Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Wednesday, May 26
James 1:12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
At first this verse just rubbed me the wrong way. It just felt that God was playing favorites. Maybe it was guilt. I know I'm messed up, and its impossible for me to do good alone. So, how am I supposed to be able to endure? Well, that's it actually. We can't, so in our trials we get on our knees and wait on the Lord. Patiently in faith we endure in His love and strength.
Then there's that reward thing. That also rubs me the wrong way. I'm not a supporter of the 'do this and God will give you that' religion. It's wrong. Yes, God promises to and will bless us; but who are we to expect that anything we do will elicit a response from God? What can I do to earn any blessing from God? Yeah, nothing! Working with that realization, I stepped back and it hit me! What else do I need? I have God! I have a relationship with Him and He's inviting me into that forever! I'm going to be with Him because He saved me from who I was. He has promised me that crown of life! Yet, I know that enduring trials and temptation on my knees in faith, begging for Him to be near, will also bless me. Our relationship will deepen as I cling to Him acknowledging how powerless I really am; but I think James is getting at more.
The truth is God not only saved us, not only brings us closer, but then pours on us more than we need, more than we can imagine. That's the God we serve. That's the God who is calling me to my knees to be blown away by His blessings. I hope and pray that my pride doesn't get in the way, and that I am humble enough to be blessed by our amazing God, and that you are too.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Word on the Way - Hebrews 13:8
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Tuesday, May 25
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
We've all heard that line "What a difference a day makes, twenty four little hours..." accompanied with some sweet jazz.
Yet, that's really the story of our lives. The song speaks about a movement from darkness into light; but I know we've all had our share of the reverse. This world turns and our days can change so quickly. The reality is that we live in a broken world, even if we have those few days that stand to the contrary. Actually, at my current job we fear good days; because we know that a good day is going to bring three or four bad days to follow. Maybe we're superstitious but that's the way the trend goes; and I'm all about trends (but I'm not trendy, I just like watching people's habits and repetitive movements).
There is no trend with God, He doesn't change. He may repeat Himself; but He is creative and original while constant.
Maybe a different way to look at it is through how we define ourselves over our lives. At first we're defined by our parents, then by our toys, friends, school, activities, or cars. Then we move to our jobs, our wives, our house, our dog/cat, hobbies, social circles, and yes our cars. Then we are defined by our children, their schools, their activities, etc. Then maybe its our grandchildren, retirement home, etc. (I haven't gotten that far, I'm only half down the list). If we dig deeper we see that our motivations change over time, who we are literally changes - even if its only the way others look at us. College was big for me because I could experiment with who I am, I learned a lot about who I am, but I was also changed. I feel that I've become more introverted. I hope that I've slowly become a better man.
Yet, God knows who He is and is revealing Himself to us in the scripture, in His creation, and in His relationship with us; and it does not change. He does not change. Though He may speak to you differently today as He did yesterday, He is the same. He was, is and always will be the same.
If there is sin in your life, bring it to Him and revel in His mercy. If you feel insignificant, come sit at His feet and behold His glory knowing that He gave up that glory to be with you. If you feel burned out, come rest in His arms knowing that there is nothing you can do for Him to love you. He already has, does and will forever love you. Rest here, live here, love here for God is here and He is calling you. He's been waiting, so come sit and relate to the love of your life.
Tuesday, May 25
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
We've all heard that line "What a difference a day makes, twenty four little hours..." accompanied with some sweet jazz.
Yet, that's really the story of our lives. The song speaks about a movement from darkness into light; but I know we've all had our share of the reverse. This world turns and our days can change so quickly. The reality is that we live in a broken world, even if we have those few days that stand to the contrary. Actually, at my current job we fear good days; because we know that a good day is going to bring three or four bad days to follow. Maybe we're superstitious but that's the way the trend goes; and I'm all about trends (but I'm not trendy, I just like watching people's habits and repetitive movements).
