Godly Ruthlessness - March 31 Readings: Deuteronomy 13-14, Luke 4:16–44, Psalms 40:7–13, Proverbs 8:22–24

Links to March 31 Readings: Deuteronomy 13-14, Luke 4:16–44, Psalms 40:7–13, Proverbs 8:22–24

Deuteronomy 13:6-18 commands that those who go after other gods must be treated without mercy, that the people of God must be ruthless in their dealings with idolaters. The words seem harsh to our modern ears, so steeped in tolerance, but they are the words of God nonetheless. Israel was commanded to rid themselves of anyone who worshiped a god other than Yahweh.

We are not a theocracy and we do not have the death penalty for offenses such as these anymore, but it is still right that we approach idolatry in our own hearts with ruthlessness. I must be as ruthless toward this sin in my heart as Israel was to be towards idolaters in their midst.

Of course, I never practice the kind of physical idolatry that Israel did - I've never bowed down to a Buddha or any of the Hindu gods or goddesses. I do not worship Baal. But that does not mean that I do not struggle with idolatry. Idolatry is putting anything ahead of my affection for and loyalty to God. He demands that I love him with all my heart and if I try to divide my affections it is offensive to God.

Daily, I need to examine my own heart. What is my passion? What moves my heart? What am I living for? If the answer to these questions is anything other than Jesus Christ, I am an idolater and I need to practice godly ruthlessness on my own heart.

Tear down the idols and burn them, Dave!

Father, my heart is too often divided in its attention and affection, too often focused on the wrong things. May the love of your Son be the passion of my heart every day. 

Through the Fire - March 30 Readings: Deuteronomy 12, Luke 4:1–15, Psalm 40:1–6, Proverbs 8:20–21

Links to March 30 Readings: Deuteronomy 12, Luke 4:1–15, Psalm 40:1–6, Proverbs 8:20–21

Luke 4:14 tells us that Jesus headed into the area of Galilee to begin his public ministry, full of the power of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity.

That is good news for us. Jesus operated in the power of the Holy Spirit - the same Spirit who dwells in every believer. Jesus did not simple rely on his own divine nature to accomplish great things for God, but on the fullness of the Spirit who was working through him 

I so long for the fullness of the Spirit, the power working through me in the lives of others, to experience the power of the one who worked through Jesus himself. 

But it is important to note that verse 14 follows the 40 days, described in verse 1-13, in which he passed though the fires of temptation. It was only after the crucible of trial that he went out in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. 

After 40 days of fasting, he was hungry and Satan tempted him to use his power for himself, to turn stones to bread for his own food. He reminded Satan that it was not bread alone that fed the human soul, that the Word of God is our true bread. 

He took Jesus to a high place and showed him the kingdoms of the world. All Jesus had to do was bow down to Satan and he would be given all these kingdoms. Jesus refused to sell his soul and reminded Satan that we must worship God alone. 

Finally, Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple (likely the high corner pictured here at the southeastern corner of the Temple Mount). He tempted him to display his own glory selfishly, to cast himself off the high place with the knowledge that angels would stop his fall.  

Jesus refused to test God and Satan fled in defeat. He had tempted Adam and Eve to great effect but now his wiles failed and Jesus stood in victory. 

And after that, he went in the power of the Spirit to Galilee. 

Here's my problem: I want the glory of the Spirit's fullness without the crucible of trial, hardship and rejection. I want the power with the pain, the purity without the process of purification. It just doesn't happen that way. But seldom do we experience the glory of verse 14 without passing through the crucible of verses 1-13. 

Father, purify my heart. May I draw near to you, resist the devil, and walk in the power of your Spirit. 

He Earned It - March 29 Readings: Deuteronomy 11, Luke 3:23–38, Psalm 39:7–13, Proverbs 8:17–19

Links to March 29 Readings:  Deuteronomy 11, Luke3:23–38, Psalm 39:7–13, Proverbs 8:17–19

Why should I obey God? Why should I love him? Why should I turn my back on my own desires, my own ambitions, my own will, and give myself wholly and completely to God. The Israelites asked themselves this question repeatedly. Why should we love and serve the Lord? Why can't we be like all the nations around us?

God answered this question clearly in Deuteronomy 11. The chapter begins with a call to love God and to demonstrate that love through obedience. True love for God is evidenced by a submissive, obedient heart.

“Therefore, love the Lord your God and always keep His mandate and His statutes, ordinances, and commands." Deuteronomy 11:1

Moses then explains clearly why Israel was obligated to love God. 

His greatness, strong hand, and outstretched arm; His signs and the works He did in Egypt to Pharaoh king of Egypt and all his land; what He did to Egypt’s army, its horses and chariots, when He made the waters of the Red Sea flow over them as they pursued you, and He destroyed them completely; what He did to you in the wilderness until you reached this place; and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when in the middle of the whole Israelite camp the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing with them. Your own eyes have seen every great work the Lord has done. Deuteronomy 11:2-7 

Israel had witnessed the glory, goodness and power of God on their behalf and that obligated them to loving obedience. God had earned their love. He had stretched out his hand to deliver them from Egypt, had preserved and protected them in the wilderness and now was going to give them the Promised Land. God had also disciplined those who sinned against God in their midst.

God's mighty hand of power on behalf of Israel was so awesome that Israel was obligated to love him back. 

It is amazing that God want our love. He is self-existent, not dependent on anyone or anything. He needs nothing because he is everything! But yet, in spite of all that, he desires his people to love him with all their hearts and souls and might. 

And he has earned that love. Not only did he create us by the word of his mouth but he gave his own Son as the payment for our sins. By the Blood of the Cross he redeemed us. He sealed us with the Holy Spirit who not only guarantees our inheritance eternally but also empowers us daily to live for Christ. 

