Category: Good Life Journal

Journal Jn 12 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Isaiah said these things because he saw his (Jesus’) glory and spoke of him.  Nevertheless, many (even of the authorities) believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue (for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:41-43

Observation:  Can I be a disciple and fear man as well?

Analysis: Reading John 12, there was a number of things to write about, and I was tempted to—but I would have been teaching rather than journaling my thoughts and stuff about my life.  Plenty to learn—but perhaps I wouldn’t be passing down what I should.

Two things I have struggled with throughout my life: Ambition (or seeking the adulation of man) and/or Fear of Man.

A friend of mine told me a number of times about the fear of man thing.  I was leading worship at a former church, and this came up in an after-church discussion.  “What did you think?”

Maybe I am not as blatant as the description in the scripture above: “…for they loved the glory that comes from man MORE than the glory that comes from God…”  The scripture talks about folks “believing” (and I am using quotes on purpose) but keeping quiet because they did not want to be tossed out of the synagogue.  “I like my space on the pew; I like being part of the So and So Committee; I don’t want to alienate my friends, etc.; I am not going to risk that.”

I have seen folks like that.

This phenomenon is especially prevalent when emphasizing/teaching about Biblical Church Worship patterns: stuff like raising hands (just to be simple).  From the Bible, it is found that raising hands is instructed, not “suggested”.  From the Biblical record, it is the hands in the pocket approach that isn’t worshipful and can almost be described as disrespectful to God.

Note: I don’t mean to be controversial.  Quite the contrary, I mean. and am committed to Biblical Orthodoxy.

Back to my struggles: I do “fear man”, I am aware.  I don’t know how to overcome it, so I don’t.  Maybe, though, I am not alone.  Maybe the Holy Spirit speaks to me, so I confess it and repent.  And maybe, to practice faithfulness in pursuing Him, the Holy Spirit allows me to repeat it over and over again, throughout all my years—making me humble.

Prayer: Father, I still don’t know how to crack this nut.  Maybe it is so ingrained in my sinful nature, that I have to take it to the Cross moment by moment.  Yes, I have dreams and a certain ambition—but my conviction is that I must wait upon You and not force the “door” open.

Thank you for helping me to pursue Your Peace and being content only in You.

Bring revival.

AMEN

John 10:9-11 –“I am the door.  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Observation –

Jesus is taking to the Pharisees using imagery of sheep which would be familiar.  Jesus is the door and is the only way to enter the Kingdom and be saved.  Anyone other than Jesus or coming in the name of Jesus is a destroyer.  Jesus provides pasture for his sheep and those who follow him have an abundant life.  Jesus, the good shepherd, sacrifices his life for his sheep.

Application –

Jesus is the only way of salvation and reconciliation to the Father. I must listen to the voice of the good shepherd and follow Jesus being careful not to allow the sounds of the world to catch my ear.  If it is not the voice of Jesus, it is something that wants to lead me astray from Jesus and the life I am intended to have by following Him.  Through the grace of God, Jesus has given me my greatest need in His sacrificial death and resurrection that brought me from death to life.  Jesus is the good shepherd who provides our food, rest and shelter.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your love, grace and mercy you have for me in sending Jesus to lay down His life for mine.  Let the Holy Spirit lead me to listen and follow Jesus so I can make disciples  who will make disciples for Christ.

Journal Jn 9 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “As (Jesus) passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3

Observation: Recognize what is behind this statement?  It is the old “nature or nurture” principle in argument…

Analysis: I read this today, this morning, and I thought I recognized it immediately: “Who can I blame on my condition?”

This guy is blind; and the disciples, instead of addressing the issue with what is in front of them, wants to analyze the root cause: “Jesus, we see the guy is blind.  Here’s our question, because we are curious and “want to learn”,

• is this guy blind from birth because he sinned or
• is this guy’s blindness a punishment to something the parents did?”

