One Person at a Time

Saturday, March 13, 2010 Reading for the Day John 5-6 and Hebrews 8-10 Focus on John 6:1-15

Jesus performed many miracles, or as John preferred to call them “signs and wonders” during His life and ministry on earth.  Only one of those miracles is recorded in all four gospels:  the feeding of the five thousand.  Each of the accounts has slightly differing details, as one would expect when reading four different authors’ viewpoints on a particular event.  What I have always loved about John’s account of the feeding of the five thousand is that we’re told the source of the five loaves of bread and two fish that Jesus prayed over and multiplied so that they fed 5,000 people was a “lad” or a “boy.”  I’ve always thought about the impact the event must have had on that boy for the future.  After all, for the rest of his life, the boy would    Have been able to tell anyone who would have listened, “I gave Jesus five loaves of bread and two fish and He turned it into enough food to feed 5,000 men PLUS all the women and children who were with them."  Can’t you see folks rolling their eyes or shouting, “No way!”?  But the boy saw what he saw, and he had participated in a miracle of God.  He provided the “seed” for the great “harvest” made available to the crowd by Jesus.  I once read, “God can do a lot with a little if He has it all.”  The feeding of the 5,000 may be the best example of that adage recorded in the four gospels.  The boy didn’t have much.  In fact, that’s what Andrew said when he brought the boy to Jesus:  “He has five barley loaves and two fish but what is that among so many?”   What, indeed!  May we have the attitude of that lad who gave all he had, little as it was, and saw a miracle as a result!  What miracles are waiting to happen in our lives individually, and as a congregation, until someone steps forward and says, “It isn’t much, but I’ll give it all to You, Jesus!”?  May each of us live out that attitude, because as we do, we can be sure that miracles are on the horizon!

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for Your faithfulness!  Thank You for taking the little we offer You and multiplying it.  I pray You will take all of me, little as that is, and multiply my effectiveness in offering Your salvation to my family, friends, and all I meet. This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Friday, March 12, 2010 Reading for the Day John 3-4 and Hebrews 5-7 Focus on Hebrews 6:1-2

Several years ago my good friend, Pastor John Nuzzo, was talking about the “elementary teachings of our faith.”  I interrupted him and asked, “What ARE the elementary teachings of our faith.” He quickly responded, “Repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.”  I asked, “Where did you get those?”  He said, “Hebrews 6:1-2.”  I tucked that away in my mind and when I went home I looked up Hebrews 6:1-2. Sure enough, there they were:  1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:1-2 NKJV  Those six elementary teachings of our faith provide a good handle for us to grab hold of when we want to consider what’s really important to believe and do as Jesus’ followers.  As you look at the six, you may be surprised by a couple of them.  For example baptisms is plural not singular, as one might think at first glance.  The reality is there are TWO baptisms documented in the New Testament:  baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to demonstrate that we have trusted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and The baptism of the Holy Spirit, which both John the Baptist and Jesus talked about and which we have examples of throughout the Book of Acts.  The others surprise for me was “the laying on of hands.”  While I believe that we ought to lay hands on babies when we dedicate them, people when we baptize them, and leaders when we ordain or license them, I never thought of it as one of the “big six,” as the author of the Hebrews obviously did.  As you think of the remaining four teachings they do provide the basis of our faith.  Until we repent from sin, we cannot live in faith toward God. Unless we believe in the resurrection of the dead, then there’s no real power in our lives as Jesus’ followers.  Understanding that all of us will stand before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ reminds us that eternal judgment is for ETERNITY, and we will either live that eternity with God in heaven or separated from Him in hell.  Those elementary teachings help us focus on what’s truly important and to live in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Thursday, March 11, 2010 Reading for the Day John 1-2 and Hebrews 3-4 Focus on John 1:1

Jehovah’s Witnesses focus on John 1:1 as a verse in Scripture that shows Jesus wasn’t THE God, but that Jesus is "a god".  They make this statement based on their reading of the original Greek text of John 1:1.  In English we typically read:  In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  The Jehovah’s Witnesses “translate” it: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.  They translate it this way because the word God in the Greek doesn’t have a definite article—a “the” in front of it, as it frequently does in the New Testament.  The problem with their translation is that we find many other places in the New Testament where the word God appears without a definite article and there is absolutely no doubt that those verses refer to the one, true and living God.  We can’t simply pick and choose when the word means God and when it means a god for the sake of our opinions.   The founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses couldn’t even read Greek, and yet he provided an English “translation” from it.  As followers of Jesus we don’t have to learn Greek in order to understand the Bible, but what we must do as we read God’s word in English is recognize that EVERY English translation is a commentary.  It shows the assumptions and sometimes the theology of the translators.  I like to compare several English translations when I'm reading the Bible, because then I get a fuller understanding of a text.  Since, I can read Greek, I’ll get out the Greek Bible when I have questions and see if the original language sheds any light.  Thankfully, the original language does NOT confirm the Jehovah’s Witnesses assumption that Jesus is merely a god instead of THE God.  As followers of Jesus, who believe that Jesus IS fully God and fully human, it’s important for us to understand the strong case that John chapter one makes for that truth!

Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Jesus as the Word who became flesh and lived among us! Thank You for revealing Yourself to us in such a clear and helpful way.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may, also reveal You to others through Your love and grace in me.  This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wed., March 10, 2010 Reading for the Day Luke 24 and Hebrews 1-2 Focus on Luke 24:1-12

I have always loved the angels’ question in Luke 24:5, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive?”  Or as the NIV puts it, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”  How often does that describe us?  We say God’s in charge of our lives, and yet we get in a tough situation and forget to call out to Him for help.  We think we’re all alone.  We worry about so many things in life, when Jesus told us NOT to worry.   We find ourselves looking in the tomb for a dead Jesus, when He’s ALIVE!  We can fault the women for not remembering that Jesus told them He was going to rise from the dead, but then we’d have to fault ourselves, too, for forgetting so often the promises Jesus has made to us.  What’s happening in your life right now that needs God’s attention?  Is it a relationship?  Your finances?  A situation at school or work?  Have you gone to Jesus FIRST?  The longer I live, the more I realize how seldom my FIRST response is Jesus.  Yes, there are times when I turn to Him before trying to solve a problem myself, and those times are more frequent than they used to be, but they’re still not consistent.  As we go about this day, let’s remember the angels’ message to the women---He isn’t here among the dead.  He’s alive!  When you encounter your first challenge today – turn to the living Lord before looking around in the tomb.  Deal?

Heavenly Father, thank You so much for raising Jesus from the dead and showing us once and for all that nothing is too hard for You!  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may honor you in every situation and in every relationship of my life.  This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 Reading for the Day Luke 23 and Philemon 1 Focus on Luke 23:39-43

As Jesus was dying on the cross, the thieves who were crucified on either side of Him started joining those who were mocking Jesus.  Actually, one of them started mocking Jesus, while the other stood up for Him.  The thief who stood up for Jesus understood the reality that sin has consequences.  He reminded the other thief that they were hanging on crosses because they deserved it for their “evil deeds.” Then he pointed out that Jesus was innocent.  We don’t know how the thief beside Jesus knew this.  Perhaps it was the way Jesus handled the whole crucifixion event.  Jesus had asked God to forgive those who crucified Him.  That’s not the act of a criminal!  Jesus had made sure that His mother would be care for after His death—while He hung on the cross.  When the crowds insulted Him, He didn’t say a word.  Jesus’ attitude even while hanging on the cross was that of a servant. The thief recognized that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah, and he asked for forgiveness.  Jesus gave it!  The thief’s reconciliation with God just moments or hours before his death shows us that it’s never too late—as long as we’re still breathing—to repent of our sin and turn to God.  God has given me the opportunity to offer the gift of salvation to a number of folks who were on their “death beds,” and some of them have responded.  One time in particular, it seemed so sad to me that a man came to know Jesus just two days before he died.  He really “got it” when he was saved.  He realized how he had wasted his life in the pursuit of things instead of the pursuit of God.  His wife was a believer and he had basically forbidden her from attending church, because Sundays were the best days for pursuing the things he sought in life.  I thought the wife would be upset that when her husband finally trusted Jesus, and they could have had Jesus in common, that he was gone.  Instead, she said that God had been so gracious to her husband, keeping him alive just long enough that he would spend eternity with God, instead of separated from Him!  Do you know anyone who doesn’t know Jesus, who’s getting close to that time when life here will end?  Actually, that could be any of us at any moment, but the odds are not in favor of some because they are at the age when they will be seeing Jesus soon.  What will you do to help ensure that when that person sees Jesus it will be as a friend instead of as an enemy?