How could I not love a God who has done all of that for me? How could I even consider serving myself or anyone or anything else after God's mighty display of power and grace in my life. He has earned by love and devotion. Too often I fail to give it, but it is his right because of all he has done for me. 

Father, you loved me eternally and sent your son to purchase my redemption. No one loves me like that. That you for your grace and mercy, for all your love and goodness. 

Arrogant Beggars? March 28 Readings: Deuteronomy 9-10, Luke 3:1–22, Psalm 39:1-6, Proverbs 8:15–16

Links to March 28 Readings: Deuteronomy 9-10, Luke 3:1–22, Psalm 39:1-6, Proverbs 8:15–16

Why did God call Israel to be his own? Was it because they were better than other nations, because their armies were stronger or their people smarter? Were they just simply more righteous, more godly than other nations? God answers that question in no uncertain terms in Deuteronomy 9:1-6.

He begins the passage with a wonderful promise - that he was going to give them the land, chasing the powerful enemies out.

But understand that today the Lord your God will cross over ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will devastate and subdue them before you. You will drive them out and destroy them swiftly, as the Lord has told you. Deuteronomy 9:3

But then he gave Israel a warning. 

When the Lord your God drives them out before you, do not say to yourself, ‘The Lord brought me in to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.’ Deuteronomy 9:4

Do not fall prey to unwarranted arrogance, God admonished them. It would not be the righteousness of Israel that would be the root of their conquest of Canaan. It would be the power of God. In fact, God goes a step farther in verse 6. 

Understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. Deuteronomy 9:6

Israel was a stiff-necked, rebellious and sinful nation, chosen by God's grace and kept by God's power. They were spiritual beggars who only succeeded due to the mercy of God. But too often they became arrogant, looking down on other nations as if it was their own goodness that won them favor with God. When God did amazing things among them they often took credit and acted as if they had accomplished it by their own strength.

I am prone to that same flaw, arrogantly forgetting that I am just a spiritual beggar who has received life by God's mercy alone. God saw no merit, no righteousness, no inner qualities that caused God to love me. In fact, like Israel I am rebellious, self-centered, wayward - all sorts of sinful things.

But God has worked in me, changed me, used me in his work. I am all too prone to behave like Israel and take credit for what God does in me. I am always a beggar, living on the mercy of God, but sometimes I forget that and become an arrogant beggar.

God's warning to Israel is also his warning to us. "I did not choose you because of your greatness, but because of mine! I will display my power through you but you must never rob me of my glory or take credit for my amazing deeds."

Father, I am a beggar - a sinner unworthy of your love and mercy. But you have blessed this beggar with life and hope and all good things. Forgive me for when I have credited myself with your goodness, when my arrogance has caused me to forget my beggarliness. Thank you for all you have done. 

Words That Wound - March 27 Readings: Deuteronomy 7-8, Luke 2:22–52, Psalm 38:16–22, Proverbs 8:12–14

Links to March 27 Readings: Deuteronomy 7-8, Luke 2:22–52, Psalm 38:16–22, Proverbs 8:12–14

Words are like knives; the cut deep and leave gaping wounds in our hearts. Maybe it was a parent who poured out their anger and frustration on their children with cruel words. Perhaps a friend you thought would stand with you whose words slice deep instead. Maybe someone finds a flaw, a weakness, a struggle and uses it to cut you up; or perhaps they make up their dagger-words with no regard to truth. But what all of us have in common is that we have been wounded by words from friends, family, fellow-believers and others.

Whoever made up the statement "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me," had lost touch with all reality.

From the moment that David came to the palace, from the time he stood toe to toe with Goliath, David was the subject of lies, insults, betrayal and evil plots. Men whom he had never wronged determined to destroy him, using every shameful tactic in the book. I'm sure it hurt David as much as it hurts you and me when someone skewers us with unkindness.

But David had learned the secret of dealing with the savage words, the wounds of betrayal. He took them to God, pouring out his heart asking for God's strength and protection.

In Psalm 38, David was repenting of his sin; doing so in a beautiful and powerful way. Of course, whenever we walk in sin we give our enemies weapons to use against us; ammunition for their attacks. But David was not afraid, once he had repented, to call to God for help from these attacks. Our faults and our sins are serious, and must be dealt with, but they do not give permission to others to verbally abuse us nor do they negate God's protection on us when we are attacked.

For I said, “Don’t let them rejoice over me—those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble.”For I am about to fall,and my pain is constantly with me.So I confess my guilt;I am anxious because of my sin.But my enemies are vigorous and powerful. Psalm 38:16-19

Take your burdens to the Lord. Sometimes people will unfairly attack you and hurt you, but you can take that to the Lord. Sometimes they will use your faults and failings as ammunition for those attacks, but still you can go to the Lord. He is our help, our strength, our comfort. Yes, he will confront us with our sin when necessary, but he will never condemn us. Nor will he stand by idly while others condemn us unjustly. 

Lord, do not abandon me;my God, do not be far from me.Hurry to help me, Lord, my Savior. Psalm 38:21-22

God will never abandon his children - not even when we have messed up royally as David did. He was on his face repenting here, but he still knew that he could call to God for protection and help. 

Our Father in heaven is an excellent father!

Father, I have given my enemies so much ammunition through the years. But I thank you that you are faithful, that there is no condemnation in you! You bring me to repentance to restore me, to lift me up. Help me to always walk in humility, but also in the confidence that you are my rock and my salvation!

