Wisdom and Knowledge

Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?

2 Chronicles 1:10

God told Solomon to ask for anything he wanted and he would receive it. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge. He asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead God's people. As king, he was to lead God's people and he wanted wisdom and knowledge to be able to do so. Solomon had been brought up the son of a king and he probably had a pretty good education. However, to face the task of leading the people, he was humble and turned to God to help him lead the people. I've been at my current job for a long time and at least according to those I work with, I'm pretty good at it. However, in my job as well as in everything else in my life, I must daily humble myself before God and ask for wisdom and knowledge. If I start to think that I can do it on my own, I am being a fool. May I be like Solomon and depend on God for wisdom and knowledge and thereby bring glory to Him.

Full hands

Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the LORD?"

1 Chronicles 29:5 (ESV)

David, in his final acts before his death as he turns over his throne to Solomon and charges Solomon with building the temple, gives from his own gold and silver to the "building fund" for the temple. Then he challenges the people to join him in the giving. Looking into the Hebrew behind the words translated "consecrate himself" brought about an interesting word picture. I usually think of consecrate as "to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity..." but the Hebrew word male' implies "2) to consecrate, fill the hand". This immediately made me think of my seven year old son. "Son, can you help me unload the groceries from the car?" "Not now Dad, my hands are full." Usually when I get a response like this from him, his hands aren't really full - there's probably room for him to carry a loaf of bread or some English muffins in addition to the toys that he had in the car as we went to the store. Now me, at the time, I've probably got three or bags (thank God for bags with handles) with a box of Bisquick or something shoved under each arm (OK, maybe I'm exagerating a little). What would it look like if I gave to God with full hands? Sure today, the tithe check will go in the offering basket. I'll spend several hours up at church playing in the worship band giving of my time and talents. But are my hands full? Am I giving abundantly where my hands are truly full and can't hold any more? May I today give with my hands a little fuller than they were before.

Jesus Wept

Jesus wept.

John 11:35 (ESV)

John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible. Two words. Jesus wept. I recall a time when it was said "Real men don't cry." Jesus did. He was the ultimate man. Don't try and rationalize or anything. When you look at the Greek, dakruo it specifically means to shed tears. This Greek word was used exactly once in the New Testament - right here in John 11:35. Do you suppose the specific word choice is significant? I do. Jesus was saddened by the death of Lazarus - even though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was moved to shed tears. The love He felt for Lazarus was real. The sadness He felt was real. The tears He shed were real. The connection He had to Lazarus and Mary and Martha was real. Jesus wept. Do you?

Do You Believe This?

²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11:25-26 (ESV)

Lazarus had died. Martha came to Jesus and confessed that she knew that if Jesus were there, Lazarus would not have died. She wasn't nagging. If You'd only been here, this NEVER would have happened. Where the heck were You? No, she recognized His power. She knew what He could do. Jesus began to draw her out. "Your brother will rise again." Yes, Jesus, I know that. He'll rise on the last day. I know that. She recognized Jesus power to heal the sick - the living. She knew that Jesus had power over life. But what about death? Jesus knew He was going to die on the cross. His disciples were beginning to realize that Jesus was going to be killed. Thomas suggested to his fellow disciples that they go and die with Jesus. "Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." Jesus has power over life AND death. "Do you believe this?" Do you have faith in this? Do you trust this? Are you willing to commit to this? Martha, He's saying, You know Who I really am. You've seen what I can do. I am telling you that I can do more than you know. How are do you respond right here, right now?

I know the end of the story. Lazarus is raised from the dead. Jesus goes on to die on the cross. He dies for my sin. The curtain in the temple is torn in two. Through Jesus, we have access to God's holiness. Jesus is raised from the dead. Death cannot stop Jesus. Oh death, where is your sting? But the question that I am confronted with is the same question Jesus posed here to Martha. "Do I believe this?"

Humility and Legacy

For David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it." So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.

1 Chronicles 22:5 (ESV)

¹²Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. ¹³Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.

