Friday, May 28, 2010
Nehemia 4: 16-23
We must watch always against spiritual enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be over till our work is ended. The word of God is the sword of the spirit, which we ought to have always at hand, and never to have to seek for it, either in our labors, or in our conflicts, as Christians. Every true Christian is both a laborer and a soldier, working with one hand, and fighting with the other. Good work is likely to go on with success, when those who labor in it, make a business of it. And Satan fears to assault the watchful Christian; or, if attacked, the Lord fight for him. Thus must we wait to the close of life, never putting off our account till our work and warfare are ended; then we shall be welcomed to the rest and joy of our Lord.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thank God for Mothers!
"I have been reminded of your sincere faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded, now lives in you also." 2 Timothy 1:05
It was Sunday morning and his son had not yet been presented at the breakfast table. She had tried to climb the stairs shouting: "Wake up and get down here!" But there was no response. Finally, up the stairs and opened the door to the room of his son and said: "We must rise and dress. It's time to go to church!"
"I do not want to go to church," her son complained of under the covers.
"You can not give me one good reason not to go to church, so get up!" Replied his mother.
"Actually, I'll give you three reasons. Number one: it's boring. Number two: people are gossipy and critical. And number three: nobody loves me. So why do I bother?"
"I'll give you three reasons," replied her mother. "Number one: the Bible says you should go. Number two: you are 45 years. And number three: you're the pastor! Now get out of bed and dressed for church!"
Where would we be without the tireless insistence of our mothers to do the right thing? Across the United States this weekend, the flowers will be delivered, homemade cards will be given, and mothers celebrated Mother's Day. And it is right to do so. I know of very few roles that such demand unconditional perseverance, selfless commitment and that of motherhood.
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul pauses to acknowledge the impact that a mother can have, mentioning Lois, Timothy's grandmother, and Eunice, his mother. Paul's mention of these women is interesting because he, personally, could claim a major influence on the spiritual journey of Timothy. Paul called his spiritual son (2 Timothy 1:6, 1 Corinthians 4:17, Philippians 2:22) and not only Timothy had been included in mission trips, but there were numerous tasks entrusted to him, including grazing growing church in Ephesus. It is clear that Paul had spent much of his life in mentoring and helping to make Timothy capable and useful.
But Paul readily and willingly acknowledged that the seeds of Timothy's faith were planted by these two women. We know very little about Lois and Eunice, but our imagination can imagine young Timothy to pray, teaching them simple stories of Jesus and the life-changing truths of the Word of God and submit to the early church leaders. We all know that motherhood is a difficult task, but the rewards to faithful moms is great. Think about how the mother and the grandmother of Timothy must have felt to see him blossom as a leader in the work of Jesus!
I know for sure that my character and faith has been shaped and molded by my mom. I will always be grateful for his influence in my life. It has been a privilege for me to see how my wife, Martie, has impacted the lives of our children, and now our grandchildren. So this weekend, I'm excited for the opportunity to celebrate the important role of our mothers.
Because let's face it, where would we be without them? We will listen to the mothers!
YOUR JOURNEY ...
* For some, Mother's Day brings pain, perhaps the pain of a fractured relationship between a mother and her son, the pain of losing a loved one, or the pain of unfulfilled longings for motherhood. Psalms 34:18 offers these compassionate words: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit." Jesus knows and understands your pain and is willing to not only grieve with you, but to bring peace and hope soft.
* If you're a mom, how to stimulate and excite you to know that you can play a key role in the lives of their children (and grandchildren)?
* Take a moment to thank the Lord for your mom, then make sure to thank her mother specifically!
It was Sunday morning and his son had not yet been presented at the breakfast table. She had tried to climb the stairs shouting: "Wake up and get down here!" But there was no response. Finally, up the stairs and opened the door to the room of his son and said: "We must rise and dress. It's time to go to church!"
"I do not want to go to church," her son complained of under the covers.
"You can not give me one good reason not to go to church, so get up!" Replied his mother.
"Actually, I'll give you three reasons. Number one: it's boring. Number two: people are gossipy and critical. And number three: nobody loves me. So why do I bother?"
"I'll give you three reasons," replied her mother. "Number one: the Bible says you should go. Number two: you are 45 years. And number three: you're the pastor! Now get out of bed and dressed for church!"