In the first inquiry, the Disciples are indirectly affirming that the held opinion of most today of babies being innocent is false.  “From birth, blind: Cause?  Sin?”

In the second inquiry, the Disciples are directly fixing a Cause and Effect: Is this child directly paying for the Parent’s sin with a physical injury?

Both questions are shifting the issue into other cause and effect theories and both avoid the real (but unpalatable to most) answer: God’s Sovereignty over His Creation.

Perhaps the reason is that the Character of God is missing from our education in our private studies, our missional understanding, and the teaching of doctrine by our leaders.

Probably the worst emphasis of doctrine over the past 50 years is “God is Love.”  When this is the emphasis driven into the population, it is at the expense of the other Characteristics and Attributes of God, such as: God is Holy.  God is Just and judges with a righteous judgement that is all His, all alone, a Sovereign Judgement.  Other things like God is Eternal, Omniscient, Omnipresent throughout Space and Time: these doctrines should and must affect the way the World is seen through experience (even if it cannot be fully explained—that’s why God is also mysterious in His Ways).

Therefore, when the emphasis of “God is Love” is employed, when “bad” things happen (like this man’s blindness) the questions of situational relevance follows: “God is love, so it didn’t happen from Him.  Then it must follow that either the guy is the cause because God is punishing him or it happen because God is punishing the parents—the logic is inarguable and by extension, proves God isn’t Love and what I am saying is false, an untruth.

Jesus clears it up better (and in fewer words than me): “Neither.  This guy is blind to show the Glory of God at this moment in time.”  Yes, God did this for His own purposes.

Paul pulls out another example from the OT: (speaking of Jacob and Esau) “…though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election (the exercise of God’s Sovereignty) might continue, not because of works but because of Him who calls—(Rebekah) was told, “The older will serve the younger.”  As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

What shall we say then (the Scripture continues)? Is there injustice on God’s part?  By no means!  For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” … For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my Name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Ro 9:11-15 and 17)

Therefore, when I talk about Jesus, I talk about him—I don’t become a car salesman.  When I pray for someone in homegroup, I don’t worry about failure.  When I lay hands on a person in the grocery store for healing, I don’t consider anything but faith in the One who brings wonder working power.

I also work to renew my mind, to wrap my noggin about the Sovereignty of God in all my thinking and my speaking—avoid and repudiate any talk or thought that belittles God’s Sovereignty, Attributes, and Character.

Prayer: Lord God, train me to think high thoughts of you and let those high thoughts translate into bold works in You.  Keep me from arrogant and presumptuous thoughts.  Help me to do less but righteously instead of lots and end up with “I never knew you.”

AMEN

John 8

Scripture:

[42] Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. [43] Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. [44] You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.

[47] Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Observation:

Jesus was burning the ears of the Pharisees and demons. He hits this issue straight on with His truth. The
truth is that the Pharisees were not of God when they tried to coax Jesus into saying something wrong. If they were not of God then they were controlled by the enemy. There is no in between  – you can’t understand because you can’t hear, you can’t hear because you are driven to carry out Satan’s desires.  That the Pharisees wanted to kill Jesus is proof of that.

Application:

This is brutal truth that you are either for Him or against Him and if you are not for Him you are against Him. There is no lukewarm when it comes to believing who Jesus Christ is.

There are many today who are trying to effectively kill Jesus Christ.  Taking Him out of schools, courtrooms, government, private companies, everywhere..  This secularization is killing us and we Christians are letting it happen. Why are we afraid to standup and present Jesus Christ as Truth?

We have to fight hard against Satan’s control in this world. We cannot be silent! We Christians have been silent far too long and we are now in dire danger of secularization of our entire society. The secularization of society happens when the secular, lukewarm or even straight up anti-Christian, values grow to the point where Christian values and the unchanging truth of God’s word in the bible is removed from society.

