Set Apart - Ex. 29:45-46

"I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, and they will know that I am the Lord their God. I am the one who brought them out of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the Lord their God." Ex. 29:45-46

Whenever I read about all of the exacting detail that Got imposed on the Jews with regard to the Temple, priests, sacrifices, ceremony/ritual, etc., I can't help but wonder what it's all about. Does an all powerful God need all this? When I read this verse in Exodus I had a different thought (beyond the obvious, "He's God, he can require anything he wants."). That all of his demands were more for the benefit of the Jews than for him. These were slaves--they had only known slavery for over 400 years; yet they were also God's chosen people. I am certain that any thoughts of being anything special whatsoever, died long ago. How would God take a community of slaves and transform them into a nation set apart to serve the God of the universe? By showing them that they were different, unique and special to the ONLY God that matters. That HE loved them, would take care of them, and had a plan. By creating an environment and way of life that was SO different from what they knew, God was giving them their identity back. By no means an easy task as they constantly wanted to go back to what they saw as the "security" of being slaves -- but God triumphed. These were no longer the people of Pharaoh, they were the people of God.

Lord, just as you set the Jews apart you did the same for me, a Gentile. I don't always feel special, unique and different, but I am working on it. Keep revealing yourself to me.

Today's reading: Ex. 28, 29; Acts 7

You ARE The Boss Of Me - Ps. 21:1-2

"How the king rejoices in your strength O Lord!
He shouts with joy because of your victory.
For you have given him his heart's desire;
you have held back nothing that he has requested."

Ps. 21:1-2

David takes no credit for his victory; ALL glory goes to God. I notice how small he makes himself and how big he makes God -- As it should be.

Lord, bless me with the heart of David, with his perspective -- help me to see my life and this world as he did; given and governed by you. I am simply blessed to be part of it.

Today's reading: Ex. 12, 13; Ps. 21; Acts 1

Far Greater Is He... - Lk. 22:31-32

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers." Lk. 22: 31-32

What a moment in time this is. We get to watch Satan lose big time on two critical fronts. First, he THINKS he has victory over Jesus by arranging his death; then he thinks he has taken Peter out of the game by causing him to deny Christ. These two perceived victories turn into two of his greatest failures of all time as Jesus rises from his death to guarantee our salvation, and Peter repents and emerges as the foundation of the new church. I love the picture we get of Jesus interceding on Peter's behalf. Even with the knowledge of Peter's pending failure, he commissions him as THE future leader of the church. Even though he knows Peter's denial is coming, his prayer isn't that Peter doesn't deny him, it is that his faith won't fail in the process. I am weak, but HE is strong, and he has overcome the world. Because Satan is real, and because I am a sinful man, I WILL sin in this world. My job is to repent, and maintain the faith to know that Jesus has already gained the victory, and will use me in spite of myself.

Jesus, what can I say? I repent of my sinfulness. Thank you for saving me and calling me your son; thank you for being willing to operate through this broken vessel. I love you.

Today's reading: Ex. 3-5; Lk. 22

Time Management - Lk.19:11

"And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away." Lk. 19:11

I always thought the purpose behind the story of the ten servants was to help us understand that what we actually DO with what God has blessed us with is important. And while Jesus certainly uses it for that purpose, he states here that his primary purpose was to correct a misconception about when the Kingdom of God would begin. I never noticed this. The message is, it won't be happening soon, so get to work and be responsible with what God has given you; it's OK to take risks for God, in fact, he expects it. Oh, and by the way, those people who don't want me to be their King, execute them! Jesus made his message quite clear in this story.

Jesus, help me to always be able to see clearly you blessings in my life. Don't allow me to deceive myself as to the source; show me what you want done with what you have given me.

Today's reading: Gen. 47, 48; Ps. 10; Lk. 19

The Love of a Father - Lk. 15:31-32

From yesterday's reading:

"His father said ti him, 'Look, dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but now is found!'" Lk. 15:31-32

This is such a great peek into the heart of God. Even though he makes sure his oldest son understands that there will definitely be rewards for his loyalty and obedience, the return of his youngest son is a cause for celebration no matter the circumstances. Our God is constantly searching for those who will turn back to him, and the MOMENT they do, he rushes to them welcoming them home -- the Bible even tells us that ALL of heaven rejoices! What an awesome God we serve, that no matter our sin, his longing for relationship with us eclipses all else.

Thank you God for loving me that much!

Today's reading: Gen. 37, 38; Ps. 7; Lk. 15

Maintain Focus! - Lk. 12:30-31

"These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." Lk. 12:31-31

So what are "these things" that he is talking about? We are told earlier in the chapter that they are primarily earthly worries... about what we will say in front of authorities, about the accumulation of wealth, even about having basic food and clothing. The message here is that this is the primary focus of MOST people; what we are being called to do is ABANDON earthly fears, turn our FOCUS to expanding the Kingdom of God, and TRUST that GOD will meet all our daily needs. In fact, the last sentence was a conditional statement, and that "IF" is looking like the biggest two letter word I have ever seen! This is the challenge then isn't it? To turn our focus from what we can see, and concentrate on what we cannot as the primary focus of our lives. Wow, I am a long way from meeting this challenge. I "see" way too much of what the world is offering/demanding, and my focus becomes blurred.

