Faith is like a seed ... it must be nurtured - 1 Thessalonians 1-3

Paul is very complimentary about the "faith" of these believers in the church of Thessalonica. Apparently, when he first meet them they were eager to express their faith in Jesus and that faith had proven, over time to take root. Despite Paul's absence, their faith continued to grow, although he was quite worried about that and sent Timothy to check on them and the life of their faith. Paul repeatedly wants them to know how much he appreciates their faith and how he has heard good things about it. In chapters one and two he makes several mentions about their faith in good phrases and excellent reports. However, he is a teacher. He can't help but teach them and instruct them. Even though he nurtures them like a mother, he also encourages and teaches them like a father (chapter two). He wants them to do something with their faith in chapter three. He tells them in 3:10 that he wants them to "complete" what is lacking in their faith. Apparently this group of believers, that had a great reputation, was not to seat on their faith but was to work on growing their faith. Although it will be next week that we look at chapter four and five, in 4:1 and 4:10 he wants them to "excel more." Our faith is not to be stagnant. We are not to "get faith" and put it on the shelf like a cold piece of furniture. We are nurture our faith and grow it. We are to expand it and stretch it. That is why Paul refers to it in 1:3 as a "work of faith." We tend to think of faith as something we own, or something we get like a gift and can wear in pride and honor. And, although it is a gift it is a gift that is to be worked on. We work on our faith by reading more of God's word and trusting less of ourselves and more of His Word. Faith comes from hearing God's Word. We are to allow the circumstances in life to drive us to believe God's Word more and more each day. God allows circumstances to come into our lives so that we have a need for faith in God's Word. Nurture your faith today. Excel even more in it. Don't be happy with the same level of faith you have today that you had yesterday. Tomorrow you will need to stretch your faith a little more.

When you hear the Word does it burn within you? Luke 23-24

Jesus is on a walk with the two men who were traveling to a city called Emmaus in chapter 24. As He walks they "reveal" to Him the happenings of the last few days ... namely His own death and Resurrection. Jesus begins to unfold to them the entire plan of salvation as read in the "the beginning with Moses and with all the prophets" (24:27). (This is, by the way, a great passage to show the theme of the entire Bible and how it all talks about Christ even though it is divided up into man made sections). As He talks with them they can't seem to grasp who He is and that He indeed is the one they saw crucified. In 24:32 we read the words that as He talked His Words (the Scriptures) burned within them. This is what it is like to "be in the Word." When you read God's Word does it burn within you? Do you sense the Spirit of God working and chiseling away your heart and moving in your midst. There are some who only see God's Word as a cold set of standards and doctrines to be thought of with the mind. Here we have Christ's preaching of the Word (in a little walking Bible study) and seeing an emotional response to the Word. If the Word has become a cold and calculated script for you than something is missing. God's word is meant to engage us into an emotional response. We are not meant to be guided by our emotions but we are not to deny them either; we are to recognize them (and recognize when they are not there) and to subdue them. Do you allow God's Word to invoke an emotional response in your life? Does it invoke a response? Read the Psalms of David - the Scripture invoked an emotional response. God's Word is not a text book - it is life giving book. It touches all the parts of our life.

God really wants me to read the measurements of a city? Ezekiel 37-42

After reading today's section we have to ask ourselves how "profitable" for doctrine, correction and instruction of righteousness is this section on the measurements of the city and temple that God will build for His people, Israel? As I read it I tend to skip over (speed read) large sections. Wondering the value and profit for it I came up with the following:

1. This section teaches us that God has a plan. God is not driving this universe by the seat of the pants. He has a plan and that plan is important to Him and therefore I can rejoice in the fact that God is in complete control to make His plan work. Everything that happens is for the plan to come to fruition.

2. The section teaches us that God is exact with His plan. You can't help but read this material is the exact nature of what God has done, is doing and will do. The plan has a prescribed measurement and direction. North and south are distinguished in His plan. God is exact. No near misses with Him.

3. This section teaches us that God is willing to reveal that plan to us through His messengers and His Word. God is a speaking God. He wants us to know that He has a plan and what the specifics of the plan entail. We can rejoice that God is revelatory in nature. He delights in revealing Himself to men through men. When God reveals His plan through men, dry bones are made to come to life. God can change things with the power of His revelation.

4. This section teaches us that some parts of God's plan are still a great mystery waiting to be further revealed. God does reveal His plan but not all parts and not all reasons are listed out. We can't help but read this section and discover some things and wonder about many more. God is a mysterious God who delights in revelation but glories in mystery. He is a God too big to put into a box we have figured out.

5. This section teaches us that God's plan, revealed in part through man to men is for His glory. We may not understand it or be able to explain it but we can believe it and glorify Him for it and through it.

There are many sections in the Bible that are hard to read. But, when God says "all Scripture" is profitable for doctrine, correction and instruction (2 Tim. 3:16) we are to believe that and read them with that in mind. Above are five good reasons to read about the measurements of the city and temple. God will be glorified while His revealed plan is unfolded to us.

