Life Journal 01-07-2009

A Common Problem

(S) Scripture
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. Luke 7:47 (NIV)

(O) Observation
Jesus is having dinner at a religious leader's home. None of the common courtesies have been done for Jesus, washing feet, anointing with oil. A sinful woman comes and wipes his feet with her tears and hair and pours an expensive perfume on his feet. The religious people are indignant and appalled. Jesus explains that, "he that is forgiven much loves much and he that is forgiven little loves little." A person's love for Jesus is based on their understanding of how much they have been forgiven.

(A) Application
One thing we strive to do in the church I serve is to get people to love Jesus more. From this passage it would seem that the problem is that people don't really believe they have needed to be forgiven of much. Our problem is that we think we are pretty good people and God should be pleased that we are on his team. We have such a perverted view of our own sin, thinking that we don't have many. IF we really understood how utterly sinful we are it would change how we see and love God. Today I want to acknowledge my sinfulness and my forgiveness in Christ. I do not want to gloss over my sin or excuse it I want to experience God's forgiveness for it. When I understand how much I have been forgiven I will express a much deeper love to God.

(P) Prayer
Lord, thank you for forgiving me of all my sin. Thank you for not crushing me with the totality of my sinfulness. I want to love you deeply because I have been forgiven much. Teach me to love you more as I understand how far your forgiveness extends in my life. Teach me to love other too. Amen

Life Journal 01-06-2009

God's Will My Way – No Way

(S) Scripture
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar;
so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.
He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.
Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me."
"Your servant is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.
Genesis 16:1-6 (NIV)

(O) Observation
God had already promised Abram that his offspring would be numbered like the stars of the sky. He was old and his wife could not have children. How would God's promise and will be fulfilled? Sarai devised a plan to accomplish God's will. It was her plan not God's. She told Abram to sleep with Hagar and she could raise a family that way. Sounds noble but it was fraught with danger. Jealousy came in and Hagar got resentful and Sarai got mean. What was begun to accomplish God's Will ends in disaster. God does make a way to keep his promise with Abram but not without some pain.

(A) Application
When I get ahead of God things tend to fall apart of at least go off course. Even if I know what God wants to accomplish I need to wait for Him to move. This does not mean that I do nothing – that I don't prepare or look for opportunities – It simply means that I need to do God's will in God's way and in God's time. It is in the timing that I mess up the most. I have trouble waiting on the Lord and so get ahead of him way too often. It is hard to follow when you are ahead of the leader. In the passage today Sarai got jealous, impatient and mean with Hagar and Abram. I do not want to get that way in my relationships with the people around me, especially the ones closest to me. Today I will listen to hear what God says and then wait on Him to lead. I will prepare so I can be ready to move ahead when He says it's time. Like so many other things in my walk with the Lord, this is easy to say and tough to do.

(P) Prayer
Lord, you know how easy it is for me to get ahead of You. I want to follow you. When I start to move ahead, draw me back so I can walk with you and do your will in your time and way. Amen

Life Journal 01-05-2009

Too Busy To Pray?

(S) Scripture
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 (NIV)

(O) Observation
In the reading for today Jesus is going from place to place doing all sorts of ministry. People are all around him. The needs are great and yet in the middle of this hectic pace of life we find this nugget of truth "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Jesus left the people and his disciples and found a quiet place to pray. He did this to renew his spirit and to maintain his relationship with and dependence on the Father.

(A) Application
If Jesus needed to get away from the people and pray how much more so do I need to do the same. Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Seminary, said in a leadership seminar I attended, "You can never do enough for people if you are always surrounded by people." That is what Jesus is modeling in this passage. We need to get away from the hectic pace of life and spend time with the Father and we need to do it often. I think it was Martin Luther who said, "I have so much to do today I cannot afford to spend less than three hours in prayer." My take is that if you have that much to do – get at it! He is right and I am wrong. I must take time to pray – often. These are not quick prayers on the way to doing something but rather times devoted only to prayer. Today I want to begin this practice that was so important to Jesus. If it was important to Him then it should be important to me.

(P) Prayer
Lord, you know how impatient and scattered and hectic my life can be. Forgive me for neglecting my time with you. Help me get this right. I know that you do not coerce but I ask that you nudge me and remind me of my need to spend time in prayer with you – often. Amen

Life Journal 01-04-2009

Handling Temptation

(S) Scripture
And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.'"
Luke 4:3-4 (NASB77)

(O) Observation
When the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus answered him with scripture. In this passage Jesus is tempted in three important areas: Food, Power and Life. Jesus answered each of these temptations by quoting Scripture. Interesting is the fact that Satan quoted scripture as part of the temptation. Jesus had to discern what the devil was doing and how he was misusing scripture.

