S - Matthew 13:10-17
O - Jesus explains why he speaks in parables. I find it interesting what he says about people's hearts. "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them." (This was a prophecy Jesus quoted from Isaiah). The interesting part is the next two verses, 16 and 17. "But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. FOR I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, MANY PROPHETS AND RIGHTEOUS MEN LONGED TO SEE WHAT YOU SEE BUT DID NOT SEE IT, AND TO HEAR WHAT YOU EAR BUT DID NOT HEAR IT." (Caps mine). The interesting part is that there were so many PROPHETS and RIGHTEOUS MEN (wow!) who longed to see and hear what we do, yet they never did. We are very blessed to understand what we do understand, see what we see, and hear what we hear. Most in this world that have lived have not; many who so wanted to, never did. We have the beautiful knowledge of God's WHOLE BOOK as a vantage point, whereas they did not. We see the bigger picture from sin in the garden, animal sacrifices, the fulfillment of Christ, his death and resurrection, and his final and second coming. Amazing what he has given us to see. It truly all fits together so well. Only God could write it. His hand is so intricately woven into history.
A - What will I do with all that God has shown me? Live how I want, or truly live as he has called me?
P - God, thank you that you have opened my eyes and ears and given me understanding. Forgive me for not doing all that you've called me to do and going my own way time and again. Help me to become strong to trust you; help me to become stronger in my faith and strengthened to be more like Christ each day. Like one of my favorite songs...
Make me strong to trust you,
Make me strong within,
Make me willing to suffer,
change these bonds of sin.
I can count the times
I have seen your hand,
I will mount this trial,
and with your strength
I believe
You will show
Your grace in my need
You are faithful
MAKE ME STRONG
I believe.
Lord, truly strengthen me within. It is so easy to wander. Keep my eyes focused on you this day and to be blessed that you have shown me so much of you! Thank you for your graces. Amen.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Matthew 13:1-8
S - Matthew 13:1-8
O and A - The Parable of the Sower - our job is to SCATTER SEED. That is what God has called us to. It is not in our hands whether the birds eat it, it falls among thorns, the sun scorches it, or it "falls on good soil where it produces a crop - a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown." SCATTER SEED.
P - Lord, help me to remember to SCATTER SEED. What happens with it is up to you, so I rest in that. Amen.
O and A - The Parable of the Sower - our job is to SCATTER SEED. That is what God has called us to. It is not in our hands whether the birds eat it, it falls among thorns, the sun scorches it, or it "falls on good soil where it produces a crop - a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown." SCATTER SEED.
P - Lord, help me to remember to SCATTER SEED. What happens with it is up to you, so I rest in that. Amen.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Matthew 12:38-45
Scripture - Matthew 12:38-45
Observation and Application - The Pharisees asked for a miraculous sign. Jesus said "a wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign. But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." He also compares Jonah and the whale and the 3 days/3 nights he was there to the "Son of Man" in the heart of the earth for 3 days/3 nights." (So is hell actually in the heart of the earth?) Is it wicked to ask God for a sign? I need to be leary of desiring a miraculous sign from God... Question my motives, I guess.
Another weird part of this passage is that Jesus states that the "Queen of the South" (in caps) will rise at the judgment and condemn that generation. Who is this Queen of the South??? Strange.
Another interesting part of this passage:
"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself,and they go and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
The above passage reminds me of a friend who told me about a pastor who said if you quit drinking/doing drugs and don't close all the doors and windows to your "house", you are leaving yourself vulnerable. You close all the doors and windows by carefully securing your house (screws, nails, locks). These screws, nails, locks are the tools you consistently use/secure it with (i.e. - the word, prayer, friends, accountability, consistent help, etc.). I like the house analogy. That makes a lot of sense to me. Obviously the Holy Spirit and the Word would be a way to keep the house clean. I know, too, that demons cannot possess those who are Christians, but the above could even relate to strongholds in our lives. If we don't replace the old with the NEW, the old will come back and usually with greater force.
"I am a new creation. The old has gone; the new has come." So we are to live like the saved and not like the unsaved. We are to fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit, and not with wine. The time is short. We are to, as it says in 1 Corinthians 7, live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. (Of course, Paul is talking about those who are unmarried here, but the heart of it applies to us all).
Prayer - Lord, these passages are interesting. Jesus obviously has a mind much greater than our own and comprehended/comprehends so much more than we do. His words are always so deep. I pray, though, Lord, that I will be protective of my "house" and use the tools you give me, dependent upon you day to day, to keep evil away. I know that I am as vulnerable as anyone, but I lean upon you, and I pray for undivided devotion. I pray to reject the old and allow my new habits in you to stay rooted in my life... to abide in the vine of your strength and let your power flow in my life. I pray your Spirit would bring about fruit as I am connected to you. I pray that my children would be nourished by your fruit. Lord, I give you this day. I pray I would see all that happens in my life as your divine appointments and that I would be a listener of your Holy Spirit. Let my mind and heart today stay calm and focused in you. Help me to do the tasks you have for me today with a right heart. Let me be a servant to others who need it. Amen.
