Author: Jennifer Armstrong

Exodus 30; John 9; Proverbs 6; Galatians 5

Whether you love it or hate it, choose to directly engage or simply endure the fallout, the road to the November 2016 presidential election is weighing heavy on Americans these days. Unfortunately I’m not sure there is a way to escape this drama, even if you wanted to. It is almost always the first story in Gerard Baker’s daily 10 Point guide to The Wall Street Journal and it is on every news channel all day long.  An email from John Kasich actually showed up in my office inbox last week to request my vote in the Illinois primary!  Each of the candidates has a different view, a different approach, and vastly different plans for our nation.  It is this diversity of thought (and a lot of media hype) that fuels the craziness.  As we have witnessed over the course of 20+ debates, these Candidates agree on very little.  Furthermore, they are really passionate about their disagreements.  I am confident, however, they would all agree on one thing.  Each of them would find truth in some variation of the same guiding principle – every one of them loves the United States, and is committed to protecting her and the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of this great country (even thought they would go about it in vastly different ways).

The first freedom granted in the United States Bill of Rights is Freedom of Religion, Speech, and the Press.  It grants every U.S. citizen the right to practice a religion of their choice.  I am deeply grateful for this freedom.  Unlike Christians in many countries, I can worship God without breaking the law and, generally, without fearing for my safety.  Don’t get me wrong, I realize persecution may show up in a variety of other ways, but today, by law, I can freely worship God.

Galatians 5 is all about Freedom. The chapter begins with this statement, for freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. The freedom Paul is talking about here is freedom from a long list of Old Testament laws.  It is also about freedom from sin.  Jesus died to free us from our sin.  Notice this freedom isn’t about doing whatever we want, as that behavior leads us back to the bondage of sin, rather it is the freedom to glorify God by loving and serving others.

Galatians 5:13-15

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Biting and devouring one another is what I remember the March 3 republican debate looking like. The candidates hurled so many insults, they seemed dangerously close to “consuming” one another.  It is so ironic that the race for the top government servant, involves so much nastiness.  Personally, I saw very little love for the United States or for its citizens in the discussion that night, even though I know it exists. Fortunately for most of us, our everyday life is not played out on national television.  That said, a similar nastiness has a tendency to creep into our lives in other ways.  Reflect on your actions of today, this week or last month.  Were they motivated by love?  Were they motivated by serving others?  God calls us to be different.

Galatians 5:22-24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Exodus 23; John 2; Job 41; 2 Corinthians 11

Today’s post is written by my friend Carol Snyder. Carol and I met about 6 years ago when I moved down the street from her.  We were fast friends!  Carol currently picks me up at 5am to go to the gym 2-3 days per week.  It’s amazing what ground we can cover in 11 minutes to the gym and 11 minutes home!  I love those conversations.  Carol has encouraged me in a lot of ways over the past couple of years, including cheering me on as I accepted the challenge of writing a Biblejournal.net post each week during 2016.  When Carol learned of my plans to be out of town for a few days this week, she was quick to volunteer as a guest writer.  What a great friend!

Carol, I’m grateful for our friendship. I look forward to many more early morning conversations in the days to come!

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As I start to write my first bible journal entry, I am nervous yet excited. How can I follow in the footsteps of this team of bloggers?  Back on January 1^st when I heard the team was going to “read the bible in a year”, I was all in.  Even after growing up the daughter of a Lutheran minister, I am sadly remiss in reading the bible.  As I have been reading along, I am rereading many stories I know, but also working through hard chapters (such as Job), which I never spent much time with before.  The daily blog entries are just as inspiring and enriching as the bible verses; they speak to me in an every day interpretation of the bible.  Thank you for my daily enrichment!

On to our daily reading and the verses I chose for today’s journal entry. It was a tough choice between the almost fairy tale “Wedding at Cana” in John 2 which I love or the “Do this, not that” story line of Exodus.  I chose the latter because it reflected the choices we are given on a daily basis.

