Scripture
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Luke 24:32
Observation
Only a week before they had such high hopes; the long hoped-for deliverer had finally come. The teacher and leader they had revered, loved and followed had now been horribly put to death.
Now, without a leader and all hopes crushed, two of His disciples were already on their way home. As they made their weary way to Emmaus a stranger fell alongside them. They would later realize it was one of the most wonderful walks in history! We know, of course, that it was the risen Jesus, but somehow they didn’t recognize him. In fact Luke tells us "they were kept from recognizing him."
The stranger asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" And so they poured out their sad story to someone who seemed so willing to listen. How wonderfully kind and compassionate is our Lord. He could have scolded them for their lack of faith in him. The way that Jesus dealt with the situation is a lesson to all that are in a position to help those who have lost hope. Human hope is a fragile thing, and when it withers it’s difficult to revive.
Application
The Christian life is not just about an intellectual knowledge of Christ. It also involves the heart. Discipleship is about experiencing Christ in our life. There are times when Jesus will come along side us for the purpose of bringing blessing.
The question is…how do I respond? Do I, like the disciples from Emmaus, welcome his initiative and let him minister to me or do I keep rehashing my disappointments and failed expectations.
Prayer
Thank you for coming along side me in life when I need encouragement during difficult times. . Lord, please ignite a fire in my heart that will burn until you come.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Jan 23 2009 Ex 6-8 Luke 23
Scripture
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:33-34
Observation
So what is Jesus doing? Well, the answer is obvious, "Jesus is praying." But wait a minute, men don’t pray on crosses.
--We pray in gardens.
--We pray in church buildings & synagogues.
--We pray where we can get away from the noise & confusion of the world.
But we don’t pray on crosses; you curse on crosses, you scream on crosses; you cry on crosses, you experience pain on crosses. You certainly don’t pray to forgive others on crosses. And yet, that is exactly what Jesus did as He hangs suspended between heaven & earth, dying on the cross.
Application
As I have been reading, observing and listening through this gospel I have been struck over and over again how prayer was a constant in the life of Jesus. He prayed at night, He prayed early in the morning, He prayed before important events, He prayed for direction, He prayed for others and He prayed for Himself. Jesus prayed so much and so often that His first response to any situation was to pray; even when He is being nailed to a cross.
God also wants me to be a person of prayer; not because I am a pastor or church leader, but because I am His child.
Prayer
Father, please forgive me because I also don’t know what I am doing. Thank you for the example Jesus give to me about the importance of prayer.
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:33-34
Observation
So what is Jesus doing? Well, the answer is obvious, "Jesus is praying." But wait a minute, men don’t pray on crosses.
--We pray in gardens.
--We pray in church buildings & synagogues.
--We pray where we can get away from the noise & confusion of the world.
But we don’t pray on crosses; you curse on crosses, you scream on crosses; you cry on crosses, you experience pain on crosses. You certainly don’t pray to forgive others on crosses. And yet, that is exactly what Jesus did as He hangs suspended between heaven & earth, dying on the cross.
Application
As I have been reading, observing and listening through this gospel I have been struck over and over again how prayer was a constant in the life of Jesus. He prayed at night, He prayed early in the morning, He prayed before important events, He prayed for direction, He prayed for others and He prayed for Himself. Jesus prayed so much and so often that His first response to any situation was to pray; even when He is being nailed to a cross.
God also wants me to be a person of prayer; not because I am a pastor or church leader, but because I am His child.
Prayer
Father, please forgive me because I also don’t know what I am doing. Thank you for the example Jesus give to me about the importance of prayer.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Jan 22 2009 Ex 3-5 Luke 22
Scripture
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. Exodus 3:6
Observation
Moses spent forty years in Egypt and now forty years have passed since he fled after killing the Egyptian. Now at the age 80 God speaks to him from the burning bush. As far as I can tell this is the first real encounter that Moses had with God. No doubt, Moses knew that God had preserved his life in a miraculous way and so now he is going to find out why.
I love the way God identifies himself in this passage; “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob”. It is no wonder that Moses hid his face and was afraid.
Application
Why would God identify himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? The only conclusion I can come to is that God was telling Moses that He was the God of the impossible. As God is about to unfold His plan for Moses, Moses needed to keep in mind that his God could do anything.
It is important for me to remember that I serve the same God as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. What does that mean to me? God is inviting me to share in that same relationship as He had with these patriarchs.
Too often, I am tempted to think of my God as distant, detached and disinterested but really nothing could be further from the truth.
Prayer
Lord, it is an awesome thing to realize that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob is the same God that I have the privilege of calling my Father. Lord, thank you for reminding my who You are and how You have worked in the past.
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. Exodus 3:6
Observation
Moses spent forty years in Egypt and now forty years have passed since he fled after killing the Egyptian. Now at the age 80 God speaks to him from the burning bush. As far as I can tell this is the first real encounter that Moses had with God. No doubt, Moses knew that God had preserved his life in a miraculous way and so now he is going to find out why.
