Life Journal 01-07-2010

The Peril of Self Righteousness

(S) Scripture
Luke 7:40-43 (NIV)
⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
⁴¹ "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
⁴³ Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

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

(O) Observation
Jesus is having dinner with Simon, a Pharisee, when a woman with a jaded past begins to anoint Jesus' feet and wipe them with her tears. Simon questions why Jesus would allow this behavior and why he would have anything to do with this woman. Jesus then teaches a great lesson about love and gratitude. Jesus says the one forgiven much loves much and the one forgiven little loves little. I wonder which category Simon placed himself in that day?

(A) Application
I know many self righteous people. I am not talking about obnoxious or being "holier-than-thou" but people who think they are pretty good people and don't have much in their lives that needs forgiving. This self righteousness (a righteousness of their own making) prevents them from experiencing the fullness of God's forgiveness and love. Their relationship with the Lord is somewhat cavalier because they don't see that God has done that much for them. In the story the woman loves much because her sins were many. By contrast, Simon had left undone many common courtesies a host offered his guests. Did Simon feel he was equal to Jesus, was he so familiar with Jesus that he no longer saw Jesus as Lord? Did Simon love Jesus a little because he felt righteous in himself?

I am confident that if God revealed my utter sinfulness to me all at once it would crush me. That is why day by day I want to give him more and more of myself and He reveals areas that have not yet been given to Him. My love for Jesus grows as I trust him with more and more of my life. The love I share with my wife is a picture of what I am saying here. When I married Becky I loved her with all my heart. 32 years later I am amazed at how little I loved her then as compared to today. All my heart then does not seem as much as all my heart today. As I give my life to Jesus each day my love grows deeper and bigger. Today I want my love for Jesus to grow because I recognize how much he loves me in that he forgives me.

(P) Prayer
Lord for your forgiveness in my life I thank and praise you. Let my love for you grow deeper and bigger each day. Let me walk in the power of your love and forgiveness. Amen

Life Journal 01-05-2010

The Right People

(S) Scripture
Luke 5:10-11 (NIV)
¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."
¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:27-28 (NIV)
²⁷ After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him,
²⁸ and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

(O) Observation
Luke describes the calling of the first disciples. Jesus chose common men to be his disciples. He did not choose perfect or even righteous men but he saw in them the character and qualities needed to do the task he would leave them with. It is interesting that the disciples left what they were doing and immediately followed Jesus. This following of Jesus changed and transformed their lives.

(A) Application
If Jesus didn't think it necessary to choose perfect people to be his disciples why do we put such a premium on perfection? Why do we think that our lives need to be perfect for God to use us? God chose common flawed men to follow him and ultimately to change the world. Jesus used their flaws to show God's power. I am so glad that God does not require perfection in order to be a follower, if he did I would be out. I am thankful that he chose me and that by faith in His Son my imperfections and flaws and weaknesses are forgiven and the Holy Spirit strengthens my life. As I look for leaders I need to practice what Jesus did and look not for righteous perfection but rather for the character and qualities that when given to God will bring honor and glory to God.

(P) Prayer
Lord, for your grace I give you thanks. Let me be as gracious in my dealings with others. Help me to see in others the character and qualities you see and to develop them into faithful followers of Jesus. Thank you for your calling in my life. I want to honor you today. Amen

Life Journal 01-06-2010

Foundations

(S) Scripture
Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)
⁴⁶ "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
⁴⁷ I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

(O) Observation
Jesus uses this graphic picture to illustrate the effect obedience to God has on a life. Obedience becomes the firm foundation on which a life is built that will withstand any storm or circumstance that comes its way. Being disobedient though creates an unstable foundation that crumbles under the weight of storms and circumstances that come to life but are compounded by our disobedience.

(A) Application
Being told to "obey" makes me bristle at times. It seems like an attempt to take away my freedom. In reality I do not have the ability or inclination to obey God until I am His child. When I became a Christian I then had the opportunity to choose to obey God and build my life on a firm foundation. Obedience is now a daily choice or more correctly a moment by moment choice. I know Christians who have chosen to disobey the clear teachings of scripture and then wonder why their lives are a wreck. I want my life to have staying power and so I will choose to be obedient. I am quite certain that I will not always get this right but I want to be so sensitive to God's Spirit that I will not continue in disobedience. I want my life to be like a well built house on a firm foundation.

(P) Prayer
Lord, You know my heart and my deepest desires. I want to be obedient and do whatever you ask of me. Make me aware when I am rebelling and not following you. Help me to build my life on the firm foundation of obedience to You. Amen

Life Journal 01-04-2010

One Voice

(S) Scripture
Genesis 11:6 (NIV)
⁶ The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

(O) Observation
This is the recount of the building of the "Tower of Babel" and the confusing of the languages in order to scatter the people. The people decided to remain in one place rather than scattering like God had said earlier after the flood. In this account though we see the power of people speaking with one voice.