Being poor has some advantages - Proverbs 13

Proverbs has much to say about money, wealth and riches. In fact, before Dave Ramsey was Solomon son of David. (And, I would prefer the later over the former). In chapter 13 we have several good principles stated through Solomon about wealth. The chapter ends with a reference that the righteous will be satisfied while the wicked will always feel a sense of need and want in their stomach. Righteous people have a sense of contentment about where they are in regard to wealth and riches. If you sense a deep discontent when it comes to wealth it might be you are more bankrupt spiritually than financially. Righteous poor people are first and foremost content. But, earlier in this chapter Solomon adds that the rich are often oppressed and attacked because they are rich while the poor are often ignored and left alone. In 13:8 we read, "The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but the poor hears no rebuke." The meaning here is that the poor are often ignored and left alone because they are poor while the wealthy are often taken captive (in one form or another) for their wealth. Solomon is saying that being poor allows you to go about your life with little worries, not so much as a rebuke (although our modern world would cringe at that statement). Contentment with what little you have is a pleasure few experience in a world of grab and get as much as you can. In 10:22 Solomon said: "It is at the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it." The implication here is that riches that come to man in a way that God doesn't bring them will also bring sorrow; but riches brought by God don't add the complications to the life. Our next section after Proverbs to read will be the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon has much to say about wealth in that book. In Proverbs 22 we read we are not to set our eyes on wealth. The poor has many advantages over the rich if they will but see it. If, however, they have their eyes on the rich man's "stuff" they will never see the benefits of what they have. In 13:7 we read, "There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth. The poor man has much to be rich about. If they will just see what God has provided Him. Don't strive to be rich. Strive to be content with the riches you have.

God can fill your "horn" - Psalm 87-89

Psalm 89:17 - "For you are the glory of their strength, and by your favor our horn is exalted."

Psalm 75:10 - "And all the horns of the wicked He will cut off, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up."

Psalm 92:10 - "But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil."

Psalm 89:24 - "My faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him, and in My name his horn will be exalted."

I am not sure what the "horn" concept might have meant to the Old Testament Israelite. The closest I get to that word in my world is that it is not good "to blow your own horn." Apparently the horn was something that meant their prosperity or well being. When Gideon attacked his enemy with the small army that was left he was instructed to break jars with lights in them and sound a "horn." In Lamentations 2:3 we hear Jeremiah lament that God had destroyed all the "horns" in Jerusalem, meaning all the strength was gone. The horn apparently is a picture of strength, prosperity and well being. In this above Psalms we read that God is in control of the blessings that our "horns" receive. If we are to be blessed and have strong "horns" (success and blessing) it will be because God has filled our horns and given us the strength we need. In our society we are taught to be self-reliant and to be self-motivated and to be self-sufficient. However, in God's world we are taught to rely on God for everything, including our blessing, our strength, our success and our exaltation. Who is filling your "horn?" God will promote and exalt us as we wait on Him. He is in charge of our career and our path-way to blessings. He exalts our horns.

God is Sovereign - 2 Kings 16-20

God is in complete control of everything! A statement like that can often cause a great debate in a room of theologians or unbelievers. Hearing that statement, unbelievers may ask, "If He is in complete control why does He allow bad things to happen? Either He is not in control or if He is He is a mean and uncaring God ... how can He be a God of Love if He is in control and allows bad things to happen?" Theologians would argue the extent of God being in complete control. They would ask, "Is He in control over every little thing in my life? What about free choice?" Although I would not be able to answer such "deep" questions in this little devotional for the day let me simply point out some things in our text and draw a faith based conclusion that I believe and therefore accept since it is hear in the Scriptures rather than because I can explain it to all those who question it: In this section we read that the Assyrians came before Judah and King Hezekiah boasting of their triumphs and were prepared to take Jerusalem down. Their spokesperson even claimed that they were sent from God to do the deed of destruction and captivity to Judah (18:25). He claimed God was in charge and in control of their actions (and, he was an unbeliever who recognized God's sovereign control). God, of course, doesn't appreciate the Assyrians pride and when King Hezekiah prays for deliverance God sends a death angel to kill 185,000 of their soldiers (19:35). God is in complete control. When Hezekiah becomes ill and Isaiah prophecies that he will soon die, we see that God is in complete control of a man's life and death. Hezekiah prays and asks God for more life on this earth. God gives him exactly 15 years (20:1-6). God is in complete control. God even was able to move the shadow on the clock the exact amount at the exact time in the exact way to prove His power to heal (20:7-11). God is in complete control. In this box it would be hard to answer all the objections to God being totally sovereign (By the way, you can be "half" sovereign. The word means "totally in control." You either are or your not, "sovereign."). However, in this little devotional I can point out that God demonstrates that He is sovereign and we are expected to believe it. We may not like the implications or have the answers to all the objections, but that doesn't change the truth of the doctrine. God is sovereign!

The LAW is full of mercy and grace. Leviticus 19-21

As we read this Old Testament book we see many pictures of mercy and grace. Leave food for the poor in your fields; love your neighbor as yourself; and keep just and correct scales for your business are just three examples of mercy and grace. We think of the OT as THE LAW, absent of NT grace. However this section of Leviticus is full of grace. We are to leave the corners of our fields for the poor - a picture of mercy and grace. We are to love our neighbor as ourself - a picture of mercy and grace. We are to have correct and just weights and balances in our bag for business - a picture of mercy and grace. The reason for this is because God is full of mercy and grace. When He gives us some law or guideline to follow it flows from mercy and grace. The reason given to observe these "Laws" is because, "He is the Lord." God is the character we are to follow for observing the law. We meat jot always make the connection but the Law is God's mercy and grace to us. We are to reflect it as it reflects Him. When we practice a law absent mercy and grace we don't honor Him. Mercy and grace are His and His alone. We should practice them in our daily walk. Be merciful today to those around you. Forgive them for their short comings. Be gracious today to someone. Grant them favor today even though they don't deserve it. Be a picture mercy and grace - be a picture of the real Law - be a picture of God!

