Week of 7/11/21 - Pages 111 - 123

The new church in Thessalonica had questions about Christ’s return and what happens to those who die prior to Christ’s return (1 Thess. 4:13-5:11).  Many today ask similar questions…

 Paul provides these words of instruction to encourage all believers.  Christians need not grieve at the death of fellow believers, like unbelievers grieve.  The believer’s hope is based on the resurrection of Jesus, who promises to raise those who have died in Him.  For believers who are alive at Christ’s return will not have any advantage over those who have already died.  At Christ’s return, which will be public and visible to all, the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then, those who are alive at His return will be gathered to the Lord to meet Him in the air.  All of God’s people will be with the Lord forever.

 No one can predict the time of Christ’s return, and for some this event will be as unexpected as a thief’s intrusion during the night.  But as believers, we should be alert and self-controlled so as not to be surprised, and to be encouraged to know of our salvation in Christ, and eternity with Him.

Week of 7/4/21 - Pages 89 - 110

The second half of the book of Acts chronicles the exploits of Paul and his companions as they travel throughout the Mediterranean region bringing the good news of Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles.

One might think that a life so devoted to God would be “smooth sailing”, but Paul’s was far from that.  He endured unjust accusation and public beatings, years of imprisonment, threats to his life, and shipwreck, among other things.

But, doesn’t God owe us His blessing when we do what He wants?

Actually, God does not owe us anything (see Luke 17:7-10 and Romans 11:35-36); and God does bless us – not by averting the difficulties, but rather through them.  Paul writes in the book of Romans (5:3-5), “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

I found most encouraging and challenging Paul’s response to the various trials he faced.  

·       When stripped, beaten, and thrown into prison unjustly, Paul and Silas didn’t complain, but rather, they prayed and sang hymns to God.

·       When God intervened with an earthquake, and the prison doors flew open, and the chains fell off, Paul did not run away, but implored the jailor to not kill himself.  Paul answered his question about being saved and pointed the jailor to Jesus, the one who truly sets us free.

·       When the learned philosophers of Athens thought Paul was speaking nonsense when referring to the resurrection of Jesus, he did not reply abusively or simply write them off.  Instead, Paul used logic and ideas that they could relate to, and explained that God is One that we can know and with whom we can have relationship.

·       When arrested and on trial before governors or a king, Paul didn’t just defend himself, but also explained how the earthly judge could be set free from God’s judgment.

·       When facing a furious storm at sea and threatened with shipwreck, Paul prayed not just for himself, but for the lives of all aboard and encouraged them.  And, God granted them all safety.

Why was Paul so devoted to God and so concerned about both the physical and eternal wellbeing of those he encountered?  Just like us, Paul never met Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry but did encounter him on the road to Damascus.  Through that encounter and through the Scriptures, Paul was convinced that Jesus is the Christ.  It is Christ’s love that compelled Paul – and can compel us – to not live for ourselves, but for him who died for us and was raised again.  (See 2Cor5:14-15)  This doesn’t happen on our own strength, but only by the Holy Spirit working in our hearts, letting God transform us into a new person by changing the way we think.

Week of 6/27/21 - Pages 61 - 89

Pages 61-89 cover the first half of the book of Acts (Acts 1-16:9).  The beginning of Acts gives an account of the early Christian church’s development and is the biblical record of Christianity’s early days.  Jesus was resurrected and had ascended into heaven, but Jesus had encouraged His followers with the promise of the Holy Spirit and the power for witnessing to people about Jesus everywhere—in Jerusalem (locally), throughout Judea (regionally), in Samaria (nationally) and to the ends of the earth (globally).   This would have been a daunting and impossible mission without the Holy Spirit!

What stood out to me in these pages were two followers of Christ chosen to carry heavy loads of mission work during that early church time--Peter and Paul—and how different in background and privilege they were and yet how God through the Holy Spirit used these men in unexpected ways.

Both Peter and Paul were of Jewish heritage, but Peter was the fisherman with little formal education who lived off the catch from the sea.  Bold and outspoken, he had denied Jesus three times when Jesus was passing through his final hours before crucifixion.  Peter had the heart to serve Jesus but attempted to do so by his own power.  Paul, on the other hand, was a student of the law, who had risen through the Pharisee ranks to become a respected and feared leader of the Jewish faith that opposed Jesus and his followers with the heart and intent to kill, not to serve.  Yet, Jesus redeemed and enabled both of these men of contrasting backgrounds to take leading positions in the early church. 

It was the uneducated Peter, together with John, both filled with the Holy Spirit, who stood up to the ruling Jewish council in Jerusalem, the authorities of the Jewish law, with the declaration that they had to obey God rather than human authority.

