June_29

SHARING BREAD²⁶ Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Luke 5:26 (NIV)Has God ever moved in your midst?  Have you ever known for certain that an occurrence was the direct result of the movement of His hand?  That very experience is what this verse relates to today.  God still moves in ways that only He can bring about.  Not only does He do this, but He delights in doing it!  He loves an “impossible” situation!  Surprise…..I am reminded of another verse!   ²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matt 19:26 (NIV) With these moves of His hand, glory can only be ascribed to Him.  God has a profound interest in His name being glorified among people; as John Piper states:  “God has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the fame of His name among the nations.”  His name is particularly glorified whenever His hand does only what God can do!  A perfect example is found in Psalms 19: ¹ The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Psalms 19:1 (NIV)Have you ever noticed how quickly and easily humans take the credit and praise?  Isn’t it refreshing when God acts so clearly that it leaves no room for human bravado – I love it when God moves in such a way!Jesus had just healed a paralytic in the presence of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law.  He stated to the paralytic that his faith had healed him and that his sins were forgiven. Jesus instructed him to get up, take his mat and go home.  The verse today is the reaction of the people present at this healing.I think you will enjoy the Greek definition of a few of the words used here.  The word rendered “amazed” is made up of two Greek words the first being “Ekstasis” meaning astonish, amaze, bewilder.  It is a sense of breathtaking and profound amazement coupled with exquisite dread at the sight of something remarkable, incredible, strange or supernatural; the gripping fascination with some enthralling phenomenon which drives one from his powers of reason in order to encounter it. The word portrays someone as being carried away out of mind, being so psychologically and emotionally moved by some fantastic sight that he loses all sense of his present situation.  He is held captive by it and falls under its sway because it is beyond his power to impose rational controls on the object of wonder.  The second Greek word used to make up this word is “Lambano” meaning any strong affection or emotion to seize, to fall upon or to come over someone. In other words, when God’s hand so clearly moves, it simply blows us out of the water!  We are left with two choices – He is to be glorified or it was merely random chance or happenstance.  Hmmm – I wonder which takes greater faith to believe???These people accepted this miracle from His hand and gave Him the due glory.  When it states that they “gave praise to God” it depicts the action of bestowing glory, honor and recognition on that which is excellent and highly impressive.  The idea is to speak highly of the greatness and excellence of someone. No wonder they were filled with respect and honor (awe) they had seen distinctly with their own eyes something beyond their expectations – a miracle!  It was a God thing.  Do it again, Lord!   What I glean from this:

• God delights in doing what only God can do.  As He asks Job, He asks me: ⁹ Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?  Job 40:9 (NIV)
• All things are possible with God.
• God desires for me to glorify His name.  I am to do this through my words and my actions.

 

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June_27

SHARING BREAD²⁴ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ²⁵ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Luke 5:24-25 (NIV)Speaking to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, Jesus responds to their thoughts accusing Him of blasphemy.  They were thinking, and rightly so, that God alone could forgive sins.  This reminds me of the verse in 1 Chronicles stated by King David:  ⁹ “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.   1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV) In stating this man’s sins were forgiven, Jesus claimed Deity, which, of course, He is.  His subsequent healing of the paralytic gave unquestionable proof that He indeed had the authority to forgive sins and should therefore be accepted as God.  Anyone can say “Your sins are forgiven” but the proof lay in the healing.  The healing verified His statement.  Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew:¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matt 28:18 (NIV) To prove His point that He had the authority to forgive sins, Jesus tells the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”  The words translated “get up” is the Greek word “Egeiro” meaning to rise, awaken.  It is primarily used of waking those who sleep.  Interestingly, figuratively, it is to become attentive to one’s on dangerous position apart from Christ and to the gift of God for salvation.  Paul says in Romans 13: ¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.   Romans 13:11-12 (NIV) The words in verse 11 translated “wake up” are for the exact same Greek word.  The word rendered “take” is the Greek word “Airo” meaning to take away, remove.  The doctrine of salvation as effected by Christ is to take away sin, the imputation or punishment of sin.  In effect, Jesus is telling this paralytic (as He tells each of us) wake up from your slumber, I am offering you the gift of salvation which takes away your sin by imputing the punishment of it to Me – hence, the cross.   Immediately, this paralytic stands in front of them all.  The word stand actually means to stand again.  As his physical body was now restored to health, his spiritual body was now restored to a right position with God. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.   Romans 14:4 (NIV)      No wonder he went home praising God.   He was freed.  He was no longer encumbered with the paralysis of the depravity of sin.  What was made manifest through his physical body, figuratively was what went on with his spiritual body.  That is cause for some serious praise!   Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. ² Praise the LORD, O my soul,  and forget not all his benefits— ³ who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, ⁴ who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, ⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.   Psalms 103:1-5 (NIV)    “I never have difficulty believing in miracles, since I experienced the miracle of a change in my own heart.”  AugustineWhat I glean from this:·         In all things, God searches my heart and understands my motive behind my thoughts.  A very good reason to ask as David did:  ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV) – I should ask God for help in this!·         Jesus has been given all authority.·         Jesus has taken away the punishment of my sin upon the cross and for that I praise Him!

