Wednesday, May 18 - Kathryn

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Psalm 64, Psalm 70, John 6:1-21

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I was rather excited to see this passage, I just preached on it the other Sunday!  It's still very fresh in my mind.

I hope you don't mind, but this is an excerpt from my sermon, focusing in on the boy in our reading in John.

Our passage tells us that a small lad, a boy, probably no older than some of our kids, had his lunch. Five loaves and two fish. And still the disciples reason what that is among so many. But again, Jesus ignores the doubt, thanks his Father for his provision and commands the disciples to disperse the food. Everyone sits, waiting in anticipation for Jesus to again serve, as he said he came to do and indeed they are served. Everyone eats to their fill. And, as there usually is at every meal, there is leftovers. So not only is every filled, but there is more than enough.  

Wow! We've all heard this story so many times that we often glaze over it. But this is a huge miracle! This boy probably came like so many others to see the wonders that always seem to follow Jesus. We are all drawn to the strange, abnormal and wonderful. Jesus was all of those. And he was well prepared, he brought something to eat. But when there was a need, even though it was a great need, he gave what he had out of his hands. He gave his lunch to Jesus. But now he didn't have anything to eat. Ah, but he remained in the crowd, so it's safe to say that he was a part of those receiving the blessed food. He probably had more to eat than what he came with. That's the way God is. You cannot outgive God. 

Luke 6:38 says Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete with it shall be measured to you again.

 Give to God and He'll give back what you gave and more. If you use a half cup measure He'll use the same but that little cup will be overflowing with more than what you gave. Don't be afraid to give to God when He asks you. You'll end up with more back.

How many times do we say: I don't have enough, that's too big a need, I'm not smart enough, I'm not fast enough, I'm not ...enough. I'm not enough. Jesus came to show up the big and mighty and used the poor to say “I am enough”. Give to him yourself and watch him make you bigger than you ever thought you could be. Give what little you think you have and watch it be more for Jesus.

You see He wants all of us. He wants our prosperity and our poverty. He wants our health and he wants our pain. Look at what he accepted from the boy. Scripture tells us it was 5 barley loaves. In reading up on this text I found out that barley is the food of the poor. It's no surprise that poor people followed Christ. And it's no surprise that among all of them, all they could find were 5 barley loaves and two small fishes. But even out of this little boys meager, poor meal, he gave it. God wants the same from us. He wants the poor parts of our lives. Our griefs, our pains, out brokenness, because he can use them to bless others. This world is fraught with pain and brokenness. This broken world is just looking for answers and a hope. If we are as liberal with our brokenness as Christ wants us to be with our prosperity, we can share that hope with others, because Christ has shared his hope with us.

Even Jesus was asked by God to give everything. Something that we are asked to do. Something that we all hold within our hands. He was asked to give his life. He knows all about giving all you have. He did it. And think about who he gave it for? He gave it for you and for me. Certainly helps to put all things that we are asked to give in perspective, doesn't it? We need to be prepared to give our lives for Christ. Because he gave his for us, we should willingly do no less.

Sometimes God asks us to sacrifice for Him through death, yes, but more often than not, he asks for us to sacrifice for Him through our lives. He just doesn't want the things we have, our money, our homes, even our families, He wants our lives. He wants us, our hearts, our dreams, desires, our heartbreak, our anger, our frustration. He wants us to give him everything.

A few weeks ago our church hosted a missions banquet in which a missionary spoke on behalf of her husband and herself. They have three young children. The youngest is three. They are taking their whole family, leaving everything they've made for themselves here in America, their business, their home, their family, friends, security, doctors and going to Haiti. They are giving up everything. When I heard her speak about the struggle she experienced when God placed the call on her life, I thought of this text. That little boy could've said “no, I'm not going to give my little lunch. It's mine! I am going to keep it for myself. I am going to eat it and be satisfied. Who knows what Jesus wants to do with it. Maybe he wants to eat it and leave me hungry.” But he didn't say that. Well we don't know what he said, but we know what he did. He did give his lunch to Jesus and that takes a step of faith. He could've gone hungry, but instead he was fully satisfied, along with everyone else.  

Jesus took something so very little, blessed it, multiplied it and used it to bless others and the little boy who gave it! And there was so much more leftover! The little boy sacrificed, but he ended up with more than he gave!

