Knowing but still conforming - Mark 15-16

Pilate didn't get where he was in life by being stupid or dull. He had to be a sharp leader to gain the power he did in a Roman world of rule. He had to have read all the recent books on leadership and graduated from Roman Leadership U! Yet, when confronted with the decision of what to do with Jesus he did the same thing most leaders do (especially political leaders) ... he gave in to his public. The "fear of man" is such a devastating and crippling disease for leaders. It is a cancer that runs in their backbone. In 15:15 it says he "wished to pleased the crowd" and gave Jesus over to be crucified. He knew Jesus was innocent and he knew the Pharisees only gave Jesus over to him out of envy (15:10), even though he knew, he still conformed to the world and to the popular thing to do. Leadership is about doing the right thing. Pilate choose the crowd pleasing thing. We see so few leaders who will go against popular belief. Leadership today wants an attractive message not a needed message. Leadership today wants and earns power by giving in to the masses and doesn't use the position to lead the masses into what is right. If you are a leader in some form or fashion ... your home, school, church, club, community ... take the opportunity to not lead by popularity and the fear of man, but by truth and the fear of God. Pilate knew better ... but he still did evil.

Political Prayers - Jeremiah 27-31

In this section of Jeremiah the prophet is called upon to deliver some of the hardest messages of any messenger of God. He is asked to deliver a message that may sound like "surrender and giving in" to the enemy. The nation is being taken captive and dismantled month by month by the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. Neb, for short, has a full reign over the earth. God even calls him His servant (27:5,6). Jeremiah's message is so contrary to the people false prophets stand up to him to prevent him from persuading the people to follow his foolish talk (chapter 28). In chapter 29 we read that the people in captivity aren't supposed to try to escape, or even pray for freedom. They are to make themselves at home and multiple. Like when Jacob (Israel) took his sons to Egypt to live under the watchful eye of his son Joseph, Israel (the nation) was to go into captivity and make homes and have children. God would watch over them and after 70 years bring them back to their own country (29:10). They not only were supposed to make themselves comfortable in captivity they were to do something eles while under Neb's watchful eye: They were supposed to pray for Neb's welfare and Neb's nation to prosper. There is one thing to submit to your enemy, but it is even more demanding to pray for your enemy to prosper. But, in 29:7 they were told to pray for the welfare of their captors because the welfare of the captors would benefit their own welfare. They were to pray for the leaders that God had placed them under because God would use those same leaders to bless them. I often wonder if the far right in our country, often made up of men and women of faith, should quit praying for the destruction of the far left and start praying that they would prosper? Have you ever prayed for the left to prosper in this country? Have you prayed for those in political office that you didn't vote for would prosper and be successful. For you own prosperous welfare you would need the leaders to be prosperous. It is funny how we wish the very people who can make our earthly life more comfortable harm. Of course we aren't supposed to be comfortable here, correct? Now you know how difficult Jeremiah's message was to both be delivered and to hear. We are commanded to pray for the prosperity of our leaders (Romans 13). We are to ask God to lead them and provide for us through them. We may not be in captivity (?) but we are to pray for the welfare of our state - our welfare is tied up in their welfare.

God will answer - Job 35-36

Young Elihu continues his defense for God against Job and his three friends. While Job attempted to justify his own human righteousness before his friends; and, while his three friends attempted to imply that Job's circumstances were a result of some hidden sin, Elihu has sat by patiently. He is the picture of Christ. Elihu is there to intercede for God to "reveal" God's mysteries to Job. He is a type of Christ. He tells Job to wait patiently for God as God will deal with both the transgressor and the righteous, eventually. Elihu wants Job to know that he can't add to God via his self-proclaimed righteousness and he can't detract from God because he sins. God is powerful and does see the affairs of man. Elihu wants Job to wait on God. In the midst of any bad circumstance we often want to "do something." We want to try to squirm out of it or fight out of it or talk our way out of it. But, Elihu reminds us all to wait on God. God's timing is not our timing. He often gives "songs in the night" (35:10). We should rejoice in God's perfect timing not toss and turn in our own troubles. God is and will deal with the problems we face. Job's friends didn't tell Job to wait on God and see what God was doing in him and through him. Job did not tell his friends to just wait and see what God was doing. Instead of waiting on God they turned to self-reasoning and mental gymnastics. Trust in God and He will reveal His plan in His time.

