Hope, Purpose and Opportunity

Joshua 1-4, Psalm 143, Luke 14

Rahab, lived in Jericho.  The news reports were filled with stories of the Israelites conquests. They even explained a wild tale of the Jordan sea parting and the people walking across on dry land. Then, there were reports of the Israelites destroying people. Not just regular people, they were defeating giants.  They were “as mighty as oaks and as tall as cedars!” according to Amos. How could it be?  The Israelites were puny!  The city Sihon had recently been sacked and the latest reports indicated that Og was utterly destroyed. How was it possible? “God is on their side,” was the only possible explanation. With Og gone, Jericho was the next likely target. Every resident feared the inevitable.

Rahab confirmed the danger as she answered the door to three strangers.  She knew instantly that trouble was imminent. The men standing outside were not locals, they were Israelite and they were coming for Jericho. She was trapped. As a prostitute, Rahab was despised and scorned. Nobody would save her.  Not even God would help her. He was on their side, not hers.

When the men asked for safe harbor, she contemplated the great risk in protecting them. Treason is punishable by death. Even so, she knew that Jericho was doomed. The Israelites will quickly and easily devastate the city. Nothing can stop them. God is on their side. Rahab was quick to spot the difference.

What is your story of God?  If you feel beaten down, there is good news.  Notice how she turned it around.  Through the Israelites, she sees that those with God do not live in fear and oppression, but have purposeful lives filled with opportunities. She confesses to the men, “the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. “ (Joshua 2:11). It’s that simple.

What happened to Rahab? Was her life changed? Was God on her side? Matthew 1:5 tells us that she gave birth to a boy named Boaz. Boaz son fathered Obed, who fathered Jesse, who sired King David. David, of course, is the predecessor to the King of King’s, Jesus.  Obviously, God honored Rahab’s confession.  He changed her from a slave of the world, facing certain death, and replaced oppression with life. Not just any life, but life worthy of a King’s lineage. Royalty. God was on her side!

There is no other force, no other power, no other name that can compare with the power of God.  Is God on your side?

The Song of Moses

I love music. The arrangement of sounds to create harmony, melody, or rhythm to express words can impact us all differently. On Sunday, with hands raised, we can praise our Lord, who speaks into our lives daily. We can feel joy and gratitude in our hearts as we sing, knowing what He is currently doing and promises we will one day see.  Some songs bring tears of joy as your brain connects back to experiences that changed your life.  Songs that can pump us up to conquer anything in front of us.

Music is a part of all human societies and is a communication tool that can culturally connect us all.  In Deuteronomy 32, Moses turns his message into a song for the congregation of Israel.  Songs can make things easier to remember. ( I want to sing the United States song as this was the only way I remembered.) This song gives us a brief history of Israel. It reminds us of their mistakes, warns us about repeating the same mistakes, and offers hope that can only come from trusting God.  It sounds like something we can still use today.  Imagine or go ahead and sing these first few verses.

“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,
    and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
May my teaching drop as the rain,
    my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
    and like showers upon the herb.
For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!  “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,  just and upright is he.

We can experience so many emotions when we sing or listen to a song. Behind this song is a truth about the greatness of our Lord—the hope that we remember as we move closer to Easter. As Moses finished this song, he proclaimed these words.

46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Wilderness Experience

Today’s Reading : Deuteronomy 27-31;Luke 12

Desolation.  Isolation.  Despair.  

These are some of the words that come to mind when I think of the wilderness.  About 20 years ago, I had a wilderness experience. Some friends of mine were getting married.  This was the one of the first weddings that I attended as an adult.  This particular wedding was in Plainview, TX.  It was about six hours away from Dallas. This city was close to Lubbock.   When I was driving to the city, the scenery was completely desert and Hill Country.  There was no cities or lights for miles and miles around. I can still remember that drive. It was a beautiful drive, but there was nothing around. You could literally look out for hundreds of miles with nothing around. That’s what I see when I read about the wilderness experiences for the Hebrews and Moses. But as always, I have had a renewal of my mind and of my understanding.   

And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 3 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 29:2-6

In today’s reading,  my idea of the biblical wilderness shifts.  There are several wilderness experiences that are happening in the Bible. Some of the most memorable ones are: the 40 years in the wilderness with Moses; the wilderness experience of Elijah; the wilderness experience of John the Baptist; and the wilderness experience of Jesus.  In each one of these wilderness experiences, the protagonist is given: rest, refreshment, and renewal, in each of their experiences.

For Moses, God provided nourishment every day for 40 years that they were in the wilderness. They did not need to worry about protection, because God was with them. And in this passage, we see that their clothes never wore out. I have three kids and their clothes are constantly changing on a quarterly basis. And to have the idea that after 40 years are close we’re still new is mind-boggling. 