 

What is Jesus asking you for? What is he waiting for you to give so that he can bless it? So that he can bless others and yourself through your very own sacrifice? What does Jesus want from your hands?  

Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 21-22, Psalm 18, John 6:22-40

Tuesday, May 17th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 19-20, John 5:25-47

In his sermon, David's Return to Jerusalem, Bob Deffinbaugh summed things up nicely...
We should also recognize that all of these difficulties were ultimately for David's good, and for the good of God's people. His difficulties should teach us that sin does not pay. On the other hand, David's difficulties also served to humble David, and to make him more dependent upon God. Notice how these painful points in David's life produced a humility and graciousness in him that may not have been as evident earlier in his life. He graciously forgave Shimei for his sins against him. Was this not prompted, in part at least, by the forgiveness David had experienced from God for his sin? We see it also in David's response to Mephibosheth. David has learned to receive, as well as to give, from lovely friends like Barzillai....

Jesus Christ does not just want us to trust in Him as our Savior, but to obey Him as our Lord. How slow and reticent we are to accept this. How quick we are to renounce His lordship in our lives. The Bible speaks clearly, commanding us to do certain things and to abstain from others. And yet when these commands conflict with what we want, we quickly and unashamedly turn from the lordship of Christ, setting aside His commands as culturally irrelevant (or some other equally weak excuse for rebellion and disobedience). When God's appointed leaders (husbands, parents, governing authorities, church leaders) ask us to do that which we disdain, we reject their leadership and seek some other leaders, who will “lead” us in the way we really wanted to go all along. How disinclined we are to submit to God's leadership. (emphasis mine)

I've said that numerous times over the past couple of years. We are quick to admit our need for a Saviour, but are definitely hesitant to give Jesus complete Lordship over our lives. To me, that seems to be the difference between nominal Christians, and victorious Christians.

Not that victorious Christians never struggle with that issue, but we again (going back to the last couple days posts) we bring those struggles, those sins, into the Light and deal with them, getting things back on the right path.

In our NT passage Jesus supports His Claim of this Kingship and Lordship. He starts with the witness of John the Baptist. Human testimony is riveting and it's emotionally impacting. But it's weak theoretically. Even though it's weak theoretically, it still can impact people.

So, Jesus starts with John the Baptist's testimony, and then the testimony of Jesus' own life and works, followed by the Father's Word and scripture itself.

John MacArthur says....
It ends in verse 47 on a tragic note. Jesus declares "I'm God." The Jewish leaders conclude, "Not You're not, You're a blasphemer." And they stand apart. And I give you the same choice this morning. He's either God or He's a blasphemer. If He's God, give Him your life. If He's a blasphemer, get out of the church, it's a mockery.


Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 64, Psalm 70, John 6:1-21

Monday, May 16 - Jody

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is:2 Samuel 16-18, John 5:1-24

Happy Monday Everyone!

Scripture: John 5:14
"Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

Observation:
This one simple verse struck me as so profound this morning. Jesus healed the man at the pool, and originally said - "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." Only later on when he sees him again at the temple does he give the instructions above. I wonder what prompted Jesus to say this second set of instructions to him at a later time. My NIV study bible has a note regarding the 'something worse': "The eternal consequences of sin are more serious than any physical ailment". So true!

Application:
For me, this passage totally ties into what Tammy wrote about yesterday. Bringing our sins to Light, repenting and pressing on to please God with a Holy life. Or at least an attempt at a Holy life here on earth. We can - and should - celebrate the miracles and blessings God pours into our lives, but lets not forget Jesus' simple instructions to the man at the pool "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you."

Prayer:
Father God, I praise you that I am well. I praise you that I am in a place right now of rejoicing in your Name. I pray that you will help me to see the sin in my life and I pray that you empower me with Your Grace to confess it and turn from it. Thank you for all of the healing you have completed in my life and in the lives of those around me. Amen.


Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 19-20, John 5:25-47

Sunday, May 15th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 15 - Psalm 3 - Psalm 69 - John 4:27-54

Today's passage in 2 Samuel continues with Absalom's growing rebellion against David. All of this in fulfillment of prophesy.

