Ephesians 4:22-24 - New self

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Once we have decided to follow Christ, we take off the old self and put on the new self. This is not something we do by sheer will alone, The Spirit helps us. We just have to let the Spirit guide us with a new attitude in our mind into the new creation we are meant to be.

Lord, thank you for teaching us and giving us a new self. Help us to be like you in true righteousness and holiness. Amen.

Romans 6:4 - Wanna live a new life?

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

It is almost the new year! What better way to usher in 2016 than by committing to God, being baptized and starting a new life?

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to have a new life with you. Please allow me to be of assistance to anyone who is considering giving their life to you and be with those making the decision. Amen.

Psalms 51:10 - Renewal

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

At work the other day, my co-worker and I lead church services for our senior residents. Because the New Year is almost upon us, I read several scriptures discussing renewal and being new. I plan to share them over the next several days.

At the new year, it is a perfect time to renew our commitment to God and ask him to clean out our heart and "renew a steadfast spirit" in each of us.

Lord, thank you for being there for us year after year. Please create in us a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within each of us. Amen.

Job 2:9-10 - Evil vs God

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”  He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”  In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

The question presented was this...

What are your thoughts about the existence of an evil one in view of the sovereignty of God?

The answer to this question lies just a couple verses after the prologue in Job (1:1-2:8). In chapter 2, verse 10 Job says, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” The sovereignty of God is made even more sovereign by the existence of an opposing evil force. Evil exists because God allows it to. There is trouble in this world by design. If there were no trouble, we would not need God.

Luke 2:11 - The greatest gift

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Lord, thank you for sending your son to allow us the gift of salvation. Please help us to bring glory to your name today and everyday. Amen.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Hebrews 11:1 - What is faith?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Faith is a concept not exclusive to God. It is a rational decision to believe based on evidence. I believe the world is round although I have not seen the whole thing at once. I have seen photographs and witnessed the curvature of the earth from an airplane. Based on this evidence, I have faith that the earth is round. Our faith in God is the same. I have not seen God, but I have seen his creation, read his scriptures and feel him working in my life. Based on this evidence, I have faith in God. 

Lord, thank you for giving us rational minds and evidence upon which to base our faith in you. Please help us to hold on to our faith. Amen.

Acts 17:22-23 - The natural desire to worship

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

(Full Passage Acts 17:15-34)

Paul uses the natural desire of man to worship a god to point a group of philosophers from Athens to the one true God. Paul was teaching something new, and for a group of people who were always looking for something new, I'm sure they began to listen out of the sheer novelty of the idea. He begins by complimenting them on their desire to be religious, then focuses in on the area they themselves claim not to know, the unknown god. Paul teaches them of the true God and points out why the other gods are false. Last, he challenges them with the concepts of judgment and resurrection. Some listeners “sneer”, but some want to hear more and become followers. Paul used his understanding of humanity’s innate spirituality as a way to talk to a group of non-believers who could have been considered unreachable due to their polytheistic beliefs. 

Lord, thank you for giving us an innate desire to worship you. Please help us to find that desire in others and point them to you. Amen.

A new challenge

Today I begin my study to earn a Masters in Theological Studies from Nations University! I am looking forward to this new challenge and I am sure many posts will result from this study.

Lord, thank you for this new opportunity to further develop my relationship with you. Please help my studies to not only benefit me, but to benefit others as well. Amen.

Romans 8:32 - In this season of giving...

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

In this season of giving, remember that God gave us the greatest gift of all, his son, who died on the cross to pardon our sins. God loves every person in this world and wants the best for them. He gave you his son, will you give him your life?

Lord, thank you for the gift of your son and all things. Please help us to honor your gift by giving our lives back to you. Amen.

Romans 8:28 - A benefit of being a Christian

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

This passage is one of the great asurances for Christians. It is so much easier to not worry and handle the stuff of life when we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.

Lord,  thank you for working for our good. Help us to always love you. Amen.