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June_25

SHARING BREAD ²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:20 (NIV)Jesus was teaching, power was present, the paralytic arrives on a mat carried by friends – this sets the scene.  Not finding a way to get into the house because of the large crowds, the men carried their paralytic friend up on the roof (not an easy job) and lowered him down through the tiles into the middle of the crowd – directly in front of the Healer.  Let’s just ponder this point for a bit.  Scripture actually states: ¹⁸ Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. Luke 5:18 (NIV)They tried at first to go in the easy way – as we all do – yet were prevented.  Persistently, they pursued His presence.  Their persistence reminds me of the Scripture in Matthew where Jesus Himself states:¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.  Matt 11:11-12 (NIV) “Lay hold of it” actually means to seize with force, snatch, and drag off as a spoil; to seize by swiftly and aggressively grasping.  One meaning given by the Lexical Aids in the Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible on this verse is as follows:  “This advance entails the powerful works performed by Jesus and His dramatic gospel announcing the arrival of the long-awaited Messianic reign and demanding repentance and faith from all.  In keeping with the violent character of its irruption into history, those who enter it are distinguished by that same dead earnestness and lay hold of it as a highly-desired prize.  Entrance into the kingdom is no small matter; it is a life and death issue and is possible only by desperate and radically serious persons who desire it at all costs.”   Sometimes in seeking Christ and His His healing, we simply just give up too easily.Scripture states their desire was to lay the paralytic at His feet. The word translated “lay” is the Greek word “Tithemi” meaning to set, place, and lay down.  Figuratively, its meaning is to lay down one’s life, to lay to heart, resolve; to resolve in one’s mind.  This reminds me of yet another verse from Scripture:    ²³ Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?    Luke 9:23-25 (NIV) Jesus is looking for a firm resolve to follow Him with whole hearted devotion and a willing mind from among those who claim faith in Him.Interestingly, their actions did show a firm resolve in their faith in Jesus’ ability to heal. That did not go unnoticed by the Master.  Seeing faith demonstrated by actions, Jesus proclaims that his sins were forgiven.  The word forgiven means to send away; release from obligation, remit; of a debt, offense; to remit the penalty of sin, pardon or forgive faults.  The Lexical Aids in the Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible goes on to say:  “Only God can remit sin; human forgiveness is just that – the dismissal of indebtedness against oneself, not indebtedness toward God.  Spiritually, God’s healing occurs when faith is expressed through obedience.¹ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  Heb 11:1 (NIV) Our actions prove we are sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.   What I glean from this:

• God desires for me to persistently pursue His presence.
• God desires for me to desire Him above all.
• God desires my faith to be demonstrated by my obedience.

