Doing Is Believing - Mk. 7:15

"You are not defiled by what you eat, you are defiled by what you say and do." Mk. 7:15

Jesus was condemning the Pharisees' hypocritical behavior. They were allowing their rituals to overwhelm God's original intent, and were in fact violating certain Laws (that they were supposed to be bound to) just to uphold their traditions. It made me think of all that I didn't like about church. It can turn into a place that people allow their religion to be "housed" in, but not seen outside its walls. A place that they can point to and say, "That's what I believe," yet go right on living life as they always have. This is what I grew up watching in the Catholic church. While I am confident that not all Catholics were actually this way, my experience was that religion was something that you "did" on Sunday, then you go back to "regular life" after. These were not lives that were shaped by what they believed, and it smacked of hypocrisy. So I ask myself, "where is MY hypocrisy?"

Holy Spirit, I pray that you don't let me be deceived. Shine your light on hypocritical behavior in my life--I want to always be a solid witness for you.

Today's reading: Job 22; Mk. 7, 8

Mission - Acts 28:20

"I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could tell you that I am bound by this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel--the Messiah--has already come." Acts 28:20

Paul never loses sight of the mission at hand. After being beaten, imprisoned and shipwrecked, he is now in Rome living in relative comfort (even though still a prisoner). I would want to rest, relax, maybe make some friends--at least "test the waters" before jumping back into risky controversy. Not Paul. Three days after landing, he is right back at it. I am sure his perspective is that he has no time to waste, but I am quite certain that I would have been able to convince myself that a little break was well-deserved. And this is precisely my problem--I am too easily distracted by worldly comforts (maybe a desire to be liked or accepted?), and my vision for my mission becomes blurry. This has always been mankind's trap. He is laser-focused when God first implants the mission, and is very productive for awhile. Then, after a time, he wants to rest and enjoy the "fruits." Then that time gets a little longer until all he is doing is resting, enjoying and getting caught up in dealing with the details of living life, that he has forgotten what his original mission was. Satan may not have won my soul, but he has certainly neutralized my effectiveness in the world around me.

Jesus, keep my mission highlighted before me at all times. I am SO easily distracted that I have made Satan's job way too easy. Keep me from being deceived as to what the real battle is everyday.

Today's reading: Job 18; Ps. 114; Acts 27, 28

Blindness - Acts 26:22-23

"I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen--that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead as a light to Jews and Gentiles alike." Acts 26:22-23

This is what I just don't get: the Jews KNOW prophecy; they know that the Messiah will return for both Jews AND Gentiles. Why do they fail to recognize that Jesus is the fulfillment of those prophecies? How would they EVER recognize the Messiah if they could not see him in the person of Jesus? Why would they deny Paul's experience given his education and background? Why would they go so far as to make up lies in an attempt to have him killed? Have they no fear of the God they are claiming to defend? It just shows how deep Satan's deception runs. If those who were eye-witnesses cannot believe, without the Holy Spirit, what chance do we have?

God, what an incredible defender of the faith did you create when you created Paul! I pray that you give me his courage and his words when the situation demands it.

Today's reading: Job 17; Acts 24-26

Mediator - Job 16:21

"Oh, that someone would mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends." Job 16:21

Job recognizes the void between he and God--that no matter how good of a man he may be, that he can never be good enough for God; that a mediator was required. Job recognizes his need for Jesus before Jesus is even born! Alice and I were talking about what we were supposed to learn by reading Job--it certainly could not be that God had the need to make a point to Satan! I think Job tells us in this verse: Without a mediator, we stand no chance of making it to God--Jesus is that mediator. God used Job to illustrate to mankind how far from Him we really are. That like his friends, we may think we have got it figured out, but we are really deceived if we think that we can get there by our own righteousness. Jesus, our mediator, is the ONLY way.

Thank you God for being willing to sacrifice your only son so I can have eternal relationship with you. Thank you for loving me more than I can understand.

Today's reading: Job 16; Acts 21-23

Slippery Slope - Acts 15:29

"... You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood, or eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well..." Acts 15:29

When I first read this, I had some real issues with what they were saying. Wasn't it just a few chapters ago when Peter had the dream about God saying that food did NOT make a person unclean?? Isn't this the very kind of regulation/Law they were criticizing the Judaizers over? Isn't this a slippery slope? Then I got to thinking, nowhere did they say that this was a salvation issue. Maybe these were just good practices to live by (doesn't hurt that the religious Jews would be in full agreement, and likely make life easier for the new converts). Whatever the reason, it CANNOT be that this was something beyond faith in Jesus being required for salvation--it cannot be that they were reverting back to the Law!

Jesus, thank you for being the only sacrifice we need to be right before God.

Today's reading: Job 13, 14; Acts 17, 18

Confidence - Ps. 108

From 10/19/2007 reading:

"My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises!" Ps. 108

This is exactly how I feel. No matter what, no matter the circumstance I am confident that God has a plan and has things under control. I have often said that I feel like having the gift of faith is like cheating--I simply do not fear. Sure, I have my moments. The world can present some tough situations and we have a crafty adversary; but at the end of the day, I will ALWAYS come back to my confidence in God and find a way to praise him. He is in my refuge in the storm. I honestly don't know how I would cope without having him to run to--He calms me; He brings back perspective and focus, He IS my confidence.

God, I give you all the glory, and I praise you for every good thing as well as every trial.

