John 11:47 "Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, 'What are we doing? for this man is performing many signs...'"
Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead and someone had reported it to the Jewish leaders. Their response... Were they in awe, amazed? Did it suggest to them that this Jesus might just be the Messiah after all? No, on the contrary. Rather than seeing God's hand at work, they perceived it as a threat. They couldn't see beyond their own self-centered, preconceived notions. They wanted to protect their turf, preserve the status quo.
When I get behind the wheel of my truck and look forward, I have two choices. I can either look at the windshield or I can look through it. If my focus is on the glass, what I see will be spots, streaks, imperfections and I'll miss the view ahead and around me. If I look through the windshield, I will see a bigger picture and have a more accurate frame of reference.
How will you choose to view the day God has given you today? Where will you focus? I don't want to miss what He is doing. I don't want a miracle to slip by unnoticed. I choose to look beyond myself and watch Him at work.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Waiting for God's Glory...
John 11:40 "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"
What does the glory of God look like? When Isaiah saw it in a vision, the temple was filled with smoke. The Seraphim declared that the whole earth is filled with His glory. The Israelites saw the glory of God in the pillar of smoke and the pillar of fire. They also saw it in the tabernacle when Moses went in to talk with God - again there was smoke and brilliant light. The glory of God was seen in Jesus...at his transfiguration and resurrection.
What Jesus was referring to in this passage is the raising of Lazarus from the dead. He promised it in v. 23 and revealed it in v.44.
So...here's the question: How/when can I see the glory of God? If I understand what Jesus is saying here, I see it in answered prayer.
A situation may seem totally impossible (like Lazarus' death), but God delights in transforming those devastating circumstances into manifestations of His glory!
Lord, please help me to trust You so much that I expect to see Your glory.
What does the glory of God look like? When Isaiah saw it in a vision, the temple was filled with smoke. The Seraphim declared that the whole earth is filled with His glory. The Israelites saw the glory of God in the pillar of smoke and the pillar of fire. They also saw it in the tabernacle when Moses went in to talk with God - again there was smoke and brilliant light. The glory of God was seen in Jesus...at his transfiguration and resurrection.
What Jesus was referring to in this passage is the raising of Lazarus from the dead. He promised it in v. 23 and revealed it in v.44.
So...here's the question: How/when can I see the glory of God? If I understand what Jesus is saying here, I see it in answered prayer.
A situation may seem totally impossible (like Lazarus' death), but God delights in transforming those devastating circumstances into manifestations of His glory!
Lord, please help me to trust You so much that I expect to see Your glory.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Macro or wide angle lens?
John 11:37 "But some of them said, 'Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind have kept Lazarus from dying?'"
That's a good question. To put it another way..."Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" There's no simple answer. Why did Jesus allow His friend to die? In this case it was so He could raise him from the dead! God saw a much bigger picture than did Mary & Martha.
God sees a much bigger picture than I do, too! He views my life through a wide angle lens. I, on the other hand, am looking at it through a macro (close-up) lens. I am too close to see the big picture. I must trust Him with what I cannot see. Who knows... There might just be a miracle waiting for me around the corner!
Lord, please give me the wisdom and patience to see today through your lens. Amen.
That's a good question. To put it another way..."Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" There's no simple answer. Why did Jesus allow His friend to die? In this case it was so He could raise him from the dead! God saw a much bigger picture than did Mary & Martha.
God sees a much bigger picture than I do, too! He views my life through a wide angle lens. I, on the other hand, am looking at it through a macro (close-up) lens. I am too close to see the big picture. I must trust Him with what I cannot see. Who knows... There might just be a miracle waiting for me around the corner!
Lord, please give me the wisdom and patience to see today through your lens. Amen.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Me outgive God? No way!!!
2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."
One of the striking contrasts in Israel is the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. They both share the same source of water, the Jordan River, yet one is teeming with life and the other is so saturated with salt that it cannot sustain a living creature. Why the difference? One simple thing: the Sea of Galilee has an outlet and the Dead Sea doesn't.