(A) Application
God's Word is my best defense in overcoming temptation. When I know God's Word I can recognize when it is being misused and when I need to use it as a defense. Since I do not carry my Bible 24/7 I must write God's word on my heart (memorize). When I commit the word to memory I can immediately recall it when needed. Psalm 119:11 says, I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Hid in my heart not my notebook. When it is in my heart God can use it when I need it most. Today I will hid God's word in my heart so that I have something to use when I am tempted.

(P) Prayer
Lord, you know how often I give in to temptation. Too often it is because I try to face it on my own. Today I will face it with your Word. Help me to recall what I need so that I can overcome temptation rather than being overcome by it. Amen

Life Journal 01-03-2009

False Hope

(S) Scripture
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. Luke 3:7-8 (NIV)

(O) Observation
As John the Baptist begins his ministry he challenges the Jewish crowds that were coming to him. He told them not to even think that because they were Jews, children of Abraham, that they had any special standing before God. HE wanted them to know that they must decide for themselves to repent and that their family heritage did not make them right with God.

(A) Application
Many people think that because they live in America or go to church or have parents who are Christian that they must be "OK" with God. Nothing is farther from the truth. A family heritage of faith is good and helpful but we are each still responsible for deciding to follow Christ. I cannot receive God's forgiveness based on the faith decision of my parents, friends, spouse, church or anything else. I must decide to follow Jesus on my own. I cannot fall prey to the false hope found in the lie of the devil that I am right with God because of my family heritage.

My faith commitment to Jesus must be lived out each day. I must trust the Holy Spirit to fill and use me each day. I cannot rely on the faith of my parents; it must be my personal faith. I thank God for the heritage of faith my parents gave me but I must make that faith my own and live it each day.

(P) Prayer
Lord, I thank you for the example of faith my parents set for me. I thank you for a church family that taught me how to follow you. I thank you for your call in my life and for my personal faith in you. I thank you for your presence and provision in my life. Use me today to point others to faith in you that can transform their lives. Amen

Life Journal 01-02-2009

God's Gracious Warning

(S) Scripture
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:7 (NIV)

(O) Observation
God is speaking to Cain about his offering and worship. God was displeased with Cain's offering. Abel had brought the best part of his flock and Cain had brought some grain. Cain was jealous of his brother. God knew what the evil in Cain's heart and so in an attempt to give Cain an alternative to the murder he was planning, God gave him this warning. It is a good warning for us today. God has always worked to give us the choice to do what pleases Him and not what brings his judgment. He offers us opportunities to escape the grip of sin but we must make the choice to master sin's control in our lives rather than to be mastered by it.

(A) Application
As I begin a new year I do so loke so many others, making resolutions about how things will be better or some things brought under control. For me is is consistent exerise and the need too lose some weight. This scripture lays out the choices in plain easy to understand words. When you do what is right you are accepted and free from the guilt of sin. When you do not then you are a slave to sin and constantly battling the guilt sin brings. The solution give is to master the sin that only desires to enslave you. Today I will begin anew the disciplines I need to get some these things under control. I want this to be the beginning of a long journey rather than a short lived resolution like so many others.

(P) Prayer
Lord, I am so prone to put things off or make excuses for not doing what I should. Forgive me and let me experience your power to accomplish these things. I cannot do this on my own, I need your help. Thank you for the promise of your presence and power. Let me live fully in it today. Amen

Life Journal 01-01-2009

A New Year Perspective

(S) Scripture
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

(O) Observation
I don't believe the bible is a scientific textbook. I do believe that the Bible is true. This passage puts god at the center of creation. All that there is was from God and created by him. As I begin a new year it is again with the assurance and knowledge that God is the source and at the center of all creation.

(A) Application
I believe God created all things. I am not an evolutionist. I believe that God created man and woman. I do not believe that we evolved from lower life forms. That said, I do not believe that this passage tells us how God created things, just that He did create. The important part of this passage is that God is at the center of all things. "In the beginning God..." There He is at the start. When nothing else existed God was.

As I begin a new year it is good to know that God is there. He is in control and at the center of all things. he has a plan for my life and in this new year I want to experience that plan. To do so I must trust in Him and allow the Holy Spirit to control my life each day. Yesterday we closed a good year for the Crouches and today we begin a new year with the bright hope of His work in our lives again.

(P) Prayer
Lord, thank you for being in control. When I lose sight of this remind me of your presence. I look forward to this new year and walking with you in the days ahead. Amen