National Day of Prayer

Every year Gene Hall and his team put together a National Day of Prayer event at Red Oak Excavating.  I had the privilege of speaking at this event this morning.  I am posting my manuscript for my speech below.

National Day of Prayer

May 7, 2015

            Have you had a good time this morning?  I count it a privilege to be a part of this event again this year.  Thank you to Gene Hall and others who are responsible for putting this wonderful event together.  It is a great blessing to gather with brothers and sisters in Christ in this free land to consider the importance of crying out to our God in prayer, and then to do just that.

I have been given the task this morning of pulling all of the speeches and prayers together in kind of a concluding fashion under the banner of the theme: Lord, Hear Our Cry!

Of course, as you have heard, the verse of Scripture associated with this theme comes from 1 Kings 8:28.

“Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”

This verse is found in the context of Solomon's prayer of dedication for the recently constructed temple.  If you are familiar with the story, you know that Solomon's father David desired to build a temple for the Lord.  This would be a place for the Lord to dwell.  There the people of God could have fellowship with their God.

            But it was not God's plan for David to build this temple.  Instead, He told David that his son would be the one who would build the temple.  God said to David, "Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.  Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name."

            And here in 1 Kings 8 we see the fulfillment of that promise that God made to David.  Solomon has overseen the building of a temple.  Now He is dedicating that temple to God.  In doing so, He cries out to God, "Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day."  Solomon's hope was in the fact that the God He worshiped hears the cries of His people.  That is certainly the source of our hope this morning as we unite under the theme of "Lord, Hear our Cry!"  God hears the cries of His people.

            Because of the fulfillment of God's promise, Solomon's heart was filled with worship to God.  Solomon prayed, "O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart."  He goes on later in the chapter, "Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised.  Not one word has failed of all his good promise which he spoke by Moses his servant."  Friends, this God that Solomon worshiped is our God.  He is still a covenant keeping God.  His promises never fail.

            Now, while there is a sense in which God's promise to David was fulfilled in his son Solomon, there is also a sense in which it was not fulfilled until many years later and is still being fulfilled.  As we turn to the New Testament in Matthew chapter 1, we see that Jesus the Messiah was a descendant of David.  This promise that a descendant of David would establish a place of worship for the one true God was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  In fact, we see Jesus refer to his own body as a temple during His time here on earth.  Also, we see Jesus establishing a people for God through His sinless life and death on our behalf.  And one day, we know that Jesus will return to establish a new heaven and a new earth where God will dwell with His people forever.

            But in the meantime, we are God's temple.  Those who have repented of their sin and placed their faith in Jesus, the people of God, are His temple.  The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit of God resides in all believers.  Thus we know, that just as God heard the cries of His people in 1 Kings 8, He hears the cries of His people today.  Romans 8 talks about the Spirit interceding to God on our behalf.  The writer of Hebrews talks about Jesus as the mediator between God and man.  We have access to God this morning, as we gather for this day of prayer, because of Jesus.

            The cultural situation in which we find ourselves is bleak.  All one needs to do to see this is turn on the news.  Often it feels as if the enemy is winning the battle.  We see rioting in the streets of Baltimore.  Buildings burned.  Police cars are smashed.  Gunshots are fired.  We see more injustice piled on top of injustice.

            Then just a short drive down I-95 our attention shifts to arguments before the Supreme Court of the United States about whether states should be forced to recognize something as marriage that cannot and never will truly be marriage.  Confusion abounds as the truth of God is exchanged for a lie.  Rather than the worship of the Creator, we see men and women worshiping and serving the creature.

            And if you're paying attention, you know that the crowd screaming "tolerance" is the most intolerant of them all.  If you dare speak the truth of God and His Word to the culture, you better be prepared to face the consequences.  You may be ostracized and cast aside as a bigot.  While our nation was founded on the principle of religious freedom, that freedom is eroding before our very eyes.

            So where is our hope?  I truly think that perhaps the changing cultural tide in our nation is a good thing.  It doesn't feel good, but perhaps it will serve to set our minds on the author and perfecter of our faith.  For far too long we have placed our hope in the political process.  For far too long we have set our minds on the ballot box.  But the reality is that there is nothing our elected officials in Richmond or Washington can do to change the hearts of men and women.

            And friends, that is what we need more than new laws in Washington.  We need new hearts.  And this change must begin with you and me.  It must begin with the people of God.  We must fall on our knees first in repentance.  We repent of having trusted the political process more than we trusted God.  And we vow to live differently moving forward.  We vow to walk by faith, and not by sight.  We vow to be the instruments God uses to effect the change we desire to see.

            Our God is the same God who made His promise to David.  He is the same God who kept His promise in Solomon.  He is the same God who is keeping His promise even now in Jesus.  We carry with us, fellow believers, the greatest message in all the world.  It's the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who lived in perfect obedience to the Father.  The one who died to pay for the sin of all those who would repent of their sin and place their faith in Jesus.  The one who was raised on the third day.  The one who ascended into heaven and is right now seated at the right hand of the Father.  And He is the one who will one day return to establish His kingdom forever.  At that time, He will right all wrongs.  Friends, this is the only source of hope for us, and it is the only source of hope for this great nation.

2015 Bible Reading Challenge - Week 6

Here are some more devotionals from our 2015 Bible Reading Challenge.  You can join the challenge by visiting our church website.