Romans 8: 26 - Help from the Spirit

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

God takes care of us in so many ways. With the Spirit living inside of us, he know us completely (v, 27). He knows our struggles with sin, our pain and our trials. He is that best friend who completes our sentences for us and knows what is going on in our lives even before we do. He us interceding for us in a way we do not even understand.

Lord, thank you for giving us the opportunity to receive your Spirit when we are baptized. Please hear his interceding and help us to lean on him in our times of weakness. Amen.

Romans 8:18 - The best is yet to come

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

I need to remember...this world is temporary. Our struggles with the flesh and trials in this world are nothing compared to eternity with God in heaven. We might call it delayed gratification. There are so many thing to occupy our brains and bodies here on this earth. If we allow them to, they can at best overshadow our soul's main focus and at worst lead us to the path of destruction and eternal suffering.

Lord, thank you for the hope of  heaven and an eternity with you. Please help us focus on the larger picture and appropriately react to our present sufferings. Amen.

Romans 8:14-15 - Daddy issues

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

There are some great earthly dads. There are some not so great earthly dads. Regardless of our personal experience with our earthly fathers, God offers us himself as our father. He is the daddy of our dreams!

Lord, thank you for being our father and adopting us as your children. Please help us to live in the Spirit, always remembering to whom we belong. Amen

Romans 8:5-8 - Flesh vs. Spirit

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Lord, thank you for this passage this morning. Please help me to live in the Spirit, not the flesh. Amen.

Psalm 47:1 - Still feeling the joy

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.

One last scripture from the class I taught on joy...

Lord, thank you for giving us your Spirit, which produces joy. Please let us not suppress it! Amen.

Romans 8:2 - Freedom from the law

because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

The Old Law (Jewish Law, law of sin and death) is not the law a Christian lives under. It's purpose was to reveal sin, but since no one can perfectly follow the law, all are lost. Christ has come and offers us a new law, the law of the Spirit which sets us free from the old law.

Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to set us free from the old law. Please help us to follow the law of the Spirit. Amen.

Romans 7:24-25b - The purpose of the law

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 7:7-25 is a passage I have kind of been putting off. It is so confusing to me, but I think the ultimate meaning is in the passage above. We are sinful people and we don't need to blame the law for this. The law revealed sin, not caused it. But, any time we are told not to do something, we want to do it. The law was essential because it made us aware of our sin, death and separation from God. We should be thankful for the law for revealing this to us so we can then connect with God and the only way to do that is through Jesus Christ.

Lord, thank you for your perfect plan, even if it is something we do not always understand. Please help everyone to recognize themselves as sinful and give themselves to your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

James 1:2 - Joy in times of trial

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  

As humans, life is not always perfect. In fact we will always have trials. If asked every person I came across today, I am sure everyone would have something they are struggling with. So, we will have trials, the question is how do we deal with them? Can we really be joyful in the face of trials? Absolutely. As we said, we are always facing a trial so if we allow ourselves to take time off from joy when there are trials in our life, we will never be joyful.

Lord, thank you for giving us the spirit of joy. Please help us to joyful always and in all circumstances. Amen.

Proverbs 6:16-19 - THINK

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Last night at our ladies class the teacher talked about Love by using the above verse to talk about what it is not. I really appreciated the acronym below to help me remember how to properly speak and respond to people.

Lord, thank you for giving us your word to teach us what is right. Please help us to show your love to others always. Amen.

Romans 7:4-5 - Fruit: Ripe or Rotten

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.

I went back to Romans today for my study, and a couple verses from the passage I studied last time popped out at me. I am co-teaching a Wednesday Night Ladies Bible Class. We are studying the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and seven things the Lord detests (Proverbs 6:16-19). The fruit we bear is evidence of who we serve.

Lord, thank you for showing us what good fruit looks like. Please help us to examine our fruit, prune what needs to be removed and ensure we are fully serving you. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10 - Restored

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

After dealing with "the blues" for a few days, I finally remembered to go to the Lord with my problem and of course, he comforted me. Occasionally I give devotional talks at work. I usually have no notice of these, so I talk about whatever I studied that morning. Yesterday we centered our devotional on depression and suggestions for dealing with "the blues". It was so helpful and the verse above was a result of that study. Everyone gets down occasionally, even great Biblical heroes did. But whatever season of difficulty we are in, God promises to bring us through those times and restore us.