It was the educated Paul, also chosen by the Lord, who was sent out on the seas (Peter’s domain) away from Jerusalem and his former Jewish authority circle on missional trips far from Jerusalem to the Gentiles, and kings, and to the people of Israel.

It was Peter who received the profound vision from the Lord interpreted to no longer view Gentiles as unclean and to associate with them for missional purposes, but it was Paul who carried out that mission on a larger geographic scale to convert Gentiles throughout Asia Minor.

When Paul met up with resistance from believers of a sect of Pharisees, it was the uneducated Peter through the Holy Spirit’s guidance that provided the understanding that all believers are saved in the same way by the undeserved grace of the Lord.

Our world is slowly emerging from the health oppression of Covid-19 and the physical oppression of sheltering in place.  The early church weathered oppression of a political and religious nature and spent time in prayer, teaching, and in sharing abundance blessed by the Holy Spirit.  

As in the early church, we can trust in the work of the Holy Spirit though it may come through people of unusual backgrounds.   The Holy Spirit will use each believer for God’s glory and purpose.  It is for us to pray, teach, and share our abundance, just as the early church, and then trust in the Holy Spirit’s work in our church. 

Week of 6/20/21 - Pages 37 - 59

Our reading begins with Jesus asking us a question. I find that questions usually bring about some of my greatest insights, especially when I am prayerfully pondering the question. Now in this case Jesus also answers the question for us as we see in the following:

Jesus asks “What is the Kingdom of God like?”
It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.

Jesus asks “What else is the Kingdom of God like?”
It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.

For the purpose of this blog I am going to stay focused on the value of asking questions because questions can clarify, reveal and can lead us into meaningful self-examination.
Questioning as an instructional tool can be traced back to the fourth century BCE, when Socrates used questions and answers to challenge assumptions, expose contradictions, and lead to new knowledge and wisdom. At his trial for heresy Socrates said “An unexamined life is not worth living.” He also understood the importance of self-examination, or questioning oneself.
In the following verses the Bible speaks about the importance of self-examination.
·        2 Corinthians 13:5. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves ...

·        Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the Lord.

·        1 Corinthians 11:28. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

·        Galatians 6:4: Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,

Jesus’ two examples illustrates that the Kingdom of God starts small and grows big. A mustard seed becomes a tree. A little yeast used creates a beautiful loaf of bread. He wants to grow His Kingdom in you and I each and every day.
I would like to encourage you to begin your day by asking God if there is a question He would like to ask you. Than resist the temptation to defend yourself, deflect or answer quickly, but rather shoot for the moon by first following the Psalmist prayer “Create in me a clean heart Oh God and renew a right spirit within me.” Then let the examination begin and know that He is a good Father that only wants to bestow good things upon you and He will journey with you through the process of Biblical self-examination so that His Kingdom might grow and be made alive through you every day.

Week of 6/13/21 - Pages 19 - 37

 Knock, knock.

Nothing like an unexpected midnight request – to put a friendly relationship to the test! 

A few years ago, on a visit to Texas to see family, I pre-arranged with one of my brothers that I would stop and stay at his house on my first night. I advised him that my arrival would be “late-late” and he said that sounded “great-great.” I was serious. He was joking. I showed up after midnight…and that house was stone quiet – not a light in sight. Like a Luke 11:5-8 role-play, I made such a ruckus that my sleeping brother startled up and graciously opened the door. 

In my (embarrassing) example, getting what I wanted (“in”) required persistence…and yes a little swallow of pride (gulp-gone!). In Luke 11, Jesus is encouraging us to pray persistently! Actually, he is instructing us – and he goes much deeper:

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

Luke 11:9

Keep on, keep on, keep on – three times persistence is featured. And this is no generic “be persistent” cheer. Jesus has given us three concepts, which are distinct yet inextricably linked in the context:

Asking. Making our requests known to our heavenly Father.

Seeking. Earnestly searching for God’s perfect perspective.

Knocking. Taking action – not a passive approach.

I feel like Jesus is goading us on, saying: “BRING IT!” 

All of this is coming across as more involved than how I’ve been thinking. More connected. Perhaps as I seek, I may find the answer to my request is different than the answer I thought I wanted. As I knock, I may find that my own action is the mechanism for accomplishing God’s purpose in a situation, and I still might not be getting what I think I want. 

The persistent prayer that Jesus is pressing in this passage – said bluntly, is not about getting what I think I want. In Luke 9:13, Jesus makes clear the result of persistent prayer: “… how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” What a gift! And with the Holy Spirit as my Counselor and my Advocate – my asking, seeking, and knocking is powerfully transformed! 

