Good day dear friends. Please be in prayer for all who travel today and tomorrow for the gathering of the Southwest Texas Annual Conference in Corpus Christi. May indeed the "Body of Christ" receive an anointing of power to do God's business and to continue (or begin) to be the witnesses of the Lord Jesus in all the areas we serve.
We continue looking at the fourth chapter of John. The sermon series is entitled Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John. Here is today's passage:
5 So he came to a Samaritan city called Sy'char, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."
What good is a historical site? What good is a historic religious site? In Jesus' day, history was about all the Jews had left of the glorious days of power and influence. They had several historical "markers" of where God had acted on their behalf, with The Temple being perhaps the most famous of all. This particular day Jesus is near the site where one of the patriarchs of the faith, Jacob, namesake of the Jews for God had changed his name from Jacob to Israel. But now the land wasn't even of the Jews. It was in Samaritan hands. And the only thing that was "working" was the well also known as Jacob's well. It is at this well that Jesus had this encounter with this woman or vice versa. Being about noon time, in the heat of the day, Jesus asks this woman for a drink of water.
At this historical religious site, it was the presence of Jesus that made this site important. And so it is with all that we hold historical and significant. Unless Jesus is present at this religious sites, it is no more than a marker of something that happened long ago. Isn't that how many hold our churches? Sadly, it is a site of what happened long ago. I believe all of our churches should be a place of what CAN and SHOULD happen if we just let Jesus do what He does best: Share with us the power of God to change our lives and bless us. Then that site, wherever or whatever it is, can truly be a marker of what God did for us and can do for others.
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, to those places we hold as special and holy and make them real again. Let those be the places where You are still present and can change us and all who gather there for Your work. We pray in Thy name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Monday, May 30, 2005
WHAT SATISFIES?
Good day everyone. I trust on this Memorial Day we will honor the war dead. This day is dedicated to the memory of those who died during battle. We pray the comfort of God be with those families who remember loved ones who fell during wars and conflicts while serving the US military forces. May those who are wounded be healed completely and may the causes of conflict be healed as well so that peace may reign in the world.
I share a joy as I start this day. Yesterday, I chose to worship with the brothers and sisters at our sister church, El Buen Pastor UMC here in San Marcos. I had two purposes in going. First, I wanted to hear Rev. Antonio Silva preach before he leaves on a medical disability. Second, I wanted to sing in Spanish. It was still a joy to hear a guest preacher. She is the wife of my high school pastor. The Rev. Arturo Mariscal was pastor of El Buen Pastor UMC in Houston when I felt the call from God into ministry. His wife, Raquel, brought the message on Children's Sunday. It was still a joy to sing old favorites, all in English. This gives me a reason to go back on another day off. It was a historic Sunday for them as there were five (5) UM pastors in attendance. Counting Rev. Silva, Rev. Mariscal, The Rev. Teresa Peña retired local pastor and associate at EBP-SM, The Rev. Lydia Martinez, and myself. Rev. Martinez is a retired pastor from our conference and she chose to visit the church on this same Sunday as Nellie, Carli, and I. The church was decorated by the children, the special music was done by seventeen kids who did a great job, and a small party was celebrated in honor of the children. We were blessed.
I know that Pastor Rob preached on the woman at the well. Here is that text:
7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?" 13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water." 16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come back." 17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, "I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!" 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us." 26 Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you."
Most of last night we were treated to a sound and light show in the heavens. It started for us in north Austin while at a theatre. Nellie, Carli, Caty, and I were watching a recently released remake of an old movie. These days it could any number of movies given the track record of Hollywood just remaking old movies. This one was the old Burt Reynolds movie, "The Longest Yard." Yet, about fifteen minutes from the end, the storm brought the movie to a halt. The emergency lights came on immediately, and the ushers came quickly to say it would be a couple of minutes before the movie started again. I might add we were at an Alamo Draft House, where one can eat supper while watching the movie, which is what we did. So the interruption came at a time that almost all the audience got up to go to the bathroom. We waited thinking "a couple of minutes" would be a couple of minutes. After about 45 minutes of waiting and the ushers/waiters wanting to keep us entertained, they passed out tickets for us to return if we wanted or to wait until the power came back on. The folks in front of us said it for us. "This was a cute movie but I don't think I can stand sitting through it again just to see the end!" Amen. I've seen the original so I know the ending, just wanted to know what twists they put in. But it was not to be. The ushers finally announced that nothing was coming back on. The area around the theatre reflected the power outage. No traffic lights in the area were working and our best bet was to get back on 183 as soon as possible to come home. We arrived safely home and went to bed only to be awakened by the thunder and flashes of lightning. Physically we were satisfied by the meal. In terms of entertainment, the sudden end of the movie made us unsatisfied.
What satisfies? This woman mentioned in the above text had sought out meaning and purpose for her life in a series of marriages and untold number of relationships. Five marriages and one live-in relationship tell us a lot about what this woman had sought. We don't know if she was the breakup of the five marriages or not. It just indicates she was searching for what she could call love. It hadn't come. Today she was face to face with "the gift of God" as Jesus referred to himself in this passage. Today she was face to face with He who could give her the water that satisfies forever. She didn't understand. She thought Jesus had a special water that would satisfy physical thirst forever. She thought that this one drink of water would mean no more trips to the well! That would have been great. But Jesus was speaking spiritually to this woman who had been seeking for spiritual meaning all her life. Her faith had not satisfied her life, and so she sought meaning in love relationships. This hadn't satisfied. She perhaps married the first time thinking, "This is it! I've found Mr. Right and together we'll be happy forever!" We don't know if Mr. Right I died or if he and this woman divorced. That marriage ended. Along comes Mr. Right II, III, IV, and V, and all these marriages end. Then comes VI, but not in a marriage just a live-in relationship. And she was still looking for satisfaction and meaning.
This woman declares Jesus to be the Messiah. And because of her testimony we know that several in that Samaritan community came to believe in Jesus as "the savior of the world." This is where I know many wish the Bible would fill in the details or as Paul Harvey says, "The rest of the story." We don't know it. We know the big story, that salvation, that is meaning and purpose came to the lives of those who knew this woman and who because of her testimony came to faith themselves. What else do we need to know? Cannot this satisfy us?
What are you looking for? Where are you looking? Can't we know we've found the Well that satisfies? What is keeping us from becoming the people the Lord wants us to be?
PRAYER: God satisfy our thirst. You know what that thirst is and where we've sought quenching. Pour our the living water of Jesus into our lives so that we could indeed quit seeking and start living as You intended. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a safe Memorial Day! Please be in prayer for the members of the annual conference that travel to Corpus Christi to be at our conference and later this week for our brothers and sisters of the Rio Grande Conference who come to join us for some special joint events.
Blessings!
e.v.
I share a joy as I start this day. Yesterday, I chose to worship with the brothers and sisters at our sister church, El Buen Pastor UMC here in San Marcos. I had two purposes in going. First, I wanted to hear Rev. Antonio Silva preach before he leaves on a medical disability. Second, I wanted to sing in Spanish. It was still a joy to hear a guest preacher. She is the wife of my high school pastor. The Rev. Arturo Mariscal was pastor of El Buen Pastor UMC in Houston when I felt the call from God into ministry. His wife, Raquel, brought the message on Children's Sunday. It was still a joy to sing old favorites, all in English. This gives me a reason to go back on another day off. It was a historic Sunday for them as there were five (5) UM pastors in attendance. Counting Rev. Silva, Rev. Mariscal, The Rev. Teresa Peña retired local pastor and associate at EBP-SM, The Rev. Lydia Martinez, and myself. Rev. Martinez is a retired pastor from our conference and she chose to visit the church on this same Sunday as Nellie, Carli, and I. The church was decorated by the children, the special music was done by seventeen kids who did a great job, and a small party was celebrated in honor of the children. We were blessed.
I know that Pastor Rob preached on the woman at the well. Here is that text:
7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?" 13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water." 16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come back." 17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, "I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!" 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us." 26 Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you."
