Do people want to listen to you? Luke 15-16

Luke 15:1 - Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.

Do people want to listen to you when you speak?  Do you have something to say that the roughest crowd would be titilated by YOUR conversation?   Would observers describe your experience as others "coming near" to listen?   We seldom give much regard to the power of Christ's words in His time and space.   Jesus was a powerful speaker.   Yes, many came to see His miracles, or hoped to see a miracle.   Most of us would be compelled to go for a miracle, or maybe two.   However, in this passage we read that some of the roughest characters of the day were interested in Christ's Words ... in what He spoke. (They were so rough that the religious leaders of the day objected to Jesus "hanging" with them.)  These "objectionable" characters came to "listen" to Him.    What we understand by this is that Christ's Words were so compelling and so attractive that even those opposed in life style were drawn to them.   Why?  It is because Christ spoke truth.   His words weren't fancy but they were correct!    You can't argue with truth.     Christ's words were not wrapped in entertainment glittered packaging.   They were simply truth with practical illustrations and applications.   We live in an entertainment society.   To speak truth allows you to draw even those who live false lives.   We ought to be careful trying to "entice" others with false pretenses.  It didn't work for the religious leaders of Jesus day.  The above verse doesn't say that these people were drawn to come and listen to "THEM!"   They wouldn't walk across the street to listen to the religious leaders .... and they would have had to because the religious leaders made sure they were on the other side of the street from these "types."   Religion doesn't attract.   Truth does.  

When you look in the mirror do you see the past? Ezekiel 13-18

Do you know your origins?   In Ezekiel 16 God goes to great length to remind Judah (the southern two tribes) about their history and, specifically, their origins.  He charts for them their humble beginnings.   He tells them they were nothing until He "saved" them - until He rescued them from their peril and insignificance.   He set them up and blessed them.  He gave them many gifts.  He clothed them with fine linen and jewelry.   God took a poor and destitute and no body and made him God's children (16:1-14).    That is what God did for us.  God took us when we couldn't save ourselves and saved us.  He cleaned us up and made us righteous.  He clothed us with love and peace and patience (or ... "is" clothing us with these things).  He made us His children.   When no one would take us He did.   We can't help but read Ezekiel 16 and see Romans 8.   We can't help but read Ezekiel 16 and see Grace.    God expressed His grace to them just as He expresses grace to us.  But, they rebelled.  See 16:15!!    They looked in the mirror and no longer saw their destitute past.  They looked in the mirror and saw the beauty that God had bestowed upon them.   They looked at their reflection and didn't see the horrid past but the perfect present God had given them ... and, they rebelled.   Do we do the same?  Do we look at what we have "become" and forget what we were?   Do we now trust in our own beauty?  Do we now trust in our own skill sets that "we" have developed?  God took us when we had nothing and made us what we are.   Do you now rebel? 

What do you see outside your window? Proverbs 7

For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice,

Chapter seven of Proverbs is a story of folly enticing the fool to fall into her trap. The fool succumbs and is swallowed up like a bird in a snare and/or an ox by the slaughter house. This story can be repeated multiple times, multiple days, mulitple years. It is happening right outside your window. Do you see it? Solomon puts himself as the narrator and tells us he was looking out his window when he saw this story unfold. I have often wondered why he didn't stop the naive one from following Lady Folly. I suppose the point of the story was not his intervention but the plight of the naive simpleton. The story is a warning to us. I recently spoke about this perilous story in a Christian school. I told the students to be warned. That is what the story is about. I told the young to be careful when the Temptrous Folly comes knocking and stirs the emotion and the sexual desires. That was nine months ago. One of them recently sat in front of me confessing the lack of moral control and the pregancy of his girlfriend. We can look at the story unfold every day. We can read this chapter every day. But, unless we allow Christ to produce control in us we will be the victum of the story and not the narrator. Don't be the victum. Be the narrator. Allow Christ to produce wisdom in you and to withstand the folly outside you.

Do you ever make a vow? Psalm 75-77

We live in a world where our "word" is not always our "word."   Couples make vows to each other every day in wedding ceremonies only to have the vows broken years later.   Employees often break their vows to employers and employers to employees.   You have to always read the fine print in the business contract to make sure the "vow"  you are hearing is actually a real vow or really just a sales pitch.   In Psalm 76:11 we are told two things:  First we are told to MAKE a vow to God and then we are told to KEEP the vows we make.   One sure way to avoid commitment is to not make a vow.  But God tells us in HIs Word He wants us to make vows to Him.  We should never hesitate to make Him a vow.   We owe Him everything.   Our "vows" show our commitment and love and dedication to Him. They also show our trust for Him.   In our vows we ought to realize we can't keep them.  But, we make them based upon faith that He will enable us and sustain us through them.   That brings us to the second point in verse eleven, we are to KEEP the vows we make.   In Ecclesiastes 5 we are warned about making a vow and not keeping it.   But, in our depraved state we really can't keep the vows we make, no matter how honest and committed we may be.  It is only Christ living in us that will enable us to keep a vow to God.   So, our vow is to be made TO God, THROUGH Christ, FOR God.    Make a vow to God and trust Him to fulfill it in us.  

