"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 sums up everything I know about the Bible. I believe in Jesus! Have you become a Believer yet? How many people have you told?
Jump over to my friend Kenny's blog. He has posted a Penn Says video in which a Las Vegas magician/atheist talks about proselytizing. He is more impressed with Christians who are honest enough to share their beliefs than he is with those who are afraid to offend him.
It made me think of Nicodemus in John 3. He came to see Jesus at night, probably because he didn't want any of his Pharisee friends to see him. Too often, we stop reading this chapter at verse 16. Yet, in verses 19-21, Jesus calls Nicodemus evil because of his fear of having his deeds exposed. Jesus said in verse 21, "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Girls, I'm tired of being a Nicodemus. I want everyone to know that I believe in Jesus. Sometimes it's tempting to think that they will understand that since I am a preacher's wife. Well, being a preacher's family member, just like being a church member, does NOT make you saved! Having a conversation with someone about the weather does not move them any closer to God either. Let's make it a point to ask people today if they believe that God sent Jesus to the earth to pay for their sins. We don't get any points for assuming they've heard the Gospel.
Let's go live as children of the true Light!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Mark 1
We discussed what a prolific writer Luke was and how his gospel provides us with so much detail. Mark’s gospel stands in stark contrast to Luke’s. Using the phrases “at once” and “immediately” throughout, Mark’s gospel is short, sweet, and to the point. He packed seven stories into half as many verses as Luke used to write the birth stories of John and Jesus.
As a high school business teacher, I required my students to write summaries of articles related to the topics we discussed in class. Invariably, at least one of my students would try to select the shortest article in the magazine. I tried to emphasize that it is very difficult to write a full page summary of a five-sentence article. Well, that’s sort of how I feel about writing commentary on Mark Chapter 1. Mark gave us the facts, and I hesitate to expound.
So, as I read this chapter for the tenth time this week, I asked God to pick out the items on which He wanted me to focus. The first thing I noticed was verse 18, “At once they left their nets and followed him.” Does this characterize how you and I respond when we hear Jesus calling us to, “Come, follow me”? Oh, you and I are much more likely to be like Gideon and throw out the fleece to test God’s patience. Are you really serious, God? Do you really want me to follow You blindly by faith? Uh. . . yeah. . . .
My favorite verse in this passage is Mark 1:22, “The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.” Jesus, we beg You to amaze us with your teaching today! We long for Your authority to rule in our lives. May we follow Your teaching far more readily than we follow the teaching of any other author. Amaze me today, LORD!
The final point I feel led to discuss comes from verses 35-38, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
“Everyone is looking for you!” In other words, how dare you be so selfish as to spend time alone with God? Don’t you know you are a celebrity and the people deserve to control your every waking moment?
I am reluctant to write about this topic because I do not want anyone to think of me as a selfish preacher’s wife. However, in the last month I have read two books that point out this topic. The focus of Jesus’ ministry was prayer and preaching. Yes, He took care of the physical needs of people, but only when it gave Him the opportunity to meet their spiritual needs. As church members, you and I need to encourage our pastors to spend the bulk of their time in prayer and preaching the Word of God. We need to stop demanding that our spiritual leaders are present for every committee meeting and every broken arm. While most pastors want to be informed of the goings on in their church body, they should not feel guilty about protecting their study time.
Please do not take this to the extreme. My intention is not to offend any of my readers. I trust that the Holy Spirit will speak individually to you about how you can be an encourager to your pastor. I know your pastor loves and appreciates you. Will you support him by letting him know how much you love and appreciate him?
I love you too!
Dana
Monday, May 11, 2009
John 1
The thing that stands out the most in this chapter is the word testimony. It should make us stop to think about our own testimony about Jesus. Do I make a conscious effort to tell other people about the difference Christ makes in my life? Do my words and actions point others toward knowledge of eternal salvation?
John the Baptist was very adamant about leading others to follow the Messiah. He did not want any glory for himself, and he did not worry about losing his own followers when they chose to follow Christ. John's entire life was a testimony that said, "Look! The Lamb of God!" (v. 35)
The first thing Andrew did after discovering the Messiah was to go tell his brother. (v. 41) Philip also immediately told a friend about Jesus. (v. 45) Have you and I lost the urgency in telling our friends and relatives about Christ?
Just in case I haven't told you, Jesus Christ is the real thing! He came from the Father to be the Savior of the world, and He wants to be your personal Savior. Will you invite Him to cleanse you of your sin today?
John the Baptist was very adamant about leading others to follow the Messiah. He did not want any glory for himself, and he did not worry about losing his own followers when they chose to follow Christ. John's entire life was a testimony that said, "Look! The Lamb of God!" (v. 35)
The first thing Andrew did after discovering the Messiah was to go tell his brother. (v. 41) Philip also immediately told a friend about Jesus. (v. 45) Have you and I lost the urgency in telling our friends and relatives about Christ?