February 2, 2015

Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:1-21:32 and Matthew 21:23-46

Devotional:

Today we come to the Ten Commandments.  Yes, commandments.  Not suggestions.  We could focus the rest of this year's devotionals on the Ten Commandments and still not exhaust all that there is to say about them.  You are likely very familiar with the list.  Maybe you have the list memorized in order.

1. No other gods.

2. No idols.

3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath.

5. Honor your father and mother.

6. Do not murder.

7. Do not commit adultery.

8. Do not steal.

9. Do not bear false witness.

10. Do not covet.

As you look at this list, you will notice that the first four commandments focus on our relationship with God.  The final six commandments focus on our relationship with one another.  In a few days we will see Jesus' response to the Pharisees in Matthew 22 when asked which commandment is the greatest.  Jesus responded by summing up the Law, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."  He then gave the second greatest commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Note that the two commands Jesus gave in response to the Pharisees' question correspond with the two tables of the Law.  Jesus' first command has to do with our relationship with God, and summarizes the first four commands.  Jesus' second command has to do with our relationship with other people, and summarizes the final six commands.

This is important because it helps us to see that the list of commands in Exodus 20 is not exhaustive.  It is not intended to be a list prohibiting every possible sin.  In fact, we could say that just as Jesus' list of two commands in Matthew 22 is a summary of what God requires of us, so is the list of ten commands given to Moses in Exodus 20.

Jesus said as much in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matt. 5:27-28).  Jesus said similar things with regard to anger, divorce, oaths, and loving our enemies.  Jesus makes it clear that obedience to God is not limited to rigid obedience to a list of ten commands.

I love the way the Westminster Larger Catechism deals with the Ten Commandments.  As an example, it asks in Question 136, "What are the sins forbidden in the sixth commandment?"  To which it replies, "The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary defense; the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life; sinful anger, hatred, envy, desire of revenge; all excessive passions, distracting cares; immoderate use of meat, drink, labor, and recreations; provoking words, oppression, quarreling, striking, wounding, and whatsoever else tends to the destruction of the life of any."

The WLC does the same thing for all ten commands, making clear the broad scope of each command.  You can read what the WLC has to say about the other nine commands here.

My point is that we may be tempted to look at the Ten Commandments and think we are in pretty good shape.  I have never murdered anyone.  Check.  I have never committed adultery.  Check.  I am not a thief.  Check.  But the WLC, and Jesus in Matthew 5, make it clear that we have all broken all ten commands.  There is none righteous, no not one.

So what hope do we have?  Our only hope is Jesus.  He is the only one to perfectly obey the Law.  He is the one who died in our place to pay for our sin.  His righteousness is credited to the account of all those who repent of their sin and place their faith in Him.  This is our source of hope.

Seek today to live a life pleasing to God by the power of the indwelling Spirit in your life.  But when you fail, and you will, trust in the one who already lived the perfect life in your place.  It is only through His righteousness that you can truly please God.

Prayer Focus:  Pray that God would help you to obey His commands by the power of the Spirit in your life.  Pray that God would direct your attention to Jesus when you fail.

February 3, 2015

Scripture Reading: Exodus 21:33-23:33 and Matthew 22:1-33

Devotional:

As I read the laws given by God to His people in Exodus 21-23, I am reminded that God loves His creation.  He certainly loves His covenant people, the spiritual children of Abraham, with a special love.  But He loves and cares for all of His creation.

People sometimes think of the God of the Old Testament as a God of judgment.  He doesn't care about people.  He just goes around killing and destroying.  The people of Israel are protected, while everyone who gets in their way is destroyed.  But today's reading should give us a different perspective.

The list of laws given in this section of Scripture is intended to protect.  Slaves, sojourners, orphans, widows, poor, and others are protected by these laws given by God to His people.  We are reminded that God cares about the oppressed.  He cares about those who suffer.  And not just the oppressed of Israel, Exodus 22:21 provides protection for sojourners as well.

Don't just skim over the laws found in Exodus as if they are unimportant.  Take time to consider the love and care God has for the people He created, His image bearers.  We talked at length about our status as image bearers of God as we were moving through Genesis.  The same principle is found here.  God cares for those who bear His image, and we should too.

Think also about yesterday's devotional.  The final six commands focus on loving our neighbor.  That is exactly the focus of the list of laws in today's reading.  These laws contain clear applications of the sixth commandment (do not murder) and the eighth commandment (do not steal).

We sometimes think of the law as an unnecessary burden.  But the reality is that God has given us His Law as a gracious gift.  He desires good for us.  Allow today's reading to give you a renewed understanding of and appreciation for the Law.

We will continue to consider God's Law more as we move through the Old Testament.

Prayer Focus: Pray that God would help you to care for the oppressed as He does.  Pray that God would give you a renewed understanding of and appreciation for the Law.

February 4, 2015

Scripture Reading: Exodus 24-25 and Matthew 22:34-46

Devotional:

We looked at the great commandment a couple days ago when talking about the Ten Commandments.  As we read today the passage that contains the first and second greatest commandments, I want to consider them a little further.

It is interesting that the two greatest commandments were given in response to a question by the Pharisees.  Jesus was always receiving questions from the Pharisees.  These questions were usually intended to trick Him into saying something they could use against Him.  You would think they would get the hint.  Jesus answered in a way that silenced them and made them look foolish every single time.