2 Samuel 12:9-12
Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

“This is what the LORD says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

From this sermon....
That was the prophecy for David's future after his sin with Bathsheba, murder, lust and deceit. Reminder, "Whatsoever a man sows, that very thing he shall also reap." David's beloved first born Amnon rapes his own step-sister. His beloved third born Absalom, now heir to the throne and whom even after the rebellion David wanted kept alive because he loved him, tries to kill his father. His dear, dear counselor Ahithophel who has been like the voice of God to him wants to personally shame David's name in front of all Israel. He has been waiting a long time for this. David took Bathsheba and was married to her for a year before God came into the act. Then it was two years before Absalom killed Amnon and three years in exile for Absalom. That is six years. Then two more years while Absalom is in Jerusalem. Ahithophel has been waiting eight years to get David, all the while giving David advice and being his friend and closest advisor. Eight years Ahithophel waits to defame David's name, see his wives raped and personally get to kill him. "I want him for me."

Do you see the tragic interplay here? The willful choices of afflicted men still work out for the glory of God and the fulfillment of prophecy. God is faithful, "Whatever a man sows, that very thing he shall also reap." Fortunately God is also loving, and he is faithful to whom He loves. (emphasis mine)

(He gets into a bit of chapter 16 there too).

David had a lot of things working for him and a lot of things working against him. In fact, some of things that we would consider to be "for him" were actually against him.

I think it is extremely difficult to live in a position of incredible wealth and power and remain absolutely faithful to God throughout it all. It's possible, but so very difficult. It's so easy for pride to creep in and we begin to give ourselves, instead of God, the glory and credit for all our achievements. Very few of the Kings of Judah remained faithful to God their whole lives and I think this is why.

I think it's also very common for us to deceive ourselves, not only about our own sin, but about the sins of our children. The head in sand position is just so much easier. Or so we think. Until we, and they, begin to reap the consequences. And then we realize just how much that head-in-sand-position really cost. And make no mistake - it is steep. This is what David did - both with Amnon and with Absalom - and the price was high indeed. It cost Tamar her virginity and entire remaining life, it cost Amonon his life, it almost cost David his kingdom and it cost Absalom his life. Huge ramifications.

It's hard to look in the mirror, see our faults and expose them to the Light. And yet that's the only possible way for healing to occur. It's maybe even harder to look at our children under that same Light. And yet, for their sake and ours, we must! We must.

We must believe the promises of the One who is able to redeem us.

Just like the government official in our NT passage. He believed in Jesus enough to go to Jesus and ask him to help his son. And then he believed in Jesus' promise that his son would live and he acted on it. And then he and his whole household believed in Jesus.

My Life Application Bible says "Faith is a gift that grows as we use it."

We only need to take it one step at a time, but we need to start! We need to believe in the promises of Jesus and then act on them. Then our faith will grow.

The difference between Amnon/Absalom and David is that Amnon and Absalom sinned and continued on in their sin. David sinned and then turned to God. The Psalms reflect this. And that is what made the difference. That's why he was called "a man after God's own heart". Not because he was perfect - as we've seen, he was far from perfect. But he exposed himself to the Light, he clung to God's grace, he clung to God's forgiveness, he turned away from sin and he turned towards the Saviour.

Believe.
Act.

Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 16-18, John 5:1-24

Saturday, May 14 guest post by Pamela

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 13-14; John 4:1-26.

We begin today's readings with the story of Amnon and Tamar. I found that this summed up the events leading up to Chapter 13 quite nicely:

[David] had a very strong sensual desire which he catered to. As king he could cater to it with magnificent regal splendor. He had probably at least 10 wives, as near as we can figure, and unnumbered concubines. Under the law of that day, what the king saw he took, unless she was married. So David acted like the other kings of the earth instead of like God's king. As a result, his household consisted of a series of wives all competing for his affections, as Leah and Rachel did back in Jacob's time. There was no family unit, and the kids grew up competing with one another. They lived in separate houses. Each wanted to be king, so each looked with a jaundiced eye on the first born above him. Amnon was the first born, Chileab was the second born, but apparently by now he has been slain in battle, which moves Absalom up to number two. We are going to see that Absalom is not above a little self-interest when revenging his sister's violation. He wants to be king, but Amnon the first born is standing in his way. So, we have brothers Amnon and Absalom in competition with one another because of the household that David himself set up in defiance of Deuteronomy 17. This is where we are at the beginning of Chapter 13.