Lord, thank you for walking with us in our low times and bringing us through them. Please help us to remember to always turn to you in our times of trial. Amen.

Psalm 143:7-8 - Depressed

Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

I am feeling depressed this morning. Maybe it's the rain. Maybe it's my job. Not sure why. I went to BibleGateway and typed depression in the search box and the verse above was found.

Lord, thank you for your word and the amazing comfort I receive from it. Please help my spirit not to fail. Amen.

Another Poem...

Below is a Thanksgiving poem written by the Poetry Club at Silverado Valley Ranch.

Thanksgiving

Things come to mind, my brain almost burst.

Time to cook, which comes first?

Thanksgiving turkey, many ways to try,

Smoke, roast, maybe even fry.

Homemade apple sauce, green bean casserole,

Grandmas special cream corn, hot, yeast roll.

Mashed sweet potatoes, dressing with cranberry,

Pumpkin or pecan pie, maybe even cherry.

With all these special treats comes a message from above,

The most important ingredient is love, sweet love.

Thanksgiving is such a special time of year,

All of our family and friends are near.

Good health, life and our families,

Happy times and good memories.

Family togetherness and children playing,

Together for a traditional Thanksgiving.

As life changes, from hostess to guest.

Traveling everywhere from east to west.

New family members and additions,

Bring us new thanksgiving traditions.

As the end of our time together draws near,

We've already begun our plans for next year.

Will Jesus take the rap?

This phrase, or something similar to it, came from a movie I watch last night. The movie was called The Pardon. It is on Netflix right now. Honestly it wasn't a great movie and I even slept through part of it but the ending really affected me. The movie was about a woman in the forties who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. She becomes a Christian while in prison and at one point asks if Jesus will take the rap, meaning will Jesus take the guilt of her conviction. When she said that my immediate response was, he already has.

Lord, thank you so much for sending Jesus to take away our sin, making us clean and spotless in the eyes of you, Lord. Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Romans 7:6 - OT/NT - Jew/Christian

But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

I am highlighting this verse today in order to explain why I follow the New Testament. I love and study the Old Testament, but I do not follow the Hebrew Law. I am not a Jew, but even if I were, this verse shows that the Jews were "released from the law." I serve "in the new way of the Spirit" where Christ is my guide, not a set of laws.

Lord, thank you for releasing us from the law and giving us your Son and the Holy Spirit as our guide. Please help us to follow your Son and serve in the way of the Spirit. Amen.

Romans 6:22 - Leads to holiness

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

I don't have to sin. I have been set free from sin. This doesn't mean I am perfect, but I am on the path to holiness and righteousness. This verse doesn't say it leads to perfection, Yea grace!!

Lord, thank you for leading us to holiness, Please help us to stay on your path. Amen.

Romans 6:13 - Who is playing the instrument?

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

We get to choose if we will be an instrument of wickedness or an instrument of righteousness. Who is playing the instrument? Satan or God? Evil or good? Wickedness or righteousness? As a Christian, I have offered myself to God, my whole self. I have to be careful not to allow any part of myself to become an instrument of wickedness. It is so easy to do. Things may seem like harmless fun or we may just be going along with what others are doing, but if we are not careful Satan will come in an play us like a fiddle.

Lord, thank you for bringing me from death to life. Please help me to offer every part of myself only to you as an instrument of righteousness. Amen.

Romans 6:6-7 - No longer slaves to sin

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

If we are a Christian, baptized into Christ Jesus (v.3), our old self is dead. There is power in that thought. If we believe our sin rules over us, it will. If we say, "I can't help it" or "that is just the way I am" then the sin will probably continue even if we pray for it to be taken away. But if we take hold of the power of Christ's death and believe we to have been crucified, the old self is dead and we are no longer slaves to sin.