This occasion was no different.  The Pharisees wanted to know which commandment was the greatest.  Maybe Jesus would say, "You shall have no other gods before me."  Or maybe the prohibition against murder or adultery would top Jesus' list.  No.  Jesus refused their trap and essentially said that no command of God can be pitted against another.  They are all important.  Obedience to all of them is essential for walking in righteousness.

The commands to love the Lord with all that you are and to love your neighbor as yourself sum up the entire Law.  You cannot love neighbor and murder someone, or even have hatred in your heart toward them.  You cannot love God and take His name in vain.

We sometimes like to pit one command against another.  We like to think of some commands as more important, usually the ones we are more inclined to observe anyway.  But this is not the way Jesus spoke about the Law.  He made it very clear that there is a God in heaven.  He has revealed His Law to mankind.  His Law is perfect.  And He requires perfect obedience to His perfect Law.  There is no way around His requirements.

This quickly reminds us that we do not measure up.  There is no escape route.  We need Jesus.

Unfortunately, the Pharisees thought that they were Law keepers.  They looked at themselves and their level of obedience, and they were proud.  Look at us.  See how faithful we are to God's Law.  They too had elevated some commands as more important than others by their thoughts and actions.  While they may not observe some commands, they always kept the most important ones.  Or so they thought.

In this passage, Jesus confronts them in their self-righteousness as He did throughout His ministry.  He was always pointing to Himself as the only way for man to be made right with Him.  This was true for the Pharisees.  It was true for His disciples.  It was true for Jew and Gentile alike.  We all need Jesus.

If you are like me, you are tempted to think of yourself as a Law keeper.  You are tempted to look at the way you live your life and see righteousness.  This passage reminds me that I am not righteous.  It reminds me that I do not always love God.  It reminds me that I do not love others as I should.  I need a righteousness that is not my own.  I need the righteousness of Jesus.  And you do too.

Prayer Focus: Ask God to help you see the unrighteousness in your life.  As you see areas of sin, confess them to God, repent, and trust in the righteousness of Jesus as your only hope of being right with God.

February 5, 2015

Scripture Reading: Exodus 26-27 and Matthew 23

Devotional:

The scribes and Pharisees do not have the best reputation among Christians.  We love to give them a hard time, and rightly so.  Jesus gives a whole list of reasons why in today's New Testament reading.

Matthew 23 contains seven woes against the scribes and Pharisees.  Each woe focuses on the hypocritical practices of these religious leaders.  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you clean the outside of the cup and the plat, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence," Jesus said.

The problem was not that they had laws.  The problem was not that they expected obedience to these laws.  The problem was that they themselves did not keep the Law as they should.  Oh, they obeyed some of the laws.  They wanted everyone to look at them and see how righteous they were.  But they were not really concerned with obedience to God.  They were not worried about the issues of the heart that people could not see.

Jesus was always rebuking the Pharisees.  He was always pointing out their hypocrisy.  But people often misunderstand why Jesus rebuked the Pharisees.  He didn't rebuke the Pharisees because they were too righteous.  He didn't rebuke them because they erected really high standards for themselves and kept those standards.  Instead, He rebuked them because they were not righteous enough.  They did not meet the standards they had established, and they did not meet God's standard.

Christians sometimes like to point to Jesus' treatment of the Pharisees as a reason why we should not have high standards.  High standards lead to pride and self-righteousness.  Seeking to live a godly life means that you are like the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked.

But God has given us a very high standard.  He has given us His Law.  Godliness and obedience to the Law is actually a standard so high that we cannot attain it on our own.  This was the problem with the Pharisees.  They failed to recognize that they fell woefully short of obedience to the Law.  In fact, they were always trying to trap the only one who never sinned.  Rather than placing their trust in Jesus and depending on His righteousness, they sought to destroy Him.

We have a lot to learn from Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees.  The lesson is that of not being hypocritical.  We do not avoid hypocrisy by lowering God's standards for us.  No, we avoid hypocrisy by striving to put off the works of the flesh and put on the fruit of the Spirit.  We avoid hypocrisy by recognizing when we fail, and clinging tightly to the cross of Christ as our only hope.

Prayer Focus: Pray that God would help you to flee from hypocrisy.  Pray that God would help you to do this by striving for righteousness and clinging to Jesus when you fail.

February 6, 2015

Scripture Reading: Exodus 28-29 and Matthew 24:1-14

Devotional:

We began Matthew 24 today, and will be looking at the rest of the chapter over the weekend.  This is a chapter that often elicits significant debate concerning various perspectives on the end times.  There is a lot that we don't know from this passage, likely because God never intended for us to use it to develop extensive charts and make sure predictions concerning the last days.  But there are some things that we see very clearly in Matthew 24.  I want to focus this devotional on a few of those things.

The first thing that stands out to me is the promise of false teachers in verse 5.  The New Testament is full of warnings concerning those who seek to lead the people of God astray.  Such is not unique to the last days, but this verse seems to indicate that that kind of thing will only increase.

The reality that false teachers have always existed, and will always exist until Christ returns, should motivate us in our efforts to know God's truth through His Word.  It should also cause us to be alert.  The Bible is our standard of truth.  If it contradicts God's Word, it is false.  May we be people who commit ourselves to God's truth.

The second thing I notice is the promise of persecution.  This also is something that Jesus promised throughout His ministry.  It is not unique to the last days.  Jesus experienced persecution.  His disciples experienced persecution.  Countless Christians around the world today choose daily to follow Christ even though it may cost them their lives.  Certainly persecution will increase in the last days, but it is not unique to a certain period of time.