Someone is watching you - Colossians 3-4

I love Paul's practical side. When he writes he takes the first chapters to outline his doctrine (what we should believe) and then takes the last chapters for practical matters (how we should behave). In Colossians we have some great practical instruction in these two chapters. I love how Paul gives us some insight as to why we are to "behave" the way he instructs us. In 3:1 we see our behavior is supposed to be in line with our union with Christ. That is motivation enough. However, in 4:5 we read that the wisdom we receive from Christ is to be lived for Him before the "outside" world. We are to live with and FOR Christ and BEFORE the world. Our behavior will win more people to Christ than our doctrines. No, our right doctrine lived out in proper behavior will always win others to Christ than just simply stated doctrine. How we treat our spouses, children, bosses and government agents will do much to show the world who God is and what He demands. "Live in wisdom toward those who are on the outside," is Paul's instruction. It is our mission.

"When you sin" and "When you return" - Luke 21-22

Only 12 men had the privilege of spending intimate time with the Lord. These 12, one of them a prophetic traitor, would spend hours talking, listening, observing and interacting with our Savior. Jesus would minister to them, with them and through them. They had the closest relationship anyone could ever have with the Lord on this side of Heaven. Yet, they all ran when Christ was arrested. They all would hide in shame, fear and/or regret. They expected a king who would crush the foes (Romans) and instead Jesus of Nazareth turned out to be just another martyr for the lost cause ... or so they thought. Peter, the verbal spoke-person for most of their interaction, had verbally committed to never leaving or denying him ... even willing to die for him (22:33). Yet, Satan had asked and, apparently, received permission to work on Peter (22:31-32). Jesus is so accurate in His prophesy that He tells Peter that "when" he turns back (making the assumption he will turn away) he should be ready to strengthen his brothers (implying they also would turn away). Jesus is intimate with them but doesn't withhold the bear truth from them. Peter is going to turn away. But, "when he turns back" he has work to do. What a great lesson for those of us who only know the Savior through the eyes of faith. What a great throughout for those of us who only walk with Jesus and are intimate with him through the ministry of the Spirit. We often hear people say that if they were there they would not have turned away. Peter gives us the example that we all would. Yet, Jesus has work for us after we do. Satan would want us to turn away and never come back. Jesus is waiting only for our return. He then has work for us. We can still be used by God after we make a step toward sin. Even after denying Him three times Peter was used by God. In John 21 we see Peter ready to return to fishing and the others followed. Jesus was willing to pursue him in that chapter to get him back out of the boat and moving by faith toward ministry. Peter, the denier, becomes the chief spokesmen for the early church in the beginning chapters of Acts. Peter the one who would not side with Jesus would eventually take His side in fight after fight with religious and political leaders. When we sin, we can and should return.

How much doctrine should we sacrifice to get some good sounding tune? Ezekiel 31-36

As I read this morning and write the devotional I have a new CD playing on the speaker system on the boat. Every year, prior to the big Christian outside concert that comes to our town we purchase the latest songs of the artist that have been invited. We spend July listening to their music and then go to hear them live at the concert. My wife doesn't particularly like my method of listening to artist as I tend to rate them rather particular. Some are real "light weights" as to doctrine but "heavy as to musical skill." Some are "heavy weights" as to doctrine but "light" on musical skill. That is the dilemma we have as believers. Do we listen to good "music" at the cost of the bad "doctrine" or do we listen to "bad" music to hear "good" doctrine? In Ezekiel 33:30-33 the prophet is being admonished to be a "true" prophet for God and to speak clear and concise doctrine. He is told that many will listen to "bad" doctrine if it is packaged in "good" tunes. Pastors, musicians and teachers are all faced with the same challenges: Do we water down the doctrine to make the message palatable to the taste? The answer should always be "NO!" But, we hear more of "good sound" than we do "sound doctrine" in today's preaching, music and Christian literature. God even went on to tell Ezekiel about false "shepherds" of Israel (chapter 34) and warned him about being a watchmen who failed to sound the alarm when certain doom was approaching (chapter 33). Today's style is typified recently in the book by Rob Bell entitled "Love Wins" where "Pastor" Bell waters down the gospel message to make it palatable for the reader and the condemned and dying world. We need to make sure we don't compromise the message to attract the hearers. Since we want people to hear the message we are tempted to tickle the ears so they will be enticed to listen. However, most of the Bible is God's prophecy about pending doom and judgment on those who reject Him. He never waters down the truth to entice the disciple. He always presents the truth to assure His character is presented and demonstrated. Be careful what you listen to and what you demonstrate yourself. The CD I am currently hearing in the background is bankrupt in doctrine but has a wealth of style and musical skill. I find my self tapping my foot but my heart will never be drawn to God by this song. Time to hit fast forward and hope for a new song rich in doctrine and music.

Humility opens doors of God's favor - Proverbs 11-12

In Proverbs 11:2 we read, "When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom." Of all the principles taught by Solomon via the Holy Spirit there are few that are in such a contrast to the world's philosophy than this truth. The world talks about and teaches that we are to be focused on self-building and self-promoting life styles. Look at your average pro-athlete and you can visualize today's philosophical bent contrary to humility. It would be a rare find to locate a humble pro athlete. One who realized that his or her talents was based upon God's grace and mercy. However, you don't have to go to the playing pitch to observe such contrary living ... you can often find the same thing in today's pulpits. You don't have to pay a ticket to see a sporting event to see pride in high function - you only have to take a free seat in any pew. Pastors, elders, deacons and church members all fall to the sin of pride and miss the beauty and grace that humility ushers in. God is ready and willing to give wisdom and grace to the humble. But, God resists the proud. When the King of Tyre had pride fill his heart God sent judgment (Ezekiel 27). When Pharaoh wouldn't humble himself before God than judgment came (Exodus 6-10). When Nebuchadnezzar became filled with pride God made him eat grass like an ox (Daniel 7). God does indeed resist the proud. The greatest sin we can commit is to steal God's glory and take it for ourselves in pride. When Eve saw the fruit that it could make her wise she took it for herself and gave it to her husband. Pride is the center of sin. When we give glory to ourselves we steal God's praise. He can't give wisdom to those who believe they have it in themselves. Humility opens doors to God's world of grace, mercy and wisdom. Pride shuts those doors.