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for giving me the opportunity to know Jesus as my Savior and Lord!  I pray for those who don’t know Him, and especially for those who like the thief on the cross, may only have moments or hours.  Let them turn to Jesus.  Let them trust in Him!  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Monday, March 8  Read Luke 22, Titus 1-3  Focus on Luke 22:19-20

Yesterday in worship we celebrated the Lord’s Supper.  I pointed out that when Jesus gave the disciples the bread, He said, “This is my body GIVEN for you,” not “This is my body BROKEN for you,” as many liturgies of the Lord’s Supper say.  Here is the actual account from Luke 22:19-20:  19Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.”  You may ask, “What’s the difference?”  The difference is significant.  One of the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah was that not a single bone of His body would be broken.  That means if Jesus’ body was literally “broken” for us, He could not have been the Messiah.  In fact, Jesus body was beaten, battered, and nearly mutilated through the whipping He received before the crucifixion and the crucifixion itself, but not a bone was broken.  When the two thieves crucified next to Jesus had their legs broken to ensure their death at the end of the crucifixion, Jesus’ legs were NOT broken, because He was already dead.  The point of all this is that even when it came to the most minute detail of prophecy concerning the Messiah, Jesus fulfilled it.  When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and hear the words of institution, “This is My body, given for you…” let us remember both that Jesus gave His body freely in exchange for ours on the cross, and that the giving rather than breaking of Jesus’ body fulfilled prophecy and deepened our assurance that Jesus is, indeed, the Messiah, and our Savior and Lord!

Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving Jesus to us, and for Jesus’ great sacrifice on our behalf.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit this day that I may live boldly and confidently in You, knowing that my salvation is sure in Him!  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Sunday, March 7   Read Luke 21, 2 Timothy 3-4  Focus on 2 Timothy 3:15-17

2 Timothy 3:15-17 is one of the clearest passage in the Bible on the importance of the Bible! As Paul drew to the close of his second letter, to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy, he reminded him of the source of his wisdom, and of his salvation.  Let’s look again at these vital verses:  15You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.  Timothy held a great advantage in following Jesus—he had been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood.  I have held that same advantage in my life.  Thankfully, I have been reading and studying God’s word since I learned to read, and really before that, because in Sunday School and worship I learned the accounts of God and His people each week.  Paul tells us that God’s word IS God’s word because every, single word of it is INSPIRED by God.  Inspired by God literally means “God breathed.”  That makes it useful for teaching us what is right and for realizing what is wrong.  As we read verses 16 and 17 we see all the ways Scripture builds into us as God’s people.  When the New Testament Challenge concludes in another 21 day, My prayer is we will ALL continue reading His word every day, that we may be inspired by Him and empowered by Him to live out our faith in such a way that others will see us as their “Bible.”  After all, as someone has said we may be the only Bible some people ever read—at least until they come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Wouldn’t it be awesome if a person’s “reading” of us today, led to their trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord?

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for giving us the Bible!  Thank You for using it to teach us about You and to lead us to You.  Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to apply what we read today, to bring You glory and honor.  This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Saturday, March 6 Read Luke 20, 2 Timothy 1-2  Focus on 2 Timothy 1:5-9

When we read the Apostle Paul’s letters to Timothy it is obvious how much Paul loved Timothy and felt like a father to him.  We don’t know whether Paul had any biological children, or even whether he was ever married, although it seems doubtful from his letters.  Yet, Paul had many spiritual “sons.”  As 2 Timothy begins, Paul reminded Timothy of his spiritual heritage. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were believers.  Timothy’s faith was awakened or deepened by a ministry of prayer and laying on of hands by Paul.  Paul showed the depth of his understanding of Timothy when he encouraged him to be courageous and to remember that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.  It seems that Timothy may have been prone to fear and anxiety.  He may have been physically weak, since Paul elsewhere advised him to take a little wine for his stomach.  Yet, God used Timothy in powerful ways.  That’s because God isn’t dependent on worthy “vessels,” only willing ones.  Since the Holy Spirit provides the power, love and self-discipline we need in our lives, all that’s required of any of us is that we are willing to give control of our lives to Him.  As Paul mentored Timothy, a young man who already had a heritage of faith, the Holy Spirit empowered Him to live faithfully and lead effectively.  He will do the same in every area of our lives, too, when we submit ourselves to the Spirit and live in His power!