I like what Jesus says in verse 13, "But the one who endures to the end will be saved."  Jesus is not saying that we somehow earn our salvation by enduring.  Rather, He is saying that those who endure to the end prove that they are the ones whose lives have truly been transformed by the gospel of Christ.  Jesus' words here should motivate us to endure.  By this we prove to truly be His disciples.

Finally, I want to point out the uncertainty Jesus left His disciples with concerning the timing of His return.  This was not by accident.  Jesus did not intend for them or us to know when He will return.  But that hasn't stopped people from creating prophecy charts and attempting to predict Christ's return. 

Ignore those predictions.  Jesus told us that no one knows when He will return.  He has made clear for us what we are to do while we wait.  We must commit ourselves to being conformed more and more to the image of Jesus through the work of the Spirit in our lives.  And we must devote ourselves to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to all people.

May we cling to the reality that Christ WILL return.  And may we ignore man's predictions in favor of God's instructions.

Prayer Focus: Pray that God would help you to be obedient to the things He has given you to do prior to the return of Jesus.

2015 Bible Reading Challenge - Week 4

I am still a little behind posting these.  You can get a devotional email in your inbox each weekday by emailing me.  If you are interested in the Bible reading plan we are using, you can find it here.

January 19, 2015

Scripture Reading: Genesis 39-40 and Matthew 13:1-23

Devotional:

We have just begun to get into the story of Joseph, one of the most fascinating stories in the Bible.  We don't really know at this point in the narrative why Joseph is so important, but it seems clear with so much attention focused on him throughout the rest of the book that he is a very important part of God's purposes.  Joseph is not the one through whom the line of the Messiah would pass, but he would play an integral role in protecting the line of his brother Judah. 

In yesterday's reading we saw Joseph's dreams where his brothers were bowing down to him and serving him.  As you might imagine, the brothers were not too happy about these dreams.  Joseph was daddy's favorite, but even Jacob wasn't too thrilled when he heard of his son's dreams.

Eventually his brother's determined that they were going to do something about the situation.  Some of them wanted to kill Joseph, throw him into a pit, and tell Jacob that he had been devoured by a wild animal.  At this point, the reader is left thinking, "This can't be good."  It seems like Joseph is going to die.  Once again the purposes of God seem to be in jeopardy.

But Reuben, the oldest, came along and told them that wasn't such a good idea.  So they decided then that they would just throw him into a pit and leave him there.  That is until a caravan of Ishmaelites came along and they decided to sell him into slavery.  Once again, without knowing the rest of the story, this seems to be a huge problem.  Joseph is leaving the land.  How can he be a part of the work God is doing in and through Abraham's descendants when he is off in a foreign land?

We begin to see a glimmer of hope at the beginning of chapter 39 where we find that Joseph was placed in charge of Potiphar's household.  This was a prestigious position.  Joseph said that everything Potiphar had was placed in his charge.  Even Potiphar himself was not greater in the house than Joseph.  Maybe Joseph will be able to leverage this prestigious position for the good of God's people.

Not so fast.  As the story continues, things turn bleak very quickly.  Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife.  Potiphar threw him into prison.  And we are left wondering whether Joseph will ever get out.  Chapter 40 ends, "Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him" (vs. 23).

I keep harping on the sovereignty of God and the way His purposes are seen throughout Genesis as redemptive history moves forward.  This is what I believe Moses wants his readers to see.  This is what God wants us to know about Himself.  He is in control of all things.  He is bringing about His good purposes.  We can trust in Him.  Even in the midst of the uncertainty and fear of chapter 40, God can be trusted.

All of Genesis is pointing us toward one who is greater than Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.  It is pointing us toward the promised Messiah.  We are reminded again that God always keeps His promises.  He is sovereign over the affairs of man.  He uses all things, even our sin, for His good purposes.  This is the God we serve.

Prayer Focus:

Allow your heart to be filled with worship to God this morning as you think upon these things.  Thank Him for His sovereign control over all things.  Express trust in Him today.

January 20, 2015

Scripture Reading: Genesis 41 and Matthew 13:24-43

Devotional:

Jesus' teaching is full of comforting and encouraging passages.  It is tempting to only write about these things in a devotional series like this where I can choose to go a few different directions with the devotion I write on any given day.  But that would not be very faithful to the totality of Jesus' teaching ministry.  While He often sought to provide comfort and strength, He also sought to provide warnings to those who had ears to hear.

Today's New Testament reading is one such warning.  Some people are obsessed with the spiritual realm.  Others, like me, sometimes deny that it exists, at least in practice if not with my theology.  I do not give much thought on a daily basis to the reality that I have an enemy.  The parable of Jesus in Matthew 13:24-30 reminds us of this enemy.

Jesus talks about a farmer who has a field of wheat.  Then his enemy came along and sowed weeds along with the wheat.  When the weeds came up, the farmer's workers wanted to know if they should pull up the weeds.  The farmer instructed them to leave it alone and wait until harvest.  If they pull up the weeds now, they are likely to pull up the wheat as well.

The warning I see here is two-fold.  As we have seen already, we have an enemy.  His name is Satan.  He has come to steal, kill, and destroy.  He does not care about people.  He seeks to destroy God's church.  He even plants unbelievers among the people of God to create problems and stir up strife.  He would love nothing more than to wreak havoc among God's people.