God wants to give bless to believers - but for what reason? Psalm 84-86

You can't help but read these three Psalms and see the truth that God wants to and does bless His children. In 84:11 we see that God holds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. The writer goes on to say, "... how blessed is the man who trusts in You (God)!" But, for what reason does God bless us? In 86:17 we see the writer asking God for a "sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed ...". God does want to bless us but His blessing is not simply for our comfort (although He certainly longs for that for us). God wants to bless us so that we can show Him off to others. He doesn't simply bless us with benefits and possessions so that we can boast to others regarding what we have obtained. God is pouring out His favor on us so that we can brag about Him. He simply wants us to obey so that we can be in a place He can bless us. God wants us to be trophies of His mercy and grace. Let's not rejoice that we HAVE possessions. Let's rejoice out load that we have possessions and blessing because HE looked on us with His favor.

Good Kings will receives God's Good Favor - 2 Kings 11-15

When you provide leadership training to the unbelieving world you love the books of First and Second Kings. They are (or, should be if they are not) required reading for all those who wish to be a leader - believer and unbeliever alike. You can't help but see the correlation between how leaders obey God and how they then experience His favor. One of the greatest leaders ever was King Solomon. We started with him in the book of 1 Kings. He understood the relationship between obeying God and receiving God's favor. In Proverbs 12:2 we read, "A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, but He will condemn a man who devises evil." You can see from Solomon's words via the Holy Spirit that 2 Kings is filled with examples of this truth. God has given us some great looks into the life of leadership and what happens when we obey God and when we don't. If you are a leader heed the examples you read here. God is wanting to bless you and show you His favor. If you are follower and you follow a Godly leader pray that God will fulfill these words and these same examples in 2 Kings. If you follow a poor leader and one who devises evil in their leadership pray for them. They are directly in the path of God's condemnation and judgment. They will need your prayers.

Have you ever been used as someone's scapegoat? Leviticus 16-18

Recently I had someone in a group I was working with tell me that one of the staff members didn't want us to further our contract because the staff member didn't trust my ability to facilitate the group. This is the first time in all the years I have been doing my leadership/followership business that this has happened. I wish I could write to tell everyone how great I handled it. I can't! I felt very much rejected, unappreciated, frustrated over the lose of income and unfairly treated. It just so happened that this staff member hadn't turned in an assignment earlier in the contract and I had pointed that out to the supervisor. It was naturally for me to be used as a scapegoat for someone who didn't want to be held accountable for their actions. But, being used as a scapegoat isn't a very comfortable position to find yourself. In Leviticus 16 we see the story of the Day of Atonement, which was a glorious day for all Israel. Aaron the priest was instructed to sacrifice one goat and place his hands on the other goat's head to symbolize he was laying the sins of all the nation onto this goat. That goat would be set free outside the city indicating that the goat was taking the sins of the people away. This, of course, is the perfect picture of what Jesus did for us. He was our scapegoat. (NOTE: The use of "goats" here is quite interesting. There are two interesting facts often presented about God's use of goats that should be noted. The first is that the goat was a very smelly animal and not necessarily well loved. The use of a goat to symbolize our sin seems only appropriate. The second aspect, however, is even more interesting. The heathen beliefs often pictured their deity in the form of a goat. Unbelievers would often sacrifice to goats. So, God gave the Israelites a goat to sacrifice to Him so that they would not sacrifice to the goat.) Christ didn't deserve the rejection, unfair treatment or unjust actions toward Him. Never-the-less He received it all and more. It is never good to be used as a scapegoat. But, that is what Jesus did for us. If we, only once and only barely, have to feel the experience of being a scapegoat it will give us a little taste of what Christ did for us. He bore our sins in His body for our salvation. I love the Old Testament for days like today. I will rejoice in His volunteering to be my scapegoat. The next time I am used as a scapegoat for others I will rejoice in suffering a little like my Savior.

Disarmed, no longer dangerous but still a nuisance! Colossians 1-2

We often think of Satan and his little army as very dangerous to us. It is a legitiment feeling as Peter, himself, warns us that Satan walks around like a roaring lion looking for ways to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). We do well to be aware of his trickery and his cunning behavior to us. However, it is as equally important that we understand what Christ did on the cross to Satan and all powers and domians in this world. According to Colossians 2:15 (required memorization for all children of God) Satan and his entire army has been "disarmed." We are to rejoice in what Colossians 2 teaches, the culmination being that we are now set free from our debt (it was nailed to the tree ... 2:14) and He disarmed Satan and friends. That isn't to say he can't be a continued nuisance to us. He is, however, a toothless lion: His trickery and cunning, albiet tenacious in effort, is benign in effect. We are to take solace in Christ victory. We should be aware that Satan can't condemn us anymore (Romans 8:1) and he can't used past sins to separate us from the love of Christ (1 John 1:9; John 10:28: Romans 8:37-39). Nuisance yes! Use our old nature against us and for his advantage yes! But, armed and dangerous in the same way he was ... NEVER! Christ has nailed our debt to the tree our and enemy was de-toothed (Col. 2:14-15). Rejoiece today in what God has done through His son for us. Let us beaware of Satan but let us not fear him. Let us know his trickery but give him no stronghold due to his threats. He has been disarmed.