Most of last night we were treated to a sound and light show in the heavens. It started for us in north Austin while at a theatre. Nellie, Carli, Caty, and I were watching a recently released remake of an old movie. These days it could any number of movies given the track record of Hollywood just remaking old movies. This one was the old Burt Reynolds movie, "The Longest Yard." Yet, about fifteen minutes from the end, the storm brought the movie to a halt. The emergency lights came on immediately, and the ushers came quickly to say it would be a couple of minutes before the movie started again. I might add we were at an Alamo Draft House, where one can eat supper while watching the movie, which is what we did. So the interruption came at a time that almost all the audience got up to go to the bathroom. We waited thinking "a couple of minutes" would be a couple of minutes. After about 45 minutes of waiting and the ushers/waiters wanting to keep us entertained, they passed out tickets for us to return if we wanted or to wait until the power came back on. The folks in front of us said it for us. "This was a cute movie but I don't think I can stand sitting through it again just to see the end!" Amen. I've seen the original so I know the ending, just wanted to know what twists they put in. But it was not to be. The ushers finally announced that nothing was coming back on. The area around the theatre reflected the power outage. No traffic lights in the area were working and our best bet was to get back on 183 as soon as possible to come home. We arrived safely home and went to bed only to be awakened by the thunder and flashes of lightning. Physically we were satisfied by the meal. In terms of entertainment, the sudden end of the movie made us unsatisfied.
What satisfies? This woman mentioned in the above text had sought out meaning and purpose for her life in a series of marriages and untold number of relationships. Five marriages and one live-in relationship tell us a lot about what this woman had sought. We don't know if she was the breakup of the five marriages or not. It just indicates she was searching for what she could call love. It hadn't come. Today she was face to face with "the gift of God" as Jesus referred to himself in this passage. Today she was face to face with He who could give her the water that satisfies forever. She didn't understand. She thought Jesus had a special water that would satisfy physical thirst forever. She thought that this one drink of water would mean no more trips to the well! That would have been great. But Jesus was speaking spiritually to this woman who had been seeking for spiritual meaning all her life. Her faith had not satisfied her life, and so she sought meaning in love relationships. This hadn't satisfied. She perhaps married the first time thinking, "This is it! I've found Mr. Right and together we'll be happy forever!" We don't know if Mr. Right I died or if he and this woman divorced. That marriage ended. Along comes Mr. Right II, III, IV, and V, and all these marriages end. Then comes VI, but not in a marriage just a live-in relationship. And she was still looking for satisfaction and meaning.
This woman declares Jesus to be the Messiah. And because of her testimony we know that several in that Samaritan community came to believe in Jesus as "the savior of the world." This is where I know many wish the Bible would fill in the details or as Paul Harvey says, "The rest of the story." We don't know it. We know the big story, that salvation, that is meaning and purpose came to the lives of those who knew this woman and who because of her testimony came to faith themselves. What else do we need to know? Cannot this satisfy us?
What are you looking for? Where are you looking? Can't we know we've found the Well that satisfies? What is keeping us from becoming the people the Lord wants us to be?
PRAYER: God satisfy our thirst. You know what that thirst is and where we've sought quenching. Pour our the living water of Jesus into our lives so that we could indeed quit seeking and start living as You intended. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a safe Memorial Day! Please be in prayer for the members of the annual conference that travel to Corpus Christi to be at our conference and later this week for our brothers and sisters of the Rio Grande Conference who come to join us for some special joint events.
Blessings!
e.v.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
NOW THE REST OF THE STORY!
Good day dear friends. Let us begin our day in prayer for Robin Brown whose health has very quickly deteriorated and doctors are not hopeful for a long survival. She is at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio where she has been for three days now. Please hold her husband Del in prayers as well, as this is not an easy time for him nor his children. Oldest son Kapp is due here today from Pennsylvania.
"Dear God of life, we thank you for this day. We remember as we know you do, those whose time here on earth is limited. Please share with them your loving comfort. Share strength and peace to their loved ones. We pray that Your will be done, both now and evermore. Amen."
Here is our study guide for today
Thursday: Read John 7:45-51 and see what role Nicodemus has in this interesting procedure. Is Nicodemus acting as a friend or foe of Jesus? Now read John 19:38-42 and see what role Nicodemus plays in this sad event. Is Nicodemus still searching or has he found what he was looking for?
That night Nick spent talking with Jesus forever changed his life. This first passage comes when the ruling council has tried to get the police to arrest Jesus. Here is that text:
45 Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Phar'isees, who asked them, "Why did you not arrest him?" 46 The police answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this!" 47 Then the Phar'isees replied, "Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? 48 Has any one of the authorities or of the Phar'isees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law--they are accursed." 50 Nicode'mus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, 51 "Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?"
I'm going to give Nick the benefit of the doubt and say that he normally would have been completely quiet in a situation such as this, but here when he sees the anger and the possibilities of great harm coming to Jesus, speaks up on his behalf saying that Jesus was entitled to a fair hearing before moving ahead with any decision. That was enough to make everyone go home for that night.
Later, tragically much later, we find Nick again. Here is that text:
John 19:38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathe'a, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicode'mus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Though he was old, Nick was still strong, carrying with him about one hundred pounds of this burial mixture. This was no cheap offering. This was a costly sacrifice in more ways than one. Now it is out in the open. A member of the Jewish Ruling Council, who had ordered Jesus put to death, is helping in the burial. Spending his own money, buys or shares what he may have bought earlier, the ointment used to prepare bodies for burial. Did Nick actually help carry the body? He may have, though if he were carrying the 100 lbs of spices he probably did not, but he was there. Did he finally come to faith or was he simply a compassionate man who sorrowed at the death of a man who certainly Nick believed was innocent? Again, I want to give Nick the benefit of the doubt and say that he came to the fullness of faith. Nick was already a believer in God. He had a relationship with Him but wanted that fullness that Jesus was offering. How could he have sat at Jesus' feet and not received that which Jesus was offering? How can we not receive it too?
The lesson is profound. Jesus changes lives. Jesus brings fullness to lives. Jesus brings life everlasting. But it requires our willingness to surrender ourselves and all that we have to say, "Here I am Lord and all that I have. Show me how to best serve You and Yours and I will do it. I count not the cost nor the risk. I submit to You."
Are you willing? Make the move from being a religious person to a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Dear God, we thank you for the faith that moves us from comfort and security to the place where You would have us be. Let us not count the cost nor the risk, take me as I am and mold me and make me to who I need to be. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
"Dear God of life, we thank you for this day. We remember as we know you do, those whose time here on earth is limited. Please share with them your loving comfort. Share strength and peace to their loved ones. We pray that Your will be done, both now and evermore. Amen."
Here is our study guide for today
Thursday: Read John 7:45-51 and see what role Nicodemus has in this interesting procedure. Is Nicodemus acting as a friend or foe of Jesus? Now read John 19:38-42 and see what role Nicodemus plays in this sad event. Is Nicodemus still searching or has he found what he was looking for?
That night Nick spent talking with Jesus forever changed his life. This first passage comes when the ruling council has tried to get the police to arrest Jesus. Here is that text:
45 Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Phar'isees, who asked them, "Why did you not arrest him?" 46 The police answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this!" 47 Then the Phar'isees replied, "Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? 48 Has any one of the authorities or of the Phar'isees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law--they are accursed." 50 Nicode'mus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, 51 "Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?"
I'm going to give Nick the benefit of the doubt and say that he normally would have been completely quiet in a situation such as this, but here when he sees the anger and the possibilities of great harm coming to Jesus, speaks up on his behalf saying that Jesus was entitled to a fair hearing before moving ahead with any decision. That was enough to make everyone go home for that night.
Later, tragically much later, we find Nick again. Here is that text:
John 19:38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathe'a, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicode'mus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Though he was old, Nick was still strong, carrying with him about one hundred pounds of this burial mixture. This was no cheap offering. This was a costly sacrifice in more ways than one. Now it is out in the open. A member of the Jewish Ruling Council, who had ordered Jesus put to death, is helping in the burial. Spending his own money, buys or shares what he may have bought earlier, the ointment used to prepare bodies for burial. Did Nick actually help carry the body? He may have, though if he were carrying the 100 lbs of spices he probably did not, but he was there. Did he finally come to faith or was he simply a compassionate man who sorrowed at the death of a man who certainly Nick believed was innocent? Again, I want to give Nick the benefit of the doubt and say that he came to the fullness of faith. Nick was already a believer in God. He had a relationship with Him but wanted that fullness that Jesus was offering. How could he have sat at Jesus' feet and not received that which Jesus was offering? How can we not receive it too?