Think back to the time when you were a little child and your parents told you:

• “Don’t touch that stove, it’s hot.”
• “Don’t put that toy in your mouth, you might choke.”
• “Don’t wander off, a stranger might take you.”

Oftentimes, they did not give you an alternative. They just said, “Don’t do that”.

As we grew older, our friends started to weigh in:

• “Don’t hang out with that person, they are different. Hang out with me!”
• “Don’t dress like that, people will think you are weird. Wear this!”
• (We were even bombarded in magazines by the DO/DON’T fashion police!)
• “Don’t join that club, it’s for nerds. Play this sport.”

Sometimes we followed our friends but sometimes we made our own choices as we started to develop into adults.

As adults, we will hear the same “don’t do that, do this” messages:

• “Don’t be a couch potato, exercise 30 minutes five days a week!!”
• “Don’t eat bread or sugar, go paleo or do the 21-day fix.”
• “Don’t vote for that candidate, they are corrupt. Vote for this guy or gal.”

We are faced with many mixed messages on a daily basis. How can we go through the day and not feel some pressure from our own choices?  Do we make the best choices possible?  Do we help others make good choices?  Do we follow God?  Most likely, we don’t make perfect choices, for we are sinners.

In Exodus 23, God is very clear on his expectations for what we should not do:

1You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. ² You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, ³ nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.

⁴ “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. ⁵ If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.

If we are presented with gossip, do we spread it? Or if we are presented with helping someone in need who might have lost something, do we return it?  We can make many parallels just to these verses.  I sum it up as “Do the Right Thing” or as I tell my kids “Make Good Choices”.

God continues with his expectations, including taking a break from the daily pressures. He knows we aren’t perfect and we do have a lot on our shoulders.  We have many mixed messages and as each week unwinds, he gives us time to refresh, renew and relax.

¹² “Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.

He understands we need to start anew each week. He gives us a chance to improve and to make better choices.  The best part is he sends an angel to help us.  All we have to do is listen for the voice, the inner voice helping us through our daily choices.

²⁰ “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. ²¹ Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him.

²² “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

As we get further into the New Testament, he references the Holy Spirit in John 14:26:

²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Lord, please help me to make the right choice in my daily life. Let me refresh and begin the week with a new outlook.  Shine your Holy Spirit on me so that I might be a light for you.  Amen.

Exodus 16; Luke 19; Job 34; 2 Corinthians 4 Over the last couple of years, have you followed the story of the Texas teenager who’s attorney’s used an “affluenza” claim in his legal defense for causing a wreck that killed four people? It was a sobering story for me.  Beyond making my heart ache for those directly impacted, it made me stop and think about my children and my approach to parenting.  What am I teaching, or not teaching them, that will impact in their behavior?  Will my influence show up as good or bad choices? Merriam-Webster defines “affluenza” as the unhealthy and unwelcome psychological and social effects of affluence regarded especially as a widespread societal problem, such as feelings of guilt, lack of motivation, and social isolation experienced by wealthy people; extreme materialism and consumerism associated with the pursuit of wealth and success and resulting in a life of chronic dissatisfaction, debt, overwork, stress, and impaired relationships. I would argue this condition is rampant in America. It extends beyond those who most of us would consider as super affluent, successful or wealthy.  For example, almost every kid in my children’s school has some kind of electronic device, gaming system or smart phone.  They wear designer clothes.  They travel often.  They want for very little.  My children are no exception.  I am a pretty average mother who is trying to teach my kids right from wrong, how to make wise choices, how to be a good friend, to love Jesus, and so much more.  These are really hard lessons to teach and to learn, especially when we are focused primarily on ourselves.  Most of the time, even if we don’t want to be, we are just down right selfish. When I started today’s reading in Exodus 16, the first two verses hit me with an unfortunate sense of familiarity. Exodus 16:1-2 says …on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. Wait a minute. God rescued the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.  He miraculously parted the Red Sea, overtook their enemies, and led them safely to freedom on the other side.  Less than two months later, they were already grumbling?  Weren’t they even the slightest bit grateful for the significance of what had taken place over the last 45 days?  Like me, their true selfish nature came through.  They couldn’t see past themselves (and their hungry bellies)! Despite their grumbling, God provided for their needs. He did so in order to try and shift their focus off of themselves to him.  Exodus 16:4, Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. Exodus 16:11-12, And the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’” We are made in the image of God, we are created to glorify him, and he desires relationship with us. Even so, we are often unable to resist the urge to focus on ourselves/our wants/our desires and forget that he is the source of everything we have.  As we read on through the Old Testament, we will find the Israelites struggling with this for many years. Now jump to our New Testament scriptures for today… Luke 19 starts with the story of Zacchaeus.  He was a wee little man (couldn’t resist singing the song in my head) with a deep rooted history of selfishness.  He was a tax collector who acquired his riches by overcharging/ripping off taxpayers.  Luke 19 doesn’t give a lot of background on why Zacchaeus was seeking to see Jesus, it just states that he was.  After spending time with Jesus, we see evidence of Zacchaeus turning his focus away from himself.  Luke 19:8-10, And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” We don’t have the opportunity to spend time face to face with Jesus. But through his blood, we have direct access to speak to him through prayer all the time.  This is the cure for our selfishness! Where is your focus today? Will you commit to spending time communing with God, letting him help to shift your focus to him?

