A Free Gift for You!

We continue our study in Matthew.  Today's reading comes from Matthew 26:17–30.  In these few verses we are reading about Jesus at the Passover meal with his disciples and He is telling them what is about to take place.  In this passage Jesus talks about being betrayed.

I do not think there is one person who wants to be that person that betrays Jesus, but there was one who did, namely, Judas.  Just like other sins it started with a thought.  Then that thought turned into an action when he went to the leaders and took the 30 pieces of silver, but even then he still had time to turn around and change his course of action.

The thing is Jesus died to save us from our sins.  Jesus died for Judas and Jesus died for you and for me.  We all sin and come short of His glory.  The Good News is we have a Savior who died to save us from the wages of sin, which the Bible tells us is death.  We all sin, but we all do not need to suffer the wages of sin – eternal death.  We can have eternal life instead by simply calling on Him and recognizing our great need for His salvation.

To receive the benefits of Jesus’ death (verse 26) we must ‘eat’ and ‘drink’ (verses 26–27) of Him.  What does this mean?  We partake of Christ by trusting in Him (see John 6:47).  Food and drink sustain our lives just as believing in Jesus sustains us.  In my own life I depend on Him, often times moment by moment.  When hard things happen I know I can rely on and trust Him to get me through, but it is not just in the hard times, but all times having that knowledge and awareness that without Christ I am nothing.

As Stephen Dray points out, Jesus appealed to Judas in a gentle way as He does us.  Jesus showed His love for Judas.  (Surely, that was the main purpose of verses 20–25.) But Judas still chose to be against Jesus.  Jesus has shown great love for you and I as well.  Will we respond in kind with love for Him by accepting His free gift and following Him or will we keep on our own path like Judas did?

Father in Heaven, I come to You, not on my own volition, but because of Who You are and what You have done for me.  I thank You that I am able to enter Your throne room and come to You because of Christ’s blood that covers me and makes me righteous in Your eyes.  I admit that without You I am nothing and I am in need of a Savior and LORD in my life.  As the old hymn says, I need You every hour!  Thank You for calling us in gentle ways and loving us so completely!  Thank you for giving us the free gift of Your Son, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus our Messiah.  Amen & Amen.

First Time Obedience

Scripture:  Matthew 21:28–22:14 

 

Observation:  In our preschool and in my parenting I have always tried to promote the idea of “first time obedience”.  Here in Matthew 21:28-32 Yeshua addresses this idea.  He says here that obedience is important even if it means we have to have a change of mind before we do it.  Do we still want our kids doing “first time obedience”?  Absolutely!  This keeps things orderly in our homes and classrooms, but one thing I want my own children to do is to go beyond outward obedience and have a changed mind and heart. 

 

Jesus gives the example of three groups of people here in these verses.

 

1.       The first group he talks about are those who are given the word.  Some do not respond immediately and some do not respond at all.  To respond means that you have a change of heart shown through obedient actions.

2.     The second group he talks about are those who do away with those who bring the word.  They kill the proverbial messenger.  This of course goes all the way back to the prophets of old and all the way through Messiah and even into our day today.

3.     The third group in this passage are those who are called.  Everyone is called, but only a few chose to listen and obey.  This third group is the elect, the ones who have had a change of heart and who are willing to listen to the message and act upon it.

 

Application:  Wouldn’t it be GREAT if we would listen the first time around and do “first time obedience” with everything God told us to do?  I wish I could say I have always obeyed God “the first time”, but unfortunately I cannot say that (with a clear conscious anyhow).  Sometimes it takes me a little while to get that “change of heart or mind” that 21:29 talks about.  I spent my early childhood and teen years with the knowledge that Jesus loved me and I even said “the sinner’s prayer” and asked Jesus into my heart as an elementary aged child and got baptized; however, it was not until I was grown and married that I realized that even though I had asked Jesus into my life as my Savior that I had never submitted my life to Him to be my LORD.  At age 21 I fully submitted my life to Him not only as my Savior, but as my LORD and got re-baptized.  What is your testimony?  All are called, but not everyone responds to His call.  Have you?  I would love to hear your testimony in the comments below J

 