The lesson is profound. Jesus changes lives. Jesus brings fullness to lives. Jesus brings life everlasting. But it requires our willingness to surrender ourselves and all that we have to say, "Here I am Lord and all that I have. Show me how to best serve You and Yours and I will do it. I count not the cost nor the risk. I submit to You."
Are you willing? Make the move from being a religious person to a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Dear God, we thank you for the faith that moves us from comfort and security to the place where You would have us be. Let us not count the cost nor the risk, take me as I am and mold me and make me to who I need to be. I pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
AND ARE WE YET AWAKE?
Good day everyone. Happy Aldersgate Day!
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Later in the Gospel of John 4:24 we will find a powerful reference to Who God truly is and what we are to do. Read that passage and reread the one for Sunday. Why is all this “spiritual” talk so important for John to get across then and now?
Here is John 4:24: "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." Here is Sunday's passage again: "3:1 Now there was a Phar'isee named Nicode'mus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus {Gk [him]} by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." 3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." {Or [born anew]} 4 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, "You must be born from above.' {Or [anew]} 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you {The Greek word for [you] here and in verse 12 is plural} do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things."
As was shared Sunday, for us to fully understand and receive the precious messages of God we must have a spiritual rebirth. It is going from simply appreciating a nice expensive "reflective pool" in our backyards to taking a dip in a cool "swimming pool." I used an illustration of a "grandpa" who lived in the country in a simple handmade shack for many years and then receiving from a loved one a modern home complete with swimming pool. One cannot appreciate and enjoy a pool unless one jumps in. The same is true with spiritual things. The writer of John is very concerned that readers know this truth.
God is spirit and deserves our spiritual worship. Again, we can go to church day after day, Sunday after Sunday, and it won't mean a thing to us if we're not worshiping God in spirit. We can so easily get distracted. We can daydream and we can harbor thoughts we shouldn't; the worship service is meant for something else, namely our worship of God.
Like John Wesley, we can do great religious things, but until we let God come "home" to our hearts, it matters little. It was on this day almost 300 years ago that Wesley finally let the truth of Jesus spiritually visit him. When will it be yours?
PRAYER: Gracious God, thank you for giving us yet another opportunity to appreciate your love and your wonder. Speak to us, call us out of spiritual slumber into the reality of true worship. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Later in the Gospel of John 4:24 we will find a powerful reference to Who God truly is and what we are to do. Read that passage and reread the one for Sunday. Why is all this “spiritual” talk so important for John to get across then and now?
Here is John 4:24: "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." Here is Sunday's passage again: "3:1 Now there was a Phar'isee named Nicode'mus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus {Gk [him]} by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." 3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." {Or [born anew]} 4 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, "You must be born from above.' {Or [anew]} 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you {The Greek word for [you] here and in verse 12 is plural} do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things."
As was shared Sunday, for us to fully understand and receive the precious messages of God we must have a spiritual rebirth. It is going from simply appreciating a nice expensive "reflective pool" in our backyards to taking a dip in a cool "swimming pool." I used an illustration of a "grandpa" who lived in the country in a simple handmade shack for many years and then receiving from a loved one a modern home complete with swimming pool. One cannot appreciate and enjoy a pool unless one jumps in. The same is true with spiritual things. The writer of John is very concerned that readers know this truth.
God is spirit and deserves our spiritual worship. Again, we can go to church day after day, Sunday after Sunday, and it won't mean a thing to us if we're not worshiping God in spirit. We can so easily get distracted. We can daydream and we can harbor thoughts we shouldn't; the worship service is meant for something else, namely our worship of God.
Like John Wesley, we can do great religious things, but until we let God come "home" to our hearts, it matters little. It was on this day almost 300 years ago that Wesley finally let the truth of Jesus spiritually visit him. When will it be yours?
PRAYER: Gracious God, thank you for giving us yet another opportunity to appreciate your love and your wonder. Speak to us, call us out of spiritual slumber into the reality of true worship. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, May 23, 2005
DO YOU HAVE THAT TYPE OF FAITH?
Good day dear friends. What a wonderful worship time we had. It was so awesome to see Zane Childress in church and the great standing ovation given to him was a blessing. We pray for his complete recovery from his wounds. It was great seeing so many come out to wish Kimberly Burke well as she leaves us to go minister with the people of Buda, TX. We thank God for His presence with us.
Yesterday's sermon was based on John 3. I called it Nick at Nite referencing Nicodemus' visit to Jesus. The point of that whole visit was to share with Nick the need to have a spiritual rebirth to better understand all the things of God. We can only see so much and appreciate so much if we're only religious and do not have a relationship with God. A prime example was John Wesley and his whole faith journey. Tomorrow, by the way, is the anniversary of his Aldersgate experience when Wesley felt his heart "strangely warm" and realized all that Christ had done for him. Many call this Wesley's spiritual birth.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: In the Book of Numbers 21:8-9, we find the reference Jesus made to Moses and a serpent. Read that passage. What were the people required to do to receive what they needed? Do you have that type of faith to do all that was requested of them?
Here is that passage: "8 And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live."
During their time in the desert, the people of God encountered all that comes with being in the desert; thirst, hunger, heat, and poisonous snakes. God's solution was to give Moses the instructions we read above that for him to make a representation of the snakes and to set it on a pole and whoever was bitten by a snake need only look at that pole and they would live. That this was a test of faith, it was. If you're like me, there's only one kind of snake and that's a dead one. My scouting days are way behind me; those were the days when I could identify a snake by its color and determine if it was poisonous or not. Today I let the garden hoe determine whether it will live or not. I must confess that I haven't killed a snake in years! The other day I got a frantic call from home that a snake was slithering around our back yard. Mom and Carli were out there with a rake, scared and screaming into the cell phone and I left the office and hurriedly drove over to see what was going on. I parked in the garage and found the hoe and went back there and no one was there. I expected to find a headless carcass, but nothing. When I came in the house they said, "It got away!" Good. But to be bitten by a snake would throw one into panic, and to be calm and to be led to the place where the pole held the representative serpent was something else.
Would you have that kind of faith? Would you be calms and say, "Oh darn, I was bitten by a snake, please lead me to the pole where I may look on it and live"?
Nick is being told this so that he could truly understand that event that was coming in Jesus' life. Like the serpent on the pole, his body would be lifted so those who looked at it could live. Jesus' death brought to us life and fullness of life, through faith. The whole point of Nick's visit at night was to find a deeper faith and Jesus gave him the answer: Be born spiritually and you'll understand and accept. And that same answer is for us today. There are so many events and blessings that come into our lives that we could fully understand if we could see them in a spiritual light. And that only comes through being "born anew" or being "born again."
A spiritual rebirth is a free gift of God through faith to all who ask. I jokingly said that as UMs we think those verses belong exclusively to the Southern Baptists. They don't. They're ours as well. Our whole existence as a denomination of strength in this country came as a result of people's willingness to flee from the "coming wrath of God," and desire to answer positively to the question, "how is it with your soul."
How is it with your soul? Do you have the life-giving relationship you need with Jesus Christ? Have you accepted a new life in Christ?
PRAYER: Grant us deep abiding faith, dear God who seeks a relationship with us. Let us turn to you with faith and accept the newness you offer to us. Let us look to Christ as He who was raised up to bring us life. We pray in His name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
Yesterday's sermon was based on John 3. I called it Nick at Nite referencing Nicodemus' visit to Jesus. The point of that whole visit was to share with Nick the need to have a spiritual rebirth to better understand all the things of God. We can only see so much and appreciate so much if we're only religious and do not have a relationship with God. A prime example was John Wesley and his whole faith journey. Tomorrow, by the way, is the anniversary of his Aldersgate experience when Wesley felt his heart "strangely warm" and realized all that Christ had done for him. Many call this Wesley's spiritual birth.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: In the Book of Numbers 21:8-9, we find the reference Jesus made to Moses and a serpent. Read that passage. What were the people required to do to receive what they needed? Do you have that type of faith to do all that was requested of them?