Today, join me in inviting the Holy Spirit to guide us as we pray persistently – asking, seeking, knocking. And as we pray – asking, seeking, knocking – may our personal perspectives give way to the perspective of the God of the Universe! 

Asking, seeking, knocking, Amen!

Week of 6/6/21 - Pages 1 - 19

Luke 1:1-6:49 

Luke 4:42; 5:15-16; 6:12 

42 Now when day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and they came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them. 

15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. 

12 Now it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer with God. 

The early part of Jesus’ ministry quickly moves from zero to warp speed. Once the hurting people of the region hear about this man who can heal diseases and cast out demons, the hurting masses descend on Jesus and His disciples like a flood. There are times he literally receives and heals desperate and despairing souls all day and all night long…without rest. Think about the emotional, mental, physical – not to mention – spiritual toll the volume of demands must of have took on Him. You see in the gospels some of the disciples try and shield him from the needs of the crowd pushing and pressing in on this Nazarene whose compassion and teaching was unlike anything they’d ever heard. But Jesus would often rebuke his followers and allow significant time and attention for the broken, the marginalized, the unclean, and even the children to come to Him. 

You may be tempted to think that Christ was just a divine machine – like the “energizer bunny”– never stopping, always moving, ever-fixing, but the Gospel of Luke shares a different perspective. Like us, Jesus was human. Like us, He needed the Spirit of God, intimate prayer, solitude, and rest to accomplish His calling. This was a necessity if He was to accomplish what He was sent to do. 

I look at my own life and recognize that “busyness” is often more of a hinderance than a help to my Kingdom effectiveness. It’s easy sometime to keep saying “Yes” to people in need. In fact, if one is not careful, their identity and worth can be inappropriately attached and influenced by the pressure of others’ needs and gratitude. Saying “No” so that the Lord can refill your vessel that is running on empty is a much-needed reminder to you and those you serve that God alone is our source for all good things. As Paul told the Corinthian Christians, “We have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:7). Even Jesus knew His limitations as a man, and modeled for all of us a continuous commitment to personally reconnecting with and resting in the Father. So instead of rushing out to accommodate the next volunteer request, or meet the next need, make sure you’ve taken some private time to let God fill you up, and affirm the path ahead. 

Happy Reading! 

Pastor Lee 

Week of 4/4/21 - Pages 177 - 181

As I read this portion of the book of Daniel, I marvel that it was written 535 BC, but addressed some of the same things written in Revelation in 95 AD.  It talks about the Annointed One (Christ) being rejected and killed by His own people, when obviously that won’t have happened for another 573 years.  Also talks about the antichrist and the battle between him and his minions and the powers of God’s army, relayed later in John’s writings in Revelation.

 I found it difficult to sort through Daniel’s visions, even when offered the explanations by Gabriel, so I went to my “cheater” bible and other sources to get a better feel for what was going on in those visions.  Interesting that one of the “horns” in the vision represented Greece, but Greece as a world power, and Alexander the Great, had not really come to their positions of power until much later in time.

 But the main thing I got of these readings was that Israel was still going down the wrong direction and not being righteous and Daniel realized it when Gabriel explained it to him.  Daniel prayed fervently to God for mercy and God listened to him.  I think that sometimes I need Gabriel to come alongside me and help me to see clearly and act accordingly.  Guess I need to work on my prayer life.

Week of 3/28/21 - Pages 157 - 173

As I read the book of Daniel, I couldn’t help but think of an old children’s song from a time when my kids were in vacation Bible school:

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego . . . 

Three faithful boys who wanted to know how to grow . . .

In the love of the Lord.”  

It’s a cute tune, but it’s the kind that gets stuck in your head and loops over and over and over again.  It actually becomes kind of irritating, and I start to think of this book as just a collection of children’s stories. So in reading the book of Daniel, I was very excited to rediscover the power of these stories.  Daniel is a book of hope and deliverance for God’s people facing tough times, and we have certainly faced tough times over the past year.

The book of Daniel is written at a time when Israel was in exile.  King Nebuchadnezzar had besieged and conquered Jerusalem, and carried away the temple treasure and many captives back to Babylon.  In his efforts to integrate and change the people of Judah, he recruited young men of Judah’s royal and noble families into the palace to be trained for royal service.  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were the best and brightest of all of Judah, and they were chosen.  They were given Babylonian names, trained in the language and literature of Babylon, given the food and wine of the king, and after three years entered royal service.  They performed their royal jobs very well.  Essentially, they were molded into good Babylonians . . . or so the king thought.