So, the story begins with a shaky foundation and it goes from bad to worse. From the same site:

Amnon falls in love with his step-sister, but in actuality his feeling is lust. He doesn't know what true love is. He has never seen it. There was no true love in his family. You recall Bathsheba was not loved by David. She was violated by David. She was not loved until a year or so after their child was born and died. Finally David comforted her after the loss of that child broke him, and only then did God begin to call Bathsheba his wife. It is probable that after he had lain with her he had all the disgust and self-loathing and guilt that goes with something like that. That is the model of love Amnon witnessed.

So Amnon lusts after his step-sister Tamar who is a beautiful girl. The law of God says if a half-sister and a half-brother marry, they were both to be slain. If a half-brother violated a half-sister, he should be slain. An incestuous relationship even as close as a half-brother and half-sister was totally illegal under the law of God. What does Amnon care. Big daddy not only committed adultery, which violated that law, but also murdered the woman's husband, which violated that law, also the 6th, 7th and 10th commandments and got away with it. Why should Amnon observe the law of God?

By constantly dwelling on his desire and feeding the flames of that desire and not being able to satisfy it, he becomes so frustrated he actually makes himself ill. He can't bring himself to violate her, not yet anyway, because she is a virgin and apparently acts like a virgin. She is a very chaste person. But Amnon has a friend. And as like seems to attract like, we get a little hint of Amnon's character here by the friends he has.

I think this is another example of how our sin affects the people around us. Whether it be the example we are setting for our children or whether we are helping others in a plan to sin or whether we refuse to repent. Sin has serious consequences. Just one more quote:

It is interesting, Jonadab does not suggest marriage. He knows that is illegal. He does suggest a way that will force David's hand. David indeed indulges and loves that first born, the strength of his loins. So if Amnon rapes Tamar, the only thing David can do to alleviate the problem is to use the law of the violated virgin. [Deut. 22:28] Tamar is not engaged, therefore, it will not be adultery. If a virgin is violated by a man under Jewish law, the man must pay fifty shekels of silver to her father, marry her and can never divorce her. In the Jewish culture a non-virgin was a very hard person to marry off. There was stigma attached to her. In fact if she was found to be a non-virgin by the man who married her, she was to be stoned. But Jonadab could trap David. If Amnon raped Tamar, David was faced with either putting his son to death or marrying the two. It was circumventing the law, but, in a sense, accomplishing it and probably buying off the wrath of God and the wrath of the people. So here is the kind of reasoning that went on in the palace, understandable perhaps considering the way they were brought up. Intriguingly enough Jonadab doesn't seem to be at all worried that David will find out whose idea this was. Where did David lose his authority to uphold the law of God? Why can't he put the fear of God into Jonadab's heart?

A sad story indeed. The initial sin of lust spirals into a series of disastrous events: trickery, rape, hate, shame, revenge, murder. It just seems like there is no hope for the situation. However, the New Testament passage reminds us that there is hope through Jesus. I'm sure that the Samaritan woman believed that there was no hope.

The Samaritan woman at the well is no angel. Mixed up with a wrong crowd, this poor woman from Samaria has quite a reputation. She had been married five times and was living in sin with a man who wasn't her husband.....Because of her lowly status, the Samaritan woman goes to the well during the hottest point of the day to avoid the wagging tongues of her fellow townspeople. Most other people were taking siestas at this time; nobody in his or her right mind is out in the noonday sun. The woman of Samaria knows this and seizes the opportunity to get water for her home without being bothered. (Full text here)

When we sin, we are embarrassed. We try to hide it by trying to cover up the problem like Amnon did when he sent Tamar away. The Samaritan woman chose to get her water in the eat of the day to cover up her sin from the people in her community. They probably felt that there was no hope in there situation but there is hope. There is a way out. God has made the way. We each carry our own burdens, our own hurts, our mistakes, our guilt, our sin and yet God looks past all of that and loves us still. How amazing it that? Just like Jesus calls out the sin of the woman at the well, He calls out our sin too. Not to embarrass us but to let us know that He already knows and that He can forgive us.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for being an all-knowing God. You know us intimately. Our thoughts, our actions, our sins and yet You love us still. We make mistakes and You love us still. We fail over and over again and You love us still. Thank you for Your love and may it teach us how to love each other and become more like You. Guide us in Your ways so that we can be an example to others and draw them to You.

