Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
I thought about calling today's devotional What Are You Living For, but decided that it would be more aptly named, What Are You Living On, because as Jesus' answered Satan, in Matthew 4:4, He addressed a timeless truth.
What is it that sustains you? Is it the bread that you eat? Sure, food is important, and if we don't eat, we die. But, Jesus rebukes Satan's first attempt at tempting Him by saying that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
The theological imperative is that we cannot live apart from God's will. It is because of God that we have our breath. It is because of God that we have any food. It is because of God that we hope for today and strength for tomorrow. What are you living on? You are living on the words of God. The life giving, life transforming, life sustaining and precious words of God.
It's been awhile since I've written on here. I decided that it was important for me to take a little break from blogging. The last post indicate that I would be blogging on the words of Christ as found throughout the Bible. In these words I find something else interesting too. It's not so much the words as it is in who the words address. Jesus' audience in this verse is Satan. Satan's relationship with Christ goes way back. He was an angel that existed before the creation of man. Did you notice who heard the first words in the book of Matthew that Jesus spoke? Yes, it was John the Baptist, and those gathered at the Lake, but it was also God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. So, in these first two statements that Jesus makes in the New Testament you have present The Father, the Holy Spirit, Satan, Jesus' earthly cousin. In other words, those who knew Christ best, were there. Take away John, and you have those who existed before the creation of man. Take away John and Satan and you have the triune God; the eternally existent Trinity. And that Trinity sustains you. What are you living on? You are living on God. Now, glorify Him with your life.
Dear God,
Our lives are about You. We exist to glorify You. Help us to honor You with our lives. Thank You for allowing us to live another day. May our words bring glory to You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Jesus' First Words in Matthew
Matthew 3:13-17 - "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.' Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'"
Yesterday was the first day that I had not blogged in quite a while. It was kind of nice. My regular blog readers know that for a period of 176 days (I think it was more like 180 due to some time in Guatemala), I blogged through Psalm 119. Those 176 days were sweet times with the Lord. He taught me much about His law and His word. He put within me a desire to read His Word more than I ever have. As I thought what my days might look like after 176 days in one Psalm, I thought, "I'd like to read and blog on each of the recoreded Words that we have that Jesus spoke."
I've spent a good deal of time thinking about how to accomplish this task. In the end, I've decided to read the words of Christ from Matthew-Acts, and then take a look at the few other places we see the words of Jesus of Scripture (Revelation and the Old Testament Christophanies, for example).
Unlike my journey through Psalm 119, these devotional readings will not be commented on verse by verse. Rather, I will try to comment on them in the context of the teaching, many times paragraph by paragraph or story by story.
I'm excited about this next step in my devotional journey, and I'm happy to have so many of you that want to take this journey with me. I thought about trying to make this a chronilogical journey through the teachings of Christ, but there is much dispute about if this is even possible. Those who have tried to figure out the chronology of Jesus' words cannot agree as to when Jesus said all the things that He said. So, I am just going to do this in the order in which they appear in Scripture (saving the Old Testament accounts for last).
So, here we go!
The book of Matthew is a special book. The first Gospel in the New Testament, it was not the first Gospel written. That distincition belongs to the Gospel of Mark, which could also be called the Gospel of Peter, for it was written based upon the Apostle Peter's memories of his time with Christ. Matthew was written to a distinct group of people; the nation of Israel. And, as such, it begins with the genealogy of Jesus through the line of Joseph. Luke's Gospel records the genealogy of Jesus through the line of Mary.
It takes almost three entire chapters before we read the first words of Jesus spoken in this book. Jesus' words as a 12-year-old boy are recorded in Luke 2, so if we were doing a strictly chronilogical approach to this study, Matthew's words would not be the first words that we would choose.
So, what are the words that Matthew records? "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."
Curious words! The setting? John the Baptist is baptizing in the Jordan River. Large crowds have been following John and listening to his preaching for some time now. John's call? To prepare the way for Jesus. Now, Jesus and John are face-to-face. Jesus had obviously made it known that He wanted to be baptized by John, and John feels unworthy to baptize Jesus, and even suggests that Jesus should baptize him. That's when Jesus responds with the first words of Christ that we see in the New Testament: "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."
Jesus shows us with His first words that He was about doing that which was proper and right in the eyes of God, the Father. His life brought glory to the Father.
Steve Shepherd, in his message entitled, Why Jesus Came, wrote the following words about this passage:
Obviously, Jesus was not baptized for the same reason we might do it. At Pentecost, Peter told the multitude in Acts 2:38, “"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus had no sins for which to be forgiven.
I Pet. 2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
Why was Jesus baptized? Jesus answered this question for us.
Matt. 3:15 “Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.”
Jesus wanted to do everything that was righteous or right in His Father’s eyes. God ordained or authorized John’s baptism so Jesus humbled Himself and submitted to John’s baptism.
Jesus' first recorded words have many implications for us.
1) We need to submit to the will of the Father.
2) Baptism is a good and proper thing for the follower of Chirst.
3) Pursuing the righteousness of God is not just and Old Testament thing. God wants us to continually pursue Him.
If Jesus was about pursuing the will of the Father, so should we. May we learn much from His words.
Dear God,
You amaze me! Sometimes I feel like John. I wonder why You needed to be baptized. You are perfect, without sin, and yet You wanted to be baptized. Help us to understand. Help us to learn. Help us to live, for Your glory!