1 Chronicles 22:12-13 (ESV)

David accepted with humility that he was not to build a temple for God. However, he did not put it out of his heart. He prepared for Solomon to build the temple both in materials and in preparing Solomon himself. David started putting into place the people who would build the temple and the materials to be used in building the temple. He prayed for wisdom for Solomon. Foremost, he charged Solomon to "keep the law of the Lord your God." What great humility David had. He very easily could have acted like a little kid and sulked and said If Solomon's going to build the temple then he's going to have to do it himself - I'm not going to help him! But no, David did everything in his power to set Solomon up to succeed in his task! David, as a father, earnestly desired to see his son bring glory to God and he prepared his son to do so.

As a father of two young boys, I too want to see them bring glory to God. Personally, I have not been given a vision of something that I won't accomplish for God that one of my sons will, but that doesn't matter. Yes, I have been trying to provide materially for their future success. More importantly, I have been doing what I can to prepare them spiritually. I read God's word daily not only for my own benefit, but also to set an example for my sons. I read God's word to them daily. I teach them daily as we have our family devotions.

I know how Solomon's story ended. He did build the temple. He was known as the wisest man in the world. He was immensely wealthy. He wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiates, Song of Solomon, and some of the Psalms. But he was enticed by foreign women. His heart turned to foreign gods. Ultimately his disobeyed the commandment "You shall have no other gods before me."

I don't know how my sons' stories will turn out. But I know that God knows what He's doing. We've been studying this for the last few weeks in our family devotions. May God continue to nurture in me a humble spirit earnestly seeking to prepare my sons to bring glory to God. May He change their hearts and grant them understanding so that they will have no other gods before Him.

Humility when God's plans are different

Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.

1 Chronicles 17:4 (ESV)

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

1 Chronicles 17:16

David wanted to build a temple for God. A place where God would dwell and would sit in judgement of His people. A place where the other nations would be able to see how great God is. But that is not what God wanted. God wanted to establish David and his house - his lineage. It would be from David's line that Jesus would be born. God was more concerned with His overall plan of redemption than with a temple. David was humble in his acceptance of God's plan. David knew that he was not worthy of how God was blessing him. He knew God's surpassing greatness and was concerned that God's name would be magnified. May I be as aware of how great God is and be aware of His plans even when they differ from my own. May I be as humble before God and as concerned for His glory as David was.

Hardness of Heart

³³"If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." ³⁴They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

John 9:33-34 (ESV)

The Pharisees continued their investigation of Jesus healing the man born blind by questioning the man himself. Back in verse 16, the Pharisees were clear that they felt Jesus was not from God. Yet here this man whom they saw as a sinner (and of course he was, but it wasn't because of sin that he was born blind) is telling them that Jesus was from God! How dare he. The Pharisees were so set in their ways that they could not accept Jesus being from God. Yet the man born blind realized it and believed Jesus was from God. When Jesus revealed Himself to the man born blind, the man believed that Jesus was the Messiah and worshipped Him (v 38).

Are there ways that I am so hard of heart or so set in my ways, that I cannot see Jesus for who He truly is? I would love to say no, but I would imagine that is not completely true. Do I find myself set in my expectations of what Jesus will do in my life that I fail to see ways that Jesus is working that is different from what I am expecting? Am I so set in my expectations that my peripheral vision is suffering? Yes, I wear progressive no line bifocals for my normal vision, but is my spiritual vision suffering too? The truth is I need me eyes opened freshly every day to see what God is doing in my life.

Heavenly Father, open my eyes. Keep me from becoming blind to what You are doing in my life. Help me be like the man born blind who now could see and be eager to see what You are doing in my life. For Your glory. Amen.

Unbelief

Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

John 9:3 (ESV)

Jesus healed a man born blind. His neighbors didn't really believe it was the man who had been born blind. It's him. No it's not - it's somebody who looks like him. They wanted an investigation into the matter so they took the man before the Pharisees. The Pharisees made a big deal out of the fact that Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath. Some of them didn't believe a man of God would do work on the Sabbath. Others believed that a sinner couldn't do such a miracle. "And there was a division among them." They didn't want to believe that the man was born blind. They queried his parents. Yes, it's him. He was born blind.