We have ben like frogs in a pot of water slowly turned up to boiling. The frogs don’t notice the change until it’s far too late. I feel like that is where we’re at in our society with respect to secularization and Christianity. Even some churches are not staying strong and true to God’s Word. Some have sanctioned gay marriages, or have LGBTQ leaders as a couple examples. This is total false teaching and these churches are being coerced into modifying some of God’s basic principals like the fact that a man and woman are different and made in God’s image, or the sanctity of marriage is between one woman and one man. These are  only two examples of how the loss of what some think of as Christian privilege, becomes total Christian persecution. The secular movements will force their ideas and ideals on us Christians. If they can’t force their ideals on us, they will remove us. That is their ultimate goal.

We have to stop the madness. We need to pray, and as Albert Mohler says, we need to be ready for the refugees from the LGBTQ movement. When individuals don’t find what they are looking for in their madness, they may come looking to the only place where they can find hope, peace, and joy – in the arms of Jesus. In addition, we need to speak up. We are called to action to abide by and protect the unchanging Word and Truth of  the creator of the universe. Our ambivalence in protecting the bible’s God breathed Word and the unchanging truth that comes from it, is nothing more than being lukewarm and will result in an even more despicable world.

Prayer:

Lord we love you. You alone are holy. Lord wake us up! Let us not be silent. We pray that you give us eyes to see and the wisdom to understand the movements sweeping across our governments, schools, churches, and even our homes.  We pray for strength to stand up to the tide of secularization in our nation and our world as we are constantly pounded into changing our core, God given beliefs. We know that it is Satan at work Lord and not the individuals he is using. Lord help us remember that in order to deal with the problem and not the people. It gives us comfort to know that you are in control, as you have always been, and that we know how this story ends. We pray this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Journal Jn 7 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it.

Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from your fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.  If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well?

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”  John 7:21-24

Observation:  One thing is good and another (similar) thing is not.  Does this resonate with what we see in the church today?

Analysis: I think that I could read into this section that Jesus marveled at the inconsistency of thinking and reasoning in these folks.

It is ok to get circumcised on the Sabbath because there must be obedience to the law of Moses.

It is NOT ok to heal someone on the Sabbath because the law of Moses does not provide that option.

Do I come across people that would recoil with much emotion about doing stuff differently, even though it makes sense (biblically) but “this isn’t the way it is supposed to be done!”  That is what Jesus was answering the Jews with.  Jesus, maybe plaintively, “Look…I did one work…one work…and you have problem with it?  I healed this guy and are you telling me I shouldn’t have?”

I think in a broad sense, when Jesus is saying, “Don’t judge by appearance (propriety to tradition), but judge (evaluate) with right judgement (what is reasonable outside of tradition, irrelevant according to the Word, and effective in moving the Kingdom forward and changing MY heart).

I can look at the issue I used to see about clothing in a church gathering.  Simple comparison, right?  Dress to the 8 ½’s (no formal wear or clubbing get up) or casual wear.

Here’s one that came up yesterday for me: Covid stuff, and church gathering.  I read about one mega-church pastor sues to open church and won referencing the scripture about “not neglecting to meet together.”  Did anyone think about breaking down in small groups, house by house, during this time so that we care for one another and create witness in our neighborhoods?

Of course, we could (should) follow Jesus’ example and lay hands for healing on folks we see out in public….

Prayer: Father, this seems like a nuance, but to my mind, an important nuance.  To think about this tunes up my authenticity in You.

Make me, lead me into greater boldness, following the Biblical, not traditional, example.

AMEN.

Journal Jn 6 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you: You are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life—which the Son of Man will give you….Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them: “This is the work of God—that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

So, they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you?  What work do you perform?”  (excerpts from John 6:25-30)

Observation: I cannot help but notice that Jesus spends a lot of time clearly speaking, and the crowd spends a lot of time twisting the conversation, trying to get an advantage for themselves.

Analysis: There are times where, reading a section of Scripture, I can be drawn to something being said but in the same thought, have a hard time putting a comprehensive thought together.

This is one of those times.