Do you struggle between two opinions? 1 Kings 18-22

Do you struggle between "two" opinions?   Is not that the struggle we meet with every day. In our head we know that God is the God we think He is. But, then in our heart we want to follow our weak flesh. The flesh is weak but powerful enough to block out our vision of the Father.   The flesh is weak but strong enough to entice us to disobey the God we love.  The flesh is weak but mighty enough to get us to falter in our faith. Elijah brings all the prophets of the country who worship the idol Baal and brings all the nation of Israel to Mount Carmel.   He asks the nation of Israel how long they will falter between "two opinions?"  He challenges them if they want to serve Baal, serve Baal.  But, if they want to serve Yahweh, serve Yahweh.  There really is no comparison.   We know in our hearts that God is the God we should worship.  But, the gods of money, power, status, popularity, sensual pleasure, gluttony, etc. are so enticing to our flesh.   How long will we fight between two opinions (1 Kings 18:21)?  Let us by faith choose what Elijah chose.   God is the powerful God who can and does defeat the flesh.  As we express faith we see flesh melt in the power of the Father.   

Do you know the "Laws" of worship? Leviticus 7-9

Worship, as a law, just doesn't seem comfortable.   In these three chapters God is outlining for Aaron and his sons the details of how to worship and how to approach God through sacrifice.   I am not an expert on this section and would not pretend to know all the ins and outs of Levitical sacrifice and worship.  But, the first verse in this section states, "This is the LAW of the guilt offering ...".    It might seem cold, frightful and callous to look at worship in the structure of LAW.   The word LAW causes us to think "must do;" "have to follow;" and/or "can't deviate from."    In fact, Paul tells us that Law introduces us to sin and brings on sin.   If we make a law it will produce more sin.   So, why does God start a section on worship with the concept of Law?   There are probably several reasons but perhaps a leading response to that question is that worship, the act of coming to God to show His glory and honor His glory, has an ultimate standard.   A "law" sets a standard.  A "law" is the approved standard of the law giver as to how to do something correctly.  We might argue with this definition from man's view-point, but when we understand that this book is about how to approach God as written by God, how to worship Him is His standard and His Law.   That doesn't mean it can't come from the heart.   The only way we can have heart felt worship with a standard of worship is if we have the character of God in our hearts.   We might reject His Laws of worship when we have our laws (standards) in our hearts.   But, if we have God ruling our heart and heart desire is to please God we would not look at these laws as laws.  We simply see them as a natural outcome of a heart bent on approaching God.   As you read this section allow it to bend your heart toward God.  Think of worshipping Him.   A heart bent on worship will worship.   

In your struggle, just try faith!! Ephesians 4-6

In Ephesians 6:16 we are told by Paul to take up the Shield of Faith by which we can quench Satan's fiery darts.   He has just told us that our struggle in this world is not with other believers or even unbelievers, but Satan and his minions.  If we read Paul's other writings we can see that faith is a central element for successful living of the believers life.   We can only please God by faith (Hebrews 11:6); we stand by faith (1 Corinthians 16:13); we walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7); we live by faith (Galatians 2:20); and, in this passage, we fight by faith (Ephesians 6:16).  What is faith? The best way to describe it outside of Hebrews 11:1-3 that defines it, is that faith is when we aren't acting in the flesh ... something we typically do 24x7.   Faith is when we don't believe in our talent, treasure or self and we believe that our only hope is in God's character.    God wants us to trust Him, believe Him, rest in Him.   When we do one ounce of our struggle in our flesh, in our own strength, we fail to use faith and have faith and therefore we fail.  Yielding to God in faith is the ultimate expression of worship.   Trusting His character, His promises, His Word is using the shield of faith to defeat Satan.  Satan attempts to rally our inward flesh to be active.   God desires us to come to Him in faith and when we do that quenches the fiery darts of Satan.   