Wee little men need to see Jesus too - Luke 19-20

The story of Zacheus in the sycamore tree is a delightful story that we have song about with our children forever. The fact of a little man who can't see in a big crowd is simply delightful to think about. Especially a little man of Zacheus' powerful stature. He was a tax collector - often feared by the pedestrians of the day.

Yesterday I visited the famous Carlos Bakery in NJ. The famous head cook, Buddy, made an appearance. The friend I was with was able to observe "Buddy" in all his glory as he waved to and greeted the crowd that was packed like sardines in a can to buy pastry, cookies and cakes. My friend, who is over six feet tall, could see Buddy just fine. However, in front of him was a small women of height who was not able to see the famed Buddy. He wanted to lift her up (which would have a personal foul and, based upon her size, at personal risk). It was the perfect illustration for my reading a day later. Here we have a women who wanted to see a normal man (insert joke here) who is simply known for his ability to blend sugar and flour.

Zacheus wanted to see the Lord of the Universe. He had no one who would help. Yet, God gave him wisdom to find a tree that God put there years before just to hold him and lift him higher. If God wants someone to see Christ, He makes a way. You and I may be that sycamore tree in someone's life. We might be the one God puts in place to point someone to Christ. We need to remember that God can use a tree to help someone see Christ. If He can use a tree He can use me!

Fail to show mercy and you will receive no mercy - Ezekiel 25-30

This section of Ezekiel's prophecy is about the judgment on the surrounding Gentile nations for their failure to act righteously as they observed Israel's fall. The first nation mentioned is Ammon. Ammon was a country just east of Israel (it is modern day Turkey now). Ammon was a son of Lot and throughout the Bible is a chief rival of Israel. The Ammonits would not let Israel pass through their land on their exodus from Egypt and they continued to badger and bring Israel down throughout the generations. Even in the captivity the Ammonite women married some of the men of Israel which outraged Nehimiah. In Ezekiel 25:1-7 we see Ammon is prophesied against and will be brought into captivity itself so that, "you will know that I am God" and "because you clapped your hands and stamped your feet (in celebration)" in scorn against Israel during their failings. Ammon had rejoiced at Israel's downfall. Ammon had become a prideful nation (all the nations in this section are brought low because of their pride.) They had made celebration and didn't express mercy and grace. The rest of the prophecy in this section follows the same train of thought. God wants us to reflect Him. He is a God of great mercy and great grace. When we fail to express mercy in our own lives and when we fail to extend grace to others in our lives we don't reflect Him but rather the sinful world around us. Ammon is the picture of the hard heart that sees someone fail and fall and smiles rather than extends a hand of mercy. These prophecies in this section show us the great concern and passion God has for showing others mercy. When we see our enemy fall do we rejoice or extend mercy? Do we reach out in grace to provide help when those we despise fall? If we fail to show mercy we will receive no mercy. Even Ezekiel is told to "wail and lament" the fall of Egypt ... he had to show mercy to them even as God was punishing them for not showing mercy to Israel. Show mercy today. Receive mercy tomorrow.

Want to know what's in the well? Listen to the bucket of the mouth speak! - Proverbs 10

If you want to know the character of someone you only have to be around them for awhile to listen to their speech. What is in the well (the heart) will come up in the bucket (their mouth). In Proverbs 10:11 and 10:31-32 (and a few more verses in this chapter) we read about how the mouth of the righteous will be different than the mouth of the foolish/wicked. Righteous people bring life and understanding and praise from their lips. They do not bring fourth violence or perverted justice. Using this litmus test of Solomon you don't have to be around a person very long to find out what is in their heart. If God has regenerated the heart and placed the Holy Spirit in us then we will have a different set of speech patterns. Since we have not completely overcome the darkness of our hearts we will have speech that simply burst fourth from that dark well. But, a true believer who has been regenerated by the Spirit to be conformed to Christ will have speech "patterns" that reflect God's mercy and grace. We will burst fourth more often than not in patterns of righteousness and speak of life and virtue. What did your speech yesterday reveal about you? What will it reveal about your relationship with God today?

God will fill us - but not how we think - Psalm 81-83

Psalm 81 could easily be my favorite Psalm (if it weren't for a bunch of other Psalms). I love the way the Psalm is developed by Asaph (He actually wrote my favorite Pslam ...91). He let's us know that God is interested in meeting the needs of those who believe in Him. He rescued them from slavery in Egypt and relieved them of their burdens (vs. 6-7). God does that for us. He releases us from our slavery and sets us free. But, God does more than set us free. He also let's us know that He will provide for us. In vs 10 Aspah tells us that if we open our mouths, God will fill it. If we open it "wide" which indicates an act of faith. The faith aspect is the key as God will not fill our mouths with what we think. Asaph tells us at the end of the Psalm that God will sometimes fill us from a rock that will burst fourth with honey. He of course is taking about the rock that Moses smoot that burst forth with water. God can take a solid rock that is a picture of strength and stability and have water gush out. We need to rejoice in that fact. Faith enables us to see God do wonderful things to meet our real needs - the needs He wants to meet. Rejoice in what God will do through faith and don't be bound by looking at a rock as a rock. It just might be a cupboard of honey.