It seems to me I can clearly see that the people around Jesus could be following only because of miracles—it may be as basic as, “let’s go see this dude; I heard he is at least good for a substantial lunch.”

With at least some, there is a conversation started with Jesus about (broadly speaking) what “food” is sustainable for eternal life…Jesus making a metaphor (which, incidentally, has teeth—no pun intended).

The crowd shows their religious heart (maybe while brushing the crumbs from their beards) by countering Jesus’ statement of “seek the food of God, leading to eternal life, not just the food that satisfies your body”, by asking “how do I justify myself for that eternal stuff?  Do you have a checklist I can follow?  Can I have a list of “doing things” on the outside so I don’t have to change on the inside?”

Jesus answers: “This is the work of God—that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

I can imagine the crowd may have thought, “Huh, that is not exactly the answer I am looking for.  If that is what I have to do (seeing that He is really calling for a surrendered life), that is more than I want.”

So, they ask, “If that is what you want me to do, then do you have any validation as to your authority?  Got a sign in your pocket?  How about a list of works available on your resume’?”

Basically, “Prove yourself to me…” they said to Jesus, before I change my ways—and besides that, I still want a checklist: “What must we do to be doing the works of God?”

I think that many folks, like me, can move into being moral (a type of work) instead of the Holy Work of believing and surrendering to Christ.  Being a moral person is not being a Christian disciple.

There’s a point to consider with the face in the mirror, perhaps?

Prayer:  Lord God, deliver me from just being nice and moral and forget to serve you, not just all my days, but today.

Bring revival,

AMEN

John 3:16-18 –“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Observation –

This is Jesus speaking with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and leader of the Jewish people. Nicodemus had come to Jesus under the cloak of darkness to try to figure out who Jesus was and how to be in the Kingdom of God.  After telling Nicodemus that you must be born again of the Spirit, Jesus tell Nicodemus of God’s plan for redemption. God sent his only Son, Jesus, in the greatest love the world will ever know to take on the sin of all mankind that separates man from God.  Whoever believes in the name of Jesus will have salvation for eternity with God the Father.  Jesus came to save the world not condemn.  The only way not to be condemned is to have faith in Jesus and trust him as our Lord and savior!

Application –

John 3:16 is the gospel message about God’s redemptive plan for the people he created in His image.  The love of Christ is the greatest, most powerful love that has the power to change hearts and lives.   Perfect, sinless Jesus has forgiven me and wiped my slate clean of every sin in His blood shed on the cross.  This is the greatest news ever and I need to live on mission to share the gospel.  I must never forget that I am dead saved only by Jesus and brought to life a new creation in Him.  God loves the world and wants to have a relationship with everyone no matter what they have done who will believe in the name of Jesus.  My call and that of everyone who is a follower of Jesus is to live to point to Jesus and glorify Him.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your great love in sending Jesus to save me and all who believe in his name.  Let the power of the Holy Spirit lead and guide me to receive your love and share it with all to honor you.

Journal Jn 2 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting there.

And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen.  And he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”

His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me…” Jn2:13-17

Observation: Perhaps the predominant vision folks have of Jesus is being gentle and loving…it is forgotten that Jesus has a zealous and jealous side of him…

Analysis: I can candidly say, this is one of the most entertaining and sobering sections of the New Testament.  This story, in various forms, is found in all the Gospels—it made an impact on the Apostles.

“Jesus is off to the side of the road, kind of brooding.  He is doing something with his hands and a pile of leather strapping.

A little apprehensive, one of the Disciples approaches Jesus and asks, “What’cha doing there, Master?”  Jesus keeps is head down, still fiddling with the pile of strapping—every once in moment glaring toward the temple square.

The Disciple asks again…and Jesus answers in a low, intense, but powerful murmur, “Making a whip….””