There is no trend with God, He doesn't change. He may repeat Himself; but He is creative and original while constant.
Maybe a different way to look at it is through how we define ourselves over our lives. At first we're defined by our parents, then by our toys, friends, school, activities, or cars. Then we move to our jobs, our wives, our house, our dog/cat, hobbies, social circles, and yes our cars. Then we are defined by our children, their schools, their activities, etc. Then maybe its our grandchildren, retirement home, etc. (I haven't gotten that far, I'm only half down the list). If we dig deeper we see that our motivations change over time, who we are literally changes - even if its only the way others look at us. College was big for me because I could experiment with who I am, I learned a lot about who I am, but I was also changed. I feel that I've become more introverted. I hope that I've slowly become a better man.
Yet, God knows who He is and is revealing Himself to us in the scripture, in His creation, and in His relationship with us; and it does not change. He does not change. Though He may speak to you differently today as He did yesterday, He is the same. He was, is and always will be the same.
If there is sin in your life, bring it to Him and revel in His mercy. If you feel insignificant, come sit at His feet and behold His glory knowing that He gave up that glory to be with you. If you feel burned out, come rest in His arms knowing that there is nothing you can do for Him to love you. He already has, does and will forever love you. Rest here, live here, love here for God is here and He is calling you. He's been waiting, so come sit and relate to the love of your life.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Word of the Way - 1 Peter 5:7
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Monday, May 24
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Let this wash over you. Taking away the burdens in your heart weighing you down.
This is Jesus. Why? Because I needed this verse. I'm sitting here with a bad case of the Mondays wondering if God will ever help me out of this bad job situation. I want to do more than add numbers together and watch them be ignored. I want to do good for the Lord and for the world, and selfishly for myself. But these are worries and cares that are beyond me. I have no real power over my destiny, my path or, a better way to put it, where God wants me.
So, here I am giving my worries and cares to God...well, I'm trying, because its hard. Giving them away means I have to relinquish my control over my life, over these cares that are burning me out. It's actually surprising that I hold onto them, because I really have no control over them. Either you have to accept that God is control or that life is random (you could argue that we have control - but I think in the end we have to answer the fundamental question: God or no God; when we answer that our belief system develops accordingly), but both leave you mostly powerless to really do anything. A random life will leave you spinning your wheels for direction or listlessly following the flow of life regardless of what the future holds. A God controlled life leaves you in the hands of God.
The verse tells us to take our cares to God. I think if you actually pictured yourself before Almighty God, you would be speechless. Your cares would be so insignificant to His glory; but the truth is God cares. Despite our insignificance, despite our sin He still cares for us. He is calling us closer. He is asking to hear our prayers. He is asking us to bring our brokenness to Him. Like Tenth Avenue North in their song "Any Other Way", God comes to us and says "I need your hurt, I need your pain; it's not love any other way". How can God love us if we don't trust Him with our needs?
See, God is not calling us to a religion of independence. He is calling us to relational dependence. I was thinking about this on the way to work; and the truth is God will always be the creator and we will always be the creation. There was a time when I always asked for strength; but I should have been asking for weakness so that I could run to Him and depend on His strength. He wants to love me and my holding back on trusting Him with my worries and cares is holding back on my receiving His love. In other words, my holding on to the control of my life is standing in between my breaking and hurting heart and His love.
But God still loves me. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit loves me enough to care about my worries. He loved me so much He sent His son, He came down and died, He dwells in my heart.
Monday, May 24
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Let this wash over you. Taking away the burdens in your heart weighing you down.
This is Jesus. Why? Because I needed this verse. I'm sitting here with a bad case of the Mondays wondering if God will ever help me out of this bad job situation. I want to do more than add numbers together and watch them be ignored. I want to do good for the Lord and for the world, and selfishly for myself. But these are worries and cares that are beyond me. I have no real power over my destiny, my path or, a better way to put it, where God wants me.