Lord, thank you for allowing us to be baptized into a new life. Please help us to take hold of the power of this "death" and no longer be slaves to sin. Amen.

Romans 5:18 - One righteous act

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
Sometimes we do not think our actions have much effect, but in the passage above two acts made a world of difference for man kind, The first sin of man brought sin into this world and Christ being crucified brought salvation. Our actions may not produce world altering results, but our actions do matter and may have a much larger result than we could ever imagine, for good or bad,

Lord, thank you for sending Christ to perform his most important righteous act. Please use us and make our every action be multiplied for good. Amen.

Romans 5:6 - Just the right time

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

God's time is not our time. I've heard this phrase many times, but it is so hard to accept. We know God sees the big picture and knows what is best for his servants and kingdom. Our job is to TRUST GOD and not worry ourselves to death while he is doing things at just the right time. "Be patient, be patient, just wait a little longer."

Lord, thank you for your omnipotent knowledge and agape love. We know you want the best for us and have good plans for us. Please help us to be patient and trust you. Amen.

Romans 5:3-4 - Purpose in suffering

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

It's hard to be thankful for suffering, but suffering can produce such good traits. If it weren't for our suffering we would have no need to persevere. Character is built as a result of that perseverance. We are then given hope, which sustains us through the suffering.

Lord, thank you for the gift of suffering and the traits it produces. Please help us to look beyond our current suffering and trust in you. Amen.

Romans 4:19-21 - As I get older

Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

This verse gives me strength as I get older. My body just doesn't work as well as it used to. I have aches and pains and struggle to go from seated to standing. My body has scars and weird lumps. Wrinkles and grey hair are showing up. But God can use anyone to do anything. My physical strength may fade, but my strength in his faith will just get stronger.

Lord, thank you for always fulfilling your promises and using us at any stage in our life. Please help us to continue to grow in our faith. Amen.

Romans 3:24 - Justified freely

And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

In this passage, justification is freely given to the Jews and everyone else. There is no special pedigree or life circumstance to be justified by God. Non-Christians may fell like outsiders, like there is no place for them in the church, but there is. God and his church welcome all. Redemption is a gift, we just have to accept it. Will our lives change? Yes, because of our thankfulness, we want to become more and more like Christ every day.

Lord, thank you than we can be justified freely. Please help anyone thinking about accepting your gift to grab hold of it. Amen.

2 Poems - Transitions

The concept of transitions seems to be a reoccurring theme to my life right now. We have been studying this in the Sunday morning class I attend. In my Bible study, I just finished up Genesis, specifically the life of Joseph which is full of transitions. At work we have written a couple poems with the residents about Fall, but these poems have gone beyond the changes in nature and looked at the transitions in our lives. I would like to share these poems with you. 

Rainy November Day

There is a day that I remember,

Falling leaves in November.

My clothes are warm, the air is cool,

Working in the yard, a rake my tool.

Leaves falling from the heavenly sky,

Now it's raining, my oh, my.

Change of season, rain washes green away,

Wet leaves are here to stay.

Rain from above, the sky is grey,

A frustrating change in my plans today.

I'll go inside by hook or crook,

May as well balance my checkbook.

Should I read? Should I knit?

Should I throw a hissy fit?

The memory of summer calls my name,

Will I ever get that fall yard tame?

All of the facts, I find them taxing,

I must make a change and start relaxing.

A warm fireplace and my favorite clothes,

I now settle down as the memory flows.

Memory of the beautiful warm weather transitioning to fall,

And of the beauty of winter.  Oh, how I appreciate them all.

Transitions

When we think about Fall, we think leaves and pumpkins cute,

We think of orange and red and yellow to boot.

Orange is the color of love expressed.

Try it, put it to the test.

When we think about leaves and the raking, raking it takes.

Our backs are bent. Oh, how they ache.

It's a mixed bag of tricks,

Plants and trees are now sticks.

The whole transition of the trees,

The gorgeous colors of the leaves.

Also, transitions occur inside.

Time to let the mind decide.

Transitions occur while we sleep,

So wait till morning to make a peep.