Here is that passage: "8 And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live."
During their time in the desert, the people of God encountered all that comes with being in the desert; thirst, hunger, heat, and poisonous snakes. God's solution was to give Moses the instructions we read above that for him to make a representation of the snakes and to set it on a pole and whoever was bitten by a snake need only look at that pole and they would live. That this was a test of faith, it was. If you're like me, there's only one kind of snake and that's a dead one. My scouting days are way behind me; those were the days when I could identify a snake by its color and determine if it was poisonous or not. Today I let the garden hoe determine whether it will live or not. I must confess that I haven't killed a snake in years! The other day I got a frantic call from home that a snake was slithering around our back yard. Mom and Carli were out there with a rake, scared and screaming into the cell phone and I left the office and hurriedly drove over to see what was going on. I parked in the garage and found the hoe and went back there and no one was there. I expected to find a headless carcass, but nothing. When I came in the house they said, "It got away!" Good. But to be bitten by a snake would throw one into panic, and to be calm and to be led to the place where the pole held the representative serpent was something else.
Would you have that kind of faith? Would you be calms and say, "Oh darn, I was bitten by a snake, please lead me to the pole where I may look on it and live"?
Nick is being told this so that he could truly understand that event that was coming in Jesus' life. Like the serpent on the pole, his body would be lifted so those who looked at it could live. Jesus' death brought to us life and fullness of life, through faith. The whole point of Nick's visit at night was to find a deeper faith and Jesus gave him the answer: Be born spiritually and you'll understand and accept. And that same answer is for us today. There are so many events and blessings that come into our lives that we could fully understand if we could see them in a spiritual light. And that only comes through being "born anew" or being "born again."
A spiritual rebirth is a free gift of God through faith to all who ask. I jokingly said that as UMs we think those verses belong exclusively to the Southern Baptists. They don't. They're ours as well. Our whole existence as a denomination of strength in this country came as a result of people's willingness to flee from the "coming wrath of God," and desire to answer positively to the question, "how is it with your soul."
How is it with your soul? Do you have the life-giving relationship you need with Jesus Christ? Have you accepted a new life in Christ?
PRAYER: Grant us deep abiding faith, dear God who seeks a relationship with us. Let us turn to you with faith and accept the newness you offer to us. Let us look to Christ as He who was raised up to bring us life. We pray in His name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
HOW TO BE RICH AND HAVE EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED!
.
Good day dear friends.
Good news from Billie Hardesty who underwent surgery yesterday.
Surgery was not as extensive as the surgeon had anticipated and all
went well. She was in Seton Hospital in Austin.
Carli also had great news. The minor procedure we anticipated was
not necessary. We praise God!
Here is our study guide:
Thursday: Matthew 19:16-22 tells the story of an invitation from
the Lord Jesus to someone who turns him down. Why? What would you
have done? What possession(s) are keeping you from being the
follower that Jesus wants from you? Pray that God help you rid all
obstacles from your life so that you can indeed be a disciple!
16 Then someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must
I do to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask
me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to
enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which
ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit
adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;
19 Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor
as yourself." 20 The young man said to him, "I have kept all
these; {Other ancient authorities add [from my youth]} what do I
still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 When the young
man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many
possessions.
It's early morning and I've been getting ready to go to Weimer,
Texas where at Cathedral Oaks United Methodist camp where I will
teach a class on Team Ministry to our students at the Board of
Ordained Ministry's Licensing School. These students will get their
Local Pastor's License upon completion and be assigned as solo or
associate pastors somewhere in our conference. Some will be
available if needed to serve a church. I'm watching a so-called
evangelist on cable pushing his new book, "How to Be Rich and Have
Everything You've Always Wanted." Among the little blurbs on the
screen include such "gems" as "God wants to bless you and make you
rich!" These are backed up with assorted Scriptural passages. The
book is free and it'll provide him with your mailing address and you
will be hounded with requests for funding his ministry. This
same "pastor" was the one exposed by a prime time television news
magazine for having a ministry here in Texas solely for his own
benefit. He lived in California and would fly in on Sundays in his
private jet to preach, then fly home to San Diego. Hey, it's early
and there's not much on to keep me company while I write. Every
other channel has a horror movie.
The man mentioned in this passage, did not have to read this free
book. He had all he possibly could want. He drove the latest
donkey during the week and on the weekend he could drive the camel.
His home had the latest in straw roofing. He wore the finest
sandals and robes! What did he lack? The peace that Jesus was
offering. He knew that his life would one day come to an end and he
was not sure that his life, especially that of wealth, would
continue. He had heard of Jesus and wanted to know more of the
message that was changing so many lives. Jesus asked about his
religious-ness and he was religious, for he had kept the
commandments. Then Jesus asked about his spiritual life and that
was when the young man revealed that he was not well spiritually,
for his heart was burdened by his riches. Jesus was asking the
young man to put the trust he had in his riches in God. This the
young man could not do, for he was very rich. The invitation that
Jesus offers to him was rejected. Sadly, this version says the
young man went away "grieving."
What's causing your grief today? Is it because Jesus has called you
into some sort of ministry and your obstacle or misplaced trust is
keeping you from saying yes? How can you switch that trust from
things that will fail and fade away, to God who will never fail you?
It's our choice. We can trust God and say yes, or we can continue
on in our grief, trusting things instead of God.
PRAYER: God of life, speak to us now the truth about your love and
care for us. Let us say yes to You as You call us to faithfulness.
Speak to us honestly about the obstacles in our lives. Help us make
the choices that we need to be faithful disciples. We pray in
Jesus' name who still calls us today. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
I ask for your prayers as I travel today.
e.v.
Good day dear friends.
Good news from Billie Hardesty who underwent surgery yesterday.
Surgery was not as extensive as the surgeon had anticipated and all
went well. She was in Seton Hospital in Austin.
Carli also had great news. The minor procedure we anticipated was
not necessary. We praise God!
Here is our study guide:
Thursday: Matthew 19:16-22 tells the story of an invitation from
the Lord Jesus to someone who turns him down. Why? What would you
have done? What possession(s) are keeping you from being the
follower that Jesus wants from you? Pray that God help you rid all
obstacles from your life so that you can indeed be a disciple!
16 Then someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must
I do to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask
me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to
enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which
ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit
adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;
19 Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor
as yourself." 20 The young man said to him, "I have kept all
these; {Other ancient authorities add [from my youth]} what do I
still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 When the young
man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many
possessions.
It's early morning and I've been getting ready to go to Weimer,
Texas where at Cathedral Oaks United Methodist camp where I will
teach a class on Team Ministry to our students at the Board of
Ordained Ministry's Licensing School. These students will get their
Local Pastor's License upon completion and be assigned as solo or
associate pastors somewhere in our conference. Some will be
available if needed to serve a church. I'm watching a so-called
evangelist on cable pushing his new book, "How to Be Rich and Have
Everything You've Always Wanted." Among the little blurbs on the
screen include such "gems" as "God wants to bless you and make you
rich!" These are backed up with assorted Scriptural passages. The
book is free and it'll provide him with your mailing address and you
will be hounded with requests for funding his ministry. This
same "pastor" was the one exposed by a prime time television news
magazine for having a ministry here in Texas solely for his own
benefit. He lived in California and would fly in on Sundays in his
private jet to preach, then fly home to San Diego. Hey, it's early
and there's not much on to keep me company while I write. Every
other channel has a horror movie.
The man mentioned in this passage, did not have to read this free
book. He had all he possibly could want. He drove the latest
donkey during the week and on the weekend he could drive the camel.
His home had the latest in straw roofing. He wore the finest
sandals and robes! What did he lack? The peace that Jesus was
offering. He knew that his life would one day come to an end and he
was not sure that his life, especially that of wealth, would
continue. He had heard of Jesus and wanted to know more of the
message that was changing so many lives. Jesus asked about his
religious-ness and he was religious, for he had kept the
commandments. Then Jesus asked about his spiritual life and that
was when the young man revealed that he was not well spiritually,
for his heart was burdened by his riches. Jesus was asking the
young man to put the trust he had in his riches in God. This the
young man could not do, for he was very rich. The invitation that
Jesus offers to him was rejected. Sadly, this version says the
young man went away "grieving."