"With ALL My Heart" March 26 Readings: Deuteronomy 6, Luke 2:1–21, Psalm 38:9–15, Proverbs 8:10–11

Links to March 26 Readings: Deuteronomy 6, Luke 2:1–21, Psalm 38:9–15, Proverbs 8:10–11     

Deuteronomy 6 is one of the foundational passages of the Old Testament. It begins with the "Shema Y'israel" (Hear, O Israel), in 6:4 and follows with what Jesus identified as the greatest commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Then in the next few chapters Israel is told how to live our that devotion, commanded to eschew idolatry of any form, to trust God against all enemies who would try to keep them from the work of God and to expect that the God who saved them from Egypt would establish them in the Promised Land. 

But the passage roots in the first command, to love God with all of our heart and soul and might. Nothing is to come between us and our devotion to God – the key in all of our struggles in life. 

It is easy to become obsessed with the spiritual battles we face. We focus on how to avoid lust, or stop losing our tempers, or break a habit, or (in my case) fight obesity. And we should face sin in the power of Christ and oppose it. But there are two things we need to remember as we engage in these battles. 

First, we do not have to fight sin to gain approval with God. We are accepted in Christ - fully, unreservedly and eternally. We seek to please him not to gain his approval but because he has already given us his approval in Christ. We love because he first loved us. This is a powerful fuel for our struggle. 

Second, all of our struggle with sin root in this battle - seeking to love God with all of our hearts, souls and might. Do I love God more than my food? Do I love God more than my addiction, more than my greed, more than my pride? Do I love him more than my hurts and bitterness? All of life is a battle to live out the truth of the Greatest Commandment. And it is a battle we ought to engage daily - seeking, struggling to focus all of our hearts and minds on Christ, desiring hearts and minds that are pure in their love for him. 

Thank God that we are accepted in Christ, because we always fall short of that noble goal. No matter how much I love God, I can always love him a little more, draw a little closer to him and seek him a little more fully. In the meantime, as this battle ensues, as we wage war against the flesh to love God with all our hearts, it is comforting to know that we are accepted in Christ even in our failure. 

That is where we live our lives - hovering between the ideal (pursuing God with all our hearts) and the real (our divided hearts). In the "in-between" we must remember these two truths. 

1) My highest calling is to love God with all my heart. Every other struggle or challenge in life is part of that battle - to love God.
2) In the midst of that struggle, and even in the midst of my failure, God's love for us is unshakable and eternal. 

In that comfort, we go forth to battle, we seek to love God a little more today than yesterday. We look forward to that day when we will see him face to face to our hearts will be pure in love for him. 

Father, I do love you. Help me to love you more. Purify my heart that it may only beat for you! And I thank you that even in my failures you never abandon me. 

The Importance of Repentance - March 25 Readings: Deuteronomy 5, Luke 1:57–80, Psalm 38:1–8, Proverbs 8:7–9

Links to March 25 Readings:  Deuteronomy 5, Luke1:57–80, Psalm 38:1–8, Proverbs 8:7–9

Unfortunately, not only was King David the greatest of Israel's kings, but he was also a famous sinner. Bathsheba. Uriah. We all know those names. Counting the fighting men - another sin that had terrible consequences. Even as a man after God's own heart, he sinned and he sinned big. But while he committed public sins that caused great damage, there is one more thing that the Bible makes clear about him. He may have been the greatest repenter of all time. We all know Psalm 51, his passionate plea for forgiveness after his sin with Bathsheba. But Psalm 38 is another example of the depths of his repentance.

When David repented, there was no justification or rationalization. He didn’t say, “I was wrong, but so was he.” He did not argue that his sins were not so bad in the grand scheme of things. He just got on his face before God, admitted the wickedness of his deeds and called out for cleansing.

In verses 3 and 4, he admits that his sins weigh heavy on his heart. 

There is no health in my body because of Your indignation; there is no strength in my bones because of my sin.

He recognizes the devastating consequences of sin. As a wise man once said, “Sin takes you farther than you want to go. Sin holds you longer than you want to stay. Sin costs you more than you want to pay.” Whatever the sin was, I’m sure it looked attractive, fun, appealing. But now, the full weight of guilt and suffering was coming down on him and he did not like it one bit.

But David did not justify or blame or compare or hide or any of that. He stood before God and he repented. He admitted his sin, rejected it and turned to God for healing. 

We often think of Christian success as avoiding sin, and certainly each of us ought to stand in the Spirit's power to resist temptation and say no to sin. But in this world, sin is a reality in the lives of each of us, even committed believers. The key is not to pretend we do not sin, but to face it, repent of it, turn from it and hate it as God does. 

David did that. So must we.  

But there is very good news. Though our reading for today does not get there, later in Psalm 38 David expresses his confidence in God’s forgiveness and restoration. God will take away the stain of sin from us and strengthen us to walk in power and victory. Our God is mercy, gracious and good to repentant sinners. 

Thank God.

Lord God, I stand before you now and remove all my artifice and pretension. I have sinned against you daily, indulging myself when I should have walked in the fullness of the Spirit. I feel the bitter fruit of that sin every day. But like my namesake, the king, I want to be a man of repentance. I confess my sin to you and ask you to help me to overcome by the power that dwells in me. Thank you for the Blood that made forgiveness possible and the Spirit who empowers renewal. 

Forgetful Followers - March 24 Readings: Deuteronomy 3-4, Luke 1:39–56, Psalms 37:36–40, Proverbs 8:5–6

Links to March 24 Readings: Deuteronomy 3-4, Luke 1:39–56, Psalms 37:36–40, Proverbs 8:5–6

Deuteronomy is a favorite book of mine, because I take a lot of teasing about how often I "review" and repeat my teachings. The whole book is one long review. Moses, at the end of his life, just before he turns his leadership role over to Joshua and his life comes to an end, reviews the story of God's grace to Israel and the law that was told in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers.