It's like that with me. I find that my spiritual life is fresh and vibrant when I am focused outwardly; it becomes stale and dead when I focus on myself. When I give to others, I reflect God's grace and mercy, and it pleases Him. As I am faithful, He entrusts more to my care, and increases my ability to give.
Look at all the superlatives in this verse. The context is stewardship. In the previous verses, Paul urges generosity and states the principle that you will reap in proportion to what you sow. However, here and in the following verses, he says that if we are faithful in giving, He can and will out-give us.
Lord, please keep my focus upward and outward today. Let me hold loosely the resources You have entrusted to my care. I want to be ready for You to bless someone through me today. Amen.
One of the striking contrasts in Israel is the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. They both share the same source of water, the Jordan River, yet one is teeming with life and the other is so saturated with salt that it cannot sustain a living creature. Why the difference? One simple thing: the Sea of Galilee has an outlet and the Dead Sea doesn't.
It's like that with me. I find that my spiritual life is fresh and vibrant when I am focused outwardly; it becomes stale and dead when I focus on myself. When I give to others, I reflect God's grace and mercy, and it pleases Him. As I am faithful, He entrusts more to my care, and increases my ability to give.
Look at all the superlatives in this verse. The context is stewardship. In the previous verses, Paul urges generosity and states the principle that you will reap in proportion to what you sow. However, here and in the following verses, he says that if we are faithful in giving, He can and will out-give us.
Lord, please keep my focus upward and outward today. Let me hold loosely the resources You have entrusted to my care. I want to be ready for You to bless someone through me today. Amen.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Easy to start...hard to finish!
2 Corinthians 8:6 "...we urged Titus that just as he had begun earlier, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well."
I remember competing in my first 10K race. I had trained, I was in decent shape, and I was motivated. I was also inexperienced.. As the starting gun fired, I found myself caught up in the excitement of the race and I ran my fastest mile ever. Unfortunately the race is 6.2 miles. That's when I learned about needing to pace myself. I totally ran out of gas by mile 3, and was on the verge of quitting. Then another runner about my speed pulled alongside and we began talking. The miles went by and I began to hear cheering in the distance. As we got closer to the finish line, people were shouting words of encouragement and it gave me the energy to muster up a "sprint". Crossing the finish line, I knew that had it not been for the runner alongside and the cheering crowd, I wouldn't have completed the course.
What does it take to finish the race, to finish strong? It's like that 10K race. To be successful, I need a clearly-defined goal, a strategy, a coach, and hopefully someone to cheer me on. With those pieces in place, I have a pretty good chance to complete the course. Each of us finds ourselves, at once, in all of those roles. We're the athlete in the race, we're the coach/encourager/accountability partner, and we're the cheerleader. That's what Titus experienced with Paul and the church at Corinth. That's what God has in mind for us in our church.
Lord, it's easy for me to start quickly, but not so easy to finish the race. Thank you for giving me a Coach (the Holy Spirit) and cheerleaders (my brothers and sisters in the Lord). Give me endurance and wisdom to run well and to help others do the same. Amen.
I remember competing in my first 10K race. I had trained, I was in decent shape, and I was motivated. I was also inexperienced.. As the starting gun fired, I found myself caught up in the excitement of the race and I ran my fastest mile ever. Unfortunately the race is 6.2 miles. That's when I learned about needing to pace myself. I totally ran out of gas by mile 3, and was on the verge of quitting. Then another runner about my speed pulled alongside and we began talking. The miles went by and I began to hear cheering in the distance. As we got closer to the finish line, people were shouting words of encouragement and it gave me the energy to muster up a "sprint". Crossing the finish line, I knew that had it not been for the runner alongside and the cheering crowd, I wouldn't have completed the course.
What does it take to finish the race, to finish strong? It's like that 10K race. To be successful, I need a clearly-defined goal, a strategy, a coach, and hopefully someone to cheer me on. With those pieces in place, I have a pretty good chance to complete the course. Each of us finds ourselves, at once, in all of those roles. We're the athlete in the race, we're the coach/encourager/accountability partner, and we're the cheerleader. That's what Titus experienced with Paul and the church at Corinth. That's what God has in mind for us in our church.