What's causing your grief today? Is it because Jesus has called you
into some sort of ministry and your obstacle or misplaced trust is
keeping you from saying yes? How can you switch that trust from
things that will fail and fade away, to God who will never fail you?
It's our choice. We can trust God and say yes, or we can continue
on in our grief, trusting things instead of God.
PRAYER: God of life, speak to us now the truth about your love and
care for us. Let us say yes to You as You call us to faithfulness.
Speak to us honestly about the obstacles in our lives. Help us make
the choices that we need to be faithful disciples. We pray in
Jesus' name who still calls us today. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
I ask for your prayers as I travel today.
e.v.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
UH, IT ISN'T EVEN RAINING!
Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Also in Genesis we find a special invitation from God to a man. This story is found in Genesis 6:13-22. What would you have done? Is God asking something this “unbelievable for your life?
In case the title didn't give the passage away, here is that text:
13 And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 19 And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; and it shall serve as food for you and for them." 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
God's invitations sometimes don't make sense. It may be an urge to say something to someone that you know just isn't right, or to go to a place or setting where you believe you're not welcome. And after it's all said and done, you get that inner "Aha!" and you realize that it was God asking you to do something that was going to bless Him and His creation. Such was the case with Noah. God called him to do something that others ridiculed: A boat in a landlocked area? Noah may himself wondered if it would even rain. The day was probably as sunny and bright as it could be, with not a cloud in the sky. Yet, through faith and obedience Noah did what God asked, and he was rewarded as was his family.
I don't know what I would have done. I believe had God spoken to me as clearly as He did with Noah I would have obeyed. What troubles us today is that God speaks in different ways as I mentioned above. It may be a thought that enters our mind to speak a kind word to someone or to do a kind deed for someone. At the time it doesn't seem like it's going to do any good for anyone but God comes through and blesses us with the knowledge that what we did was exactly what was needed.
Don't secondguess God. If you're not sure or you think you're in danger, don't do it. Pray and reflect. If it is of God you will be safe and proceed with trust. Seek to honor and glorify God in all that you do!
PRAYER: God speak to our hearts and let us know when it is that we can be your servants. Increase our faith and courage to be your witnesses and servants. We pray in Christ Jesus' precious name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Also in Genesis we find a special invitation from God to a man. This story is found in Genesis 6:13-22. What would you have done? Is God asking something this “unbelievable for your life?
In case the title didn't give the passage away, here is that text:
13 And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 19 And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; and it shall serve as food for you and for them." 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
God's invitations sometimes don't make sense. It may be an urge to say something to someone that you know just isn't right, or to go to a place or setting where you believe you're not welcome. And after it's all said and done, you get that inner "Aha!" and you realize that it was God asking you to do something that was going to bless Him and His creation. Such was the case with Noah. God called him to do something that others ridiculed: A boat in a landlocked area? Noah may himself wondered if it would even rain. The day was probably as sunny and bright as it could be, with not a cloud in the sky. Yet, through faith and obedience Noah did what God asked, and he was rewarded as was his family.
I don't know what I would have done. I believe had God spoken to me as clearly as He did with Noah I would have obeyed. What troubles us today is that God speaks in different ways as I mentioned above. It may be a thought that enters our mind to speak a kind word to someone or to do a kind deed for someone. At the time it doesn't seem like it's going to do any good for anyone but God comes through and blesses us with the knowledge that what we did was exactly what was needed.
Don't secondguess God. If you're not sure or you think you're in danger, don't do it. Pray and reflect. If it is of God you will be safe and proceed with trust. Seek to honor and glorify God in all that you do!
PRAYER: God speak to our hearts and let us know when it is that we can be your servants. Increase our faith and courage to be your witnesses and servants. We pray in Christ Jesus' precious name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, May 16, 2005
COME, FOLLOW ME!
Good day dear friends. We continue our encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John. Yesterday's sermon asked the question, "Would You Follow Him?" It came from the closing verses of chapter one, 35-51, which show Jesus calling the first disciples. The first two come from being disciples of John the Baptist. I posed the question, had there been a job fair for these two and the other ten, what options would they have had? Like us, survival is always tops, providing for our families, maybe not as bad as today, some seek fame, fortune and the perks that go with that, but they saw in Jesus what we can still see, an invitation to follow He who can share the everlasting things.
As we pray today, continue to pray for Zane Childress. I heard that last night Zane was given permission to spend the night with his parents in their motel room and the parents are hoping they allow Zane to be transferred to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio. Please pray that this be possible and that God bring peace quickly to that region.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: The first invitation to follow comes in Genesis 12:1-5c. Notice how God called this first person and spouse and what God required of them. How willing would you have been to do as God asked? Make a list of things that make you comfortable right where you are right now, and what you could possibly gain if you left here to follow God.
Here is that text:
12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Har'an. 5 Abram took his wife Sar'ai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Har'an; and they set forth to go to the land of Ca'naan.
This first call and that first response make Abraham the father of the faith. He and Sarai were asked to leave country, family, and the comfort of their "father's house" to go to an unknown land. The promise was that God would bless them and bring to them wonderful blessings.
Would you have been able to take those first steps of faith? That first step into the unknown, like the disciples? We know that nothing in life is guaranteed, but with God we can surely trust Him. We can make that list of things that we really enjoy and that bring us comfort and then we ask ourselves, where would God have us be and do?
Could you leave the airconditioned comfort of your home to work the hot humid lands of the third world? If God called you, of course you could. Could you leave your big screen tv and soft recliner for lands where your entertainment might be limited to counting mosquitos? If God called you, of course you could, and the entertainment would be beyond description of the beauty of lives touched and changed by the Gospel, expressions of joy and hope on each face bringing to you things that "Raymond" or "Friends" never could.
Where IS God calling you? It might not involved moving away from your home, but indeed moving away from your comfort zone. Are you willing? What's holding you back?
The blessings you will receive are beyond description!
PRAYER: God of all people and all places, speak loudly the invitation to follow You where You would have us go. Convict us of our being comfortable and lazy, and lead us to where the need is greatest. Let us know You go with us and you share with us all the blessings of a greater life lived in Christ Jesus, through Whose name we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
As we pray today, continue to pray for Zane Childress. I heard that last night Zane was given permission to spend the night with his parents in their motel room and the parents are hoping they allow Zane to be transferred to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio. Please pray that this be possible and that God bring peace quickly to that region.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: The first invitation to follow comes in Genesis 12:1-5c. Notice how God called this first person and spouse and what God required of them. How willing would you have been to do as God asked? Make a list of things that make you comfortable right where you are right now, and what you could possibly gain if you left here to follow God.
Here is that text:
12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Har'an. 5 Abram took his wife Sar'ai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Har'an; and they set forth to go to the land of Ca'naan.
This first call and that first response make Abraham the father of the faith. He and Sarai were asked to leave country, family, and the comfort of their "father's house" to go to an unknown land. The promise was that God would bless them and bring to them wonderful blessings.
Would you have been able to take those first steps of faith? That first step into the unknown, like the disciples? We know that nothing in life is guaranteed, but with God we can surely trust Him. We can make that list of things that we really enjoy and that bring us comfort and then we ask ourselves, where would God have us be and do?
Could you leave the airconditioned comfort of your home to work the hot humid lands of the third world? If God called you, of course you could. Could you leave your big screen tv and soft recliner for lands where your entertainment might be limited to counting mosquitos? If God called you, of course you could, and the entertainment would be beyond description of the beauty of lives touched and changed by the Gospel, expressions of joy and hope on each face bringing to you things that "Raymond" or "Friends" never could.
Where IS God calling you? It might not involved moving away from your home, but indeed moving away from your comfort zone. Are you willing? What's holding you back?
The blessings you will receive are beyond description!