There is a reason why God, through Moses, gave the book of Deuteronomy, why he reviewed the story of his grace to these people. God's people have a tendency to forget his goodness. We have short spiritual memory. Look at the warning in Deuteronomy 4:9.

Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.

The first thing the Serpent tried to do in the Garden is to convince Adam and Eve to forget the goodness of God. God had given them a vast array of tasty fruit. The Serpent got them to focus on the one tree they couldn't have and to forget God's goodness. 

Many of the sacrifices, ceremonies and rituals of the Old Testament had one purpose - to help Israel remember what God had done. Jesus also gave us a ceremony to repeat, "in remembrance of me" - to help us memorialize his death on our behalf. 

That is one of the key reasons we read God's Word, pray, and worship is simply to remember. 

Father, may I never forget your goodness to me. May I remember the Cross, where you purchased my soul, the Empty Tomb which gives me life and the power of the Spirit which empowers me. Help me to remember, every day, what you have done. 

The Secret of Success - March 23 Readings: Deuteronomy 1-2, Luke 1:26–38, Psalm 37:29–35, Proverbs 8:2–4

Links to March 23 Readings: Deuteronomy 1-2, Luke 1:26–38, Psalm 37:29–35, Proverbs 8:2–4 

Imagine this young girl in Nazareth going about her day, as she had every other day, with no expectation that her life would be anything but normal and dull. Her greatest hope was that she might raise a family and experience a little joy along the way. Then, one day, it all changed dramatically. The archangel Gabriel appeared to her and gave her some important news. She was going to give birth to the Son of God, the Messiah, long-anticipated by Israel. 

Gabriel described this baby in glowing terms, in Luke 1:32-33. 

"He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David.
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and His kingdom will have no end."

Mary was boggled by all of this. That is not hard to imagine, is it? She asked a simple but important question. How was this going to happen to a girl who was a virgin, who had never been with a man? The angel explained how it was going to happen. 

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.Therefore, the holy One to be bornwill be called the Son of God.”

God was going to take care of it all, by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

That is when Mary learned two principles that are the secret to success in God's kingdom. You do not have to be good looking or thin (hallelujah) to be significant in the Lord's work. You do not have to be able to sing or have any other talent. You do not have to be able to preach, you need not be famous. But there are two principles Mary learned here that make all the difference. 

1) She learned that there are no limits with God. 

It's impossible, she said. I'm a virgin. This cannot happen. But then Gabriel shared the first lesson with her. 

"For nothing will be impossible with God." 

God is not limited by what limits us. We often think and plan based on the possible, but God works in the realm of the impossible. In our church are several "impossible" health situations, "impossible" financial situations, "impossible" family situations - a lot of hurting people. There's nothing we can do and so we assume that nothing can be done. But the God of heaven has no limits. He fulfills his purposes and accomplishes his will, regardless of the obstacles that stand in the way. 

We need to learn to live on the basis of what God can do not simply think about what we cannot do Whatever he purposes he does. We must remember daily the awesome power of the God we serve. 

I have been in far too many church meetings (thankfully, not at SHBC) in which the tacit assumption was that God was going to do absolutely nothing about whatever we discussed. Too many believers live their lives with the stunning assumption that God is distant, disconnected and disabled - that he will do nothing. 

The successful believer realizes that the God of heaven has no limits, nothing is impossible for him - not the Virgin Birth, not the problems and obstacles you face. 

2) She learned who was boss.

Gabriel dropped this bomb on her, totally changing the course of her life. What was Mary's request to this?

“I am the Lord’s slave. May it be done to me according to your word.”

She realized who the rightful Lord, the boss of her life, really was. She was a servant of the Living God and his will for her life was her desire for her life.

The will of God is often difficult. He calls us to the front lines of spiritual warfare, to sacrifice, even to suffer. The idea that God's will is easy and fun is not something one can discern from reading the Bible. But regardless of the hardships involved, serving God is the secret to spiritual success.

Whatever you will, Lord. Wherever you send me. Whenever you call. "I am the servant of the Lord."

Combining these two concepts, what is the secret to spiritual success?

Obedient service to an all-powerful God. 

That is what Mary learned. That is what we must learn.

Nothing is impossible for you, Lord. I give my life to you, to serve your will, not mine, to serve your purposes, not my own ambitions, to live for your glory and not my own. 

The Battle Begins - March 22 Readings: Numbers 33-34, Luke 1:1–25, Psalm 37:22–28, Proverbs 8:1

Links to March 22 Readings: Numbers 33-34, Luke 1:1–25, Psalm 37:22–28, Proverbs 8:1

I remember the Billy Graham movies of my youth. They were the best Christian movies around in those days and they tended to follow a pattern. The characters were involved in struggles and trials, their lives in uproar, until in the climax of the movie they would attend a Billy Graham crusade and go forward at the end. The impression you were left with was that the battles of life would be resolved when you gave your life to Christ.

The opposite is actually true. Repenting of your sin and trusting Christ for salvation is not the end of spiritual warfare but the beginning of it. God has provided salvation for us through Christ. He seals us with the Spirit and sets in motion the process of our redemption that is culminated in eternity.

But that does not mean the battle is over. Far from it. Salvation is not when the battle is over; it is when the battle begins.

God gave the Promised Land to Israel as their possession, their inheritance, a gift of grace. But in Numbers 33:50-56, he told them that when they entered the land and received his gift they would find enemies there. The land God gave them was inhabited with powerful, hostile and determined enemies who had no plans to leave Canaan. Israel was going to have to go to war to free the land from the enemies inside.