So, here I am giving my worries and cares to God...well, I'm trying, because its hard. Giving them away means I have to relinquish my control over my life, over these cares that are burning me out. It's actually surprising that I hold onto them, because I really have no control over them. Either you have to accept that God is control or that life is random (you could argue that we have control - but I think in the end we have to answer the fundamental question: God or no God; when we answer that our belief system develops accordingly), but both leave you mostly powerless to really do anything. A random life will leave you spinning your wheels for direction or listlessly following the flow of life regardless of what the future holds. A God controlled life leaves you in the hands of God.
The verse tells us to take our cares to God. I think if you actually pictured yourself before Almighty God, you would be speechless. Your cares would be so insignificant to His glory; but the truth is God cares. Despite our insignificance, despite our sin He still cares for us. He is calling us closer. He is asking to hear our prayers. He is asking us to bring our brokenness to Him. Like Tenth Avenue North in their song "Any Other Way", God comes to us and says "I need your hurt, I need your pain; it's not love any other way". How can God love us if we don't trust Him with our needs?
See, God is not calling us to a religion of independence. He is calling us to relational dependence. I was thinking about this on the way to work; and the truth is God will always be the creator and we will always be the creation. There was a time when I always asked for strength; but I should have been asking for weakness so that I could run to Him and depend on His strength. He wants to love me and my holding back on trusting Him with my worries and cares is holding back on my receiving His love. In other words, my holding on to the control of my life is standing in between my breaking and hurting heart and His love.
But God still loves me. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit loves me enough to care about my worries. He loved me so much He sent His son, He came down and died, He dwells in my heart.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Word on the Way - Philippians 2:3
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Friday, May 21
Philippians 2:3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
I really struggle with pride. I am always putting myself ahead of others. I love myself more than I love others and more importantly God. I am selfish. I try to impress others, even the ones I don't think highly off. I don't love or care about them, but I want them to be in awe of me. I want to be seen as their leader, as smarter, as better, etc. I am not humble.
-God please forgive my pride. Help me to love others and think of them as better than myself. We are all created in your image, and you have said "when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me (Matt. 25:40)." God I want to love you that much. Forgive me, and strengthen me through your son to be able to work through my sins to love you beyond my pride.-
Friday, May 21
Philippians 2:3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
I really struggle with pride. I am always putting myself ahead of others. I love myself more than I love others and more importantly God. I am selfish. I try to impress others, even the ones I don't think highly off. I don't love or care about them, but I want them to be in awe of me. I want to be seen as their leader, as smarter, as better, etc. I am not humble.
-God please forgive my pride. Help me to love others and think of them as better than myself. We are all created in your image, and you have said "when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me (Matt. 25:40)." God I want to love you that much. Forgive me, and strengthen me through your son to be able to work through my sins to love you beyond my pride.-
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Word on the Way - Commentary
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Thursday, May 20
Hebrews 13:16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
The goodness in this text is self evident. Only a very heartless and selfish person would not want to make the world better. Even though we choose to do this daily. So, are we heartless and selfish?... well... yes, actually. We are very selfish. The only cure for this is Jesus. The needy are everywhere - in our churches, neighborhoods, cities, workplaces, homes, etc. We are all needy. We need Jesus, because we are sinful, selfish, broken, imperfect, etc. However you want to describe it, it's real. Most of us want to do something about the brokenness in the world; but we all forget.
What makes us not forget? Well, a daily reminder of what Jesus has done for you. A daily walk with the creator of the universe, our savior, would draw us closer to Jesus compelling us to never forget His goodness while also redeeming us in order to go out and be good, to share, and to sacrifice ourselves to our God. Don't you want to please the God who loves you so much He gave everything to love you?