What does it mean to folks like me?  There are a number of folks that may interpret this story as a license to be mean and violent.  Couldn’t be further from the Truth when other Scriptures are folded in, like, “(pursue)…gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law…” Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23), and; “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.  Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness…” (1 Tim 6:11)

Therefore, when I think about the whole Bible, and the example set by Jesus, and what the Bible says describing the Man of God that God wants to form me in (Ro 8:29), then what can I draw out of the above reference?:

That fervency and zealousness is the stuff to cultivate.

Thinking about it, the picture of Jesus, storming the Temple, driving out the moneychangers, is showing the same emotion that He has for the Church and especially the local church.  Not the building, but the people.

Prayer:  Father, instill in me the love for the people in the local church, to be a part of their lives, to look always to point the way to You, to serve and be hospitable without grumbling and complaining, teaching and exhibiting Your character in me—with gentleness, compassion, and fervency in You.

Bring revival, O God.

AMEN

Journal Ps 53-55 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”  They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understands, who seek after God.  They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt.

There is none who does good, not even one.” Ps 53:1-3

Observation: I think that this is one of those references where I am inclined to apply this to someone else, and say, “Not me…”

And yet, it is my picture in the footnotes.

Daily grace, not one-time grace, is needed.  Another reason to remember and preach the Gospel to myself.

Analysis: Why do certain sections of Scripture stand out to me and others don’t?

The right and only answer: Because of the Holy Spirit.  Still, but why?

The above reference isn’t particularly encouraging; it doesn’t cause my soul to raise its voice in praise; it doesn’t particularly provide armament to champion a certain preaching point.

Sometimes I just don’t know.  Today, this “I don’t know” has captured my attention.

I have used the picture of “the Man in the Mirror” to illustrate whom to preach the Gospel to daily.  It does no good to think, “I am in; my heaven ticket is punched, let me go after the poor, wretched creatures who don’t know Jesus…,” without remembering that I can forget so easily.  After all, I can revert to the “fool” in an eyeblink.  This Ps 53 reference is part of the Gospel.

Now another picture comes to mind: The Window.  Sort of related to the Mirror, the Window shows me about the folks Jesus died for; what their hearts are like; how they conduct themselves…but in the detail of their soul.

This is how I tend to react: in judgement and condemnation.  Not that I don’t tend to know how wrong my thoughts are, but I sway to those thoughts anyway.  It takes effort to redirect judgmental thoughts—it goes back to the Saturday 032121 post thinking as if I was God (Ps 50:21).

If I stay objective with the Scriptures, then I understand that the “Fool” referenced in Ps 53 can be me.  By understanding this, then I continue to understand why I need the Grace available from the Atonement.

I was confronted this afternoon, by my boss, and then when I tried to unload my burden to my wife, I was confronted again.  Something minor, perhaps in one view, but it went to a view that my complaint was indicative of an arrogant attitude of resisting correction.  I can’t argue with the “resisting correction” part but the arrogance observation got to me.

It is now about 2 hours since that living room discussion and my heart is bouncing all around.  A double minded man is unstable.  I would like to think that I am stable here and there, but perhaps not in others.  It occurs to me I am dipping my toe into the pool of foolishness.

I don’t want to be a fool.  I know I need to release this to Jesus if I am puzzled while, in parallel, examining myself.

Walking worthy of the Gospel is not always an easy road.

Prayer: Lord, I am crushed in spirit.  What is the difference in walking in confidence and walking in arrogance?

Please bring me an answer and peace.

Cause revival,

AMEN.

Journal Ps 51-52 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have broken rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit….

Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you.” Ps 51:8-13

Observation: I come to a section like this, totally absorbed in the cry of the Psalmist as my own, and what happens?  God gives me an assignment…

Analysis: Ps 51:8-12—the cry of a heart; the cry of many Disciples of Christ.

Candidly I notice that the “cry” is all about me.  “I want to hear; Hide your face from my sins; create a new heart in me…and so on and so on.”  Then the Psalmist continues his implied “if/then” statement: “If all this stuff happens, then I will teach transgressors your ways…”

The cry should be expected.  This prayer should be a daily prayer; I should call out to God for all of this all the time….and with tears and verbal (not silent) cries.