Just in case I haven't told you, Jesus Christ is the real thing! He came from the Father to be the Savior of the world, and He wants to be your personal Savior. Will you invite Him to cleanse you of your sin today?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
John 1:1-5
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:1-5
This is one of my favorite descriptions of who Jesus is. He is the Word of God, and He is God. He is eternal, and He is the agent of creation. Genesis 1 tells us that God spoke things into being. John 1 tells us Jesus is the Word of God. This concept is so huge that it is tough to wrap your mind around it, but I believe it is crucial to our Christianity. Do you believe that God spoke the world into being and that Jesus was the Word that made it happen? I hope you will respond to this blog post with your thoughts and beliefs.
As I am writing, I am listening to Matthew West's song, "The Motions." I agree with his statement, " I don't want to go through the motions." At the end of my life, I don't want to be asking the question, "What if I had given God everything?" I want to worship Him with everything I have! How about you?
This is one of my favorite descriptions of who Jesus is. He is the Word of God, and He is God. He is eternal, and He is the agent of creation. Genesis 1 tells us that God spoke things into being. John 1 tells us Jesus is the Word of God. This concept is so huge that it is tough to wrap your mind around it, but I believe it is crucial to our Christianity. Do you believe that God spoke the world into being and that Jesus was the Word that made it happen? I hope you will respond to this blog post with your thoughts and beliefs.
As I am writing, I am listening to Matthew West's song, "The Motions." I agree with his statement, " I don't want to go through the motions." At the end of my life, I don't want to be asking the question, "What if I had given God everything?" I want to worship Him with everything I have! How about you?
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Luke 2
I think I will title this blog post--Don't Miss the Opportunity.
Luke 2 is a very familiar chapter to churchgoers, and it is full of stories we have heard since childhood. The birth of Jesus. No room in the inn. The shepherds. The angels. Simeon and Anna. Even the story of Jesus being left at the temple as a twelve-year-old is found in Luke 2. Will you take some time with me today to look at these stories from a new angle? Put yourself in the shoes of the players in this story. Would you have been an eager participant, or would you have let these opportunities go by?
First of all, think of the people who missed the blessing of hosting the Holy Family in their homes. When we read the story of Jesus' birth, we tend to focus on the innkeeper (who is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, by the way). Well, what about Joseph and Mary's family members? Did you notice that they missed the birth of their grandson, nephew, cousin, Savior of the world?? Even the great-aunts and uncles who may have been still living in the Bethlehem area did not open their homes to the young couple in need. You and I have lots of long-lost relatives, and we meet people every day who have needs. Do we welcome them with open arms, or do we turn them away in shame?
I am so proud of the shepherds! Typically, these guys would not strike me as opportunity seekers. However, they grabbed this one by the horns! You and I might have been tempted to doubt our angelic vision, but the shepherds said, "Let's go check it out!" They hurried to find the Holy Family, and then they wasted no time spreading the news. I'm afraid you and I don't always follow through on telling people the good news. We didn't hear the message of Jesus through heavenly messengers, but we have heard the message of salvation, nonetheless. Are you hurrying to find the Christ child? Are you sharing His story with everyone you meet? This is one opportunity we should eagerly seek.
I want to play the parts of Simeon and Anna. Both were filled with the Spirit. Both were actively worshipping the One True God. Both of them had their eyes open looking for the Promise of God. Neither one of them were hesitant about sharing a word of prophecy with the new parents. Now, that is the opportunity where you and I would stumble. We might think we have a word from God, but we have a tough time gathering our courage to share it with anyone. I know from experience that God still speaks to His people today. I also know that preachers aren't the only ones who can get a word from God. Next time God gives you a word to share with someone who needs a little encouragement, don't miss the opportunity.
Finally, let's think about all the people who missed the opportunity of sitting at the feet of the 12-year-old Messiah. Without a doubt, Jesus' parents missed it. I wonder if they ever asked Jesus about the Heavenly Father who shared His one and only Son with them? Later in His ministry, the gospel writers tell the story of Jesus' mother and brothers waiting outside to speak to Him. I wonder if they missed the opportunity to go inside and sit under His teaching? Girls, I don't want to miss the things Jesus has for me to learn. Let's agree to sit at His feet daily!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Prov. 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Prov. 9:10
Luke 2 is a very familiar chapter to churchgoers, and it is full of stories we have heard since childhood. The birth of Jesus. No room in the inn. The shepherds. The angels. Simeon and Anna. Even the story of Jesus being left at the temple as a twelve-year-old is found in Luke 2. Will you take some time with me today to look at these stories from a new angle? Put yourself in the shoes of the players in this story. Would you have been an eager participant, or would you have let these opportunities go by?
First of all, think of the people who missed the blessing of hosting the Holy Family in their homes. When we read the story of Jesus' birth, we tend to focus on the innkeeper (who is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, by the way). Well, what about Joseph and Mary's family members? Did you notice that they missed the birth of their grandson, nephew, cousin, Savior of the world?? Even the great-aunts and uncles who may have been still living in the Bethlehem area did not open their homes to the young couple in need. You and I have lots of long-lost relatives, and we meet people every day who have needs. Do we welcome them with open arms, or do we turn them away in shame?