Exodus 10; Luke 13; Job 28; 1 Corinthians 14 God’s plan to deliver his people out of Egypt is first revealed in Exodus 7:1-5, which we read this past Wednesday. And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” Today’s passage in Exodus 10:1-2 begins this way: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.” As I’ve studied the story of Moses, Pharaoh and the plagues this week, I keep dwelling on God’s words, “I will harden [have hardened] Pharaoh’s heart”.  This theme starts in Exodus 7 and is repeated through plague 10, the Death of the First Born.  Why would God do this?  It seems so uncharacteristic of what we know about Him. “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God, so turn, and live, Ezekiel 18:32 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, I Timothy 2:3-4. Exodus 9:16 makes it clear why God chose this path, “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” To demonstrate God’s power and that his name is proclaimed throughout the earth makes sense, but it doesn’t resolve the inconsistency.  How do you reconcile God’s desire to have all men saved with an action to intentionally harden someone’s heart, which ultimately inhibits salvation? I think Exodus 8 reveals Pharaoh actually made the choice himself. Exodus 8:15, But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.  Exodus 8:32, But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go. Once his choice was made, God carried out his plan and allowed Pharaoh to affirm his choice on several occasions. This isn’t how I want things to happen. I often find myself asking God to prevent me from making a bad choice, then saving me from the accompanying consequences. However, sometimes God chooses a different path.  Sometimes he uses our sinful choices to achieve his purposes. Jump forward to the parable of the Fig tree we read about in Luke 13:6-9 today, do you see similarities? And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” If God is represented by the vineyard owner in this parable, Jesus is the vinedresser and we are the vines. God shows mercy on us, gives us time to come to him with repentant hearts.  God’s mercy is the picture of Him we want to see. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance, 2 Peter 3:9 God’s patience will eventually come to an end.  Like Pharaoh, we must not give in to the lure of sin and let our hearts become hardened or we risk God’s wrath (being cut down by the vinedresser).  Again, this is not the picture of Him we want to see, but a reality we must accept. Romans 2:5, But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. Will you join me today and repent of your sinfulness? Confess your need for Jesus.  Ask God to fill your heart with a desire for him.

 

Family: Exodus 3; Luke 6. Secret: Job 20; 1 Corinthians 7.

In my post last week, I talked about America’ obsession with being the best.  At this time of the year, the college basketball intra-conference season is in full swing, Rivalry Week is on ESPN, and I anxiously anticipate announcement of the field of 64 on selection Sunday in a few short weeks.  Not much makes me smile more than the CBS NCAA basketball jingle at 11:00 am before the tipoff of the first game of round one on Thursday!