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'"
Yesterday was the first day that I had not blogged in quite a while. It was kind of nice. My regular blog readers know that for a period of 176 days (I think it was more like 180 due to some time in Guatemala), I blogged through Psalm 119. Those 176 days were sweet times with the Lord. He taught me much about His law and His word. He put within me a desire to read His Word more than I ever have. As I thought what my days might look like after 176 days in one Psalm, I thought, "I'd like to read and blog on each of the recoreded Words that we have that Jesus spoke."
I've spent a good deal of time thinking about how to accomplish this task. In the end, I've decided to read the words of Christ from Matthew-Acts, and then take a look at the few other places we see the words of Jesus of Scripture (Revelation and the Old Testament Christophanies, for example).
Unlike my journey through Psalm 119, these devotional readings will not be commented on verse by verse. Rather, I will try to comment on them in the context of the teaching, many times paragraph by paragraph or story by story.
I'm excited about this next step in my devotional journey, and I'm happy to have so many of you that want to take this journey with me. I thought about trying to make this a chronilogical journey through the teachings of Christ, but there is much dispute about if this is even possible. Those who have tried to figure out the chronology of Jesus' words cannot agree as to when Jesus said all the things that He said. So, I am just going to do this in the order in which they appear in Scripture (saving the Old Testament accounts for last).
So, here we go!
The book of Matthew is a special book. The first Gospel in the New Testament, it was not the first Gospel written. That distincition belongs to the Gospel of Mark, which could also be called the Gospel of Peter, for it was written based upon the Apostle Peter's memories of his time with Christ. Matthew was written to a distinct group of people; the nation of Israel. And, as such, it begins with the genealogy of Jesus through the line of Joseph. Luke's Gospel records the genealogy of Jesus through the line of Mary.
It takes almost three entire chapters before we read the first words of Jesus spoken in this book. Jesus' words as a 12-year-old boy are recorded in Luke 2, so if we were doing a strictly chronilogical approach to this study, Matthew's words would not be the first words that we would choose.
So, what are the words that Matthew records? "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."
Curious words! The setting? John the Baptist is baptizing in the Jordan River. Large crowds have been following John and listening to his preaching for some time now. John's call? To prepare the way for Jesus. Now, Jesus and John are face-to-face. Jesus had obviously made it known that He wanted to be baptized by John, and John feels unworthy to baptize Jesus, and even suggests that Jesus should baptize him. That's when Jesus responds with the first words of Christ that we see in the New Testament: "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."
Jesus shows us with His first words that He was about doing that which was proper and right in the eyes of God, the Father. His life brought glory to the Father.
Steve Shepherd, in his message entitled, Why Jesus Came, wrote the following words about this passage:
Obviously, Jesus was not baptized for the same reason we might do it. At Pentecost, Peter told the multitude in Acts 2:38, “"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus had no sins for which to be forgiven.
I Pet. 2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
Why was Jesus baptized? Jesus answered this question for us.
Matt. 3:15 “Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.”
Jesus wanted to do everything that was righteous or right in His Father’s eyes. God ordained or authorized John’s baptism so Jesus humbled Himself and submitted to John’s baptism.
Jesus' first recorded words have many implications for us.
1) We need to submit to the will of the Father.
2) Baptism is a good and proper thing for the follower of Chirst.
3) Pursuing the righteousness of God is not just and Old Testament thing. God wants us to continually pursue Him.
If Jesus was about pursuing the will of the Father, so should we. May we learn much from His words.
Dear God,
You amaze me! Sometimes I feel like John. I wonder why You needed to be baptized. You are perfect, without sin, and yet You wanted to be baptized. Help us to understand. Help us to learn. Help us to live, for Your glory!
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Quality Posts
Richard Mouw, the President of Fuller Theological Seminary posts on the quality of preaching. It is worth a read. You can find Mouw's unique insight HERE.
Chris Brooks posts on the sad story of 90 Day Jane, a woman planning her own suicide in 90 days. You can read Chris' excellent insight HERE.
There are a couple of nice articles on my new book,
What's The Deal With. . . available HERE and HERE.
Jennifer Schulenburg, my much wiser and smarter younger sister shares her insight on ministry and the high calling of drawing people to the foot of the cross HERE.
Youthworkers can receive a free promo package for the new Naria film, Prince Caspian HERE.
Greg Stier posts on what is worth fighting over in his post, Fight Club For Christians located HERE.
A review of Frank Viola and Geoge Barna's new book, Pagan Christianity, may be found right HERE. The book is a disturbing one, and the review raises some great questions.
So, just what is it that makes a church healthy? Find out many different views HERE.
Oh, and just for fun -- I love baseball, and pitchers and catchers reported earlier this week (at least for my beloved Cubs). So, check out ESPN's Jayson Stark's summary of the offseason that was HERE.
Happy reading!
Chris Brooks posts on the sad story of 90 Day Jane, a woman planning her own suicide in 90 days. You can read Chris' excellent insight HERE.
There are a couple of nice articles on my new book,
What's The Deal With. . . available HERE and HERE.
Jennifer Schulenburg, my much wiser and smarter younger sister shares her insight on ministry and the high calling of drawing people to the foot of the cross HERE.
Youthworkers can receive a free promo package for the new Naria film, Prince Caspian HERE.
Greg Stier posts on what is worth fighting over in his post, Fight Club For Christians located HERE.
A review of Frank Viola and Geoge Barna's new book, Pagan Christianity, may be found right HERE. The book is a disturbing one, and the review raises some great questions.
So, just what is it that makes a church healthy? Find out many different views HERE.
Oh, and just for fun -- I love baseball, and pitchers and catchers reported earlier this week (at least for my beloved Cubs). So, check out ESPN's Jayson Stark's summary of the offseason that was HERE.