We must be aware of the presence of our enemy.  We must follow the instructions Paul gives to the Church at Ephesus in Ephesians 6.  We must put on the full armor of God that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  We must commit to seeking after the one who is stronger than our enemy, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The second part of the warning is to recognize that wherever the people of God gather, there are likely to be tares present as well.  These are those who claim to follow Christ, yet they are not truly believers.  They may look like believers in some ways, but their lives eventually give evidence that they were never truly followers of Jesus.

The warning for each of us is to examine our own lives.  It is not helpful for us to go around in God's church trying to identify all the tares.  In fact, that is exactly what Jesus is telling us not to do in this parable.  Some of those we might identify as tares may be true believers struggling in their faith who need a helping hand.

Jesus is calling us to examine ourselves.  We should be looking at the fruit in our lives to determine if we are truly in Christ.  I do not say this to cause you to doubt your salvation unnecessarily.  I say this because the Bible is full of warnings to those of us who think we stand.  We must take heed lest we fall.

Prayer Focus:

Pray for God to help you examine yourself.  As you become aware of sin, confess it to God, turn from it, and seek God's forgiveness.  We all sin.  A willingness and desire to turn away from sin is evidence of a true believer in Christ.

January 21, 2015

Scripture Reading: Genesis 42-43 and Matthew 13:44-14:12

Devotional:

At the beginning of today's reading Jesus tells two very short parables that are very closely related.  The first compares the kingdom of heaven to a man who finds a hidden treasure.  After finding the hidden treasure, he quickly covered it back up, and sold all that he had so he could buy the field where he found the treasure.  Then the treasure would be his.

The second compares the kingdom of heaven to a man searching for fine pearls.  Once he found one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had so he could purchase this pearl.  He demonstrated a desire to purchase the pearl no matter the cost.

So what does Jesus mean?  How is the kingdom of heaven like this?

Jesus is first demonstrating to His disciples the great value of the kingdom of heaven.  It is more valuable than a hidden treasure in a field or a pearl of great value.  The reality is that hidden treasures and pearls do not last forever.  They can be destroyed or stolen.  But the kingdom of heaven will never end.  It lasts forever.  Therefore, it is infinitely more valuable than even the hidden treasure or great pearl in these parables.

In light of this, we see how we should respond to the kingdom of heaven.  The first man was willing to sell all that he had to purchase the field where the treasure he found was located.  The second was willing to sell all that he had to purchase a pearl of great value.  They highly valued these things and were willing to do whatever it took to get them.

How do we think about the kingdom of heaven?  As more valuable than a hidden treasure?  As more valuable than a great pearl?

I expect you would probably affirm with your words that the kingdom of heaven is more valuable than a hidden treasure or fine pearl.  The better question is whether we actually live our lives in light of this reality.

If the man in each of these parables was willing to sell everything he had to purchase a treasure and pearl that will not last forever, how much more should we be willing to give for the sake of the kingdom?

These parables call for a reorienting of our priorities.  What do you value more than the kingdom of heaven?  What does your life indicate that you value more?  Only you can answer that question because the answer is likely different for each of us.  May we examine ourselves, and live our lives valuing the kingdom of heaven over and above anything this world has to offer.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God would help you to orient your priorities toward Him.  Pray that God would help you to desire God and His kingdom above all else.

January 22, 2015

Scripture Reading: Genesis 44-46 and Matthew 14:13-33

Devotional:

Today's New Testament reading contains two well-known miracles performed by Jesus.

In the first miracle we see Jesus feed five thousand men.  That number doesn't even include all of the women and children He fed on that day.  This was a major feat.  The disciples didn't know where they were going to get enough food to feed all of the people who had come to hear Jesus teach and watch Him perform miracles.  Jesus took five loaves and two fish, and multiplied them to the point where everyone there had their fill, and there were still twelve baskets of food left over.

Wow!  Jesus demonstrated His power in such an amazing, beneficial, and God-glorifying way.  This miracle is actually the only miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all four Gospels.  It is intended to leave us with mouths wide open in awe of Jesus' power.

The second miracle is of Jesus walking on the water.  Jesus' disciples got in a boat and went out to sea, while Jesus went up on the mountain to pray.  As the night went on, the boat moved further and further away from the shore.  Jesus determined to join his disciples in the boat, so He simply walked out to them on top of the water.  As the disciples saw Him coming, they thought they were seeing a ghost until Jesus spoke and identified Himself.

Then Peter jumped out of the boat and attempted to walk out on the water toward Jesus.  At first he was successful, but as the wind picked up, he was overcome with fear and began to sink.  He did the right thing though.  He called out to Jesus, and Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter.

Two miracles.  Two impressive displays of Jesus' power.  The God who spoke everything into existence demonstrated His power over the matter He created.  These were miracles by any definition.  The impossible became possible.  The laws of nature were overcome by the God who put them into place.  The power of our omnipotent God was on full display.

The result?  The disciples responded, "Truly you are the Son of God."  Moments of doubt and uncertainty were still to come for them.  But they were beginning to get just a glimpse of the true identity of Jesus, the Messiah, God in flesh.

Truly He is the Son of God.  I trust you are continuing to see Him more clearly as we move through Matthew's Gospel.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God would remind you today that the Jesus you worship is in fact the Son of God, the Messiah, God in flesh.  Pray that His power would be evident in your life and service to Him.

