Feel the weight of the greatness of God! Sit in awe of the majesty of the One who created the heavens and the earth! I implore you today to read Job chapter 39. Do you sense the hope found in the power of God? When the calamities of life over take you will you find hope? The wondrous truths you will savor in those thirty verses will give you perspective of our great God. Who is it that cares for the wild animals allowing them to give birth, live free and thrive? Who protects the young animals in the wild? Who created the diverse animals we see throughout creation? It is the amazing God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who did these things and more. Continue Reading…
Tag Archive - Matthew
Proper perspective brings awe, wonder and silence: Job 39 and 40
Your heart proclaims your treasure: 2 Chronicles 31 and 32
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:20-24 These verses have been brought to my mind many times by various people the last few weeks. We live in a world that places great renown and power on the accumulation of things. We cannot live a life where we have a mixed allegiance between God and the world. What does it look like when we cast aside the bonds of idolatry that have taken root in our lives and cling to God? What hope is there to break free from the bonds that consistently seek to hold onto our attention? Continue Reading…
Overtaken by curses or blessings, your choice will be evident in your actions: Deuteronomy 27 and 28
What would overtake you? I remember the feeling of speeding along in my car loving life as the wind blew through my hair when suddenly I felt despair and regret as I saw red and blue lights flashing behind me. I was quickly overtaken and pulled overtaken because I was breaking the law. Being pulled over for speeding is one poignant example of being overtaken but there are many things that we can be overtaken by some of which we would welcome and others we would dread. In Deuteronomy chapters 27 and 28 God makes a promise to the Israelites that they will be overtaken by either blessings or curses and this outcome will be directly related to their obedience or disobedience. The choice was theirs. What was their reaction to this promise from God? What would be your reaction to hearing that? Continue Reading…
Surely you are not that perfect: Deuteronomy 9 and 10
It is easily natural to think of ourselves as better than other people at times: I don’t drink alcohol as much as they do, they don’t even go to church any more but I go every week, I just watch PG films they watch R rated ones, I don’t look down upon anyone like they do, or I at least don’t struggle with those constant sins that they do. We often look at someone else and rationalize our sin in light of what we see when we look at them. This problematic approach of self rationalization is seen and addressed in Deuteronomy chapters 9 and 10. Continue Reading…
God’s celebration and justice contained in Leviticus 23 and 24
In Leviticus 24 and 25 we get a glimpse of the celebrations and justice that God commands for the Israelites. These celebrations were times of remembrance upon what God has done and is doing for the Israelites. The justice comes in the form of the famous line “An Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth”
Reflections on wisdom and folly
Tonight I was challenged by Jim Vining to think about Proverbs and the essence of wisdom and folly. When we look at wisdom and folly side-by-side it is easy to see the overwhelming supremacy of wisdom over folly. How often are we faced with that stark contrast in real life? Jim made a point that wisdom is not something that we gain passively but we are invited into a relationship with wisdom. What is the underlying issue with wisdom? I look back on my journey and I see that there is a complexity to wisdom. I entered into a walk with Jesus as my personal savior many years ago and I was foolish and always visiting the door leading to folly. Many years later my relationship with Jesus has grown and developed and I use wisdom more and see things in a clearer manner. What happened over the last 20 years? I think foundation is key. Continue Reading…
Consistency 1.0
So I have not really been reading my Bible as I would like lately. I can easily feel like I am a bad christian or lack motivation because I have been lacking motivation. I don’t feel bad at all because:
Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
– Matthew 26:31 NASB Continue Reading…