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your word written to instruct, challenge and encourage us!  Thank You for Paul investing in Timothy’s life, so that Timothy could invest in others lives for the advancement of Your Kingdom.  I pray that I will invest in others lives, and that I will allow others to invest in me that my wisdom will grow, and I will make a difference in my generation and in those that come after me for Your glory and honor.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Friday, March 5 Read Luke 19, 1 Timothy 4-6  Focus on Luke 19:1-10 and 1 Tim. 6:17-19

Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus and Paul’s instruction to Timothy regarding those who are “rich” in this world serve as interesting cases in the use of money.  Zacchaeus, the tax collector, worked with and around money.  Most tax collectors in Jesus’ day were dishonest.  Zacchaeus may have been. Yet, when Jesus came into Zacchaeus’ life, the change was immediate and dramatic.  Now, money instead of being the goal and focus of Zacchaeus’ life, became a tool for showing his love of God.  Money’s hold on Zacchaeus was broken, and now he could live as a “son of Abraham”, as a true member of God’s family.  In the same way, Paul told Timothy to tell those of us who are rich in this world, and that includes ALL of us who are reading this and live in middle class America, to use it wisely.  We may not feel rich, but by comparison with the remainder of the world we are.  Paul’s admonitions include using money for God’s purposes, not trusting in money—or making it our God, and helping others with it. These were the very things Zacchaeus did immediately and naturally once Jesus came into his life.  Larry Burkett used to say that when a person is truly converted to faith in Jesus there’s a noticeable impact on that person’s use of money.  Today’s Scriptures underline and confirm that.  May we be faithful stewards of all God’s blessings in our lives.  May we use money to win people for God, rather than using people to gain our own selfish desires.  May we use money as a servant to provide blessing to others, and never let it enslave us!

Heavenly Father, You are the owner of everything.  I am a steward, a manager, of what You entrust to me.  Empower me by Your Spirit to be a faithful and trustworthy steward, investing the wealth You provide me to provide for my family and to open the door to Your kingdom to others.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

I hope you're planning to join us in worship this Sunday as we continue the New Testament Challenge!  Our focus for Sunday is The Challenge of Godliness! In a nutshell, godliness is becoming more like Jesus.  What a worthy investment of our lives--becoming more like Jesus.  Imagine the revolution in our world if each of us would become a little more like Jesus every day of our lives!  That's the goal, and that's the focus for Sunday.  We'll also be celebrating the Lord's Supper, and as always the music will be jammin'!   Hope to see YOU there!

Thursday, March 4 Read Luke 18, 1 Timothy 1-3  Focus on Luke 18:35-42

Many times in the gospels as Jesus traveled from one place to the next people sought Him out that He would hear them or heal them.  In today’s Scripture from Luke 18:35-42, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.  He heard the noise of a crowd passing by him and asked what was happening.  When the people near him told him that Jesus was passing by he started shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  How did the blind man KNOW that Jesus was the Son of David?  Was this something God revealed to him?  Was it a conjecture based on the rumors he must have heard even though he couldn’t see?  Whatever it was, the blind man realized Jesus was his one chance to receive his sight.  People tried to tell him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more.  Eventually, Jesus heard him, and ordered for the man to be brought to him.  When the man stood in front of Jesus, his disability would have been apparent.  Beggars wore special cloaks in that day.  A blind man would have stood out, because he wouldn’t have been able to see Jesus.  Even so Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Why would Jesus ask THAT question?  The answer was “staring” Jesus in the face.  Then again, as long as the man was a blind beggar, he was assured of the pity of the crowds, and probably of coins for food.  What if his vision WAS restored?  What then?  Those answers were unknown, but the man didn’t hesitate, “Lord, I want to see!”  As soon as Jesus heard the answer, He said, “All right, you can see! Your faith has healed you.”  Really?  Was it Jesus or the man’s faith that gave him back his sight?  Jesus said it was the man’s faith.  The man probably spent the rest of his life giving Jesus the credit---and they were both right!  As we’re reminded in Philippians 2:12-13 we have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, AND God is at work in us.  Our part, God’s part—both are necessary, or blind people stay blind, hurting people keep hurting, lost people stay lost. That’s not because God can take care of all those things with a word.  It’s because He wants us to participate in it and experience the joy of being part of becoming whole—whether for ourselves or others.  What do you and I want Jesus to do for us?

Heavenly Father, I pray right now that You will heal me of any physical or spiritual problem in my life.  I want to be made whole!  In the name of Jesus, glorify Yourself by restoring me to all You want me to be and have.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Wednesday, March 3 Read Luke 17, 2 Thessalonians 1-3  Focus on Luke 17:11-19