Romans 3:20 - Cause or effect?

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

This verse hits on such an important concept. I think from the outside looking in, it may look like Christians do good and "follow the rules" to get to go to heaven. In my early years as a Christian, I believed this as well. The truth is we follow God because he has given us salvation, not in order to gain it.

Lord, thank you for offering us the gift of salvation. Please help me to live like I am thankful for your gift. Amen

Romans 2:21 - Walk the talk

You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

The verse above is speaking to Jews, but I think it can be applied to Christians as well. Many of us consider ourselves Christians. We may even go so far as to tell people we are Christians. Maybe we even have a cross sticker on our car or wear a cross around our neck. Maybe we post Christian things on Facebook. But...do we walk the talk? It is one thing to say we are a Christian and it is another to actually live like it. If we allow him to, the Holy Spirit help us to live a God-centered life. Our reactions to everyday stresses and issues tells a great deal about who we really are.

Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us live like Jesus. Please help us to put you first always and remember we belong to you. Amen,

Romans 2:1 - Passing judgement

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

I have a tendency to be judgey. I get wrapped up in what others do and why they are doing it, especially when it effects me. Recently I have been praying to simply not have an opinion. Most of the time, whatever the situation is, it has nothing to do with me, I'm not saying that I will agree with everything others do, I just choose not to have an opinion about it good or bad. If it looks like evil, I might pray for them, but I will not make any assumptions about their character or relationship to God. One of our mottos at work is Assume Good Intent. Even if someone does something we think is wrong, if we just assume good intent, we realize there may be something going on we don't know about causing this to occur. Another friend uses the phrase, "You never know enough." We never know enough about what is going on in a person's life to pass any sort of judgement.

Lord, thank you for loving us and accepting us. Please help us to not pass judgement on others. Amen.

Romans 1:25 - Creator vs. created

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

For many years I have thought about the concept of worshiping the created verses the Creator. Really any time we place something or someone above God, this is what we are doing because God created everything.

Lord, thank you for giving us the truth and creating everything. Please help us to keep your truth and serve only you. Amen.

Romans 1:12 - Mutually encouraged

...that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

It is so important to be around other Christians. In this verse, Paul longs to see the Romans so they can be mutually encouraged. So did Paul also need encouragement? This great man of God needed other Christians? He said he did. It is easy to live in a vacuum. We go to work, but don't really make any relationships there. We come home, and spend the evening watching TV, on the computer or maybe following through on a commitment doing something we would really rather not be doing. We go to sleep then do it all again. On the weekend we may go to church, but we just go and leave. It's easy to live in our own little bubble and not even realize we are doing it. We need to look for other Christians and talk to them about their faith walk. We will be mutually encouraged!

Lord, thank you for giving us our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please help us to utilize our spiritual family, to get to know them and be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. Amen.

Jonah 1;2 - The opposite of Jesus

“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

We have been studying Jonah in our Webb Chapel small groups on Sunday night. It occurred to me the story of Jonah is almost the opposite of the story of Jesus coming to the Earth. In the verse above God sends Jonah like God sent Jesus. After that...

• Jonah says no. Jesus says yes.
• Jonah is the reason for the storm. Jesus calms the storm.
• Jonah's sailors didn't want to take his life. Jesus soldiers were happy to take his life.
• Jonah is thrown overboard, repents, and is saved by the big fish, where he stays for three days and three nights. Jesus is crucified, takes on our sins and saves us by being in the tomb three days and three nights.
• Jonah is vomited, Jesus is raised.
• Jonah finally obeys. Jesus always obeys.
• Jonah is angry at the people's repentance. Jesus rejoices in our repentance.

Lord, thank you for giving us examples like Jonah. Sometimes we do everything we can to run away from you, but you run after us. Please make us more like your son, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 50:20 - Transitions

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

God is bigger than us. He can use anything, even mistakes and sin to his purpose. I don't suppose it was God's plan for Joseph to be sold into slavery, but he was able to use this to propel Joseph to Egypt and eventually to Pharaoh. In a Bible class I attend, we have talked about Joseph and his life transitions. How would we have reacted? I expect most of us would have dealt with these transitions kicking an screaming, at the very least we would have assumed God had left us. Transitions are a part of our lives. In the end, we may be able to see the path God intended. Until we are given this clarity, our job is just to trust God and continue to be obedient to him.