There are many stories and visions of bravery, hope and deliverance in this book, but I’m going to focus on the first story about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  King Nebuchadnezzar issued an order for everyone in the kingdom to bow down and worship his golden statue.  Those refusing will be thrown into a blazing furnace.  Despite all the training and pressure to conform, Shadrach, Meshach and Adednego refused to compromise their faith and worship the golden statue even at the risk of their deaths.  Their response to the king is stunning:

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us.  He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.  But if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up”

Wow, that is complete confidence in God’s authority over every ruler, over every situation and over every outcome.  That is the kind of faith that Jesus recognized in the Roman Centurion, the kind that understands how power and authority work, and who really has it.  It is the kind of faith that trusts God no matter the outcome, and the kind of faith that doesn’t conform to the culture around it.  God did rescue Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the furnace and they went on to even higher positions in Babylon.  I want that kind of faith, but without the testing that these guys had to endure.

Three key takeaways for me from this story:

·       Although Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego successfully and effectively worked within the Babylonian society, they were never fully conformed to the culture.  Their identity was rooted in God of Israel.  I need to be the same way.  Romans 12:2.

·       Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted in God’s goodness.  No matter the outcome, they placed their hope and confidence in God – not in some king, government or anything else.  I need to make sure my hope, confidence and trust doesn’t get misplaced into something else.

·       When faced with difficult times, I can look to these young men (and the whole book of Daniel) to give me hope that God will deliver his people in the end.  My calling is to stay faithful to my identity in Christ.

So, I’m sure the old vacation Bible school song will continue to rattle around in my brain, but when it does I will reflect more deeply on these three young men, how they are incredible examples of bravery, of being in the world but not of the world, and most importantly, how God delivered them from the blazing furnace.

Week of 3/21/21 - Pages 143 - 155

The Book of Esther has always intrigued me.  I like a good story of the good guys seeming to overcome all odds to be victorious in the end over evil!  Esther is more than just a story, it is part of the inspired Word of God given to us for our “teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  What can we learn from Esther’s story, from approximately 479 BC that would apply to us now?  

The first concept that stood out to me was the sovereignty of God; God is in control of ALL things. His Sovereignty is seen throughout the weaving of all the events of this story, from God’s hand in giving Esther favor at the palace all the way to the point of Esther becoming the Queen of Persia, to Mordecai’s intervention in a plot to kill the king to his being honored in front of his enemy.  

Second, God’s care and deliverance of his people is undeniable in this period of history.  An edict by the king, which could not be reversed, gave the Persians the right to eliminate all the Jews living in their land, and the right to take all their property if they killed them.  In an impossible situation, God provided for not only the Jew’s deliverance, but for their blessing while living in this land of Persia.  God Loves his people!

Third, God also calls his followers to action, in the case of Esther, action at great personal danger and sacrifice.  My favorite line in this book is at the bottom of p. 149 after Mordecai has asked Esther to plead for the Jews to the king without being invited (and without the king showing mercy to her by extending his scepter to her, would mean her death).  He says to her, “If you kept quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die.  Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”  Mordecai had faith that God would rescue his people, one way or another, even though he did not know how.  Esther trusts her uncle Mordecai and her God to risk everything to plead for the recue of the Jews.  It makes me think we are all where God wants us to be, in this time and place.  It is no accident He has placed us here; let us seek him, trust him, follow him, obey him for the glory of God! 

Week of 3/14/21 - Pages 129 - 141

In the section I am writing about Nehemiah tells the people to go out and to celebrate even though they were right in the middle of being penitent after hearing the law of the Lord read to them.  He even gave them particulars in how to celebrate by eating a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks and to share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared.  Then he tells them not to be dejected and sad for the joy of the Lord is their strength! This sounds so counterintuitive!

When Ezra (the scribe) said this he was speaking to the remnant of Israel who had returned to Judah to rebuild the city and its temple. It was a time of restoration, not only of the ruined city, but also of obedience to the law of God. The word “Joy” occurs 218 times in the Bible.
Followers of Jesus can consider difficult trials to be pure joy even if we would not choose the circumstances. Trials in life can help us become mature and complete (James 1:3-4). I believe Nehemiah through Ezra is telling us that the joy of the Lord can be found in all circumstances and there are even times when it is very permissible and we are encouraged to celebrate in the midst of a trial.
Today as I write these words we have had a monumental day in our world! The first person in the U.S. has received the first vaccine for Covid-19. Truly a day to celebrate after the world has endured a difficult year from the Pandemic and multiple other calamities.  Yes we have suffered, yes people are still sick, yes people have died and in the midst of it all the Lord has used science and medicine to bring forth a much needed vaccine! That we can celebrate!
Is there an area in your life that you are finding it difficult to find joy? Can you find a way to celebrate in the midst of this trial? Remember, “The joy of the Lord is your strength!”