Life Journal 03-18-2010

I Am God's Temple

(S) Scripture
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV)
¹⁶ Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
¹⁷ If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

(O) Observation
Paul is writing about the spiritual development of the Corinthian believers. Their disobedience has clouded what God wants to build in them and so Paul writes to correct it. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit lives in them. Their lives are the temple where God' Spirit dwells. That temple is to be cared for and sacred. What a thought – the Holy Spirit lives in me – I am God's temple, the place where He dwells.

(A) Application
The message this Sunday is about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. How key is it to know that the Holy Spirit dwells in the believer? That is the foundational truth and it affects every other part of our lives. This speaks to our respect, protection and provision for others. They too are or can be temples where God dwells. I am to treat every person with respect and see their lives as sacred trusts from God. On a personal side I am to take care of the temple that I am. This is a personal struggle as I continue to work to lose the excess weight that I carry. Am I treating my body as God's temple? Is the physical condition a reflection of the spiritual condition? Am I guilty of destroying my temple? Today I renew my commitment to losing the excess weight and taking better care of my body. Currently I am down 20 pounds in 10 weeks. As a friend of mine used to say, "That's like taking a glass of water out of the ocean," but it is a start. I have some good friends that are coaching me and a wife that supports me. In time I will achieve the goal. I want my life to glorify Christ in every area.

(P) Prayer
Lord, keep me focused and give me strength to carry on and see this through. I thank you for your presence in me. Let me live by faith in the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen

Life Journal 03-16-2010

Living the Christian Life Is Not That Complicated

(S) Scripture
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (NIV)
¹¹ Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
¹² It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?"
¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?"
¹⁴ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

(O) Observation
Moses is giving his final instructions to the people. Moses will not be leading the people into the promised land but God has given him these final instructions to pass on to the people. In doing so he encourages them with these words, "Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach." It is not beyond your ability to understand or to obey. The word is near you and it is in you. You can do what God requires and it is not too complicated for you to understand.

(A) Application
I cannot recount the number of times people have excused their lack of faithful living by saying, "I don't understand, it's too complicated for me." The more I mature as a follower of Jesus the less complicated that life becomes. Early on I remember getting into those "deep" and complicated discussions that always ended up with a very legalistic answer. My life was filled with asking, "Can I do this and still be a Christian?" That was and is the wrong question. I should be asking, "Will doing this glorify Christ? Will others see Christ in me?" Jesus said it this way, "
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31 (NIV) That is not to difficult to understand. It is not complicated. Love God with all you've got and love others like you love yourself. It is difficult but not complicated. It is also very freeing because when I am living that way I am not bound by the legalism that others want to place on me. Is my hair too long or too short, do I wear jeans to church, do I use a modern version of the Bible or do I have to use the King James Version? Those things all simply fade away when I am loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and my neighbor as myself.

Moses reminds me that it is not too difficult. It is not so far away that someone else has to get it and explain it to me. No, it is near me and in my heart so that I can obey. Today I will again focus on loving God with all I am and loving others like I love myself.

(P) Prayer
Lord, forgive me when I make excuses or claim that I do not understand. Let me live in a way that first looks to glorify you. Let me simply live to love you first and then the people around me. That I understand, help me to live it out. Amen

Life Journal 03-15-2010

Rescuing a Child

(S) Scripture
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

(O) Observation
In his discussion about faithful living Paul reminds us to continue doing good even when it seems to be fruitless. There is something about being persistent that God honors.

(A) Application
Last week Becky and I were in Louisiana to support our daughter and son-in-law during the adoption hearing for their little girl. Let me explain. Over three years ago they got custody of my son-in-law's then two year old niece. Her mother had been arrested and was incarcerated. The court gave full custody to Ryan and Sarah. The little girl was a mess and a behavioral challenge. In her nearly three years she had learned that to get her way she would simply scream. She had not received any of her infant shots and was simply a "wild child". Sarah and Ryan had been married only six months when they got her. Those first few months were a real challenge and they sought to be consistent and give the girl some stability. Jump forward now three years later and the change is tremendous. Grayce is now in kindergarten and excelling in her work. She is reading and doing simple math. She is well behaved and has not had one behavioral incident at school. She has been rescued from an awful future to now a promising one. In December of 2008 Sarah and Ryan began the adoption process. The mother made no attempt at contact for two years and since has only made a couple of weak attempts. The hearing on the adoption has been rescheduled now four times. This past Friday was supposed to be the day the case would be heard. Another case was placed in front of ours and it was going to take all day to hear and the judge decided to reschedule our case again. We have been given a priority hearing in June. According to the judge's instruction the clerk is not to schedule anything in front of our case on that day.

