Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Tuesday, June 8
Isaiah 44:22 (God Speaking) "I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free."
"Return to me". Those words resonate with me. I feel that life distracts us so much sometimes that we really need to stop and return to Him. We need to quiet down the noise, stop the deadlines and to-do lists, look away from the billboards and flashy advertisements, and return to Him in quiet and focused worship. I know how hard it is to focus on Him when the world feels like it won't ever stop spinning.
But the truth is He has paid a much higher price than our deadlines, budgets, jobs, etc. He has taken away the debt that we owe against each other, creation, and ultimately Him for all the wrong that we have done. He has erased all the bad and is calling us home, back to Him. The invite is personal and loving. It is simple. "Return to me".
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Psalm 37:23-24
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Monday, June 7
Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
It is very strange to think that someone, other than ourselves, is directing our steps. I think it is even more strange for us Christians to accept that God is directing our steps; that He is there in what we are doing now. Well, unless of course we are doing things that are clearly not from God; but I think that is where we get hung up. Too many of us say that our jobs and 'mundane' lives are not good enough for God; but in the same breath we say that our lives are good because they are stable. Though I clearly think that God is calling us to something different, I also believe that He is not necessarily calling us out of our lives. God asks us to be different. Here on this earth, in this job, at this time, in every detail of our lives we must follow Him, with His strength. He knows we will stumble. He knows we are broken people; but He is there to save us, again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again....
Monday, June 7
Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
It is very strange to think that someone, other than ourselves, is directing our steps. I think it is even more strange for us Christians to accept that God is directing our steps; that He is there in what we are doing now. Well, unless of course we are doing things that are clearly not from God; but I think that is where we get hung up. Too many of us say that our jobs and 'mundane' lives are not good enough for God; but in the same breath we say that our lives are good because they are stable. Though I clearly think that God is calling us to something different, I also believe that He is not necessarily calling us out of our lives. God asks us to be different. Here on this earth, in this job, at this time, in every detail of our lives we must follow Him, with His strength. He knows we will stumble. He knows we are broken people; but He is there to save us, again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again....
Friday, June 4, 2010
Job 5:11
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Friday, June 4
Job 5:11 He [God] gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer.
Passages like these have caused some to leave the faith completely. For some it has caused struggle. I have struggled; because it sounds so good until I look at the world. Then like many I begin to question, which leads to doubt, which for some leads to not believing at all. How do you answer, "Where was God when my mother died? during the holocaust? in war? etc." Pick the scenario; but when you look at the raw brokenness of life, trite words and phrases learned in Sunday School seem empty and useless. Where is God? He is there; but maybe not in the way you think He is.
The Bible is often described as a love story, albeit an odd one sometimes and maybe that's because it's a Hebrew love story not a Hollywood love story. God created us in His image and loves us. He made us His people. We rebelled. He loves us so much He wants to be married to us. So, His son came down to pay the price for us. Then He left to prepare a place for us. So, He sent us His Holy Spirit. To dwell in us. See, in Gensis when Adam and Eve are married by God, there is a verse that reads: "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one (Genesis 2:24, NLT)." This is God's picture of marriage. Paul describes the church as a "a pure bride to one husband—Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, NLT)." If we are the bride of Christ then we are to be united to Him as ONE! We are to be ONE with GOD!! Paul even describes the Church as the body of Christ! "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT)."
Isn't that wonderful! We are one with our savior Jesus Christ our Lord and God.
Isn't it sobering. Think about it.
We are His body. We are His body. We are His body.
Do you get it yet? I'm still struggling to grasp it fully; because if I really am part of His body, doesn't that mean that I represent Him. His Holy Spirit is supposed to be in me, and I'm supposed to be His body...yeah, well look at my life and tell me if I really look like Christ. The answer is no.
Christ's love has redeemed me. Christ has promised Himself to me, and as a token He has provided the Holy Spirit, which is like having Christ anyway because the Holy Spirit is the third part of the same God. So, I'm free from who I was and now I'm part of the body of Christ. We have overused that word and it means something different now. Think about what that word really means! Because right now the 'body' of Christ has Parkensons. We are not listening to Christ our head at all! And that is why this verse is not relevant to our world. That is why people leave the Church. That is why we are the biggest hypocrites in town. That is why others have to step in the gap and do our job - healing the sick, visiting the widows, orphans, and prisoners, clothing the homeless, feeding the hungry, saving the lost, stopping human trafficking, ending wars, fighting against injustice, etc., etc., etc. and another never ending etc.!
But there is an end to injustice and suffering, and we have the key. It is Christ. Through Christ we enter into the presence of our Lord, we enter heaven. It is our love for the one who loved us first, and loves us still, which must compel us to be like Him and to do and be and speak the good news.