Happy reading!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Instructions for a Sheep
Psalm 119:176 - "I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands."
It's amazing how easy it is for us to stray from that which we know is right. There is not a person who has ever lived, who has not strayed. The prophet Isaiah wrote, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
As David ends this incredible Psalm, and this 176 day experiment in spiritual renewal comes to an end, we are given hope. Hope that, like a shepherd, God will seek after his lost sheep. God will remember us, as we remember His commands. He loves us. And, like David has reminded us throughout this Psalm, God wants our love. He wants our worship. He wants us to follow His law. He is a jealous God, and his jealousy is a holy jealousy that does not want Satan to win.
So, we've done it. We've come through 176 days of Psalm 119. Have we learned the lessons of this Psalm? Are we willing to live for God? Are we willing to learn His desire for our lives and chase after it? Are we willing to have one pure and holy passion? I hope so. How awesome would it be to see a generation of people rise up and live the life that God has called them to live? How awesome would it be to be a part of the few, the called, the redeemed? Follow the call, and live!
Dear God,
Thank You for Your holy call on our lives to follow You. Help us to continue to walk in Your ways. Thank You for Your patience. Thank You that You choose to use us. You are good and Your love endures forever!
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
It's amazing how easy it is for us to stray from that which we know is right. There is not a person who has ever lived, who has not strayed. The prophet Isaiah wrote, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
As David ends this incredible Psalm, and this 176 day experiment in spiritual renewal comes to an end, we are given hope. Hope that, like a shepherd, God will seek after his lost sheep. God will remember us, as we remember His commands. He loves us. And, like David has reminded us throughout this Psalm, God wants our love. He wants our worship. He wants us to follow His law. He is a jealous God, and his jealousy is a holy jealousy that does not want Satan to win.
So, we've done it. We've come through 176 days of Psalm 119. Have we learned the lessons of this Psalm? Are we willing to live for God? Are we willing to learn His desire for our lives and chase after it? Are we willing to have one pure and holy passion? I hope so. How awesome would it be to see a generation of people rise up and live the life that God has called them to live? How awesome would it be to be a part of the few, the called, the redeemed? Follow the call, and live!
Dear God,
Thank You for Your holy call on our lives to follow You. Help us to continue to walk in Your ways. Thank You for Your patience. Thank You that You choose to use us. You are good and Your love endures forever!
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
A Life of Praise
Psalm 119:175 - "Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me."
Casting Crowns has got to be one of my favorite Christian bands. One of the reasons is because the lead singer is a youth pastor. The band is basically the band that plays for the youth ministry at their church. Their music became so popular, that they began to tour all over the country. One of my favorite songs that Casting Crowns sings is off of their Lifesong album. It's the song, And Now My Lifesong Sings. The lyrics go like this:
I once was lost, but now I’m found
I once was lost, but now I’m found
So far away, but I’m home now
I once was lost, but now I’m found
And now my lifesong sings
I once was blind, but now I see
I once was blind, but now I see
I don’t know how, but when He touched me
I once was blind, but now I see
And now my lifesong sings
And now my lifesong sings
And now my lifesong sings
I once was dead, but now I live
I once was dead, but now I live
Now my life to You I give
Now my life to You I give
Now my life to You I give
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Let my lifesong sing to You
I think that King David could have easily written that song. He wanted his life to be a praise offering to God. Every breath that he took, every word that he said, and every deed that he did, he wanted to be pleasing to God. Was he always successful? No. But, he tried. And, I think God loved it. Remember, David was called a man after God's own heart. Want to be a man or woman like that? Then seek to live out Psalm 119:175 in your life. Let God know that you want your life to be a praise offering to Him. And, then ask Him to help you be that. Take a notebook with you and jot down when you have the opportunity to be Christ's hands and feet to the world around you. It will become a visible reminder to you of God's desire for your life. Now, go! Praise Him! He is worthy!
Dear God,
We want our lives to reflect You. Let our actions, our words, our thoughts, our very lives bring You glory. We want to be men and women cut in Your mold. We want to be men and women who You would call men and women after Your own heart.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Casting Crowns has got to be one of my favorite Christian bands. One of the reasons is because the lead singer is a youth pastor. The band is basically the band that plays for the youth ministry at their church. Their music became so popular, that they began to tour all over the country. One of my favorite songs that Casting Crowns sings is off of their Lifesong album. It's the song, And Now My Lifesong Sings. The lyrics go like this:
I once was lost, but now I’m found
I once was lost, but now I’m found
So far away, but I’m home now
I once was lost, but now I’m found
And now my lifesong sings
I once was blind, but now I see
I once was blind, but now I see
I don’t know how, but when He touched me
I once was blind, but now I see
And now my lifesong sings
And now my lifesong sings
And now my lifesong sings
I once was dead, but now I live
I once was dead, but now I live
Now my life to You I give
Now my life to You I give
Now my life to You I give
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Let my lifesong sing to You
I think that King David could have easily written that song. He wanted his life to be a praise offering to God. Every breath that he took, every word that he said, and every deed that he did, he wanted to be pleasing to God. Was he always successful? No. But, he tried. And, I think God loved it. Remember, David was called a man after God's own heart. Want to be a man or woman like that? Then seek to live out Psalm 119:175 in your life. Let God know that you want your life to be a praise offering to Him. And, then ask Him to help you be that. Take a notebook with you and jot down when you have the opportunity to be Christ's hands and feet to the world around you. It will become a visible reminder to you of God's desire for your life. Now, go! Praise Him! He is worthy!