Most of us have heard the account of Jesus and the ten lepers.  What we may or may not know is that leprosy did something for that group that health could not—it brought integration between Jews and Samaritans.  The one Samaritan in the group was accepted by nine Jews even though the Jews and Samaritans hated one another. Their disease brought them together in community.  If they had been healthy, they would have avoided each other like the plague. That’s rather ironic, isn’t it?  A plague of sorts brought them together.  I wonder what happened after Jesus healed them?  We know that in the instant of their healing only the Samaritan came back to tell Jesus thank you.  The rest?  Perhaps they simply wanted to obey Jesus’ command.  We don’t know, but I wonder whether they ever spoke to their Samaritan companion again?  Did they look one another up, or continue to get together regularly once they could go back to their homes and families?  During their illness they were required to live away from every, healthy person even their families.  Now, what?  Isn’t that a question for us?  Once Jesus has healed us of the ultimate deadly disease: sin, how do we respond?  Do we integrate our lives and welcome other former sinners, and even current sinners who are seeking the cure, or do we keep to ourselves?  So many times, I wish I could know what happened a year after Jesus encountered a person or group of people.  This is one of those times.  If we had an annual update from the ten lepers, make that “used to be” lepers would the group consist of ten or only nine?  Would they welcome their Samaritan “buddy” or would he be an outcast to them?  May our lives reflect the healing of Jesus a day, a year, a decade even a century--if God gives us the time—after we have been healed.  May we continue to welcome others to His glory and praise!

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Jesus’ ministry of healing on earth that included so much more than just physical healing. Thank You that through His life, ministry, death and resurrection Jesus has become the fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise that by His “stripes” we are healed.  Fill me with the Holy Spirit right now, that I may experience that healing in every part of my life, and then embolden me to be an ambassador of that healing to everyone You send my way today.  This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tuesday, March 2 Read Luke 16 and 1 Thessalonians 4-6 Focus on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

One of the most difficult days of my life was February 15, 1988.  On that day Nancy had a miscarriage and we lost our first child.  We had waited a long time for Nancy to get pregnant, so it was doubly hard when she lost the baby.  As it turned out, although I was serving as an associate pastor at the time, and preached on a sporadic basis, I was scheduled to preach on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 the following Sunday.  In that passage the Apostle Paul addressed the question of the Thessalonian Christians about what happens to those who “fall asleep” or die before Jesus returns.  Their concern was that if a person died before Jesus’ return, which they expected at any moment, that the person might miss out on being with Jesus forever.  Paul responded with a detailed explanation, but the key statement for me in our time of grieving the loss of our first child was this:  we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. Notice that Paul did not say, “We do not grieve—period.”  Some in the Christian family believe we ought to be joyful when loved ones die, because they are better off since they are going to be with Jesus.  The reality is the person who dies in the Lord IS better off, but we who remain still grieve.  Paul tells us that our grief is filtered through hope.  We do not grieve like the rest of people—who have no hope. We have hope!  We have the great and amazing hope that the end of this life is not the end.  It’s just the beginning of a new era of eternity with God, and with all whom we love who have gone on before us to be with Him!  One day Nancy and I will get to meet our child, which we believe is a daughter, even though the doctors couldn’t tell us that.  But on February 15, 1988, we grieved.  We grieved for our loss.  And we hoped—we held the hope of every follower of Jesus—those who are dead to the world are still alive in Him.  You may be going through a time of grief over a loss you’ve experienced.  That’s okay.  It’s normal—even for believers.  The Good News in our times of loss is that we DO have hope.  The hope comforts, but it doesn’t eliminate the loss.  The hope assures us, but it doesn’t make it “all better.”  The hope keeps us looking forward, even when we may just want to stay stuck in the time of loss.  The hope is why we can and do move forward through our grief, and why we can live differently from the rest of people who have no hope.  May we rest in the hope we have in Jesus.  Just as He died and rose again, so will we on that day appointed to each of us---unless He comes before that day arrives!

Heavenly Father, I thank You for hopeful grief, for the assurance of Your word and the reality of Your Son that confirms the reality of life after death.  I thank You for giving me life in this life, and for showing me that I may live confidently NOW and LATER, because You have overcome the world. You have overcome sin and death, and You have promised that one day I will be with You.  In the mean time, keep me faithful, keep me hopeful whatever life may bring, and thus let me glorify You.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Monday, March 1 Read Luke 15 and 1 Thessalonians 1-3 Focus on Luke 15:11-32