God has given me a promise as well. This sinful body, this deceptive heart, this depraved mind - they are all destined for glory. One day my mind will be entirely renewed, my heart will be rooted in truth and my body will be glorified and perfected. That is the gift of God given to me through the work of Christ and accomplished in me by the Holy Spirit. God promised all of this to me at the moment I believed.

But the moment of belief is the beginning of the battle, not the end. My mind is inhabited by lies and these lies will resist God's truth with all their might. The renewal of my mind, replacing Satan's lies with God's truth, is a daily battle, one that will continue until the day I see Jesus face to face. My heart deceives me and tells me that I cannot follow God, that I must give in to temptation. My emotions and my will are under the influence of those lies and they will not give up that influence easily. My body is drawn daily to the sins of the flesh and it will be no easy battle to gain the Spirit's fruit of self-control and walk in obedience.

Yes, I have the promise of Christ's redemption, but the battle to live out that redemption day by day will be intense. My duty, today and every day, is clear.

In Numbers 33:51-52, God gave instructions to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the land.

Tell the Israelites: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, destroy all their stone images and cast images, and demolish all their high places.

Go to war. Drive out the inhabitants. Get rid of them from the land.

Those are our orders as well. We have been redeemed by Christ and destined for glory, but today we are at war. We battle against our own minds, our hearts, our wills, and our bodies and the deceit, the sin, the lust, the greed, the pride and every evil inhabitant within. We must come against them in the power of the Holy Spirit, taking the two-edged Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to destroy those vile things that dwell within us.

Praise God, in Christ, not only do we have a glorious future, but we can also have a victorious presence.

And so can you!

Father, thank you for the glorious future you have prepared for me in Christ. But today I am at war, a war I often lose. But I seek your power and strength to battle the sinful inhabitants of my heart and vanquish them by your Spirit. Thank you for giving me a glorious future, but also for providing a victorious present. 

Jesus' Resurrection Changes Everything - March 21 Readings: Numbers 32, Mark 16, Psalm 37:15–21, Proverbs 7:24–27

March 21 Readings: Numbers 32, Mark 16, Psalm 37:15–21, Proverbs 7:24–27

Consider the sadness the three ladies felt as they made their way to the tomb. Jesus had more than just the Twelve following him; there were several women who had joined his cause and were devoted to him. These were some of that group. The two Marys and Salome headed to the tomb early on Sunday morning, likely to do what they had not been able to do after Jesus' death - clean and prepare Jesus' body for his burial. They had a pure and holy love for him and were determined to perform this one last act of service to the One for whom they grieved.

But they got to the tomb and something was not right. The stone was gone and no one was there guarding it. They walked into the tomb and saw a young man in a white robe sitting on a stone slab to the right.

You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been resurrected! He is not here! (Mark 16:6)

Everything was changed. Jesus had done many wondrous things in his life, and these women had witnessed many of them. But this was the greatest act of all. To conquer sickness and disease is impressive, but to defeat death itself, to break those iron bonds and rise again - that is beyond words!  What glory! What power!

And the fact of the resurrection changed everything. They went to the tomb with broken hearts, but they left rejoicing. They went in defeat and left in victory. Jesus altered everything from history itself to the course of these three women's hearts. 

Everything changed because Jesus rose from the dead. You and I were sinners, condemned before God and awaiting an eternal hell, without hope. But Jesus rose again. Because Jesus rose, you have hope today; an eternal, unending and glorious hope! This world is scary and sinful. But Jesus rose again. One day, Jesus will rule this world in an awesome peace and all will be well. You struggle with sin today and sometimes you feel that it will never change. But Jesus rose from the dead. He will raise you up and utterly redeem you from your sin. If death could not conquer him nothing can stop him. Perhaps your days are hard and sad and joyless, but Jesus rose from the dead. He can sustain you with his joy and power whatever this world throws at you. 

We sometimes forget the second half of the crucifixion equation. Jesus died for our sins. Amen. Glory, hallelujah!  And we were crucified with Christ. We die to self daily. We were buried with Christ by baptism into death. But that is only half of the story. 

Jesus rose from the dead. "He is not here. He is risen!" He was raised to a new life, a glorified body. But do not forget the second half of the baptismal verse. Yes, we were buried with Christ by baptism into death. But we were also "raised to walk a new life in him." We have been crucified with Christ, yes. "Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me." 

When we died with Christ we were born again to a new life. We became new creations. We have not experienced fully the glory that will be ours in heaven one day, but we are the dwelling of God. We display his glory. 

Oh, my friend, things may look bad, but Jesus is alive and you have been raised with him to a life of glory and power. Do not despair. Do not give up. Do not be downcast Do not be stressed out. Jesus is alive!

Father, you raised Jesus from the dead and you raised me with him. I thank you for the life you gave me in Christ, a new life of joy, power, peace and eternal significance. I rejoice in him, in your Son, my Savior. 

DON'T Follow Your Heart - March 20 Readings: Numbers 31, Mark 15:21–47, Psalm 37:8–14, Proverbs 7:22–23

Links to March 20 Readings: Numbers 31, Mark 15:21–47, Psalm 37:8–14, Proverbs 7:22–23

One of the things I've realized three months into the 2014 Bible Reading Challenge is that I need to completely redo the Proverbs readings. The ones we've been using, made randomly by my Bible software are choppy and hard to follow. I have focused on the Proverbs reading seldom, for that very reason. 

But there is a word in today's reading that caught my eye. Proverbs is all about making sound, wise choices in life, about being careful about the path you walk. In Proverbs 7 we encounter a young man who is the antithesis of careful. We spoke of him a few days ago - the wrong kind of young man with the wrong kind of friends in the wrong place at the wrong time. The chapter details how he wanders aimlessly down the path of folly until he finds his life utterly destroyed by sin. 