I am so proud of the shepherds! Typically, these guys would not strike me as opportunity seekers. However, they grabbed this one by the horns! You and I might have been tempted to doubt our angelic vision, but the shepherds said, "Let's go check it out!" They hurried to find the Holy Family, and then they wasted no time spreading the news. I'm afraid you and I don't always follow through on telling people the good news. We didn't hear the message of Jesus through heavenly messengers, but we have heard the message of salvation, nonetheless. Are you hurrying to find the Christ child? Are you sharing His story with everyone you meet? This is one opportunity we should eagerly seek.
I want to play the parts of Simeon and Anna. Both were filled with the Spirit. Both were actively worshipping the One True God. Both of them had their eyes open looking for the Promise of God. Neither one of them were hesitant about sharing a word of prophecy with the new parents. Now, that is the opportunity where you and I would stumble. We might think we have a word from God, but we have a tough time gathering our courage to share it with anyone. I know from experience that God still speaks to His people today. I also know that preachers aren't the only ones who can get a word from God. Next time God gives you a word to share with someone who needs a little encouragement, don't miss the opportunity.
Finally, let's think about all the people who missed the opportunity of sitting at the feet of the 12-year-old Messiah. Without a doubt, Jesus' parents missed it. I wonder if they ever asked Jesus about the Heavenly Father who shared His one and only Son with them? Later in His ministry, the gospel writers tell the story of Jesus' mother and brothers waiting outside to speak to Him. I wonder if they missed the opportunity to go inside and sit under His teaching? Girls, I don't want to miss the things Jesus has for me to learn. Let's agree to sit at His feet daily!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Prov. 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Prov. 9:10
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Luke 1--Part 2
In this second post for Luke 1, I want us to take a look at the songs of Mary and Zechariah.
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. (v. 38) Wow! Is that how you would respond if your world had just been turned upside down? I agree with another commentator who was amazed at Mary's understanding of her role in God's story. I work with teenagers, and I have two of my own. I'm afraid none of them would be able to sing the song of Mary.
Here is an example: Our family Bible reading this morning was I Timothy 1:12, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." I asked my children if they knew what God had appointed them to do for Him. All I got was, "Huh??" Where was the, "my soul glorifies the Lord," or the, "my spirit rejoices in God my Savior"? It made me feel like a miserable failure. :-(
Actually, it just really makes me mindful of what an important job we have as parents. Our children do not naturally seek God on their own. Without our prayers and encouragement, they will follow selfish desires, not godly ones. They need constant reminding (maybe even nagging) that God has created them for fellowship. As Christians, they are God's chosen servants.
Zechariah's prayer for his newborn son is beautiful! He and Elizabeth had prayed for a child, and they knew without a doubt that he was a gift from heaven. Zechariah gave praise to the Lord because the angel promised him John would fulfill an important role as God's prophet. All papas are proud of their firstborn sons, and you can bet Zechariah was one proud papa!!! Zechariah had nine months of silence due to unbelief. I hope he spent that time praying for his child and researching the books of the prophets to discover all this child of promise would fulfill. This makes me mindful that we should continually pray for our children. We may not know what God has in store for them, but we can beg Him to make it glorious!
Here is your homework assignment (you like homework, right?). Since Mother's Day is next Sunday, will you write a song to the LORD thanking Him for your children? Perhaps as you write, God will even grant you a prophetic insight for your offspring. Above all, be sure to tell your children how much you love them and that you see them as a blessing from Jesus. They need to hear from you that God has created them for a special purpose.
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. (v. 38) Wow! Is that how you would respond if your world had just been turned upside down? I agree with another commentator who was amazed at Mary's understanding of her role in God's story. I work with teenagers, and I have two of my own. I'm afraid none of them would be able to sing the song of Mary.
Here is an example: Our family Bible reading this morning was I Timothy 1:12, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." I asked my children if they knew what God had appointed them to do for Him. All I got was, "Huh??" Where was the, "my soul glorifies the Lord," or the, "my spirit rejoices in God my Savior"? It made me feel like a miserable failure. :-(
Actually, it just really makes me mindful of what an important job we have as parents. Our children do not naturally seek God on their own. Without our prayers and encouragement, they will follow selfish desires, not godly ones. They need constant reminding (maybe even nagging) that God has created them for fellowship. As Christians, they are God's chosen servants.
Zechariah's prayer for his newborn son is beautiful! He and Elizabeth had prayed for a child, and they knew without a doubt that he was a gift from heaven. Zechariah gave praise to the Lord because the angel promised him John would fulfill an important role as God's prophet. All papas are proud of their firstborn sons, and you can bet Zechariah was one proud papa!!! Zechariah had nine months of silence due to unbelief. I hope he spent that time praying for his child and researching the books of the prophets to discover all this child of promise would fulfill. This makes me mindful that we should continually pray for our children. We may not know what God has in store for them, but we can beg Him to make it glorious!
Here is your homework assignment (you like homework, right?). Since Mother's Day is next Sunday, will you write a song to the LORD thanking Him for your children? Perhaps as you write, God will even grant you a prophetic insight for your offspring. Above all, be sure to tell your children how much you love them and that you see them as a blessing from Jesus. They need to hear from you that God has created them for a special purpose.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)