Amen.

Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 15 - Psalm 3 - Psalm 69 - John 4:27-54

Friday, May 13 ~ tammi

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Psalm 32; Psalm 51; John 3:16-36.

So today we take a break from reading the account of David’s first sordid mistake to read his own thoughts in the Psalms. My husband and I were just talking about this last night and we realized that so many times, with so many Bible characters, we wish we knew more of their thoughts rather than just the historical account of their lives. With David, we DO get to know his thoughts, his heart attitude. I think that’s why so many of his psalms are included in the Canon of Scripture – without them, David would simply be a hypocrite. But in his own writings, we see a man who desperately wants to be the man God called him to be – struggling, failing, trying again, but always with his mind filled with the Word of God and his heart tuned to the Holy Spirit.


We see in Psalm 51 his deep remorse for his many sins in the matter of his relationship with Bathsheba, pleading God for forgiveness and restoration to right relationship with Him. I love the familiar sections of this Psalm – the “wash me and I shall be whiter than snow” section and the “create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” section. Such beautiful word pictures of what God does for each and every one of us when we confess our sins and beg His forgiveness. I love that David doesn’t just beg for mercy and forgiveness, but that he asks God to cleanse his heart so that he can turn from sin and live a holy, upright life. We see David’s simple humility here; his willingness to lay himself bare, take the blame for his sin, and his deep desire to be a devoted man of God.

Psalm 32 talks about the sweetness of being forgiven and the joy of being free of guilt, saved by the grace of a loving, Sovereign God.

Then in John we have probably the most memorized passage of Scripture of all time – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (I memorized it before we switched over to the NIV!) What great hope in that one short verse!! Pretty much sums it all up, doesn’t it – the whole point of Christianity? I love how economical God is with words sometimes. VOLUMES have been written about this concept, but really, it’s as profoundly simple as John wrote it here.

Then the apostle John includes a beautiful look at John the Baptist’s devotion to God and the job he’d been given to do. John’s disciples were getting upset that Jesus, who had been baptized by John, was now, Himself, baptizing people and the people were starting to flock to Him in greater and greater numbers. It seems John’s disciples were as unseeing as many people of that day. But John’s vision remained very clear and he informs them that he got an assignment from God and until he hears otherwise, he’s going to continue doing the work God gave him to do, regardless of Jesus’ own ministry. And then John utters those amazing words: “The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

We saw David’s humility earlier; his openness in his struggle for a holy life. Here we see in John a different kind of humility – the self-abasing kind that eagerly puts Christ first, others second, and self last. John had the benefit of knowing ahead of time the significance of Jesus’ ministry here on earth, I believe, but for him to still never get caught up in a desire to build his own following – to never struggle with a bit of jealousy over Jesus’ growing popularity – is incredible.

Today’s reading shows us the portraits of two very different men. One is a king; one a poor, wild-looking prophet. But both singularly focused on being the men God called them to be, and gladly serving Him with utmost humility.



Tomorrow's passages: 2 Samuel 13-14; John 4:1-26.

Wednesday, May 11 - Kathryn

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 8-9 - Psalm 60 - John 2

It's good, it's all good scripture today.

But this is absolutely terrifying:

²³ Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.^[c] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. ²⁵ He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

This was from the end of John 2.  I've learned that when a passage of scripture jumps out at me, I'd better take a  closer look.  

This passage is right after the water into wine miracle and the cleansing of the temple.  Jesus starts to get big, he has made his presence known.  Word about him starts to get around.  More and more people are following him around, either so they can be healed, or maybe just because they are rubberneckers like the best of us.  Jesus is cool!  He does neat things!  Everyone loves a great show and I'm sure just hanging around Jesus, especially at the beginning of his ministry, they saw a lot of really cool things.  And Jesus was good at this.  He was in Jerusalem at Passover, a huge holiday for the Jews.  I'm sure Jerusalem was busting at the seams.  If ever anyone wanted to be well known it behooved them to do it at Passover in Jerusalem.

Jesus was getting his name out and it was going around fast.

Many people believed.

Or did they.

At first this portion confused me.  A testimony of man?  What the?  Then I got it.

Even though a ton of people were following Christ, professing belief in his name to his face, he still didn't trust them because he saw their hearts.  Cool things draw large crowds.  They were there to be near the glory.  They were there to catch some of the stuff that fell off of Christ.  They were there for the fun.  Now I'm sure not all were this way, but as the passage says, he would not entrust himself to them.