Anyone who's been a follower of Jesus for any length of time has heard the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  Often, when we read it or hear a message preached about it the question raised is:  With whom do you most identify—the younger brother, or the older brother?  I have another question:  After serving Jesus for a period time, in my case forty years, when does one start identifying with the Father in the story?  It may sound a bit sacrilegious even to raise that question, but as Jesus shapes our hearts over time, we DO become more like the Father in the story.  Yes, the Father represents God as Jesus tells the parable.  The sons represent two “extremes” on the spectrum of sin.  The younger brother represents open, wanton sin.  The older brother represents the sin of self-righteousness.  While all of us remain sinners even after we’re born again, our lives change over time, as we give the Holy Spirit control.  The life we live becomes more like the life of Jesus in us.  That’s why the Apostle Paul could say, “It is no longer I, but Christ who lives in me.”  Thus, when we read the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we must be grateful that the Father welcomed back that prodigal offspring who basically spit in His face, and squandered his Father’s wealth.  We must be grateful that the Father also invited the self-righteous older son to the party, even if in the parable that son refused.  At the same time, we must start to see ourselves in the role of the one who welcomes back the lost, and who invites the self-righteous to join the party.  The world often sees the church as the self-righteous, older brother.  Thankfully, we can show the world we have the love and grace of the Father towards all.  We can do that because we've experienced the Father’s love in Jesus, and live that love through the Spirit.  Let’s live in Him today, and welcome EVERYONE we meet to the party, to the joy of experiencing the Father’s welcome home!

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for welcoming us back into the family, regardless of which “brother” we started out being in life!  Thank You for showing us absolute, unconditional love.  Fill us with the Holy Spirit so we may also show that love to everyone we meet today and each day You give us. This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Sunday, February 28  Read Luke 14 and Colossians 3-4  Focus on Colossians 3:17

Many followers of Jesus have a “life verse.”  This is a verse from Scripture they turn to as the overarching truth or principle by which they live their lives in the power of the Holy Spirit. Colossians 3:17 is mine: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  The key word in the verse is “do.” Some form of it occurs three times in this brief statement.  All my life, since I was twelve and committed my life to Jesus, my goal has been to DO what He wants of me, to become more like Him in thought, word and action.  Sometimes I have failed miserably---I mean MISERABLY.  Sometimes God has used me in powerful ways in other people’s lives.  The determining factor in whether what I do, in word or deed, IS done in the name of the Lord Jesus has very little to do with me.  The determining factor is the Holy Spirit.  When I give Him reign in my life, then I can succeed at doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.  When I give the Holy Spirit control my thoughts, words, and actions reflect Jesus.  The decision I have in every situation and in every moment of my life is whether to live in/by the Spirit (in which case I'm not under the Law, as we read in Galatians) or in my own power.  The times when I have failed miserably have been when I have been in charge of my life.  As I have matured in Jesus (and I still am maturing in Jesus!), I have been learning that if I want to live out Colossians 3:17 it’s simple—not easy, but simple.  Just turn over control to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit and it happens.  My prayer for you and me today is that we will take the simple step of deciding to let God live through us, so others will see Him in us and be drawn to Him, too!

Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to live in us so we may, indeed, think, speak and act in ways that glorify You, and demonstrate our thanks for Your presence in us.  Use us today in every way to draw people to Yourself.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.   

Saturday, February 27 Read Luke 13 and Colossians 1-2  Focus on Luke 13:29-30

In speaking about heaven, Jesus told us people will come from north, south, east and west and will take their place at the feast in the Kingdom of God.  That means people from EVERYWHERE will be in heaven.  Sometimes we tend to think only people like us will be in heaven.  Or we think certain groups of people won’t have anyone in heaven—I'm not talking about certain other religious groups.  We know Jesus told us He is the Way and the Truth and the Life and that NO ONE can come to the Father except through Him.  I'm talking about people of other ethnicities, other branches of the church family tree.  The reality is when we get to heaven we'll be surprised by who is there, and in some case by who is not there.  We'll  also be surprised to find that some we thought would be “first” will be “last” and vice versa. The reality is the only “ticket” to heaven is Jesus.  The position we hold in heaven is determined by our relationship with Him.  The “final answer” when it comes to heaven is JESUS!  As we go about the day, we may think a good deed will help pave the way to heaven for us.  The truth is nothing we ever do will make God love us more or less.  God’s love for us is tied up in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  As we go about this day and every day, we don’t do good deeds to impress God or to move “up” in the “line.”  We do them because we want to reflect the life of Jesus that resides in us through the Holy Spirit.  After all, as citizens of heaven, and ambassadors for Jesus, we want to make the most of today in representing Jesus to all we meet!

