JULY 30, 2016

“The community of the saints is not an "ideal" community consisting of perfect and sinless men and women, where there is no need of further repentance. No, it is a community which proves that it is worthy of the gospel of forgiveness by constantly and sincerely proclaiming God's forgiveness...Sanctification means driving out the world from the Church as well as separating the Church from the world. But the purpose of such discipline is not to establish a community of the perfect, but a community consisting of men who really live under the forgiving mercy of God.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

PSALM 59-61

David seeks God after Saul sends his men to kill him...

16But I will sing of your strength,

in the morning I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

17You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

you, God, are my fortress,

my God on whom I can rely.(59:16-17)

ACTS 28:16-31

Paul is put under guard and continues to teach...

30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

JOURNAL 

Two years...after all that happened Paul's accusers cease and he is kept under guard but continues to preach and teach. Scholars conclude that it is during this time that several of his letters are written (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon). It is a time of frustration but also a time that great works of the gospel are created. While Paul sits in confinement he is able to nurture the movement and encourage the new churches.

After these two years it is believed that Paul is released and ends up making way possibly into Spain before he is imprisoned for his final time and ultimately executed. Paul's journey and the unfolding of events is further evidence of the need to trust God at all times in all moments. The quote from Bonhoeffer is a great reminder from a man under imprisonment who also was executed...that following Christ is not about perfection and it is not about making perfect people but rather people who are united under forgiveness and grace. For I don't know what the future will bring. I don't know what God will ask of me tomorrow. I must simply trust him today in obedience and love, cherishing each moment.

1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. - PHILIPPINES 2:1-4

JULY 29, 2016

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." ― WINSTON CHURCHILL

PSALM 56-58

David praises God after he is seized by Philistines

10In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord, whose word I praise—

11in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can man do to me?

12I am under vows to you, my God;

I will present my thank offerings to you.

13For you have delivered me from death

and my feet from stumbling,

that I may walk before God

in the light of life. (56:10-13)

ACTS 28:1-15

Paul builds a fire, shakes off a viper, and heals the sick...

1Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

7There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

JOURNAL 

Talk about embracing the moment. To read this sounds like some kind of superhero...not a man who has been rejected by his own people who are seeking a death sentence for him. Here he is performing miracle after miracle all while still being a prisoner of Rome. The only way a man does this is to be completely infused with the power and spirit of God all while living completely and totally in the moment. Paul is not waxing and waning about his release, he is not self-absorbed in his fate. He is acting in power and love right where he is.

I confess that often I struggle with the "when I get to this point...then I'll be obedient, then I'll be generous, then I'll be loving, then I'll be courageous." Here in these verses Paul's actions dismantle this thinking. I am to act now...in this moment because this moment is as good as it gets.  What that means to me is not that things won't change...they will...that is guaranteed. However if I can't see the good in this moment of time, then I will never see the good in any moment of time. This moment is as good as it gets. So I am to embrace it, be grateful for it, enjoy it, indulge in God's love and he will make it great.

 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - MATTHEW 6:31-34

JULY 28, 2016

“The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first and love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

PSALM 53-55

David repents to God and seeks to be made new after his sin with Bathsheba

22Cast your cares on the Lord

and he will sustain you;

he will never let

the righteous be shaken.

ACTS 27:26-44

Paul's calm in the middle of the storm is pretty amazing...

33Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

JOURNAL 

I am continually in awe of Paul.  It is fascinating to see the spirit of Christ in him. His calmness, boldness, love for others. It is all here in this one passage. Here he tends to others and encourages them in the midst of absolute hell. They ultimately run aground and Paul's life and the other prisoners lives are spared by the Captain.

To see and know that the same spirit that strengthened Paul is the one that has been given to me is a little overwhelming. I wonder then why I don't feel this way at times and why I don't seem to have this type of courage. I think partly it is because I don't fully believe it and secondly because I don't willingly put myself in situations that would require this courage. 