  

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June_22

SHARING BREAD
17 One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Luke 5:17 (NIV)

Surrounded by teachers of the law from every village of Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem, the Teacher begins to teach the teachers! The word translated “Teach” here is the Greek word “Didasko” meaning, of course, to instruct and teach; but it also has inherent in it the calculation of the increase in understanding of the pupil; the word carrying in it an expectation of learning and assimilation. The thing aimed at when teaching is the shaping of the will of the pupil – used absolutely of Christ’s teaching. (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible) This reminds me of Paul’s statement to the Corinthians:
1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly–mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 1 Cor 3:1-3 (NIV)

The emphasis being that we are to grow up in the knowledge of Christ – from milk to meat – which in turn shapes our will. As we grow up in Him we become more conformed to His image fulfilling God’s desire for us from the beginning:
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 (NIV)
He wills, He calls, He justifies, He glorifies – It is all about Christ!
We were never meant to receive knowledge for the head only! Head knowledge puffs up but love edifies. The knowledge is meant to change the life. The only way you can truly know that you know something is if you are “fleshing out” (or being) what you know that you know! Our knowledge changes our being. When praised or pierced, do you bleed Jesus or man? This is a test for each one of us to see how our growth in Christ is coming along (ouch). I don’t know about you, but the knowledge part is the easy part! Acting on that truth is where the rubber meets the road.
Our verse today goes on to say that the achieving power was present to heal the sick. The power given forth to authenticate the message – much like a changed life authenticates faith. Without the powerful example of a changed life, we have only words and our words against someone else’s words are merely that, words – opinions and desires lacking what it takes to do the job. Just as a car without gas or a lamp without electricity or a “thigh master” without thighs to press it (I just had to throw that in!) are all useless without POWER, so goes our witness. Why would anybody want to believe something that we say when we ourselves are unwilling to live it? I am confident that was one of the reasons for Paul’s words to us in Ephesians:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Eph 5:15-17 (NIV)

“When the archer misses the mark, he turns and looks for the fault within himself. Failure to hit the bull’s eye is never the fault of the target. To improve your aim — improve yourself.” ~ Gilbert Arland
Improve your serve!
What I glean from this:
• I am to be growing up in Christ – I never “get there” until I see Him face to face. I am a work in progress.
• It is His power within me that changes my life as I willingly let Him take control.
• My actions authenticate my faith.

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June_20

SHARING BREAD⁶ Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
     and parents are the pride of their children. Prov 17:6 (NIV)It was always easy for me to understand the first line of this proverb.  While not having any firsthand experience with having grandchildren, it is not difficult to imagine how they could be a crown to me – making me feel like the “princess” that I long to be!  Yet the second line always made me wonder – until today.  Fourteen months ago my three siblings and I buried our father; today, our mother.  It is hard for me to express the finality of “life as it was” that we are now facing. There is something about good endings that are so very hard to leave. You simply want to sit there and savor every past memory, every past sweet fellowship, every past laughter. Like lingering over a fine meal – all the sweet tastes blending together – the blessing of being satisfied – you simply just do not want it to end.  But end it does and life continues.After the minister left from discussing the funeral arrangements, my sister commented that we were now orphans!  I have heard that orphans do not often get adopted after ten years of age so at 56, 54, 52 and 48 it is not looking good for the home team!  While we all know the truth that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us, this passage from one generation to the next – can be a bit frightening at best!  We are now the generation to come to for advice and guidance.  We are now ON (so to speak)!  Are we prepared for the task ahead?When I read the second line of the above verse its meaning hits me a bit clearer now.  Actually, the wording is “and parents are the adornment, beauty and splendor of their children”.  If parents are faithful to the task of passing the baton of spiritual truths to their offspring as presented in Scripture and living what they profess, their children will be adorned with that beauty and splendor.  The sweet aroma of Jesus will be “sprayed” upon them!  Paul tells us:       ¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ¹⁵ For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 2 Cor 2:14-16 (NIV) How inspiring to keep us persevering!  Deuteronomy tells us:     ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

     ¹⁰ When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you–a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, ¹¹ houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant–then when you eat and are satisfied, ¹² be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Deut 6:4-12 (NIV) Francis of Assisi:  “Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received…..but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.”May those who come behind us find us faithful.What I glean from this:

• As a parent I am to pass on to my children through word and deed a rich heritage of spiritual blessing.
• I am to be the fragrance of life to those in my sphere.
• I am to remain faithful to the task to the end.