While fun, the fundamentals of competition require a winner and a loser.  In other words, the best team or the game winner cannot be determined without some measure of comparability; something must always be judged against something else.  Someone always has to be second best in order for someone else to be first. This philosophy flies in the face of Luke 6.

In preparation for today’s post, I read Luke 6 last Sunday. Luke 6:37-38 has been on my heart all week.

Luke 6:37-38, Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

As we moved from Genesis to Exodus this week, we began to read through the life of Moses. What we know about him so far was that he was given up by his Levite mother at 3 months, then was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter.  He was a Hebrew child in the home of an Egyptian.  Hebrews were slaves to the Egyptians.  Given his situation, how do you think Moses felt?  Do you think he was looked down upon and judged by others because of his heritage? In Exodus 2, we read about Moses killing an Egyptian. When Pharaoh learned of the situation, he threatened to kill Moses, thus Moses fled to Midian.  While not necessarily undeserved, this was another example of judgment in Moses’ life.

Perhaps these experiences give us a little insight on Moses’ reactions to God speaking to him through the burning bush today in Exodus 3. When God told Moses he was going to deliver God’s people out of Egypt.  Moses questioned, and displayed a lack of confidence, Exodus 3:11, But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Can you identify with Moses’ self-doubt?  Have you been criticized or judged for something to the point where you no longer have the confidence to proceed?

As we get to Luke 6:38, Luke switches from words of instruction (do not…) to words of opportunity.

…forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.

Instead of what not to do, he suggests what should be done. Instead of judging or condemning, Luke puts a positive spin on the instructions…  Control your own circumstances, seize the opportunity to make a difference.  Don’t sit back and wait to be criticized, go on the offensive in a good way.

My favorite part of the passage, however, is the 2nd half of verse 38, Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back.

This part of the passage speaks to magnitude. Forgiveness and generosity will be “pouring into your lap”.  If we all tried to get ahead by forgiving, giving or blessing others, what would our world look like?  Imagine people trying to out-love each other.  Instead of the greatest basketball players of all time, what if our measure of comparability evaluated how much forgiveness we have bestowed on others and/or how much generosity has been poured in our laps?  Would you make it on the top 100 list?

Family: Genesis 47; Luke 1:1–38. Secret: Job 13; 1 Corinthians 1.

Last Tuesday, Rick’s post was about Spiritual Capital, the spiritual goods and possessions that allow the production of the fruit of the spirit. He reminded us that everything began and ends with God and everything belongs to God, even our hearts.  Because God has given each one of us free will, Rick then challenged us to consider where we will invest.  Today’s passages focused me again on God’s economy.

How great the contrast to what we know as The American Dream, the ideal that every American should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Our entire culture is obsessed with the notion of trying to be the best.  I am not immune, and must admit, I have thoroughly enjoyed following ESPN.com’s recent analysis of the Top 100 NBA players of all time (agree MJ is still #1) and the 2016 class of NFL greats elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week (glad Brett Favre and Tony Dungy made the cut).  This is good fun, but the power of our culture makes it that much more critical that we continually ground ourselves in the truth of God’s word.  To follow Christ requires that our motivations be different.

I Corinthians 1:27-28, But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are…

The struggle to be the best is not unique to us in 21^st century America.  In Mark 9, we read about the disciples’ debating with each other about who was the greatest.  When Jesus heard the discussion, he sat them down for a lesson on God’s economy.

Mark 9:35, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

I don’t have much athletic talent, and for those of you who know me well, it is unlikely that I am going to “be the greatest” at anything. But not being first or the greatest is a whole lot different than choosing to be last and a servant to all.  Not being the best involves admitting someone is better than you.  Servant-hood requires that you make yourself lower than another, choosing to place your needs and desires in submission to theirs.  This is hard, and not something we will achieve on our own.  Fortunately, God’s economy is fueled by grace.