Lord, thank you for always being with us. Thank you for using us to your purpose. Please help us to trust you and remain obedient no matter what. Amen.

PS - This verse is similar to one I have already blogged about Genesis 45:5 - Righting a wrong.

Genesis 50:7 - Influence

So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt—

Could Jacob have ever dreamed he would be so celebrated upon his death? What an honor to have Egyptian dignitaries and officials not just attend the funeral, but travel with them all the way to Jacob's requested burial location. We many never know how many people we have influenced, how many lives we have touched. This influence may not come from us directly, but maybe through our influence of our children, family or friends. Joseph was held in such high esteem by Pharaoh and the people of Egypt, they chose to honor the father in gratitude for the son.

Lord, thank you for giving us opportunities to show your glory and to be a blessing to others. Please help our spiritual influence to extend beyond the people we know. Amen.

Genesis 48:21 - GOD is in contol

Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.

Yes, God was with Joseph and the people of Israel (the you here is plural, more like "y'all") and they eventually make it back to Canaan, but I'm sure Israel (Jacob) never could have imagined what would happen and how long it would take. None of them expected to be in Egypt for over 400 years or for their descendants to become slaves. God's time is almost never our time. Discouragement comes easy when things don't happen the way we think they will. This story is evidence of God's faithfulness. Even when all seems lost, God is still in control.

Lord, thank you for being faithful and never leaving us, even when things are not happening the way we want them to happen. Please help us to be patient and remain faithful to you always. Amen.

Genesis 47:18 - Giving it all

When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land.

I didn't remember this part of the story of Joseph. Joseph essentially puts all the people of Egypt into servitude, making Pharaoh even richer because of the famine. But, without Joseph's oversight, most of the people would have probably died.  The thing I like about this verse is how everything is given to Joseph/Pharaoh, just like everything we have is to be given to God: our money, possessions, our means to make a living, even our bodies. It all belongs to God. He has saved us, just like in verse 25 the people say “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”

Lord, Thank you for saving our lives. May we find favor in the eyes of our Lord; we are in bondage to you. Amen.

Genesis 47:7-10 - Bless you

7 Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed[a] Pharaoh, 8 Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?”

9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” 10 Then Jacob blessed[b] Pharaoh and went out from his presence.

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 47:7 Or greeted
2. Genesis 47:10 Or said farewell to

I love the use of the word blessed in these passages. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. According to the footnotes the first blessing meant to greet and the second meant to say farewell to, but I like the idea of blessing people when we see them and when we leave them. I think of a blessing as a little prayer to God on behalf of a person. If we did this every time we greet or depart from a person, do you think it would make a difference in their day and maybe also in our attitude when interacting with that person?

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to come to you in prayer and to ask for a blessing for others. Please help us to think of every interaction with people as a blessing. Amen.

Genesis 46:30 - Are you ready to die?

 Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”

This phrase reminds me of my mother-in-law. She was so happy to see her son getting married, she said she could now die. Are we ready to die? For Joseph and my mother-in-law this may have just been an expression, but it's a good thing to think about. Are there things our life which are unsettled? Is there something we can to to settle them? Maybe we need to forgive someone or reunite with a family member. As a Christian, I hope to always be ready to die, to go home to my father. 

Lord, thank you for giving us hope of eternity with you. Please help us to be ready to die. Amen.

Genesis 45:24 - Don't quarrel on the way!

Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”

Why is it we seem to do the most fighting with family? These brothers have been through a lot together. They have dealt with jealousy, favoritism, a family secret, the disappointment of their father, the death of one of their father's wives and famine. Joseph must have seen them fighting among themselves to have made such a statement. We often do the same thing, arguing with those who are closest to us. Joseph gave his brothers and us some good advice.

