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...