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June_18

My mother went into the arms of Jesus on Saturday, June 16, 2007.  Please pray for our family as she is being buried today.    SHARING BREAD ¹⁵ Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. ¹⁶ But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)The news about Jesus spread like a raging fire in the driest season.  Crowds were coming from everywhere to be healed of their diseases.  You can only imagine the horrible plight of the throngs approaching Jesus for His healing touch.  Matthew tells us:  ²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴ News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.  Matt 4:23-25 (NIV) Can you even surmise the mayhem these newly selected disciples were experiencing?  The need had to be overwhelming for them.  I love what Jesus does first following this scene in the Matthew passage.  Matthew 5:1 goes on to say:  ¹ Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.   Matt 5:1-2 (NIV) He begins to teach them!  This is truly a lesson for us all!  Before we can help ANYBODY, we need time at Jesus’ feet.  Just as Jesus often withdrew to pray and to be refueled by His Father, so we too must be filled with His teaching.  The Bible tells us the following truth:  ¹⁹ Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
²⁰ He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Psalms 107:19-20 (NIV)God’s word heals. There is power that lies within His precious word.  Paul tells us:  ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV)Thoroughly equipped – great words used here!  The word translated “Thoroughly” is the Greek word “Artios” meaning complete, sufficient, and competent.  The word translated “Equipped” is the Greek word “Exartizo” meaning to complete entirely – to furnish or fit completely.  When God says it, God does it!  He is totally thorough and complete – isn’t that reassuring?   Don’t flippantly run over this point.  When you have a need, Jesus, the Word, can meet it.  He can satisfy your every need.  That’s how much He loves you.  He gave up His own life so that you might live.  That’s how much He wants you to see that you are His child and that you mean that much to Him.  As Paul so succinctly puts it: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  Phil 4:13 (NIV)What I glean from this: 

• im.
• I must sit at Jesus’ feet first before I can help anybody – including myself!
• Jesus’ Word heals me.
• Jesus can satisfy my every need.

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June_15

SHARING BREAD ¹² While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

     ¹³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Luke 5:12-13 (NIV)These two verses are filled with such passion.  They touch me.  Here we see a helpless, hopeless, human humbly approaching his Hope.  Can we not relate here?  Have we not each felt helpless and hopeless at a time in our lives needing what only Hope can provide?  Take joy!  Hope is willing!In Biblical times the plight of a leper was not a pretty picture.  They were removed from the society of men. While thus excluded, the leper was to wear mourning costume, rend his clothes, leave the hair of his head disordered, keep his beard covered and cry out loudly “Unclean! Unclean!” so that everyone might avoid him for fear of being defiled.  As long as the disease lasted he was to dwell apart from the camp (Unger’s Bible Dictionary).  The text tells us that this poor man was covered with this dreaded disease.  The word translated “covered” is the Greek word “Pleres” meaning complete, full and abounding in.  He had it bad.  This reminds me of Paul’s description of us apart from Christ: ¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)– ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.  Eph 2:11-13 (NIV)I wonder how long it had been since he had heard a kind word.  I wonder how long had it been since he had been hugged or even touched.  I wonder if he longed for sweet fellowship and perhaps for the desire for life to just be normal again.  Seeing Jesus, he falls at His feet to capture cleansing.  Rather than crying out “Unclean!” he begs “Cleanse me!”  Does this not remind you of the penitent Psalm of David in Psalm 51?  ² Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  Psalms 51:2 (NIV)⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7 (NIV) ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalms 51:12 (NIV) ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.   Psalms 51:17 (NIV) God does not delight in our coming to Him with an arrogant self righteous spirit rather His desire is for us to approach Him humbly to be healed.  Dwight L. Moody says:  “The Lord sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves”.  Reaching out His hand this leper receives his first touch perhaps in years and what a touch it is!  A willing touch from the Master always heals.  The word translated “willing” is the Greek word “Thelo” meaning to will, wish, desire, implying active volition and purpose; it indicates not only willing something, but also pressing on to action.  Humans may purpose and perhaps not carry through but with God, when it is willed, it is done! ⁹ Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. ¹⁰ I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. Isaiah 46:9-10 (NIV) Immediately, Scripture tells us, the leper is cleansed – freed from filth, purified from pollution.  No longer alienated; no longer an outcast.  Jesus was willing!  Jesus is still willing!What I glean from this:·         When I feel hopeless and helpless, Jesus is my hope.·         Jesus is able to cleanse me from all unrighteousness – immediately – if I come to Him with a humble spirit and a “broken and contrite heart”.·         The purposes of God can NEVER be thwarted.