Each time we are to appear in court we get geared up mentally for that appearance. The highs and lows of getting geared up and then rescheduled is emotionally taxing. We just want this finalized. The court system can be frustrating but we cannot let that keep us from continuing to do good. Fact is that Sarah and Ryan still have full custody of Grayce and we will have our day in court in June. They will continue to build into her life and continue the work of parenting. Grayce calls them Mommy and Daddy and that has not changed. She is in a loving home and we will not give up until the adoption is complete. The disappointment of last Friday pales in comparison to the joy of hearing Grayce call me Papa. A lady in our church described this as another Moses story. Moses was rescued from the river and certain death by Pharaoh's daughter. Grayce was rescued much the same by Ryan and Grayce. The tasks of reshaping her behavior have not been easy but Sarah and Ryan have done an incredible job. Grayce has a bright future because Sarah and Ryan understood that it was God's will for them to pour their lives into this little one. As tired as the court system can make us we will not grow weary in doing good because it is our calling and the life of a little girl is in the balance.

(P) Prayer
Lord, thank you for bringing Grayce into our lives. Thank you for giving Sarah and Ryan the strength, stamina and grace to raise this child. Now I ask that you renew our strength and resolve to continue to good knowing that you walk with us every step of the way. Teach us to be content with your timing and not frustrated by our own. Give us grace and strength for each day. Amen

Life Journal 02-07-2010

Remember

(S) Scripture
Deuteronomy 6:20-25 (NIV)
²⁰ In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?"
²¹ tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
²² Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders--great and terrible--upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household.
²³ But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.
²⁴ The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.
²⁵ And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness."

(O) Observation
Moses has just recounted the release from slavery in Egypt, the receiving of the Commandments and the call to obedient living in the promised land. He then gives this instruction to the people. When asked the "why" of the law, give this answer and explanation. The Lord God delivered us and commands us to obey him so that we might live and prosper in the land. That obedience will be for us our righteousness.

(A) Application
Most of us have asked the "why" question concerning the law. I may not have been delivered from Egypt but my life was delivered from the slavery to sin and spiritual death. Obedience to the Lord God is what allows me to live life to its fullest and to enjoy a close relationship with the Lord. This obedience is by faith and allows me to walk by that same faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. God does not leave me on my own to live the life he sets before me but rather he has taken permanent residence in my life through the Holy Spirit. I obey God only by the strength the Holy Spirit gives me. I live for the Lord each day only by the power of the Holy Spirit in me. That is my righteousness, not from my own doing but by the Holy Spirit living in me. Today I renew my desire to be filed by the Holy Spirit and to walk by faith in Him.

(P) Prayer
Lord I thank you for placing your Spirit in me to empower me to be the person you want me to be. It is good to remember why we are to obey you. It has always be for our benefit. Today Let me live for you. Amen

Life Journal 03-04-2010

If Jesus Came to Our Church

(S) Scripture
Mark 11:15-17 (NIV)
¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,
¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

(O) Observation
When Jesus entered the temple he saw the emphasis was on commerce and not on worship. He then forcibly cleared the area. The temple leaders had taken the area set aside for Gentile worship and made it a marketplace. The leaders were also selling sacrifices at inflated prices. The leaders had lost sight of the purpose of the temple. It had become something that rather than honoring God was dishonoring and so in addition to clearing the area he reminded the people of the purpose God had set for the temple.