The wilderness experience for Elijah, he was provided for food by ravens and a stream.

Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

I Kings 17: 1-7

The wilderness experience with John the Baptist, he was sustained on wild honey and locus. When you think about the only food that was given to him seemed small but it was to stay and he was filled daily. 

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[a] 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare[b] the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Matt 3:1-4

And then the wilderness experience for Christ, he was renewed and he became full into his ministry during his 40 days in the wilderness.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Matt 4: 1-2

These wilderness experiences are not isolating or full of despair. These wilderness experiences allow the individual to create peace and be calm in what God has set aside for them. During this wilderness time God has made them holy. This time God has created new life for a bigger purpose. So when we see the wilderness, what are we seeing? How is God setting aside for his bigger purpose? 

As we are completing our Lenten journey and coming into Holy week, may God allow us to be renewed, and refresh to fulfill his purpose in our common days. 

Be blessed

 

Substitution

Deuteronomy 12-26, Luke 11

Ronald Reagan started eating Jelly Belly jelly beans as part of his effort to quit smoking. Before becoming President of the United States, Reagan had been a smoker but decided to quit the habit. He found that having something to occupy his mouth could help curb his craving for cigarettes. It wasn’t long before eating jelly beans became a well-known aspect of Reagan’s public persona; he was often seen with a jar of them nearby during his presidency.

Its worth paying attention to what Reagan did.  He knew that choosing to quit smoking wasn’t enough.  By adding a new behavior, he didn’t just remove the old, bad habit, he created a new one.  This new one became part of him.  He was identified by it.

Yes, this is an over-simplification of Jesus in our lives, but the principle holds true.    As Luke 11:15 explains, we can try to clean up our lives all we want but until we invite Jesus in, the change is temporary.  Then, it gets worse.  Only Jesus provides real transformation that changes our behaviors and our identities (John 13:35).

Blessed to be a Blessing

Today’s reading is Deuteronomy 19-22, Psalm 6, and Luke 10.

Within Luke 10 we read the famous parable Jesus told of the Good Samaritan. A man had been beaten badly and robbed on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. In fact, it says in Luke 10:30 he was “half dead.” Both a priest and a Levite passed by him. However, a Samaritan stopped and gave him medical care, paid for a hotel for him to stay overnight to heal, and even told the hotel keeper that if he needs more help, I’ll give you more money when I come back. Why was this such a big deal? Well Samaritans were from the former Northern Kingdom of Israel, and they bred with the Assyrians who were gentile and as a result followed some different religious practices. In fact, Jews would rather cross the Jordan than have to travel through Samaria. They were considered “unclean,” and Jews would not expect these good actions from a Samaritan.

Jesus is underscoring here that a person’s heart and actions are what matters, not their background, position, or title. And those who sometimes have the title or background, are just playing a part without the actual heart. And those who may come from different backgrounds or have no status, actually have the heart. The old saying goes, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Many of you remember the NBA’s bad boy Dennis Rodman, his rap sheet is pretty long, However, I recently read a story that when he was with the Chicago Bulls. he would buy out Toys ‘R Us and deliver them to the children’s hospital in Boston when the Bulls played the Celtics without allowing any cameras or reporters. Not many would expect this from him, especially with no fanfare. We hear this and yet regularly we hear of religious and political leaders doing shady things.

My oldest son is 11. I recently shared with him that one way to tell the quality of a person such as maybe a girl he may like is to see how they treat those who can’t give them anything in return or someone in the service industry who they may be only interacting with one time like a waiter/waitress or someone serving them at the drive-thru. Are they your “friend” because they genuinely like you and are a good person, or because they feel they can personally benefit from a relationship with you?

Many of us build relationships with team members, bosses, and potential clients and we go out of our way to do something nice or special for them. There is nothing wrong with this if our heart and motivation is pure. It is good for us to reflect though if we also go out of our way to help others who we can’t get anything in return from or may never see again.

While I think it’s often best that the love of Jesus comes out of our heart in unplanned ways, here are 2 ideas I’ve heard of that I like with the 1st being one I do spontaneously and the 2nd now every time I stay in a hotel.

  • When going out to dinner and you have good service, leave a larger than normal tip to bless the server and write http://beentippedover.com on the receipt so they know they are appreciated and God tugged on your heart to do a little more for them.
  • When you stay in the hotel, leave a tip on your last day for the housekeeper and note thanking them with a Bible verse. I know I never dreamed of leaving a tip for the housekeeper in the past, but once I heard this idea I couldn’t believe I hadn’t previously since this has to be one of the most undesirable jobs in my mind. It’s a great way to thank them and let them know they are appreciated.

