Jesus’ Secret Identity

ALL – Psalm 72:1-20
ALL – Proverbs 12:8-9
OT – Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20
NT – Luke 9:7-27

Did you know that there are “748 total causes of symptom Confusion”? When I googled “types of confusion” today, the first website that was listed in the search results list was www.wrongdiagnosis.com, and the little description under it is where I found this interesting bit of trivia. “748 total causes of symptom Confusion.” That’s a lot of opportunities to be confused.

But I’m guessing there’s one cause that’s not listed on this website: sinful refusal to believe the truth.

As Jesus continued his ministry a couple thousand years ago, people began to take a guess at His identity. So he went to the disciples and asked them what they were hearing:

One day as he was alone, praying, with his disciples nearby, he came over and asked them, “Who are the people saying I am?” – Luke 9:18, The Living Bible

There were plenty of guesses, plenty of ideas—and plenty of confusion. No one really knew Jesus’ identity. But then Jesus asked His disciples another question.

Then he asked them, “Who do you think I am?” Peter replied, “The Messiah—the Christ of God!” – Luke 9:20, The Living Bible

Jesus let His disciples know that they were right. He is the Christ. He is the Son of God. And in Matthew we read that His identity was revealed to them by God.

But the confusion over His identity is still going on. 2000 years later, people are still taking wild, confusing guesses at who Jesus really is/was. These confusing guesses keep happening despite the fact that God has revealed Jesus’ identity not just to Peter and the apostles, but to the whole world. In Romans we learn how God revealed Jesus’ identity to the entire world: Jesus “was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:4, NIV).

We are approaching Easter—Resurrection Sunday. Because of the resurrection, there is no real reason to be confused about Jesus' identity--apart from sinful refusal to believe the truth. Are you confused about who Jesus is? Do you know anyone who’s still confused? Take this annual opportunity to point yourselves and your neighbors to God’s perfect revelation of Jesus’ otherwise secret identity. Show them how Jesus’ resurrection declares that He is the Christ, the Son of God.

What would keep you from revealing Jesus’ identity?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

He Has Done Great Things

ALL – Psalm 70:1-5
ALL – Proverbs 12:4
OT – Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32
NT – Luke 8:22-39

Testimonies. What are they about? How awful we used to be? How great we are now?

I don’t think so. I hope that’s not what people get from our testimonies. “Look at that guy! He used to be a total jerk, but now he’s awesome! Don’t you want to be like him?” If that’s all that comes out of our testimonies, then almost nothing has been gained.

When Jesus drove legions of demons out of one particular man, the man wanted to follow Jesus instead of going back to his home town. But Jesus gave him an assignment:

“Go back to your family,” he told him, “and tell them what a wonderful thing God has done for you.” – Luke 8:39, The Living Bible

Point to God! Point to God! Point to God! What a wonderful assignment!

How often do we spend our time mumbling about how life’s doing when we could be telling people the wonders of God? Jesus left us here for a reason, just like the man he delivered way back then. Are we taking His assignment seriously?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

The rest of the week's readings:

March 30, 2010

ALL – Psalm 71:1-24
ALL – Proverbs 12:5-7
OT – Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23
NT – Luke 8:40-9:6

March 31, 2010

ALL – Psalm 72:1-20
ALL – Proverbs 12:8-9
OT – Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20
NT – Luke 9:7-27

April 1, 2010

ALL – Psalm 73:1-28
ALL – Proverbs 12:10
OT – Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20
NT – Luke 9:28-50

April 2, 2010

ALL – Psalm 74:1-23
ALL – Proverbs 12:11
OT – Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30
NT – Luke 9:51-10:12

April 3, 2010

ALL – Psalm 75:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 12:12-14
OT – Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19
NT – Luke 10:13-37

April 4, 2010

ALL – Psalm 76:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 12:15-17
OT – Deuteronomy 26:1-27:28
NT – Luke 10:38-11:13

When Satan Wins

ALL – Psalm 69:19-36
ALL – Proverbs 12:2-3
OT – Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22
NT – Luke 8:4-21

Which people can Satan keep out of heaven?

Yikes! That’s not a fun question, for sure. But in one of Jesus’ parables, it seems like it’s a reality for some people that Satan can actually take Jesus’ words out of certain people’s hearts. What’s this mean? How does this work?

Well, as Jesus was explaining his parable, this is what He said:

The hard path where some seed fell represents the hard hearts of those who hear the words of God, but then the devil comes and steals the words away and prevents people from believing and being saved. – Luke 8:12, The Living Bible

Satan’s ability to steal God’s words away from people’s hearts is related to their hearts’ condition. And the kind of hearts that Satan can steal God’s words from are hardened hearts.

The next question is whether we have hardened hearts or not. And to be honest, some who are reading this may have hardened hearts. It’s a real spiritual heart condition, so the chances are that some of us really have this condition. But who? Who has a hardened heart? Who is vulnerable to Satan’s thievery of God’s Word?

