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.

2015 Bible Reading Challenge - Week 1

On Fridays this year, I will plan to post the devotionals I wrote that week as a part of our 2015 Bible Reading Challenge at Drakes Branch Baptist Church.  The only way to receive them on time for the day they were written is to sign up to receive them through email.  You can sign up by sending me an email at adam@drakesbranchbc.com.

Here are the Week 1 devotionals.

January 1, 2015

Today's Reading: Genesis 1-3 and Matthew 1

Devotional:

I am excited and thankful that you have chosen to embark on this journey through the Bible with me.  Psalm 19:10 says in reference to the Scriptures, "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."

There will be days this next year when you will not feel like reading your Bible.  Remember Psalm 19:10.  There will be days when you may forget to read your Bible.  Get back on the horse, and catch up by doing the reading you missed when you get a few extra minutes.  This is not about checking a box each day.  It is about hearing from the God of the universe who has revealed Himself to you in His Word.

Today you read the very first verse of the Bible.  The Bible begins, "In the beginning, God…" (Gen. 1:1).  What a marvelous way to begin!  This book is all about God and His work in the world.  This is the God who has always been, is right now, and will always be.  He is the God who hung the moon and the stars (Gen. 1:16).  He is the God who created a people for Himself.  He is the God who promised to provide a way to reconcile sinful man to Himself (Gen. 3:15).

He has kept that promise and provided that way through His Son Jesus Christ.  Not only is this book about God the Father, but the focus of every page is what God is doing through Jesus.

As you read the Bible this year, look for God.  Ask yourself, "What does this passage teach me about God?"  Also ask, "How does it fit into God's narrative throughout the Bible?"  You may consider keeping a running lists of His attributes as you read, things like His power, faithfulness, grace, mercy, love, justice, etc.  I think if you do this, along with the Scripture references where they are found, you will be amazed at how many times they come up.

We serve a God who is worthy of our worship.  He is worthy of our time and study.  We will never fully mine the depths of His character.  But He has given you this day to grow in intimacy with Him.  He has given you His Word for that purpose.  That is what this challenge is all about, knowing God better through His Word.

Prayer Focus:

My prayer for you this New Year is that you will know God more intimately as a result of reading through the Bible this year.  Spend some time praying and asking God to grow your love for and knowledge of Him and His Word this year.

January 2, 2015

Today's Reading: Genesis 4-5 and Matthew 2

Devotional:

Today's readings demonstrate very clearly the devastating effects of sin, which first entered God's good creation in Genesis 3.  The injustice of these two events jumps off the page as you read.

Genesis 4 records for us the very first homicide in the history of the world.  While in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him in a spirit of anger and jealousy.  The spreading of Adam and Eve's sin to their offspring is seen very vividly in this passage. 

Then in Matthew 2 we see Herod's efforts to wipe out the newborn King by having every baby boy in Bethlehem age two and under killed.  Herod was an unstable man jealous for his own power and authority.  The idea of a "new" king angered him to the point of murder.  This is a shocking example of example of injustice.

I hope you have not heard these stories so many times that you have grown numb to them.  Take a moment to consider them again.  Can you imagine how Adam and Eve must have wept, knowing that indirectly, Abel's death was a result of their sin?  Can you hear the wailing in Bethlehem as babies are snatched from their mother's arms and killed?  Such evil seen in the hearts of men!

The evil heart behind such acts seems so distant until you consider the news lately.  The effects of Adam and Eve's sin in Genesis 3 are still being felt today.  Things like terrorism, torture, racial tension, and murder dominate the evening news.  We are reminded by these things and more that we live in a broken world.  We are reminded that things are not as they should be, as God created them to be.

In both Genesis and Matthew you have the lives of God's image bearers wiped out with no regard for the value of human life.  As you read in Genesis 1:27, we are all created in the image of God.  There is something special about humanity that cannot be said about the rest of God's creation.  God has created us to reflect Him, and in reflecting Him, worship and glorify Him.

God cares about life, particularly human life.  And we too ought to care about life.  As we look and see examples of injustice all around us, we must seek to protect the vulnerable.  We should seek to see people as God sees them, bearers of His image.  We must learn to value all human life.

