But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Luke 12:31-34 NIV
I play a lot of computer games. That may sound silly, but it is my confession and I suppose I could also confess that they have become an idol. Instead of finding fulfillment, I find that the more I concentrate on the games, the more depressed I become. Just like a drug addict, they do not satisfy, but leave me nervous and wanting for more, never to be satisfied.
That is not true of spending time with God and in his word. The more time I spend there, the better my energy and outlook on life become. The things of this world seem to melt away and I can see clearly what life is supposed to be and even what I am supposed to be doing. It is only in seeking the kingdom of God that we find satisfaction. Nothing else compares. Nothing else is more beautiful. Anything else is a very poor substitute.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Monday, September 2, 2013
2 Chronicles 29: Our Only Hope is in God
Our fathers were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the LORD our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the LORD’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. Therefore, the anger of the LORD has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. - 2 Chron. 29:6-9 NIV
Anyone that wants to understand the current world state of affairs, must look no further than Solomon. "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again, he says; there is nothing new under the sun.There is nothing new under the sun." Eccl. 1:9 NIV
Over and over again, history has repeated itself. When rulers and nations follow God, they prosper. When they do not, they always meet the same end, they fall, or as the Chronicler says, they become an "object of dread and horror and scorn...this is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity." We cannot blame the state of our nation on any other enemy. We are the only ones at fault.
In that same vein, regardless of whether it's a nation or an individual, the same fate awaits all of God's children when we choose not to follow him. He will use any means to get our attention. He will raise up our enemies and cause us to seek advice from those who only have their own best interests at heart. Our lives will be thrown into confusion and our minds into captivity. Any hope other than in God is only an illusion.
Anyone that wants to understand the current world state of affairs, must look no further than Solomon. "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again, he says; there is nothing new under the sun.There is nothing new under the sun." Eccl. 1:9 NIV
Over and over again, history has repeated itself. When rulers and nations follow God, they prosper. When they do not, they always meet the same end, they fall, or as the Chronicler says, they become an "object of dread and horror and scorn...this is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity." We cannot blame the state of our nation on any other enemy. We are the only ones at fault.
In that same vein, regardless of whether it's a nation or an individual, the same fate awaits all of God's children when we choose not to follow him. He will use any means to get our attention. He will raise up our enemies and cause us to seek advice from those who only have their own best interests at heart. Our lives will be thrown into confusion and our minds into captivity. Any hope other than in God is only an illusion.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Luke 11: American Eyes
Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.
See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” - Luke 11:34-36 NIV
Years ago, an Indian woman, a native of India who was now living in the United States, told me forlornly, "I still have an Indian heart, but I have American eyes." I fear it is easy for all of us to succumb to "American eyes". We live in such a visual society. We are bombarded on all counts by pictures of the ideal: the ideal body, the ideal car, the ideal vacation, the ideal wife, the ideal job, the ideal house, the ideal clothing, the ideal trinket. As most of us have discovered, getting or achieving the ideal whatever, has not made us happier, and for Christians, we must realize it has not made us more Christ like. On the contrary, chasing after all the things that our eyes have seized a glimpse of has dimmed the light that should be shining. Most of us are very poor examples of what Jesus was telling us to be. We look good, we think we are impressing others, but we are not. We need to stop looking to the world for our light and instead turn our eyes to the light of the world, the only one that can infuse us with the light that illuminates the darkness.
See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” - Luke 11:34-36 NIV
Years ago, an Indian woman, a native of India who was now living in the United States, told me forlornly, "I still have an Indian heart, but I have American eyes." I fear it is easy for all of us to succumb to "American eyes". We live in such a visual society. We are bombarded on all counts by pictures of the ideal: the ideal body, the ideal car, the ideal vacation, the ideal wife, the ideal job, the ideal house, the ideal clothing, the ideal trinket. As most of us have discovered, getting or achieving the ideal whatever, has not made us happier, and for Christians, we must realize it has not made us more Christ like. On the contrary, chasing after all the things that our eyes have seized a glimpse of has dimmed the light that should be shining. Most of us are very poor examples of what Jesus was telling us to be. We look good, we think we are impressing others, but we are not. We need to stop looking to the world for our light and instead turn our eyes to the light of the world, the only one that can infuse us with the light that illuminates the darkness.
Friday, August 30, 2013
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.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
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.
Monday, August 26, 2013
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."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)