Dear God,
We want our lives to reflect You. Let our actions, our words, our thoughts, our very lives bring You glory. We want to be men and women cut in Your mold. We want to be men and women who You would call men and women after Your own heart.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Longing for God
Psalm 119:174 - "I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight."
There are only three more days left in our precious journey through Psalm 119. These 174 days have changed my life. At the beginning of this journey, I took a look at Charles Spurgeon's insights into Psalm 119. As we reach the end of the study, I take another look at Spurgeon's take on Psalm 119. There were many simple things that Spurgeon gleaned from verse 174. The one that struck me the most was how Spurgeon handled the beginning of the verse. Speaking of David's longing for God's salvation, Spurgeon wrote,
"This longing arises, 1. From a painful consciousness of the need of salvation. 2. From a perception of the glories of God's salvation. 3. From the promises which gave assurance of the possibility of obtaining this salvation. 4. From the gracious promptings of the Holy Ghost."
I love that! All four of Spurgeon's insights reveal the depth of David's longing. We, like David, can understand the painful consciousness of the need of salvation. We need God's salvation. He knows that. We know that. And, some of us are just stubborn enough to ignore it. May we not be so!
If you have experienced God's salvation today, thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank Him for His Spirit's prompting on your heart. Thank Him for His mercy in drawing you to Him. Rejoice! You are His!
Dear God,
How good it is to be Your child! We have truly been blessed. Help us to remember why it is that we long for You, and help us to drink at Your well, which brings satisfaction.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
There are only three more days left in our precious journey through Psalm 119. These 174 days have changed my life. At the beginning of this journey, I took a look at Charles Spurgeon's insights into Psalm 119. As we reach the end of the study, I take another look at Spurgeon's take on Psalm 119. There were many simple things that Spurgeon gleaned from verse 174. The one that struck me the most was how Spurgeon handled the beginning of the verse. Speaking of David's longing for God's salvation, Spurgeon wrote,
"This longing arises, 1. From a painful consciousness of the need of salvation. 2. From a perception of the glories of God's salvation. 3. From the promises which gave assurance of the possibility of obtaining this salvation. 4. From the gracious promptings of the Holy Ghost."
I love that! All four of Spurgeon's insights reveal the depth of David's longing. We, like David, can understand the painful consciousness of the need of salvation. We need God's salvation. He knows that. We know that. And, some of us are just stubborn enough to ignore it. May we not be so!
If you have experienced God's salvation today, thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank Him for His Spirit's prompting on your heart. Thank Him for His mercy in drawing you to Him. Rejoice! You are His!
Dear God,
How good it is to be Your child! We have truly been blessed. Help us to remember why it is that we long for You, and help us to drink at Your well, which brings satisfaction.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Help!
Psalm 119:173 - "May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts."
Things haven't worked out exactly like you planned them. You find yourself at a breaking point. You've burned bridges with those who have helped you before. Where do you turn for help?
Your marriage is in crisis. If you don't act quickly it could be too late. You are afraid. Where do you turn for help?
You child is rebelling. You have done everything humanly possible to raise your child in a way that pleases God. You've asked others for help, but nothing seems to work. Where do you turn for help?
The bills pile up quicker than they used to. They are more expensive too. You no longer have enough money to make even the minimum payments. The creditors are breathing down your neck. Where do you turn for help?
It's amazing how God is often times the last place that we turn to for help. We exhaust all of our human relationships, hoping to find the answer on our own. God knows what we are going through. It's no mystery to Him. He wants to be the place that we turn to for help first. May we, like David, cry out to God for His help. I love the rationale that David gives for beseeching Almighty God for help. He says that he has followed God's precepts. I wonder what kind of help we would need if we followed all of God's laws. Probably a lot less than most of us do right now. Our human solutions to problems are often the antithesis of what God would call us to do. And, after following our solutions we end up screaming out, "Help!" Maybe if we had lived the way that God had commanded in the first place, "Help!" would have never been yelled.
That isn't to say that those who follow God's commands don't ask for help. David is insinuating in this verse that he had done just that. He had followed God's commands and he still needed heavenly intervention. God loves to help those who have lived the way that He has commanded. Know that God was ready to answer David in a favorable way. He'll do the same for you. Put Him first, and He will bless you. Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). Sounds like a great way to live!
Dear God,
Help! Help us with the issues that we are facing today. Help us to remember to come to You before running elsewhere for help. Help us to remember to live life with a kingdom perspective. And, help us to please You with our lives.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Things haven't worked out exactly like you planned them. You find yourself at a breaking point. You've burned bridges with those who have helped you before. Where do you turn for help?
Your marriage is in crisis. If you don't act quickly it could be too late. You are afraid. Where do you turn for help?
You child is rebelling. You have done everything humanly possible to raise your child in a way that pleases God. You've asked others for help, but nothing seems to work. Where do you turn for help?
The bills pile up quicker than they used to. They are more expensive too. You no longer have enough money to make even the minimum payments. The creditors are breathing down your neck. Where do you turn for help?
It's amazing how God is often times the last place that we turn to for help. We exhaust all of our human relationships, hoping to find the answer on our own. God knows what we are going through. It's no mystery to Him. He wants to be the place that we turn to for help first. May we, like David, cry out to God for His help. I love the rationale that David gives for beseeching Almighty God for help. He says that he has followed God's precepts. I wonder what kind of help we would need if we followed all of God's laws. Probably a lot less than most of us do right now. Our human solutions to problems are often the antithesis of what God would call us to do. And, after following our solutions we end up screaming out, "Help!" Maybe if we had lived the way that God had commanded in the first place, "Help!" would have never been yelled.