There is coming a day when there will be no more injustice, but that day is not here yet.  There is coming a day when Christ will return and right every wrong.  For this reason, as we seek justice, we can trust vengeance in the hands of the God who says, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay."

Prayer Focus:

Will you pray and ask God how you can get involved in caring for the least of these, those who are vulnerable and oppressed?  Think of a specific situation of injustice with which you are familiar.  Pray that the righteous judge of the all the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ, would one day right that wrong.

My 2015 Reading List

For 2015 I have decided to make a list of twelve books (one each month) that I am committing to reading this year.  These are books that I already had on my shelf, but have never read.  I started making my list yesterday and pulled down around twenty-five books that I would be interested in reading this year.  I easily narrowed it down to fourteen or fifteen, and then with a bit of difficulty whittled the list down to twelve.

When I put out on Facebook that I was making such a list, a couple people asked to see the list.  Please do not take this list as an endorsement of the content of these books.  I have not read them.  Most of them I am comfortable recommending based on recommendations I have received from others, but a few of them are a bit more unknown to me.

So here it is, in no particular order, and with a few explanatory comments.  Enjoy.

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

I should have read this book long ago.  I am a little ashamed that it is on this list of books I have not yet read.  I am excited to dig into it this year and set my gaze on the holiness of God.

Preaching and Preachers by Martin Lloyd-Jones

I wanted to make sure that I had a book on preaching on my list.  I had a few smaller books on preaching in my top fourteen or fifteen.  I decided to ditch those and go with this one.  Lloyd-Jones is one of the greatest preachers of recent history.  I am looking forward to learning from him.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

This book is sort of all-encompassing. Because it is difficult to have a book on each spiritual discipline in a list of only twelve books, I chose this one book which covers them all.  I have heard a lot of good things about this book and am anxious to read it.

Evangelism by J. Mack Stiles

I need to be a better witness for Christ.  I knew I needed to include a book on evangelism.  This one comes highly recommended, and I look forward to reading it.  Also on the plus side, it is a short book which provides balance for some of the more lengthy works on this list.  At 114 pages, this is the shortest book on my list.

The Plight of Man and the Power of God by Martin Lloyd-Jones

Lloyd-Jones is the only author who has two books on this list.  I wanted to include his biography by Ian Murray, but the size of it made doing so a bit unrealistic.  There is a documentary coming out this year on Lloyd-Jones that I am excited to see.  Reading some of his writings this year will serve as an excellent complement to that film.

The Gospel at Work by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert

I believe this book will help me be a better preacher and pastor.  The subtitle is "How Working for King Jesus Gives Purpose and Meaning to our Jobs."  It addresses real life issues with which all people wrestle.  I look forward to thinking about work in a gospel-centered way.

The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler

I wanted to make sure I had a book on leadership on my list.  This happened to be one that I had not yet read.  Al Mohler is a leader in the Southern Baptist Convention and in the broader evangelical world.  I look forward to learning from him in this book.

The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling to Men by Richard D. Phillips

I thought it would be good to include a book on manhood, because, well, I am a man.  I know very little about this book.  It was given to me at a conference.

Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church by Gregg R. Allison

I enjoy ecclesiology.  This is a book that I have heard good things about that I was recently able to purchase at a conference I attended.  I do not want it sitting on my shelf very long before I get a chance to read it.  At 471 pages, it is the longest book on this list.  I will have to be very diligent to make it through this thing.

Gospel Assurances and Warnings by Paul Washer

Too many Christians who should be sure of their salvation aren't.  And too many unbelievers are sure their ticket to heaven has been punched.  I want to be able to provide assurance to precious believers who struggle, while also warning the self-assured unregenerate.  This book will help me think biblically about both sides of that coin.

What He Must Be by Voddie Baucham Jr.

We are expecting a little girl in May.  This daddy couldn't be more excited.  I want to be what I must be so she will know what he must be.  This book will help me think about the father/daughter relationship further before my precious little girl makes her grand entrance.

The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken

The order in which I will be reading the books on this list is yet to be determined, but I will be reading this book first.  I have heard several glowing recommendations in the last couple of months.  I look forward to having my worldview challenged as I consider my persecuted brothers and sisters and the work God is doing around the world.

I will plan to write a review of each of these books on this blog as I read them.  Happy New Year!