You never know what kind of tough day your server or housekeeper may be having and how this may change how they feel and most importantly even point them to Jesus as a source of peace and comfort which we all need.

I must say once I had an awareness, these 2 examples and even giving money to a beggar and telling them I’ll pray for them is somewhat quick and easy for me. I know my bigger opportunity now is to take next steps with those in need where it might be appropriate for me to invest more time in going deeper to build a relationship within one interaction or even greater, being willing to build a relationship which will go on beyond that single interaction.

What about you? Where is your opportunity to show the love of Jesus in your heart to others?

Where Are You Looking?

Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 15-18, Psalm 115, Luke 9

I remember my Driver’s Ed instructor telling me to keep my eyes looking in the direction that I was driving. He explained that the car would veer in any direction that my eyes looked. Have you experienced this? When I am driving in a new place and checking out the surroundings, my car drifts to whatever direction I am looking. When my car would drifts to the left or to the right I immediately look in the rear view mirror to make sure a car isn’t in my way. I have to remind myself to quit looking around and look at the direction I am driving. It is so easy to get distracted.

Luke 9:62 gives us an agricultural reference as this is what the people of this time could relate to. If a farmer did not focus on what is ahead but was distracted by what was behind or on the periphery, it would be impossible to plow in a straight line. The ox and the plow would certainly veer off course.

Jesus said to him, “Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62

There are so many areas of our lives that can become distractions. We can look back and focus on past successes and past failures. Anything that we focus on or think about more than Jesus is a distraction. The previous verse tells of a person who volunteered to follow Jesus, but first, he wanted to go back home.

Someone else said, “I will follow you, sir; but first let me go and say good-bye to my family.”
Luke 9:61

This man’s heart was divided and distracted. Jesus wants his full devotion and commitment.

How often do we get distracted by life and pulled back into old patterns and thoughts? Jesus uses the analogy of plowing to to remind us to keep our minds straight. When plowing you cannot look back, if you do your row will become crooked. You have to keep your eyes straight ahead and fix them on an object in front of you to keep a straight path.

As a christian, we cannot keep our eyes on Jesus when our attention is diverted in other directions.

Keep looking ahead with your eyes fixed on Jesus.

In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
Proverbs 3:6 (AMP)

The Importance of the Miracles Performed by Jesus

Today’s readings:  Deuteronomy 6-7, Luke 7

The Book of Deuteronomy is guidance to the Jewish people as to how they should move forward and live their faith when they reach the land God had promised.  Moses foretold to the Jewish people what they should do and how they should act.

Onto the Book of Luke, the miracles performed by Jesus in chapter 7 were crucial elements of His ministry for several reasons:

  1. Demonstration of Divine Authority – Jesus’ miracles served as tangible demonstrations of His divine authority and power. By healing the sick, raising the dead, and forgiving sins, Jesus showed that He was not merely a great teacher or prophet but the Son of God with authority over sickness, death, and sin.
  2. Confirmation of His Identity – Each miracle reinforced Jesus’ identity as the promised Messiah. His ability to perform extraordinary acts validated His claims and fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, establishing Him as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.
  3. Compassion and Care – Jesus’ miracles also showcased His deep compassion and care for humanity. He healed the sick and raised the dead out of love and empathy, demonstrating God’s desire to alleviate suffering and bring restoration to individuals and communities. Let’s not overlook the importance of this reason. Jesus brought care, compassion, and forgiveness to the forgotten. The higher religious authorities of that day would cast out the downtrodden, the sinners, and sometimes the sick as they used the “law” as a weapon rather than a reason for compassion.  Jesus took the “hard edge” out of “Biblical law” and humanized Himself as a Savior of all people.  Thank you, Jesus, for this!
  4. Response to Faith – Many of the miracles in Luke 7 were responses to the faith of those involved. Jesus commended the faith of the centurion, the widow, and the sinful woman, illustrating the importance of faith in experiencing God’s transformative power and receiving His blessings.
  5. Teaching and Revelation – Through His miracles, Jesus conveyed important spiritual truths and revealed the nature of God’s kingdom. Each miracle served as a teaching moment, inviting people to recognize God’s presence among them and inviting them to participate in the kingdom’s coming.

Overall, Jesus’ miracles in Luke 7 were pivotal in establishing His ministry, confirming His identity as the Son of God, demonstrating God’s compassion, responding to faith, and teaching profound spiritual truths. They were integral to His mission of proclaiming the kingdom of God and offering salvation to all who would believe in Him.