Prayer:  Father God in Heaven, Holy is Your Name!  Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  Father, I pray that each one reading this today (myself included) would be quick(er) to obey You.  Lord, I know as a parent when I ask my children to do something that usually it is because I have their best interest(s) in mind.  God I know that when You ask us to do something that You have our absolute and best interest(s) in mind, but sometimes we (speaking of myself) are like “dumb sheep”.  God I know there are times it has taken me way too long to get to the “still waters” and to let you lead me like I should.  Thank you for your Amazing Grace and patience with me LORD!  Father let the words of this passage sink in deeply to us today.  May I be quick to obey!  Lord if there are those who have not taken hold of the “wedding garments”** that chapter 22 in Matthew talks about LORD then I pray that they would take time today to turn to You Lord and put on those spiritual garments that You provide so that we could be present with You and partake of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb and be in Your Holy Presence for all eternity.  Through Christ, our Lamb, I pray, Amen & Amen

 

** If you have never asked Jesus into Your heart or submitted Your life fully to Christ then I pray you would not wait any longer to do that.  Jesus says all are called, but there are only a few that chose Him.  What are the “wedding garments” that Christ talks about in this passage?  These are the robes of righteousness that Jesus offers to those who call Him LORD and Savior.  When we come to Christ and ask Him to cleanse us of our sins then He clothes us in robes of righteousness.  We are no longer seen as sinners, but righteous in the eyes of God because of the sacrifice of Yeshua, Jesus, our LORD.  Without being clothed in the righteousness of Christ we have no hope of a future glory.  We cannot earn our salvation.  We cannot do enough good works to get us to heaven.  Christ is our only way to Heaven.  His is the Name we must call on to be saved.  All of our “good works” are “filthy rags” in God’s eyes.  Nothing we do would ever be good enough, only Christ was good enough.  His death gives us new life.  If you want to know more about this new life in Christ or if you are uncertain of your eternity PLEASE settle this issue today.  I would be delighted to pray with you today.  Please call, email, text, private message or come and see me today!  This is THE MOST IMPORTANT decision you will ever make!  Please share this message with others today.  This is one time First Time Obedience is absolutely crucial – don’t delay!

Never forget

"Never forget" is a theme we heard a lot after the Trade Centers were attacked on September 11, 2001.  What I didn't know however was the story of the cross found at the Trade Centers.

 

This set of beams is so named because it resembles the proportions of a Christian cross.  Following the terrorist attacks, a massive operation was launched to clear the site and attempt to find any survivors amongst the rubble. On September 13, 2001, a worker at the site named Frank Silecchia discovered a 20-foot (6.1 m) cross of two steel beams amongst the debris of 6 World Trade Center.  Many saw the crossed metal as a Christian cross and felt its survival was symbolic. Fr. Jordan spoke over it and declared it to be a "symbol of hope... [a] symbol of faith... [a] symbol of healing".  In 2013, "U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts concluded...that the 17-foot-high cross, which became a spiritual symbol for workers at ground zero.  This cross also became highly controversial among many different religious and non-religious supporters.  (From Wikipedia)

 

 

 

It is good to remember all the ways, both of God's providence and grace, by which he has led us through this wilderness, that we may cheerfully serve him and trust in him.- Matthew Henry

 

Whatever the ways that remind us, be it a cross at Ground Zero or a sunrise or a sunset, we must never forget and always remember what He has done for us!

 

 

 

Scripture:  ² Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  ⁸ a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; ⁹ a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing … ¹⁷ You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability … Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 8-9, 17-18

 

Today’s reading came from Deuteronomy 8 and Mark 15:16-41

 

Observation:  It is good to remember … When I read those words and the scripture passages today we remember several things.  In the New Testament passage we remember the crucifixion and the brutal ways Jesus was tortured and beaten and ridiculed so that we might be given salvation.  They are not easy words to read.  But we must remember.  Why?  We read in Deuteronomy that God provided everything they needed in the wilderness and some of what they experienced caused them to be humbled.  In like manner God provided for everything we need for life and godliness through Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach.

 

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  II Peter 1:3

 

Application:  I want to remember!  I want to remember how He has led me in the past and where He is taking me in the future.  I want to remember to stay humble and to not rely on my own works or strength.  Do I need to “do the work” He gives me to do?  Did the children of Israel have to walk into the Promised Land or did He pick them up and carry them?  No they walked, they had to participate in the work.  So while I may work and even work hard, I have to remember to give honor and glory to the One Who gives me breathe and ability.  Lastly I want to remember who gives me good things – whether it is good things to eat or wealth or power – it all comes from the Father of Lights!