January 23, 2015

Scripture Reading: Genesis 47-48 and Matthew 14:34-15:20

Devotional:

Since we will finish reading Genesis over the weekend, I want to take the opportunity to write on this very important book one more time.  The story of Joseph in the last part of Genesis is fascinating.  It all comes to a rightful conclusion in Genesis 50:20 where Joseph declares to his brothers, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

What does Joseph mean?  How has God used the evil of Joseph's brothers to bring about His good purposes?  It is important that we think about this question in relation to God's promises to Abram in Genesis 12.

One of the promises God made to Abram was that He would make a great nation of him.  Abram's family had not yet grown to a great nation at this point of redemptive history, but they were multiplying.  The famine in Canaan had the potential to wipe them out.  God used Joseph's presence in Egypt to prevent that from happening.

Another promise God made to Abram was that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through him.  Certainly we see that happening throughout Israel's history, but we see it taking place in the Joseph narrative in at least two ways.

First, Abraham's descendants were not the only ones who were protected from the famine by Joseph's presence in Egypt.  His interpretation of Pharaoh's ominous dream led to his preparing for the famine during the years of plenty that came before the years of famine.  Through Joseph's diligent preparation, the lives of the people of Egypt, and likely other surrounding areas, were protected with food to eat.  This is evidence of God's common grace on all people.

Second, God's promise that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through Abram is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, Abram's descendant who gave His life to purchase salvation for all peoples.  If you look back at Matthew 1:2, you will see that Judah, one of Joseph's brothers, was an ancestor of Jesus.  Through Joseph's presence in Egypt, God was protecting the line of the Messiah.  He was ensuring that all the peoples of the earth would be blessed through Abram and his descendants.

We should also think about the ending of Genesis in relation to the next book of the Bible, Exodus.  Exodus opens with the people of God in Egypt.  How did this happen?  Abram was given the land of Canaan.  Why aren't God's people in Canaan?  The story of Joseph answers that question for us.

I am reminded once again that the purposes of God never fail.  Life often seems bleak, yet God is still on His throne ruling sovereignly over His creation.  All worship is due Him for His goodness and power.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God would continue to help you see His hand in your life.  How is He leading you?  How has He brought you to where you are now?  Give praise to Him for His goodness and power in your life.

2015 Bible Reading Challenge - Week 3

I am a little behind posting the week's devotionals to the blog.  You can find the week 3 devotionals below.  Remember, the only way to receive these devotionals as they are written is to subscribe to my email list.

January 12, 2015

Today's Reading: Genesis 26-27 and Matthew 8:14-9:8

Devotional:

We are now midway through Genesis in this journey through the Bible.  I hope you are enjoying Genesis as much as I am.  It is a wonderful book for tracing God's purposes for His creation since the beginning.  Our sovereign God reigns over the affairs of man.  He cares for His people and is always faithful to His promises.

It is at this point in our reading that the first of the patriarchs, Abraham, has passed off the scene.  We now turn our attention to his son Isaac and all of the shenanigans that take place with Rebekah and their two sons.

Remember the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:2, "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."  We saw that this promise briefly seemed to be in jeopardy because of Sarah's barrenness.  Then God intervened miraculously in Sarah's old age and she conceived and bore a son named Isaac.

Though Isaac was not Abraham's only son, he was the son of the promise.  He was the one through whom God would continue His promise to Abraham.  God reaffirmed this promise to Isaac in our reading today.  Genesis 26:4 recounts God's words to Isaac, "I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands."

We saw yesterday that there was only one problem.  Rebekah was barren as well.  The Bible tells us though, that Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife and she conceived.  We are reminded once again through this that the plans and purposes of God do not fail.

Chapter 27 tells us of a fascinating story that takes sibling rivalries to a whole new level.  Esau was the older of the two sons.  Thus he would receive his father's blessing.  Isaac gave Esau a series of things to do, and after he did them, Isaac would pronounce his blessing on Esau.

Well, Rebekah was nearby and heard Isaac's instructions to Esau.  She loved her son Jacob and wanted him to receive his father's blessing.  You will also remember that God told Rebekah before the boys were born, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger" (Gen. 25:23).

Rebekah came up with a plan for Jacob to trick his father into blessing him instead.  As crazy as the plan seemed, Jacob went through with it.  And it worked!  Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau.

The thing that is so fascinating to me about this story is the way it fits into the purposes of God.  There is no doubt that it was sinful for Rebekah and Jacob to deceive Isaac.  However, it was God's purpose all along for Jacob's line to be the line of promise.  It was God's plan for Jacob to receive his father's blessing.  While not being responsible for man's sin, God took man's sinful choices and used them for His good purposes.

Isn't this what God does in each of our lives?  Over the course of my life I can look back and see choices that I made that were extremely stupid and even sinful at times.  Yet I can also see the sovereign hand of God directing my steps and bringing me to the place I am today, even using some of those stupid and sinful choices to accomplish His purposes.  I expect if you look back over your life you can see the same thing.

I hope it brings you comfort this rainy Monday morning to know that the sovereign God of the universe is in complete control even when you mess up.  He loves you and cares for you.  You can trust in Him.

Prayer Focus:

After spending some time thinking about God's direction throughout your life, allow your heart to overflow in thanksgiving to God.  Give thanks to God for His guidance.  Thank Him for bringing you where you are today.  Trust Him with whatever the future may hold.

January 13, 2015

Scripture Reading: Genesis 28:1-29:30 and Matthew 9:32-10:15

Devotional:

Do you ever get the feeling as you read Genesis that the stories it contains would make good daytime television?

