Daily Reflections on Prov. 1:24-28 (Why Is This Happening to Me?)

"God, why is this happening to me?" That question or one like it has been spoken from the lips of many who sought my counsel in a crisis. It's not always an easy question to answer. But sometimes the answer is obvious. I admit that there have been times I've wanted to shout, "Are you blind? You did this to yourself. God had nothing to do with it." I've just wanted to grab my Louisville Slugger and knock some sense into people. When will we get that age old advice, "Play with fire and you'll get burned."

Now I realize that Job suffered great tragedy at no doing of his own. However, more often than not what's happening to us is of our own making. When we ignore the principles of God for finances, relationships, attitudes, business, etc. we can expect trials, struggles, difficulty. You speed to get a ticket. It costs you something. You get too many speeding tickets and they take away your license. That's life.

Ironically, God says here in Proverbs, "You ignore me and I'll ignore you. Don't expect me to bail you out when you purposely chose not to do what I told you." (Dave's paraphrase.) We have to accept the consequences for our actions. You can choose to do, to live however you want, but you can't choose or escape the consequences, nor will God remove them. Sure God is willing to forgive the error of our ways, but He will not take away the consequences of our ignorance or purposeful defiance.

The only reprieve we get is from eternal death when we come to Jesus and accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior. God grants forgiveness and remembers our sins no more. But we still can't escape the immediate consequences of our disobedience, rebellion or sin. Don't expect God to deliver you from something you chose to get yourself into.

God, thanks for your grace to forgive us through your Son, Jesus. Thanks for paying the ultimate price for my sin. Thanks for the sustaining power to deal with consequences of my past sin through your Holy Spirit. Thanks for showing me the path out of my own destructive patterns. Thanks for your Word which is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 8-10 (When You Have to Stand Alone)

Whenever I read the story of Noah I can't help but think of Bill Cosby. Several years ago, Cosby did a comedy bit on Noah. God tells Noah to build an ark and Cosby responds, "Right!!! What's an ark?" After several interplays between Noah (Cosby) and God, God says to Noah, "How long can you tread water?" So Noah (Cosby) decides to build the ark.

It must have been quite a sight to see, an ark being built on the plains. No lake in sight. Apparently it had never rained so I'm sure the neighbors had plenty to laugh at. My guess is the tourist crowd grew everyday. I can see the vendors lined up around the ark selling food, drink and mementos, maybe ark replicas. I'm sure they were merciless on Noah.

Sometimes living by faith is really tough. It's literally you against the world. In Noah's case, the only people standing with him was his family. Living by faith requires a not just belief but discipline and fortitude. Going against the crowd or conventional thinking is like standing against a current. Everything is pulling you in the opposite direction.

Noah's faithfulness ended up not just saving he and his family, it saved the world as we know it. Just like sin always affects others, so does acting in faith. When God calls or commands us to do something, even if it's hard, is the right thing to do. Had Noah refused not only would he have been lost so would we.

God, give me the courage to act in faith.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 7; Prov. 1:10-19; Mt. 4:1-11 (Resisting Temptation)

Temptations come at us from all sorts of sources. Most of them come from my own not so healthy desires. Let's face it, the Apostle Paul was right in Romans 7, we don't always do the right things. Our human nature gets the better of us sometimes even when want to do or say the right thing. Since I can't get rid of my human nature until I shed my human skin and God gives me a heavenly body, it's something I'm gonna have to continually face.

Even Jesus faced temptation as human. Hebrews tell us that Jesus was tempted in all ways as a man and yet did not sin. That's both encouraging and disconcerting. It's disconcerting in that apparently it's possible to live your entire life without sin, but I've already blown it. It's encouraging in that Jesus showed us a way to overcome temptation.

In the Matthew passage Jesus is in the process of officially beginning His earthly ministry. He comes to John the Baptist to be baptized by him. Why would Jesus need to be baptized? John's was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus was submitting completely His will to the Father's, committing to His human element completely to the Father. God anointed Jesus for His task, marking Him with the Holy Spirit.