Why do some suffer and some don't? Luke 13-14

What is the cause of tragedy and sickness?  This question has stumped man for some time and will continue to cause debate and wrangling in both the world and the church.  A popular book from decades ago (When bad things happen to good people, by Kushner) attempted to guide our minds through the peril of the question.   The question is often asked, "Why do the righteous suffer?" but seldom answered.   In Luke 13 Jesus gives us much insight into the answer and, by faith, we can find what we need. If you approach this from an intellectual way you will be lost as to "why?"   However, if you approach it by faith and take Jesus words as truth you will not only have an answer but the peace that comes from knowing God is in complete control.  In 13:1-16 we see several reasons Jesus gives for tragedy.  In the first part He immediately makes sure that one tragedy vs. another is not always due to a person's individual sin being greater than another .... it should be noted that He doesn't say the tragedy was because of their sin or not because of their sin ... He simply says the "degree" of sin didn't matter in the examples they sighted. In 13:12-16 we see that a women who had a disease was actually afflicted by Satan.    It should be noted that when we see "symptoms" or the "results" of difficulty in a person's life, only God sees the root. We should be careful drawing false conclusions about "cause and effect."   Everything bad in this life is ultimately tied to sin.    But, not everything in this life is sustained or fostered because of sin.   Sometimes Satan has a hand in our demise and difficulty.  Ask Job and his friends about his.   His friends saw symptom and immediately drew a conclusion about effect.  They were wrong.   Make sure when you and I see someone's symptoms we don't draw the same, but wrong, conclusions.   Sometimes God doesn't tell us why someone is suffering or has a tragedy.   Sometimes He does. We should just show mercy.  

"If you have at least six months of liquid assets ..." Ezekiel 7-12

Money can't buy happiness. And, according to Ezekiel 7:19, neither can it buy freedom and forgiveness.  Note Ezekiel's message:

Ezekiel 7:19 - They will fling their silver into the streets and their gold will become an abhorrent thing; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They cannot satisfy their appetite nor can they fill their stomachs, for their iniquity has become an occasion of stumbling.

We are so money conscious in our society.   We envy those who have it and we look down on those who waste it.   We work at accumulating it and we brag about storing it.   We have so much wasted energy that is tied to wealth and possessions.   It is the same in every era of history.   In the prophet Ezekiel's day the Israelites where not exempt from "the love of money."   They thought their wealth could deliver them from anything.  They would buy horses from Egypt for their armies and thought that would make them invincible.   The paid for armies of unbelieving countries to protect them and the thought that would make the secure.   Instead, God shows them through the prophet just how empty and vain trusting in wealth really is.   In our society today we have "talking heads" that tell us just how much of a "savings account" we should have to add "security" to our lives.  The only one who is secure with that philosophy is the guy who is selling that kool-aide ... or so he thinks.   When God comes knocking there is no amount of wealth and possessions and liquid assets that can keep us from His judgment.   When our sin is called upon for payment only the riches of Christ's death, burial and resurrection will be able to deliver.   Christ told his followers not to lay up treasures where moth and rust corrupt, but lay up your treasures in heaven (through Christ).   He went on to say that where your treasure is will also be the home of your heart.   As we accumulate wealth, homes, boats, bikes, cars, toys, and stuff, let's remember, when the Day of the Lord comes, nothing will be able to deliver us except the Name of Jesus.   

Did you mistakenly put your money in someone elses bank account? Proverbs 5-6

And strangers will be filled with your strength And your hard- earned goods will go to the house of an alien;
Proverbs 5:21
What a hard proverb to meditate upon.   Solomon is telling his "son" (his actual son, and us, his "sons" in faith) that if they fall prey to the sensual women (a personification of Miss Folly) this proverb will be the result.   He tells us that our strength will actually be transferred to others and out goods will find there way into someone else's bank accounts.   I cam currently observing a very ugly divorce (is there a pretty divorce?) between two wealthy people.   They are so set on hate that they want to "stick it" to the other person.   In order to do that (and follow Folly) they will have to pay their lawyers great sums of money.   One of them was overheard recently saying I would rather give it to the attorney than the ex!!!!   Well, there is Proverbs 5:10 in all its splendor.  They are exhausted and broke.   Once vibrant and wealthy their strength has disappeared and their wealth was transferred to another's bank.  When we listen to Folly we can expect nothing but bad results.   

A litmus test for national leaders - Psalm 72-74

With the political elections right around the corner, Psalm 72 seems appropriate for us when we consider electing a national leader. In this Psalm, King David outlines for us what a righteous leader should look like. Of course, our society is not necessarily looking for a righteous leader. We seem to be looking for a leader with charisma, someone who will give us our money back, someone who will make us feel good about ourselves. We really want someone who will make us wealthy and feel comfortable. However in Psalm 72 David give us a completely different look of what a great leader should be. According to David, a great leader is first and foremost righteous and just. A righteous and just leader executes righteousness and justice. They care for the oppressed and they protect the poor. He makes judgments according to God's righteous standards. He solicits peace and he vindicates the needy. Yet his judgments come down with mercy and his decisions like a refreshing rain. He has the respect of nations as well as nomads. He is as equally concerned about the blood of violence as he is the abundance of wealth. This type of leader leaves a legacy for others and receives blessings from God. The next time you're ready to pull a yes or a no for a leader, use the litmus test of Psalm 72.