Friday, June 4
Job 5:11 He [God] gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer.
Passages like these have caused some to leave the faith completely. For some it has caused struggle. I have struggled; because it sounds so good until I look at the world. Then like many I begin to question, which leads to doubt, which for some leads to not believing at all. How do you answer, "Where was God when my mother died? during the holocaust? in war? etc." Pick the scenario; but when you look at the raw brokenness of life, trite words and phrases learned in Sunday School seem empty and useless. Where is God? He is there; but maybe not in the way you think He is.
The Bible is often described as a love story, albeit an odd one sometimes and maybe that's because it's a Hebrew love story not a Hollywood love story. God created us in His image and loves us. He made us His people. We rebelled. He loves us so much He wants to be married to us. So, His son came down to pay the price for us. Then He left to prepare a place for us. So, He sent us His Holy Spirit. To dwell in us. See, in Gensis when Adam and Eve are married by God, there is a verse that reads: "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one (Genesis 2:24, NLT)." This is God's picture of marriage. Paul describes the church as a "a pure bride to one husband—Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, NLT)." If we are the bride of Christ then we are to be united to Him as ONE! We are to be ONE with GOD!! Paul even describes the Church as the body of Christ! "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT)."
Isn't that wonderful! We are one with our savior Jesus Christ our Lord and God.
Isn't it sobering. Think about it.
We are His body. We are His body. We are His body.
Do you get it yet? I'm still struggling to grasp it fully; because if I really am part of His body, doesn't that mean that I represent Him. His Holy Spirit is supposed to be in me, and I'm supposed to be His body...yeah, well look at my life and tell me if I really look like Christ. The answer is no.
Christ's love has redeemed me. Christ has promised Himself to me, and as a token He has provided the Holy Spirit, which is like having Christ anyway because the Holy Spirit is the third part of the same God. So, I'm free from who I was and now I'm part of the body of Christ. We have overused that word and it means something different now. Think about what that word really means! Because right now the 'body' of Christ has Parkensons. We are not listening to Christ our head at all! And that is why this verse is not relevant to our world. That is why people leave the Church. That is why we are the biggest hypocrites in town. That is why others have to step in the gap and do our job - healing the sick, visiting the widows, orphans, and prisoners, clothing the homeless, feeding the hungry, saving the lost, stopping human trafficking, ending wars, fighting against injustice, etc., etc., etc. and another never ending etc.!
But there is an end to injustice and suffering, and we have the key. It is Christ. Through Christ we enter into the presence of our Lord, we enter heaven. It is our love for the one who loved us first, and loves us still, which must compel us to be like Him and to do and be and speak the good news.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Luke 11:36
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Thursday, June 3
Luke 11:36 If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.
If you are something then you will do things that are attributable to being that thing. If you are a lion you do not eat grass. If you are zebra you do not eat meat. If you are an apple tree you do not grow grapes, and if you are a thorn bush you do not grow cherries.
If you are a lantern filled with light you shine out that light, unless you cover up the light or you run out of fuel. If you cover up your light you are useless. A lantern is meant to give out light, you may radiate some heat and that might be helpful in certain situations but its not what you were made for. A covered lamp does not show the way or light up what is around it; just like a lamp with no fuel. It does not have the essence of what gives it life and therefore cannot perform its duty. The wick my burn for a small amount of time, but it will soon go out.
If you are a Christian, you cannot hide what you are and still be who you are. To be a Christian is to go and to do what God has called us to do. We have to be visible in order to be doing His work. We also have to be in communion with Him and the body. We have to actively seek Him and be filled with Him. We need to partner with others who have taken up His call to action, so that we may be strengthened and encouraged by them. We need to make sure that some one is always disciplining us to ensure our obedience to God.
This all comes with a price. See if you hold a lantern, those in the dark will see where you are; and many will shrink away, some may even try to put out your light, those around you will dim their lanterns and expect the same from you, and some will come to your light - not because it's your light but because the Light of the World is shining through you.
Stand firm in the Lord who not only shines through you but will also ensure your safety in the night.
Thursday, June 3
Luke 11:36 If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.
If you are something then you will do things that are attributable to being that thing. If you are a lion you do not eat grass. If you are zebra you do not eat meat. If you are an apple tree you do not grow grapes, and if you are a thorn bush you do not grow cherries.
If you are a lantern filled with light you shine out that light, unless you cover up the light or you run out of fuel. If you cover up your light you are useless. A lantern is meant to give out light, you may radiate some heat and that might be helpful in certain situations but its not what you were made for. A covered lamp does not show the way or light up what is around it; just like a lamp with no fuel. It does not have the essence of what gives it life and therefore cannot perform its duty. The wick my burn for a small amount of time, but it will soon go out.