Well, Hebrews 3:13 gives us a clue. It says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (NIV). Hardening comes from sin. Specifically, it comes from the deceitfulness of sin. Sin is deceptive. Even as we sin, we convince ourselves that we’re ok. Initially, sin deceives us by saying, “It was just a little sin. I’m not really such a bad person. At least I didn’t do what so-and-so did the other day.” And because we’re listening to our sins rather than God’s words, our hearts are hardened against hearing God’s words. And the sins get worse. And the deception gets worse. And eventually it no longer matters to us whether we’re listening to God or not, or even whether we’re good or not.

A hard heart won’t even consider God’s words. They don’t sink in at all. And Satan doesn’t have a hard time quickly snatching God’s words away from a heart that isn’t trying to listen to God.

Have you been ignoring God, believing sin, believing its lies, following its enticements? Your heart is all the more vulnerable to Satan’s work of snatching God’s words of life away from you. Salvation’s chances of taking root are lowered.

Find believers. Listen to their encouragements. Do what they encourage. Follow God and His commands. Be willing to be good. And then listen. Listen to God. Soak His words deeply into your life. God’s words will produce life in you.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Love One Another

The message, preached on March 21st, 2010, covered 1 John 3:11-24, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. We’re commanded to love God and love our neighbors. But love only comes from God; we need the Holy Spirit to live in us and work love in and through us. Love essentially means to help people live. And despite the apparent burden of God’s command to love (because of our natural, sinful inability), love actually gives Christians great confidence before God. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

He Did It!...Or Did He?

ALL – Psalm 68:1-18
ALL – Proverbs 11:28
OT – Deuteronomy 4:1-49
NT – Luke 6:39-7:10

I find that adults really haven’t grown up all that much. Not just a few of us. All of us.

Think about it. Watch some kids. See what happens when someone—anyone—tries to confront them about doing something wrong.

“I didn’t do it.”

“Michael did it.”

“Emma did it”

Or, if they’re at least willing to admit that they hit, or screamed at, or pulled another kid’s hair: “Emma made me.” “Michael made me.” “It wasn’t my fault.”

Adults do the same thing. We still seek to justify ourselves. We either seek to deny that we did anything wrong, or if we did something wrong, we STILL try to show people that it wasn’t our fault, that we have good hearts. Something happened, and we had to make the best of a bad situation. Someone else made us angry, and we responded wrongly. She seduced us and led us into adultery. We couldn’t help it!

It’s always someone else’s fault, someone else’s responsibility, someone else’s problem. Even if we admit our sin, in some way someone else’s sin or some outside situation is the real problem. Not us. Not our hearts. Not our choices.

Jesus puts that myth to rest:

A good man produces good deeds from a good heart. And an evil man produces evil deeds from his hidden wickedness. Whatever is in the heart overflows into speech. – Luke 6:45, The Living Bible

Whatever is in the heart overflows. Into speech, yes, but into deeds, too. This verse talks about both. Our hearts are the real problem. Yes, we may face terrible circumstances. We may even face terrible opponents. But the way we respond to them is not their decision. It’s ours. And the choice we make is, in each circumstance, the choice we most wanted to make. Of course we wouldn’t have chosen to commit our particular sin in a more comfortable setting! But in a painful, frustrating, or even scary setting, we acted the way we most wanted to act. And it revealed our hearts.

God is God not just when times are good. But when they’re bad. Do you think He gave us His Word to guide us only through the easy times of life? Of course not! As much as we need His guidance during the easy days, it’s the tough days where we really have to lean on His wisdom, His grace, His faithfulness, His righteousness. It’s the tough days—and the tough people—who help to reveal our hearts. But it’s not their fault our hearts are the way they are.

Let’s ask God to help us confess our sins, confess our wrong thoughts, confess our wrong desires, and confess our need for Him.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Happiness and Sorrow

ALL – Psalm 67:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 11:27
OT – Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29
NT – Luke 6:12-38

What makes you sad? Pain? Being excluded? Insults? Being treated unfairly or unkindly? These wrongs and difficulties are the basis for many of the sad days I’ve experienced.

What makes you happy? Comfort? Wealth? Laughter and jokes? Being included? Receiving praises? Being super-respected? These certainly make me feel good.

At least, they did. But ever since Jesus expressed His perspective on these things, I’ve had to wrestle with my feelings. Apparently I am getting things backwards. I find happiness in the wrong things—in shallow things that won’t last. And I become sad for shallow reasons, too, when deep and wonderful gifts have been given to me and should give me joy!

What happiness it is when others hate you and exclude you and insult you and smear your name because you are mine! When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For you will have a great reward awaiting you in heaven. And you will be in good company—the ancient prophets were treated that way, too! But, oh, the sorrows that await the rich. For they have their only happiness down here. They are fat and prosperous now, but a time of awful hunger is before them. Their careless laughter now means sorrow then. And what sadness is ahead for those praised by the crowds—for false prophets have always been praised. – Luke 6:22-26, The Living Bible

So what should make us happy? Being included with Jesus and His family seems like the right answer. And what should make us sad? Having our best life now without any relationship with Jesus and His family—a tragedy in the making!