God is concerned about your lost or broken and borrowed tools - 2 Kings 6-10

The story in 2 Kings 6 is fascinating from several angels and contains several lessons for all of us: The prophets had gathered around Elisha (don't followers often attach themselves to dynamic leaders?) and the "space" was too tight for them all (growth has its problems). The prophets decided to build bigger accommodations at another site (building projects often cause us to move from the norm). Can you imagine the nay-sayers who would not want to move or build ... they would cling to their favorite spot - not wanting to budge. God draws people together and give them energy and vision to move. Gathered people need not be stationary. After moving and starting to build the "prophets" are forced to do the labor. Not content just prophesying the prophet trades in his pen and voice for a hammer and an axe. Men of God are not exempt from physical labor. In fact, the labor might be good for the brain as well as the brawn. Work with hands can keep the mind sharp ... or so they tell me :)).

But, apparently the prophets don't just have a tool shed with all the equipment they need. One prophet, at least, had to borrow an axe to do the work. Having a relationship with someone close enough who would lend the ax is something in itself. An ax in these Biblical times would be equivalent to lending a car or a computer or something of utmost importance. Here a neighbor lends his ax. That shows great relationship and trust with this particular prophet. Apparently the head of the axe comes off and falls into the water. The prophet is a man of character and worries that the offense to whom he borrowed the axe would be greater than than the loss of the tool. Elisha is willing to help which indicates God was willing to help. In the margin of my Bible I have written the question, "Why is this story in the Bible?" As seen above there are many lessons to learn but perhaps the greatest is the fact that this lesson shows that God is concerned about the very little things in life. God, through His servant Elisha, uses His power to rescue the axe head. God has many, many things to do in our lives that are of utmost importance. But, in His sovereign rule, He is still concerned about the very little things in our lives. When we are busy doing His will and His work God is actively working to make that work profitable and enjoyable without costing even our friends an old axe head.

Why do we have to read about leprosy in the Bible? Leviticus 13-15

IF you are still reading through the Bible on this reading program today would be a big temptation to skip, delay or even stop the reading. It is tough to understand the need to read this section which is primarily about leprosy. Why does God include this in his Word? Especially for New Testament believers? Why does God tell us that His word (all of His Word is implied) is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16) and then puts this section before us in Leviticus? If we had to deal with leprosy every day in our society it would make some sense to read about it. However, in our society today, leprosy is almost non-existent. So, why read it and what lessons can we learn for the modern-day-starbucks-driven-soccer-playing-believer? Perhaps the main lesson is listed in the verse we just read in Paul's letter to Pastor Timothy. Perhaps we are only to know that "all scripture" is profitable. Perhaps we should quit second guessing it and just read God's Word by faith and allow it to do what it does in the hands of the Spirit. But, we are not so inclined, so what other lesson could be here for us. God gives us some insight as to the purpose in the last instructions about leprosy in chapter 15. We read there that God wanted them to keep clean of spreading disease and aliment because He wanted to keep His temple/tabernacle pure. The lesson shown to us is that God is concerned about our health and how that health relates to our worship. We of course know that we can worship in poor health but that doesn't mean God isn't concerned about it. We are to cleanse our self from unhealthy living and spreading unhealthiness is not in God's will. We are to keep our bodies healthy as we worship Him. A healthy body doesn't mean I am righteous but a righteous body works on being healthy in worship for Him.

Same message every Sunday - Can't he preach any other message? Phillippians 3-4

The story is told of a preacher who showed up in his new church and preached a wonderful message on forgiveness and mercy. All the congregation love it and couldn't believe they had found a preacher with such a dynamic flare for preaching. They coulnd't wait until the next Sunday to hear another message from the Word. The next Sunday, however, brought something they didn't expect. When the preacher mounted the pulpit he had the church members turn to the same passage of Scripture he preached the week before. Thinking he was going to plunge deeper into the text the church members fingers quickly turned the pages and sat attentively waiting for new words of wisdom and insight. Instead the young preacher preached the exact same message from the week before, closed in a blessing of prayer and left the pulpit. Although this was strange the members were fine with it ... until the young preacher preached that same message week, after week, after week. Finally one of the deacons was selected to confront the young preacher and ask him when he was going to preach a different message. The young preacher simply looked at the deacon and said, "When everyone starts to practice and perfect this message I will move onto a second message. However, as of now no one has practiced what I have been preaching so there is no reason to move on."

I assume the story is just made up but the point made is perfect for what Paul writes in Philippians 3:1. Paul tells the readers of this letter that it is "no trouble to him" to write the same things again to them and it is a "safe-guard" to them. Paul is about to write something again he had already told them. As the master teacher of the day he doesn't back away from repeating prior teachings. He is not looking for the new, he is making sure they have a grasp of the old. In our itching ear society we have an egerness to hear new things. In Paul's day the men of Athens couldn't wait to hear new things (Acts 17). But, Paul wants believers to hear the same truths he already told them and that will be a safeguard for them. So, why do we preach the same things over and over each Sunday? It is a safeguard for us. Why do we read the Bible over and over? Because it is a safeguard for us. How safe are you if you don't heed the lessons you are hearing but rather look for new words in the wind?

