Humility- the ABC’s

Always seek God’s rest for the other person’s soul  

(There remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for the people of God) (Hebrews 4:9)

Beware of assumptions 

(Do not judge lest you be judged) (Matt. 7:1)

Care enough to speak the truth in love 

(Ephesians 4:15)

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened

And I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me

For I am meek and lowly in heart

And you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

(Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus wants me to learn meekness - 

so I will go to Him in times of distress or sin.

Jesus wants me to learn meekness - 

so that others can find rest; not in me, but in Him.

Love to read - read to love

Bible study:  

Keep a notebook handy.  Always read a text within its context; not in isolation.  (We'd never read any book by just picking out a phrase or sentence and think we understand, without the larger context).

Some Bible verses are direct commands: "Do not commit adultery."  Other verses lead us to God's principles about living: " Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  God wants us to use our minds; to exercise both our liberty and our responsibility in the framework of loving Him, first and most of all.

A few incomplete practical pointers...

People- who is included in the passage? Is someone speaking?  Is someone listening?

Place- are there any place-names?  What has taken place there before?  

What is the passage’s place in the BIG story of salvation and the gospel? Are there any words/phrases that point to time, history-when something has happened?

Parallels- are there other passages that deal with the same subject matter?

Praise-  is there anything mentioned about the character of God?

Prayer- is there something to be learned about prayer?  Something to pray about?

Praxis-  what must I practically do, after having studied the passage?

Ponder- what can I meditate on throughout the day?

Genesis 1:1

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth"

People- There were none, in the beginning!  God was there- the Father and the Son,(Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was there; pre-incarnate.  He had not yet condescended to being born.  We are created beings.  The Creator is greater than us; than me.  Life is God-centered, not me-centered. 

Place- The heavens and the earth. This opening verse is an introduction to the entire Bible.  Like any good book, the first line is of vital importance. The next verses go on to expand on each day  of creation.  We DO live in a space-time-matter continuum. Before this point, there was no time.  There is inherent value in creation because of the Creator.  

Parallels- The theme of creation is found throughout the Bible.  Those who put their trust in Jesus Christ are called a "new creation." The opening words are used by John in the gospel of John 1:1 and in his first letter:  1John1:1.  Why does John begin this way?  What does it tell us about Jesus, who was there "in the beginning?"  

Praise- My God is an amazing creator!  Our first introduction is knowing Him as the Creator.  There must be some significance to this: an artist creates, with something in mind.  The artist has a right to name their creation, to shape it as they see fit and to have it used in a specific way.  God, as Creator, has the right to... create what He wants, and to create it for a purpose- His purpose-to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Prayer- Thank you, God, for the self-evident beauty, majesty and glory in your creation

Praxis- Pointing people to the Creator is the most exciting and the most lovely thing I can ever do.  Taking care of this astounding planet gives honour to the Creator.

Ponder- With whom can I share this verse today?  As a "new creation," am I growing and maturing and bearing good fruit?  How can I be more careful about taking care of the planet?

I've got to admit- just going through this verse has given me tons of things to think about.  Sometimes, my study leads me to more questions than answers; but that leads me to delve even deeper into an inexhaustible book.  

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Sweet Fruit

But the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control

(Galatians 5:22)

Fruit- harvest, tasty, useful, lovely, ripe, mature

Spirit- Holy, God

Is- singular, present tense

It is not too much to ask for - the demonstration of this fruit.  This fruit of the Spirit.  This fruit that is written into the life of a Christian with the imprimatur of God.  This fruit that is most vividly understood in relationship.  This fruit that is so characteristic of God Himself.

“He who believes in me, as the Scripture said: “From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.  But He spoke of the Spirit…”(John 7:38, 39a)

When I meet someone who is loving, I am bound to find there- in them- joy, peace, patience… it’s really a package deal.  How humbling and yet how encouraging.  God wants to bear fruit in our lives; in my life.  It is, after all, His fruit.  Not much room for sour-faced, red-angry, belligerent character.  No room for arrogance. Or pride.  Or jealousy.  Plenty of room for growth and maturity.

As the hymn-writer says:

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.

Melt me.  Mold me.  Fill me.  Use me.

Spirit of the Living God.

Fall fresh on me.

I have to ask myself- is the fruit I am bearing tasty, ripe, mature, lovely, useful?  Will the people I relate to tomorrow be able to see Christ in me?