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June_13

SHARING BREAD Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:10-11 (NIV)The miraculous catch of fish had left Simon overwhelmed (to say the least!) at the majesty and power of Jesus.  Fear can paralyze us or prompt us.  Jesus urges Simon to allow his fear to do the latter.  We were never meant to sit in a frozen state of fear instead, we are to go forth in His power to do His good works that He has “prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).  The word Jesus used here for “fear” is the Greek word “Phobeomai” meaning fear, terror, respect, honor – to cause to run away, terrify, frighten.  Am I the only one out there whose first impulse is to run away when terrified?   It makes me feel better that Simon Peter might have wanted to too.  Just as Jesus’ words were reassuring for Peter, they are for us also. “Don’t be afraid” says Jesus – adding that now Peter would be catching men. Hopefully, we will do likewise! Interestingly, the text goes on to say that these seasoned fishermen pulled their boats up on shore and left everything to follow Jesus.  Doesn’t that pique your curiosity?  These men left everything – everything to follow Jesus.  He wasn’t offering them worldly riches, status or success.  He was offering them something far better – the opportunity for kingdom work. He was holding out to them the possibility for eternal purposes and riches. To be parts of a greater plan than they could have ever imagined in their wildest dreams! I love how Paul puts it in I Corinthians: However, as it is written: “No eye has seen,  no ear has heard,  no mind has conceived
     what God has prepared for those who love him” —   1 Cor 2:9 (NIV)These fishermen were not sacrificing they were gaining.  The abundant life is not as much about sacrifice, what you are giving up, but about what you are getting instead!  As Chip Ingram states:  “It is not renunciation but about reevaluation; it is not noble and sacrificial, it is wise and logical”.  Considering our time on earth is at best short, to live for the here and now and not for eternal purposes seems a bit short sighted. Again, according to Ingram, “Those who live for this world have short term gain and long term pain yet those who live for eternal purposes, have short term pain and long term gain.  These disciples had a realization that “total commitment is the channel through which God’s biggest and best blessings flow” (Ingram).  This is the reason behind Paul’s urgency in Romans 12:1-2:    ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. ² Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) This is not about our salvation that is referred to here, this is about our sanctification and living the abundant life God desires for all of His children to live.  You may be saved, and you could miss this!  It is good, it is pleasing, it is perfect.  This is what Paul was referring to in First Corinthians: ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. ¹⁴ If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Cor 3:11-15 (NIV) Our goal should NOT be to enter heaven with a charred rear end!  Our goal is to store up for ourselves riches in heaven not wood, hay and stubble which will POOF in the fire!   Concerning this very issue, in his final days on earth, Paul gives this charge to Timothy his son in the faith:
     ¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.  1 Tim 6:17-19 (NIV) Our desire, as followers of Christ, should be to take hold of the life that is truly life! What I glean from this:·         Jesus does not want me terrified with fear or running away when fear strikes!·         Jesus offers us:  “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” – Eph 3:20 (NIV).·         The greatest sacrifice comes through not serving the Lord with “wholehearted devotion and a willing mind”. 