Observation and Application - The Pharisees asked for a miraculous sign. Jesus said "a wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign. But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." He also compares Jonah and the whale and the 3 days/3 nights he was there to the "Son of Man" in the heart of the earth for 3 days/3 nights." (So is hell actually in the heart of the earth?) Is it wicked to ask God for a sign? I need to be leary of desiring a miraculous sign from God... Question my motives, I guess.
Another weird part of this passage is that Jesus states that the "Queen of the South" (in caps) will rise at the judgment and condemn that generation. Who is this Queen of the South??? Strange.
Another interesting part of this passage:
"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself,and they go and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
The above passage reminds me of a friend who told me about a pastor who said if you quit drinking/doing drugs and don't close all the doors and windows to your "house", you are leaving yourself vulnerable. You close all the doors and windows by carefully securing your house (screws, nails, locks). These screws, nails, locks are the tools you consistently use/secure it with (i.e. - the word, prayer, friends, accountability, consistent help, etc.). I like the house analogy. That makes a lot of sense to me. Obviously the Holy Spirit and the Word would be a way to keep the house clean. I know, too, that demons cannot possess those who are Christians, but the above could even relate to strongholds in our lives. If we don't replace the old with the NEW, the old will come back and usually with greater force.
"I am a new creation. The old has gone; the new has come." So we are to live like the saved and not like the unsaved. We are to fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit, and not with wine. The time is short. We are to, as it says in 1 Corinthians 7, live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. (Of course, Paul is talking about those who are unmarried here, but the heart of it applies to us all).
Prayer - Lord, these passages are interesting. Jesus obviously has a mind much greater than our own and comprehended/comprehends so much more than we do. His words are always so deep. I pray, though, Lord, that I will be protective of my "house" and use the tools you give me, dependent upon you day to day, to keep evil away. I know that I am as vulnerable as anyone, but I lean upon you, and I pray for undivided devotion. I pray to reject the old and allow my new habits in you to stay rooted in my life... to abide in the vine of your strength and let your power flow in my life. I pray your Spirit would bring about fruit as I am connected to you. I pray that my children would be nourished by your fruit. Lord, I give you this day. I pray I would see all that happens in my life as your divine appointments and that I would be a listener of your Holy Spirit. Let my mind and heart today stay calm and focused in you. Help me to do the tasks you have for me today with a right heart. Let me be a servant to others who need it. Amen.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Matthew 12:22-37
S - Matthew 12:22-37
O - "He who is not with me is against me; he who does not gather with me scatters."
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit... for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
A - Put good things into my children and their fruit will be good. Make my goal to store up good in them.
Watch my mouth. Store up good in me. Memorize more scripture to fill my mind with good. Rebuke the bad from my life so good will overflow to others. Be accountable now for my words.
I will eventually give an account to the Lord for every careless word. Watch my careless words. Bite my tongue. Don't be a gossip or slanderer. Use my words careFULLY not carelessly.
Be a gatherer with Jesus not a scatterer.
P - Lord, thank you for another day you have given me. Help me to learn quickly to use my words careFULLY. Help me to fill my mind and my childrens' with good so our fruit will be good. Help me to use my tongue to glorify you. Convict me when I am not using it with your Lordship in mind. Bless this day. Help me to use it wisely. Amen.
O - "He who is not with me is against me; he who does not gather with me scatters."
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit... for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
A - Put good things into my children and their fruit will be good. Make my goal to store up good in them.
Watch my mouth. Store up good in me. Memorize more scripture to fill my mind with good. Rebuke the bad from my life so good will overflow to others. Be accountable now for my words.
I will eventually give an account to the Lord for every careless word. Watch my careless words. Bite my tongue. Don't be a gossip or slanderer. Use my words careFULLY not carelessly.
Be a gatherer with Jesus not a scatterer.
P - Lord, thank you for another day you have given me. Help me to learn quickly to use my words careFULLY. Help me to fill my mind and my childrens' with good so our fruit will be good. Help me to use my tongue to glorify you. Convict me when I am not using it with your Lordship in mind. Bless this day. Help me to use it wisely. Amen.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Matthew 12:9-21 - Conforming to Him
S - Matthew 12:9 - 21
O - Jesus healed on the Sabbath and was criticized by the Pharisees, yet he answered them in a common sense way. God is not a God of rules, but of relationship and common sense. He is a big picture God. He did not conform to their image of religion. Jesus was not religious.
This is when they began to plot how they might kill Jesus.
Jesus was aware of their plot. He withdrew from that place, and healed more.
Isaiah prophesied of this in the Old Testament. Isaiah 42:1-4 says, "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope."
A - The people expected one "sort" of king to be sent by God. Jesus was a humble, quiet, yet strong man. He did bring justice to the nations through his death, and many world-wide now follow him.