 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

 

Prayer:  Abba, Father, Thank You for every good and perfect gift!  Thank You for leading me in every way.  Thank You for being with me each day.  Thank You most of all for Your Son, Jesus, Yeshua the Messiah, who willingly laid down His life in my place and who humbled Himself to the cruelty of others for me, a sinner.  How often my pride and rebellion must have felt and looked like I was spitting in His face, trampling on the beautiful gift of salvation.  While salvation is beautiful and it is a gift, it did not come lightly or without a high price.  May I remember that.  May I not treat it lightly, but put it in high regard in the way I chose to live out the life You have given me.  May we never forget!  Through the saving work of Christ I come, Amen & Amen.

 

None of us live a single week without giving proofs of our weakness, folly, and depravity. To broken-hearted souls alone the Savior is precious indeed. – Matthew Henry

NEVER FORGET!

 

 

 

 

Fourteen Ways to Love

Read:  1 Corinthians 13

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  I Corinthians 13:13

 

O:  This love that is spoken of here in this chapter is AGAPE love.  In the Bible there are four Greek words to define love.  Some are used to describe a passionate love, some for the love you share with a friend, but agape love is the love that Jesus and the Father shared.  (John 15:9)

 

What does agape love look like?  I Corinthians 13 defines it for us using 14 terms:

1.       Makrothymeō – Patient Perseverance (to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles, to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others).

2.     Chrēsteuomai – Kindness (to show one's self mild, to be kind, use kindness).  This word is ONLY used one time in the Bible and it is here when describing agape love.

3.     Ou Zēloō – It is NOT envious (heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger).  This word is what Joseph’s brothers had for him that caused them to sell him into slavery (Acts 7:9).  This has no place in our relationships.

4.    Ou Perpereuomai – It is NOT boastful (employing rhetorical embellishments in extolling one's self excessively, being a braggart, puffing oneself up).  This word here is used twice in the Bible and both times it is used here.  It says it twice in a row which tells me it is pretty important.  Jesus had all sorts of “bragging rights” (see Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage …”), but he humbled himself and did not boast in those things; we should be like Jesus.

5.     Ou Aschēmoneō – It is NOT to act unbecomingly.  The only other place this is used is I Corinthians 7:36 describing how a man would act with a virgin.  Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says it means that you do not disgrace someone.

6.     Zēteō Ou Heautou – It seeketh NOT for one’s own benefit (thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into, to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after, to crave, demand something from someone).  This means we don’t just think about our own needs and wants, we don’t seek after our own desires, we don’t demand our own way.

7.     Ou Paroxynō – It does NOT make or cause others to be angry (to irritate, provoke, arouse to anger, to exasperate).

8.     Logizomai Ou Kakos – It does NOT consider, count or think about (to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over, making an accounting of) evil (things that are troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful, wrongs or wickedness).  It doesn’t think about all the bad things the other person has done to injure or trouble you.  It doesn’t think about all the ways you could do them wrong.  It doesn’t wish bad things to come to them.  It wishes the other person well; it wants the best things for them regardless of how they have treated you.

9.       Chairō Ou Epi Adikia – It is NOT happy (to rejoice, be glad) with injustices (injustice, of a judge, unrighteousness of heart and life, a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness).  Love doesn’t celebrate hearts and lives that violate God’s or man’s laws.  It does not mean you do not love the person, but we certainly don’t lift up or rejoice or bless unrighteousness.  Jesus called out those who thought they were right, but were really wrong.  If our children do something that violates God’s or man’s laws we would not be happy about that, we wouldn’t celebrate those things; that is not true love.  No, we hopefully would deal with and in a loving (patient, kind) way deal with those violations of the law. 

10.  Sygchairō Alētheia – It rejoices with (to rejoice with, take part in another's joy, to rejoice together, to congratulate) things that are true (things that are moral, truth, reality, God’s truth, telling the truth).  This to me is a picture of having godly relationships.  It also is a picture of what Paul described in Philippians 4:8 of the things we are to think about where he says think about what is true and honest and just and pure.  The use of the word true there is alēthēs which is similar to our word here in I Corinthians 13, but in Philippians it means things that aren’t concealed.  We want to have godly relationships that we can celebrate things that are true or truth.

11.     Stegō – It bears up under (to protect or keep by covering, to preserve).

12.  Pisteuō – It believes (to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in, to entrust a thing to one).  This kind of love has confidence in those we love.  We entrust ourselves to them.  Of course who is the only one who will never let us down?  God and Jesus.  While we entrust ourselves to others here, we do so by first entrusting ourselves and the other person to God.  When the other person lets us down (because they are human) we need to believe the best of them still and have confidence that it will be okay in the end because we trust in and believe in God and His goodness.  Certainly I’m not talking about extreme situations where the other person is mistreating us in ungodly ways or violating laws (see #9), but when they make a mistake (we all do) let us first believe the best of their overall character.  Give them the benefit of the doubt.  Maybe they were just having a bad day.  Believe the best first!