That isn't to say that those who follow God's commands don't ask for help. David is insinuating in this verse that he had done just that. He had followed God's commands and he still needed heavenly intervention. God loves to help those who have lived the way that He has commanded. Know that God was ready to answer David in a favorable way. He'll do the same for you. Put Him first, and He will bless you. Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). Sounds like a great way to live!
Dear God,
Help! Help us with the issues that we are facing today. Help us to remember to come to You before running elsewhere for help. Help us to remember to live life with a kingdom perspective. And, help us to please You with our lives.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
A Song On Our Lips
Psalm 119:172 - "May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous."
It's pretty ironic that David, writing Scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes a verse that speaks about singing the Word of God. This verse would become recognized as the authoritative Word, and it would be sung as part of the Psalms. David loved song. The shepherd boy who calmed a king with his harp and eventually became king knew a thing or two about songs. He loved to put the Word of God to music, for he was enthralled with it.
Tomorrow, many of you will spend time worshipping God in church. One of the ways that you will worship Him is with song. Enjoy sharing in the ancient tradition of praising God with the art of song. May your lips sing praise to the true King, Jesus Christ, the only One who is worthy of our praise.
Dear God,
You are worthy of our praise. May our songs lift you up as we sing words that we believe to be true about You. Continue to do Your work in our life. We want to praise You with more than a song. May our life sing praise to You!
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
It's pretty ironic that David, writing Scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes a verse that speaks about singing the Word of God. This verse would become recognized as the authoritative Word, and it would be sung as part of the Psalms. David loved song. The shepherd boy who calmed a king with his harp and eventually became king knew a thing or two about songs. He loved to put the Word of God to music, for he was enthralled with it.
Tomorrow, many of you will spend time worshipping God in church. One of the ways that you will worship Him is with song. Enjoy sharing in the ancient tradition of praising God with the art of song. May your lips sing praise to the true King, Jesus Christ, the only One who is worthy of our praise.
Dear God,
You are worthy of our praise. May our songs lift you up as we sing words that we believe to be true about You. Continue to do Your work in our life. We want to praise You with more than a song. May our life sing praise to You!
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
New Passion CD!
I love all of the Passion CD's. There is just something about the lyrics and for lack of a better word, the passion, in their music that moves me. I'm so excited, because I got an e-mail today telling me that Passion's new CD is available. It's called Passion: God Of This City, and features Chris Tomlin, the David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, and more. You can listen to a preview, see videos, download chord music for a limited time, and more HERE. When you go to the site you get to listen to full versions of Chris Tomlin's Let God Arise, Charlie Hall's Walk the World, and Matt Redman's God Of Our Yesterdays. You also get to listen to short previews of the rest of the songs on the album.
You'll be singing these songs soon in a church near you, if you aren't already. That's the kind of impact Passion's CD's have had on church music. Just for fun, I'd like to hear about your favorite Passion song of all time. Leave a comment, and tell me why that song has impacted you so much. My favorite? One Pure and Holy Passion, from the One Day Live CD. I love the way that the lyrics cry out to God to help us live lives that glorify Him. I want to pursue God with unbridled passion in a world that increasingly seeks to marginalize and push God to the side. May He be all of our consuming passions.
Friday, February 08, 2008
When You Just Can't Keep Your Praise In
Psalm 119:171 - "May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees."
Have you ever been so in love with God that you couldn't stop speaking about Him? I remember the day that I asked Jesus Christ to be my Savior. I was four-years-old, and it was Easter Sunday. After listening to my Sunday School teacher share about Christ, and what He did for us on Calvary, I went home and asked Him to be my Savior. Later that afternoon, I told my next door neighbor, Trina Herman, all about God's love. She asked Jesus to be her Savior too. My lips were overflowing with praise for God. Even as a four-year-old, I understood the concept of God's grace. I understood that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. He had taught me His decrees via a children's Sunday School teacher. I praise God for that teacher.
How has God been teaching you about His decrees lately? Are there some things that you'd like to share with others? I'd encourage you to share it on the comment section of this post. Why? Because it's one way of letting your lips (or fingers in this case) overflow with God's praise. And, it's a blessing to others. May God continue to teach you about His incredible love.
Dear God,
You are the Marvelous One! You have taught us so much over these 171 days that we have spent so far in Psalm 119. Thank You for Your word. Thank You that it is so good for instructing us in so many ways. We are forever changed because of You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Have you ever been so in love with God that you couldn't stop speaking about Him? I remember the day that I asked Jesus Christ to be my Savior. I was four-years-old, and it was Easter Sunday. After listening to my Sunday School teacher share about Christ, and what He did for us on Calvary, I went home and asked Him to be my Savior. Later that afternoon, I told my next door neighbor, Trina Herman, all about God's love. She asked Jesus to be her Savior too. My lips were overflowing with praise for God. Even as a four-year-old, I understood the concept of God's grace. I understood that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. He had taught me His decrees via a children's Sunday School teacher. I praise God for that teacher.
How has God been teaching you about His decrees lately? Are there some things that you'd like to share with others? I'd encourage you to share it on the comment section of this post. Why? Because it's one way of letting your lips (or fingers in this case) overflow with God's praise. And, it's a blessing to others. May God continue to teach you about His incredible love.
Dear God,
You are the Marvelous One! You have taught us so much over these 171 days that we have spent so far in Psalm 119. Thank You for Your word. Thank You that it is so good for instructing us in so many ways. We are forever changed because of You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
It's Time To Pray
Psalm 119:170 - "May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise."
