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Day 179: 1 Chronicles 25:1-26:32; John 20:19-21:14 — Some days . . .

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Singers appointed, Israel prepares to praise the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who freed them from Egypt, made a great covenant with them, and gave them a homeland forever, if they would remain His and His alone. Skilled in music, they prepared their best for the worship of the Highest One. The LORD had led them, fought for them, provided for them. David appoints men who would make it their life’s work to prepare praises, songs to teach and to exhort generations to come: Have faith, give loyalty to the Holy One of Israel.

Then we have the fishermen. The passage pictures them as huddled together, trying to decide what to do next. Jesus comes, unexpectedly, quietly, bringing peace. Thomas missed it, would not believe it. Jesus comes again and his presence overwhelms Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” Fishing, let’s go back to what we know best. We have to make a living. Jesus comes again and they do not recognize him at first. “Do you need fish? Is that what you need? Let me help.” Let’s go back to the beginning, remind you of those early days, new, exciting, full of promise. Here is where that song I learned as a child comes back to me, “Fished all night and caught no fishes . . . Cast your net to the other side.”

Such a contrast! Professional singers of a conquering faith and rich tradition. Lone fishermen, outcasts, fearful. Just they and the resurrected One.

We have those days, so disparate. Days of faith so strong, victories so great, blessings, all which lead us to nearly burst with praise and adoration. Then the other days. Alone, dark, beaten down. Then Jesus comes…some days we do not recognize him in the midst of our troubles. He seems so far away, on a distant shore. “Cast your net, ” Jesus says, “I have something for you to do.” Then we know, it is the Master.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Jn. 20:30-31

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Day 178: John 19:38-20:18 — Woman, Why Are You Crying?

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

This week’s Bible reading is very intense. Turn with me to John 19:38-20:18

As I have often told you, it helps me to close my eyes and put myself in the scene. It’s a pretty good way to immerse yourself in the scripture and get a good feel for the emotion. I invite you to do the same. You are there. Jesus has just been crucified. Everything is in disarray. What’s going to happen? Is Jesus really gone? I’d like to concentrate on John 20:10-18

Mary is outside the tomb crying. Jesus’ tomb is empty! His burial clothes are still in the tomb. Surely someone has taken him and moved him! Mary looks up to see two angels seated where Jesus had been. I think it is interesting what they ask her. “Woman, why are you crying?” Of course they knew why she was crying. Then Jesus appears and asks her again, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it that you are looking for?” Mary is so distraught (and rightfully so) that she doesn’t recognize Jesus speaking to her. Instead, she mistakes him for a gardener and asks if he took her Lord. Then he simply says, “Mary.” and she recognizes him. Mary wasn’t expecting Jesus to be alive.

My question to you this morning is this – Have you ever been so upset, so distraught that you failed to recognize Jesus speaking to you? It happens. It happened to Mary. So many times in my life I have been so upset by something that in the hour of great peril or grief, Jesus is there for me and I don’t see Him. Why? Because I rely on myself too much. Because I don’t always seek Him first. Because sometimes I wasn’t expecting Him to be there.

I pray that we all listen and watch for our Lord at all times. He is risen! He left the burial clothes behind! He speaks to you today! Will you see Him?

May God bless you and keep you this week.

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Day 177: John 19:16-37 — Wounded for me

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

Wounded for me, wounded for me,
There on the cross He was wounded for me;
Gone my transgressions, and now I am free,
All because Jesus was wounded for me.

Dying for me, dying for me,
There on the cross He was dying for me;
Now in His death my redemption I see,
All because Jesus was dying for me.

William G. Ovens & Gladys Westcott Roberts
public domain

Jesus on the crossI cannot read today’s New Testament reading without feeling many things — humility at being redeemed by the only One qualified to do so, gratitude in knowing I don’t have to depend on my own righteousness to get me to Heaven, awe at the number of prophecies He fulfilled, thankfulness because of the example He showed by caring for His mother even in His darkest hour.

I cannot read today’s New Testament reading without it being new to me every time. It never gets old — a sad story, yet with a happy ending; a broken human being without a broken bone; the “defeated” who showed He was the victor all along.

I cannot read today’s New Testament reading without being thankful for the many ways in which we are reminded of Jesus’ love for us shown on the cross — from the song quoted above, to the Holy Word itself, to the observance of the Lord’s Supper each and every Sunday, to the way I see Jesus continuing to live in the hearts of my Christian brothers and sisters.

I cannot read today’s New Testament reading without two final thoughts — thank you Jesus! and Maranatha, Lord come quickly!