Are you happy? Or sad? And why? It’s so easy for our perspectives to get misguided by our feelings. Let’s look to Jesus and learn to let our perspectives shape our feelings, walking by faith and finding His happiness and joy.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

When New Wine is Better

ALL – Psalm 66:1-20
ALL – Proverbs 11:24-26
OT – Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46
NT – Luke 5:29-6:11

I don’t know much about wine. But I know enough to say that those who love wines tend to prefer the old ones. The best ones have aged for decades, according to connoisseurs.

Jesus knew that people develop a taste for the old. And, comparing Himself and His ministry to new wine, Jesus noted:

But no one after drinking the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new. “The old ways are best,” they say. – Luke 5:39, The Living Bible

Jesus is still new to many people. Many people reject Him because they prefer their old ways. But in Jesus’ case, there is simply no better “wine” than Him. No other attempt to approach God realizes that mankind depends on God’s intervention; no other approach points to humanity’s sinfulness and God’s righteousness so clearly; no other religions demonstrate God’s justice so fully, nor can they demonstrate such grace; no other view offers such hope; no other view can promise such transformation; no other approach can set men’s hearts at rest like this; no other God stepped into history as a man, determined to re-create His broken creation to be like Himself.

Won’t you drink the new wine and set aside whatever old wine you’ve been contenting yourself with?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Being the Church - Video

I just watched and would like to share a helpful video about what it means to be the church. Pastor Daniel Montgomery of Sojourn Community Church keeps it simple, but shares some big concepts from God that can transform the way we look at ourselves as the church.

Church 101 from Sojourn Community Church on Vimeo.

Forgiveness or Healing – Which is Better?

ALL – Psalm 65:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 11:23
OT – Numbers 33:40-35:34
NT – Luke 5:12-28

When I began to work at Toccoa Falls College as an Application Coordinator in the Admissions Office, my supervisor was already a very sick lady. She had been battling cancer. Courageously. She was a Christian, and her trust was in her Lord Jesus Christ. She had found forgiveness of her sins through Him. But now she was sick, and growing more sick. And she wanted to be healed. We prayed for her to be healed.

Often when we read about Jesus’ ministry to the sick or disabled, we hear Him say, “I am willing to heal you. Rise and walk,” or something along those lines. We get used to those words. We find them to be extremely comforting. Jesus seems to put such a priority on healing people’s sick bodies. We know Jesus cares.

But in Luke we read the story of a paralyzed man. His friends had to work extra hard to bring him to Jesus. Jesus was inside a house, and they couldn’t even approach Jesus because of how crowded the place was. Their creative solution? This paralyzed man’s friends lowered him on his mat through a hole they made in the roof of the house! Obviously they were hoping for healing.

But Jesus’ first words to this paralyzed man weren’t, “Be healed.” Instead, Luke records this:

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “My friend, your sins are forgiven!” – Luke 5:20, The Living Bible

Jesus first words to the man were not healing, but forgiveness. It is only after some religious leaders challenge Jesus’ authority to forgive sins that Jesus turns to heal the man. The way the story reads, Jesus actually heals the paralyzed man more as evidence of His own authority to forgive sins than anything else. But finally the paralyzed man hears the words from Jesus’ lips:

Pick up your stretcher and go on home, for you are healed! – Luke 5:25, The Living Bible

The response?

And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat and went home praising God! – Luke 5:26, The Living Bible

Our attention is usually drawn to the fact that this man was healed. That’s what impresses us: the reality that he jumped to his feet, picked up his mat and went home. But what about the last two words in Luke 5:26, “praising God.” Do we notice those? Perhaps the man was praising God merely for his healing. But what if those two words are meant to indicate that his relationship with God had been healed? What if the fact that he was praising God had more to do with Jesus’ words, “Your sins are forgiven,” than His words, “You are healed”?

Which is better? Forgiveness? Or healing? A restored relationship with God or a restored body? If you say “healing,” what makes it better? If you say “forgiveness,” do you really believe that? Seriously? How often do we thank God for His forgiveness?

The Rest of the Week's Readings:
March 23, 2010

ALL – Psalm 66:1-20
ALL – Proverbs 11:24-26
OT – Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46
NT – Luke 5:29-6:11

March 24, 2010

ALL – Psalm 67:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 11:27
OT – Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29
NT – Luke 6:12-38

March 25, 2010

ALL – Psalm 68:1-18
ALL – Proverbs 11:28
OT – Deuteronomy 4:1-49
NT – Luke 6:39-7:10

March 26, 2010

ALL – Psalm 68:19-35
ALL – Proverbs 11:29-31
OT – Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25
NT – Luke 7:11-35

March 27, 2010

ALL – Psalm 69:1-18
ALL – Proverbs 12:1
OT – Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20
NT – Luke 7:36-8:3

March 28, 2010

ALL – Psalm 69:19-36
ALL – Proverbs 12:2-3
OT – Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22
NT – Luke 8:4-21

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Jesus: Son of God

ALL – Psalm 62:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 11:18-19
OT – Numbers 28:16-29:40
NT – Luke 3:23-38

Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry. Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph’s father was…Adam; Adam’s father was God. – Luke 3:23, 38.