Thursday, May 20
Hebrews 13:16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
The goodness in this text is self evident. Only a very heartless and selfish person would not want to make the world better. Even though we choose to do this daily. So, are we heartless and selfish?... well... yes, actually. We are very selfish. The only cure for this is Jesus. The needy are everywhere - in our churches, neighborhoods, cities, workplaces, homes, etc. We are all needy. We need Jesus, because we are sinful, selfish, broken, imperfect, etc. However you want to describe it, it's real. Most of us want to do something about the brokenness in the world; but we all forget.
What makes us not forget? Well, a daily reminder of what Jesus has done for you. A daily walk with the creator of the universe, our savior, would draw us closer to Jesus compelling us to never forget His goodness while also redeeming us in order to go out and be good, to share, and to sacrifice ourselves to our God. Don't you want to please the God who loves you so much He gave everything to love you?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Word on the Way - Commentary
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Sometimes it is easier for me to understand the Bible by writing out my thoughts. This is part of my walk. If you read this I hope you get something out of it. Let He who created both you and me have the glory.
Wednesday, May 19
Proverbs 24:12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, "Look, we didn’t know।" For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
Seriously? You mean I can't get away with that? I can't believe that we really dupe ourselves into believing we didn't know. Or worse that we have a right to do xyz. We go around hurting people because we think we're oblivious. Really?
The best excuse is "it just happened!" No one really buys it, but you have to otherwise you can't use it yourself. It's like the infamous "I don't remember" or "I forgot". We use them to take the guilt off of ourselves, but the truth is we're guilty! We are guilty because we knew what we were doing. It's almost like there are two 'Falls'. The one where Adam and Eve sinned against God is the reason why the world is broken. But then there's this other Fall. It's the one that you and I go through everyday. It's when we choose to go against what we know is right. When we say 'no' to integrity and say 'yes' to self indulgence then we Fall again. This is why the world is still broken.
We're guilty and we deserve all the punishment God can throw at us!
But He won't!
That's the Gospel! That's why Jesus came! Because you're guilty and you know it! No matter how long you spend trying to deceive yourself into thinking you're not!! God is telling you, "I know you're guilty! I know you messed up! But I don't care! Stop trying to impress me! Stop trying to not look guilty! You are! But I'm here to take the guilt away. Here! I give you my son to die in your place! Now you are free!"
Sometimes it is easier for me to understand the Bible by writing out my thoughts. This is part of my walk. If you read this I hope you get something out of it. Let He who created both you and me have the glory.
Wednesday, May 19
Proverbs 24:12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, "Look, we didn’t know।" For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
Seriously? You mean I can't get away with that? I can't believe that we really dupe ourselves into believing we didn't know. Or worse that we have a right to do xyz. We go around hurting people because we think we're oblivious. Really?
The best excuse is "it just happened!" No one really buys it, but you have to otherwise you can't use it yourself. It's like the infamous "I don't remember" or "I forgot". We use them to take the guilt off of ourselves, but the truth is we're guilty! We are guilty because we knew what we were doing. It's almost like there are two 'Falls'. The one where Adam and Eve sinned against God is the reason why the world is broken. But then there's this other Fall. It's the one that you and I go through everyday. It's when we choose to go against what we know is right. When we say 'no' to integrity and say 'yes' to self indulgence then we Fall again. This is why the world is still broken.
We're guilty and we deserve all the punishment God can throw at us!
But He won't!
That's the Gospel! That's why Jesus came! Because you're guilty and you know it! No matter how long you spend trying to deceive yourself into thinking you're not!! God is telling you, "I know you're guilty! I know you messed up! But I don't care! Stop trying to impress me! Stop trying to not look guilty! You are! But I'm here to take the guilt away. Here! I give you my son to die in your place! Now you are free!"
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Word on the Way - Commentary
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Sometimes it is easier for me to understand the Bible by writing out my thoughts. This is part of my walk. If you read this I hope you get something out of it. Let He who created both you and me have the glory.