Where would we be without the tireless insistence of our mothers to do the right thing? Across the United States this weekend, the flowers will be delivered, homemade cards will be given, and mothers celebrated Mother's Day. And it is right to do so. I know of very few roles that such demand unconditional perseverance, selfless commitment and that of motherhood.
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul pauses to acknowledge the impact that a mother can have, mentioning Lois, Timothy's grandmother, and Eunice, his mother. Paul's mention of these women is interesting because he, personally, could claim a major influence on the spiritual journey of Timothy. Paul called his spiritual son (2 Timothy 1:6, 1 Corinthians 4:17, Philippians 2:22) and not only Timothy had been included in mission trips, but there were numerous tasks entrusted to him, including grazing growing church in Ephesus. It is clear that Paul had spent much of his life in mentoring and helping to make Timothy capable and useful.
But Paul readily and willingly acknowledged that the seeds of Timothy's faith were planted by these two women. We know very little about Lois and Eunice, but our imagination can imagine young Timothy to pray, teaching them simple stories of Jesus and the life-changing truths of the Word of God and submit to the early church leaders. We all know that motherhood is a difficult task, but the rewards to faithful moms is great. Think about how the mother and the grandmother of Timothy must have felt to see him blossom as a leader in the work of Jesus!
I know for sure that my character and faith has been shaped and molded by my mom. I will always be grateful for his influence in my life. It has been a privilege for me to see how my wife, Martie, has impacted the lives of our children, and now our grandchildren. So this weekend, I'm excited for the opportunity to celebrate the important role of our mothers.
Because let's face it, where would we be without them? We will listen to the mothers!
YOUR JOURNEY ...
* For some, Mother's Day brings pain, perhaps the pain of a fractured relationship between a mother and her son, the pain of losing a loved one, or the pain of unfulfilled longings for motherhood. Psalms 34:18 offers these compassionate words: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit." Jesus knows and understands your pain and is willing to not only grieve with you, but to bring peace and hope soft.
* If you're a mom, how to stimulate and excite you to know that you can play a key role in the lives of their children (and grandchildren)?
* Take a moment to thank the Lord for your mom, then make sure to thank her mother specifically!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Time
Being a father means giving up your time without resentment. It's hard, I know. Men spend most of their time working for someone else. When you come home and there are even more demands on your time, you might feel like distancing yourself from your own family.
Your daughter realizes this, and becasue she wants to please you, she might not tell you how much she needs your time. So you have to take the initiative to spend time alone with her.
I realize that many good fathers feel pressured regarding time. There isn't enough, for any of us, and the lack of time or misuse of it causes great anxiety. We carve out time slots for our kids, and we don't want to waste that time. We want to ensure that it's productive and meaningful. And that only adds to pressure.
But spending time with your daughter shouldn't be full of pressure, because she doesn't need you to do something; she only needs to be with you. So don't worry about finding activities to entertain her. She doesn't want to hitch a ride on your golf cart. (And she certainly doesn't want to share you with the television.) All she wants is your attention. And she need it on a regular basis.
Your daughter realizes this, and becasue she wants to please you, she might not tell you how much she needs your time. So you have to take the initiative to spend time alone with her.
I realize that many good fathers feel pressured regarding time. There isn't enough, for any of us, and the lack of time or misuse of it causes great anxiety. We carve out time slots for our kids, and we don't want to waste that time. We want to ensure that it's productive and meaningful. And that only adds to pressure.
But spending time with your daughter shouldn't be full of pressure, because she doesn't need you to do something; she only needs to be with you. So don't worry about finding activities to entertain her. She doesn't want to hitch a ride on your golf cart. (And she certainly doesn't want to share you with the television.) All she wants is your attention. And she need it on a regular basis.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Significance of Suffering
“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3
Let’s be honest, most of us would have to admit that we have a natural aversion to suffering. It may not bother us so much when “bad” people suffer, but we often get bent out of shape when suffering happens to “good” people—especially to us! We think that life owes us happiness, comfort, wealth, and a bit of prosperity. So when life deals us a blow, it’s no wonder we are prone to “grow weary and lose heart.”