PRAYER: God of all people and all places, speak loudly the invitation to follow You where You would have us go. Convict us of our being comfortable and lazy, and lead us to where the need is greatest. Let us know You go with us and you share with us all the blessings of a greater life lived in Christ Jesus, through Whose name we pray. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
EVEN IN THE END JESUS IS THE LAMB!
Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for Friday.
Thursday: Read Revelation 5. Notice the images of “The Lamb” and all that He represents. What are your thoughts about Jesus in your life today? Be aware of what all He will do in the last day for you!
5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; 2 and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." 6 Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; 10 you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth." 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.
It is indeed a humbling thought that in heaven, on this day when the question is asked about who is worthy, John sees that no one steps forward and so he begins to weep bitterly. Keep in mind that he was not dead yet, he is a visitor with a pass, able to visit all this that is to take place, and this is setting the stage for our understanding totally all that Christ has and will do for us. Only "the Lamb" is worthy to open this special scroll with seven seals, it is revealed. And only because of what He did for us. The event turns into full worship with "myriads and myriads and thousands of thousanding singing with full voice (yep, they're Methodists!), "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." Quite the reward that is the Lord's for His having died for us. And the worship continues with everyone, everywhere, even under the sea singing praises to Jesus.
What then does this say to us? What Jesus did 2,000 years ago was worth it. It was not an isolated act that ended on the trash heap of Jerusalem with his body buried in some obscure place in the Middle East. It was but the start of the beginning of full relationship with God. Even now if we so desire we can have the fullness of God's love. And if we so choose we should rest assured that this relationship will never end. Even at our death, the relationships is sealed and guaranteed for all eternity. What are we suffering or facing that might make us doubt? Is that problem or challenge greater than the love of God? I think not. We as Christians have a solid rock relationship with God. Nothing can ever take it away.
PRAYER: Loving God we face so much and sometimes we worry so much, but let the reading from today remind us again of how powerful and eternal You are. Let the joy of our salvation sing in our hearts a song of worship that will never end. We pray in the name of He who is worthy, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Have a great day! Be a blessing!
e.v.
Here is our study guide for Friday.
Thursday: Read Revelation 5. Notice the images of “The Lamb” and all that He represents. What are your thoughts about Jesus in your life today? Be aware of what all He will do in the last day for you!
5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; 2 and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." 6 Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; 10 you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth." 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.
It is indeed a humbling thought that in heaven, on this day when the question is asked about who is worthy, John sees that no one steps forward and so he begins to weep bitterly. Keep in mind that he was not dead yet, he is a visitor with a pass, able to visit all this that is to take place, and this is setting the stage for our understanding totally all that Christ has and will do for us. Only "the Lamb" is worthy to open this special scroll with seven seals, it is revealed. And only because of what He did for us. The event turns into full worship with "myriads and myriads and thousands of thousanding singing with full voice (yep, they're Methodists!), "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." Quite the reward that is the Lord's for His having died for us. And the worship continues with everyone, everywhere, even under the sea singing praises to Jesus.
What then does this say to us? What Jesus did 2,000 years ago was worth it. It was not an isolated act that ended on the trash heap of Jerusalem with his body buried in some obscure place in the Middle East. It was but the start of the beginning of full relationship with God. Even now if we so desire we can have the fullness of God's love. And if we so choose we should rest assured that this relationship will never end. Even at our death, the relationships is sealed and guaranteed for all eternity. What are we suffering or facing that might make us doubt? Is that problem or challenge greater than the love of God? I think not. We as Christians have a solid rock relationship with God. Nothing can ever take it away.
PRAYER: Loving God we face so much and sometimes we worry so much, but let the reading from today remind us again of how powerful and eternal You are. Let the joy of our salvation sing in our hearts a song of worship that will never end. We pray in the name of He who is worthy, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Have a great day! Be a blessing!
e.v.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
WHAT KIND OF LAMB ARE YOU?
Good day dear friends. As we begin our day, let us begin it with prayer. Prayer for God to use us to be a blessing to others and for a blessing to come to those for whom we've been praying. Sunday we heard that a young man from our congregation Zane Childress was wounded in Iraq and his dad informs us that he is now in a US hospital in Germany and is headed to North Carolina soon. David and Jae will be flying to NC to be with their son. Zane was wounded as he tried to help his buddies hit by an assault on their Humvee. We don't know the extent of his wounds but we're thankful he's alive and coming home soon. We believe at least two of his group were killed during this assault. Pray for peace in every corner of the earth.
Here is today's study guide:
Tuesday: Read Exodus 12:1-14. Here we find the story of the Passover. Notice the instructions from God for this sacrifice. Notice the importance of the lamb, and the “condition” of the lamb that was to be used. Could you be a “lamb?”
Here is that text:
12:1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2 This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4 If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7 They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10 You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
Your years of suffering can come to an end with the killing of an unblemished lamb. That is essence is what God was telling the people of Israel. For over four hundred years you have been suffering under this oppressive government, you want your own land, you want your freedom, do as I say and you will be free. This act of obedience would protect the people from the greater deaths that were to occur that night of the first passover. A brutal thought, but again in that context, the context of an oppressive Pharoah who had ordered the death of all male children to keep the Hebrews from multiplying out of control, the context of hard slave labor, the death of a lamb will free you from that.
I asked a question that has another answer. We don't have to be sacrificial lambs. The Lamb who gave His life for our sake was the final sacrifice. We should be obedient lambs as we find mentioned in Matthew 25:31-46, those who care for one another and do the will of God. Read that passage when you have time and you'll see, at that great judgment, that God will separate between the sheep and the goats. Guess who the goats are; they're the ones who cared only for themselves and did not help others in any way.
PRAYER: We thank you Gracious Father for Jesus being our lamb. For His having been without sin or blemish. We pray that in our actions, our thoughts and words, we can be like Him, caring for others and giving of ourselves to help make the world a better place. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Here is today's study guide:
Tuesday: Read Exodus 12:1-14. Here we find the story of the Passover. Notice the instructions from God for this sacrifice. Notice the importance of the lamb, and the “condition” of the lamb that was to be used. Could you be a “lamb?”
Here is that text:
12:1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2 This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4 If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7 They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10 You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
Your years of suffering can come to an end with the killing of an unblemished lamb. That is essence is what God was telling the people of Israel. For over four hundred years you have been suffering under this oppressive government, you want your own land, you want your freedom, do as I say and you will be free. This act of obedience would protect the people from the greater deaths that were to occur that night of the first passover. A brutal thought, but again in that context, the context of an oppressive Pharoah who had ordered the death of all male children to keep the Hebrews from multiplying out of control, the context of hard slave labor, the death of a lamb will free you from that.
I asked a question that has another answer. We don't have to be sacrificial lambs. The Lamb who gave His life for our sake was the final sacrifice. We should be obedient lambs as we find mentioned in Matthew 25:31-46, those who care for one another and do the will of God. Read that passage when you have time and you'll see, at that great judgment, that God will separate between the sheep and the goats. Guess who the goats are; they're the ones who cared only for themselves and did not help others in any way.
PRAYER: We thank you Gracious Father for Jesus being our lamb. For His having been without sin or blemish. We pray that in our actions, our thoughts and words, we can be like Him, caring for others and giving of ourselves to help make the world a better place. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, May 09, 2005
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE!
Good day dear friends. Yesterday we heard sermon two of a small series on Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John. We spoke of Jesus being the "Lamb of God," as identified with John the Baptist. We heard that this language was three things: reassuring, prophetic, and brutal. Reassuring because God always provides, and we'll read the classic story mentioned in the sermon this morning from Genesis; prophetic because John the Baptist knew that God had a purpose for Jesus; and brutal because something or someone had to die for our sin, and that would be Jesus.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: Read Genesis 22:1-19. This is a very troubling story for fathers and mothers. Abraham was indeed tested. Read it knowing that he was surrounded by cults that routinely sacrificed children as payment to gods to take away their sin. God “tests” Abraham by bringing him right into that mindset of the false religions all around him. What would you have done? Would you have gone on that fateful journey with your child knowing you might have to sacrifice your only child?
22:1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. 9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided." 15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.