Why? Why does this genealogy include God? What does it mean? Is this intended to point out Jesus’ divinity? The fact that there are 76 MEN’s names between God and Jesus creates some difficulty for making that point, unless you want to say that each man in the genealogy had a “spark” of the divine in him, or something like that. Besides, Jesus wasn’t actually Joseph’s son. Jesus was legally Joseph’s son, but Joseph wasn’t his physical father. So divinity wouldn’t have been passed through this lineage, anyway.

Don’t get me wrong. I believe Jesus is God, the Son of God. He’s divine. What Luke said in Luke 1:35 is just a part of the Bible’s evidence of Jesus’ divinity, and there’s plenty more. Even this genealogy seems to be a reminder that Jesus is divine.

I’m just saying that, because it’s a genealogy and includes many people who were definitely not divine, tracing Jesus’ lineage back to God is probably trying to communicate something else, besides His divinity. What could it be?

I really don’t know for sure, but here are a couple of ideas I’ve come up with:

1) Jesus is King. What was Adam created to do? Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ ” Adam was made a ruler, King and Lord of the earth. As we follow the lineage from God through Adam toward Jesus, we find that one of Jesus’ ancestors is King David, and God promised, “David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel” (Jeremiah 35:19, NIV). Jesus is that King, that ultimate man who stands as the son of God, the ruler of the world.

2) Jesus is the Righteous Man. In a sense, this is a variation of the “Jesus is King” idea. When God created Adam, Adam was righteous. He had never sinned. He was capable of representing God on earth. But with Adam’s fall into sin, his ability to represent God perfectly was damaged. God is the God of life, and Adam’s sin brought death to the world God had created. The first man, the son of God by creation, could no longer work the life that a son of God ought to work. But Jesus, the descendant of this first man, is also a man, a son of God by creation. And through His righteousness, Jesus has given mankind the opportunity to return to their righteous, life-giving rule. Jesus is the Righteous Man, the ultimate son of God. Through His righteous life, all may gain life. “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22, NIV).

Is Jesus the divine Son of God? Yes! But Jesus is also the human son of God. He is all that man was intended and created to be. He is righteous, and He is the life-giving ruler over all God’s creation. Praise God that through Jesus Christ, we who hope in Him are being restored as sons of God, too, so that “the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Romans 8:21, NIV).

Are you receiving and giving the freedom of the children of God, the freedom that comes to mankind and all creation through THE son of God, Jesus Christ?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Even Jesus Scared His Parents

ALL – Psalm 60:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 11:15
OT – Numbers 26:1-51
NT – Luke 2:36-52

Boys will be boys. But usually we don’t think of Jesus that way. We don’t think of Him as the kind of boy who could upset His parents at all. We like to think that He was so aware of His parents’ desires and worries that He took care to never ever upset them—and that He succeeded. But even Jesus scared His parents. At least once.

They had gone to Jerusalem for the Passover, and afterwards they were traveling home in a large caravan of people. Mary and Joseph didn’t know where their twelve year old Jesus was, but they assumed that He was with other boys in the caravan. Oops! Bad assumption, it turned out. After realizing Jesus was missing and searching for Him about three days, they finally found Him in the temple.

His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son!” his mother said to him. Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” – Luke 2:48, The Living Bible

They were scared. Jesus had done something they didn’t expect. Not rudely. Not inconsiderately. Jesus’ response to this question indicates that He simply assumed they would know where He wanted to be: in the temple. So Jesus wasn’t inconsiderate. But somewhere along the way, Jesus’ choice and His parents’ expectations didn’t quite meet, and Jesus scared His parents by going missing for three days.

The passage concludes:

Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them; and his mother stored away all these things in her heart. – Luke 2:51, The Living Bible

Jesus may have been surprised that His parents were frantic and uncertain of where He was, but that didn’t make Him argumentative or disrespectful. He obeyed Mary and Joseph and honored them rather than mocking or ridiculing them for not understanding His way of thinking. Such an obedient—sinlessly obedient—son. And yet even Jesus scared His parents.

I wonder sometimes if we parents set our expectations too high, and it’s more our fault that we get scared than our kids’ faults. We need to teach our kids to be obedient, but to expect them never to surprise us, even by accident? That’s asking a lot.

It’s worth asking the question, “How might I be expecting too much of my kids?” Father, help me to be an understanding father, and Christy to be an understanding mother. And please, keep our kids from scaring us too badly…even if they’re doing good things.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Christ is Our Righteousness

The message, preached on March 14th, 2010, covered 1 John 3:4-10, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. There are pseudo-righteousnesses out there. And plenty of people don’t see Christians as righteous. The good news for us is not that we have achieved righteousness, but that Jesus, the Righteous One, has made us righteous. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Life as a Child of God

The message, preached on March 7th, 2010, covered 1 John 2:28-3:3, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. It’s a fact: Christians are God’s children. But too often we take it as merely a fact. The implications of being God’s children are mind-blowing, giving us great hope and anticipation! We are greatly loved, even if our neighbors don’t see it, and we’re called to live like our Father. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

My Bucket List

ALL – Psalm 59:1-17
ALL – Proverbs 11:14
OT – Numbers 24:1-25:18
NT – Luke 2:1-35

The concept of a bucket list is a fun one. It admits that death is coming, but insists on living life fully in the meantime. What do you want to do before you kick the bucket? What experiences would qualify for your list? What do you want to be remembered for? What will make your life meaningful and worthwhile?