It was after His baptism, that Jesus faced one of His tough temptation periods. Satan came directly to Him to in order to tempt Him into following His own path to Kingship. The devil appealed to Jesus' human side in tempting Him. Popularity, Prominence, Power are enticing seducers to most humans.

But Jesus didn't bite (no pun intended). He warded off temptation by staying committed to God's Word. He recalled God's directions and focused on doing His will, openly quoting scriptures. He was able to remain steadfast by devouring God's truths and teachings and living in them. He relied on God's power through His spirit to overcome the temptation.

In Proverbs 1, Solomon says to be wary of people with whom you hang out. Don't let them drag you into improper behavior. If you do, it will only come back to bite you. Peer pressure is hard to overcome. It's not just the voice of Satan in your head. It's the voices of people around you urging you to join in their sinful practice. Not only are you now dealing with the temptation, you're dealing with being loved, accepted, included by others. That makes the peer temptation even harder to resist.

Solomon's advice to this temptation is simply don't fall for it. Resist! If that is where your friends are headed, you have the wrong friends. They're headed down the wrong path. It will lead to destruction, pain, etc. eventually.

Noah had to stand alone for 600 hundred years. Talk about peer pressure. It was he and his family resisting the entire human civilization of his day. But God rewarded his faithfulness and steadfastness. Depending on God for help is the only way out of temptation. We don't have the power to resist on our own. We need His help.

God, I'm so thankful that you provided a way out through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Empower me. Keep into your Word throughout this year and aware of your Spirit.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 3 (Temptations, But It Looks Sooooo Good)

Temptation is a menace! It looms there, capturing our thoughts, distracting us. Like the leftover Christmas sweets calling to us from their protective containers. We've made the vow to put them aside and lose that weight. But their pull is just too strong. I'll start that diet tomorrow.

That serpent may have to crawl on his belly, but he still gets around quick. He's everywhere. He won't leave me alone. His tempting words echo in my mind. What would it really hurt?

As I read through this passage on the fall of man, Adam and Eve eating of the forbidden fruit, it dawned on me that that not everything the serpent told Eve was a lie. It was pleasing to the eye. It looked really good in other words. It tasted great. And the little side benefit, it would make her like God, knowing good from evil. Okay, the last one was a partial truth. She wouldn't really be like God. But she would know good and evil.

The temptations we face have some truth. They could be pleasing to the senses if we indulge. But just because they might be enjoyable for the moment, doesn't mean it's beneficial. Yesterday, I saw a commercial about taking care of your pet. It cautioned against allowing your dog to drink from puddles and to watch out for antifreeze. Apparently, antifreeze tastes sweet, but is very deadly if consumed. Indulging in some temptations may taste sweet to us, but like drinking antifreeze, it can have a deadly affect on our lives, relationships, career, health, emotions, etc.

God, give me clarity of mind and wisdom to choose the right things this year. Help me to overcome temptation. Help me keep my eyes fixed on you and your Word in my mind and heart.

Daily Reflections on Gen. 1 (New Year, Fresh Start)

It's another beginning! Beginning of a new year that is. New years always give new opportunities. Here's your chance to create a new life, a new focus, a new path, a new healthy habit. Everything is behind you now. Today is a new day. You can cut a new path beginning today.

I was reading this passage thinking what the real beginning would have been like, watching creation come into existence. It struck me that when God spoke the heavens and earth into existence it was still dark. Darkness covered everything. It was formless. It was void. Then God spoke these simple words and everything changed, "Let there be light."

What's interesting to me is the darkness, formless and void. God created the earth, but that was it until God spoke. God saw the potential of a dark, formless blob. He spoke and His vision began to take shape; day, night, oceans, skies, continents, plants, trees, sun, moon, fish, birds, animals, and finally human beings. Only man He added a touch, He breathed into Him life.

