MAY 10, 2017

“God doesn't bless us just to make us happy; He blesses us to make us a blessing.” 
― Warren W. Wiersbe

1 KINGS 21-22

41Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

JOHN 3:1-21

1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^a ”

4“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^b gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^c must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^d

9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

JOURNAL 

Nicodemus is confused due to his failure to consider the spiritual. He fails to understand that the spirit like the wind is not something you see but rather something you feel. He fails to realize that spirituality is not predictable or controllable. Just as the wind cannot be harnessed neither can the spirit of God. 

The Jews had taken the laws of God and used them to shame and imprison their followers. They no longer brought healing and freedom but rather greed and hate. They used them to shame and control through fear. Now here was Jesus offering freedom, forgiveness and hope to people who had none. It was beyond what Nicodemus could understand.

To me this shows the power of the herd mentality and how having great knowledge can blind someone to the spirit and love of God. Nicodemus had studied and been trained on the scriptures his whole life and yet he missed it completely.

16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

JOHN 3:16-17

MAY 5, 2017

“I have had to experience so much stupidity, so many vices, so much error, so much nausea, disillusionment and sorrow, just in order to become a child again and begin anew. I had to experience despair, I had to sink to the greatest mental depths, to thoughts of suicide, in order to experience grace.” 
― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

1 KINGS 10-11

1King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.(11:1-6)

LUKE 24:1-35

1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8Then they remembered his words.

9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

JOURNAL 

Everything matters. Solomon has immense wealth, peace, the favor of God and he still seeks the favor of forbidden women and succumbs to worshipping their Gods. Why would he do such a thing. I think the answer is found in the human delusion that material wealth and success will ultimately satisfy our deep hearts desire. Solomon has everything he could ever want and it still is not enough. It was the same with David...although David did not worship other God's his pursuit of a forbidden relationship caused him unnecessary suffering and the death of one of his mighty men. 

Here then is the miracle of the resurrection. For although all is lost in human terms...it is glorious and righteous in spiritual reality. God is not bound by our laws and our weakness. God gives life where it no longer exists, God turns a perceived failure into the greatest moment in human history. How foolish is it to rely on human success, human opinions, human wisdom. I believe this is why Paul cries out in absolute frustration...for we are weak and frail and do things that we know not to be good...and amazingly God loves us completely through all of our blunders. 

21So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

ROMANS 7:21-25

MAY 4, 2017

“God repeatedly uses the least-likely and least-prepared individuals (ourselves included) to make the deepest impact on our world.” 
― Dillon Burroughs, Activist Faith: From Him and For Him

1 KINGS 8-9

54When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. 55He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

56“Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57May the Lordour God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 59And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 61And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”(8:54-61)

LUKE 23:39-56

44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^e When he had said this, he breathed his last.

47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

JOURNAL 

In human terms this whole scene is a complete sad disaster. Jesus has failed. The King of the Jews...the messiah...the Son of God...has just been executed as a criminal. He has been abandoned by those closest to him who are weeping and hiding in fear. Those closest to him stand watching from a distance. This is horrible, this is God's rescue plan and it has ended horribly...how is this the path and the plan of God? How is this good?? There is so much left to do...so many sick that need to be healed...so many persecuted wrongly. So many who are in power whose hearts are evil and wicked. Why has God seemingly abandoned Jesus and all the new believers?

Because earthly failure is often the fertile ground of God's greatest works. Moses, Joseph, Paul, Peter, Job, David...all these were counted out and deemed lost causes at one point in their life...it's the ultimate beauty and message of the Bible. What man deems lost and worthless God sees as having infinite value.

31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

MARK 10:31

MAY 3, 2017

“We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work” 
― Thomas A. Edison

1 KINGS 6-7

51When all the work King Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.(7:51)

LUKE 23:27-38

32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^c And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS

JOURNAL 

To fully commit to Christ means to embrace a life that is fully active in loving and serving. It no longer becomes a life focused on what can be gained but rather becomes a life focused on what can be given. Jesus' death gave us the freedom to be free from shame, regret and the obsession of filling the darkness of our souls. His death gave us the key to true life and joy. That joy is found in surrender to work, sacrifice and give all of my life in service of God. 

Every moment is intended to be served in obedience to that purpose, trusting that God will supply the comfort, security and love. That means I stop trying to arrange for my own comfort, security and love. 

22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

COLOSSIANS 3:22-24

MAY 2, 2017

“The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.” 
― Maya Angelou

1 KINGS 3-5

4The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.(3:4-15)

LUKE 23:1-26

13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” [17]^a

18But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

JOURNAL 

Jesus is sentenced to die. Pilate tries to find every way possible to let him go but ultimately the power of public opinion moves him to the ultimate conclusion. It is interesting to juxtapose this scene with that of Solomon and his dream. Solomon is asked by God what he would like for God to give him and Solomon asks for wisdom. Intuitively he knows that to lead a mass of people is an impossible task. In granting him wisdom God gave him the power of wealth and position as well. These gifts ensured that Solomon would be extremely powerful. 

How often in my own life am I more moved by the power of public opinion than I am with the wisdom of God? Unfortunately it happens...and this is why it is imperative that I spend time reading scripture and in prayer. The power of the world is far to much to overcome with my own power. I need God's wisdom, direction and instruction.

 26To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.
ECCLESIATES 2:26