With the assistance of ChatGPT

Choosing Wisely: Selecting Your Allies and Colleagues with Purpose

Who have you surrounded yourself with? Who are your closest allies, colleagues, and friends and why did you choose them? And why do you continue to invest time with them?

Have you ever been part of a bad team? How about a great team?

In business, the most important thing I’ve done is choosing and building the best team possible. Each of my five direct reports was very carefully, slowly, patiently, and thoughtfully hand-picked by me based on their skills, personality, passion, experience, and most importantly their fit with our core values. Over the years, my biggest investment of time and energy has been related to their growth and success. The better they perform individually and as a team, the more likely we will achieve our objectives. Conversely, if these leaders perform poorly, it would make my job miserable!

These leaders are all very different. For example, four out of five were born in different countries. One is an information security genius, one is a project management ninja, one is highly skilled and experienced in structuring service organizations, one is like a war general who relentlessly achieves the mission, and one is a deep thinker and very strategic. Combined, this team of five speaks eight different languages and has more than 75 years of IT and leadership experience.

In reference to the cover photo, in the following verse after Jesus prayed all night he chose his apostles:

 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: (Luke 6:13)

Unlike me, Jesus spent all night in prayer before choosing his closest allies. And unlike me, Jesus was (and is) a perfect leader. Even at my best, I still fail with my amazing team. I am prone to being impatient, dismissive, and a bad listener.

Jesus put everything in God’s hands. He chose these people even though he knew each one of them would eventually let him down. He invested in them, day and night. He taught them, was patient with them, and even though he was God in the flesh, he knelt to wash their feet. He ultimately died for these people, and for you and me, sinners saved by the blood of Jesus.

Just as Jesus diligently prayed before selecting his disciples, we can and should seek God’s wisdom in all of our choices in relationships. Jesus’ example reminds us that even in our imperfections, we can emulate his grace, patience, and sacrificial love toward those we surround ourselves with. Let us strive to mirror the humility and compassion of our Savior, for eternity’s sake.

Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 4-5; Luke 6

Deuteronomy 1-3, Psalm 36, Luke 5

Rebellion is such a strong word.  I am no rebel.  I mean, rebels have tattoos and piercings and probably ride motorcycles.  They cause trouble everywhere they go creating arguments, disrespecting authority, and private property.  Rebels are bad actors.  We put people like that in jail.  That’s not me.

It’s true, that is not me.  I am much more covert.  My insurgency is cleverly disguised.  I like to complain, for example.  I complain about the resources I have.  Money is a primary one.  That’s why I cannot give more.  Time is another one.  I’m too busy with my kids and my job to serve.  I just don’t have time!  According to Deuteronomy, complaining is rebellion.  It creates arguments and it disrespects authority.

The Israelites had the same problem.  In Deuteronomy 1, we find them at the threshold of the promised land.  God is ready to fulfill all his promises.  He says, “here you go, come on in.”  But, they refused.  Rather than move, they complained about the Amorites.  “They are too big,” they said.  “They will slaughter us” (Deuteronomy 1:26-27).  They took their focus  off of God, convincing themselves that “God must hate us.”

I wonder what would have happened if the Israelites would have just trusted.  I’m sure it would have been better than they could have ever imagined.  That conclusion creates new problems for me though.  If I know it would have been better for them, doesn’t that mean that it would also be better for me?  There is only one way to find out.  Next time I catch myself complaining, I’ll replace it with trust, gratitude, service and giving.

Are We Prepared for Jesus?

Today’s Readings: Numbers 30-33, Psalm 35, Luke 3

This past week, I talked with my daughter Gianna about Easter. She said that Easter and Christmas were her favorite holidays, and I agreed. We talked about the Easter Story and how Jesus had given up His life for all of us. She said she loved him so much for dying for us and that she can’t wait to see Him in Heaven. Again, I agreed.

As we prepare for Easter in a couple of weeks, I connected with the story of John the Baptist Preparing the Way for Jesus.  Luke 3: 4-6

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”[

The metaphorical language used in these verses signifies the spiritual preparation required for Jesus’s arrival. It speaks of making the paths straight, filling in valleys, lowering mountains and hills, and making crooked roads straight and rough ways smooth. These descriptions symbolize removing obstacles that hinder people from experiencing God’s salvation.

John had a job to prepare and present Jesus to others.  In the next couple of weeks, we will have a chance to present the opportunity to know Jesus through a possible invitation to Easter.  Many obstacles will be put in the way to hinder these invites.  Many obstacles get in the way of our preparation. John was courageous and called to share the news of Jesus and how we need to repent.  He was a prophet who lived a life that was not based on the authority of the world but on God.  Some people may never have been open to hearing the Word until now.  Will you let them know?  Easter service is a wonderful time to share the salvation we have through Him.