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June_11

SHARING BREAD⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, Luke 5:8-9 (NIV)When sinful mortal flesh meets with the pure holiness of God the response is always the same – woe, woe is me!  I am reminded of the prophet Isaiah when he “saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted” – his response:  ⁵ “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”   Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)There is nothing like coming into contact with pure holiness to make us aware of our depravity!  We constantly are comparing ourselves with others and because of this we can always find someone who is worse than we are!  We may say to ourselves “I am bad, BUT at least I don’t ……..”  Somehow, in some macabre way, that makes us feel better about ourselves.  Coming face to face with perfection, on the other hand, does not leave us with quite the same taste in our mouths!  Interestingly, perfection is what God requires of us all.  In His holiness, He cannot commune with sin.  Our sin separates us from a holy God.  To use Isaiah’s phrase, “we are ruined”!  But God (two of my favorite words) demonstrated His love for us in this:While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.   Romans 5:8 (NIV) Christ came to live a perfect life to be a perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Paul states in II Corinthians: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.   2 Cor 5:21 (NIV) This is the gospel – the very Good News!  Once we were alienated from God but now, those who believe are reconciled.  Because of what Christ did on our behalf, through faith in Him we can now stand in the very presence of God – and we will stand for the Lord is able to make us stand (Romans 14:4).  When God looks at the redeemed, He sees the perfect life of Christ – not all of our warts and blemishes but Christ’s total perfection.  Now that should make us shout “Thank you Jesus!”    Some may be wondering what the big deal here is.  We have so put God on our level and He simply is NOT!  We have lost the reverence and awe of God that He both deserves and desires!  I love what Moses and his sister Miriam said in Exodus: ¹¹ “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD?   Who is like you–majestic in holiness, awesome  in glory, working wonders?   Ex 15:11 (NIV)The Hebrew wording here is great!  The word rendered “majestic” is the Hebrew word “Adar” meaning to be great, glorious, honorable, and majestic; connotes that which is superior to something else.  Interestingly, it is used only two times in the Bible – here by Moses and also in Isaiah 42:21.  These men knew their God and through their lives, God richly used them in powerful ways for kingdom work (that, which Jesus said, will never perish).  Oh that we would have the same comprehension of His majesty!  The word rendered “wonders” is the Hebrew word “Pele” from “Pala” denoting things done beyond the bounds of human powers or expectations – things quite frankly, far beyond our ability to do.   Indeed, He is worthy of our reverence and awe!     ² Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
     worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Psalms 29:2 (NIV) What I glean from this:·           God is holy and righteous and worthy of my praise.·            I realize afresh this verse about God’s ways:  ⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:9 (NIV)·           God delights in my praise of Him.  Praise comes from a thankful heart.

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June_08

SHARING BREAD ⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

 Luke 5:6-7 (NIV)Obedience to God’s commands reaps sure rewards!  Jesus had just told Peter to let down the nets for a catch.  Peter protested stating they had fished hard all night without success, nevertheless, at His word they would obey.  Startling, they caught such a catch their nets began to break!  No one was more surprised than Peter!  I love the way Jesus works.  He loves to blow us out of the water with His faithfulness.  He came to overflow our cups. Just as there is always consequence to sin (every sin carries with it a death sentence), there is always blessing in obedience.  Always!Scripture is filled with examples of God calling us to obedience – for our good.  To begin with, the prophet Samuel relays a message from God to King Saul in I Samuel 15:22-23:²² But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.  ²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”  1 Sam 15:22-23 (NIV)Through Moses, God delivers this message:¹⁸ Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers, ¹⁹ thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.  Deut 6:17-19 (NIV) In the New Testament, James, in his “to the point punch” states:   ²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  James 1:22 (NIV)Paul tells us in Romans:   ¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.  Romans 6:15-18 (NIV)If you are interested in a further study on obedience, there is a wonderful chapter in Jeremiah – chapter 7 – that would be well worth the investment of your time.  Three verses in particular within that passage shout out to me in regard to obedience:²² For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, ²³ but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. ²⁴ But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.   Jer 7:22-24 (NIV) If we are believers, we have been brought out of Egypt (slavery) – we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness. We have been set free from sin and death through the powerful blood of Jesus.  God gives us commands for our good so that it may go well with us – to keep us from going backwards and not forwards!  May we be found faithful in obedience to His commands! Oswald Chambers writes:“God never coerces us.  In one mood we wish He would make us do the thing, and in another mood we wish He would leave us alone.  Whenever God’s will is in the ascendant, all compulsion is gone.  When we choose deliberately to obey Him, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with all His almighty power.” What I glean from this:·         God calls for me to be obedient to His commands.·         My obedience shows my trust and love in and for Him.·         There is great peace and joy in obedience.·         Obedience reaps sure rewards – more of Him! ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:12-13 (NIV)

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