For a man named Simeon, the answer was, “I want to see Jesus.” In fact, God had promised him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. So one day, as an old man in the temple courts, the Holy Spirit directed Simeon toward a young couple, Mary and Joseph, who were carrying a baby in their arms.

“Lord,” he said, “now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!” – Luke 2:29-31, The Living Bible

“Now I can die content.” Jesus was Simeon’s bucket list. For Simeon, a worthwhile life was a life that knew God’s Savior was here, a life lived in the knowledge that God is fulfilling His promises, a life that sees God’s glory in the face of God’s Son. Simeon saw Jesus, and the words that burst from his lips were, “Lord, now I can die content.”

Can you say that? Have you met Jesus? Have you realized that He is God’s Messiah, the Savior of the world? Have you understood that, because Jesus has come, you can die content? That you can die knowing that salvation is coming, salvation even from death itself? That with Jesus, your sins are forgiven and you are now safe, secure in the arms of the Savior? What’s your bucket list? Is it to know this Jesus and make Him known?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

A Father’s Dream for His Son

ALL – Psalm 58:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 11:12-13
OT – Numbers 22:21-23:30
NT – Luke 1:57-80

Dads love to imagine how great their sons will become, what they will accomplish, how respectable and honorable they will be. Zachariah had the best gift a father could have; he didn’t have to dream (though he could still imagine)—he knew!

And you, my little son, shall be called the prophet of the glorious God, for you will prepare the way for the Messiah. – Luke 1:76, The Living Bible

On the one hand, Zechariah knew that his son would not be the greatest man who ever lived. Bummer.

But on the other hand, Zechariah’s son John would be the man who had the joy of preparing the way for the Messiah. Zechariah knew it. John would know it. No matter how difficult his life might become, this boy’s work would have great value, because it would point the world toward the Christ. Even today, 2000 years later, John’s ministry is evidence to the world that Jesus really is the Christ! Amazing!

I have two boys, and neither of them has any hope of being the greatest man of all history. Jesus, the Christ, has already come, and they can’t top Him. Still, as a father, I dream of seeing them grow into the kind of men whose lives point the world to Jesus. May my sons lives be significant because people come to know that Jesus is the Christ through them!

What are some other great hopes we can have for our children? What are some favorite prayers you pray for your kids?

Note: The rest of the week's readings can be found below.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

March 16, 2010

ALL – Psalm 59:1-17
ALL – Proverbs 11:14
OT – Numbers 24:1-25:18
NT – Luke 2:1-35

March 17, 2010

ALL – Psalm 60:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 11:15
OT – Numbers 26:1-51
NT – Luke 2:36-52

March 18, 2010

ALL – Psalm 61:1-8
ALL – Proverbs 11:16-17
OT – Numbers 26:52-28:15
NT – Luke 3:1-22

March 19, 2010

ALL – Psalm 62:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 11:18-19
OT – Numbers 28:16-29:40
NT – Luke 3:23-38

March 20, 2010

ALL – Psalm 63:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 11:20-21
OT – Numbers 30:1-31:54
NT – Luke 4:1-30

March 21, 2010

ALL – Psalm 64:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 11:22
OT – Numbers 32:1-33:39
NT – Luke 4:31-5:11

Is He Dead? Is He Alive?

ALL – Psalm 55:1-23
ALL – Proverbs 11:7
OT – Numbers 16:41-18:32
NT – Mark 16:1-20

Have you ever had a close friend or family member die? Who? Have you ever wished you could see them again or hear them? Don’t you ache for them? Wouldn’t it be best, most memorable news in the world if an angel showed up at the funeral and told you they were alive?

That’s what happened to several ladies a few days after Jesus’ death. They went to His tomb, prepared to embalm Him, but unsure of how to move aside an enormous stone that covered the entrance to His tomb.

But when they arrived they looked up and saw that the stone—a very heavy one—was already moved away and the entrance was open! So they entered the tomb—and there on the right sat a young man clothed in white. The women were startled, but the angel said, “Don’t be so surprised. Aren’t you looking for Jesus, the Nazarene who was crucified? He isn’t here! He has come back to life! Look, that’s where his body was lying. – Mark 16:4-6, The Living Bible

I don’t think I would know what to do with this kind of announcement. It turns out that the women didn’t know what to do, either, initially. They were confused and scared. But this was the beginning of the good news. Jesus really had risen from the dead!

You know what? Part of the reason this is good news is that Jesus rose from the dead. But part of the reason that this is good news has to do with your friends and families. The idea at the beginning, that it would be awesome for them to come back to life, is a very real possibility! Because Jesus rose from the dead, all those who hope in Him and live by His Spirit will also rise one day! The good news about Jesus’ resurrection will be multiplied thousands, millions—even billions, perhaps—of times over!

What would you do to bring your friends and family back to life? Anything, right? Urge them to put their faith in Jesus Christ, who died and rose from the grave so that they could rise, too.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Guard Your Reputation – Ha!

