 75 years later, when Ezra returns to rebuild the temple that the items would be taken from that very safe and put back in the temple (Ezra 1:5-11) They would be kept by the unbelieving world, as though the items were their security, only to be used by Israel after their confinement. God used the unbelieving world to keep His treasures safe. The Babylonians meant it for evil but God meant it for good. God used Babylonia as a safety deposit box. Sometimes God allows bad things to happen only to later reveal His hidden meaning and purpose. Let's rejoice in what God can do via bad circumstances ... but let's also look for the things He is doing in them to fine His true will and purpose.

Listen to Me - Proverbs 1

It is really a simple formula, actually. Living a victorious Christian life boils down to Proverbs 1:33, "But he who listens to me shall live securely, and will be at see from the dread of evil." That is the key to life: Just Listen to God. Of course, that is the rub ... listening is so hard to do. We have so many more voices shouting out to us. We tend to "listen" to them more than we want to "listen" to God's voice. This book of Proverbs is about "listening" to voices. In 1:20 we read that wisdom "shouts" out in the streets. This whole book of Proverbs is about Wisdom shouting out and our listening to it. However, it is a book that also warns about how foolishness shouts out and beckons us to respond; to listen to it. In the verse nine chapters in particular we will see the contrast between wisdom's shout out and foolishness shouting out. If we listen to wisdom we have success and are free from the fear of evil. But, if we heed the voice of foolishness we have calamity and disaster. Who will you listen to?

Lovingkindness - Psalm 63-65

I don't know how many times I have read through the book of Psalms or how long I have journaled that reading of them. It has been a decade long process for me. For several years my only "devotions" was reading through the Psalms ... especially during some dark, dark years of depression. The Psalms have been a real source of refreshment for my soul. In those years of reading and writing about the reading I can't say how many times I have written about the Psalm's concept of "Lovingkindness." But, I do so today having been rescued by God's loving kindnesses so many times that I can really understand, appreciate, echo and proclaim with King David what he again says in Psalm 63:3, "Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise you." The fact that God loves me despite my multiple and gross sin is simply amazing to me. How can I not praise Him. I praise Him for loving me in my ugliness. How does God look down and see the wickedness of my heart and actions and not want to simply destroy me? How is it that He sees my every dark room act and not want to level me? How is it that He knows my every evil thought, lust, desire and motive and not want to take me out? He love me!!! I will praise Him for His Lovingkindness.