Looking at the Psalm's...do I really cast my cares upon God? Do I willingly seek direction without concern for my well-being? It becomes clearer and clearer that God asks me to fully trust him and then follow wherever he leads. This is the life I was created to live...not one of self-protection, ease and "security".

24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” - MATTHEW 7:24-27

JULY 27, 2016

“Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.” ― Walt Disney 

PSALM 50-52

David repents to God and seeks to be made new after his sin with Bathsheba

10Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

ACTS 27:1-25

Paul is sent to Rome and is caught in a terrible storm and encourages the men...

21After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

JOURNAL 

The difference between guilt and shame is seen clearly in David's prayer. He understands his wrong and his sin yet he asks God to "restore to me the joy of your salvation". David understands that God loves him. David understands that he has done something horrible, yet David trusts in God's restoration.

This is a lesson to me in my own transgressions. You can never fall too far from God because God is interested in us only as his servants and then as his sons and daughters. Nothing can take that away. He desires our obedience because that is how we were created. We were never created to be our own God. We were never created to rule out of our own authority. We were created to live and rule and love only in obedience.

Taking confidence in this and trust in God is what ultimately gives me peace. This is what will guide me in all situations in all circumstances. This is the confidence to believe in something "all the way, implicitly and unquestionable."

20He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

 -  MATTHEW 17:20

JULY 26, 2016

“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.”  

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

PSALM 47-49

Wealth and seeking security in oneself creates false confidence...

12People, despite their wealth, do not endure;

they are like the beasts that perish.

13This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,

and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^d

14They are like sheep and are destined to die;

death will be their shepherd

(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).

Their forms will decay in the grave,

far from their princely mansions.

15But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;

he will surely take me to himself.

16Do not be overawed when others grow rich,

when the splendor of their houses increases;

17for they will take nothing with them when they die,

their splendor will not descend with them.

18Though while they live they count themselves blessed—

and people praise you when you prosper—

19they will join those who have gone before them,

who will never again see the light of life.

20People who have wealth but lack understanding

are like the beasts that perish. (49:12-20)

ACTS 26

Paul gives his testimony to King Agrippa...

15“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

19“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

24At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

25“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

JOURNAL 

God appoints Paul as a servant and as a witness. This appointing of Paul as a servant is really what salvation is all about. We are restored as servants of God rather than as shamed, rebellious men and women seeking to be God instead of serving him. This is what the verses in Psalm 49 are all about. Trying to be our own God through building wealth is pointless and destructive in the end.

I don't think this is saying that we are to be lazy and not use our brains. It is not necessarily the actions but the reason for the actions that matters. If my objective for work is to build wealth and have success so that I can become better than those around me...so that I can puff myself up in an effort to become more than simply what I am (a human servant of God), then my efforts will be pointless and futile. I will never find true satisfaction and peace...I will simply find anguish and insecurity and fleeting moments of happiness. 

If however I work daily to serve God in obedience, being content to be all he created me to be. Then I find contentment and satisfaction in my abilities without shame. Then I can live a life of peace no matter the circumstance...rich or poor, in sickness or in health, in good times and in bad.  This is the hope and the joy of living life as a servant to God.

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 -  PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7

JULY 25, 2016

“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it. ” 
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

PSALM 44-46

The Author acknowledges God as the hope of fear and despair...

1God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.^c

ACTS 25

Paul calmly argues his defense...

8Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

9Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”

10Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

JOURNAL 

Paul is steadfast in his defense and displays a confidence that he will die if he has done anything deserving of death. It is at this point that I begin to see the shrewdness and intellect of Paul. He knows his arguments and knows how the powers of government work.

Paul is working the system and working within his ability. He is obedient to God but still uses his own talents and opportunities. This is encouraging and to me goes to show that God doesn't ask us to work outside of our own capabilities. He asks us to work within them.

24“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

 - MATTHEW 25:24-27