Do you remember all the details of the solid past? God doesn't - 1 Kings 14-17

Really, is that how your remember it?   God, through His prophet, Ahijah, has a message for Jeroboam.  God wants King Jeroboam to know that He is not pleased with the kings leadership.   So, in 1 Kings 14:8 God tells Jeroboam's wife to go back and tell her husband that Jeroboam has failed as the king and didn't act in a good way ... they say DAVID did.    Here is where we, as believers or unbelievers, may have an issue.   God tells Jeroboam that, unlike David, he did not keep the commandments and follow God with his whole heart, again, like David.   But, if you were Jeroboam, what  would you be thinking?   David committed adultery (a commandment) and had the husband of the women he slept with murdered (a commandment).   How can God, in righteousness, use David as an example when he had this in his background?   You and I don't remember David's life being all that spotless.  Jeroboam, you, me and many, many others would remember the adultery and the coverup murder.   Yet, God does not mention it.   Why?  Perhaps it is because God forgot about it?   Let's read David's prayer in Psalm 51 and see what he asked God about those dreadful events:

Psalms 51:7-10: Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sin. And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do you see what God did?   God answered David's prayer.  He made David clean and then "blotted out" is iniquities.   When God sees you and me, once we ask for forgiveness, He sees us as pure and clean.  Our sins are blotted out.  Have you ever wondered how God can cal someone like Job, "perfect?"  It is because in God's eyes, he was.  God made him perfect through faith in a savior and that was it.  In God's eyes we are perfect.   Jeroboam was an nonrepentive leader.   David repented and was a forgiven leader.   And, when God forgives you He can use you as an example to others as a righteous man.   Rejoice in your forgiveness.   God only sees you that way and only talks about you to others in that way.  We might remember but God doesn't.  

Is there anything more powerful than "Forgiveness?" Leviticus 4-6

Forgiveness may be the most underrated and least worked on value in society.   To know that we are forgiven is the ultimate psychological benefit, not to mention the spiritual connotations.   To hear the words, "You are forgiven" may be higher in value than, "I love you," although the former is simply an expression of the later.  In this section of Leviticus we see the words, "... it shall be forgiven him" repeated after the sinning party offers a sacrifice for sin.   The "forgiveness" doesn't come cheap, however.   In each case there was a blood sacrifice.   An animal died.  Blood was spilt.   Fat was burned.   Left-overs were burnt on wood outside the camp.   Forgiveness has a price above all prices.   The value of forgiveness is seen in the price paid to obtain it.  When Christ offered His life as the ultimate, final and complete sacrifice for sin, the words, "Father forgive them they know not what they do," took on more than words.   We are forgiven.   The pride of our hearts sins continually.  Yet, we are forgiven.  The eyes of the body sin continually.  Yet, through His death, we are forgiven.  The tongue of the mouth sins continually.  Yet, through Christ's death and words we are forgiven.   If you hear the words, "I forgive you," today, rejoice.  They are extreme.  If you can express the words, "I forgive you," you will offer something more value than anything we have.   If you can live today in light of Christ's Words, "I forgive you," you will get the entire meaning of Leviticus.   It is truly a book about forgiveness.  

I know someone in High Places, do you? - Ephesians 1-3

What name do you know that carries the most "power" in your community, or organization?   From the beginning man has been obsessed with power.  No one intentionally attends an event and wants to be the farthest away from the "head table."  Our societal system is one of hierarchal positioning.   In the old days we called it a "picking order."   You either want to be at the top of the picking order, or know someone who is.   In Ephesians chapter one we have Paul's great and complete run-on sentence in the English about what God has done for us.  In 1:21-22 he ends the great blessings we have in Christ with a marvelous statement saying that Christ is positioned high above all authority.   He is at the top and all authorities submit to Him.   This is the beauty of being a "child of the King."  We know the Person at the top.   We know the name we can call on to make a difference.  You might be able to call upon a political figure you know, a CEO you know, or even an Elder of a Church you know.   But none of them have absolute power.    God has given His Son, Jesus, absolute power.   When we call upon the name of Jesus we are calling on absolute power.  All other powers are subject to His.   Let's rejoice in His absolute power.  But, let's also rejoice that we are "connected" to Him.   It is nice to be a "connected" person - someone who knows Someone in HIgh Places.   