Because it's Him, it's possible.

Leader-in-waiting

Leader-in-waiting

So there they were.  All the Israelites.  Waiting.  Waiting for Joshua, with Jericho looming in front of them.  Echoes of Moses and the Red Sea resonated in the hearts of this next generation, as they walked over dry ground where the River Jordan had just been overflowing its banks.  They had encouraged Joshua to be strong and very courageous.  They acknowledged him as the new leader, even before the Jordan River parted before their very eyes.

And then Joshua met "the captain of the host of the Lord."

"And he fell on his face to the earth and bowed down and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?'  And the captain of the Lord's host said to Joshua,

"Remove your sandals from your feet,

for the place where you are standing is holy."  

And Joshua did so.  (Joshua 5:14,15)

Why this encounter?

When Moses was commissioned, he was told to take off his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground.  It was a reminder that, ultimately, he was standing before a holy God. Joshua needed this same commissioning before the mission.  Indeed, how could Joshua serve unless he was sent?  He, too, needed to understand that there is always a greater purpose than just the one at hand.  He was no longer a leader-in-waiting.  

He was standing on holy ground.

Then came the capture of Jericho.

All that marching.  Every day.  For seven days. 

Israel had at least 40,000 armed men.(Joshua 4:13).  It was quite a procession!

And while God had already told Joshua that the city was given into his hand,

Joshua made some strategic decisions within the sovereign will of God.  God had told him that they should shout only after the long blast of the trumpet.  

“But Joshua commanded the people, saying: You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard; nor let a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I tell you, “Shout!”  Then you shall shout!”  (Joshua 6: 10).

 Joshua's personal responsibilities dove-tailed wonderfully with the sovereign will of God.    Joshua understood the bigger picture - God's holiness displayed to the nations.  But he also had liberty to lead, under God's sovereign purposes. 

He was standing on holy ground.

God had given Joshua a personal footnote to be added to all of His promises.  A tangible reminder of God's presence with him.  

Standing on holy ground.

I pray for pastors-  that they would remember that they are standing on holy ground.

 A reminder of the depth and responsibility of their calling,

and a reminder that our Holy God is with them.

A Scarred Beauty

Marred beauty restored by scarred beauty. 

We are made new. Forgiven.

By the hands that were riven

To the splintered wood.

Feet forever testifying

To the driven nails.

Head forever marked

Scribed thorn against flesh.

Side forever gashed.

Sword-etched testimony

Of blood spilled.

Life given away

So we might truly live.

Thank you,  Jesus.

The Wilderness ~ A Conflicted Place

In the wilderness

Some pretty significant events happened in the wilderness…

Adam and Eve were sent out into the wilderness, because of their sin.

Hagar was in the wilderness, twice:

  She fled to the wilderness because Sarai treated her harshly.  

  The second time, Sarai told Abraham to send her away, with Ishmael.

     Both times, the angel of the Lord appeared to her, promising descendants.

Moses was forty years in the wilderness, and then met God at the burning bush.

The Israelites spent forty years of learning hard lessons, in the wilderness.

Elijah was in the wilderness, twice:

   Commanded by God to go to the wilderness, where he was fed by blackbirds.

     Fled to the wilderness and wished to die.

John the Baptist came out of the wilderness to the River Jordan.

Jesus came out of the River Jordan and went into the wilderness.

Paul did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, but went away to Arabia.

Sin is the greatest wilderness of all. 

When we face the dearth in our own souls

and look to the cross-

that is when Jesus will rescue us.

 

But the wilderness is also a place of refining, testing and victory.

Bewildered?  Afraid? Waiting?

Jesus will meet you there.  Right there.

Sometimes, it’s only in the wilderness that He can get our attention.

And then He sends us out.

Elijah kept serving.

John started preaching.

Jesus set His face to the cross.

And I, I am forever grateful.

Jesus took on the wilderness of sin

To set me free from it.  

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus was tempted, tried and triumphant.

The Beach

Sleeping at the Beach

Cold watermelon dripping with sweetness.

Drowsy head on pillowed towel.

The warm sun; my blanket

While ocean waves play background music

And breezes evoke a sweet lullaby.

Sleeping at the beach.

We could never have even imagined something as beautiful as the ocean on a hot sunny day.

Only the Creator could create such a tapestry.  

A feast for all of our senses.

Thank you, Jesus.