The neighbors and the Pharisees didn't want to believe in what Jesus had done. Jesus didn't fit their picture of what a man of God was supposed to be. They kept looking for explanations so that they could rationalize their disbelief. Mistaken identity. Charlatan working on the Sabbath. He wasn't really blind to begin with. He's a sinner. Their arguments wouldn't stand. Yet, they couldn't believe in the mighty work Jesus had done. They failed to see God's work in the situation.

Where is it that it fail to see God's work in my life? Where do I rationalize away the divine and look for other explanations? Am I like the Father in Mark chapter 9?

²¹And Jesus asked his father\cf1 , "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. ²² And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." ²³ And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"

Mark 9:21-24 (ESV)

Jesus, I know that I often sell You short in my life. I beleive! Help my unbelief!

Breach of faith

"So Saul died for his breach of faith..." (1 Chronicles 10:13 ESV)
Yes, I understand the wages of sin is death. Yes, I know the stories
of Annanais and Sapphira and the story of Uzziah - sin; drop dead; end
of story. Saul didn't drop dead immediately after his sin. It is
clear that he died - a battle injury not quite killing him so he fell
on his own sword to finish the job - BECAUSE of his sin. I like how
the ESV puts it "a breach of his faith". How important is it that we
keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith?
I'd say there are life and death consequences!

The truth will set you free

³¹To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:31-32 (NIV)

The truth will set you free. That's one of those truths that I hold on to. The truth will set you free. Period. Well, no, not exactly. If you hold to my teaching... Wait a minute. We have to do something before the truth sets us free? We can't just wily-nily be doing what we want and have the truth set us free? Nope. Not gonna happen. Jesus said we must hold to His teaching. That means we must know His teaching. The verb translated "hold to" here is menō which means to remain, abide, sojourn, tarry. We must be actively living in His Word. It must be an active part of our lives. We should be reading it every day. We should be letting it affect every area of our lives. We should let it influence every decision we make. We should be clinging to it. THEN we will be His disciples. THEN we will know the truth. THEN the truth will set us free. Are you free?

Did you notice who wasn't there?

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

John 8:7 (NIV)

They brought a woman accused of adultery to Jesus wanting Him to tell them it was OK to stone her. Did you notice who wasn't there? The Washington Post wasn't covering the story. Nor was the New York Times. Not CNN, MSNBC, or FoxNews. Not Huffington Post or DrudgeReport. Not Gawker. Not TMZ. Nope, our mainstream media completely missed out on this story. But did you see story on such-and-such about so-and-so? I'll send you the link. Ha, I can't believe what they've done! They deserve what's coming to them! Let him who is without sin... My sin? What do you mean? I'm just relaying something I saw on... It wasn't me saying anything in the first place. Shouldn't you be reproving the MSM for reporting salacious stories like this? What? How many fingers are pointing back at me? Come on, give me a break. There's a speck in your eye! Don't you know that! You expect me to get it out for you? Forget it! I'm not going to help you! (I can't because of this darn log in my eye.)

Who is Jesus?

⁴⁰On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet."
⁴¹Others said, "He is the Christ."
Still others asked, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? ⁴²Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" ⁴³Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. ⁴⁴Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

John 7:40-44 (NIV)

The people were arguing who Jesus was. They didn't know everything about Jesus and how He fulfilled the prophecies that they were questioning. People are still arguing over Jesus today. "He was a good man." "He was a good teacher." "He was a prophet." How can I, having been elightened by the Holy Spirit, reveal to those around me who He really is?

Cleaning House

I wrote yesterday of Josiah's responsive heart as he humbled himself before the Lord in repentence after the book of the covenant was discovered in the temple. 2 Kings 23 continues the story and shows how Josiah's responsive heart translated into actions. Perhaps there's something I can learn from what he did.

