Luke 10: Something Worth Rejoicing

The seventy–two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” - Luke 10:18-20 NIV

Sometimes, even Christians put emphasis on the wrong things.  We get excited when we see God's power at work in our lives.  But Jesus admitted that even people who were not disciples would be able to perform miracles when he said,    “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ - Matt. 7:21-22 NIV

You want to see power?  Look at Satan, look at the power he has in this world.  Power is not the answer, it is the relationship that is important.  Satan with all of his power ended up being thrown from heaven, falling like lightening.  We have the power and the authority, but we also have our names written in heaven.  That is something that only the children of God are able to say. That is something worth rejoicing about.

2 Chronicles 15: Asa

In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. 
One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. 
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 
When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD ’s temple. 
Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. - 2 Chron. 15:5-9 NIV

At first glance, it would seem that Israel should have been the most successful of the two nations formed when the kingdoms of Rehoboam and Jeroboam split.  Judah consisted of only two tribes, Judah and Benjamin plus the Levites.  The rest of the tribes split off under the leadership of Jeroboam.  After a rocky start under Rehoboam when he refused to follow the Lord God, he came to his senses and Judah began to prosper.  That prosperity continued under Rehoboam's son, Abijah, and his son, Asa.  So much so that large numbers of the tribes that represented Israel moved into Judah's territory when they saw that God was with them. 

Sometimes, all it takes is standing up for God and against evil to turn the tide of nations.  Israel would meet it's demise more than a hundred years before the fall of Jerusalem, by which time, Judah had forsaken God as well.  It may seem foolhardy to follow after God when nations and cities are being crushed by one another, but it was God that was bringing about the distress and in that instance, the only solution is to fall on the Rock that is Higher.  Any other response will result in crushing defeat.

Luke 9: You Give Them Something to Eat

Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 
He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” - Luke 9: 12-13 NIV

This is such a familiar scene.  We see the needs all around us and don't know what to do.  We know that we don't have the tools, so our response is to look at our limited resources and then try to foist the needs off on someone else.  Meanwhile, God is telling us to do something about the situation.  "We can't do it we cry, we don't have enough to solve their problems.  Our purses are almost empty.  It's all we can do to take care of ourselves."  All the while we proclaim to be following a God of unlimited capabilities.  We may have seen Him calm the waves, but there are some things that are just impossible.  Send the people away, send them into the village, perhaps someone there will have pity on them.  Perhaps they can scrape enough together to take care of themselves. 

Jesus doesn't argue with us.  He just says, 'Have them sit down", and proceeds to show us what can be done with only five loaves and two fishes.  That power could be ours as well, but most of us have not learned how to harness it.  Instead we rely on the obvious to meet peoples needs:  social workers, psychiatrists, doctors, hospitals, food banks, charitable organizations or the government.  What a difference we could make if we truly believed.

2 Chronicles 5: One Voice of Praise

The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud,  and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. -2 Chron.. :513-14 NIV

Oh, how I wish we could experience what Israel experienced the few times that they became one voice in praising God.  Can you imagine what would happen today if our worship was such that the churches suddenly filled with a cloud and the preachers were unable to go any further.  Surely, we have the instruments, we have the voices, but something is missing.  Our worship today is too choreographed and, too self-centered on the individual experience for the instruments and voices to unite as one in praise and thanks to the Lord.  Our songs are not those that would invite the cloud of the Lord either.  They are too filled with "I" and "my" and "me" to ever let praise and thanksgiving escape. 

It's not complicated, it's not difficult to sing praise, because in truth, "He is good; his love endures forever."  That is all we need to concentrate on.  We don't have to beg for the Spirit to fall, we don't need to cry for our eyes to be opened.  We just need to praise and exalt the Lord with hearts that really mean it, with hearts that acknowledge that "He is good; his love endures forever." 

Vacation

I have started trying to do a better job of recording my observations from my daily devotions once more.  Although I have not posted much in the last couple of years, I have not neglected my devotions, just this blog.  When I started a few years ago, I felt compelled to write something every day.  Somewhere along the line, it became just another job that had to be done.  That was not what the original purpose of this blog.

Since I started re-writing,  I will be coming at it from a different angle.  If there is something that I want to write, I will write.  If not, then there will be nothing and that's ok.  The original purpose of this blog was to share my walk with those who would listen, not to make an idol of it. 

That being said, we are leaving today for a two week vacation in Russia.  I will continue to read my Bible while we are gone, but there may be no time for posting.  Since most of the audience I used to have disappeared during my hiatus, probably no one will take note, but I want to leave this bookmark so I will pick up my writing once we return.

1 Chronicles 16-21: The Lord Reigns

But Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?” - 1 Chron. 21:13 NIV

Even the most Godly of us sometimes do stupid things.  King David was not the exception.  The obvious story is the one of David and Bathsheba, but the one related in 1 Chronicles 21 is just as telling.

David has become king, the Ark has been brought to Jerusalem with great celebration.  David commits to Asaph and the rest of the priests a song of praise to the Lord.

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. - 1 Chron. 16:8-11 NIV

Then he decides to number the people.  Did his pride get in the way, did David all of a sudden think, look what I have done, look what I have built, look what I have accomplished?

Joab saw the folly in his ways and David was do so shortly thereafter when the sword of the angel of the Lord began to take it's toll on the people. David learned his lesson.  The sword of the angel of the Lord was greater than anything he could build, any army he could amass. 