Lord, thank you for family and the people who are close to us. Please help us to cherish them and not take them for granted by fighting with them. Amen.

Genesis 45:5 - Righting a wrong

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

Joseph completely had the right to be angry and tell his brothers how horrid they had been, but he doesn't. Not only does he forgive his brothers, he comforts them and tells them how God was using them to his purposes. How do we react when someone had wronged us? What an opportunity Joseph had to shame his brothers! It is easy to take delight in this kind of circumstance. 

Lord, thank you for being there to comfort us when we have been wronged. Please help us to react correctly and see your hand in every situation. Amen.

Genesis 44:33-34 - True Repentance

 “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.”

I think these were the words Joseph was waiting to hear before he revealed himself. His brothers were truly repentant. They were now thinking of their father before themselves. They loved their youngest brother and understood how much the father loved him. They weren't jealous of this love. They were willing to sacrifice themselves to return the youngest brother to their father. How do we show our repentance to God? Do we just do what he wants because we have to, or is there true love, understanding and thankfulness in our obedient actions. Are we truly repentant?

Lord, thank you for loving us beyond our comprehension. Please help us to move beyond our past sin and on to true repentance. Amen.

Genesis 43:30-31 - Reaction

 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.

After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, “Serve the food.”

Reaction. This is a word which keeps coming up for me. How do we react in difficult situations? The way we react is evidence of our relationship to God. When we jump before we think, we usually choose the wrong reaction or simply overreact. Our first thought is rarely the right one. In this passage, Joseph was carefully controlling his emotions in order to properly react to seeing his family again. How would we react to seeing the brothers who had sold us into slavery?

Lord, thank you for giving us minds to think things through. Thank you for allowing us to come to you to work through situations. Please help us to remain calm in any situation and thoughtfully react appropriately. Amen.

Jesus, The Word

(I wrote this lesson for a ladies class I am teaching this week.)

Jesus, the Word

Jeremiah 9:20

Now , you women, hear the word of the Lord;

open your ears to the words of his mouth.

Word, Said, Say, Tell, Told, Speak, Spoke, Truth, Testify, Testimony, Witness, Command, Hear, Language, Cried, Written, Answered, Prayed, Taught, Listened

As I was reading through parts of John studying for this lesson on Jesus as the Word, so many words popped out at me. Any word that had to do with speaking and language really came to my attention. It made me realize that Jesus as the Word is a much larger concept than I had first realized.

We usually think of the Word as the Bible, but the Word can also be thought of as the voice of God.

1. The Word as the Voice of God

In my simplified human terms, I like to think of the Trinity as a person. God is the mind, Christ is the body and the Spirit is the the soul. We think of a person as one who has all three, yet they can function somewhat independently. If the body is the physical manifestation of a human, then language is a part of that physical manifestation. Christ is God's physical manifestation. Therefore, the Word or voice of God is part of that manifestation.

According to John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life,and that life was the light of all mankind.

So, this physical manifestation of God we call Christ was with God in the beginning of the world. Genesis 1:2 says “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” So, there He is as evidenced by God's voice. His voice, which is Christ, spoke the world into existence.

The voice of God, which we can call Christ, is heard through out the old testament. God spoke to Adam and Eve in the garden. God told Noah to build the ark. He spoke to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To Moses, Aaron, and Joshua. He spoke to various judges, kings, and prophets of Israel. Many of these are prefaced with “God said” or “the Lord said”, but sometimes, especially to the prophets the phrase used is “the word of the Lord.”

In the gospels, we have the Word, or the voice of the Lord spoken through the physical being of Christ Jesus. I love a red letter edition Bible which highlights the actual words of Jesus. Beyond this there are a few visions including Peter's vision, Saul on the road to Damascus and the Revelation revealed to John. But the Word is continually spread and active.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

During this time and today, I believe we can still hear God through the Spirit. We also hear his physical voice through the Church which is the Christians who are now the body of Christ in this world and through the written word, the Bible.

2. The Word as the Bible

Exodus 34:27 reads,

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.