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Day 176: John 19:15 — “We have no king but Caesar”

Friday, June 25th, 2010

TIberius CaesarWow, what a statement! The chief priests told Pilate that they have “no king but Caesar.” That had to pop the yarmulkes off of a few heads. This is not just a denial of Jesus, but it was to go against their national heritage and against God Himself who was their ultimate King (see Judges 8:23, 1 Samuel 8:7). Power, politics, envy, and hatred can really damage men. I can understand why some of the Jews may not want to accept Jesus as the Messiah. However, I cannot understand a Jew claiming Caesar as his king. We might be reminded of the seven brothers in 2 Maccabees that one by one accepted torture and gory deaths to maintain their allegiance to God over the Seleucid king Antiochus. Their mother was made to watch each one of her sons die, yet, she remained faithful. In 2 Maccabees 7:20-23, it is written, “The mother was especially admirable and worthy of honorable memory. Although she saw her seven sons perish within a single day, she bore it with good courage because of her hope in the Lord. She encouraged each of them in the language of her ancestors. Filled with a noble spirit, she reinforced her woman’s reasoning with a man’s courage, and said to them, ‘I do not know how you came into being in my womb. It was not I who gave you life and breath, nor I who set in order the elements within each of you. Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of humankind and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again, since you now forget yourselves for the sake of his laws.’”

Wow, what a statement! The chief priests missed the boat but this woman is an example of faith. She did not say, “we have no king but Caesar.” What she is saying is that “SHE HAS NO KING BUT GOD!”

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Day 175: John 18:25-27 — “I am not”

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

In my life and I am sure in your lives as well, there have been many times when we have faced enough adversity to consider betraying our Lord. I get Judas, he was all about making a buck but the buck wasn’t worth it in the end. Judas represents evil to me and, well, evil loses. I have done enough evil that I know the difference. It is harder to deal with Peter. Peter’s betrayal was unexpected, Peter was the rock; he was the one who stood up and told Jesus what he thought. He might have been wrong but he didn’t sit in the pew waiting for something to happen. Yet, slowly on the night of Jesus’ betrayal, his conviction was compromised. Slowly and subtlety the example of Jesus’ love, the example of Jesus washing his feet, Jesus’ teaching, and Jesus’ powerful miracles and ministry faded as Peter became self-absorbed with his own protection. Peter was warming himself and then it happened. He was no longer with his Lord. He was alone and the world questioned him if he was a disciple. “I am not,” he answered. Peter had just recently cut a man’s ear off. I mean Peter makes Mike Tyson look wimpy. The strong impetuous Peter is confronted by the man who would know him better than anyone after having his ear cut off. The once earless man asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” What an understatement, of course, he saw Peter and Peter knows it. Peter denies knowing Jesus again and slowly the betrayal comes to full term.

How many times in the dark of night have we wished that we didn’t have the fish symbol on our car? How many times have we gone along with the crowd when we know we shouldn’t? How many times have our faith and convictions slowly eroded from us and we betray our Lord? How many times have we been asked to stand up for our Lord, or called to work in the Kingdom? How many times have we answered, “I am not?” I’m guilty — what about you?

Yet, as Paul Harvey reminds us of the “rest of the story.” Peter came back and so can we. I have faced struggles and so have you. I have compromised my faith and so have you. No matter where you are, there is life after betrayal; there is life after death. We still can have a relationship with Jesus after we have said, “I am not” a disciple of Jesus in words, actions, or thoughts. Come on back — God has left the lights on for us and His name is Jesus!

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Day 174: John 17:6-26 — Pray For Me

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Ever get embarrassed by someone who mentions you in prayer? You think to yourself “I wish they wouldn’t do that.” But it is simply an outpouring of concern for you because of the situation. We don’t mind praying for others, so why then is it that we back away from our name being held up before the Father?

Jesus, in John 17:6-26, spends 20 verses praying about those He loved. It doesn’t seem like they requested this prayer but Jesus thought they would benefit from it. Jesus had spent three years with them and knew them well. He would pray for God’s protection for them because they would be facing many trials without Him present, at least in a physical sense.

Have you ever wondered how it would be to have Jesus Himself pray for you? Wow! Wouldn’t that be something? The Son of God, the creator and sustainer of the universe praying for me. I may not always think God hears me when I pray. But I know God would listen to Jesus. Wouldn’t that be great!
Guess what — read John 17:20-21; He has already done it. Jesus went to His Father in prayer for you and me. How can I possibly forget that and turn away? Sadly, some will, but every time I read this passage I think “Wow! He really does love me.”

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Day 173: John 16:16-17:5 — Eternal Life

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

John 17:3 — How many of us have memorized this verse? It is short and to the point but has a depth that will consume a life-time of meditation.

Eternal is without beginning or end but is that all? Does it also speak to quality? What is quantity without quality? This verse comes on the heels of John 16:33 where Jesus spoke about difference in quality of life now and in the hereafter. Jesus came to bring us peace yet He acknowledged there would be trouble in this life.