(BTW: Searching through the Bible, while there are indications of “silent” prayer (Ps 4:4; Ps 63:6), the majority, no matter what the occasion, is prayer that is spoken out loud.  Praying is a function of opening a mouth to God.  Training the face in the mirror to pray out loud is the Biblical expectation of a Disciple.)

Back to the show: To continue the implied expectation, “Then I will teach transgressors Your Ways…”, indicates that I know the difference between the ways of righteousness and the ways of transgression and am actively learning the points of difference.  Better said, “Am I looking to learn the Ways of God?”

Ability to teach means that I have learned something to pass down.

There is a precept I have learned: While I stand on the Foundation of the Gospel and of His Word, I also stand on the shoulders of Godly Men that have come before me.

What, then, can I pass down?  What have I learned to faithfully bring to my family so that God is exalted?  Am I confident in anything so as to say, “Follow me, dear family, as I follow Christ?”  Is the presentation of my daily life consistent with my mouth?  Am I humble about it, or do I seek to “lord it over” my family?  When resisted, do I persist with gentleness and persuasion and prayer?

It is evident to me that this is not immediate, it doesn’t arrive by osmosis; I have to learn and train to get from one place, (“Create in me a clean heart…”) to another (“Then I will teach transgressors…”)… It takes being purposeful, applying effort (Study to show yourself approved, rightly handling the Word of Truth…) and a plan to accomplish this.

I am remembering Paul being summoned by Felix in Acts 24.  The Biblical record says, “And as he (Paul) reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed…” (vs. 24).  And this from a guy whom the Scriptures say was pretty conversant with the Way of Jesus (Christianity’s name early on).

It is not alarming a Felix that I am focusing on here, it is that Paul reasoned about doctrine.

Prayer: Father, I am in no place like Paul, but I guess that engaging in writing like this is training myself to be able to.  Writing, journaling, about your Word and how your Word affects my life is training.  It certainly isn’t argumentative; it is difficult to argue with myself.

Lord, I pray for my brothers and sisters in this local church to grow in Your Ways; to pursue You with all their hearts.  When they read Your Word, to begin to circle all the verbs/adverbs to get an indication that there is more than Matt 28 that calls us.

Create revival, O God, create revival,

AMEN

Journal Ps 48 and 50 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself.

But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.

Mark this, then, you who forget God—lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! —the one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to the one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Ps 50:21-23

Observation: Ever wondered why God doesn’t intervene in things?  Most times it is because Man thinks one way, and we think God should think in the same way…

Analysis: The above scripture could be titled “Humanizing God.”  The key phrase?  “…You thought I was one like yourself!”

How many times THROUGHOUT THE DAY do I think of God the way I think of myself?  Hundreds of times in an hour— not a day, an HOUR.

The reason is that we are not built to consider things Eternally, Omnisciently.  I am not reflexively looking at my life and the interactions with others with an Omniscient point of view — I am stuck on a clock, watching the seconds tick by.

That is not God.  Before there was light, He saw everything, comprehended everything, knew everything—He does not have an “aw, shucks…missed that” moment. (Note: that is why the Cross was the ONLY Plan from the beginning.  The Cross wasn’t Plan B to Eden’s Plan A.  This understanding is IMPERATIVE for Christians.)

The Triune God is Eternally Omniscient.

Did it ever cross my mind that God was ok about something I did just because He was silent?  The “no news is good news” theory about God?

What about grumbling, complaining, murmuring?  In each one of these actions (either in the heart, in the house or car, or out loud in public), God may understand, but He does not condone.  In fact, His anger is kindled: “And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled…” (Num 11:1, also see Grumbling, Ex 16:8; Num 14:27; I Cor 10:10; Phil 2:14, Murmuring Ps 106:25, and Complaining, Lam 3:39)

Besides repenting of this Sin, we are instructed to “Renew our minds, that we may PROVE what the Will of God is: That which is Good, Acceptable, and Perfect.” (Ro 12:1-2)  I think about this: Prove that the Will of God is superior and objectively true over what I experience.