Today, in Genesis 47, we read about the last days of Israel (Jacob). He had been reunited with his son Joseph.  Because Joseph had found favor with Pharaoh, Israel’s last 17 years were fruitful in the land of Goshen with his descendants.  He dies peacefully and Joseph buries his body with his fathers, according to Israel’s wishes.  What?  Is this the same person who was born in Genesis 25, stole his brother’s birthright, tricked his father into giving him the blessing that belonged to his brother, and then had go live with his uncle Laban to avoid being killed by his brother?  It is.

In Genesis 28, we read the account of Jacob’s dream where God promises to bless Jacob. See, God chose Jacob just like he chose us.

Notice as Jacob’s life goes on he begins to make some different choices. In spite of Laban’s deceitfulness (on more than one occasion), Jacob served him for twenty years.  Later, in preparation for a reunion with his brother Esau, Jacob sent gifts and messengers ahead to meet Esau with a message from Jacob, “his servant”.  Do you see Jacob’s actions beginning to reflect a change in attitude, motivation and position?

God’s economy is remarkably different than the world’s economy. How can we combat the irresistible pull of our culture to be the best/know the best/worship the best?  As we see with Jacob’ life.  It is never too late.  God’s grace is greater than all our sin.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Family: Genesis 41; Mark 11. Secret: Job 7; Romans 11.

I want to start today’s post with a quick shout out to my Grandma, Evelyn York. Last year at this time, I headed down to her house, a place I hadn’t been in nearly 20 years.  I’ve regularly spent time with my Grandma since I was last there, just not at her house, one on one, for an extended period of time.  I cannot tell you what that trip did for my heart.

A year ago, I was experiencing a “valley of despair”, feeling like I was on an island with no one on my side; where most of the time no one had my back. Even though she didn’t understand everything I was dealing with, she came along side, spoke wisdom into my life, and reminded me she believed in me.  My grandma is a godly woman.  She loves Jesus and is one of my biggest fans.  Just 2.5 days with her gave me a renewed sense of purpose and just the encouragement I needed.

Well, my circumstances got worse before they got better, but I’m thankful I’ve now begun to turn the corner. Just like last year, I spent Superbowl weekend 2016 in Florida, one on one with my grandma.  Thanks Grandma for “filling my bucket” this past weekend.  I love you!

As we’ve been reading the story of Joseph over the past few days, I know his situation was much worse than my 2015 “valley of despair”. Genesis 41 starts with the phrase, after two whole years.  Two years is a long time to be in jail for a crime you didn’t commit.  This doesn’t even account for the time it took Joseph to deal with the rejection of his brothers or being sold into slavery.  But do you notice the Bible never talks about Joseph feeling sorry for himself or needing to be encouraged from his “valley of despair”?

Joseph finally got his break when Pharaoh called him up to interpret a dream.  Did Joseph take the opportunity make sure Pharaoh knew he had been wrongly imprisoned? Did he push to be released or did he bring glory to himself for being able to interpret the dream?  He did not.  He simply pointed to God.

Genesis 41: 16, “…it is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

What “valley of despair” do you find yourself in today? Are you focused on your circumstances or God’s power to overcome them? Today I encourage you to meditate on the words of Romans 11:33-36 from today’s reading.  Nothing is outside God’s control.  To him be glory forever.

Romans 11:33-36, Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?  From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.  Amen (Romans 11:33-36).

Family: Genesis 34; Mark 5. Secret: Job 1; Romans 5.

My oldest child is just over half way through his first year of middle school. While he didn’t change schools and didn’t change friends this year, his attitude and tone have changed in many every day circumstances.  Those of you who have walked this road as a parent, know exactly what I’m talking about.  My son and I talk often about his approach, how the tone and words he chooses drastically impact the results of his conversations.  Sometimes, when I’m able to patiently respond and extend him a little grace (wish I could say this was most of the time), I’ll ask him if he wants to try again.  I let him try the conversation with me again to see if a changed approach will produce a more positive outcome.

