Life Journal 10-31-2012

Halloween

(S) Scripture
Mark 7:26-30 (NASB77)
²⁶  Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
²⁷  And He was saying to her, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
²⁸  But she answered and * said to Him, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs."
²⁹  And He said to her, "Because of this answer go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter."
³⁰  And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having departed.    

(O) Observation
As I read this passage I see Jesus demonstrating three key elements of his life and ministry.
    1. His message and power was not exclusively for the Jews
    2. He was not afraid or anxious in the face of evil
    3. He could heal or command evil to flee from a distance.
It is a strange conversation and yet Jesus responds to the faith of the woman regardless of her race or gender. He heard her cry, saw her faith and answered her need.

(A) Application
I will admit that my thoughts today are somewhat tangent to the passage but here they are. In this passage Jesus deals with a parents cry for help in the face of a demon. Jesus is not afraid and neither should we be afraid. Today is Halloween. For years I have had Christians ask whether or not they should allow their children to celebrate or participate in Halloween. There is a fear that by participating they are somehow endorsing the "Devil's night." I know it is called the "Devil's night" but I don't think that we as Children of God should let him have it. I really do not think that God has said to the evil one, "OK, you can have that night, it's yours and I will not interfere." My theology just won't let me go there.

Certainly there are people who abuse this night as an excuse for evil and destructive behavior. There certainly are places and areas that are unsafe that we should avoid. Proverbs gives us this instruction:
⁵  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 (NASB77) Note that it does not say that we should not use our understanding, it just takes a back seat to trusting God. So I will not get all worked up about Trick or Treat or teach that this is the "Devil's night." I will have some fun with the kids that come in costumes to the church tonight, play some games and yes get some candy. The God I serve is bigger than my fears and certainly does not give even one night to the evil one.

(P) Prayer
Lord, teach me to trust you more and not to take the counsel of my fears. Let me enjoy your presence every day and never to settle for giving one day away. Amen

Life Journal 10-30-2012

Calm Seas

(S) Scripture
Mark 6:50-51
⁵⁰ because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." ⁵¹ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,

(O) Observation
The disciples were working on their own straining at the oars when Jesus was not with them. Seeing their struggle from the shore Jesus goes to join them. When they see him walking on the water they are terrified. He immediately calls out to them with a word of comfort and encouragement, "It is I, do not be afraid." When he enters the boat the sea an wind go calm. Apart from his presence the disciples were afraid and straining. Jesus' presence changed everything.

(A) Application
Yesterday we saw the rescue of the crew from the USS Bounty. The rough seas from Hurricane Sandy had taken the boat and the crew was rescued from their life raft. The Coast Guard swimmer who rescued them said when he first got to the raft he calm the crew with words that said he was there to rescue them. The crew was calmed by his presence. I am not in the Atlantic but have some storms that come my way. When I try to handle them on my own I strain and strain and make little progress. It is the Savior's presence that makes a difference. Rather than being anxious or afraid I need to trust in God's presence. Like the crew of the Bounty I can take heart in the presence of the one who comes to save me. The major difference is that the Coast Guard swimmer had no power to calm the sea but the God I serve can calm any storm. Today I choose to trust His presence and power.

(P) Prayer
Lord, Teach me to recognize your presence and to not be afraid but rather to trust in your power to calm the storm and take me safely to the shore. I need your presence and power. Amen

Life Journal 10-29-2012

Have You Lost Your Mind?

(S) Scripture
Mark 3:20-21 (NASB77)
²⁰  And He * came home, and the multitude * gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal.
²¹  And when His own people heard of
this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, "He has lost His senses."

(O) Observation
Jesus returns home after a time of teaching, casting out demons and healing crowds of people. He has also called the twelve to follow and he is preparing them to be sent out to preach. The crowds follow him home and press in on him to the point he cannot even eat a meal. When his family see and hear all this they don't understand and think he has lost his mind so they come to take him away. His family did not understand God's call in his life.

(A) Application
Often it seems that when people do follow God's call in their lives people think they have lost their minds. The challenge is to follow Jesus even though some might not understand. In 1970 when I joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ many thought I had lost my mind. As a college graduate I was moving to Oxford, Mississippi, going to make $250/month and have to raise that myself from people that would support my ministry. Some said I could have made that much without a college degree. It was God's call and I am compelled to follow. Again when we left WV to move to Michigan where it is cold and we did not know anyone, people thought we were a little crazy. But following God's call wherever it leads is not crazy. It might be tough but it is satisfying to your soul. I thank God today for the strength He gives to follow even when some think you have lost your mind. So if following Jesus' call in my life means that I have lost my mind, then call me crazy.

(P) Prayer
Lord, thank you for your faithfulness, strength, support and presence as we follow your call. I do not want to be anywhere but where you have called me to be. Amen

Life Journal 10-28-2012

The Sabbath

(S) Scripture
Mark 2:27 (NASB77)
²⁷  And He was saying to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

(O) Observation
When challenged for his disciples picking grain on the Sabbath Jesus teaches the truth about it. The day of Rest was made for man's good not for God's.