I was just thinking, man didn't created himself. He didn't make himself. God did it. Instead of trying to recreate yourself, how about letting God do it. If God can take a formless, void blob and create the earth with all it's beauty and splendor, what can He do for you? Why not ask God to form you into His image this year? Ask Him to take control of your life. Ask Him to mold you and use you and work His work in you.

God, forget New Years Resolutions, I can never keep those anyway. I need you to form me, recreate me, change me into your image. I realize this is a daily endeavor. I want you, I need you to work your work in me. Thanks for new beginnings.

Daily Reflections on Lk. 2:8-14 (Where's the Peace?)

At the end of my tour of the Holy Land in 2000, the man who ran the tour company climbed onto our bus and shared a few words to us. He gave us all replica medallions of an early century cross. Then before departing our bus he asked us to pray for peace in the middle east. He lamented the strife and turmoil of his land. And told us the only hope for true peace was not a cessation of hostilities through governmental agreements. He said the only hope for true peace was through Jesus. I learned later that he was an Arab Christian living in Jerusalem. He had come to know Christ as His personal Lord and Savior.

I've been thinking a lot about the message the angel brought to the shepherds in light of all the conflict continuing in the middle east. There isn't a lot of joy. There isn't a lot of good news. And there certainly isn't a lot of peace. Efforts throughout the region to quell the fighting have only been temporary. Before long the hatred spills over into killing and it escalates all over again. I think my friend is right. Unless there is an inner change that only comes through Christ, the warring will continue.

The middle east could use some good news. I mean real good news. Jesus needs to return to the region. Despite all the relics and places and history of that sacred land that points to God, His presence seems so far away. Just like Jesus wept over Jerusalem while He was on earth, I'm sure His tears are uncontrollable today. God's heart has to be breaking.

As much as the middle east needs some good news that will bring true peace, I'm afraid we need it in our lives too. Everywhere I look around me I see strife and conflict and assassinations (of character) and warring. Relationships are struggling. Marriages are failing. Parents and children, siblings war with one another. We need Christ to come.

God, send the angel(s) with the good news. Send your messengers with the hope of Good News in Jesus. May hearts be open to His true message of peace.

Daily Reflections on Lk. 1:26-38 (Troubling News)

Troubled. That was Mary's initial response when the angel told her that she was highly favored among women. The angel comes to Mary and tells her that she's got God's personal attention, He's with her and she's troubled. I suppose that could be a natural response. After all Moses said, "God, I think you got the wrong guy. I can't speak," when God called him. Jonah went on cruise in the opposite direction when God called him and then ultimately went for a swim. Gideon said, "Lord, I'm a farmer not a military man, check out my new fleece."

So when God shows up out of nowhere and tells you you're favored, "troubled" just might be a natural reaction. When God put His finger on someone in the past to be His person, it wasn't always for an easy task. After all, a lot of the prophets in the past had a pretty rough go. Mary knew that at the least her life was about to change forever. Her plans for her own cozy life were headed for a major overall.

I'm sure that Mary had a ton more questions than are listed in Luke 1. No doubt all the ramifications of what the angel spelled out began to race through her mind, not the least of which was how am I gonna explain this one. Apparently, there aren't any witnesses to this angelic encounter and revolutionary message. Oh sure, everyone was expecting a Messiah, but not in the same way Mary was expecting.

As startling and potentially disturbing as this news was to Mary, she submitted to God. What if Mary would have said, "I don't think so." Who would have been on God's "B" list. Joseph and Francine just sounds odd to me. Ave Henrietta really throws off the meter. She consented. She conceived. She delivered.

For Mary to become the mother of Jesus, she had to surrender and be willing to sacrifice her own agenda. Mothering God couldn't have been easy. Talk about pressure. All of history is bearing down upon you. No one would be under greater scrutiny as a parent, a mother than Mary. Yet she agreed.

Throughout my years of ministry I've discovered that God picks all sorts of people for all sorts of jobs. Sometimes people say "yes" and sometimes they say "no." I can't imagine what would happen in our world, community, neighborhood, family if we all had the same attitude as Mary, "I'm the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

God, I am your servant. Use me how you wish.