And where this is terrifying to me is, he knows me.  He doesn't need me to tell him about myself.  Because he knows it already.  Eeeeekkkkk!!  Please tell me this is terrifying to you too!  There are things in me, thoughts I've had, things I've done, that I thought no one saw or knew, that I keep hidden.  Knowledge of these things I might let seep out a bit at a time in measured quantities to select few.  But it's my choice who knows.  At least until I read this scripture.  He already knows all that stuff!

And my soul cries out as Isaiah's did "Woe is me, for I am undone!"  I finally understand the weight of Isaiah's wail.  To be seen for what I am, all that I am, by the eyes of Holy God is mortifying.  I am undone.  There is nothing more to say, or do.  Since the Lord knows all there is no arguing, or bartering, or discussion.  That's it, I'm done, kaput.  There is nothing more I can do or say to change his view of me, to make myself be better.  No amount of makeup is going to cover up this zit.  It's out there for all to see.

Yet, the Lord reminds me of this:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

What a demonstration it is!  To be seen for what I am and while I was still in that He died for me.  What love!  What love.

1 John 3:1 exemplifies this too,

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 

I love the word lavish.  When I hear it, or read it, I think of profuse, overflowing, bubbling up, being drenched, soaking wet in God's love.  If God's love is so over the top as scripture says it is, why don't we/I feel it every second of every day?  With something this abundant we should never be able to get away from it.

The shame of our decrepit, repulsive souls makes his light even brighter, his love even more intense, his passion for us so much more deeper.   We truly do not deserve the gift of his son, his love, his grace and his mercy.  Yet he continues to give.  Scripture says his mercies are new every morning and they fail not!  May we know, truly know the power of his love, daily.

I pray this prayer from Ephesians 3 for you and for myself,

¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Amen!

 Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 10-12 - John 3:1-15

Tuesday, May 10th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 6-7, Psalm 30, John 1:29-51

The passage about God striking Uzzah dead because he was trying to rescue the ark from falling to the ground, has always bothered me. And I realize now, that once again, it's because my perspective is skewed.

First of all, my opinion doesn't really matter. God's does. This was the ark of the covenant. This was where God chose to manifest His presence. This was holy ground.

In his sermon, When God Rained on David's Parade, Bob Deffinbaugh says...

David and those involved in transporting the ark erred in several ways. First, they had already lost the awe and reverence one should have for the holiness of God. Second, they had forgotten the clear instructions God set down in the law for the transporting of the ark. And third, they had forgotten a hard lesson Israel had learned in their not-too-distant past. When the ark was returned to the Israelites by the Philistines, carelessness on the part of some Israelites cost them their lives....

God chose to manifest His presence in the tabernacle, specifically from the ark. When God’s glory first filled the tabernacle, even Moses was not able to enter (Exodus 40:34-35). Sinful men cannot get too close to a holy God....

No wonder Uzzah was struck dead for having laid hands on the ark. The ark was holy. It could not be touched. Anyone who touched it would die.....

God had given clear instructions - the ark was only to be carried by Kohathities on poles that were placed through the rings of the ark. It doesn't seem like they intentionally disregarded the instructions - they had likely simply forgotten them. After all, the ark had been absent for many years now. Besides, who would want to carry the heavy ark, when you could simply load it onto a cart? They were excited and went ahead with doing it the way they thought was best.

Forgetfulness is not an excuse for irreverance.

Convenience is not an excuse for irreverance.

Enthusiasm is not an excuse for irreverance.

Uzzah is a reminder to us that God's holiness is such that sinful men cannot draw near to Him, unless He provides the means to do so (emphasis mine)

God provided the tabernacle, the ark, the priests and the sacrifices as a way for the people to draw hear to Him reverently. But this was only a short term solution. God provided a long term solution by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ to provide the way to draw near to Him.

David's first reaction to Uzzah's death was anger. But after cooling down, David researched exactly how the ark was supposed to be treated, who was supposed to carry it and how they were supposed to carry it. And then they tried again. Man, those first few steps must've been tense! But then the procession became joyful and enthusiastic as they worshiped and praised God, while following His instructions to the letter.

