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.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
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
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
Sunday, March 28, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
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.
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.
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