How is your prayer life? If you are like most people, you may be tempted to say, "What prayer life?" Oh sure, we pray when we want something, or when we are desperate, but are we people of prayer?
When we pray, we share our heart with God. And, David shows us in this verse that our requests actually come before God. It's been talked about before in this Psalm, but it's worth noting again. You and I have access to the throne room of heaven. We have access to God, Creator and Sustainer of life. And God loves it when we spend time with Him.
As you prepare for the weekend, why not consider spending an extended amount of time in prayer this weekend? Have a major decision on the horizon? Spend time in prayer. Miss your time with God lately? Spend time in prayer. Not sure if God is there? Spend time in prayer. Tell God how you feel. He wants to spend time with you, and that time might just change you forever.
Dear God,
David prays throughout this Psalm. He continually tells you that he needs You to deliver Him. We need Your deliverance too. Help us to trust You. Help us to make time to pray. Help us to see that You are there, and that You answer prayer.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
How is your prayer life? If you are like most people, you may be tempted to say, "What prayer life?" Oh sure, we pray when we want something, or when we are desperate, but are we people of prayer?
When we pray, we share our heart with God. And, David shows us in this verse that our requests actually come before God. It's been talked about before in this Psalm, but it's worth noting again. You and I have access to the throne room of heaven. We have access to God, Creator and Sustainer of life. And God loves it when we spend time with Him.
As you prepare for the weekend, why not consider spending an extended amount of time in prayer this weekend? Have a major decision on the horizon? Spend time in prayer. Miss your time with God lately? Spend time in prayer. Not sure if God is there? Spend time in prayer. Tell God how you feel. He wants to spend time with you, and that time might just change you forever.
Dear God,
David prays throughout this Psalm. He continually tells you that he needs You to deliver Him. We need Your deliverance too. Help us to trust You. Help us to make time to pray. Help us to see that You are there, and that You answer prayer.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The Extravagant Love Of A Teenage Boy
Psalm 119:169 - "May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word."
I read an article in BGC World recently. It's the denominational magazine for the Baptist General Conference. The article was written by a pastor named Dan Schaeffer, and was about something that his teenage son did. The 17-year-old boy loved guitars. He dreamt about purchasing an expensive electric guitar that cost well over $1000. After saving his funds for over a year, the boy and his father purchased the guitar.
Some time later, the boy asked if he called talk to his dad. He took his dad aside and said that while he was praying a few days earlier he sensed God asking Him, "Andrew, how much do you love me?" Then he added, "Dad, I took the guitar and smashed it to pieces. I threw it in the trash a few days ago."
His dad was floored. He said something about not understanding whey his son would do such a thing. And then his son gave him a look that told Dan that he just didn't get it.
Later on Dan would think about the biblical account of Mary's extravagant love for Jesus with the alabastar jar filled with perfume that cost over a year's wages. She showed Christ love by breaking that jar and annointing Jesus with the perfume. Jesus disciples were indignant. They didn't get it. Jesus praised her (See John 12:1-7 for the complete story).
When I read today's verse, I thought about how Mary in the Bible, and Andrew in Dan Schaeffer's story understood God. They understood God's desire to be shown extravagant love. When is the last time you showed Him extravagant love?
I love the way that Schaeffer finished his story. He wrote, "I'm tired of being reasonable and restrained - that I can witness an act of extravagant love towards Jesus and instantly think 'waste.' It's time to be extravagant. With Christ it's exactly what's called for."
Let's be extravagant people!
Dear God,
Thank You for demonstating to us what extravagance is. You showed us how to be extravagant when you gave us Your Son. Give us understanding on how to love You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
I read an article in BGC World recently. It's the denominational magazine for the Baptist General Conference. The article was written by a pastor named Dan Schaeffer, and was about something that his teenage son did. The 17-year-old boy loved guitars. He dreamt about purchasing an expensive electric guitar that cost well over $1000. After saving his funds for over a year, the boy and his father purchased the guitar.
Some time later, the boy asked if he called talk to his dad. He took his dad aside and said that while he was praying a few days earlier he sensed God asking Him, "Andrew, how much do you love me?" Then he added, "Dad, I took the guitar and smashed it to pieces. I threw it in the trash a few days ago."
His dad was floored. He said something about not understanding whey his son would do such a thing. And then his son gave him a look that told Dan that he just didn't get it.
Later on Dan would think about the biblical account of Mary's extravagant love for Jesus with the alabastar jar filled with perfume that cost over a year's wages. She showed Christ love by breaking that jar and annointing Jesus with the perfume. Jesus disciples were indignant. They didn't get it. Jesus praised her (See John 12:1-7 for the complete story).
When I read today's verse, I thought about how Mary in the Bible, and Andrew in Dan Schaeffer's story understood God. They understood God's desire to be shown extravagant love. When is the last time you showed Him extravagant love?
I love the way that Schaeffer finished his story. He wrote, "I'm tired of being reasonable and restrained - that I can witness an act of extravagant love towards Jesus and instantly think 'waste.' It's time to be extravagant. With Christ it's exactly what's called for."
Let's be extravagant people!
Dear God,
Thank You for demonstating to us what extravagance is. You showed us how to be extravagant when you gave us Your Son. Give us understanding on how to love You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Love Story
Psalm 119:168 - "I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you."
I love my wife. She is my best friend, and my closest confidant. We've been married for 16 years, and dated for three years before we were married. So, our lives have been intertwined for almost 20 years. There are times that I see my wife and I know exactly what she is thinking. There are times that she can tell you what I am going to say before the words are out of my mouth. We know each other so well. And, I love that about our relationship.