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his^[e] holiness.
Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns - 1 Chron. 16:16-31 NIV

The Lord reigns!

1 Chronicles 15: The Right Way

Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 
He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 
It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way. ”
So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. 
And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD. - 1 Chron 15:11-15 NIV

There's a right way and a wrong way to do things.  David figured this out after his first unsuccessful attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.  Before a second attempt was made, David decided that they should inquire of the Lord "how to do it in the prescribed way." As is usual with most of us, David first had to learn the lesson the hard way.  Not inquiring of God created the situation where Uzzah was struck dead after accidentally touching the Ark. David's first response was to be angry with God, but eventually he saw that God was only being God, the only thing he can be. 

How often do we take matters into our own hands, do things our way, only to discover that our efforts are useless without consulting the Lord. 

O what peace we often forfeit,
  O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
  Everything to God in prayer

from What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Luke 8: Consider How You Listen

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.  Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” - Luke 8:16-18 NIV

Sometimes I read the Bible for hours, well perhaps not hours, but I feel like I read and read and nothing speaks to me.  At other times, I just pick it up and something jumps out at me.  Such is the case with this passage.  I have read the story of the sower many time and have always understood that it is speaking about how different people receive the gospel and react to it, never really paying attention to the end of the story where Jesus talks about those who have more being given more and how that relates to how we listen.

The Gospel, the Truth, is all out there for us.  It is not hidden but waiting to be discovered.  Jesus didn't come to just show us healings, miracles and good deeds.  He came to show us the Father, to show us God.  Do you realize that is possible, that we can see God, the creator of the universe.  We can see him?  What a wonder that is, that scripture, this living Word, can reveal God to us.  Jesus lit the light of the Gospel and put it out there for all to see.  It is not hidden, it is not disguised.  What we must consider is how we receive it, or as Jesus said, how we listen.  If we listen (or read) with open hearts, we will discover more and more and more.  If we try to use the Word to just prove our point, if it becomes our weapon for beating unbelievers or even ourselves , we will lose it.  The meaning of God's word will disappear.

1 Chronicles 13: Blessed by God

When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 
The LORD ’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God. 
Then David was angry because the LORD ’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. 
David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”
He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed–Edom the Gittite.
The ark of God remained with the family of Obed–Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had. - 1 Chron. 13:9-14 NIV

This story has always fascinated me.  Why was Uzzah killed for touching the Ark while Obed-Edom, who was a Philistine rather than an Israelite, was blessed during the Ark's stay at his house.  This must say something about the difference in the responsibilities of those who are the children of God and those who are not.  There is a different and higher expectation for God's chosen.  We cannot treat Him, His commandments, or the gospel lightly.  There will be consequences for doing so.  That is not true for those who are of the world.  They do not have the same requirements, and contrary to what many of us think is fair, they are often blessed by God for no reason other than they have come into his presence.  What would explain Jesus healing even those who were not his chosen disciples, those who did nothing more than reach out a hand to touch the hem of his garment? What would explain Jesus feeding the five thousand when they were probably not all believers?

God extends a gracious hand to all.  Did Obed-Edom start following the God of Israel?  Was he aware of the grace that had been given to him for hosting the Ark?  It's not ours to know, but for at least three months, Obed-Edom was blessed by God.

NOTE:  After further reading, it has become clear that Obed-Edom was not a Philistine...he was of the Levite clan, but my thoughts that God expects more of his chosen people than others still stand. 

Luke 7: Look What the Lord Has Done

When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’” 
At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. - Luke 7:20-22 NIV

Sometimes I think the gospel gets lost because we go around telling people how they should act rather than what we have seen.  Have we not seen the Savior, have we not heard what He said and received forgiveness and healing at His hands.  That's what people need and what they really want to know.  Is he the one?  Is He the one who can heal my dying child, cure my disease, fill this aching hole in my heart?

More often than not, we're the ones standing around the woman caught in adultery, itching to see her pay for her sins.  Jesus's response to those surrounding her, and to us as well, is "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."  People would be crowding around us to hear how they could be changed rather than running the other way.  Instead of a message filled with unbearably righteous indignation towards the world's sins, our message should always be, 'Look what the Lord has done."

Luke 6: Blessed are the Poor

Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. - Luke 6:20-24 NIV

Most of us don't want to be like Jesus.  We say we do, but our actions belie our words.  Very few Christians today are confessing that they want to be poor.  In fact, the opposite is true:  we are being taught to confess that anything we want can be ours.

How then do we reconcile these words from Jesus.  "He can't have meant poor"' we ask, "as in the case of no money, could he?"   Well, I think he did.  This is not the only instance where Jesus addresses the issue of wealth versus poverty. 

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.- Luke 18:25, NIV

Lest one think this is not that important, the phrase is repeated verbatim in three of the four gospels:  Matthew 19:24 and Mark 10:25 in addition to the above reference in Luke.  Jesus' attitude towards wealth is further illustrated in Matthew, Mark, and Luke by the story of the rich young ruler.

A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said,
“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! - Luke 18:18-24 NIV

How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.  Those are Jesus' words, not mine.  Looking around at this nation which seems to become more fallen with each passing day, I often wonder if it isn't our wealth that has brought us to this point.  We really don't need God, we can take care of ourselves, we can take care of others. We've got all we could possibly need.

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? - Luke 9:25 NIV

 

What good is it indeed?