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for sending Jesus to open the door of heaven to us!  Thank You for welcoming people into Your Kingdom from all over the planet.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I may be an effective ambassador for You, and that You may use me to draw people to Yourself.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Friday, February 26 Read Luke 12 and Philippians 3-4 Focus on Philippians 4:8-9

Another of my favorite brief Scriptures is found in Philippians 4:8-9.  Let’s look at it here: 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 NIV This is the Apostle Paul’s “short course” on how to have a positive attitude AND the God of peace or the peace of God (the Greek text allows for either translation!) to be with us.  Paul’s recommendation if we want those things is for us to THINK about eight kinds of things.  Let’s look at each one:  Whatever is true.  A long time ago, I learned a statement:  Truth is in order to goodness.  In other words, truth leads to goodness in our lives.  We can’t have positive attitudes or God’s peace if we base our lives on lies.  Focus on the truth.  Live in the truth and life will be much more meaningful.  Whatever is noble.  What does it mean for something to be noble?  Dictionary.com defines noble as “distinguished by rank or title.”  In our case, the rank or title is that of God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  Paul could have said, “Whatever is godly.”  We need to elevate our thoughts to the level of godliness, and keep our thoughts out of “the gutter.”  Nobility elevates US to the level of godliness as we think on it and practice it in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Whatever is right.  Paul offers us a helpful addition to truth.  Some things are true, but they aren’t right.  We need to think on things that are true AND right.  When we focus on the truths of God we will always be focusing on what’s right. Of course, as with each of these eight characteristics, Paul’s ultimate goal is for us to DO as well as THINK about these things.  Whatever is pure.  Pure means without spot or blemish.  Pure means that our thoughts are absolutely wholesome. You may be thinking, “How do we think like this ALL the time?”  The answer is, “We only think like this ANY time in the power of the Holy Spirit.  As we let the Holy Spirit lead in our lives, these traits become part of us—in a purer and purer form.   Whatever is lovely.  Lovely may mean a number of things, but in this case Paul means both those things that are aesthetically appealing, and those things that reflect the nature of God.   Whatever is admirable.  Here we focus on things that are admired.  This may be quality workmanship, or quality effort, or quality design, or anything that is being or doing what it was created to be or do AND that adds value to our lives.  If anything is excellent… Here Paul reminds us that our goal is not just “good enough,” or not just getting by, but the best we have to offer—or the best that God has offered us.  Excellence is always the goal, and when we see it, we ought to think and reflect on it, if we want God’s peace or the peace of God in our lives.  If anything is praiseworthy.  Simply put praiseworthy means worthy of praise.  Here Paul is not only referring to God, who is the only one worthy of our praise in the ultimate sense, but also anything that is worthy of affirmation, because it reflects the workmanship or attitude of God.  Thus, our efforts may be praiseworthy when we have carried them out in truth and righteousness, with excellence.  May our lives be lived in such a way that we THINK on these things and LIVE them as well!

Heavenly Father, Thank You for having the Apostle Paul compile such a powerful list of qualities and actions about which we are to think.  Motivate us to see these qualities in our lives and to think on them, and also to live these qualities so others may be able to see them in us, think about them and give the praise to You!  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Thursday, Feb. 25 Read Luke 11 and Philippians 1-2 Focus on Philippians 2:12-13

No passage of Scripture makes it more clear that when it comes to our salvation, both God and we have a role to play than Philippians 2:12-13.  Let’s look at the verses:  12Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.  We must be careful to put into action God’s saving work in our lives, or as the NIV puts it to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.”  We must work!  We must put God’s saving work in our lives into action!  That’s our part.  What does that mean?  It means that we must give our best, our 100% to living out what God is doing in our lives.  We can’t sit under a tree and expect God to provide everything we need in life.  We must get up and get going.  BUT, and this is so crucial, BUT—all our effort will fall short unless GOD IS WORKING IN US TO GIVE US THE DESIRE TO OBEY HIM AND THE POWER TO DO WHAT PLEASES HIM.  Salvation is a gift from God. The desire to obey God is a gift from God.  The POWER to do what pleases God is a gift from God.  God ALWAYS acts first in our lives!  As the Apostle Paul reminded us in Romans, ALL of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  We can do our best.  We can work harder than everyone else, and we will still fall short of heaven, of salvation, because the sin that’s part of every life weighs us down and sinks us as surely as a five hundred pound weight would sink us were we to try to swim with it attached to our bodies.  Nevertheless, Paul tells us here in Philippians 2 that while God provides our salvation, while he gives us both the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him, we still have our part---to actually do it.  As I’ve said so often, “We can’t do God’s part, and God won’t do our part.  These blog entries have provided all of us an opportunity to reflect more deeply on specific passages of the New Testament.  God has empowered me in the writing process.  He has shown me passages that need to be highlighted.  His Spirit has guided me in the planning and writing process, but I have had to sit at the keyboard and type.  God does His part, and I do my part.  Without God’s Spirit leading, guiding, motivating and empowering, these words would never have been written.  Without me writing them, they would never have been written either.  My part is significant, God’s part more so!  As we go about this day, may we do our part, and may we participate with God in the amazing process He has set into place to save us, and to save the world through Jesus.  After all, once God saves us, the reason we’re still here instead of immediately being taken to heaven, is so we may grow in Him and be “light and salt” for others, so they may see Him in us and be drawn to Him as well!