Michal, however, was less than impressed. David was the king and yet he was dressed and acting like any other Israelite with nothing to distinguish himself as king! She was too proud to join in the worship.

This chapter has a great deal to say in relationship to the charismatic/non-charismatic controversy so prevalent in the church today. There are two extremes, two polarities, and we are prone to drift toward one or the other (and sometimes one and then the other). The first is that of reckless abandon. David and the rest were so caught up with their worship they seemed to forget who they were worshipping -- a holy God. We can get so carried away with the emotional element of our worship that we lose all self-control. In the excitement of the moment, things that God has clearly forbidden somehow seem permissible, even necessary (like grabbing the ark). Uzzah was “caught up” in the excitement of bringing the ark of God back, but he forgot to pay close enough attention to God and to His Word. Uzzah died for his irreverence. Let us never forget this. Enthusiasm is never an excuse for disobedience to the Word of God.

For many, the danger I have suggested is hardly a danger. We are in no danger of getting carried away with our worship. Our worship is so stiff or so structured that nothing unplanned could possibly happen. Listen well. I am not opposed to structure, and there is much to be said for an appreciation of God's majesty in our worship. But some of us don't raise our hands or our voices because we are too proud to do so. Like Michal, we are more concerned with our dignity than with God. Let us beware of avoiding enthusiasm in our worship because we think it beneath us.

Two extremes are exposed in our text, and both are wrong. Enthusiastic worship, which underestimates the holiness of God and violates the Word of God, is wrong, and no matter how much enthusiasm you may add, it is still wrong until it rightly views God and until it rightly approaches God. Stately worship that avoids emotion and enthusiasm, purely because we are too proud to humble ourselves before God, is just as wrong. The former produces barrenness; the latter produces death. Let us seek to worship God as David and Israel eventually did, in accordance with His Word, with humility, with hearts filled with joy and gratitude, and with enthusiasm. (emphasis mine)

Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 8-9, Psalm 60, John 2

Monday, May 9 - Jody

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 3-5, John 1:1-28

Happy Monday everyone!
Today I want to focus on the New Testament reading. I found a great sermon by John McArthur on this passage here.

Two Conditions to Becoming a Child of God

Verse 12 sets two conditions: receiving Jesus and believing Jesus: "But to all who received him, who BELIEVE in his name, he gave authority to become children of God."

Receiving Jesus
Receiving Jesus means that when Jesus offers himself to you, you welcome him into your life for what he is.

• If he comes to you as Savior, you welcome his salvation.
• If he comes to you as Leader, you welcome his leadership.
• If he comes to you as Provider, you welcome his provision.
• If he comes to you as Counselor, you welcome his counsel.
• If he comes to you as Protector, you welcome his protection.
• If he comes to you as Authority, you welcome his authority.
• If he comes to you as King, you welcome his rule.

Receiving Jesus means taking Jesus into your life for what he is. It does not mean a kind of peaceful co-existence with a Christ who makes no claims—as though he can stay in the house as long as he doesn't play his music so loud.

Believing in His Name
That's the first condition in verse 12: receiving Jesus, the light of the world. The second condition is believing in his name: "But all who received him, who believe [present tense!] in his name, he gave authority to become children of God."
What does believing in the name of Jesus mean? Let's do a little tour of this gospel to find out. First look at John 3:18 to see that believing in the NAME of Jesus is virtually the same as believing in Jesus. "He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." Here believing "in him" and believing "in his name" are used interchangeably. The "name" simply emphasizes the full stature and dignity and authority of the person.
Do you see what verse 44 implies about believing? It implies that you can't believe in Jesus if you love the praise and glory of men. This means that believing is so contrary to pride and self-exaltation that it involves a deep humbling. It means abandoning the craving for human praise, and caring more about the praise of God. Believing is not merely intellectual assent to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God.
Next look at John 6:35. "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst." This verse teaches that believing in Jesus means being satisfied with Jesus. It means that Jesus is the food that feeds the hunger of your soul. Believing is not merely intellectual assent to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God.