ALL – Psalm 57:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 11:5-6
OT – Numbers 15:17-16:40
NT – Mark 15:1-47

We have two ways to protect our reputations. One is by being men and women of integrity; we can guard our reputations by consistently doing and speaking what’s right. The other way is to argue with people who accuse you of doing wrong; we can try to prove to people through arguments that we are people who do what is right.

Jesus did the first. I can’t think of a time when He did the second—when he guarded His reputation by arguing that He was righteous, by refusing to be called an evil man or associated with them. If anybody could have and should have defended His own reputation, it was Jesus. And yet the way that Jesus died was a way that dragged His reputation through the mud; Jesus was righteous, but the perception that day was that Jesus was a criminal.

Two robbers were also crucified that morning, their crosses on either side of his. And so the Scripture was fulfilled that said, “He was counted among evil men.” – Mark 15:27-28, The Living Bible

Jesus was counted among evil men. Not because He was evil, but because His opponents wanted to paint a picture of Him as a wicked criminal. Arguing would have done little to no good. It’s not as though His miracles were a secret, and Jesus’ teachings were public knowledge, too. The only way for Jesus to prove His claims would have been for heaven to open up, angels to descend, and Jesus to display His glory in full. And it wasn’t yet time for that.

It’s not yet time for our glory as God’s children to be displayed in full. We can display the glory of the righteousness that God has given us and re-created us to live. But even that glory is something we display imperfectly, waiting for Jesus Christ to return and make us wholly new. In the meantime, we simply cannot guard our reputations—at least, not by arguing with people and trying to convince them that we’re God’s children. Our best argument for now is the same as Jesus’ was: the argument of a righteous life of integrity. If people don’t listen to that argument, then we shouldn’t be surprised when they find a way to do as they did with our Lord, counting us among evil men. Our reputations will be dragged through the mud, whether we like it or not.

How can we help one another stay the course and keep doing the good God calls us to, even when we’re being falsely accused of terrible, wicked things?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Does Taking Hits Equal Powerlessness?

ALL – Psalm 53:1-6
ALL – Proverbs 11:4
OT – Numbers 14:1-15:16
NT – Mark 14:53-72

As men, we don’t like to be accused of being wimps. We’d rather get into a losing battle and show that we’re tough enough to fight than not put up a fight at all. People seem to think that if they can walk all over a man, he’s weak, but that if he puts up a fight he’s a man.

What about Jesus?

Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and began to hammer his face with their fists. “Who hit you that time, you prophet?” they jeered. And even the bailiffs were using their fists on him as they led him away. – Mark 14:65, The Living Bible

He was on trial for claiming to be the Christ, the King of all Creation, the Son of God. Obviously, His accusers didn’t believe His claim. But notice what they do to try to reassure themselves that Jesus is just some helpless, weak moron making foolish claims. They beat on Him. They spit at Him. And since Jesus doesn’t fight back, they think they’ve proved that He’s powerless.

Of course, the truth is that Jesus is the all-powerful God, so powerful that everything in all creation came into being just by His command. Apparently, taking hits without responding does not equal being powerless.

And Christians are His people. We are called to follow Him, even in this area of allowing ourselves to be abused at times. Don’t worry, Christian men. Letting yourselves be walked over won’t mean that you’re a wimp. You’ve got all the power in the world backing you. In fact, it’s the power of Jesus Christ and His gospel that enables us to put up with being abused.

So how powerful are you? Can you take a hit without dishing one out?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Willing Spirit, Weak Body

ALL – Psalm 52:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 11:1-3
OT – Numbers 11:24-13:33
NT – Mark 14:22-52

Good intentions fall short. As much as I would like to do a full day’s work, two hours of devotions, one hour of fitness training, four hours of family time, three hours of reading and an hour of cleaning the house into every day, I just can’t. I run out of energy. Out of time. I just run out.

Peter had made a promise to Jesus. He would never deny Him, even if it meant death (Mark 14:31). Wonderful intentions.

But then Jesus took Simon Peter and two other disciples with Him for a time of prayer. And how did that go?

“Simon!” he said. “Asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Watch with me and pray lest the Tempter overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak.” – Mark 14:37-38, The Living Bible

Who else hears in these words a hint of a warning about what it is that will lead Peter to deny Jesus in just a few hours? Jesus knows our hearts. But Jesus also knows our limits. He knows just how weak we are. And unfortunately, we’re very, very weak. That’s why we need Jesus to sustain us, to make us righteous, to give us strength.

Are you depending on Jesus today?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Readings, March 9 to 14

If you've been following along, it's become clear to you by now that I sometimes don't manage to post my thoughts on the daily readings. The problem with this is that it means I also neglect to post the daily readings themselves. Not good for a blog meant to help people keep reading the Bible devotionally. So I'm going to try to post each week's readings at the beginning of the week, or even before. Then, even if I don't write any comments, you can still follow along and hear from God through His Word. He does a better job expressing Himself than I do, anyway. Happy listening!