Verses 22-23 encapsulate his problem in a nutshell. 

He follows her impulsively
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer bounding toward a trap
until an arrow pierces its liver,
like a bird darting into a snare—
he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.

He is enticed and seduced by this woman, to his own detriment. Why? The key is in verse 22. "Impulsively." He follows his instincts, his emotions, his passions, yes, his heart. He did not follow God's Word, the Law, or do what is right. He was impulsive. He did what he felt like doing. 

The mantra of the world is "follow your heart." "Do what feels right to you." But the teaching of the Word is to follow God and not our own impulses. My heart is deceitful and following it will consistently shipwreck my life. 

Specifically, in the area of sexual desire, following our hearts can be devastating and destructive. We are commanded to live in obedience to God and to keep our bodies under control, not to simply live out our fleshly and base desires. To give in to sexual impulses will never bring a blessing. 

Father, I thank you that I have your Holy Spirit who can empower me to say no to my desires and yes to you. I can have self-control because of the Spirit's work in my heart. Grant me that, O Lord. May I never live by the impulses of my heart but by the direction of your Word. 

Living in an Evil World - March 19 Readings: Numbers 29-30, Mark 15:1–20, Psalm 37:1–7, Proverbs 7:19–21

Links to March 19 Readings: Numbers 29-30, Mark 15:1–20, Psalm 37:1–7, Proverbs 7:19–21

Check your favorite news site and read some of the headlines. Chances are that as a Bible-believing Christian you are going to see a lot that is going to make you sad, angry or scared. We are watching a moral sea-change in our land that has been both rapid and dramatic. Few vestiges remain of the so-called Judeo-Christian ethic that once dominate our land.

How ought we to react when we see the swelling tide of evil washing over our land, our cities, and even our friends and families? What should we do? David had the answer in Psalm 37, one of my favorite Psalms.

He begins by telling us how to look on the evil of the world.

Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.
For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants. (Psalm 37:1-2)

Do not be agitated, he says. Remember Paul's command? "Don't be anxious about anything." Worry, stress and anxiety have no place in the life of a Christian, even in a world that is seemingly dominated by evil, where sinners seem to be winning the day. 

But how can we not? When we look at the headlong rush into sin, depravity and perversion in our nation, how can we not be upset? When we see evil prosper and sinners succeed in their plots, how can we not be angry? How can we sit back and just watch our nation descend towards its own destruction without angst? 

David tells us. Evil has an expiration date. It will not stand. It will not have the last word. God has defeated evil through the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Right now, sin may at times have the upper hand, but that is only temporary. In the end, Jesus wins. All the works of evil are doomed. 

So, don't let it get you down. Remember, every time you see wickedness rising that it is defeated and will one day be banished from creation. Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Do not be intimidated by the enemies of God. Their days are numbered. 

But how do we live in the meantime? 

Trust in the Lord and do what is good;dwell in the land and live securely.Take delight in the Lord,and He will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit your way to the Lord;trust in Him, and He will act,making your righteousness shine like the dawn,your justice like the noonday. (Psalm 37:3-6)

It is pretty simple. Trust God and do what is good. Delight in the Lord instead of being focused on the power of evil. When that comes, God will satisfy your heart with good things. Commit your path, your life, your choices completely to God and he will act. 

Even in a world of great evil, God acts in power to bless those who obey him and do what is right. His arm is not short. God's light shines brightly when the world around is dark. 

It is easy to let ourselves be overwhelmed by the evil in the world, but we must remember that our God is greater than the evil in the world. We must trust in his power and just keep walking in his ways, trusting him to work through us. 

Thank you, Father, that you are bigger than whatever the world can throw at me. I trust in you! Help me to walk in your ways every day. 

Faithful God, Unfaithful Me - March 18 Readings: Numbers 27-28, Mark 14:51–72, Psalm 36:7–12, Proverbs 7:17–18

Links to March 18 Readings: Numbers 27-28, Mark 14:51–72, Psalm 36:7–12, Proverbs 7:17–18

As of February, I have been a believer for 50 years. God has done a lot in my life over those five decades and I hope he has used me in his work. But the thing that sticks out as I think back on half a century as a Christian is how often, how shamefully, how consistently I have failed the Lord. I've had other priorities, let myself get focused on other things, turned my heart away from him, loved the things of this world - the list could go on and on.

Fortunately, God is so much more faithful to me than I am to him!

Like hymn-writer Robert Robinson (Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing), I rely on the grace and mercy of God daily.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be.
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee. 

The next words express the heart of my problem, the problem of my heart.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. 

Like Israel of old I find my heart deceptive, drawing me away from devotion to God to a love of the things of this world. And when I think of how much time I've wasted, how many opportunities I've squandered, how many sinful choices I have made, I feel some of the despair that Mr. Robinson felt as he wrote that hymn.

But there is good news for guys like me. God is faithful. I must never use God's faithfulness as an excuse for sin or a way to rationalize away its gravity. My sin is serious. But God's grace is always greater than my sin. God's faithfulness is stronger than my infidelity. Look at the Psalmist's words in Psalm 36:7-9.

God, Your faithful love is so valuable that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.They are filled from the abundance of Your house;You let them drink from Your refreshing stream,for with You is life’s fountain.In Your light we will see light.

It is God's faithful love that gives refuge to sinful people like me. He fills me from his abundance. I drink from the refreshing stream of his love - a fountain of the water of life. He lights my path so that I can see the way to go.