As much as I know Cyndi, God knows her better. There is not a thing about my wife that is a mystery to God. And that fascinates me. I love that God knows me better than I know myself. That thought also terrifies me. It terrifies me to think that I am so known and so loved by the God of the universe. It makes me want to keep the first part of Psalm 119:168 true in my life. His knowledge of me, and His love for me despite that knowledge, makes me want to obey Him all the more. Take some time today to praise God for His incredible love.
Dear God,
Thank You for Your tender love. You show us love even when we don't deserve it. You know all there is to know about us, and You choose to love us. You are so good, and we praise You for your love.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
I love my wife. She is my best friend, and my closest confidant. We've been married for 16 years, and dated for three years before we were married. So, our lives have been intertwined for almost 20 years. There are times that I see my wife and I know exactly what she is thinking. There are times that she can tell you what I am going to say before the words are out of my mouth. We know each other so well. And, I love that about our relationship.
As much as I know Cyndi, God knows her better. There is not a thing about my wife that is a mystery to God. And that fascinates me. I love that God knows me better than I know myself. That thought also terrifies me. It terrifies me to think that I am so known and so loved by the God of the universe. It makes me want to keep the first part of Psalm 119:168 true in my life. His knowledge of me, and His love for me despite that knowledge, makes me want to obey Him all the more. Take some time today to praise God for His incredible love.
Dear God,
Thank You for Your tender love. You show us love even when we don't deserve it. You know all there is to know about us, and You choose to love us. You are so good, and we praise You for your love.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Monday, February 04, 2008
The Law Has Changed Me
Psalm 119:167 - "I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly."
It's hard to believe that by the end of next week I'll be done with this 176 day journey through Psalm 119. As I reach the end there are days that I find myself wanting to just be done with this chapter. After all, how many days can one spend immersing one's self with readings and musings on God's law? I also find myself longing more of God. I want more than just the law. I want more than one Psalm. I want the Gospels. I want the stories. I want the prophets. I want . . . I want . . . I want, the Word.
And, that's when it hits me. The past 167 days have taught me a discipline for the Word. They've also whet my appetite for the rest of the Word. I find that I love the Word of God more than ever. I find that I want to obey God, because I am learning how to love Him more. And, I find that I'm changed. The sins I used to desire are less desirable. The way that I spend my time is different. I have prioritized God, and it's changing me. And, as tough as it is to continually read about the law of God, I will forever be grateful for it. For, it has changed me.
Dear God,
Your law is beautiful. Your words change lives. Thank You for changing me. Help me to keep desiring more of You and less of the world.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
It's hard to believe that by the end of next week I'll be done with this 176 day journey through Psalm 119. As I reach the end there are days that I find myself wanting to just be done with this chapter. After all, how many days can one spend immersing one's self with readings and musings on God's law? I also find myself longing more of God. I want more than just the law. I want more than one Psalm. I want the Gospels. I want the stories. I want the prophets. I want . . . I want . . . I want, the Word.
And, that's when it hits me. The past 167 days have taught me a discipline for the Word. They've also whet my appetite for the rest of the Word. I find that I love the Word of God more than ever. I find that I want to obey God, because I am learning how to love Him more. And, I find that I'm changed. The sins I used to desire are less desirable. The way that I spend my time is different. I have prioritized God, and it's changing me. And, as tough as it is to continually read about the law of God, I will forever be grateful for it. For, it has changed me.
Dear God,
Your law is beautiful. Your words change lives. Thank You for changing me. Help me to keep desiring more of You and less of the world.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Super Bowl Salvation
Psalm 119:166 - "I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands."
This evening I spent the Super Bowl with 100+ senior highers in Wooddale's Hillside Rooms. We watched the game and at halftime watched LaDainian Tomlinson talk about his faith in Jesus Christ. It was a pre-recorded video that Sports Spectrum Magazine produced. They do this every year. They call their program Power To Win. This is fourth year in a row that we have done this outreach. And tonight, for the fourth year in a row, there were students who asked Jesus Christ to become their Lord and Savior at the end of the video. What an awesome night.
I was rooting for the Giants. I'm excited that they won. But, no victory on the football field could compare to the victory that took place in the lives of the students who asked Jesus Christ to be their Savior tonight! God moved. As a youth pastor I can relate with David's words in Psalm 119:166. Like David, I wait for God's salvation. Every year I pray that students will give their life to Christ on Super Bowl Sunday. Sure, David was probably praying for God's salvation from a situation that he was in, but the salvation that I talk about is no less significant. David lived pre-Christ's death on the cross. He had a faith that one day Messiah would come, but we have confidence that He has come, and He has come to give life and give it to the full.
Please pray for those students who made committments to Jesus tonight! These are the nights that make me love youth ministry. I missed the second half of the game. I was meeting with some students dealing with some pretty significant issues. Please pray for the students that were at the Super Bowl Party tonight, but are not ready to allow Christ to be Lord of their life. They are still waiting for God's salvation. My prayer is that they find it soon.
Dear God,
We rejoice, with You and the angels at those students who came to faith in You tonight. Guard the hearts and minds of these students and let them experience Your abundant life. Draw the hearts of those who don't know You to You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
This evening I spent the Super Bowl with 100+ senior highers in Wooddale's Hillside Rooms. We watched the game and at halftime watched LaDainian Tomlinson talk about his faith in Jesus Christ. It was a pre-recorded video that Sports Spectrum Magazine produced. They do this every year. They call their program Power To Win. This is fourth year in a row that we have done this outreach. And tonight, for the fourth year in a row, there were students who asked Jesus Christ to become their Lord and Savior at the end of the video. What an awesome night.