DON"T QUIT PRAYING, EVER!! - Luke 17-18

The concept of prayer and faith is a key subject in these two chapters of Dr. Luke. He has already reminded the readers of our Lord's words about having the faith of a mustard seed. We can not only move mountains we can uproot trees and toss them into despair (17:5,6). If faith is the foundational role in the life of the believer (and it is) the prayer is the initial block we lay on the corner. We must take our faith into the realm of practical living and live our life by faith through the power of prayer. In chapter 18 Luke gives us the dynamic story of the widow and the unjust judge. The unjust judge is willing to give in to the persistent widow so how much more willing in a just Judge (God) willing to answer our prayers and provide justice when we are persistent in prayer? When our daily prayers are reduced to dinner and bedtime we have no avenue to express our faith and our faith is the tool God uses to move the mountains and bushes in our lives. Satan wants us to cease our prayers. He wants us to be discourage in our prayer life because he knows how dangerous prayer is - it is dangerous because it is a supreme act of faith. Simply bowing your head to acknowledge God in prayer begins the step of faith. To express the request to God in faith trusting in an unseen but believed Deity is the expression of faith. We must not cease from prayer. When we do Satan has one and our life of pleasing God has drawn to an end. God is pleased with our persistence. Be the widow who won't stop praying.

If your wife dies don't shed a tear - Ezekiel 19-24

The life of a prophet is a tough gig! In this passage Ezekiel has had to "take up a lamentatioin" for the nation of Israel (19:1). A lamentation is a mourning ... a time to cry and wail for the loss of something. Ezekiel is "told" to lament the loss of Israel's faithfulness and their going into captivity for their disobedience. If you read this section you will read why God is pouring His wrath out on His people. They have committed lewd acts of idolatry against Him. So, we have the sin, the wrath, the discipline and the lament. You would expect people to cry and to wail the loss of their land, their children, their temple, their relationship with their God. Yet, in chapter 24 we read that God is going to take Ezekiel's wife "with a blow" (24:16). If that isn't bad enough God tells Ezekiel (in the midst of this "lament") that he is not allowed to lament, or cry, for the loss off his wife. God seems to be saying: The sin of Israel is so bad that it doesn't deserve a tear. Ezekiel is to demonstrate that. We don't grasp this because we don't have the same feelings toward sin that God does. We don't see that idolatry is a wicked, wicked thing and we do it every day. We put things up we worship (we desire) and we put those desires before our desire to serve God and mortify sin in our lives. I don't find it easy to look at Ezekiel losing his wife and not crying or mourning. God seems to know how important Ezekiel's wife is to him: God describes Ezekiel's wife as "the desire of your eyes." So, Ezekiel has a wife he absolutely desires and God is going to take her and he is not allowed to cry about it. All this to demonstrate how serious sin is to God and how He wants us to feel about it. Do you and I feel that bad about sin?

Wisdom doesn't always help others - Proverbs 8 & 9

I have read "a Proverb a day" for many years. Since today is July 7 I will read the 7th chapter of Proverbs. It has been a habit I have cultivated for years. But, today in our reading we are to read chapters eight and nine, as well. I am always amazed after all those years of reading how much I miss each day and each month. In 9:12 we read, "If you are wise, you are wise to yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it." I know I have read that verse hundreds of times but I have either been too dull or too distracted or too old to remember it and to grasp it. What the verse tells us is that wisdom is a solitary function that we can use. It doesn't help God any. It is for us to use. Man thinks the more wisdom he attains the more valuable that makes him to God. This verse implies that it does not add to my value in relationship with God. It also implies that my wisdom can't necessarily help and add benefit to others. The only way it benefits them is if they are willing to apply the wisdom someone may offer. Otherwise the wisdom of one only benefits the one. The key is to learn wisdom and use it to follow God. But, the wisdom itself is solely for my benefit. My wisdom can't help others and be transferred to them unless they are willing to apply the wisdom themselves and follow the steps of wisdom in Scripture.

Why do your kids know your Facebook post and not your love for God? Psalm 78-80

What do you spend time teaching your kids? We have relegated most of the teaching of our children to the college graduate at the local school. There is nothing wrong with that but how much time do we spend teaching our kids about God? In these three Psalms we read several times that we are to train the next generation to trust God and to find their confidence in God (Psalm 78:7). Today, most of our kids know more about our Facebook posts than they do about our daily walk with our God. Where do our kids get their confidence? Where do they find their source of strength? Asaph teaches us in these three Pslams to teach the next generation about the power of God. It is amazing that we will insist on the right education institution for our kids and not worry about their spiritual education. Take time today to teach your kids about God and about HIs power and about how those who reject Him and His great power lose out on blessing and promise. God wants us to teach our youth about God. Let's take time to strategically do so. They won't learn by mistake.

Keeping your gas tank full; by faith? - 2 Kings 1-5

Imagine going to the cupboard to retrieve some cooking oil only to find that the oil jar is never empty. O, better, that the cookie jar is always full! Or, the gas tank on the car, after many miles of travel, is never empty. The story in 2 Kings 4 is about a widow who was running out of oil. Since she was a women of faith she turned to Elisha during a famine in the land. She was instructed to gather as many bottles as she could. Her faith was limited apparently because the bottles ran out before the oil did. I would suppose that we would do the same thing. Our faith would be limited by the constraints of our imagination. We would not act in full faith but on a faith enough to get us by. Like putting a half of tank of gas in for a full trip we forget that God has more to give us and more room in our tank. Living by faith it is tough to for us when we lack faith. We are instructed to live by faith and to trust God for all. But, when we can buy what we need we forget that God wants us to trust Him. In Romans 14:23 we read that "whatever is not of faith is sin." Paul tells us that when living our life it is to be totally by faith. We are not to trust in other things but God himself. Elisha wanted the widow to trust completely in God. Too bad she didn't get more bottles.