Lord, I KNOW that this is a challenge that is set before me, it is not new no matter how much I want to believe that it is. It is simply my failure to meet the challenge that looms large for me. Please help me to see/focus clearly every day--I know you have won the war, I just want to be successful in my daily battles.

Today's reading: Gen. 29, 30; Lk. 12

No Secrets - Lk. 8:17

"For everything that is hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light and be made plain to all." Lk. 8:17

For obvious reasons, this is a very scary verse. I often wonder if it means exactly as it says. Is this for non-believers AND believers? It doesn't seem to indicate, but the context of the verse is around exposing sin so that people might be saved. If that is the case, I can understand how this verse would pertain to non-believers, but what is the point for believers? Isn't our sin erased and forgotten? Aren't we white like snow? Saved by the blood of Christ so completely that God sees Jesus in our place? To replay all of my sin that has already been nailed to the cross and forgiven seems counterintuitive to me. But then maybe I am just afraid for people to see just how sinful of a man I really am.

God, I pray that when you forgave my sin it was truly gone forever, never to be seen again.

Today's reading: Gen. 20-22; Lk. 8

Total Frontal Blindness - Lk. 7:16-17

"Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God saying, "A mighty prophet has risen among us," and "We have seen the hand of God at work today." The report of what Jesus had done spread all over Judea and even out across its borders." Lk. 7:16-17

When I was a kid, I had a habit of asking where something was before really looking for it. Inevitably, what I was looking for was right in front of me and I just didn't see it. A friend of mine said I had, "Total Frontal Blindness." This is how I would classify many of the Jews of Jesus' day. With this miracle, Jesus raised a boy who had been dead for days. To the people who witnessed the event, their response was immediate, "We have seen the hand of God at work today." To the Pharisees, who were waiting for the Messiah like everyone else, they could only see someone who was detracting from their authority and breaking their laws. A classic inability to see the forest for the trees, or "Total Frontal Blindness." This condition continues to exist in abundance today, and I am sure it is one of Satan's most powerful weapons.

Lord, thank you for giving me the ability to see you, I was blind but now I see.

Today's reading: Gen. 18-19; Ps. 3; Lk. 7

House Of Cards - Lk. 6:49

"But anyone who listens and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will crumble into a heap of ruins." Lk. 6:49

I don't know what percentage that this applies to, but I bet it's big! This was me. I grew up in church listening to the words, but those words never landed anywhere. I ran my life completely separate from God... until the floods came. Then my life that I thought I had so intelligently constructed started to collapse. Like the proverbial house of cards, there was simply nothing of value supporting it. It was ONLY when I truly let God in, yielded/capitulated and laid prostrate before him with nothing of myself left, did I begin to recover. And was it ever a miraculous recovery! I know that today I stand on solid ground.

Jesus, thank you for being a foundation I can trust.

Today's reading: Gen. 5-7; Lk. 6

Expect The Unexpected - Lk. 3:15

"Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah." Lk. 3:15

Two thoughts: 1. Why, at this moment in time, was "EVERYONE" expecting the Messiah to come? 2. That daily living in expectation of Christ's imminent return is largely missing today. What would it be like if the entire church REALLY believed that Christ could return at any moment? The Book of Revelation tells us that these are periods of enormous revival. Where the gospel is being preached and people are being saved. Where there is a sense of urgency... Guilty as charged Lord! I have bought into Satan's lie like everyone else. I act like tomorrow will come just like today did; I plan for decades into the future and miss the people that you set before me today.

Jesus please help me. It is ONLY by your Holy Spirit that living with this sense of urgency is possible. Show me what you want me to see TODAY; build my faith so I know that you have tomorrow taken care of.

Today's reading: Gen. 6-8; Lk. 3

Savior And King - Lk. 1:69, 71

From yesterday's reading:

"He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David... Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us." Lk. 1:69, 71

I wonder what Zechariah's understanding was of who Jesus was. Here he seems to believe that Jesus would be a mighty warrior who would do battle to save them in a physical sense. This is what I would think he would think. Then, later in the chapter, he says, "You will tell people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins." This definitely moves the topic from the physical to the theological. If Zechariah understood that Jesus' purpose was to bring salvation through forgiveness sins, and he understood that Jesus was the Messiah, would this not also be the general thinking about what the coming Messiah's purpose be to the Jews at large? Why would they not accept him? Was it his claim to be God? I would love to understand how the Jews believe they will EVER be able to recognize the Messiah!

God, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit, because I know that is ONLY by his guidance that I have been able to find you.

Today's reading: Gen. 1, 2; Lk. 1