Did I ever think that no matter what is happening, the clear instruction from the Most High is, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; for this IS the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  1 Thes 5:16-18

Somebody is going to go down the road of, “Yeah, but …. what about [this] and [that] and [the other]?  Am I going to give thanks to God for something that the devil obviously did?”

Candidly, I haven’t worked all that out yet, but there are some things that I have gleaned from the Scriptures:

1. God is totally Supreme in all of Creation and Eternity.  No creature is even close (including the angel Lucifer)
2. The eternal conflict (if there is one) is not between the Triune God and Lucifer.  That is Dualism and is a heresy.
3. The seed of conflict originated in Heaven with wicked ambition on the part of Lucifer: “You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven…I will set my throne on high…I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I WILL MAKE MYSELF LIKE THE MOST HIGH.” (Is 14:13-14)
4. The conflict that man is involved in and needs redemption from what originated in Eden: “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…” (Gen 3:4-5a) Note: Keep in mind that God knew this as well before “Let there be light.”
5. Consider the first 3 chapters of Job: Lucifer has to PETITION God for the opportunity to cause mischief, troubles, and harm to Job.  In that PETITION, Lucifer also is given permission to do harm to Job’s children.

So why did I write all of this?  One reason is this stuff is important to get the Gospel straight, to think right about God…and the enemy.

I must remind myself daily of how Supreme and Sovereign in all the Universe is our God.

Prayer:  Father, I so appreciate you popping out this Scripture verse to me today.  I kind of knew this but not from a direct reference.  Always good to have a foundational, objective source.

Love you, Father.  Thank you for loving and caring for me.

AMEN

Psalm 44

Scripture

Vs 1 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:

Vs 3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.

Vs 4 You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob!

Vs 6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.
Vs 7 But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us.
Vs 8 In God we have boasted continually …

Vs 9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us …

Vs 14 You have made us a laughingstock among the peoples.
VS 15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face

Vs 17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you,
and we have not been false to your covenant.
Vs 20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
VS 21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

Vs 23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
Vs 24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?

Vs 26 Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

Observation

This is a despondent, gut-wrenching, mysterious, … yet, ultimately, hopeful Psalm.

The people boldly proclaim what God has done for their people in the past.

They are glad to remember the wonders of God.

And they even humbly recognize that they do not trust their own actions.

They give no credit to themselves for the greatness of their past … their “salvation”.

This was all God’s doing …

God “delights” in His people … and the people “boast” of their God!

Oh, what a wonderful world!!

This is what makes it so bewildering that their current circumstances are so awful.

They know God is fully capable of turning their condition around.

They remember when their enemies were “shamed”.

Why are they now “shamed” and “disgraced”?

Why is God not improving their situation now?

They are almost … maybe even actually, blaming God! … “God it’s your fault!”

The people have not denied God’s covenant, have not forgotten God, have not worshipped foreign gods!

And they know that God knows this … because they know God knows their hearts!

So why?

Their knowledge of who God is, and the state they are currently in, emboldens them to speak bluntly!

“WAKE UP, GOD!!!”

“HELP US!”

“SAVE US FOR YOUR OWN SAKE!”

Application

God can do whatever He pleases … Does this please me?

The first part of that statement is a really easy, simple fact to state … “God can do whatever He pleases.”

The second part is a really hard piece of self-introspection … “Does this please me?”

It’s easy when things are going great to be pleased with how wonderful God is.

But what about when things are going “not so great” … or how about downright awful, and disgraceful?

If I trust the “Sovereign King” when things are great, do I trust Him when they are not?

Well, I will only trust Him, if I trust that He is Good!

I must trust the character of the one who holds my life in His hands if I am to trust Him at ALL times.