I’m looking forward to both quantity and quality. As I age, my body tells me to slow down but my spirit wants to go, go, go. When I finally possess eternal life with my Savior in heaven, body and spirit will be in harmony, and I will be able to give glory to God without ceasing.

These thoughts help me hold on during the troublesome times. I pray they help you do the same.

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Day 172: 1 Chronicles 9:1-11:3; John 15:18-16:15 — “…to keep you from falling away.”

Monday, June 21st, 2010

The opening lines of 1 Chron. 9:1 and the end of chapter 10 remind the Jews returning from exile that unfaithfulness, breach of faith–treachery against God and the covenant–resulted in the exile of Judah to Babylon, and was the end of Saul’s one king dynasty. After all of the time and effort to list the people of God, to keep track and lose none of them, the writer reveals an irony of the relationship of God and man: He is always finding us to bless and preserve us. We are always fighting His wisdom and blessing, running away to descend to a pit of despair from which we cry out to Him, and it all starts again. The bright spot for the chronicler is David, the son of Jesse. He begins the eternal dynasty. What a wonderful encouragement to those reading and listening. They fell, but do not have to stay down. They left God but He never left them. He brought them back for a greater, wonderful purpose. Now comes their time to choose. What will they do? Will they be faithful? Will they endure? They try to do it on their own, eventually leaving God in a way less obvious but just as destructive. They will not consult the witches as Saul, yet neither will they consult their God, rather they will murder Him.

Jesus, son of David, encourages His small band that even though He must leave and the world will hate them, they will not be left alone. Another irony ensues here. This time it seems that God is leaving, an apparent abandonment. Worse yet, He says that they will be hated, even pursued. Yet Jesus must leave so that the great, pervasive, and perhaps even closer presence of God in His Spirit will come to them. What will they do? Will they be faithful? Will they endure? They do.

Paul reminds us that the things which were written in the past were written for our learning, to help us stay strong, to help us endure, Rom. 15:4. The chronicler tells the returning exiles, and tells us, we have a great and magnificent heritage as the people of God. John tells his readers, during a time of spiritual warfare, that they are not alone–although it may seem that way. They have part in the great plan and work of God to redeem the world of men, to enter a Promised Land greater than all. Today we will choose. What will we do? Will we be faithful? Will we endure?

Prayer: Holy, Righteous Father, in Jesus’ name we kneel to You. In this day we choose faith and trust in You. Help us by Your Spirit to live with confidence in Your great plan, and promises, to know Your presence, and to do Your will.

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Day 171: John 14:25-15:17 — Love A Little Stronger…

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

“If you don’t remember anything else that I’ve said, remember this…” Have you ever sat in a lecture that included this phrase? Maybe it was something your parents told you as you were running out the door to go with friends. I’m sure you’ve heard it. It is a way to get people to focus, to pay attention.

I’d like to concentrate on John 15:9-17. In this passage, Jesus wants to make sure he gets his point across about loving one another. Two times in this short passage he emphasizes his command to love each other. Got it. Point taken. Or is it?

Why is it so hard to love each other? Because we’re human and we’re weak. We let petty differences get in the way. We want to point out others’ mistakes or shortcomings. Maybe someone rubs us the wrong way. I have struggled in my life in forgiving people who have wronged me or people I love. But that’s part of love, isn’t it? Forgiveness? I say that I love so many people in my life but do I truly love them as Christ has loved me? I’m afraid that I’m woefully short in that area.

As you go into next week, I hope that you will re-read John 15:1-17 and focus on your relationship with the people in your life. Jesus gave us a pretty straight-forward commandment — love each other. It is my prayer that we can all love deeper than we think we’re capable of.

May God bless you and keep you this week!

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Day 169: 1 Chronicles 5:1-26, John 13:18-38 — Shoutout

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Today’s passage in 1 Chronicles 5:1-18 is what in modern day language might be considered a “shoutout”. It’s like when you call up a radio station to wish someone a happy birthday and have their name read aloud over the air. Or when you put their name on the scoreboard at a sporting event. Here is a list of names of the descendants of the sons of Israel. While I realize they were important to the Hebrew people, it can be hard to read the long, seemingly pointless genealogies. But I like to look at passages like this in another way. Imagine that the creator of the universe mentioned you in his instruction book to his children. In a sense, he’s giving you a “shoutout”. That’s quite an honor. The point is that whether these people did good or evil or nothing more notable than being born to someone else who was mentioned, God knew their names. God knows my name. He knows who I am. Just like he knew who each of these people was. He’s not too busy running the universe that he can’t take just a moment and think about me.

In return do we ever give God a “shoutout”? Do those around us know the name of God? In John 13:35 Jesus clearly tells us how we can reciprocate: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” When we choose to love those around us, we’re spreading the name of Jesus around and honoring him.

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