It's interesting that when the angels came to check out Sodom, Lot was sitting at the gate. It's almost as if Abraham had called ahead to warn Lot the angels were coming. Apparently, hanging out at the city gate was common for Lot. Maybe he was there to protect others coming to the city or maybe he was trying to stay away from all the corruptness of the city.
When the angels arrived, Lot met them and invited them home with Him. Hotels, as we know them, didn't exist in Lot's day. People often went to the city square to stay the night when came to foreign city. City natives might offer a place to stay. The angels were planning to go to the city square to spend the night. But Lot knew his own city very well and insisted for their own protection, that they stay the night with him.
Lot, obviously knew who the angels were or at least had a good idea. Abe knew when they came to visit him. He attempted to protect God's messengers from his world, his community. He locked them away in his house even when others came to find out who they were, with the goal of exploiting them. Ironically, they saved Lot not the other way around.
It seems to me that there is a tendency among God's people to try to hide, protect, defend and even keep God from their environment, workplace, community, neighborhood, friends and acquaintances. We don't want God exposed to them for fear of embarrassment or that God will get kicked around. News flash: God can take care of himself. He doesn't need protecting or shielding. He knew what was going on in Sodom and Gomorrah before He sent the angels to destroy it. He knows whats going in your life and lives of those surrounding you. You don't have to run interference.
If there is a lesson here, it has to do with Lot and his family. They continued to live in the vileness without being salt or light. They tried to keep God from intersecting with the people of his community. And then he was reluctant to leave when the angels told him they were going to destroy their city. When they took he and his family by the arm and drug them out for their own protection, they still begged to stay close instead of going where the angels told them to go. And Lot's wife ended up losing her life because she was so endeared to the people who wanted to violate God's angels.
God, Lot apparently was trying to live in both worlds. Help me live with clarity for you, to seek your righteousness. Let me be a light for you. I want to be salt, but not like Lot's wife. I want to make a difference. I want to lift up Jesus.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Daily Reflections on Gen. 16 (Waiting on God's Promises)
Ever wonder why God took so long to give Abraham a son or why He didn't let Abe in on the plan from the beginning? I mean Abraham is in his seventies when God calls him in the first place. Sarah was already in her sixties. God tells Abe to "go to the land I will show you." So Abe takes off without his Garman and just goes. To where? "God, could you give me a hint?" But God doesn't tell him, He just lets Abe wonder around for a while. "And what about the promise of fathering a great nation? I'd like to know more about this. I'm ready to get started. Am I going to have a harem, Lord?"
Abraham sure had a lot of unanswered questions, as apparently did Sarai or Sarah. "You want me to pack up everything and go where? Are you sure you heard God speaking to you or were you just a little sauced at the time? Father of a great nation? Now I know you were drinking." Yet it was twenty-five years before God gave Abe a son.
You know it was bugging them, had to be Abe. Apparently it was intense enough for Sarah to offer Hagar to Abraham. And Abe was so eager to have a son that he took Hagar to be a surrogate mother. We're not talking In Vitro here. And my guess is that it wasn't a one time occurrence. I wonder what Sarah really thought every time Hagar went into Abe's tent.
Nature worked. Hagar got pregnant. But that's not what God had in mind. Hagar had a son for Abe but it eventually caused trouble for Abe, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael. So let me ask again, why didn't God let Abe in on His plan? He could have saved everyone a lot of grief.
God calls Abe, makes him a promise of being a great nation and giving a land, yet waits until Abe is 100 before He comes through. Weird. When God makes a promise I'd like to collect on it right away. If if won the mega lottery today, I wouldn't want to wait until I was seventy-five before I collected on it.
God's timing and His ways are definitely not our timing and our ways. My observation is that Sarah had given up on God ever keeping His promise. She laughed, "So now I'm gonna have child at ninety." God rewards faithfulness and steadfastness. Perseverance is a quality God admires. God waited for several reasons before giving Abe a son. But one thing is for sure, the birth of Isaac was without question at the hand of God.
God, I confess I'm impatient. I want your promise now. The stirrings you put in my heart and vision in my mind I expect to happen right away. I'm always eager to make things happen in my timing, my way. I'm trusting you and waiting on you. So renew my strength, just as you promise.
Abraham sure had a lot of unanswered questions, as apparently did Sarai or Sarah. "You want me to pack up everything and go where? Are you sure you heard God speaking to you or were you just a little sauced at the time? Father of a great nation? Now I know you were drinking." Yet it was twenty-five years before God gave Abe a son.
You know it was bugging them, had to be Abe. Apparently it was intense enough for Sarah to offer Hagar to Abraham. And Abe was so eager to have a son that he took Hagar to be a surrogate mother. We're not talking In Vitro here. And my guess is that it wasn't a one time occurrence. I wonder what Sarah really thought every time Hagar went into Abe's tent.
Nature worked. Hagar got pregnant. But that's not what God had in mind. Hagar had a son for Abe but it eventually caused trouble for Abe, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael. So let me ask again, why didn't God let Abe in on His plan? He could have saved everyone a lot of grief.
God calls Abe, makes him a promise of being a great nation and giving a land, yet waits until Abe is 100 before He comes through. Weird. When God makes a promise I'd like to collect on it right away. If if won the mega lottery today, I wouldn't want to wait until I was seventy-five before I collected on it.
God's timing and His ways are definitely not our timing and our ways. My observation is that Sarah had given up on God ever keeping His promise. She laughed, "So now I'm gonna have child at ninety." God rewards faithfulness and steadfastness. Perseverance is a quality God admires. God waited for several reasons before giving Abe a son. But one thing is for sure, the birth of Isaac was without question at the hand of God.
God, I confess I'm impatient. I want your promise now. The stirrings you put in my heart and vision in my mind I expect to happen right away. I'm always eager to make things happen in my timing, my way. I'm trusting you and waiting on you. So renew my strength, just as you promise.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, January 4, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
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.
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.
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