I was rooting for the Giants. I'm excited that they won. But, no victory on the football field could compare to the victory that took place in the lives of the students who asked Jesus Christ to be their Savior tonight! God moved. As a youth pastor I can relate with David's words in Psalm 119:166. Like David, I wait for God's salvation. Every year I pray that students will give their life to Christ on Super Bowl Sunday. Sure, David was probably praying for God's salvation from a situation that he was in, but the salvation that I talk about is no less significant. David lived pre-Christ's death on the cross. He had a faith that one day Messiah would come, but we have confidence that He has come, and He has come to give life and give it to the full.
Please pray for those students who made committments to Jesus tonight! These are the nights that make me love youth ministry. I missed the second half of the game. I was meeting with some students dealing with some pretty significant issues. Please pray for the students that were at the Super Bowl Party tonight, but are not ready to allow Christ to be Lord of their life. They are still waiting for God's salvation. My prayer is that they find it soon.
Dear God,
We rejoice, with You and the angels at those students who came to faith in You tonight. Guard the hearts and minds of these students and let them experience Your abundant life. Draw the hearts of those who don't know You to You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
The Secret to Great Peace
Psalm 119:165 - "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble."
This verse may very well be one of the most powerful verses in the entire Bible. The teaching is revolutionary. It frees the anxious and gives direction to those who need it. It contains the secret to the elusive quality of peace. David tells us that if we want peace, we need to love the law of the Lord.
David's statement in this verse is declarative. Those who love God's law not only have peace, but they have it in abudndance! Want great peace? Live the way that God has called you to live.
There is a second part that I love in this verse. It's the promise in the end that those who truly love the law of God will never stumble. What a beautiful promise! How would you like to go through your life without stumbling? I think we all would. But, that kind of walk comes with a price, and the price is loving the law of God.
I hope you'll take time today to consider these great promises. God is so good. His law is good. He is worth giving our all to. Let Him have you.
Dear God,
We want to love Your law. We want to love Your Word. Help us to know how to love You more. Help us to follow You no matter what the world throws our way.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
This verse may very well be one of the most powerful verses in the entire Bible. The teaching is revolutionary. It frees the anxious and gives direction to those who need it. It contains the secret to the elusive quality of peace. David tells us that if we want peace, we need to love the law of the Lord.
David's statement in this verse is declarative. Those who love God's law not only have peace, but they have it in abudndance! Want great peace? Live the way that God has called you to live.
There is a second part that I love in this verse. It's the promise in the end that those who truly love the law of God will never stumble. What a beautiful promise! How would you like to go through your life without stumbling? I think we all would. But, that kind of walk comes with a price, and the price is loving the law of God.
I hope you'll take time today to consider these great promises. God is so good. His law is good. He is worth giving our all to. Let Him have you.
Dear God,
We want to love Your law. We want to love Your Word. Help us to know how to love You more. Help us to follow You no matter what the world throws our way.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Friday, February 01, 2008
God Awareness
Psalm 119:164 - "Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws."
One of the things that I love about David is that he walked through his life with a God awareness. He knew that he couldn't make it through his day without God. And, he knew that God wanted his praise. How do you praise God as you walk through your day?
I know some people who praise God by contiually praying throughout the day. When they drive, they turn off the radio and pray. When they walk, they pray. When they hear about somebody going through a tough time, they pray.
I know other people who praise God with song. When they drive, they turn the radio up and sing. When they walk, they sing. When they write, they write lyrics to songs and then sing those songs with hearts of praise.
I know some people who praise God with art. When they drive, they look at what God has created and dream about what that will look like on the canvas . When they walk, they walk with notebook in hand, ready to stop at a moments notice to sketch what it is that God has created. When they hear about someone going through a tough time, they create a drama that tells the person's story yet gives hope of God's work in the person's life.
I know some people who praise God by using their spiritual gifts to honor Him. They are always looking for how they can exercise the gift to be a blessing in someone else's life and to draw the person closer to the Kingdom of Heaven.
As you go through your day today, be aware. God is near. Praise Him, throughout your day! He is good, and His love endures forever.
Dear God,
We praise You because You were not made, but have always existed. You are the creator and sustainer of life. You are our all in all. You are our strength and our shiled. You are our ever present hope. We love You. Thank You for loving us.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
One of the things that I love about David is that he walked through his life with a God awareness. He knew that he couldn't make it through his day without God. And, he knew that God wanted his praise. How do you praise God as you walk through your day?
I know some people who praise God by contiually praying throughout the day. When they drive, they turn off the radio and pray. When they walk, they pray. When they hear about somebody going through a tough time, they pray.
I know other people who praise God with song. When they drive, they turn the radio up and sing. When they walk, they sing. When they write, they write lyrics to songs and then sing those songs with hearts of praise.
I know some people who praise God with art. When they drive, they look at what God has created and dream about what that will look like on the canvas . When they walk, they walk with notebook in hand, ready to stop at a moments notice to sketch what it is that God has created. When they hear about someone going through a tough time, they create a drama that tells the person's story yet gives hope of God's work in the person's life.
I know some people who praise God by using their spiritual gifts to honor Him. They are always looking for how they can exercise the gift to be a blessing in someone else's life and to draw the person closer to the Kingdom of Heaven.
As you go through your day today, be aware. God is near. Praise Him, throughout your day! He is good, and His love endures forever.
Dear God,
We praise You because You were not made, but have always existed. You are the creator and sustainer of life. You are our all in all. You are our strength and our shiled. You are our ever present hope. We love You. Thank You for loving us.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
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