(A) Application
When I have read this passage at other times I have seen this unity of voice as a negative because it kept the people from carrying out God's command. But today the flip side jumped out at me. When people are on the same page speaking with one voice nothing is impossible. Now there is a lesson for me as a leader in the church. If the church is to move forward and accomplish what God has for us then it will need everyone to be on the same page speaking with one voice. My role as pastor is to work to achieve this one voice and to be sure it is used to lead us into God's will and not away from it. There is great power in together and I must cultivate that in my life and in the life of the church I serve. It is this "one voice" power that will move us to being the church God desires us to be. That is how I want to lead.

(P) Prayer
Lord let me speak with one voice rather than many. Give me the consistency that is needed to lead this local church to be and do what you desire. Let us speak with one voice and accomplish great things for you. Amen

Life Journal 01-03-2010

Radical Obedience

(S) Scripture
Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22 NIV)

(O) Observation
As the story of Noah is told one thing stands out. Noah was radically obedient to the voice of God. When you think that it had never rained before and Noah was being asked to build an ark because the world was going to be flooded, he had no frame of reference except his trust in God.

(A) Application
It is that kind of obedience I want to cultivate in my life. Many times I have felt impressed to do something and then hesitated or talked myself out of it because I didn't understand or thought it didn't make sense. I wonder what I have missed or how many people have missed a blessing from God because of my hesitation to be obedient. I want this radical obedience that acts when prompted by God, knowing that where He leads he also provides. How often do we miss what God has for us because we rationalize ourselves into the safe thing rather than what we sense we are being prompted to do. A friend of mine shared that early one morning last week he was awakened with the thought that he should get up and pray for a particular need. He told me he asked God if this could wait until a more reasonable hour, after all he needed his rest. After the bargaining he got up and prayed. That afternoon he received word that the serious need had been met. Coincidence, I don't think so. It was a lesson he won't forget. God does not always give us what we pray for but he always gives us grace for the moment. I want to obey without the complaining or bargaining. I want to live out radical obedience.

(P) Prayer
Father, let me hear you clearly and then obey without hesitation. Amen

Life Journal 01-02-2010

A Baby Dedication

(S) Scripture
Luke 2:22-24 (New International Version)
 ²²When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."

(O) Observation
Here Luke describes how Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to the Lord in the temple. This is when they as his earthly parents consecrated Jesus to the Father.

(A) Application
While visiting family in West Virginia this past week I attended First Baptist in St. Albans, WV. The pastor preached on the last part of Luke 2. As he opened the Word to us I saw this passage in a new light. I have always used the passage in Samuel where Hannah presents Samuel to the Lord as the scripture lesson for Baby Dedications. Here though is another passage and maybe more powerful. Jesus' parents were doing all that the law required (vs.27) and was their custom. Think about that. Jesus' parents brought him to the temple and presented him to the Lord. Now that is an example to follow. In the future I will also use this passage. Child dedication is not just an Old Testament custom but we see it in the life of Jesus. My folks presented me to the Lord as a child not knowing where that would lead me but confident in God's grace. Becky and I presented both of our daughters to the Lord, again not knowing where that would lead them but confident in God's faithfulness and grace. Dedication yourself and your child to the Lord is a priceless gift that bears great rewards in all your lives.

(P) Prayer
Lord thank you for parents that loved you and me enough to dedicate me to you. Thank you for your faithfulness in my life and in the life of my daughters. I pray that every parent at First Baptist Charlotte would take seriously this act of obedience and present themselves and their children to you. Amen

Life Journal 01-01-2010

I Am Blessed

(S) Scripture
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24 (NIV)

(O) Observation
This is the biblical description of marriage. Even before there were any other parents God had already set forth the description of the family and marriage. We are to leave mothers and fathers and cleave to our spouse.

(A) Application
I am a blessed man. I was born into a loving, Christian home. My parents set the example of faith in Christ from the beginning. I have never known anything else but loving God and following Jesus. That was the norm in my family. My grandparents were all followers of Jesus and active in their churches. The same is true for my wife's family. It was nearly 32 years ago that Becky and I were married. From that day tuntil this I have known that I was blessed. Together we have two daughters and they are both following Jesus. I wish for them this same blessing.
As I think about beginning a new year I must begin by thanking God for the blessing He gave me in my wife, Becky. Today I will honor and celebrate being blessed.

(P) Prayer
Father, thank you for another year to follow you. Thank you for blessing my life with Becky. Let us live in a way that encourages others to follow your design for marriage and loving each other. Make me ever aware of your blessing in my life. Amen