Have you ever felt it necessary to insult your dinner host? Luke 11-12

Have you ever been invited to someone's house for lunch and found it necessary to insult them?  Would you?  Let's suppose a pastor or priest invited you to have lunch in his (her) home.   Let's suppose that they also invited other pastors and priest, so that the majority of those in attendance were men (and women) of the Cloth.   How would you act?   I would assume with much respect and much caution so as to not offend them or harm self.   Now imagine, however, that these same "godly" people did something at this lunch in their attitude or actions or comments that was against truth and was in the face of righteousness.   What would you do then?  Would you correct them?  All of them?   Now suppose they really didn't say something that "unrighteous" but just marginally annoying.  Would you use that as an opportunity to TEACH them or INSTRUCT them?  I would dare say most of us would not.  Yet, here in Luke 11:42 and beyond, Christ is invited to the home of a Pharisee (big time teacher of God's Word) and is criticized for not washing his hands.   Christ uses it to refer to them as "hypocrites".    Wow!   He uses the situation to correct false doctrine.  He uses the situation to reveal their inner heart.   He uses the situation to teach truth.   I am not sure if I could do that.  But, I know that correcting false doctrine is a matter of standing up to it first.  You have to spot it.  You have to use situations to teach it.   Since we are not Christ we should be careful walking into someones home and correcting their foolish traditions.   As I write this I am in a Starbucks on a Saturday morning (surprise here).   My wife has sneezed several times and has received several, hearty "bless you" statements from a fellow patron.  As she emphatically and religiously said, "Bless you," I thought, should I ask if she really means a "blessing" because the sneeze has invoke some kind of spiritual battle going on in my wife's life (the real reason for the tradition of blessing someone who sneezes), or should I let it go?   I let it go.  The lady left.  But, did I miss an opportunity to teach some truth about who God is and how real blessings are given? Christ used this opportunity to stand for truth as he saw any variance from truth as dangerous and corrupt. 

I love sweets!!!!! Really, love sweets!!! Ezekiel 1-6

I love sweets!!!!    To my family that is not a hidden secret.  I doubt if that is a hidden secret to many of my friends.  I happened to be married to a wife who is a master at creating sweets.   It is a perfect match made in heaven.    I can't wait sometimes to have them.  It is, of course, not always good for me.   I have often wished for the perfect sweet that adds no calories, inches or short term fatigue after consumed.   That is were Ezekiel 3:3 comes into play.   Ezekiel is a book we read that contains many challenges.  When comparing it to other Bible books it would have to be in the vain of Paul's meat and not milk.   It opens with an amazing vision Ezekiel is trying to relay to us in words.   That vision is God's Word and it is being read by an angel from a scroll.  The scroll is God's Word.   In Ezekiel 3:3 we read that God instructs Ezekiel to "eat" the scroll.   I am not much into eating scrolls, but can't imagine they taste good.   But, we read that when Ezekiel eats God's Word it became to him sweet - sweet as honey.    Here is the perfect sweet.   Rather than adding fat this sweet (God's Word) cuts the fat.   Rather than adding calories it exercises the flesh and brings it into subjection.   Rather than leaving you fatigued hours after consuming it we find that we are energized and inspired by the taste.   Not everyone who reads God's Word finds it so tasteful.  Some find it boring.  Some find it complex.  Some find it old.   Yet, when consumed with Faith, God's Word is sweet to the taste.  Ezekiel was told to eat and faith and obedience He did.   That made the scroll taste like honey.   When we approach God's Word with faith it will leave a sweet taste in the mouth and great strength in the heart.   I love sweets.  I love His Word.   

Do you believe the words that your read? Proverbs 4

For I give you sound teaching;  Do not abandon my instruction.

A few weeks ago in my corner of the globe a local school superintendent was reprimanded for plagiarism.  Apparently he had written an inspiration piece to his staff that came from something he read rather than something he thought.  He failed to give credit for the "teaching" he was giving and hence was forced to stay after class for some extra assignments.   Lesson learned!!   What we don't know is that probably happens more than we think.   People giving us instruction that is less than "sound."   In this passage from Solomon we are told to listen because Solomon gives "sound" teaching.   It is amazing when we talk about putting our faith in the writings of others how quickly the unbelieving world will criticize us for "blindly" following Holy Writ, when they "easily" accept as sound teaching the mere writings of men, who don't even claim to be inspired by God; or a god.   They will openly admit that what they follow is a "theory" and still try to point holes in our faith when it is based upon the "sound" teaching of God Himself.   So, follow and believe what you have read in the news reports, magazine covers and best sellers.   How choose to follow and believe the "sound" teaching of my instructor: God Himself through the pen of Solomon. 