Most men have their favorite father-son story. I have several, but my most memorable was when my dad flew down to Mission to surprise me for my twenty-fifth birthday. I was serving as intern at a church, trying to date the woman who would later be my wife, but not even the thought of my being alone for my birthday motivated her to sympathy. Instead I got invited by the United Methodist Men to a meeting. Woah, that's a super birthday gift! When I walked in, I was grabbed by my dad and realized it was a surprise party given by UMM for me. My dad spent a day with me and then he flew back. This story is memorable because I never knew Dad had the money to fly or that he would fly down to do something as special as this for me. Do you think Isaac ever forgot this father-son story?
Isaac's father was also the father of the faith. Abraham had been the first to say yes to God in an undertaking of great faith, according to our Jewish brothers and sisters. Abraham had been promised a great lineage of children and when we meet up with him in Genesis 19 he had Isaac as his "true" son from Sarah, and life gets interesting when God visits him again. The ultimate test is required of him. God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son. Remember we mentioned that sacrifice was an atonement for sin. Something or someone had to die for your sins. The people around Abraham had child sacrifices and so this idea while brutal was not necessarily unknown. Yet, it must have been the most difficult three days in Abraham's life. When he reached the place selected for worship, he leaves his servants behind and he and his son climb to the spot where Abraham believes he has to kill his son in order to appease God and pay for the sins of the family. The boy had been to worship before. He knew the purpose of the wood and flame traveling with them, but he noticed there was no lamb and asks his dad. His dad replies, "God will provide." Yet when the reach the place, the altar is set up, and Abraham binds his son as the sacrifice and is prepared to kill him as God ordered, but just in the nick of time, God provides. A ram stuck in the thicket is used instead. Wow.
Above I asked, "What would you have done?" I can think of no one that would actually do this. We thank God we live in the era blessed by the sacrifice of God's own son, but just to think that we would have to offer our own children as sacrifices brings us sadness and pain. And yet, God did not withhold his own begotten son from us. God was willing to pay the price of our sins by sending His only Son, Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER: Father, forgive our selfcenteredness in all things. You loved us so much that you gave your only son to die in our place. Many are the times we should be placed on an altar or cross and sacrifices for our sinfulness, but You acted on our behalf by sending Jesus. Thank you. Forgive us our sins. Allow Jesus to be Lord of our lives. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.th
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: Read Genesis 22:1-19. This is a very troubling story for fathers and mothers. Abraham was indeed tested. Read it knowing that he was surrounded by cults that routinely sacrificed children as payment to gods to take away their sin. God “tests” Abraham by bringing him right into that mindset of the false religions all around him. What would you have done? Would you have gone on that fateful journey with your child knowing you might have to sacrifice your only child?
22:1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. 9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided." 15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.
Most men have their favorite father-son story. I have several, but my most memorable was when my dad flew down to Mission to surprise me for my twenty-fifth birthday. I was serving as intern at a church, trying to date the woman who would later be my wife, but not even the thought of my being alone for my birthday motivated her to sympathy. Instead I got invited by the United Methodist Men to a meeting. Woah, that's a super birthday gift! When I walked in, I was grabbed by my dad and realized it was a surprise party given by UMM for me. My dad spent a day with me and then he flew back. This story is memorable because I never knew Dad had the money to fly or that he would fly down to do something as special as this for me. Do you think Isaac ever forgot this father-son story?
Isaac's father was also the father of the faith. Abraham had been the first to say yes to God in an undertaking of great faith, according to our Jewish brothers and sisters. Abraham had been promised a great lineage of children and when we meet up with him in Genesis 19 he had Isaac as his "true" son from Sarah, and life gets interesting when God visits him again. The ultimate test is required of him. God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son. Remember we mentioned that sacrifice was an atonement for sin. Something or someone had to die for your sins. The people around Abraham had child sacrifices and so this idea while brutal was not necessarily unknown. Yet, it must have been the most difficult three days in Abraham's life. When he reached the place selected for worship, he leaves his servants behind and he and his son climb to the spot where Abraham believes he has to kill his son in order to appease God and pay for the sins of the family. The boy had been to worship before. He knew the purpose of the wood and flame traveling with them, but he noticed there was no lamb and asks his dad. His dad replies, "God will provide." Yet when the reach the place, the altar is set up, and Abraham binds his son as the sacrifice and is prepared to kill him as God ordered, but just in the nick of time, God provides. A ram stuck in the thicket is used instead. Wow.
Above I asked, "What would you have done?" I can think of no one that would actually do this. We thank God we live in the era blessed by the sacrifice of God's own son, but just to think that we would have to offer our own children as sacrifices brings us sadness and pain. And yet, God did not withhold his own begotten son from us. God was willing to pay the price of our sins by sending His only Son, Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER: Father, forgive our selfcenteredness in all things. You loved us so much that you gave your only son to die in our place. Many are the times we should be placed on an altar or cross and sacrifices for our sinfulness, but You acted on our behalf by sending Jesus. Thank you. Forgive us our sins. Allow Jesus to be Lord of our lives. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.th
Thursday, May 05, 2005
A PLACE OF DARKNESS?
Good day dear friends,
As we continue our study of John's gospel, it is good to see what the other gospels have Jesus saying about light and darkness. Here then for today is our study guide:
Thursday: Read Matthew 8:5-13. What are your thoughts about this “outer darkness” that Jesus mentions in this passage? Can you imagine an eternity without light? Some would say that is exactly what Hell is; a place of complete darkness and complete separation from God and our righteous loved ones.
Here is that passage from NRSV:
5 When he entered Caper'naum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." 7 And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." 8 The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, "Go,' and he goes, and to another, "Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, "Do this,' and the slave does it." 10 When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you according to your faith." And the servant was healed in that hour.
The story is straightforward. Jesus comes into the town of Capernaum, and a Roman officer, one in charge of 100 men, comes to Jesus and asks for healing for his servant. This illness was severe and had paralyzed the man. The Roman officer knew of Jesus' fame and power and so asks for healing from Jesus. Jesus replies that he would go home with the man, but the officer realizing the holiness of our Lord said, "I'm not worthy to have you come under my roof..." We're not sure of the reasons behind his saying this other than he knew of Jesus' holiness being what it was, that all Jesus had to do was to give the order and the man would be healed. This was an awesome testimony of his faith and Jesus spoke to his disciples about it. He said that no one in Israel had such faith. He then prophesies about those from outside the Jewish people who would come and eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while those who had no such faith would "be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
We can sit here and argue about how hot Hell really is or whether there really is a hell. All I know is that Jesus spoke of it as a real place and uses several illustrations, such as this one to describe it, and so I believe there really is a place where we can be eternally separated from God and those we love who die in the faith. Did God send these folks there? Is God that sort of God to do that? No, my friends, we choose to go there by rejecting faith. We are responsible for the consequences of our lack of faith.
The question I asked for today asks us to imagine such a place. I'd rather you imagine the fullness of life lived in the light of Jesus, which is what is available to us right now. Don't worry about that day of death when our fate is sealed, right now is the day of decision. Decide to live in the fullness of Christ's love!
In a few days I'm sending out a Leadership Letter to the officers and leaders of the church. In it I'm challenging the members of FUMC-SM to have a new passion for the days and months ahead. And that passion is precisely for the lost; for those lost in sin, living apart from God. That's why we have a church. We seek to bring to the lost the saving message of Jesus Christ. We can start today by praying for them, for asking God to use all of us to be the light of the world, not hidden but shining brightly for those we know need Jesus like never before.
PRAYER: God of love and light, shine brightly on our situation. We pray for the lost, that they might be rescued from their sins and lifted to the fullness of life. Use us, use all that we have to be instruments of that grace. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
As we continue our study of John's gospel, it is good to see what the other gospels have Jesus saying about light and darkness. Here then for today is our study guide:
Thursday: Read Matthew 8:5-13. What are your thoughts about this “outer darkness” that Jesus mentions in this passage? Can you imagine an eternity without light? Some would say that is exactly what Hell is; a place of complete darkness and complete separation from God and our righteous loved ones.
Here is that passage from NRSV:
5 When he entered Caper'naum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." 7 And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." 8 The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, "Go,' and he goes, and to another, "Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, "Do this,' and the slave does it." 10 When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you according to your faith." And the servant was healed in that hour.