Tuesday, May 18
Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Two things stick out to me with this passage: abuse and encourage
Most of the time when we hear the command to not use 'foul' language we use it as 'fodder' for the legalistic 'cannon'. We use it to back up our human list of barely attainable commands. In other words when we read the passage above we some how interpret it as 'cussing'. We add 'cussing' to the 'Don't do' list and forget the implied 'do' list and ignore the deeper human need.
But I think the Translators really did a good job here. The language is described as foul and abusive. I believe that we often times do not take the time to really think about words (and to be honest that is what the passage is getting at). The word foul is very descriptive when you start to 'picture' it. What comes to your mind when you hear foul? How about: a dirty public restroom? an overflowing trash can? manure?
How do like your language being described as a public restroom?! And I'm not talking about 'cussing'. In a lot of ways cussing is only a symptom. Its a symptom of the cancerous negativity that we spew out on our 'neighbors'.
What about abuse? What comes to mind when you hear the word abuse? A drunk husband or father? How about a drug addict who abuses his body? Abuse is when someone who has control and power neglects the responsibility of that power and uses it for evil. Do you want your words to be abusive?
See the Lord said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples (John 13:35)." Foul language is abusive to the body of Christ, this is the opposite of love. We are all sinners and in desperate need of love. What we say is powerful and can express who we are inside. That is why Paul asks us to be encouraging. Why? Because when we mean it we are changed people. When we spend more energy on making sure that others are encouraged we will spend less energy on ourselves - on making sure we have the power. Our hearts will be changed.
See when the Gospel really enters into our daily lives we are compelled to love God for what He has done. When you love someone, you want to spend time with them. When you spend time with someone you love and respect you tend to become like them. This is what God wants. This is His 'will'. So, spend time with the Lord and you will learn to love your neighbor; because despite our sin, God is calling us into His presence and it is there that we will grow in the likeness of our Lord, absorbing His love for us. That love will compel us to go out in the world loving as He has loved us.
Sometimes it is easier for me to understand the Bible by writing out my thoughts. This is part of my walk. If you read this I hope you get something out of it. Let He who created both you and me have the glory.
Tuesday, May 18
Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Two things stick out to me with this passage: abuse and encourage
Most of the time when we hear the command to not use 'foul' language we use it as 'fodder' for the legalistic 'cannon'. We use it to back up our human list of barely attainable commands. In other words when we read the passage above we some how interpret it as 'cussing'. We add 'cussing' to the 'Don't do' list and forget the implied 'do' list and ignore the deeper human need.
But I think the Translators really did a good job here. The language is described as foul and abusive. I believe that we often times do not take the time to really think about words (and to be honest that is what the passage is getting at). The word foul is very descriptive when you start to 'picture' it. What comes to your mind when you hear foul? How about: a dirty public restroom? an overflowing trash can? manure?
How do like your language being described as a public restroom?! And I'm not talking about 'cussing'. In a lot of ways cussing is only a symptom. Its a symptom of the cancerous negativity that we spew out on our 'neighbors'.
What about abuse? What comes to mind when you hear the word abuse? A drunk husband or father? How about a drug addict who abuses his body? Abuse is when someone who has control and power neglects the responsibility of that power and uses it for evil. Do you want your words to be abusive?
See the Lord said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples (John 13:35)." Foul language is abusive to the body of Christ, this is the opposite of love. We are all sinners and in desperate need of love. What we say is powerful and can express who we are inside. That is why Paul asks us to be encouraging. Why? Because when we mean it we are changed people. When we spend more energy on making sure that others are encouraged we will spend less energy on ourselves - on making sure we have the power. Our hearts will be changed.
See when the Gospel really enters into our daily lives we are compelled to love God for what He has done. When you love someone, you want to spend time with them. When you spend time with someone you love and respect you tend to become like them. This is what God wants. This is His 'will'. So, spend time with the Lord and you will learn to love your neighbor; because despite our sin, God is calling us into His presence and it is there that we will grow in the likeness of our Lord, absorbing His love for us. That love will compel us to go out in the world loving as He has loved us.
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