Do you know all that God does for you? Psalm 69-71

We don't know the sum of some things. We do know the sum of many things. We typically know the sum of our wallets. Usually not that hight. We know the sum of the gas in our car gas tank. Again, not usually high. We can know the sum of the mileage to our homes, our friends, the moon and some stars. We know the sum of many, many things. We learned them all in school, or most of them. However, we do not know the sum of one thing - the great deeds of God. God has done so much that we can't count them, we can calculate them, and we would never be able to describe them. In 71:15 of these Psalms we read, "My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them."   We do not know the sum of God's marvelous deeds.   I doubt if we could recall and number the account of marvelous deeds God has done just for us, much less the all the deeds He has done.  God is in the business of doing good to HIs people and the world in general.  God's Word says that He sends the rain on the just and the unjust.   God is perfect in His deeds to us.   We couldn't count them or calculate them.   They are simply too great for us to know.   When we are busy calculating our pain, our failures and/or our suffering, it is good to know that God is busy doing good deeds to us.  

Does your reputation cause others to ask you questions? 1 Kings 10-13

A man's reputation can draw others to him.   In Solomon's case the Queen of Sheba (an actual historical figure for those who think the Bible to be filled with false spiritual stories) came and spoke to him.   She was full of questions.  In fact it says she revealed all that was in her heart to Solomon. When is the last time someone revealed all that was in there heart to you?  When was the last time you were open to hearing their heart?  When was the last time you were equipped to hear the heart of another.   Christian faith is about that very aspect.  We have all the Wisdom of God indwelling in us through the Son via the ministry of the Spirit. Are we, by our reputation, drawing others to us to answer what is in their hearts? Paul told us to have an answer ready for those who ask the reason of the hope that is in you.    Do we have that answer on our tongues?  The Queen of Sheba was even willing to pay for the wisdom she desired.   But, she was not willing to pay for someone who would talk to her in the same manner others did.  Solomon was different.   God gave him the wisdom to answer her heart.    Do we realize that God can do that same thing for us?  But, unless we study His Word the Spirit is left with no Sword to defend us or enable us. Let's be ready to give an answer by how we conduct our lives and prepare our lives. We are hear as God's voice. But, the only way we are respected as God's voice is if we know God's Words.

Don't be too relaxed in your worship! Leviticus 1-3

God doesn't construct a detailed place to worship and not give a detailed way to worship. The book of Exodus, toward the end, gave the details in the building of the ark, the Holy of Holies, the tent, the priests garments and much more in regard to the utensils needed to worship God in the desert. God was specific about the height and width, the shape and the design. God is a specific God. So, it is no surprise that you don't just rush into this marvelous tent and worship the way you want. Just as God described the shape and sphere of the worship place He describes the way the Israelites approached Him. It says in Leviticus 1:1 that God spoke to Moses out of the Tabernacle.   God wanted him to know that before anyone rushed in to worship there was a way to do that.  Let us not think that in the New Testament age there is much difference.   God did not completely design the Tabernacle in the desert and the way to worship to reflect the sacrifice of His son and then just drop the ball on how we now worship.   We may not have the designs and diagrams of Moses but the spirit of worship is still there.  Let's not be casual in our worship that we forget that God is a God of order, procedure and specifics.   Yes, it is true that we no longer have to go out and cook a cake in a pan and offer it before the alter.   However, that pure cake represented a pure life and coming to God without a pure life is a violation of what God intends in worship.  Note 1 Corinthians 11.   There were many who died in the early church who took the Lord's Table lightly.   God has a way and He expects to find it and follow it.  He will speak to us from the same place He did for Moses ... where He resides ... in our hearts.  

How are you dealing with al the "stuff" in your life? Galatians 4-6

Have you ever wondered why you get sick at the most inopportune times?  Sickness, difficulty and struggles seldom come when we want them ... but, then again, who ever wants them.   In Galatians 4:13 we read Paul's words to the believers in the area of Galatia.  He is reminding them of the great things they have in Christ but as he does so he also reminds them that if it were not for some type of sickness he would never had preach the gospel to them.  Paul must have become ill and had to hold up among them in that illness.  During that time period Paul used the opportunity to preach the gospel.   The fruit of his labor is are the believers in Galatia.   God uses these type of circumstances to move us and hold us where we are to be held.   God used the evilness of Joseph's brothers to get him to Egypt.  He used the sensual behaviors of Potipher's wife to get him in jail.  He used the mistake of one of the Kings servant to get him in contact with the King.   God uses this stuff in our lives to move us.   The next time you are worried about the "stuff" in your life not making any sense or having any purpose or messing up your life, remember this: God is using that stuff to get you in the right place to speak of HIs glory and salvation.   