13.  Elpizō – It hopes (to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence, to hopefully to trust in).  This kind of love understands that we are all sinners saved by grace.  Part of our salvation is our sanctification which is a process.  It takes time!  So we hopefully trust for the future.  When we see our kids are not following the ways of the LORD that we attempted in our own human feebleness to teach them, then we hope in God that one day they will come around.  We don’t give up on each other.  We hope for the best possible future.  Agape love doesn’t give up hope.

14.  Hypomenō – It endures (to remain, not recede or flee, to persevere: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ, to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments).  Early in my marriage when we would get in a fight I would want to leave.  I think a lot of it was the “fight or flight” thing in me.  I hate conflict so fighting is not really my first choice so I’ll just leave.  People are tempted at times to use the “D” word.  We want to protect ourselves from hurt.  I recently watched a short video where a guy was describing lobsters and how they grow.  Basically when their shell gets too tight they go under a rock and shed their shell and grow a new one.  The point was that adversity and stress can cause us to grow “new shells” so to speak.  Marriage and other relationships are NOT easy.  They can be messy, but they can also “grow us up”.  God can use these relationships to make us more like Him; they can be (and are) part of our sanctification process!  I remember as a young wife 20+ years ago when we would fight I’d storm off, slam a door and go into a room by myself and be mad.  As time wore on I dealt with those things and “grew up”.  I thought after about 10-12 years I’ve come a long way.  I really didn’t think I had a problem with anger anymore.  Then I had kids!  (SMH)  All these new feelings of impatience and stress and being overwhelmed and I started dealing with wanting to FLEE and leave and run away again (please don’t tell me I’m the only one).  Parenting is not for the faint of heart!  With each kid I “grew up” a little more.  God used these relationships in my life (and still is) to sanctify and purify and to help me “grow a bigger shell”.  The point is this:  If I hadn’t endured through the past 24 years (not that marriage is something to be “endured”), but if I had run away as I threatened so often in those early years I would not be who I am today.  God has helped me to endure and has used that endurance.  As Paul says, let us run the race with patient endurance!

 

Seven is a complete number so fourteen must be a double portion!  Here are fourteen ways we can choose to love today!  These are how God loves us!!!!!!!  These are ways we need to love others so we can point them to Him!

 

 

 

 

Most of these are verbs – they are actions!  Love is a verb.  It is what we do; it how we respond to each other.  It is a choice.  How do you chose to love today?  (And no excuses, I don't want to hear that it is 'all Greek to me' LOL.)  J

 

This kind of Love will NEVER, EVER fail (ekpiptō - to fall out, to perish, fall from a position, to be without effect).  Nothing can separate us from this love of Christ – in another words we can never fall from a position of being loved by God in this way.  This kind of love will never be without some kind of effect!

 

A:  The application here is easy, but hard.  Examine your heart (as I have mine) before the LORD.  Are you loving these fourteen ways?  As I meditated and studied and considered these ways to agape love I realized that I am not fully loving the way God intends for me to love.  My prayer is that God would fill me up with this kind of love for others.

 

 

 

 

P:  Our Father in Heaven, Holy is Your Name!  God You are an AMAZING GOD!  Your LOVE, Your agape love is so AMAZING!  Father, forgive me and change ME!  Mold me and make me to have the fullness of this kind of love in all of my relationships, but especially in my marriage and with my children.  God I believe that You give us these relationships to sanctify us – to change and to make us more into Your likeness.  Thank you for my family.  Help me to love like You love.  It is in and through Jesus Christ, for whom all things were made, I pray, Amen & Amen.


** This post is dedicated to my husband Lance who has endured with me for 24 years today!  Happy Anniversary!  I pray that the next 24 I will love you more and more with God's Agape Love!   Thank you for putting up with all of my many imperfections and for growing up with me.**

 

 

 

 

Just a Rebel, Saved by Grace

 

“[Here] we are reminded "that the law was given by Moses," who by reason of our transgression could not bring us to heaven; but "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," for the salvation of everyone who believes.” – Matthew Henry

 

Read:  Numbers 27:12-23

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  “For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.”