The story is straightforward. Jesus comes into the town of Capernaum, and a Roman officer, one in charge of 100 men, comes to Jesus and asks for healing for his servant. This illness was severe and had paralyzed the man. The Roman officer knew of Jesus' fame and power and so asks for healing from Jesus. Jesus replies that he would go home with the man, but the officer realizing the holiness of our Lord said, "I'm not worthy to have you come under my roof..." We're not sure of the reasons behind his saying this other than he knew of Jesus' holiness being what it was, that all Jesus had to do was to give the order and the man would be healed. This was an awesome testimony of his faith and Jesus spoke to his disciples about it. He said that no one in Israel had such faith. He then prophesies about those from outside the Jewish people who would come and eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while those who had no such faith would "be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
We can sit here and argue about how hot Hell really is or whether there really is a hell. All I know is that Jesus spoke of it as a real place and uses several illustrations, such as this one to describe it, and so I believe there really is a place where we can be eternally separated from God and those we love who die in the faith. Did God send these folks there? Is God that sort of God to do that? No, my friends, we choose to go there by rejecting faith. We are responsible for the consequences of our lack of faith.
The question I asked for today asks us to imagine such a place. I'd rather you imagine the fullness of life lived in the light of Jesus, which is what is available to us right now. Don't worry about that day of death when our fate is sealed, right now is the day of decision. Decide to live in the fullness of Christ's love!
In a few days I'm sending out a Leadership Letter to the officers and leaders of the church. In it I'm challenging the members of FUMC-SM to have a new passion for the days and months ahead. And that passion is precisely for the lost; for those lost in sin, living apart from God. That's why we have a church. We seek to bring to the lost the saving message of Jesus Christ. We can start today by praying for them, for asking God to use all of us to be the light of the world, not hidden but shining brightly for those we know need Jesus like never before.
PRAYER: God of love and light, shine brightly on our situation. We pray for the lost, that they might be rescued from their sins and lifted to the fullness of life. Use us, use all that we have to be instruments of that grace. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a blessed day!
e.v.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John: Light or Dark? Your choice
Yesterday we started a series on the Gospel of John. This is the gospel known as the spiritual gospel. John stresses the spiritual side of Jesus' ministry by drawing sharp contrasts between light and dark, and good and evil. In the first chapter he recaps God's creative and involved power in humanity and shares how Jesus' coming brought the fullness of light to the world. Jesus is the light of the world for Christians. Reread John 1:1-18 to see the verses covered in that first sermon. In these few introductory verses we see some of the sadness John feels for not all received Jesus, but joy in the fullness of life that is ours when we do receive.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: Read Psalm 18:18-28. Note the Psalmist’s love for God and how in that last verse gives God credit for the light in his life. How would you describe the brightness or dullness of light in your life? What is keeping your from receiving the fullness of God’s light into your life?
Here is the passage in NRSV:
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my support. 19 He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his ordinances were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. 23 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. 24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 With the loyal you show yourself loyal; with the blameless you show yourself blameless; 26 with the pure you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you show yourself perverse. 27 For you deliver a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. 28 It is you who light my lamp; the LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.
Here is The Message:
18 They hit me when I was down, but God stuck by me. 19 He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved - surprised to be loved! 20 God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. 21 Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted. 22 Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. 23 I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. 24 God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. 25 The good people taste your goodness, The whole people taste your health, 26 The true people taste your truth, The bad ones can't figure you out. 27 You take the side of the down-and-out, But the stuck-up you take down a peg. 28 Suddenly, God, you floodlight my life; I'm blazing with glory, God's glory!
This version sometimes hits the nail right on the head. It does today. The Psalmist is probably chuckling in this particular translation, but it's a good chuckle in that this version is in modern applicable language for most. It's almost as if the writer had been in church. I borrowed two HUGE lightbulbs from an electrician in the congregation. I had them in a box and I asked children who sit near the front row if they had a flashlight what kind of bulb would they need to replace it? I then pulled out the huge bulbs and asked if they would work. The eyes of most in the congregation got as large as the bulbs. These were from our stadium and folks realized the power of light John was trying to convey he felt through Jesus. Verse 28 above in The Message says it correctly, "Suddenly, God, you floodlight my life: I'm blazing with glory, God's glory!" Amen.
Such is the power of God to take us out of darkness and into the fullness of God's light. And the other illustration I used was when we travel and we find ourselves in a strange hotel room; I'm writing from one. In darkness as I don't want to wake the wife. But these bruises will heal nicely. To come into the knowledge of God's love through Christ for us is to take us into the fullness of light. No longer will we stumble along in life. Christ shows us the way. The better way to live.
What's holding you back? Do you not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Have you not entered into personal relationship with Him? It's life-changing and it's easy. Here's how: Simply pray a prayer of confession. Confess you are a sinner. You've lived a life that hasn't always been pleasing to God and now you realize wasn't really pleasing to you. Then invite Jesus to come into your heart as your Lord. He will. Ask Him to direct your life in ways that will blaze you with God's glory. He will.
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, into those hearts inviting you in. Establish a loving relationship with us once again. Guide us to your glory. Let our very lives reflect we've been in Your presence. Let people be blessed by our lives. Let us bring others to this blessing. For we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day! May it be filled with blessings! And greetings from Orlando where I'm attending the Asbury Theological Seminary board meeting.
e.v.
Here is our study guide for today:
Monday: Read Psalm 18:18-28. Note the Psalmist’s love for God and how in that last verse gives God credit for the light in his life. How would you describe the brightness or dullness of light in your life? What is keeping your from receiving the fullness of God’s light into your life?
Here is the passage in NRSV:
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my support. 19 He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all his ordinances were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. 23 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. 24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 With the loyal you show yourself loyal; with the blameless you show yourself blameless; 26 with the pure you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you show yourself perverse. 27 For you deliver a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. 28 It is you who light my lamp; the LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.
Here is The Message:
18 They hit me when I was down, but God stuck by me. 19 He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved - surprised to be loved! 20 God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. 21 Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted. 22 Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. 23 I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step. 24 God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. 25 The good people taste your goodness, The whole people taste your health, 26 The true people taste your truth, The bad ones can't figure you out. 27 You take the side of the down-and-out, But the stuck-up you take down a peg. 28 Suddenly, God, you floodlight my life; I'm blazing with glory, God's glory!
This version sometimes hits the nail right on the head. It does today. The Psalmist is probably chuckling in this particular translation, but it's a good chuckle in that this version is in modern applicable language for most. It's almost as if the writer had been in church. I borrowed two HUGE lightbulbs from an electrician in the congregation. I had them in a box and I asked children who sit near the front row if they had a flashlight what kind of bulb would they need to replace it? I then pulled out the huge bulbs and asked if they would work. The eyes of most in the congregation got as large as the bulbs. These were from our stadium and folks realized the power of light John was trying to convey he felt through Jesus. Verse 28 above in The Message says it correctly, "Suddenly, God, you floodlight my life: I'm blazing with glory, God's glory!" Amen.
Such is the power of God to take us out of darkness and into the fullness of God's light. And the other illustration I used was when we travel and we find ourselves in a strange hotel room; I'm writing from one. In darkness as I don't want to wake the wife. But these bruises will heal nicely. To come into the knowledge of God's love through Christ for us is to take us into the fullness of light. No longer will we stumble along in life. Christ shows us the way. The better way to live.
What's holding you back? Do you not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Have you not entered into personal relationship with Him? It's life-changing and it's easy. Here's how: Simply pray a prayer of confession. Confess you are a sinner. You've lived a life that hasn't always been pleasing to God and now you realize wasn't really pleasing to you. Then invite Jesus to come into your heart as your Lord. He will. Ask Him to direct your life in ways that will blaze you with God's glory. He will.
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus, into those hearts inviting you in. Establish a loving relationship with us once again. Guide us to your glory. Let our very lives reflect we've been in Your presence. Let people be blessed by our lives. Let us bring others to this blessing. For we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day! May it be filled with blessings! And greetings from Orlando where I'm attending the Asbury Theological Seminary board meeting.
e.v.
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