I must trust that, in addition to His own name and covenant sake, … He has my good in mind.

He wants me to have “faith like a child” … and He is a good Father.

When I am in an awful place …

What good does God want to form in me?

What good does God want me to know about Him?

And God is so big, and so wonderous, and so sovereign … and so trustworthy …

When I do NOT  understand my circumstances … I can pray with simple words I DO understand!

He can handle my biggest cries and most obnoxious rants …

“WAKE UP GOD!” … “QUIT HIDING FROM ME GOD!” …

“I DON’T WANT TO PLAY HIDE AND GO SEEK ANYMORE, GOD!”

His “steadfast love” … His covenant … is bigger than my biggest rant.

He is trustworthy even in … especially in … mystery.

When I do not know what’s going on around me, I can know He wants what’s best for me.

God can do as He pleases … and this please me!

Prayer

Thank you, God, for your Word

Thank you that you save me for your sake

Deal with me as good Father

Help me, Holy Spirit, to see and understand clearly

Give me your words when I only feel like ranting

In Jesus name,

Amen

Psalm 43:3 – Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them lead me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!

Observation –

The psalmist is praying to God for protection from ungodly enemies.  He is distraught as if God is unaware of his situation.  His prayer is for light, truth from God to shine in the darkness.  He asks to follow the light of the illuminated path towards God!

Application –

We are living in a time in our culture where evil is being celebrated and goodness is being positioned as evil.  This is the upside down secular worldview people are being led to believe.  More than any period in my lifetime, we must draw near to God in word and prayer to be steadfast in our faith.  The prayer from the psalmist is one that I will pray and know was answered in Jesus.  Jesus is the light and in him is no darkness.  Jesus is the only truth in a world full of lies on which I can stand.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your love in sending Jesus to be the light of the world and save me.  Let the power of the Holy Spirit guide me to the light and truth of Jesus.  Guide me to share the gospel with boldness, love and truth to make you known.

Journal Ps 35-40 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.  For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.  He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.” Ps 36:1-4

Observation: The Holy Spirit keeps us informed of the “human condition” and how it works—what it is like and how it is practiced.

Analysis: Sometimes study in the Scriptures has to do with information concerning Doctrines.  In this case, a subset of the Doctrine of Sin.

“All have sinned, all fall short of the Glory of God.” (Ro 3:23) is pretty familiar to most.  This scripture reference is related to the condition of Man, his need before God, and how the Atonement addressed that need.  Most conversations like this fall into the Sovereignty of God category: those things that are all of His decision and will alone.

Every so often He provides a clue about how Sin (evil) germinates and is practiced.

How is Sin (transgression, evil, wrongdoing, misbehavior, etc.) found in wicked people:

• Spoken deep in the heart.
• No fear of God is a key component.
• Self-flattery (subset of pride).
• Secretive, even to himself; has the dark side of the noggin working full time.
• Puts head on pillow and plots (or even imagines) evil.
• Does not intentionally and fiercely rejects/opposes evil and any wicked way.

Writing these down like this frightens me.

Why?  Because this has nothing to do with having faith in the Atonement, that Jesus went to the Cross for my Sin; it has everything to do with what I fight every day in the power of the Holy Spirit.  There is not one point on this list that I don’t flirt with at times—sometimes many times in a day (or night).

And I am not alone…

This Scripture reference has two aspects: It is Mirror work and Window work.  I should be recognizing my own heart, and if I am fooling myself by saying “No application in me” I should be asking the Holy Spirit to check me out.

The Window work aspect is recognizing this is the kind of stuff that happens in people: Men and Women alike.  It is not used in Judgment/Condemnation (for that is God’s province alone) but to understand through discernment in the Holy Spirit what is going on with someone else so that words of testimony can be guided in a godly manner.

The Scriptures are cool and illuminating.  Two-edged sword kind of stuff….

Prayer: Finding jewels in your Word is fun, Father.  It brings joy to my soul.

AMEN