 

O: From the Pulpit Commentary:  “Moses had already been told that he should not enter the promised land (Numbers 20:12), yet he is allowed the consolation of seeing it with his eyes before his death. It would seem from Deuteronomy 3:25-27 that this favour was accorded him in answer to his prayer.”  Why was Moses not allowed to go in to the land?  Verse 14 gives us the answer:  “For ye rebelled against my commandment.”  Moses “marah peh” – He rebelled or was contentious and disobedient or bitter towards “peh”, meaning mouth.  Basically God spoke and Moshe disobeyed the mouth or the word of the LORD.  Which interestingly enough if you look back at Numbers 20:10 where the original rebellion took place it says that Moses called the people there “rebels” (Look here you “marah” – you rebels” Moses said in Numbers 20:10) using the same word that God used here when talking to Moses.  Immediately after that in verse 24 God lays out the consequence of that action.  And in our passage today God reaffirms that consequence, but with grace by listening to and appointing a successor at Moses’ request. 

 

Interesting side note:  If you know Hebrew a little bit you might be inclined to think the bitter waters at Marah referred to in Exodus 15:23 is the same, but it is actually in the Strong’s Concordance different.  In Exodus the word used there is a proper name Marah: a bitter spring in the Sinai peninsula, original word: מָרָה, whereas in our passage today in Numbers the word used there is the verb marah: to be contentious or rebellious, original word: מָרָה.  Both have similar meanings of bitterness, but they are in fact different, and are just one number difference in the Strong’s (4784 & 4785).

 

It is interesting to note however that at Marah in Exodus that it was the wood cast into the waters that sweetened the waters which many believe to be a foreshadowing of the cross of Christ and it was through the cross of Jesus Christ that even “rebels” might be saved. 

 

In the next verse in verse 15 the Pulpit Commentary says this:  “For himself [Moses] not even a word of complaint at his punishment, which must have seemed, thus close at hand, more inexplicably severe than ever; all his thoughts and his prayers for the people - that one might take his place, and reap for himself and Israel the reward of all his toil and patience.”  This goes back to what we discussed a few days ago about the heart of a true intercessor.  Moses’ heart was for the people up until the bitter end (excuse the bitter pun).  His heart truly was a heart after God’s own heart, even though that description is really left for King David.  Even on his deathbed Moses was more concerned for the people than himself – that my friends is a heart of an intercessor!

 

Moses wanted someone who would, “them out, and bring them in.” (verse 17)  “The underlying image is that of a shepherd and his flock, which suggests itself so naturally to all that have the care and governance of men.” (Pulpit Commentary)  So that they would not be a sheep without a shepherd, the verse goes on to say.  This again shows Moses’ heart.  This was the heart of Jesus in our passage yesterday in Mark 6.  Both Moses and Jesus were moved with a heart of compassion towards the people who needed a shepherd.  Certainly Moses, after spending 40 years tending sheep, understood this concept and what would happen to the people if no one was appointed after him.

 

So here we see Joshua being appointed successor.  Joshua of course was being prepared for this role for many years prior as he spent a lot of time ministering to Moses that we can read about in several places throughout Scripture.  The only other choice would have been Caleb in regards to the integrity and bringing back a good report along with Joshua, but Joshua was still the first pick.

 

Lastly, some might ask – since Moses didn’t get to the Promised Land, will he be in heaven?  I believe the answer is yes.  Look at Matthew (17:2).  Here it states that Jesus "was transfigured before them; his face shining as the sun, and his garments became white as the light." At that point the prophets Elijah and Moses appear and Jesus begins to talk to them.

 

Moses lost the privilege of leading the people into the Promised Land and it was a pretty stern consequence for his actions, but his action did not take away his eternal salvation.  The point being that Moses was a sinner saved by grace just like you and I.  Do we make mistakes?  Yes!  Do we suffer consequences and lose blessings this side of heaven?  YES!  But, by grace we are saved by Faith, not by our actions!  Halleluyah!

 

A:  For me the application is this - I too was/am a rebel – a sinner.  I get mad and upset.  But I am so thankful that God has saved me by His GRACE!  He has sweetened my proverbial “bitter waters” through His cross and I am not what I used to be!!!!!  And He is still working on me J  I am so thankful!