If you are a Christian, you cannot hide what you are and still be who you are. To be a Christian is to go and to do what God has called us to do. We have to be visible in order to be doing His work. We also have to be in communion with Him and the body. We have to actively seek Him and be filled with Him. We need to partner with others who have taken up His call to action, so that we may be strengthened and encouraged by them. We need to make sure that some one is always disciplining us to ensure our obedience to God.
This all comes with a price. See if you hold a lantern, those in the dark will see where you are; and many will shrink away, some may even try to put out your light, those around you will dim their lanterns and expect the same from you, and some will come to your light - not because it's your light but because the Light of the World is shining through you.
Stand firm in the Lord who not only shines through you but will also ensure your safety in the night.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
One Day at a Time
I changed the name of my blog a couple weeks ago. I feel like it encapsulates where I want to be in my faith and life. I want to focus on each day to see what God wants me to do. This is a humbling experience and I'm not really pulling it off perfectly, but that's the point. I need to be in a place of faith. It's too easy to not rely on faith in America. It's too easy to get distracted. I'm tired of distractions and rabbit trails that lead nowhere good. Life is too short, and since I want mine to have purpose I am relying on God, one day at a time.
I hope you enjoy reading the scripture commentaries I've been posting. I want them to encourage and help you. I know they have been helpful for me as I write them.
I hope you enjoy reading the scripture commentaries I've been posting. I want them to encourage and help you. I know they have been helpful for me as I write them.
James 2:19
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Wednesday, June 2
James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
I know this verse very well. I've heard it many times adding fuel to the inquisition fires (small and large). Today I want to shy away from using this as a faith-tester verse. I want to look at it as an applicable verse - a life changing verse. This is not a license to gossip and judge, this is an internally searching verse.
If you love cars, do spend all your time sailing? If you love art, do you spend all your time studying equations? If you love Jesus, do you spend all your time sinning?
I'm not saying we should all ascribe to a list of rules so that we don't sin. The rules, though good, are not what we need to follow. We need to follow Jesus. Why? Because when you look at the rules He's asking us to obey you see that He really loves us.
I have to ask myself, "if we follow Jesus Christ, who died to save us, why is Gandhi the modern standard for 'good deeds'?" I'm not asking for Christians to have that kind of fame, but I am asking why we are not on the front lines of global activism. Jesus came to save the lost and stood against the establishment. Why? Because they forgot who they were supposed to be ruling. Jesus came as the answer to economic stability, environmental sustainability, political calm, etc. His Love will conquer all.
His love is the answer, and if we believe that shouldn't we be acting on it? The way you act will be different to the way I act; but inactivity is not an answer. As Paul said, "Christ's love compels us, (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV)" therefore we go and do good things.
Wednesday, June 2
James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
I know this verse very well. I've heard it many times adding fuel to the inquisition fires (small and large). Today I want to shy away from using this as a faith-tester verse. I want to look at it as an applicable verse - a life changing verse. This is not a license to gossip and judge, this is an internally searching verse.
If you love cars, do spend all your time sailing? If you love art, do you spend all your time studying equations? If you love Jesus, do you spend all your time sinning?
I'm not saying we should all ascribe to a list of rules so that we don't sin. The rules, though good, are not what we need to follow. We need to follow Jesus. Why? Because when you look at the rules He's asking us to obey you see that He really loves us.
I have to ask myself, "if we follow Jesus Christ, who died to save us, why is Gandhi the modern standard for 'good deeds'?" I'm not asking for Christians to have that kind of fame, but I am asking why we are not on the front lines of global activism. Jesus came to save the lost and stood against the establishment. Why? Because they forgot who they were supposed to be ruling. Jesus came as the answer to economic stability, environmental sustainability, political calm, etc. His Love will conquer all.
His love is the answer, and if we believe that shouldn't we be acting on it? The way you act will be different to the way I act; but inactivity is not an answer. As Paul said, "Christ's love compels us, (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV)" therefore we go and do good things.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Ecclesiastes 7:8
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Tuesday, June 1
Ecclesiastes 7:8 Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.
Ok... I'm not really sure what to do with this. I'm guess I'm too proud to back down so I'm going to tackle this, but how?
For someone on the cusp of so many good things, this is a very weird verse to read...well, at least the first part. Patience over pride is an easy concept to understand even if it's really hard to implement. Though patience and pride are an odd pairing, we know that as Christians patience is much better than pride. Patience is long-suffering, kind, loving; while pride is arrogant, distant, self-serving. As believers in and followers of Jesus we should emulate patience and rid ourselves of pride.