Thankfully the writer of Hebrews helps put things into perspective by instructing us to “consider” the suffering of Jesus. When we fully grasp the terrible suffering that Jesus Christ—the only perfect person to walk this planet—endured on our behalf, it makes all the difference.
It’s significant to note that Jesus knew exactly what was coming. The night before His death, He told His disciples, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15, italics mine). I have often thought that it would have been a lot easier for Him to die a different way—something more sudden and less violent. Why was such deep agony required?
Jesus knew that suffering is part and parcel of Satan’s grip on our lives. Satan loves to bring it on, because he believes the more suffering he can throw at us, the more we will become defeated, discouraged, and disengaged from God. That’s his plan. And so the enemy threw the book at Jesus. Satan entered the heart of Judas, which meant that Jesus would suffer the bitter betrayal of a trusted friend. The kangaroo courts and crowds declared Jesus to be a criminal, beat and mocked Him, and inflicted terrible agony on Him. He stumbled up the cobblestone steps carrying His own cross, felt the stab of the sword in His side, the nails in His hands and feet, the thorns on His brow. He tasted suffering for us, and all the while Satan said, “Take that!”
What Satan did not know was that behind the scenes, God was working to use Jesus’ experience of suffering to turn the tables on Satan and defeat him through the suffering. The suffering of Jesus was a prelude to the ultimate defeat of sin, death, and hell. Because He died on the cross and suffered for us, we too can be assured that in the depths of suffering there is the reality that victory will be God’s end game for us. So, when Satan heaps suffering on your life, you can be certain that God, who works all things together for good (Romans 8:28), is ready to turn the tables on Satan to bring victory out of defeat for you.
I don’t know about you, but I’m really thankful that Jesus was not only willing to die, but to defeat the stronghold of suffering in the process. He willingly walked into the arena of suffering in order to achieve complete, final victory over the ravaging effects of sin. And what’s more, He proved that there’s life beyond the grave.
So don’t miss the significance in your time of suffering! When Satan throws his best stuff at you, because of Jesus you can believe that God is both able and ready to turn the tables on him—and to bring you out with hands held high in victory!
Let’s be honest, most of us would have to admit that we have a natural aversion to suffering. It may not bother us so much when “bad” people suffer, but we often get bent out of shape when suffering happens to “good” people—especially to us! We think that life owes us happiness, comfort, wealth, and a bit of prosperity. So when life deals us a blow, it’s no wonder we are prone to “grow weary and lose heart.”
Thankfully the writer of Hebrews helps put things into perspective by instructing us to “consider” the suffering of Jesus. When we fully grasp the terrible suffering that Jesus Christ—the only perfect person to walk this planet—endured on our behalf, it makes all the difference.
It’s significant to note that Jesus knew exactly what was coming. The night before His death, He told His disciples, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15, italics mine). I have often thought that it would have been a lot easier for Him to die a different way—something more sudden and less violent. Why was such deep agony required?
Jesus knew that suffering is part and parcel of Satan’s grip on our lives. Satan loves to bring it on, because he believes the more suffering he can throw at us, the more we will become defeated, discouraged, and disengaged from God. That’s his plan. And so the enemy threw the book at Jesus. Satan entered the heart of Judas, which meant that Jesus would suffer the bitter betrayal of a trusted friend. The kangaroo courts and crowds declared Jesus to be a criminal, beat and mocked Him, and inflicted terrible agony on Him. He stumbled up the cobblestone steps carrying His own cross, felt the stab of the sword in His side, the nails in His hands and feet, the thorns on His brow. He tasted suffering for us, and all the while Satan said, “Take that!”
What Satan did not know was that behind the scenes, God was working to use Jesus’ experience of suffering to turn the tables on Satan and defeat him through the suffering. The suffering of Jesus was a prelude to the ultimate defeat of sin, death, and hell. Because He died on the cross and suffered for us, we too can be assured that in the depths of suffering there is the reality that victory will be God’s end game for us. So, when Satan heaps suffering on your life, you can be certain that God, who works all things together for good (Romans 8:28), is ready to turn the tables on Satan to bring victory out of defeat for you.
I don’t know about you, but I’m really thankful that Jesus was not only willing to die, but to defeat the stronghold of suffering in the process. He willingly walked into the arena of suffering in order to achieve complete, final victory over the ravaging effects of sin. And what’s more, He proved that there’s life beyond the grave.