Yes, I have failed him so often, but his grace renews me daily. My eternal hope is built on Jesus' blood and righteousness, not my own goodness. I am secure in Christ and in the knowledge that sin will not have the last word in my life. He forgives and cleanses. He lifts up and restores. He renews and strengthens. He empowers and uses. And he does all of that with ordinary, unworthy sinners like me.

Praise God! Father your faithfulness is baffling, mind-boggling. I've been ready to give up on myself a hundred times, but you never give up on me. You are good, faithful, loving, merciful, holy, and relentless in your pursuit of my holiness. Thank you Lord, that is more about who you are than who I am. 

How Evil Wins - March 17 Readings: Numbers 25-26, Mark 14:26–50, Psalm 36:1–6, Proverbs 7:14–16

Links to March 17 Readings:  Numbers 25-26, Mark14:26–50, Psalm 36:1–6, Proverbs 7:14–16

Though Balaam is not mentioned in Numbers 25, this sad story is the final act of his strange ministry. We learn from other Scriptures what is not mentioned in this passage, that this sinful episode was actually the idea of the prophet. He tried repeatedly to bring a curse on Israel but each time the curse became a blessing and Barak, the king of Moab was increasingly frustrated. He had paid good money to get Balaam to curse Israel and he expected results. Balaam failed in his duties and was facing the prospect of not getting paid.

We learn in Numbers 31:16 the rest of the story. Balaam, determined to leave with coins in his pocket, figured out another strategy. He could not curse the Israelites but he could entice them to sin in such a way that God would bring on them the destruction that he had not been able to accomplish. That is precisely what happened.

The Moabites paraded their prettiest young woman in front of the Israelite men and they responded with lust instead of righteousness. They committed adultery with the Moabite women in direct violation of the commands of God's law. And they demonstrated the reason that God had given that command. As soon as they began to fraternize with the pagan women they were seduced into idolatry. Israel ignored God's commands, violated God's law, committed adultery with the Moabite women and began to worship Baal of Peor.

Balaam's plan was genius and it worked. Now, the God who had turned every curse into a blessing brought down judgment on Israel himself. He did to his people what no prophet, what no pagan king, what not the Devil himself could do. He brought a plague on them and 24,000 Israelites died.

This has always been Satan's strategy. He lies to God's people in an attempt to draw us away from obedience to God. When we sin, we forfeit God's blessings on our lives and come under his discipline and correction. Satan was not able to force Adam and Eve out of the Garden, but he could seduce them to sin so that God would drive them out. He could not curse Israel, but he could entice them to sin so that God would bring the plague on them that he could not.

If I am not walking in the blessing of God, experiencing his grace, power and presence daily, it is not Satan's fault. He cannot rob me of God's blessing. It is not the world's fault. It is not this person's fault or that circumstances fault. Nothing or no one can rob me of my joy in Christ or the daily experience of the blessing of God. No one. That comes from God! But I can forfeit that blessing (not my salvation - that is eternal - but the joyful experience of God's grace) by my own sin. By walking in the flesh, by loving this world, by ignoring God's Word and by embracing the lies of Satan I can give up what no one can take away from me.

And the shame is that like Israel we do that far too often. We give up the blessings God has for us to walk in the empty glory of sin.

Father, forgive me for my rebellious heart. I thank you that the blood of Christ has cleansed my sin. I pray that I may walk in your grace that I might experience the blessings of your presence and power day to day. May I never choose the plague of sin over the blessings of obedience. 

In Christ, There Are NO Untouchables - March 16 Readings: Numbers 23-24, Mark 14:1–25, Psalm 35:21–28, Proverbs 7:12–13

Links to March 16 Readings: Numbers 23-24, Mark 14:1–25, Psalm 35:21–28, Proverbs 7:12–13

The Bible is a deep well, an inexhaustible supply of the water of life. No matter how many times you read it, you will always see something new. I have read the stories surrounding the latter days of Jesus' earthly ministry a hundred times, no, a thousand times. But I saw something new today, in Mark 14:3.

While He was in Bethany at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease, as He was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head.

We usually note the unnamed woman's extravagant act of worship, anointing his body in advance of burial. We observe Judas Iscariot's duplicity, rebuking the woman for wasting so much money that could have gone to the poor when his true motive was greed; he was dipping in the treasury for personal use.

But it has never occurred to me where Jesus was when this event took place. He was in Bethany, a small village down the other side of the Mt. of Olives from Jerusalem. When he was there he usually stayed with his close friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In fact, some believe that Simon may have been the father of these three, but that is speculation. It is assumed that Simon was a former leper, likely one who had been healed by Jesus, or he would not have been having a dinner party.

But think about it. Jesus was reclining at a meal with a man whom all of Israel, in particular the religious leaders, would have avoided and shunned. Perhaps now the ban was off of him because of his healing, but it tells us something about Jesus that he was there.

Jesus went where others would refuse to go. Jesus touched the untouchables. He was a friend of sinners, whom the religious shunned. He was a friend of lepers, whom everyone avoided. He was a friend of tax collectors who were universally hated.

Recently we sent a team of three to India to work with people from the lowest caste of Indian society, known as the untouchables. That is more than a vivid word, it is a description. People in higher castes give them no mind. Literally, they will not touch them, have no contact with them.

Jesus sought out the untouchables and touched them with his love. He welcomed the outcasts. He befriended sinners, never excusing or approving their sin but showing love to them in spite of it all. He did not shun them, he embraced them.

If we are going to do ministry in Jesus' name today we must do as he did. We must embrace the outcasts, love the unlovable, touch the untouchable and engage those others run from. As we stand against the sin of homosexuality we must not treat them as untouchables. That is true of every sin, from the respectable sins of the self-righteous to the vile and disgusting sins of the gutter. We must find those society throws away and open our arms to them in the name of Jesus.