(A) Application
As I thought about this passage I thought about two things; 1) Our Church and 2) our personal lives. Both of these have been describes as "temples". Questions that came to mind: 1) Would Jesus pull out his whip if he came into First Baptist Charlotte? 2) Are we focused on the purposes God has set for our gatherings together? 3) Are we so focused on the commercial that people are distracted from worship? 4) Is my life so caught up in money that I am distracted from true worship? 5) Am I inviting people to join our church or to follow Jesus? 6) Does Jesus ne4ed to pull out his whip in my life to drive out the things that hinder me and others from honoring Him with our worship and obedience. These are serious questions that we need to ponder. More than pondering as a church and as an individual I need to act to correct any area where we are not in obedience to the Lord. Today has been a good day for reflection but must be followed by action.

(P) Prayer
Lord Jesus you know my heart and I want it to be clean and tender before you. Do what cleansing that needs to be done and mold me into the person you want me to be. Let my life be one that honors you. As pastor of First Baptist Church Charlotte help me to keep the focus squarely of you and the purposes you have for us. Let our church be a place where people worship you and fellowship with each other. Amen

Life Journal 03-03-2010

Following Jesus Completely Is Always A Choice

(S) Scripture
Numbers 33:55 (NIV)
⁵⁵ "'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.

(O) Observation
As Moses prepares the people to take the promised land he gives them God's instructions. They are to drive out all the inhabitants because if they do not those that remain will always cause them trouble.

(A) Application
In the scripture we see that God does for his people what they cannot do for themselves but He expects them to do what they can. In this passage He gives them the land but they must drive out the inhabitants. When Peter was in jail the angel removed his shackles (what he could not do) but told him to put on his sandals (what he could do). This by no means is a works based salvation but it is obedience to the command that God gives us. When we become a follower of Jesus, God forgives our sin (what we cannot do) and we are expected to obey and follow (what we can do). Most of us come to Jesus with some bad habits in our lives. Jesus cleanses and forgives us but with His help we must them drive out of our lives. Those habits are like the inhabitants of the promised land in the passage for today. If we allow them to remain they will be the things that hinder our spiritual growth. This kind of obedience is tough and is always a choice we make. Today I will look for those things that need to be driven out of my life so that I might grow and enjoy my life in Christ.

(P) Prayer
Lord help me to identify those things that need to be driven out of my life and give me the strength to drive them out. My desire is to live for you today.

Life Journal 03-02-2010

From Jamaica Back to Reality

(S) Scripture
Mark 9:5-7 (NIV)
⁵ Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
⁷ Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

(O) Observation
Jesus has taken Peter, James and John up on the mountain where he is transfigured. Elijah and Moses appear there with Jesus. Peter in his excitement says they need to build three tents and stay there. Then God says, especially to Peter, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Jesus then leads them down the mountain to do ministry in His name.

(A) Application
Mountaintop experiences always energize our spirits and most of us want to stay there. Growing up my mountaintop experiences came each summer at the West Virginia Baptist Camp at Cowen. My spiritual life would be nurtured and challenged and I would want to stay right there but had to come home after a week. The fervor of camp would fade over time but would be renewed each summer when I returned to camp. I am struck by the fact that Jesus knew what needed to be done and therefore moved Peter back down the mountain to a world that needed his witness. I have just returned from a mission trip to the Jamaica Deaf Village. This was my fifth year and each year I have the same experience. We work hard building concrete block buildings. This building is done by grunt labor, all by hand. We mix and pour the concrete by hand, no such thing as a cement truck. This year we mixed, wheelbarrowed and then lifted in buckets to the second story over five yards of concrete. The team accomplished all the tasks set out for us by the director of the Village and then completed some work left undone by a previous team. The evening devotions and the whole experience of doing work of God's kingdom is a spiritual high that you do not want to leave. Nearly every person on our team of 17 wanted to stay there. I am sure that the 80 degree weather there and the 15 inches of snow that fell on Charlotte had nothing to do with that desire. Truth is though, we need to come off that mountain and continue to do the ministry God has for us here in Charlotte. We cannot stay on the mountain because Jesus leads us to our ministries in the valley. We need to let the energy and excitement of the mountaintop experiences with Christ carry us into the ministries God has for us to do. Today I want to let the experience of last week energize me to do what God asks of me today.

(P) Prayer
Father, thank you for the spiritual renewal of last week. Let me now use that energy to do all that you set before me today. Let me be sensitive to the needs around me and to the opportunities you set before me today. Amen