Just think of what we have seen so far.  A sibling rivalry in Genesis 4 ended in murder.  Abram told the Pharaoh that Sarai was his sister to protect his own life in Genesis 12.  The rivalry between Hagar and Sarai in Genesis 16 was no small thing.  Lot's daughters conceived children with their father in Genesis 19.  Abraham once again told someone that Sarah was his sister to protect his own skin in Genesis 20.  The dysfunction continued with Rebekah's successful efforts to trick her husband into blessing Jacob instead of Esau.

Today's reading is just another chapter in the ongoing dysfunctional story.  Despite all of the dysfunction, we continue to see the purposes of God unfold.

After receiving his father's blessing, Jacob was sent to the home of his uncle Laban.  Upon arriving, Laban's daughter Rachel caught Jacob's eye.  This resulted in a deal between Laban and Jacob.  Jacob would work for Laban for seven years.  At the end of that time, Laban would give his daughter Rachel in marriage to Jacob.

So Jacob fulfilled his end of the bargain, only to be tricked by Laban when it came time for the honeymoon.  Jacob got a little taste of his own medicine.  The trickster got duped.  Laban gave his oldest daughter Leah to Jacob.  As you might imagine, Jacob was not too happy when he woke up next to weak eyed Leah.

But because Jacob was smitten with love, he agreed to work for another seven years for the privilege of marrying Rachel as well.  At the end of another seven years, Rachel became his wife, and the soap opera was just getting started.

Why does all of this matter?  As you will see in tomorrow's reading, God was using all of this together for His good purposes.

Leah gave birth to a baby boy named Judah.  Rachel gave birth to a baby boy named Joseph.  Do those names sound familiar?  We will get to their respective stories as we progress through Genesis.  It is enough now to say that both played crucial roles in the history of redemption.

But there is likely another issue that has been rolling around in your head.  How can there be so much sin and dysfunction among those who are supposed to be the people of God?  How can God be seen as sovereign in the midst of all that?

It is important for us to recognize that God does not lead His people to sin, nor is He guilty of their sin.  He is perfectly holy, but He is able to take the worst of situations and use them for good.  He is able to use Rebekah's deception and Laban's trickery for his sovereign purposes.

I think also the fact that the biblical characters are not presented as sinless heroes adds validity to the stories of Scripture.  We know the human condition.  We are all sinners in need of God's grace.  It is good for us to look at the "heroes" of the Bible and see that they are just like us.  Through all of the sin and dysfunction of Genesis, creation is groaning for a Savior.  And God is seen throughout the book bringing about His good purposes to rescue His people to Himself through the one who would never sin.

Turn your attention today to this one, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God would help you to see His sovereign hand throughout redemptive history.  Pray that He would help you to delight in the one to whom all of redemptive history is leading.  Will you find hope in Jesus today?

January 14, 2015

Scripture Reading: Genesis 29:31-30:43 and Matthew 10:16-33

Devotional:

In yesterday's reading we saw the context for today's passage in Matthew.  Jesus sent out his twelve disciples, giving them authority to cast out unclean spirits and heal every disease and affliction.  But before sending them out, He gave them some instructions.

The instructions he gave did not resemble the pep talks often given to Christians today when they are sent out to do ministry.  Jesus spoke some very difficult words to His disciples.  He first told them that they were being sent to the lost sheep of Israel.  They were to tell these lost sheep that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

They were to do all kinds of ministry among these people, and were to do so without pay.  Jesus told them not to take anything with them, as all of their needs would be provided for by the people to whom they ministered.  "If anyone will not receive you," Jesus said, "Shake off the dust from your feet."  It would be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for them.

Jesus then gave his disciples a very startling promise.  It was not a promise of fruitful ministry or ease of travel.  It was a promise of persecution.  The one thing Jesus' disciples could count on as they went out was that they would be persecuted.  "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub," Jesus said, "How much more will they malign those of the household?"

Jesus then speaks some words of comfort that do not feel very comforting.  He tells them not to fear those who can kill the body only.  They may lose their physical lives for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, and most of them eventually would, but their enemies could not kill their souls.

Jesus is always downplaying the here and now and helping people to think about eternity.  The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."  Paul understood that the only way for his life to matter, was for him to live it in light of eternity.

I always find it difficult to think about persecution.  I have never been persecuted in any meaningful way, at least not with regard to physical suffering.  I do fear that a kind of persecution is coming to our country.  It is a kind of persecution that maligns and demonizes those who would dare to articulate a biblical position on any of the pet sins of our culture.

But that is not where my heart is this morning as I write.  I think of my brothers and sisters around the world who suffer daily for their faith in Christ.  I think of Saeed Abedini or Asia Bibi.  I think of countless unnamed others who live every day in fear for their lives because they dare claim the name of Jesus.

Jesus promised it would be this way.  These dear Christians are taking His Word seriously.  They believe Jesus' words in Matthew 10:32-33, "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."

They know that there is only one choice, to stand firm in their faith in Jesus Christ.  This devotional is not so much a call to do this or do that as it is a call to not forget.  Do not forget our brothers and sisters around the world.  As you read Matthew 10, know that Jesus' promise of persecution is taking place all over the world today.  Do not allow yourself to detach from the suffering of your fellow believers.

Stand with them in solidarity.