Jesus was a friend to sinners, to the ugly, to the unwanted, to the rejected, to the outcasts. If we are followers of Jesus Christ, then we must be the same. The church cannot be a refuge from the ugliness of the world where we gather only with the desirable to fellowship. The arms of the Body of Christ must be open to all who repent and believe.

Father, may my heart be as Christ's. He touched those society regarded as untouchable. He love the hated. He accepted the rejected. May that spirit dwell in me and live through me. 

The Curse Becomes a Blessing - March 15 Readings: Numbers 21-22, Mark 13:24–37, Psalm 35:14–20, Proverbs 7:9–11

Links to March 15 Readings:  Numbers 21-22, Mark 13:24–37,Psalm 35:14–20, Proverbs 7:9–11

Balaam is a mysterious Old Testament personality, introduced in Numbers 22. He was evidently Gentile, but it is unclear if he was a prophet of the God of Israel, or a pagan prophet. He sought wisdom from Yahweh, but also practiced divination. But what cannot be debated is that in this story God spoke clearly to him and there is much we can learn from the exchange.

The story begins, in Numbers 22, as Israel is nearing the end of its 40 years of wilderness wanderings. They are also creating quite a stir among the Canaanites and those nations east of the Jordan. Among those nations is Moab, whose king, Balak, was wary of this nomadic nation and their intent. He heard stories circulating of the supernatural workings of God to protect, preserve and promote the nation of Israel.

So, he thought his best choice might be to get some supernatural help. That is where this obscure prophet Balaam came into the picture. Balak offered him money to somehow get God (or the gods) to curse the Israelites. Pagans believed that their magic could cause the gods to act in certain ways, to bless them and to curse others - if only they said the right words, performed the right sacrifices, or completed the right acts of devotion. Balak assumed that Balaam could bring a curse on Israel and hired him to do so.

Time and again he tried. He would perform the sacrifices he thought might get him on Yahweh's good side so that he could rob Israel of its favored status. But time and again, God gave him a clear message - one of blessing. No amount of pagan religion, no amount of demonic power, no amount of political intrigue could bring a curse on the people of God. Every attempt to curse Israel became a blessing.

There is a lesson in that for all of us. We live in an evil world and it scares us to think what is coming down the road. The land of our childhood will not be the land that our children's children grow up in. The tide of evil seems high and hostility toward Christianity is growing in many (powerful) circles.

But evil cannot curse the obedient people of God. We serve the Living God; his arm is not short and he is not threatened or intimidated by the world's evil. He can turn the world's curses into blessings. We cannot see it now, perhaps, but God is still in charge. Evil is growing, but it will never conquer God or nullify his power.

As we live in this dark world, let us remember who is in charge. We sometimes get fixated on fighting evil but it is more important that we draw near to God. As we draw near to God, his blessing, his power, his presence will draw near to us and put the devil on the defensive.

God of glory and power, I trust in you. I take my eyes off the sin and evil in this world and I put it on you. I know that you can take the curse of sin and turn it into a blessing for your people. I thank you for the privilege of knowing and serving you. 

Dealing with Temptation - March 14 Readings: Numbers 19-20, Mark 13:1–23, Psalm 35:7–13, Proverbs 7:6–8

Links to March 14 Readings:  Numbers 19-20, Mark13:1–23, Psalm  35:7–13, Proverbs 7:6–8

Proverbs 7 demonstrates how Solomon gathered the principles of wisdom he recorded in the book. It was a simple process - observation, evaluation, expression. He would observe something going on around him and evaluate it, drawing an important life principle from it. Look at that ant, how hard he works. Look at that sluggard, how all his stuff falls apart. He would then take those principles and state them in a pithy, memorable way.

In Proverbs 7:6-8 Solomon saw a young man behaving in a foolish way. There are four evidences of his folly.

⁶ For at the window of my house
    I have looked out through my lattice,
⁷ and I have seen among the simple,
    I have perceived among the youths,
    a young man lacking sense,
⁸ passing along the street near her corner,
    taking the road to her house
⁹ in the twilight, in the evening,
    at the time of night and darkness.

He was the wrong kind of young man. He lacked understanding - that inner sense of right and wrong that develops when one listens to God's Word and obeys it. He lacked the moral compass that God's Word gives to those who immerse themselves in it.

He also had the wrong kind of friends. He was hanging out with other young men in the same moral quandary he was in. Bad company corrupts good character, according to 1 Corinthians 15. Think of what it does to a young man who lacks character. A young man of low character hanging out with other men of low character is in deep trouble.

He was hanging out in the wrong kind of places. Verse 8 says he was near "her corner" - the woman of low moral character who would eventually lead him astray.

At the risk of sounding like an old fogey, he was also in the wrong place at the wrong time. When he should have been home sleeping, studying or doing something productive, he was out with his buddies getting in trouble.

Solomon observed all of this, evaluated it with his wisdom principles and spent the rest of the chapter expressing both the trouble this young man would find himself in as this woman seduced him and brought shame and trouble on him and the course of correction others should take to avoid the destruction he was bringing on himself.

A key lesson here for us us to immerse ourselves in the Word so that we build that inner guidance system governed by the Holy Spirit to keep us on the right path. But perhaps even more important is that we must avoid people and places of temptation. Wise folks do not simply fight temptation, they avoid it. An alcoholic should stay out of bars. A shopaholic ought perhaps to avoid the mall. And those of us who want to break the hold of sin in our lives ought to avoid situations in which we will find temptation welling up.

Father, I thank you for the Holy Spirit who uses this precious Word to build that inner moral guidance system within me. May I immerse myself in the Word daily. Give me strength not only to resist temptation, but also the wisdom to avoid it by wisdom.