Two Key Differences Between Verses 12 and 13

Now notice two very important differences between verses 12 and 13. Verse 13 says of the children of God, "[they] were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God." Notice: in verse 12 Jesus, the light, is the person acting—"To all who received him, HE [Jesus] gave authority." But in verse 13 God is the person acting—"Who were born . . . of God."
The other difference is that in verse 13 God begets or brings into being children, and so they are his children by virtue of his being the begetting Father. But in verse 12 John speaks of people needing to get authority to become children of God. But why do children who are born of God need authority from Jesus to be children of God? What is this authorization or this empowerment in verse 12? If we are born of God, are we not God's children? What need of authority from Jesus?
Here's the answer as I see it. Before God causes any of us to be born again, all of us are mere flesh. There is no spiritual life in us. John 3:6 says, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." In other words we are spiritually dead before new birth. We are sinners, all of us. And that means that we need two things if we are to inherit eternal life as the children of God.

The Need to Be Born and for an Authority/Right
We need to be born. We need to have spiritual life. That is what God does according to John 1:13 without any help from us—"not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God." We are born of God by a free act of sovereign grace. He chooses us before we choose him.
But when God does that, what we now have is a newborn sinner. The spiritual life is present, but so is sin, and a whole history of sin! In this condition we would have no right to take our place in the house of God—no authority, no empowerment. Except for one thing. God not only provided the regeneration by which we are born again, but also the authorization by which we can lay claim to our inheritance as children, even though we are sinners.
And that is precisely where Jesus comes in. The moment you believe in Jesus, the moment you receive him for who he really is, in that moment he gives you not new birth, but the right and authority, as a sinner, to lay claim to your inheritance as a child of God—to become legally, as it were (with due authority), what you are by virtue of new birth—because you were "born of God."

Two Great Obstacles to Eternal Life
Between us and eternal life there are two great obstacles. One is that we are spiritually lifeless and dead. The other is that we are sinfully corrupt and guilty. We cannot inherit life as children of God if we are dead and if we are guilty. But God so loved us that he did two things.
He sent his Spirit to cause us to be born again, to quicken us and make us pass from death to life. And so he overcomes the first obstacle.
But in perfect harmony with the work of his Spirit God sent his Son to die for our sin (John 1:29) and remove the guilt of all who believe in him. So the moment we believe in him, even though we are sinners, we are authorized in him to lay hold on the inheritance of the children of God. And so the second obstacle is removed.
This is a great salvation for sinners like you and me. It is full and free and corresponds to our exact need and condition. I offer it to you this morning in the name of Jesus. Receive him as he really is. Believe in him as the all-satisfying end of your search for peace.

Hope you all have a great week!

Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 6-7, Psalm 30, John 1:29-51

Sunday, May 8th

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 1-2; Luke 24: 36-53

Happy Mother's Day ladies! May God bless you today as you celebrate with your families and the whole year through as you continue your work as a kingdom builder!

Today's OT passage starts with David getting the news of the deaths of King Saul, Jonathan and his other sons.

King Saul had relentlessly pursed David with the intent of killing him, despite David serving the king faithfully. Saul's own disobedience to God was the cause of David's annointing by Samuel under God's direction. Saul's only motive was envy. David had done nothing wrong, nothing deserving death.

Now, I don't know about you, but if I was David, my reaction would've been one of relief that my rival and enemy was dead, that I was now safe, and joy that I was soon to be publicly annointed king (well, queen in my case ;)

But that is not David's reaction. David's reaction is one of grief. And it was genuine. What a stand up character! Now, granted - I'm sure a good portion of that grief was for his friend Jonathan, but the Word is clear....
Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 2 Samual 1:11-12 (emphasis mine)

I find it incredible that not only David, but all the men with him, mourned in this way for the death of King Saul. What an incredible leader he already was!

(This reminds me a bit of the whole Osama bin Laden situation this past week, but maybe we shouldn't get into that right now, this is betting long enough as is!)

The man claiming to be an Amalekite certainly underestimated David. In fact, he thought he would be rewarded if he claimed to have killed Saul. He was gravely mistaken, and that lie cost him his life.

Another thing jumped out at me. After Saul's death David knew he would become king and the obvious move would be for him to move back to Judah, the home territory of his tribe. But David didn't just go ahead with what he thought was the obvious move - he stopped and asked God, recognizing that He alone knows the best timing.

Oh that I would do the same!

This has gotten long enough so I won't get into the Luke passage. But I highly recommend MacArthur's sermon on this passage titled The Great Commission: Preaching Forgiveness to the World, the first of a 2 part series.

Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 3-5, John 1:1-28