Prayer Focus:

Pray for persecuted Christians around the world.  Spend time in prayer for specific situations of persecution.  I have linked a couple above.  You can also go to persecution.com and find many others.  Jesus has called us to stand with our brothers and sisters.  May we do so through prayer.  May we mourn with those who mourn.

January 15, 2015

Scripture Reading: Genesis 31 and Matthew 10:34-11:19

Devotional:

The first half of Matthew 11 is an interesting passage of Scripture.  We saw back in Matthew 3 that John the Baptist played an important role in preparing the way for Jesus.  John came preaching a message of repentance, informing people that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

John told the people, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry" (Matt. 3:11).  John clearly knew that it was his responsibility to prepare the way for the Messiah, the one promised throughout the Old Testament Scriptures.

Then when Jesus came to the Jordan where John was baptizing, John declared, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).  Jesus asked to be baptized by John, and after some initial resistance, John baptized Jesus.

What happened next is stunning.  When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened to Him.  The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus as a dove, and a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17).  Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record Jesus' baptism, but none of them indicate that anyone could see or hear this other than Jesus.

In John's Gospel we see that John the Baptist witnessed at least the descending of the dove on Jesus.  John the Baptist said, "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him" (John 1:32).  Apparently God had already somehow told John that the one on whom the Spirit descended was the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.  This one was the Messiah.

John received visual confirmation himself that Jesus was in fact the promised Messiah.

Now fast forward back to Matthew 11.  John was in prison and possibly wondering why and how things had gone so terribly wrong.  If Jesus was in fact the Messiah, what was John doing sitting in prison?  So John sent word to Jesus through his disciples to find out if Jesus truly was the Messiah.  They asked, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"

Jesus responded by pointing to all of the miraculous things that he was doing.  To us it seems like Jesus was simply saying, "Look at all the wonderful things I am doing.  Of course I am the Messiah."  But Jesus is saying more than that.  He is pointing to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the identity of the Messiah (Isaiah 35:5-6).  John would have known this when his disciples returned reporting all of the things Jesus was doing.

I think this passage is an encouragement to us.  John the Baptist was the one set aside by God to prepare the way for the Messiah.  He had earlier made a very clear confession concerning Jesus' identity.  Yet now he finds himself in a very difficult situation and is beginning to doubt.

I think maybe you can relate to John.  Maybe you too believe that Jesus is the Messiah and have been serving Him for a long time.  But maybe doubt sometimes creeps into your mind.  On the one hand, you can take comfort in the fact that the one of whom Jesus said, "Among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist," also struggled with doubt in a very difficult time in his life.

But on the other hand, we should cling to the very same evidence that Jesus gave to John concerning His identity.  He is the one promised throughout the Old Testament.  He has fulfilled all of the prophecies given concerning the Messiah.  He is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."  May our doubt give way to faith in this One.

Prayer Focus:

Pray that God would strengthen your faith in the midst of doubt.  John's faith was not blind.  Your faith does not have to be blind either.  Pray that God would demonstrate Himself to you throughout the Scriptures, establishing faith in your heart.

January 16, 2015

Scripture Reading: Genesis 32-34 and Matthew 11:20-12:8

Devotional:

Today's New Testament reading contains some of the most comforting words in all of Scripture.  Jesus spoke to the people and said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

We considered these words some back when we looked at the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6.  They fit nicely with Jesus' instruction there concerning worry and anxiousness.  I come back to them for today's devotional because I think they are important words for us to continuously consider.

If I am not careful, my inclination is to weigh you down.  I can give you command after command from the Scriptures, hoping that reciting commands to you will produce spiritual fruit.  Unfortunately, this is sometimes how I do sanctification in my own life as well.  If I just try harder and do better I can be more like Jesus.

Even though I have discovered that this never works long-term, I foolishly keep coming back to this strategy.  Oh, it works for a little while.  Or at least on the surface it works.  But it doesn't take long before I begin to feel burdened.  It doesn't take long before I begin to feel weighed down.

This is why I need to be reminded of the words of Jesus here.  I need to cling to the words of Jesus, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Some of you are like me.  You want to be told what it takes to honor the Lord.  You want to hear the commands of God and be challenged by them.  You want to try your best to meet God's standard.  But you are also like me in that you fail.  Oh, you make it for a little while.  But then you burn out.  You get tired of all the hard work that your brand of sanctification requires and you quit trying.

I want to remind you that the yoke of Jesus is easy.  His burden is light.  He has already met God's standard on your behalf.  There is nothing you can do that will make God love you more.  There is nothing you can do to add to the work of Jesus on your behalf.

Now let's be clear, that should not lead us to lawlessness.  No, exactly the opposite.  It should lead us to pursue Christlikeness by taking on the yoke and burden of Jesus.  It should lead us to cling to Him.

As I have been reading Matthew's Gospel, I am struck by how Jesus goes from speaking hard words about persecution and forsaking family for the kingdom of God to talking about his yoke being easy and burden light.  He obviously did not consider these different emphasis of His teaching to be inconsistent.

We are not promised in Scripture that life will be easy.  In fact, we are promised exactly the opposite.  The Christian life is hard.  But Jesus promises to be with us and provide rest for our weary souls.  We must learn to stop depending on ourselves and our own efforts.  We must turn to Jesus and allow Him to produce His righteousness in us.  If we abide in Jesus, He will abide in us.

Prayer Focus:

Ask God to help you abide in Him today.  Ask that He would provide rest for your weary soul.