Holiness is not an option - Leviticus 10-12

When God demands holiness we don't hear the demand in the same tone that it is given. When God says, "Be holy even as I am holy" we hear, "If you would like to be holy give it a try but don't press yourself." Holiness, however, is not an option for believers ... it is a demand and requirement for a relationship with God. Of course we have no way to be holy as we are are totally corrupt. But, God has prescribed a way for us to be holy. And, God demands that we not diviate from that way. In Leviticus 10 we read about Aaron's sons and their "bad fire" in an offering to God. Many of the detains of this story are left in the dark to us. But, with relative safety we know that the boys made an offering in a manner not prescribed earlier by God via Moses. What makes the story even sadder is that Aaron was ready to grieve the lost of his boys and Moses forbid him to do so. Moses wanted all of them to know the seriousness of this offense. God takes worship seriously and He takes how we come to Him in worship. Let's not be so eager to rush into God's presence with "new fire" or a "new method" of worshiping Him. God has some ways He wants us to worship. Holiness is not an option in that worship. I rejoice that God gave us this story. I feel bad for father Aaron. But, I do like the story for me and for others who wish to worship God. God demands holiness. Don't play with wrong fire. Don't play with wrong fire.   Read Acts 5 to see if you see the New Testament correlation.

Have you ever worked on Christianity so long you almost died? Philippians 1-2

Epaphroditus in Phillipians 2 is a story of a young man who worked so hard serving Christ through serving Paul that he almost died. Almost died!!! Can you believe that? In that short chapter we have the story of a man who gave of himself (in the midst of others who only thought of themselves ... 2:21; 1:15-18). Epaphroditus apparently worked so hard serving Paul and the mission of Christ that it affected his health. I doubt if any of us have ever worked so hard on anything that it affected our health. But, here we have the story of man who gave of himself to Christ and he almost died. We are to hold men like this in high regard, Paul says (2:29). However, his doctor and friends would tell him to slow down and get some rest. Maybe take a cruise or sit on the beech for awhile so that he can "refresh" himself. Paul tells us to hold this guy in high regard and others like him. Don't get me wrong, I agree we should be careful and do everything to keep our health up and be refreshed, but we have taken that to an extreme. We would much rather slumber than labor. Paul tells us the Epaphroditus was an example to us all. Embrace that thought today.

Gooooooaaaaaallllllllllll! Luke 15-16

Soccer is my sport. I coach it and watch it and study it. I love to develop an game plan against a strong opponent and see players execute and challenge themselves. I would say most people don't like the game because there is so little scoring. Americans like basketball since it has almost 100 points in the game. Of course they have to give "two" points for doing one thing good ... putting the ball in the basket. Two points! Football is worse - you get 6 points for one thing: Crossing the goal line. They even give you an extra point, as if six isn't enough. In soccer you get one point for one goal. No more, no less. And since goals are so seldom scored when you score one the excitement is overwhelming. The famous Latin announcer who first coined the "Gooooooaaaaaallll" phrase when a soccer goal was scored was simply letting out extreme emotion when the back of the net was found by the flying ball. Imagine the excitement he had building up as the ball went in and his team went up. You can't imagine it unless you have been there to experience it. Yet, all that excitement we get from seeing winning goals, baskets, hits or runs scored, doesn't compare to what we read this passage. In Luke 15:7 we read that when a sinner repents on earth the angels rejoice in heaven. If you and I fulfill 1 John 1:9 and confess our sins the angels in heaven stop and rejoice and yell out, praise to God. In soccer terms you can see Gabriel on the heavenly microphone screaming out, "Gooooaaaallll" as he and the other angels see a believer repent and turn back to God. There is excitement and rejoicing in heaven for repentance. How do you and I respond? We are skeptical that a person really repents! What gives us excitement? We need a physical goal in soccer or a sport success to get us excited. Do we rejoice with the angels when someone overcomes the power of sin through the Spirit of God and cries out Abba Father? Let's rejoice like a goal has been scored when we repent or see others repent. Angels understand God's character and desire for repentents. He waits eagerly for us to repent so the angels can repent.

Does God have to forgive 70 x 7? Ezekiel 13-18

Most people, even non-believers, are familiar with Jesus words about forgiveness: That we are to forgive those who sin against us not just seven times, as He was asked by Peter ("Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? ... Matthew 18:21). Peter used the number seven because that was the number known as the "perfect" number. So, forgiving up to seven times seemed to be a lot and the "perfect" amount. What Jesus answered must have shocked Peter and the others; we are not to forgive just seven times but seventy times seven (that's 490 times to you mathematically challenged). So, if I am to forgive my brother who sins against ME 490 times, does Jesus have to forgive us, when we repent, that many times? The answer is obvious. We are to follow what John told us in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." So, the number is a way of saying God forgives us without measure. If He expects us to do that kind of forgiving, than we are to also expect that He too will forgive us that way. It is doubtful if any of our friends would ever sin against us 490 times. We seldom can forgive them once without a constant reminder of the wrong they did to us, but in reality we are have the spirit of that type of forgiveness. In Ezekiel 16:60-63 we see God demonstrate that spirit of forgiveness by being willing to forgive the Israelites for their many sins. We will well surpass the 490 times of sinning against God (perhaps each day). Yet, in the midst of all the sin they demonstrated Israel was still forgiving by what God was willing to do. He is a forgiving God. Seventy times seven ... He forgives us constantly, repeatedly, faithfully, consistently. Yes, God will forgive and is obligated, based upon His character to forgive us. It is who He is. If we could only demonstrate a small portion of that to our brothers.