March 9, 2010

ALL – Psalm 52:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 11:1-3
OT – Numbers 11:24-13:33
NT – Mark 14:22-52


March 10, 2010

ALL – Psalm 53:1-6
ALL – Proverbs 11:4
OT – Numbers 14:1-15:16
NT – Mark 14:53-72


March 11, 2010

ALL – Psalm 57:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 11:5-6
OT – Numbers 15:17-16:40
NT – Mark 15:1-47


March 12, 2010

ALL – Psalm 55:1-23
ALL – Proverbs 11:7
OT – Numbers 16:41-18:32
NT – Mark 16:1-20


March 13, 2010

ALL – Psalm 56:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 11:8
OT – Numbers 19:1-20:29
NT – Luke 1:1-25


March 14, 2010

ALL – Psalm 57:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 11:9-11
OT – Numbers 21:1-22:20
NT – Luke 1:26-56

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Use Your Life and Wealth for Good

ALL – Psalm 51:1-19
ALL – Proverbs 10:31-32
OT – Numbers 10:1-11:23
NT – Mark 14:1-21

It’s late, so I’m not going to say quite as much as usual. But here’s the gist of what I’m thinking. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “The good is enemy of the best.” I think that’s true if we get into a casual attitude of patting ourselves on the back and saying we did “good enough.” But read the following…

Some of those at the table were indignant among themselves about this “waste,” as they called it.

“Why, she could have sold that perfume for a fortune and given the money to the poor!” they snarled.

But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why berate her for doing a good thing?” – Mark 14:4-6, The Living Bible

This lady had done a good thing. The people around her were angry that she hadn’t done what they considered to be a better thing—perhaps even the best thing. But Jesus appreciated the good gesture of what she had done. She hadn’t been half-hearted. She wasn’t patting herself on the back for a job well done. She didn’t necessarily think she’d done “good enough.” But she’d done the good she knew how to do.

Let’s stop judging one another for not always achieving “the best.” Let’s rejoice in the good we see God doing through our Christian brothers and sisters. Let’s remove the burden from one another’s shoulders of feeling pressured to perform, and instead restore the joy of doing good wholeheartedly and lovingly in Jesus’ name and for His sake, side by side.

Who’s done something simple, but good, that made an impact on you? What did they do?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

L.O.V.E.

ALL – Psalm 48:1-14
ALL – Proverbs 10:26
OT – Numbers 4:1-5:31
NT – Mark 12:18-37

It’s amazing how quickly we forget what we’re up to. Not just in the little things of life, but the big things. Our expectations and perspectives are too quickly warped.

For instance, in marriage. We get married, usually, very much aware that our spouse wants us to be happy and that we want our spouse to be happy. But then, what happens? Well, unfortunately, no one pays us to make our spouse happy (wouldn’t that be an awesome job!). So we go off to work. At first, our intention at work is still largely to make our spouse happy; we’re there, after all, so that we can afford a place to stay, food to eat, clothes to wear, and a variety of fun things to do together. But then, it’s easy for work to become more and more important in our lives, and soon it’s our employers we are trying to please rather than our spouses. Work life goes great. Home life? Not so much.

It’s like that with God sometimes, too. We know that our relationship with Him is first. And we want to respond appropriately, lovingly, wholeheartedly. And then we begin to do things out of love for Him. And then we begin to do the same things to prove how much we love Him. And soon we’re doing those things to prove how much God ought to love us—and not just God, but everyone else, too. We begin to get caught up in the work we first did because of God’s love for us, and that same work becomes a matter of our love for us—our self-justifications, our basis for boasting, our reputations, our honor. No longer Christ’s. No longer Christ’s.

It’s amazing how quickly we forget what we’re up to. We forget what drives us. We forget who gives us strength. We begin to take control. We begin to set up our own goals, our own masterplans, our own motivations. And rather than living a life powered by love of and for God, we do the same things in a life powered by love of and for ourselves.

Jesus always knew what He was up to, and what we all should be up to:

One of the teachers of religion who was standing there listening to the discussion realized that Jesus had answered well. So he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Jesus replied, “The one that says, ‘Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.’ The second is, ‘You must love others as much as yourself.’ No other commandments are greater than these.” – Mark 12:28-31, The Living Bible

Have you forgotten what you’re up to? How can we help to turn one another back to a wholehearted love for God and for those He’s put into our lives?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

The Trapped Leader

ALL – Psalm 47:1-9
ALL – Proverbs 10:24-25
OT – Numbers 2:1-3:51
NT – Mark 11:27-12:17

Too often leaders feel like they can’t admit their faults. This happens whether they’re simply husbands leading their homes or CEOs leading huge corporations or pastors leading churches. It’s a temptation all leaders face at some point, and maybe often.

When leaders who can’t admit their faults come face to face with Jesus, they’re doomed:

The Jewish leaders wanted to arrest him then and there for using this illustration, for they knew he was pointing at them—they were the wicked farmers in his story. But they were afraid to touch him for fear of a mob. So they left him and went away. – Mark 12:12, The Living Bible

Jesus sees our faults. Jesus not only sees them, but He points them out in such a way that we know when He’s talking about us. As leaders who don’t want to admit our faults, we have a choice. We can either embrace Jesus and His loving honesty, or we can hate Him for revealing our sinful ways and putting us to shame. The best choice is obvious. But we don’t like to make that choice to admit our faults and let Him change us. We often prefer to protect ourselves and our reputations—to try to save face.