 

P:  Father in Heaven, thank You so very much that You reached down to us through You Son, Jesus Christ, and through His death and resurrection to sweeten our bitter waters!  Father, without You we are nothing!  We have no hope of salvation or being changed and transformed, but because of the cross of Christ the victory over sin and death was accomplished and we get to take part in that victory if we will but take our old rebellious natures and submit them to Your Authority.  Does it make us perfect, no!  Will we still make mistakes, even in our “old age” as Moses did?  Yes, unfortunately!  But the flip side of that is that we can still come to You and seek Your forgiveness.  It doesn’t mean all the consequences go away, and that we don’t lose out on the blessings You desire for us, but there is still a hope of eternity.  God I pray we would not rebel against you, God that we would make You large in the eyes of those who are watching and following us – to lift You up and magnify You, but God should we fall and make mistakes, I pray for grace to abound!  I know we all fall short of Your glory, Father, but I thank You that You loved us so much that You sent Your Son to die for us and to save us.  It is through His Name we pray all these things, Amen & Amen.

Shipwrecked

“Many errors have been made in attempts to understand God.” – Millard J. Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine

 

Read:  Psalm 23 and Acts 27

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  “… neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.” Acts 27:20

 

O:  In my Christian Doctrine class this week I am learning the need for correct doctrine.  Why is correct doctrine important?  As the textbook pointed out we often have common distorted understandings about God.  The Bible teaches us that God is both immanent = present and active within His creation, even with non-believers and God is transcendent = He transcends us i.e., His ways are higher than our ways.  But “If we [for example] emphasize immanence too much, we may identify everything that happens as God’s will and working … [and] if we emphasize transcendence too much we may expect God to work miracles at all times, while he may purpose instead to work through our effort.”  (Erickson, Christian Doctrine, pg. 88)

 

These words really gave me something to chew on.  It is so important that we have a correct view of God.  As I read in Acts 27 today I see even more importantly why the correct view of God is important.

 

In today’s world we see things happening like the cyclone this weekend in Fiji or in Paul’s case the storm that shipwrecked his boat while he and the other prisoners and passengers (226 persons in all) were on their way to Caesar.  It was winter and apparently the seas were not cooperating with their plan to sail.  Verse 20 (see above) says that they faced many dark days and they were getting hungry because they would not eat (vs. 33-35) and Paul boldly stands up and tells them basically, “I told you so”.  He said that they should have stayed on the island of Crete as he had previously suggested.  But he goes on to say that ‘even though you didn’t listen to me then, listen to me now’.  Paul then goes on to encourage them, “Keep up your courage!” he says.

 

How long had they been being toss about?  Atleast fourteen days according to verse 27!  Anyone who has ever been seasick knows that 14 days is too long, much less 14 days!

 

 

Paul had however received a message and a promise from God that he would indeed stand before Caesar.  So Paul encouraged them, based on that promise, to take some food and they did.  Finally as dawn was approaching the boat was run into the ground and it broke apart, but using the broken pieces of the boat everyone made it to the shore of the island. 

 

 

A:  What do you do when your life seems tossed about?  What do you do when life seems to be in a wreck?  Where do you go for the courage to go on?  Who encourages you with promises from God?  What are some of the “broken pieces” of your life that have actually saved you?

 

P:  Lord Jesus, I know that I do not understand everything about you.  But one thing I can take hold of is that You are my Shepherd!  You are the One who leads me and guides me.  You are the One who brings me to green pastures to be fed and You are the One who quiets the waters.  Father God, Psalm 23 reminds us that we do not have to be afraid even when things look their darkest and it looks like we are about to be shipwrecked because Your Word encourages us that You are always with us and You will not leave us nor forsake us even on our deathbeds.  Father we have that everlasting promise that one day we will dwell with You forever.  Thank you for those who you bring to encourage us through life’s storms.  God I lift up and pray for those today who are facing storms in their life – either real storms, like those in Fiji, or “storms” or circumstances and illnesses that are causing our lives to not be at rest.  God I pray that whatever we are facing, big or small, that we would cling to You, the Rock of our Salvation!  Help us to know or be reminded of Your promises that we can cling to.  And bring encouragers into our lives that will give us the courage or strength to proceed on and to bring us “good cheer” (euthumeo, vs. 22) even or especially when we can’t see the outcome.  In the Mighty, Saving, Ever-Present Name of Jesus I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

I encourage you to take some time today and think about and comment on the Application Questions above.  I would love to hear your comments and testimonies so that we can encourage each other.  We all face tough situations.  I know some of you reading this have faced hard things like cancer or recent deaths in your families.  Some have dealt with various sickness’ in their own bodies for a long time.  Maybe you are trusting God for the salvation of unbelieving family members or you are facing tough situations with your kids?  There might be some dealing with addictions in your life or in those you love?  How do you deal with those hard life situations and how can you encourage others today with your testimony?  I know it sounds kind of clichéish but let your tests become your testimony for others.  Let your messes become your messages to help others get through their messes!