Today's reading: Job 5; Ps. 108; Acts 10, 11

Reform - Neh. 13:30

"So I purged out everything foreign..." Neh. 13:30

All of Neh. 13 was about Nehemiah expelling ungodly practices from the nation of Israel. The sense I got was that Nehemiah was doing everything he could to bring holiness back to his people--to make them a separate people from the world around them--to once again do the things that God told them to do from the beginning. I need to be more like Nehemiah in my own life. Left on my own, I will slowly slip back toward the world, not because it is more desirable, but because it is the path of least resistance. As Nehemiah said, even King Solomon fell prey to the seductive nature of the world. God, however, is calling me to be set apart for him, and he is a jealous God! I have to be on constant watch for things that creep in that need to be purged.

Holy Spirit, keep my eyes open, my Spirit sensitive.

Today's reading: Neh. 13; Mal. 1, 2; Acts 4

Like A Child - Ps. 131

"Lord my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me." Ps. 131

How refreshing and comforting is this verse in a world filled with stress and responsibility? How many things do I concern myself with upon which I can have little or no impact? How good is it to be still before the Lord? How awesome is it that the Creator of the universe who knows and has planned ALL things from beginning to end, calls ME to be his child? He is MY FATHER. Whom and what could I possibly fear? Does he not know all? Will he not care for his child? I will rest in the Lord.

Father, thank you for loving and providing for me. I trust you completely.

Todays reading: Ezra 9-10; Ps. 131; Lk. 21

Motivation - Est. 8:17

"And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them." Est. 8:17

How ironic is this?! Just a great illustration of God's providence. Evil Haman plots to have the Jews annihilated (how many time in history has this happened?)--in the end, he himself is killed by the king's order, Mordecai is elevated to his now vacant position and takes all his land and possessions, the Jews are given the right to defend themselves (they are ultimately victorious), and the Jewish nation actually GROWS instead of being decimated! God truly works all things for good... This verse in Esther, however, makes me think about end times. If people convert to Christianity simply out of fear of what is to come, are they REALLY saved? I know, only God knows their hearts, but it does make me wonder about the motivation of these people who converted to Judaism.

Lord, the fact that you have a plan is clearly illustrated in this story. Thank you for your incredible provision and sovereignty, and thank you for people like Esther who are willing to be obedient even unto death. You are an awesome God! I pray you make your will clear in my life so I can always respond as Esther did.

Today's reading: Est. 3-8; Lk. 18

Live Out Loud - Ps. 150

"Praise God in his heavenly dwellng; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; Praise him with the... blast of the trumpet... lyre and harp... tambourine and dancing... clash of cymbals... loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! Ps. 150

This psalm effectively does away with any thought that worship and praise should be done quietly and solemnly. Praising God is described as rejoicing and celebration--this is a party! And doesn't that make sense? He is the God of the universe who has redeemed us! This is cause for shouts of praise and dancing in the streets! Consider what he did and who he is and give him praise--REAL praise!!

I praise your name my Lord and my God!

Today's reading: Est. 1, 2; Ps. 150; Lk. 17

Heavenly Rewards - Lk. 16:9

"I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven."Lk. 16:9

The story of the shrewd manager has always bothered me because it appears that he is rewarded for dishonesty; but put in the context of this verse, I can better understand the story (but not entirely). I can relate because God has blessed me with resources, and instead of feeling guilt or unworthiness, I can instead see a godly use for this blessing AND store up heavenly rewards in the process! What a perfect body our Father has created. While the poor may not have resources, they have other gifts that the body desperately needs; those with resources may not have the gifts the poor have, but they can take care of the poor! I still don't get the dishonesty part, or the focus on the making of friends, but that's OK, God's plan is ultimately perfect.

God, thank you for the resources you have provided. Continue to show me how you want them used; grow my vision, help me to see as you see.

Today's reading: Ezra 5, 6; Ps. 138; Lk. 16

Lost And Found - Lk. 15:32

"We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found." Lk. 15:32

Every time I read the Prodigal Son, I have a difficult time not relating to the feelings of the older brother. But thank God I have a Father in heaven whose sole focus is redemption, because in reality, my life story is really that of the younger son. I was given everything as a youth, including the opportunity for salvation. Like the story, I squandered it all until I hit rock bottom and came running back to God. Not only did he accept me, but he poured out abundance! I will never understand our God's mercy and love, but I thank him every day, and need to constantly remind myself from whence I came anytime I start to feel even the smallest hint of pride.

God, thank you for always scanning the horizon to save those who are lost and searching for you. Thank you for finding ME.

Today's reading: Zech. 13, 14; Ps. 147; Lk. 15

Salt - Lk. 14:34, 35

"Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for fertilizer. It is thrown away." Lk. 14:34, 35

There are certain verses that are always convicting to me. I don't want to be flavorless salt, or a lamp that is hidden, but sometimes I wonder about my witness in the world around me. Oh, they see me as a good, moral person -- even a Christian. But how effective have I been at actually SPREADING the gospel message to those who don't know Christ? If I were to grade myself, I could not give myself better than a "C," and I tell my kids that, as far as their school is concerned, this is unacceptable! I know I need to improve, I just don't know how.

God, I pray that you will open doors for me to share you with those who don't know you. More importantly, show me an avenue that I can travel where this can become a regular part of my life. I am willing, show me the way.

Today's reading: Zech. 10-12; Ps, 126; Lk. 14