Life Journal 04-30-2009

Good Intentions

(S) Scripture
When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled.
The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.
1 Chronicles 13:9-10 (NIV)

(O) Observation
David is returning the ark of the covenant back to their land. The ark was on a new cart and was guided by Ahio and Uzzah. At one point the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out and touched the ark to steady it. Touching the ark was forbidden and Uzzah was struck down by the Lord. Although his intentions were good, to steady the ark, his faith was weak because he did not believe that God could keep the ark from falling. It was his lack of faith that resulted in him touching the ark (overt disobedience) that brought about his death. The consequence of his disobedience was his death. Good intentions do not excuse disobedience.

(A) Application
I wonder how often I excuse disobedience because my intentions were "good". Here the lesson is to trust God fully and to be obedient to Him. My actions have consequences, some good and some bad. When I am obedient to the Lord the ultimate consequence is good. Being obedient may bring some persecution and trouble those who do not know the Lord but that is nothing compared to the consequence of not obeying. I am not talking about losing my salvation. The consequence of being out of fellowship with the Lord and feeling distant from Him is scary. I cannot imagine living apart from the assurance of His protection and care and strength and love. Today I will listen to the Lord and will obey Him. I want to do His will. I do not want to excuse disobedience with :good intentions".

(P) Prayer
Lord you know how easy it is for me to excuse my disobedience with good intentions. Let my intentions be Yours and empower me to do your will. Let me trust you today. Amen

Life Journal 04-29-2009

My Way – God's Way

(S) Scripture
But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
Matthew 16:23 (NASB77)

(O) Observation
Peter is reacting to Jesus' description of how he must die. Peter tries to correct Jesus by saying it would not happen to Jesus, Peter just would not let that take place. Jesus rebukes Peter by reminding him that he is not looking at God's Way but rather at his own way.

(A) Application
How often we mean well and have good intentions but are following our own way rather than God's. We try to accomplish God's purposes with our slick methods. We inject so much of our own way that often His way gets ignored. We wonder why things fail and it is generally because we are not paying attention to God's Way. Today I want to be a conduit of God's way rather than a stumbling block.

(P) Prayer
Lord, You know my heart. Sometimes I get ahead of you and go my own way. Draw me back, forgive my stubbornness and set me on your path. Amen

Life Journal 04-28-2009

Empty Words

(S) Scripture
"'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Matthew 15:8 (NIV)

(O) Observation
Jesus is answering the Pharisee's question about what makes a person clean or unclean. He challenges their legalism and their own hypocrisy in this area. He says that it is not what goes into a person but what comes out of their mouth that makes them unclean. He then makes this indictment against them. "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Empty words of praise that are not accompanied by a faithful heart.

(A) Application
I want my words to praise and honor God but I also want my heart to be completely His. Words are easy to repeat and many do just that in their spiritual lives. People know all the right things to say and yet their hearts are far from God. How empty is that life? The hypocrisy of that life fools no one but the one living it. Others see right through the façade of spirituality to the reality of a life far from God. Today I want my mouth to reflect my heart and for my heart to be completely God's. Many years ago I was challenged to choose one verse from the Bible that would be my "life verse" and I chose 2 Chronicles 16:9. "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."
That is what I want today.

(P) Prayer
Lord let me live out my life verse today. Give me grace to do what needs to be done today and let my words and heart honor you. Amen

Life Journal 04-26-2009

It is good to be back from vacation. I am always glad to go but just a happy to return home. We had a great time of relaxation in Orlando. We sat in the sun and read most every day. We really needed the break and have come back renewed.

A Daily Prayer

(S) Scripture
For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'
Matthew 13:15 (NIV)

(O) Observation
Jesus has been teaching in parables and the disciples ask him why. He gives them an explanation and then the challenge of the verse for today. The people have closed their eyes and ears to what God wants them to learn. That is why they do not understand.

(A) Application
In a DMin class on preaching Dr. John Guest, the teacher, gave us a prayer he prays publicly before each message. "Lord, open my eyes to see, my ears to hear and my heart to understand what you have for me today, then give me the will to obey you." That is close to the wording. When I read the passage for today I immediately thought of this prayer. It should be my daily prayer. I want to have my heart turned completely toward God and I want to have his healing in my life.

(P) Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to see, my ears to hear and my heart to understand what you have for me today, then give me the will to obey you today. Amen

Life Journal 04-17-2009

Follow Me

(S) Scripture
And He * said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Matthew 4:19 (NASB77)

(O) Observation
Jesus has just come through being tempted in the wilderness and is now gathering his disciples. It is a simple call, "Follow Me" and yet has such great impact on their lives. Their response was to leave immediately and follow. They left their family, jobs and what was familiar to follow Jesus.

(A) Application
Jesus' call is still the same simple, "Follow Me". It still compels people to respond. The call is to follow Jesus and to be made into what He desires. I become what Jesus designs for me not necessarily what I think or dream. His design is always better. The problem is that way too often I choose to follow other things and I get side-tracked or distracted from the most important. I am reminded of Paul's admonition to the Corinthian church when he wrote, "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 (NASB77).

The simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. That is what I desire in my life. It is how I want to be remembered by others. Today I commit myself again to following Jesus and allowing Him to make me into whatever He chooses.

(P) Prayer
Lord, You know how easily I am distracted from the simplicity and purity of following Jesus. I ask your forgiveness and for your strength to follow consistently. Let me experience the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. Amen

Life Journal 04-13-2009

A Challenge for My Life

(S) Scripture
Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NASB77)

(O) Observation
Paul is closing his letter to the Corinthian church and does so with an incredible challenge and benediction. He challenges them to live lives that honor the Lord and each other. They are to value each other and the church and their unity and their relationship with the Lord. This is quite a challenge in one statement, nothing is left unaddressed. Everything is covered.

(A) Application
After the rush and pressures of Holy Week I needed to be reminded of what is really important in my personal walk with the Lord. It is easy to get distracted from these things in the crunch of preparations and the pressure of delivery of all that is involved with Holy Week and especially Easter Sunday. This morning I was reminded that I am to rejoice and I am (we had great services yesterday and two made decisions to follow Christ). The rest of this verse hinges on me trusting God and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me and use me today. When I am walking by faith in the Spirit the rest of this verse becomes a reality in my life. That is the way I want to live. On the heels of a great Resurrection Sunday I want my life to reflect the Risen Christ in every way. Today I will put my trust in the Lord and follow Him.

(P) Prayer
Father, thank You for the reminder from Your word today. I want to live this way. Today I give myself to you and ask that you use me and let me experience Your love and peace. Amen

Life Journal 04-12-2009

Missing Out

(S) Scripture
And Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
"But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."
1 Samuel 13:13-14 (NASB77)

(O) Observation
Saul felt desperate and so he offered sacrifices that he should have had Samuel offer. He did not trust God to sustain him until things could be done properly. That disobedience was part of what cost him his kingdom.

(A) Application
Today is Easter and we celebrate the Resurrection and the power it brings to our lives as believers. The story of Saul reminds me that disobedience has its consequences. I can live in the power of the resurrection or I can choose to live in my own power, even as a Christian, but that has its costs. I never want to live apart from the power of the Holy Spirit being at work in me. Today as I celebrate the Resurrection I will also renew my commitment to walking by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.

(P) Prayer
Lord, I give control of my life to you. I trust in your forgiveness and am encouraged by the fact that you cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Let me experience the power of the Resurrection in my life and ministry today. Amen