Have you ever been asked to do too much with too little? Luke 9-10

Have you ever been asked to do some seemingly impossible task with less than enough resources?   Typically, like the disciples are asked here, God asks us to the impossible.  Look at Luke 9:13 when they were asks to feed the 5,000.  At least from our vantage point it looks impossible.   From our vision we can only see the problem.  We can only see 5,000 mouths to feed and tummies to fill.   We can only see the challenge.   We tend to look a the physical limits we have.   The disciples, like us, used their normal way of thinking to solve the problem.  Who has enough food, with them, to feed this many people?   The good news is that someone at least took inventory and found that has some bread and fishes.    I often wonder if this little lunch a boy brought was all that was in the crowd?   In our modern day approach to solving this problem we would have put together a committee to study the reason the crowd was hungry and what policy we could enact to make sure their lack of physical provisions was cared for in the future.   The Food and Beverage Committee, in the future, would be sending out a notice of the upcoming, "Pot-Luck," to make sure all the bases were covered; and then ordered extra meat "just in case."   God doesn't work that way.  Christ wanted them to realize He is the bread of life.  He will provide what we need, both physically and spiritually.  No committee, just Christ.  No normal thinking, just Christ's thinking.  No typically resources, just Christ stretchng and making a miracle out of the normal and natural resources.  To heal the blind man He used the mud.   To feed the Israelites He used the wind to blow in quail.   To feed the widow He stretched the oil in one little bottle for months.  God doesn't view the problem, He views the solution.   Yes, it is tough to do things with limited resources.  It almost feels impossible.  However, with God, is there really "limited" resources?  Or, is it limited faith?

Is God fair? Lamentations

In the midst of difficulty and tragedy and pain it is easy to think God has forgotten us or neglected us. And if we are being disciplined by God we can often think He is being "unfair".   But, to be "unfair" God would have to be "unjust" and "non-righteous."   So, when we read Lamentations which is a book lamenting the bad that has happened to Israel, we should find plenty of "crying" out that God is unfair and unjust.   Yet, in 1:18 we read Jeremiah's words that God is righteous. You can't understand pain, suffering or difficulty until you understand that God is righteous. Because God is righteous, everything He does, or allow (see Job 1) is also righteous. That doesn't mean sin is righteous, but God will use sin to accomplish His work (see Job 2). When we understand that God is righteous then, and only then, can we grasp tragedy and lamenting. Don't try to wrap your mind around pain and suffering without grasping first that God is righteous in all that He does. He is working His plan and we are experiencing that plan even when His plan doesn't fit our needs. 

So, you think your a wise guy? Proverbs 2-3

Do not be wise in your own eyes;  Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Many people, even believers, can relate to this Proverb of Solomon's.   We see men and women every day who are "wise in their own eyes."  That might be better understood for us today as people who think they are right about their philosophy, politics, mores' and/or manners.    We think we are right about what team we route for.  We think we are right about products to buy.  We even think we are right about what coffee shop to frequent ... really, I said that as I hold a Starbucks in my hand.   Don't be wise in your own eyes.  This whole book is about fearing the Lord and getting wisdom from Him.   I recently spoke to a 9th grade Bible class about the book of Proverbs and challenged them to come up with some subject not addressed in Proverbs in some "root" way.  There isn't.  God has wisdom and gives it to us freely in His Word.   Why be wise in your own eyes?  God gives His wisdom away for free!!

Will someone please listen to me? Psalm 66-68

God has not turned away my prayer!!! What a blessed thought. Others seldom listen to me. They often start to listen, but then, as I ramble on, they turn a deaf hear to my whining, my complaint, my request, or my inquire. It is hard to get someone who will just listen. But, in Psalm 66:20 we read, "Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me." The amazing part about this statement is that God listens and listens in love. He doesn't turn away and He doesn't just go through the motions. God gives us an attentive ear that is firmly connected to a loving heart. That may be the definition of true listening. When we are engaged with others and understand their frailty and their sin, but we still listen, than that is God like listening. He doesn't turn away from my constant groaning or from my awkward confessing or from my shallowing requesting. God listens to me and loves me. He gives me His full attention wrapped up on love. I rejoice in that.

Do you naturally burst forth in praise to God? 1 Kings 5-9

God has not turned away my prayer!!! What a blessed thought. Others seldom listen to me. They often start to listen, but then, as I ramble on, they turn a deaf hear to my whining, my complaint, my request, or my inquire. It is hard to get someone who will just listen. But, in Psalm 66:20 we read, "Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me." The amazing part about this statement is that God listens and listens in love. He doesn't turn away and He doesn't just go through the motions. God gives us an attentive ear that is firmly connected to a loving heart. That may be the definition of true listening. When we are engaged with others and understand their frailty and their sin, but we still listen, than that is God like listening. He doesn't turn away from my constant groaning or from my awkward confessing or from my shallowing requesting. God listens to me and loves me. He gives me His full attention wrapped up on love. I rejoice in that.