• He let everybody know. Josiah didn't stop at just himself reading the word. He had the book of the covenant read to all of the people. He knew this was important and was something that he had to share with others.
• He renewed his commitment to God. In verse 3 we see that he renewed the covenant "to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul." Repentence doesn't just stop at confession, it requires change and commitment.
• He cleaned house. Josiah had the priests remove everything from the temple that was dedicated to foreign gods. They didn't stop at just the temple, they went throughout the land tearing down anything that was dedicated to foreign gods. They weren't just throwing things out - things were "smashed" and "desecrated". Josiah was serious and not concerned with political correctness.
• He didn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. In verses 17 and 18, we read of Josiah encoutering the tomb of a prophet who was a man of God and had prophesied of the cleansing Josiah was doing. Josiah realized that his tombstone could be left intact.

Josiah was serious about cleaning the kingdom of all that was dedicated to foreign gods. He knew that a holy God demanded His people be holy also. He sought to remove all that wasn't dedicated to God and still to retain and preserve all that was dedicated to the true God.

Heavenly Father, help me to know when I need to clean house. Help me to be strong and diligent in removing all that is not dedicated to You. Help me also to preserve and cultivate all in my life that is dedicated to You. For Your glory. Amen.

Responsive Hearts

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.

2 Kings 22:19 (NIV)

Josiah was young when he became king. The kings before him didn't seek God. The people had turned away from God. They had forgotten the word of God... until it was found when they were renovating the temple. Josiah read it and realized how far the people had strayed from God. He humbled himself. He wept. He repented. The fruit of his repentence was that he didn't see the disaster God was to bring upon the people.

I haven't gone a long time without reading God's word. I read every day. In the morning on my own. At night with my kids. How do I react when I read the word and realize how far I have strayed from God? It's been a while since I've wept. I don't know that I've ever torn my clothes (at least on purpose). I'm pretty quiet with my repentence. I just need to make sure that I'm quick with my repentence when I find myself confronted by my sin.

Heavenly Father. Thank You that Your Word exposes my sin. Thank You that as I confess my sin You are faithful to forgive my sin and cleanse me from my unrighteousness. Help me to be responsive when convicted of my sin and to humble myself and turn to You. For Your glory. Amen.

Feed Me!

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

John 6:26 (NIV)

They tracked Him down. They realized He was no longer where He had fed them and they went looking for Him. They found Him. They hadn't understood the miracle. They were hungry AGAIN. Feed me, Jesus, feed me! "I am the Bread of Life" He said. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they said. Their stomachs were empty. They didn't understand He cared for their souls. When was the last time Jesus filled you up? Did the experience fill you or did you taste and see that the Lord is good? Were you left craving for that next meal or were you craving more of Jesus? A few hours later, did you find yourself heading to Five Guys to fill you up or can you declare like David in Psalm 63

¹ O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

³ Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Psalm 63:1-5 (NIV)

What are you afraid of?

So, what ARE you afraid of? Snakes? Heights? Falling off ladders? Crowds? Men walking on water in the middle of the night?

¹⁹When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. ²⁰But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." ²¹Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

John 6:19-21 (NIV)

The disciples had just had a busy day. They had fed 5,0000 men with just a little bit of food and then had to clean up the mess. Cleaning up after a family of four after dinner is enough work. Cleaning up after 5,000... I personally can't imagine it. The disciples must have been exhausted. They got in the boat to head to their next destination. Jesus stayed behind. A long day. Feeding a lot of people. Cleaning up after those people. Then rowing three and a half miles. Ugh! When will this day be over. What's that over there? Is that a ghost out over the water? The disciples were terrified. The Greek word phobeō is the word from which we derive our word phobia. They were scared. They were perhaps acting a little irrationally. What did Jesus tell them. "It is I. Don't be afraid." Jesus got in the boat with them. Boom. They reached their destination. Keep your eyes on Jesus - not on your circumstances. Let Him in your boat. Be not afraid. What, I ask again, are you afraid of?

Diligent Study

³⁹You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

John 5:39-40 (NIV)

In this passage Jesus is telling the people that the Scriptures point to Him. Despite all of their diligent study, they have failed to see the object of the Scriptures. They've read their Bibles, studied their commentaries, listened to their sermons and yet they haven't realized it's all about Jesus. They want eternal life. They read the Scriptures to point them to eternal life. Yet, they don't come to Jesus for eternal life. They are missing the point completely.