Heavenly Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may, indeed, keep putting into action Your saving work in my life.  Let me obey you with deep reverence and fear.  Give me the desire to obey You and the power to do what pleases You.  Use me as light and salt that others may see You in me and glorify You.  This I pray in the name of the one who makes all this possible in my life—Jesus!  Amen.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 Reading for the Day: Luke 10 and Ephesians 4-6 Focus on Ephesians 6

In Ephesians 6 the Apostle Paul tells us we are involved in a battle, a war!  He tells us it isn’t a battle against any human enemy.  Our battle is spiritual.  Our enemies are four demonic forces who are given proper names in the original Greek text in which the New Testament was written.  Those four demons are named “I Was Here First!”  “The Right to Speak!”  “Use People to Get Things!” and “Malice!”  Now, you will never see them named that in any English translation of the Bible, but that’s what their Greek names mean.  When we are seeking to follow Jesus into a new area in our lives, “I Was Here First!” will tell us we can’t.  He will tell us he was here first.  So, what?  First, of all, that’s a lie.  God was here first!  Anywhere we go, any situation we enter with God in charge of our lives, “I Was Here First!” has to back off and give us the right of way.  When we find ourselves in a situation where someone is saying or doing something contrary to the will of God, and we know we should stand up and speak up for Him, and we hear that voice saying, “What gives you the right to get involved?”  That’s “The Right to Speak!”  He wants us to believe that we DON’T have the right to speak or act in Jesus’ name, but again we always DO!  When we find ourselves thinking, “I know ought to help that person in need, but it might cost me something.”  Or when we find ourselves thinking, “I could get my friend to help me with this project that will make me lots of money,” we’re probably dealing with “Use People to Get Things!”  That’s the spirit of worldliness.  Always remember that the right priority is to use things to gain people for the Kingdom of God!  That’s why Jesus told us not to store up treasure here on earth, but in heaven.  Finally, when we just feel plain mean and nasty, when we want to hurt someone “Malice!” is at work.  Malice simply wants to destroy people: physically, spiritually, in every way.  Paul tells us we must be ready for these enemies---spiritual enemies.  The way we do that is by putting on the full armor of God.  The bad news is we’re in a war.  The good news is Jesus has already won!  All we have to do is gear up and follow Him!

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us our enemy and making us aware that we are engaged in a spiritual battle for our eternal lives.  Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to empower us to defeat each of these evil forces that seeks to do us harm.  Glorify Yourself in my life today, and give me the boldness to battle fully for You. This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 Reading for the Day:  Luke 9 and Ephesians 1-3 Focus on Eph. 3:14-21

The theme verse for our “Get in the Game” Campaign last fall was Ephesians 3:20.  Today, let’s look at that verse in its context:  14When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  20Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.  What a prayer!  Paul understood the majesty of God, the amazing nature of His plan for us, and the absolute necessity for us to grow deeper and stronger in the Holy Spirit in order to experience the fullness of God’s “marvelous” love.  Once Paul exhorted us to those understandings, he erupted in spontaneous adoration and praise for God:  NOW glory be to God!  Have you ever thought about God’s wisdom or the Holy Spirit’s presence within us, or the depth and height and breadth of God’s love and just erupted in praise?  I hope so!  But Paul didn’t stop with praise.  He reminded us that God’s power at work within US by the Holy Spirit is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  When we get discouraged—and we do get discouraged sometimes; when we think that things aren’t going to get better—and we do think that sometimes; when we think our situation is impossible, and sometimes our situations do seem impossible, Paul calls us to remember there's no limit to God’s mighty power at work within us. He IS able to accomplish infinitely more—think about that: INFINITELY more!  That means without limit—than we would ever dare to ask or hope. WOW!  That’s a passage worth memorizing, because we all get down sometimes, but God’s hand is not short—He is able to do INFINITELY more through us—than we can imagine. Imagine that!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the truth of Paul’s prayer!  Thank You for being limitless in Your ability to accomplish the impossible, the improbable and the mundane.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I may live victoriously regardless of what I face today.  This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.