Do you think you are an island and you can do it alone? Exodust 37-40

"With him there was ... "

This small phrase carries such large meaning.  In Exodus 37-40 we have the story of God using men to make His Tabernacle ... the place where He will dwell.   So, if you think about, God is looking for the right contractor to do the job.   Artistic contractors are a fickle group.   The artistic types seem to run on their own schedule and have a different mindset than the rest of us.   So, in looking for a contractor-artist, God chooses one - Bezalel.   Now by what we read Bezalel seems to be a very capable fellow.  Of the thousands of Israelites, he alone was chosen to head up the project.   But, even the capable Bezalel can't do it alone.   In 38:23 we read that "with him" was Oholiab.   Apparently Oholiab had a special skill set for working with material, while Bezalel had the ability to work with hard woods and metals.   Between the two of them and some other men, God uses the talents He gave man to accomplish the building of the tabernacle.   No matter how skilled one man might be the job is better and more accomplished "with" someone else.   God is still doing that today.   A church is not built with brick and mortar.  It is built with someone with the gift of teaching, of hospitality, of administration, of exhortation, etc.   God builds HIs church the same way He built the tabernacle ... with someone.  And that someone "with" others.   We do not do God's work without a "with."   When we attempt to serve alone we lose sight of God methods and His desires.  When Paul separated from Barnabas in Acts 16 we see he soon joined up with Titus and young Timothy while Barnabas continued with John Mark.   Let's realize that we accomplish more when we are "with" someone than alone.  

Evil piling up on you? It has already been dealt with - Galatians 1-3

Christ died to pay for our eternal punishment, but He also died to save us from this "present" evil (1:4). That thought is a blessed thing to dwell upon. We can rest assured that we never have to pay for our sins, since Christ died on the cross to make that payment. But, that is only aspect of our eternal salvation. Christ died to saves us NOW. His work on the cross saves us and is saving us from this present evil. Big Idea: The present sin and evil in my life only has power over me when I fail to submit to Christ's complete salvation. Christ has saved me completely. Rejoice today over that. Every sin that we struggle with today is a forgiven sin. It is a paid for sin. It is washed in the blood of the Lamb sin. When we dwell on sin in a way that keeps us captive, we are trying to fight that sin again and trying to conquer that sin ourselves. Read 1:4 again - Christ died that He might "rescue" us from this evil age. If you are in a burning building, screaming for help and a fire truck comes with a ladder to get you out, you don't stand there to keep screaming. You take the ladder. What Paul is telling us is that you might still smell the smoke but God put that fire out a long time ago. Claim His "TOTAL" redemption.

How do you know a "thing" is from God? Luke 7-8

Men of God know when God speaks because they know God's Word and God fulfills and speaks in concert with His word.   That statement might seem odd but it is a truth we have to believe and remember.   God will not do anything contrary to His Word.  If you want to know if God is "in it" (whatever you are talking about) than look to see if the thing you are in is "in concert" with God's Word.   God won't lead us contrary to what he already said.   So, when John the Baptist wanted to know if "Jesus" of Mary and Joseph was the Christ (the Messiah), Jesus only had to quote a passage from Isaiah.   John the Baptist would know Isaiah.   He would know that only the Messiah could do what Jesus was doing.   So, John the Baptist didn't have to worry about whether he should go here or go there or believe this or that.   He knew that God will not speak or do contrary to His Word.   That is refreshing to know.  Many things we want to do are not mentioned in God's Word.   But, when are "led" by the Spirit to do them we need to make sure these "things" don't lead us into something that will conflict with a precept, principle, promise or example in the Word.   We will know if the "thing" is of God when we see that it doesn't conflict with God's Word but rather is in concert with it and fulfills it.  

Can't understand God's methods? Read this ... Jeremiah 47-52

We sometimes think that God has it wrong and we have it right.  We see bad things happen and we wonder where God is.  We see evil prevail and we wonder out loud to God, "Why?"   In this section of Jeremiah we see the message turn to the punishment of those evil in the world.  God had, originally, used the nation of Babylon to punish His chosen people Israel (see Haggai for that complex dilemma).   Now, God is going to punish the people He used to punish.   We will never understand that if we don't understand the character and power of God.   In Jeremiah 51:15-18 we see Jeremiah giving the basis for God's actions.  How can God use an evil nation to punish His chosen people and then turn right around and punish that evil nation for their evilness?   The answer is simple: Because He can.   God didn't make the nations (or people) evil.  But, God will use that evilness to HIs glory.   When Job was to be attacked  by Satan, Satan used evil men to crush Job's material goods and family.   God allowed it.   God does not create the evil.  But, He does use the evil to bring ultimate praise to Himself.   If we want to understand God's actions and His movements with our world, Jeremiah is telling us we have to believe in the sovereign will of God and HIs ultimate loving spirit.   You may not understand what God is doing, and you may not like it.  But, everything God does is connected to His ultimate power that is govern by His ultimate love.