Won’t you join me in committing to listen to Jesus, to humble yourself before Him? I often fight to save face, too, but we all need His loving truthfulness, His transforming grace.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Prayer Follows Forgiveness

ALL – Psalm 46:1-11
ALL – Proverbs 10:23
OT – Leviticus 27:14 – Numbers 1:1-54
NT – Mark 11:1-26

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins, too. – Mark 11:25, The Living Bible

Sometimes easier said than done. We’re such foolish people. Why would we rather hold on to a grudge against another human than keep an open relationship with the Living God?

So prayer follows forgiveness. In two ways.

1. Prayer follows us forgiving others. It’s pretty much pointless until then (see the parable of the unmerciful servant).
2. Prayer follows God forgiving us. Again, it’s pretty much pointless until then. Can you imagine trying to get an offended God to listen to our prayers?

The wonderful thing is that God has graciously provided for us to be forgiven; He wants to hear our prayers. Jesus Christ died on the cross so that God could forgive us and hear our prayers. Again, see the parable of the unmerciful servant. After God provides such a vast forgiveness for us, how can we not forgive others? If we remain unforgiving, then it becomes clear to God that we haven’t really accepted the new nature and relationship He’s offering us.

Forgive. Because God forgives. And then pray. And God will do what you ask.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

I Laugh in the Face of Danger

ALL – Psalm 45:1-17
ALL – Proverbs 10:22
OT – Leviticus 25:47-27:13
NT – Mark 10:32-52

Do you laugh in the face of danger? Or at least, can you look into the eyes of danger and calmly step forward, knowing the pain that you will definitely experience and choosing to go through it fearlessly? Jesus did. And Christians should. As Jesus headed toward Jerusalem with His disciples, He said:

They will mock me and spit on me and flog me with their whips and kill me; but after three days I will come back to life again. – Mark 10:34, The Living Bible

Jesus sounds so matter of fact. He knows what’s coming. Yet His disciples aren’t giving Him a pep talk; Jesus is leading them to Jerusalem.

How could Jesus do this? Here’s how. “For the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). He knew He would rise again. And He knew that He would enable us to join Him in rising from the dead.

So what about us? Do we really believe we’ll rise from the dead? Our unwillingness to boldly and courageously stand for the gospel and for our King might say otherwise. Do we look at danger and flee? Or do we walk through danger, gladly and vibrantly carrying the gospel in our hearts and mouths, knowing that on the other side of the cross is the resurrection? Let’s trust in God’s power to raise the dead; let’s carry the gospel into the face of danger.

What makes you fear sharing the gospel? Are you willing to trust Jesus with it and move forward anyway?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Staying Safe Among Wolves

The message, preached on February 28th, 2010, covered 1 John 2:18-27, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. What’s an antichrist? How do you recognize them? What do they do? And how can you stay safe when they’re all over the place, as they are in these last days? Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

Sell and Give and Follow

ALL – Psalm 44:9-26
ALL – Proverbs 10:20-21
OT – Leviticus 24:1-25:46
NT – Mark 10:13-31

Which of the Ten Commandments do you get hung up on? Anything come to mind? Seriously. Have you ever murdered anyone? Are you a thief? A liar? An adulterer? Do you hate your momma?

A young man came to Jesus, asking about the way to eternal life. Jesus pointed him back to the commandments. And this young man said he’d kept them all. A.L.L.

So. What’s left?

Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. “You lack only one thing,” he told him; “go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor—and you shall have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.” – Mark 10:21, The Living Bible

I’ve often heard that Jesus was pointing this young man to his covetousness. But covetousness really seems to be about wanting what others own, primarily. Still, Jesus was clearly pointing out a heart-sin closely related to covetousness: greed. And greed is idolatry (Col. 3:5). Greed is the sin of a heart that refuses to be generous toward those in need, as God commands. Greed says that wealth is more important than God; therefore, greed is idolatry.

Then the man’s face fell, and he went sadly away, for he was very rich. – Mark 10:22, The Living Bible

Rather than following Jesus, God the Son, the man went away “for he was very rich.” He chose wealth over God. He committed idolatry, breaking the second commandment. And in so doing, he made it very plain that he was not fulfilling the first commandment, either: “You may worship no other god than me” (Exodus 20:3, The Living Bible).

When I look at the number of possessions I own—and the number of possessions I allow my children to own, implicitly teaching them that owning a lot is a normal part of life—this passage pulls me up short. I’d like to say that I’m not committing idolatry, that I’d willingly sell everything and follow Jesus, if Jesus called me to do it. It’s easy enough to say; but would I sell everything, give to the poor, and follow Jesus? Would you? I recognize in my heart a root of greed, which is idolatry. I recognize my desire to own, to possess, to have, to keep.

Jesus, forgive me and cleanse me of greed. Make me generous. May there be no idolatry in my heart. Be my Lord, my Christ, my King.

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.