Contrast of Hearts - Psalm 51-53

Psalm 51 is of course the great Psalm David wrote during or after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba. David realized his sin (both the act and the cover up) and feel into tremendous guilt and pain. The Psalm records that his sin is "ever before him." He couldn't get it out of his head. Although the pleasures of sin are before us for a moment the outcome of the sin last forever in our minds. Guilt is that thing God gives us to bring us to him. David says in this Psalm that he felt as though his very bones were broken. The guilt of sin had an effect on his physiological condition. We often see psychological depression manifests itself in physical illnesses. David is a walking case study. Yet, he cries out to God. He recognizes God as holy and as compassionate. He cries out based upon God's love and compassion (verse one). Compare and contrast that with Psalm 52 and 53. What Psalm 51 has in depth of God's love and character these two Psalms have in depth of man's depravity and pride. Whereas David was able to submit in humility to God those talked about in Psalm 52 and 53 are covered in pride. They don't feel the guilty that leads to repentance. Instead they see God in anger and rejoice in their sin and their own wisdom. They will be brought down. They will suffer for their pride. But, what is the difference between David and them? The only thing that separates the two is that God worked in David's life and allowed his guilt to manifest itself in true repentance. We sometimes don't see God's hand of mercy in this way. When we feel guilty it is God allow us to sense His holy presence and repent. There are those who sin and have no guilt. They don't turn to God and they don't seek forgiveness. Our guilt, although painful and with internal strife, is there to lead us to repentance. The next time you feel guilty rejoice. God is there to wipe away that guilt and to restore us to Himself. Guilt leads to repentance. repentance leads to rejoicing.

What to do when God says no! 2 Samuel 5-9

We often asked God for things and hope He says yes. We especially believe He will say yes when we want to do something special for Him; some act of service that demonstrates our love for Him and the worthiness of His praise. Who would say no to such a desire? But, that is exactly what happened in our passage today. David wanted to provide God with a worship act: He wanted to build a temple. Although David's spiritual advisor, Nathan, initially said yes, God said NO! God knew that David's heart was right but his reputation was not. God withheld him from a great act of worship because he was a man of war. God would allow David's son to build the temple but not David. So, what do you do when God puts a limit on your service for your past offenses? David kept right on serving where he could. And he kept serving in righteousness and justice (8:15). He even kept extending mercy to Saul's family (chapter 9). When most people can't serve the way they want they up and quit or leave. Most people, when told "no", hear "stop!" Not David. He only heard that God was going to do something great with his family as a result of his obedience - so he keeps obeying. We can stop serving when God tells us no or we can find a way to still practice righteousness and justice and keep on serving. That is the godly leadership thing to do.

Praying for others - Exodus 17-20

The story in Exodus 17 about Moses praying for Joshua as he and the nation of Israel fought the Amalek is a great lesson for us in praying for others. As the account is recorded in Exodus we find Joshua ready to go into battle in the valley against the Amalek. He was to destroy them as a command of the Lord. God would send Moses with Aaron and Hur up on the mountain to watch the battle and to pray over the battle. Moses was to lift the infamous staff up over his head. When he lifted it over his head Joshua and the nation would prevail. When Moses began to tire and his arms lowered the staff Joshua and the army would begin to lose ground. The lesson we have here is obvious: Intercessory prayer matters. Prayer behind the scene is not just an empty exercise but the canvas that holds the scene. God is in the process of doing great work and He uses prayer in the background to accomplish the work. God could have destroyed the Amalek with one breath of air, like He did the Egyptians. But, God choose to use the skills of the Joshua and the army and the intercessory prayer of Moses. But, Moses could not do it alone. Aaron and Hur stood by holding Moses' arms so they wouldn't get tired. Here we have Aaron and Hur interceding for Moses while he is interceding for Joshua. I think I can even get the lesson here! God is going to do a great work on the earth "with us" and that great work includes intercessory prayer for others. We may not be able to see the battle in the same sense that Moses, Aaron and Hur did, but the battle still rages on and on. We need to find a way to be more consistent in our prayer life for others. Making a list; having a prayer schedule; having a prayer partner; having an accountability partner are all ways to make sure we pray. Whatever your need get it done. We need others praying for others. The battle is won or lost on the prayers of the saints for others.

So that we don't trust ourselves - 1 Corinthian 1-3

In this fine book Paul begins by given us a small, but powerful look into his earthly ministry. He wants his readers to know that he has been at the point of suffering and even the point of death. In chapter one we read that Paul "despaired, even of life" (1:8-9). Paul has been to the point of exhaustion in ministry. It is hard to believe that we today can complain about "all we have to do" when we can order on line material goods Paul would never dream of. We can go places so fast Paul would have nightmares just thinking about it. Paul had to deal with such hardships we can only imagine. Yet, his situation was like ours today and for the same purposes: God allows hardships in our lives so that we do not trust in ourselves and we can fully know the power of God; who raises the dead (1 Cor. 1:10). We are so likely to trust in our talents, knowledge or resources when God wants us to lean fully on Him. We are so likely to take credit for good things when God so much wants us to praise Him. We are so likely to want to try to fix it ourselves when God so much is the only One who can. We are to trust in Him and He allows hardships to allow us to see His power ... The power of the Resurrection. It all comes down to the Resurrection. As I write this blog it it is Easter Sunday morning. It is Resurrection Sunday. Mary goes to the tomb to prepare Jesus further for death and instead she discovers Life ... Resurrection Life. The next time you are overwhelmed or outmatched or outnumbered, remember the Resurrection and the power behind it. God overcame death, the greatest power know to man. Jesus is the resurrection and the life.