Other than proving its own point, I think that the verse is speaking about endurance. That the end is better than the beginning. To understand this, think about a race. Though the beginning is important, it's what you do after that which will produce the outcome.
An excuse used by our society is "I was born this way" or "my parents made me this way"; but there is much truth in the many quotes that go something like this, "your choices define you". You can be a king or a hobo, what you choose to do with your life, resources, etc. defines who you are.
In a race, if you start off well that helps, but if you look back and start comparing yourself with others you slow down. You think that you're ok and that no one will beat you. Your pride gets in the way. Then, someone else will outrun you. It is not the one who begins the best, but the one who ends the best who will receive the medal. That takes patience. That takes determination. That takes effort, endurance, and never ending motivation.
As humans we cannot run the race ourselves. We're so lost we don't even know if we're on the right track. We follow other goals, other ends. Its as if we got in our running gear and then blindfolded ourselves, hoping to follow the noise of the crowd to show us the right way. We're not getting anywhere. I'm not getting anywhere. Too often I willingly blind-fold myself and run away from God's reward.
He is the reward. He is the motivation. He is the end, and He will provide the patience, endurance, and determination because He has already provided the effort. Somehow I forget this. Yes, there are days when I am basked in the bright beauty of His glory, but other days I blindfold myself. I just forget. How? How can we forget? I get so lost in the crowd, I hear their voices, I see their shiny lives, and I get sidetracked. But How? How do I forget?
God loved me, even though I'm a sinner - even though I do wrong, I live only for myself - He gave it all! See He didn't just die. He gave up His glory to come down from heaven and woo His people, and then He died without His glory. He gave up heaven to come down and be with His people, then He gave up His life, and then He sent His Holy Spirit. I am floored by His love, and somehow I still forget.
Lord, forgive me. Let me not be swayed by this world. Let me keep my eyes on you, that I may run and run only to you. I started off badly, I started off alone lost in my sin; but now I have you. Let me run to you, that the end may be sweet and beautiful, better than the beginning.
Tuesday, June 1
Ecclesiastes 7:8 Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.
Ok... I'm not really sure what to do with this. I'm guess I'm too proud to back down so I'm going to tackle this, but how?
For someone on the cusp of so many good things, this is a very weird verse to read...well, at least the first part. Patience over pride is an easy concept to understand even if it's really hard to implement. Though patience and pride are an odd pairing, we know that as Christians patience is much better than pride. Patience is long-suffering, kind, loving; while pride is arrogant, distant, self-serving. As believers in and followers of Jesus we should emulate patience and rid ourselves of pride.
Other than proving its own point, I think that the verse is speaking about endurance. That the end is better than the beginning. To understand this, think about a race. Though the beginning is important, it's what you do after that which will produce the outcome.
An excuse used by our society is "I was born this way" or "my parents made me this way"; but there is much truth in the many quotes that go something like this, "your choices define you". You can be a king or a hobo, what you choose to do with your life, resources, etc. defines who you are.
In a race, if you start off well that helps, but if you look back and start comparing yourself with others you slow down. You think that you're ok and that no one will beat you. Your pride gets in the way. Then, someone else will outrun you. It is not the one who begins the best, but the one who ends the best who will receive the medal. That takes patience. That takes determination. That takes effort, endurance, and never ending motivation.
As humans we cannot run the race ourselves. We're so lost we don't even know if we're on the right track. We follow other goals, other ends. Its as if we got in our running gear and then blindfolded ourselves, hoping to follow the noise of the crowd to show us the right way. We're not getting anywhere. I'm not getting anywhere. Too often I willingly blind-fold myself and run away from God's reward.
He is the reward. He is the motivation. He is the end, and He will provide the patience, endurance, and determination because He has already provided the effort. Somehow I forget this. Yes, there are days when I am basked in the bright beauty of His glory, but other days I blindfold myself. I just forget. How? How can we forget? I get so lost in the crowd, I hear their voices, I see their shiny lives, and I get sidetracked. But How? How do I forget?
God loved me, even though I'm a sinner - even though I do wrong, I live only for myself - He gave it all! See He didn't just die. He gave up His glory to come down from heaven and woo His people, and then He died without His glory. He gave up heaven to come down and be with His people, then He gave up His life, and then He sent His Holy Spirit. I am floored by His love, and somehow I still forget.
Lord, forgive me. Let me not be swayed by this world. Let me keep my eyes on you, that I may run and run only to you. I started off badly, I started off alone lost in my sin; but now I have you. Let me run to you, that the end may be sweet and beautiful, better than the beginning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