We often want Jesus to bring visible victories into our lives. But often his work is quiet, and it happens according to his perfect timing, not ours. The more we know Jesus, the more we will trust Him and His will in our lives, and not try to conform his image into what we desire (idolatry). He was not conformed into what the Pharisees wanted, and they fought this. When he does not conform to what we want, we fight. This is idolatry and rebelliousness. Again, I must remember that this life I live is his, not mine. I must trust, submit, and conform to him rather than try to get him to conform to my will.
P - Lord, Your will be done. Forgive me for wanting to conform you into my will and not trusting you to be Lord in all the details. Forgive my fears. I see this now. Help me to wholly conform to you, to love and follow you, and not desire the "American Dream" so much. But instead, desire more of You in my life and in my family. Help me to trust you more with everything. You are fully worthy. Amen.
O - Jesus healed on the Sabbath and was criticized by the Pharisees, yet he answered them in a common sense way. God is not a God of rules, but of relationship and common sense. He is a big picture God. He did not conform to their image of religion. Jesus was not religious.
This is when they began to plot how they might kill Jesus.
Jesus was aware of their plot. He withdrew from that place, and healed more.
Isaiah prophesied of this in the Old Testament. Isaiah 42:1-4 says, "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope."
A - The people expected one "sort" of king to be sent by God. Jesus was a humble, quiet, yet strong man. He did bring justice to the nations through his death, and many world-wide now follow him.
We often want Jesus to bring visible victories into our lives. But often his work is quiet, and it happens according to his perfect timing, not ours. The more we know Jesus, the more we will trust Him and His will in our lives, and not try to conform his image into what we desire (idolatry). He was not conformed into what the Pharisees wanted, and they fought this. When he does not conform to what we want, we fight. This is idolatry and rebelliousness. Again, I must remember that this life I live is his, not mine. I must trust, submit, and conform to him rather than try to get him to conform to my will.
P - Lord, Your will be done. Forgive me for wanting to conform you into my will and not trusting you to be Lord in all the details. Forgive my fears. I see this now. Help me to wholly conform to you, to love and follow you, and not desire the "American Dream" so much. But instead, desire more of You in my life and in my family. Help me to trust you more with everything. You are fully worthy. Amen.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Matthew 12:1-7 - Mercy, not Sacrifice
S - Matthew 12:1-7
O- Jesus did not follow man's rules (what was unlawful on the Sabbath - to pick grain) according to what was "righteous" in man's eyes. He gave his disciples food because they were hungry. He said to the Pharisees, "I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice', you would not have condemned the innocent."
Hosea 6:6 is quoted by Jesus here. The full text in Hosea says, "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; Let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appeaar; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. 'What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth; my judgments flashed like lightning upon you. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Like Adam, they have broken the covenant - they were unfaithful to me there.'"
God wants our continual acknowledgement. He wants us to LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE. He does not want us to love him like a morning mist or early dew that disappears. Amazing word picture here, God! Wow.
A - If we become more concerned with the means of worship than with the One we worship, we will miss God even as we think we are worshipping Him. Keep my eyes steadfast on my Creator, and don't feel guilty about what I "should" be doing. Instead, worship the One who Is. The Great "I AM". Because He Is. I am not.
P - Lord, help me not to focus on what I should be doing to worship you, but to just sit in AWE of you. You are CREATOR and LORD. Let me just BE in worship mode, acknowledging you in all I say and do. Forgive me when my flesh is not in check with that. Forgive my selfish, sinful nature. Forgive my impulsiveness to express frustration not in line with your will for me. Forgive my tendency to satisfy self. Help me to keep in alliance with you this day. Give me strength Lord, and help me to be an example to my girls and to my husband, as well. Bless this day. I lift it up to you. Amen.
O- Jesus did not follow man's rules (what was unlawful on the Sabbath - to pick grain) according to what was "righteous" in man's eyes. He gave his disciples food because they were hungry. He said to the Pharisees, "I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice', you would not have condemned the innocent."
Hosea 6:6 is quoted by Jesus here. The full text in Hosea says, "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; Let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appeaar; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. 'What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth; my judgments flashed like lightning upon you. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Like Adam, they have broken the covenant - they were unfaithful to me there.'"
God wants our continual acknowledgement. He wants us to LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE. He does not want us to love him like a morning mist or early dew that disappears. Amazing word picture here, God! Wow.
A - If we become more concerned with the means of worship than with the One we worship, we will miss God even as we think we are worshipping Him. Keep my eyes steadfast on my Creator, and don't feel guilty about what I "should" be doing. Instead, worship the One who Is. The Great "I AM". Because He Is. I am not.
P - Lord, help me not to focus on what I should be doing to worship you, but to just sit in AWE of you. You are CREATOR and LORD. Let me just BE in worship mode, acknowledging you in all I say and do. Forgive me when my flesh is not in check with that. Forgive my selfish, sinful nature. Forgive my impulsiveness to express frustration not in line with your will for me. Forgive my tendency to satisfy self. Help me to keep in alliance with you this day. Give me strength Lord, and help me to be an example to my girls and to my husband, as well. Bless this day. I lift it up to you. Amen.
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