Lord, it's easy for me to start quickly, but not so easy to finish the race. Thank you for giving me a Coach (the Holy Spirit) and cheerleaders (my brothers and sisters in the Lord). Give me endurance and wisdom to run well and to help others do the same. Amen.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
An unlikely equation..
2 Corinthians 8:2 "In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in super-abundant generosity."
As an Algebra teacher, I like things to balance out. I love working equations. I like the "equals" sign. I tend to view my life in terms of equations, trying to maintain equilibrium.
Here's an equation that doesn't seem to make sense: Severe trial + extreme poverty = super-abundant generosity. How can God expect me to be generous, or even be sensitive of others' needs, when I am in deep financial trouble? It doesn't balance. Oops! I forgot one important factor in the equation! Joy. The equation should read like this: Severe trial + extreme poverty + overflowing joy = super-abundant generosity.
Wait a minute. How do you get overflowing joy in the midst of severe trial and extreme poverty? The Macedonian Christians found the answer. "They first gave themselves to God..." (v. 6)
Generosity doesn't begin with, or depend upon, how much I have. It depends upon my faith in the Provider. Trusting in Him for my provision allows me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. It also loosens my grip on "my" possessions. If what I possess belongs to God, then how He chooses to use it is up to Him. That attitude produces joy and the freedom to give liberally, even beyond what I think I am able to give.
Lord, thank You for providing for my every need (and many of my"wants", as well). Please guide me today in using what You have entrusted to me.
As an Algebra teacher, I like things to balance out. I love working equations. I like the "equals" sign. I tend to view my life in terms of equations, trying to maintain equilibrium.
Here's an equation that doesn't seem to make sense: Severe trial + extreme poverty = super-abundant generosity. How can God expect me to be generous, or even be sensitive of others' needs, when I am in deep financial trouble? It doesn't balance. Oops! I forgot one important factor in the equation! Joy. The equation should read like this: Severe trial + extreme poverty + overflowing joy = super-abundant generosity.
Wait a minute. How do you get overflowing joy in the midst of severe trial and extreme poverty? The Macedonian Christians found the answer. "They first gave themselves to God..." (v. 6)
Generosity doesn't begin with, or depend upon, how much I have. It depends upon my faith in the Provider. Trusting in Him for my provision allows me to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. It also loosens my grip on "my" possessions. If what I possess belongs to God, then how He chooses to use it is up to Him. That attitude produces joy and the freedom to give liberally, even beyond what I think I am able to give.
Lord, thank You for providing for my every need (and many of my"wants", as well). Please guide me today in using what You have entrusted to me.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Keeping the Main Thing the main thing...
John 9:25 "...one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I can see."
The Pharisees were badgering the now-seeing blind man, trying to find an opportunity to "get" Jesus. His response frustrated them, but it cut right to the core of the matter. Yes, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath, but HE HEALED HIM! They were so blinded by their (not God's) rules and regulations that they couldn't see the real truth.
As life swirls around me, it is easy to get caught up in the mess and to lose sight of the main miracle, the center of my existence: Jesus loves me and He saved me. I was the lost sheep and He found me. I was the blind man, but now I can see. Amazing Grace!!!
Lord, thank you for "grounding" me this morning. Please help me to focus on Who You are and what You are doing. Help me to maintain perspective. Help me to keep the Main Thing the main thing. Amen.
The Pharisees were badgering the now-seeing blind man, trying to find an opportunity to "get" Jesus. His response frustrated them, but it cut right to the core of the matter. Yes, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath, but HE HEALED HIM! They were so blinded by their (not God's) rules and regulations that they couldn't see the real truth.
As life swirls around me, it is easy to get caught up in the mess and to lose sight of the main miracle, the center of my existence: Jesus loves me and He saved me. I was the lost sheep and He found me. I was the blind man, but now I can see. Amazing Grace!!!
Lord, thank you for "grounding" me this morning. Please help me to focus on Who You are and what You are doing. Help me to maintain perspective. Help me to keep the Main Thing the main thing. Amen.
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