How often do I miss Jesus when I'm reading the Scriptures. How often do I, when I'm reading one of the "boring" passages in the Old Testament, fail to see that it's pointing to Jesus? At least I can say "not all the time." I do see Jesus in the Old Testament. By God's grace I can. Thank God!.

Dear God, I know that the Old Testament testifies to Jesus. Open my eyes that I might see Him proclaimed in Your Word. Help me to take that and proclaim to others so that they may see Him too. For Your glory, Amen.

Driving

The lookout reported, "He has reached them, but he isn't coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman."

2 Kings 9:20 (NIV)

I don't have a fish on the back of my car. Nor do I have a "No God no peace, Know God know peace" bumper sticker or anything like that. I don't particularly want the person to know that I'm a Christian. I don't want them to think "The driving is like that of a Christian - he drives like a madman." I get cut off almost every day by cars with fish on them. I see cars with Christian bumper stickers blow by me on the highway when I'm already noticably over the speed limit. Seeing people who display their Christianity and drive like maniacs offends me. Maybe I'm offended because I do the same thing. That's why I don't have a fish on my car. Maybe, instead of being offended, I should drive in such a way that honors Christ. At least until I hear that traffic report that lets me know it's going to take more than an hour to get home. OK, even after I hear that traffic report that lets me know it's going to take two hours to get home.

Heavenly Father, help me to drive in such a way that it brings honor to You. Help me not to drive in a way that dishonors You. Help me to LIVE in a way that brings honor to You. Amen.

Because of His words

And because of his words many more became believers.

John 4:41 (NIV)

Jesus had spoken to the Samaritan women at the well and she believed because He had told her everything she had ever done. Many of her fellow Samaritans beleieved because of her testimony and they came out to listen to Jesus. It wasn't just the woman's story that led them to believe. They listened to Jesus. His words. His heart. Himself. Jesus, the Word that was from the beginning and came into the world. Jesus, the Word that was with God and was God. His Word.

Like the talk He had with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, this is another one of Jesus' speeches that isn't recorded in the Bible. He gave testimony to who He was and the Samaritans believed. Just like on the trip to Emmaus where He showed how the Old Testament pointed to Him. Yet, neither of the speeches are included in the Bible. Have you ever thought about how, if these speeches were included, you would understand Him better and be able to tell people about Him better? I have. I'd love to have those words in front of me. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Wouldn't I be more effective in my ministry if I could just point people to these speeches. Wouldn't my life be richer? I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Ok, so maybe I don't need those speeches. What Jesus said about himself is fairly clear. I need to take Him at His word and I need to take His word to those around me.

Jesus, thank You that Your Word changes people's hearts. Thank You that it is powerful and it accomplishes what You set it out to do. Help me to share it with others who need to be changed by it. Amen.

Don't I deserve something?

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him."

2 Kings 5:20 (NIV)

Naaman had come to Elisha to be healed of leprosy. Elisha told him to wash himself in the Jordan River seven times and he would be healed. Naaman, after some initial protest whining whether his rivers back home were good enough, did as Elisha said and was healed. Naaman offered Elisha a gift. Elisha declined. Shortly after Naaman had left to return home, Gehazi decided to exploit Naaman's generosity and returned with gifts. Elisha knew, busted Gehazi, and Gehazi got what he deserved - leprosy.

It's a good thing I'm not like Gehazi. After all, he didn't actually do anything to help Naaman. Me, I read my Bible everyday - to myself and to my children. I'm discipling my children. I go to church every week. Men's Bible study every Tuesday. I serve in my church. Surely I deserve something for all of this.

The Bible is clear that I DO deserve something. "For the wages of sin is death" it says in Romans 6:23. Yes, I deserve something. Eternal separation from God. Death. Hell. That's what I deserve. Romans 6:23 continues "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." It's a gift. I don't deserve it. Grace. That's what it is. The grace of God. I'm not entitled to it. Nevertheless, I have received it and I am glad.