I love the way God identifies himself in this passage; “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob”. It is no wonder that Moses hid his face and was afraid.
Application
Why would God identify himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? The only conclusion I can come to is that God was telling Moses that He was the God of the impossible. As God is about to unfold His plan for Moses, Moses needed to keep in mind that his God could do anything.
It is important for me to remember that I serve the same God as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. What does that mean to me? God is inviting me to share in that same relationship as He had with these patriarchs.
Too often, I am tempted to think of my God as distant, detached and disinterested but really nothing could be further from the truth.
Prayer
Lord, it is an awesome thing to realize that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob is the same God that I have the privilege of calling my Father. Lord, thank you for reminding my who You are and how You have worked in the past.
Jan 21 2009 Ex 1-2 Ps 88 Luke 21
Scripture
And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. Exodus 2:3-4
Observation
This is a story about how God’s blessing can cause negative consequence for God’s people. God had blessed this single family of Israel (Jacob) to the extent that the land of Egypt was filled with them. Truly God’s promise to make a great nation was coming to pass.
This mighty blessing from God does not go unnoticed by Pharaoh and he becomes fearful that Israel will turn against him. So he decides to destroy all male newborns. When this unnamed woman gives birth to Moses she does everything she can to protect her child.
Who would believe in order to save his life she would have to abandon him to God?
Application
I can hardly imagine what she went through trying to keep this baby a secret. Knowing if she failed, he would be killed. The stakes were so high that all of her energies were surely trained on this one task. I have no doubt that she would stop at nothing to preserve her child’s life. And yet, in order to keep this precious possession, she reaches a point when she must let go.
My name is Bill and I am a control-aholic. When the stakes are high, I have a hard time trusting other people. And yes, even though it is hard to admit, there are times when I have a hard time trusting God. What I sense God is saying to me through this story is that there comes a time when we all have to turn our problems over to Him.
The text says it was “when she could no longer hide him” that she put this plan in place to commit this child to the Lord. I sincerely hope I can learn when it is that my problems are too big for me.
Prayer
Thank you Lord, that when I reach the end of my resources you are ready to handle anything that I am willing to commit to you.
And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. Exodus 2:3-4
Observation
This is a story about how God’s blessing can cause negative consequence for God’s people. God had blessed this single family of Israel (Jacob) to the extent that the land of Egypt was filled with them. Truly God’s promise to make a great nation was coming to pass.
This mighty blessing from God does not go unnoticed by Pharaoh and he becomes fearful that Israel will turn against him. So he decides to destroy all male newborns. When this unnamed woman gives birth to Moses she does everything she can to protect her child.
Who would believe in order to save his life she would have to abandon him to God?
Application
I can hardly imagine what she went through trying to keep this baby a secret. Knowing if she failed, he would be killed. The stakes were so high that all of her energies were surely trained on this one task. I have no doubt that she would stop at nothing to preserve her child’s life. And yet, in order to keep this precious possession, she reaches a point when she must let go.
My name is Bill and I am a control-aholic. When the stakes are high, I have a hard time trusting other people. And yes, even though it is hard to admit, there are times when I have a hard time trusting God. What I sense God is saying to me through this story is that there comes a time when we all have to turn our problems over to Him.
The text says it was “when she could no longer hide him” that she put this plan in place to commit this child to the Lord. I sincerely hope I can learn when it is that my problems are too big for me.
Prayer
Thank you Lord, that when I reach the end of my resources you are ready to handle anything that I am willing to commit to you.
Jan 20 2009 Gen 49-50, Ps 8 Luke 20
Scripture
And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him Genesis 50:15
Observation
Now that their father is dead, what would be stopping Joseph from enacting some extreme form of payback? I am sure they remembered very well how their uncle, Esau at one point, wanted to kill his brother Jacob, who was their father, for an offense far less than what they had done. So based on their family history, it wasn’t out of the question that Joseph might now want to kill them.So they send word that their dad had left a message for Joseph before he died. His message: forgive your brothers. Joseph cried when he heard it.
Joseph’s life is an example of how God can bring healing to the deep wounds of our lives. Somehow Joseph made it. After all he’d been through, after all the hurt, after all the betrayal and unfair treatment; Joseph found healing.
Application
This story speaks to me about the importance of not becoming bitter; which is much easier said than done. Deep wounds will never heal if I allow myself to become bitter. When I am bitter, I want to spread the hurt around especially to the one who hurt me.
I really like what Joseph says in response to them, “for am I in the place of God?”. God is reminding me that he is the one who settles all wrongs.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for this incredible story of how we should forgive. When I am given the opportunity to provide payback to someone who has hurt me, lead me instead, to extend forgiveness
And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him Genesis 50:15
Observation
Now that their father is dead, what would be stopping Joseph from enacting some extreme form of payback? I am sure they remembered very well how their uncle, Esau at one point, wanted to kill his brother Jacob, who was their father, for an offense far less than what they had done. So based on their family history, it wasn’t out of the question that Joseph might now want to kill them.So they send word that their dad had left a message for Joseph before he died. His message: forgive your brothers. Joseph cried when he heard it.