So don’t miss the significance in your time of suffering! When Satan throws his best stuff at you, because of Jesus you can believe that God is both able and ready to turn the tables on him—and to bring you out with hands held high in victory!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
DON'T FORGET
“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 6:12
In Deuteronomy 6:12, Moses is talking to the Israelites about the danger of memory loss when it comes to forgetting God. God’s people were standing on the edge of the Promised Land, ready to enter a land with great cities they did not build, houses full of good things they did not fill, and vast and lush vineyards they didn’t plant. And, as good as the prospect of all this prosperity was, there was a danger lurking under the blessing. Moses knew that in good times it’s easy to forget God. The people were in danger of forgetting that it was God who had given them this land flowing with milk and honey; forgetting that it was God who went before them in each battle; forgetting, in fact, that it was only through God’s gracious choice of them as His people that they were enjoying the blessings of their new home and country. And, when we forget God, we become unthankful, proud, and self-sufficient—the kinds of things that are offensive to the Giver of every good and perfect gift.
So the solution for Israel—and for that matter, for us—is keeping God in mind! The book of Deuteronomy is actually a memory seminar about God’s goodness to His people. Moses reminds the Israelites of the law that was given on Mount Sinai. He tracks the Israelites back over the ways God miraculously provided for them—battles won, food given, shoes that didn’t wear out—the list of God’s providing work is long.
So, here’s the lesson. Beware! When God is abundantly good to us we are in great danger. We are in danger because in good times it’s easy to forget God. It’s easy to be so consumed with the gifts that we forget the Giver! And if we do that, we end up worshiping the blessings and not the One who in His amazing grace has blessed us.
The benefit of keeping God in mind is that it keeps our hearts grateful, appropriately humble, and delighted in our God for His goodness to us. Believe me, delighting in Him beats being consumed by the stuff that He has given us.
Memory lapses in our daily routines may be normal for us. But remembering God’s goodness in our lives is something we can’t afford to forget!
YOUR JOURNEY…
In Deuteronomy 6:12, Moses is talking to the Israelites about the danger of memory loss when it comes to forgetting God. God’s people were standing on the edge of the Promised Land, ready to enter a land with great cities they did not build, houses full of good things they did not fill, and vast and lush vineyards they didn’t plant. And, as good as the prospect of all this prosperity was, there was a danger lurking under the blessing. Moses knew that in good times it’s easy to forget God. The people were in danger of forgetting that it was God who had given them this land flowing with milk and honey; forgetting that it was God who went before them in each battle; forgetting, in fact, that it was only through God’s gracious choice of them as His people that they were enjoying the blessings of their new home and country. And, when we forget God, we become unthankful, proud, and self-sufficient—the kinds of things that are offensive to the Giver of every good and perfect gift.
So the solution for Israel—and for that matter, for us—is keeping God in mind! The book of Deuteronomy is actually a memory seminar about God’s goodness to His people. Moses reminds the Israelites of the law that was given on Mount Sinai. He tracks the Israelites back over the ways God miraculously provided for them—battles won, food given, shoes that didn’t wear out—the list of God’s providing work is long.
So, here’s the lesson. Beware! When God is abundantly good to us we are in great danger. We are in danger because in good times it’s easy to forget God. It’s easy to be so consumed with the gifts that we forget the Giver! And if we do that, we end up worshiping the blessings and not the One who in His amazing grace has blessed us.
The benefit of keeping God in mind is that it keeps our hearts grateful, appropriately humble, and delighted in our God for His goodness to us. Believe me, delighting in Him beats being consumed by the stuff that He has given us.
Memory lapses in our daily routines may be normal for us. But remembering God’s goodness in our lives is something we can’t afford to forget!
YOUR JOURNEY…
- Take some time to write out what God has done for you. Let it be an exercise in remembering His goodness and grace in your life!
- While we can rejoice in the fact that God forgives and forgets the sins that we confess before Him, it’s sometimes helpful for us to remember just how much He has forgiven us. We are, as Paul said, examples of God’s “unlimited patience” (1 Timothy 1:16).
- How does remembering what God has done for you personally affect the way that you will live your life today?
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