Heavenly Father, I thank you that I haven't gotten what I deserve. Unlike Uzziah or Ananais or Sapphira, I haven't been struck dead upon my sinning. Thank You that you sent Your Son into the world so that anyone who believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life. Help me to remember that it's a free gift from You and not anything that I can boast in. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

Passing the mantle

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.

2 King 2:9 (NIV)

Elisha had been Elijah's assistant for a while and the end of Elijah's ministry was upon him. Elisha wanted to succeed Elijah in his ministry, but it seems that Elijah wasn't sure if that was best. As we follow along in this chapter, Elijah keeps trying to ditch Elisha saying that he's going somewhere and telling Elisha to stay. Elisha follows along anyway. Elijah finally concedes and asks Elisha what he wants. Elisha says that he wants the double portion guaranteed by Deuteronomy 21:17 for the first-born. In other words, Elisha wants to be Elijah's successor. Elisha gets that honor and shortly finds that people don't listen to him and kids are making fun of him. Yes, those kids get mauled by a bear, but they still made fun of him.

I wonder why Elijah seemed so reluctant for Elisha to be his successor. I wonder why Elisha was so eager even in the face of Elijah's reluctance. But, I also think about how am I preparing for my successor. For that matter, what am I looking to be succeeded in? Am I training my sons up to be good godly men? On the other hand, am I aspiring to grow into some position of leadership? I've been in positions of leadership before and when I assumed that position, the passing of the mantle was awkward at best. When I left that position, it was no less awkward. Am I striving for something but turning back because of adversity? Am I even striving? I don't know. Maybe I should...

Heavenly Father, help me to be like Elisha and eagerly pursue what it is that You have for me. Help me to hear from You so I can know what to strive for. Help me to not be discouraged when it doesn't turn out to be as easy as I would like it to be. Help me to be guided by a desire to bring You glory and not me. Amen.

Coarse Burlap Pajamas

Coarse burlap pajamas don't sound very comfortable, do they? Not to me. Why do I bring that up. As I was getting ready to blog this morning, I looked up the passage I was setting my sights on in a variety of different translations. The phrase "coarse burlap pajamas" came from the Message translation and it definitely put a vivid picture in my head. Here's the passage in NIV:

²⁷ When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

²⁸ Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: ²⁹ "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."

1 Kings 21:27-29 (NIV)

Elijah had just delivered a stinging rebuke to King Ahab after Jezebel had Naboth killed so that Ahab could have Naboth's vineyard. How did Ahab respond to Elijah's rebuke? He repented. He ripped his royal garments and put on his coarse burlap pajamas. He fasted and moped around saddened by his sin. God noticed. God made sure that Elijah noticed, too. Ahab is spared of God's wrath for the moment. In the next chapter, he messes up again and ends up getting hit by a "lucky" shot from an enemy archer.

What, I wonder, does repentence look like in my life? I certainly don't go around wearing sackcloth. Can I get a good sackcloth gown at my local Christian book store? Am I truly saddened by my sin? Do people notice when I repent? Did they even notice that I sinned in the first place? God knows. Yes, God knows and that's good enough. When I think about repentence and think about how Ahab fasted while wearing his coarse burlap pajamas, I am reminded of what Jesus said about fasting in the sermon on the mount.

¹⁶"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)

Ahab sinned. He was a pretty evil King and his wife Jezebel didn't help point him in a godly direction. He even called Elijah, who spoke the word of God into his life, his enemy. Yet, when Elijah rebuked Ahab here in 1 Kings 21, Ahab repented. God knew what was in his heart and made sure that Elijah knew it too. God made sure that we knew it too.

Heavenly Father, I thank you that I know that I am a sinner. Help me when I am convicted of my sin to repent and be saddened by my sin. Help me to humble myself in Your eyes. Thank You that Jesus died for my sins. Help to, through Him, to live a life pleasing to You. Amen.

Washing your hands

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

John 2:6

As I was reading this morning about Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, I was struck by the nature of the jars Jesus had them put the water in. These weren't necessarily jars for storing drinking water, but jars for water for cleansing themselves - washing their hands perhaps. I can't tell you how many times I've read this passage and not thought about the jars themselves. It made me think of Psalm 24.

³ Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
    Who may stand in his holy place?
⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to an idol
    or swear by what is false.

Psalm 24:-3-4

Not only was the wine Jesus produced here the best wine of the day, but He used water for washing your hands. It's wasn't fancy bottled water or vitamin water or flavored water, just water to wash yourself with. In the past, I have thought of this miracle as being insignificant in the long run - it wasn't a healing, He didn't have a sermon to give after it. But, when I consider that He came to draw men to God and consider Psalm 24, I can appreciate a deeper meaning to this miracle.

Revealing God

³⁶ At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. ³⁷ Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

1 Kings 18:36-37 (NIV)

²³John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "

²⁹The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:23,29 (NIV)

If the story of Elijah on Mt. Carmel isn't my favorite story in the Bible, it has to be in the top 3. The Israelites have almost completely turned away from God and are following Baal. Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a showdown. Just Elijah and Jehovah versus 450 prophets of Baal and Baal. The prophets of Baal go first and build their altar and call on Baal to bring down fire. He doesn't. After a while, Elijah starts taunting them: Maybe he's asleep or taking a leak or on vacation. Seriously Elijah, the prophets of Baal think, you're starting to sound like one of those right-wing blowhards on the TV. Can't we have a more civil discourse? Elijah has them flood his altar and prays his prayer and then calls on God to bring down fire. God does, the altar is incinerated, and Elijah has revealed the true God to the Israelites.

Things really weren't that different in John's day. Israel was under Roman rule. The leaders were more concerned with following the law than with expecting the Messiah. They questioned John because he didn't fit their pattern of who he should be. He lived in the wilderness and wore that smelly camel hair coat. He certainly wasn't part of civil society or of the mainstream. What was his deal? John knew that his purpose was to point to Jesus. When Jesus, showed up to be baptized, John said "Behold the Lamb of God!"

Fast forward to today. The National Day of Prayer has just passed. Franklin Graham was disinvited from the ceremony at the Pentagon because of his anti-Islamic views. Really, he was disinvited because he believes that Jesus is the only way to God. As a professing Christian, I think Graham's got it right. It seems that some in the "mainstream" of our society have labeled him a wacko because he believes in a "one true God." One article I read lamented that Franklin wasn't tolerant like his father Billy. Compared to Elijah, Franklin Graham is pretty civil and polite. Compared to Franklin Graham, am I proclaiming Christ? Compared to John am I pointing to Christ? Compared to Elijah am I boldly seeking to reveal God so that those around me will turn to Him?

Heavenly Father, embolden my heart. Help me to proclaim Your love for this fallen world that lead to send Your Son to die on the cross that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life. Help me to proclaim the He is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to You except through Him. May You be revealed in my life so that those around me will know that You are God and that their hearts will be turned to You. Amen.

In the eyes of the Lord

Today, I'm not focussing on a single passage. I've been working my way through 1 Kings and I want to think about a single phrase that pops up 8 times in chapters 15 and 16 which I read this morning.

...in the eyes of the Lord...

David did right in the eyes of the Lord. Others did evil in the eyes of the Lord. This pattern continues throughout the book with probably more "did evil" than "did right." So few details are given about many of the kings: whose son they were, when they started reigning, how long they reigned, and whether they did evil or right in the eyes of the Lord. It makes me wonder when my life is summed up like this, will I be said to have done right in the eyes of the Lord or done evil.

Lord, it is my desire that when my life is over, it will be said of me that I did right in Your eyes. I know that I can only do that through You. Help me to be obedient to You and to do what it right in Your eyes. For Your glory. Amen.

Why the disguise?

¹ At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, ² and Jeroboam said to his wife, "Go, disguise yourself, so you won't be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there—the one who told me I would be king over this people...

⁶ So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense? I have been sent to you with bad news.

1 Kings 14:1-2,6

The kingdom had split and Jeroboam was the king of Israel. His son was sick. He sent his wife to go to the prophet, but he didn't want the prophet to know who she was. Ahijah was nearly blind and Jeoboam thought he could be easily fooled.