Joseph’s life is an example of how God can bring healing to the deep wounds of our lives. Somehow Joseph made it. After all he’d been through, after all the hurt, after all the betrayal and unfair treatment; Joseph found healing.
Application
This story speaks to me about the importance of not becoming bitter; which is much easier said than done. Deep wounds will never heal if I allow myself to become bitter. When I am bitter, I want to spread the hurt around especially to the one who hurt me.
I really like what Joseph says in response to them, “for am I in the place of God?”. God is reminding me that he is the one who settles all wrongs.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for this incredible story of how we should forgive. When I am given the opportunity to provide payback to someone who has hurt me, lead me instead, to extend forgiveness
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Jan 19 2009 Gen 47-48, Ps 10 Luke 19
Scripture
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way
Luke 19:2-4
Observation
In these verses we read about a man named Zaccheus. Zaccheus had everything most people would want in life; position, power and money. But with these things also came a problem.
The problem was he was an outcast of society. Why was he an outcast, because he was tax-collector. It was felt that he was betraying his countrymen and cooperating with the Romans. In the Gospels, when tax collectors were mentioned, they were mentioned together with "sinners" and "prostitutes". It wasn’t just his stature that caused people to look down upon him.
Application
So often in my life I think I know what will make me happy only to find out when I get it, it doesn’t. Zaccheus may have had money and power but what he and every other person needs is acceptance, forgiveness and fulfillment
Zaacheus was born for something great. His name meant “righteous one”. The entire time he was away from God, he was a walking contradiction. I too believe I was created for some great purpose and until I come to Christ on His terms, I will never live up to my name.
Prayer
Lord, I believe I was created and destined for some great purpose. Having taken the name of Christian, my prayer is that I will never be a walking contradiction.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way
Luke 19:2-4
Observation
In these verses we read about a man named Zaccheus. Zaccheus had everything most people would want in life; position, power and money. But with these things also came a problem.
The problem was he was an outcast of society. Why was he an outcast, because he was tax-collector. It was felt that he was betraying his countrymen and cooperating with the Romans. In the Gospels, when tax collectors were mentioned, they were mentioned together with "sinners" and "prostitutes". It wasn’t just his stature that caused people to look down upon him.
Application
So often in my life I think I know what will make me happy only to find out when I get it, it doesn’t. Zaccheus may have had money and power but what he and every other person needs is acceptance, forgiveness and fulfillment
Zaacheus was born for something great. His name meant “righteous one”. The entire time he was away from God, he was a walking contradiction. I too believe I was created for some great purpose and until I come to Christ on His terms, I will never live up to my name.
Prayer
Lord, I believe I was created and destined for some great purpose. Having taken the name of Christian, my prayer is that I will never be a walking contradiction.
Jan 18 2009 Gen 44-46, Luke 18
Scripture
Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father. Genesis 44:33-34
Observation
Do you actually realize who it is that is talking here? This is Judah…the same guy who twenty years earlier said “Here comes the dreamer, let’s kill him” But now some twenty years later we find him pleading on behalf of his little brother Benjamin.
But wait there is more…now he is pleading for his dad too!
What a turnaround…repentance had come to the hearts of Joseph brother and the result is almost unbelievable!
Application
Throughout the entire story we see the recurring theme, “The Lord was with Joseph” and indeed he was. But the Lord was also working in the hearts of others as well.
What an incredible change that takes place in the life a person who is willing to repent. I believe God is showing me that he wants to work in everyone’s life. It is not just the heroes of the faith, but He wants to change anyone and everyone.
This is a great illustration of how thoroughly God can change me, if I will repent.
Prayer
Lord, I so desperately want to change and be a better person. There are times I wonder is it really possible to change? Thank you for this example that gives me hope.
Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father. Genesis 44:33-34
Observation
Do you actually realize who it is that is talking here? This is Judah…the same guy who twenty years earlier said “Here comes the dreamer, let’s kill him” But now some twenty years later we find him pleading on behalf of his little brother Benjamin.
But wait there is more…now he is pleading for his dad too!
What a turnaround…repentance had come to the hearts of Joseph brother and the result is almost unbelievable!
Application
Throughout the entire story we see the recurring theme, “The Lord was with Joseph” and indeed he was. But the Lord was also working in the hearts of others as well.
What an incredible change that takes place in the life a person who is willing to repent. I believe God is showing me that he wants to work in everyone’s life. It is not just the heroes of the faith, but He wants to change anyone and everyone.
This is a great illustration of how thoroughly God can change me, if I will repent.
Prayer
Lord, I so desperately want to change and be a better person. There are times I wonder is it really possible to change? Thank you for this example that gives me hope.
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