(A) Application
The Sabbath is the subject of some controversy. Let me say that the Sabbath has always been the seventh day, Saturday. We celebrate the resurrection by gathering for worship on Sundays but that is not the Old Testament Sabbath. Does that mean the Sabbath is no longer valid. NO WAY!! That is what Jesus is teaching. The Sabbath, a day of rest and reflection dedicated to deepening our walk with God, was made for us. This day of rest is for our good and needs to be observed. I remember a professor saying, "If you are doing more than you can get done in six days you are doing more than God intended you to do." It is easy for me to let my life get crowded with stuff and this day gets neglected. As a pastor it is easy to let "church work" consume the week and my life to the point that I neglect a personal Sabbath. I can give all kinds of excuses and explanations but truth is I just let things crowd the week. I am thankful for the reminder that if Jesus need a Sabbath I certainly need one. Today I want to do better at investing a day each week in rest, reflection and deepening my walk with the Lord.

(P) Prayer
Lord, help me not to neglect my Sabbath. Help me to keep that time for you. Thank you for the reminder today. Amen

Life Journal

Our Culture and Our Task

(S) Scripture
Acts 25:19 (NASB77)
¹⁹  but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.

(O) Observation
Paul is accused of wrongdoing for simply disagreeing with what some believe and for claiming that Jesus is alive. Sounds a great deal like our culture where as Christians we are constantly accused of being intolerant and somewhat unenlightened to believe that Jesus was resurrected and is alive today.

(A) Application
It is a good reminder that the culture does not share my beliefs and often think I am intolerant. If because I believe Jesus is alive and therefore makes certain demands on our lives makes me intolerant then so be it. Truth is the argument is not with me but with Jesus and what He said and claimed. Since He claimed to be God and to be the only way to have a right relationship with God, I guess we are exclusive. I cannot be arrogant or mean spirited in my faith and I can neither deny what Jesus said. Because people do not want to believe cannot silence me and my belief in the resurrection of Jesus.

(P) Prayer
Father, make me aware if I ever become arrogant or mean spirited in my walk with you. Help me to faithfully share with others the truth about Jesus and his resurrection. Give me courage to not be afraid to speak the truth with love and grace. Thank you for your power and presence. Amen

Life Journal 10-24-2012

Futility

(S) Scripture
Acts 19:13-15 (NASB77)
¹³  But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."
¹⁴  And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
¹⁵  And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"

(O) Observation
Because of the miraculous healing that was being done at the hand of Paul in the name of Jesus some others wanted to cash in. They were trying to imitate God's work without God's power. That to me is futility.

(A) Application
It is futile for me to attempt to do God's work without His power, too. As a pastor it is easy to let my personal walk with the Lord slip some because of all the other study and preparation I do in order to preach and teach. But if my personal discipleship is slipping then I am not preaching and teaching with God's power, I am only performing. Regardless of how polished the performance it is futile to do so apart from being empowered by the Holy Spirit. That power is a result of my personal walk with God that must be nurtured each day. That is one reason this life journal is so important. I cannot faithfully follow the Lord if I do not know His Word.

(P) Prayer
Father, I thank you for the reminder of how important my personal walk with you is. I want my life to make a difference and I want to make that difference for you and in your power. Keep me focused on You and use me today. Amen

Life Journal 10-23-2012

How Will I Be Known

(S) Scripture
Acts 17:6-7 (NASB77)
⁶  And when they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also;
⁷  and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."
Acts 18:24 (NASB77)
²⁴  Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures.

(O) Observation
Here we have three men, Paul, Silas and Apollos. They were known as "men who have upset the world." The KJV says "turned the world upside down." My thought is that they turned the world right side up. They were also known as being "mighty in the Scriptures." Their impact on the places where they preached and taught came from a boldness that was fueled by the Holy Spirit and a knowledge of the Scriptures. They were unafraid of their surroundings even if it meant opposition, arrest or imprisonment.

(A) Application
Today I ask myself, "How will I be known?" Will I be known as being mighty in Scripture and setting the world around me right side up? Will I settle for less than full commitment to Jesus and His call in my life? These are sobering questions. In order to have an impact on my community I must develop these same kind of commitments and traits. I must read and study the scriptures and I must seek a boldness that comes through walking by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. Today I commit myself to those pursuits.

(P) Prayer
Lord, grant me the strength and courage to be the person you have created me to be. Make yourself so real to me that I am unafraid of the world around me. Father, my desire is to be known as a man mighty in scripture and making a difference in my community for the kingdom. Today I also pray for my pastor friend, Mark Woodbury, and ask that you heal him from the cancer he has been diagnosed with. I pray for Mark and the church he serves. Give them strength and let them experience your presence and peace today. Amen