Why did Jeroboam want to disguise his wife? Was he fearful that the prophet would bring a harsh word because Jeroboam wasn't seeking God? Was he ashamed of something he had done and didn't want the prophet to know he needed him? Had he turned away from God and he was ashamed that he still needed to turn to God? The text doesn't really make it clear. However, it made me wonder how do I disguise myself. Am I living an authentic life in front of my family? Am I living an authentic life in front of my neighbors? Am I living an authentic life in front of the people at church? I would like to say that yes I am, but I am sure that I am not living a 100% authentic life in any of these areas. I have masks. I have disguises that I wear. What is it that motivates me to don the masks and disguises? Am I fearful of a harsh word? Am I ashamed of some sin? Do I not believe that God's plan for my life is what's best for me?

It didn't work for Jeroboam's wife. Ahijah knew who she was. God told him. There was no fooling the man of God. There is no fooling God.

Lord, help me to put off my masks and disguises. Help me to live an authentic life in front of You and those that I am around. Forgive me of the things that keep me from doing so and give me the strength to change. For Your glory. Amen.

Leadership Lessons for Losers

Today's reading included 1 Kings 12. Reheboam has become king after Solomon. After the people have come to him asking him to cut them a break after his father had made them work so hard, he asks Solomon's advisors to counsel him. Then, he asks his buddies for advice. He decides to take their advice and make things harder for the people. The advice that he chose not to heed is good advice that I should keep in mind as I lead my family and serve in my church.

They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants."

1 Kings 12:7 (NIV)

The king should be the servant of his people. Reheboam must have thought this was backwards. But it's not. It's the same message that Jesus demonstrated when He washed His disciple's feet.

¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

John 13:14-15 (NIV)

It's the same attitude that Paul attributes to Jesus in Philippians 2.

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant...

Philippians 2:5-7a (NIV)

Jesus, the King of Kings, humbled Himself and became a servant. He showed as much to His disciples over and over again. Reheboam the king was counseled to be a servant. May I not be like Reheboam and reject this counsel but let me take it to heart and live it out in my life.

May my prayers be like this

⁵⁶ "Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. ⁵⁷ May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. ⁵⁸ May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers.

1 Kings 8:56-58

Today's passage comes from Solomon's benediction after he has dedicated the temple. This is such a rich prayer and there is much to cling to in this passage.

• Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.
  God is faithful. He keeps His word. As it says in Isaiah 55:11, His word will accomplish it's purpose. Count on it.
• may he never leave us nor forsake us
  Jesus cried out on the cross "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He was taking on the sin of the world - my sin. When He died, the curtain of the temple - which separated the holiest part of the temple from the rest of the temple - was torn in two. Solomon's prayer that God would never forsake us was ultimately answered when Jesus died on the cross. Solomon was deadicating the temple as the place where Israel would go to meet with God. The curtain being torn in two when Jesus died showed that Jesus was to whom we could go to meet with God.
• May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands...
  As much as I want to turn my heart to God, I can't. He can. As much as I want to obey his commandments (some times more than others, I can't obey them all. Christ, in me, can.

May my prayers be like this one. May I recognize that God is faithful to His word and that He will never forsake me and that He will turn my heart to Him and help me to obey Him.

Richness in my reading

This morning at Basecamp, the weekly men's Bible Study I attend, we spent some time reflecting on Mark 12:24.

"Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

Mark 12:24 (NIV)

Now, I'm pretty good at reading my Bible every day. Using various reading plans, I've managed to read the Bible all the way through each year for probably the last 10 years or so. But, I will admit that sometimes after doing my daily reading, I may not always remember what I just read. I've been pondering in the hours since then what I can do to engage with God's Word even more. I have the thought that I'll pick a couple of verses from my daily reading - some days it may be from the Old Testament, some days from the New Testament - and blog about them. As I think about this, I am reminded that in less than three weeks, I'm headed out to vacation which although it won't stop my reading, it may impact my blogging. God willing, I'll still take time to meditate on what I'm reading and maybe blog about it later.

The first post in this series will come shortly...