Joshua 24: 25-26 reads,

25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord.

God made it clear he wanted the words he spoke recorded along with the stories and linage of his people.

This quote from an article called How We Got the Bible from the Focus on the Family website does a great job of summing up how the Bible was written.

...human writers were inspired by God and moved by the Holy Spirit to record accurately what God wanted them to preserve. It does not mean God took control of people in the sense of some occult practices known as automatic writing, where the writer is in a trance-like state. It also doesn't mean the writers of the Bible were simply taking dictation. But it does mean that their words were divinely inspired and recorded. The Bible was written by real people, living in real places, recording real historical events, and also communicating God's real truths.

The Bible is a living, breathing document. It is the Voice of God, a part of the body or physical manifestation of God. It is Jesus.

Last Sunday a friend from college visited. It was such a great visit and connected perfectly to this lesson. Sharon is part of a Wycliffe Bible translation team in Senegal, the most west country on the continent of Africa. She told us all the steps involved in translating a passage of scripture. It is so detailed and laborious, it reminded me of the scribes, sitting and copying the Bible by hand. Accompanied by copious amounts of prayer, it is translated back and forth into multiple languages and read by many people to make sure the original meaning is imparted. We wondered, wouldn't it just be easier to teach them English? She said “Everyone deserves to hear the Bible in a Language they can clearly understand.” Since Jesus spoke in Aramaic and the New Testament was written in Greek, translation was part of the original writing of the scriptures. Although it is labor intensive, the Word of God is alive enough to be translated into any language (and culture) and retain it's original message.

So, what is the purpose of the word? Why does God need to speak to his creation?

God speaks to us to show us his love, to guide us and to instruct us.

3. The Word as our Teacher

Without the Word of God, we would be lost. We would simply exist without purpose, filling our lives with whatever we think makes us happy. We do have the Word, but so many people don't accept it and live this way.

In John 17:6-8, Jesus is praying for his disciples.

6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 reads:

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 4:2

2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

James 1:21-22

21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Psalm 119 is incredibly long; 176 verses, but I challenge you to read it. David loves the Word. He delights in it. Here are a few passages.

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.11 I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.16 I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
    for I have put my hope in your laws.74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
    for I have put my hope in your word.101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
    so that I might obey your word.103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.114 You are my refuge and my shield;
    I have put my hope in your word.133 Direct my footsteps according to your word;
    let no sin rule over me.147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
    I have put my hope in your word.172 May my tongue sing of your word,
    for all your commands are righteous.

Our instruction and teaching from the New Testament is a little different from the Laws of the Israelites, but the purpose is the same. Our goal is to live with God and bring glory to his name.

John 1:14 states:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

There are many facets of the concept of Jesus as the Word. Three of these are The Word as the Voice of God, the Bible, and our Teacher. What are some other ideas relating to Jesus as The Word?

Ultimately, all of this helps us to understand why words and language are so important to us. Words are so powerful. I am reminded of the song “Words” by Hawk Nelson. I would like to share the lyrics wth you.

They've made me feel like a prisoner
They've made me feel set free
They've made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king

They've lifted my heart
To places I'd never been
And they've dragged me down
Back to where I began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache
Speak over the fear
God, Your voice is the only thing
We need to hear

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

Let the words I say
Be the sound of Your grace
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

I wanna speak Your love
Not just another noise
Oh, I wanna be Your light
I wanna be Your voice

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

Let the words I say
Be the sound of Your grace
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts
Or put it out

I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

Genesis 42:21 - Long term consequences

They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.”

How can we avoid sin? One way is to consider the long term consequences. In addition to sinning against God, sin has a way of following us. If we lie, cheat, steal or harm someone, the truth may eventually come out. Even if it does not, we remember and it can eat away at us from the inside. So before we act, think...If I do or say this thing, how am I going to feel in the future? How could this potentially effect me and others I love? Am I prepared to face the possible consequences of this action?

Lord, thank you for giving us minds with the ability to think through situations before we act. Please help us to slow down our reactions and consider the consequences of our actions. Amen.