As we read through the book of Matthew and have now started into Mark, we’ve seen Jesus employ different methods of teaching. He was uncompromising in his message, but regularly changed his approach to meet his audience where they were.

Jesus often took a very direct line with the religious teachers of the day. They were continually trying to “catch” Jesus contradicting the law and often questioned his authority.  He usually started his response by calling them hypocrites, used their questions to expose the nature of their hearts, and then clearly stated the truth.  We know his approach with them was effective because they seldom had a rebuttal.

In Matthew and Mark, we also see Jesus teach using many parables. These were every day stories with a heavenly meaning.  The masses could hear the stories, but some, because of their unwillingness to accept the message, could not always understand them.  In fact, Jesus got to the point where he only taught using parables.  It was not because he was trying to hide the truth, but perhaps was an effort to make folks open their hearts in order to hear and understand.

Yesterday in Mark 4, we found Jesus level-setting with his disciples about parables. For this chosen group, he took extra care to make sure they understood.  With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.  He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything (Mark 4:33-34).

He explained everything.  Remember that the disciples weren’t a highly educated group.  Think of the time and care it took to make sure they were connecting the dots well enough to author what would become part of the Bible – God’s living word passed on through the generations.

Today marks our 5^th day into the book of Romans.  I realize the subject matter is different from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Romans is not an account of the life of Christ written by one of the disciples, rather it is Paul explaining God’s plan for salvation:  grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  What has been so impactful to me over the past few days is Paul’s unbridled approach.  His passion is so refreshing.  In chapter 1 verse 16 he says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”, and it’s all downhill from there.  Paul just tells it like it is!

Romans 5:6-11

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

While we were still sinners, Christ died to save us. Through his resurrection, we have life. This is the Good News!

Family: Genesis 28; Matthew 27. Secret: Esther 4; Acts 27.

When I read today’s passages, I quickly realized my post was going to cover the crucifixion and burial of Jesus captured in Matthew 27. Mike Baker’s sermon at Eastview this past Sunday covered John’s account of this story.  As a result, I start with a great sense of inadequacy.  Nevertheless, the greatness of God’s plan is on my heart as I meditate on today’s passages.

Romans 11:36 says, “For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory”.

The central theme of God’s plan for mankind is salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Yesterday, we read about Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane.  As he is praying before his arrest, he cries out to the father.  Admitting the weakness of his flesh, he asks God if there is another way to accomplish his will.  Nevertheless, he closes his prayer in submission, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Every detail of Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion and burial in Chapter 27 are part of God’s plan. Throughout his conviction and crucifixion, Jesus endures challenges to defend himself and/or to save himself by the chief priests, the elders, the crowd, and even one of the other men on a cross.  Yet he does not give in.  Knowing, “…everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory”. Jesus was committed to being part of God’s plan, for God’s Glory.

In John 10:17, Jesus says, “I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.”

Think about your own circumstances today. Knowing God will accomplish his purpose with or without you, are you choosing to submit to his power? Are you living for his glory?

Today’s reading link: Genesis 22; Matthew 21; Nehemiah 11; Acts 21

Merriam-Webster defines faith as, “strong belief or trust in someone or something”. Matthew has talked to us a lot about faith this week. Today’s reading starts with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The crowds believed in Jesus, and had confidence he was who he said he was.  Their response was to praise him.

Back in Matthew 17, Jesus rebuked his disciples for not having the faith to cast out demons. He tells them if they just had a little faith, even that as small as a mustard seed, they could do something:  move mountains.  In Matthew 21:21-22, Jesus again reminds the disciples of the power available to them through faith.  “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

As defined in the English dictionary, faith is a noun. Note that Merriam-Webster uses the word “trust” in the definition.  In contrast to faith, trust can also be a verb.  It is something we do, an action, prompted by our faith.  God calls us to act upon our faith.

James 2:17 says, “Faith without works is dead.”  A few verses later, James references one of the greatest examples of faith, which we read about in Genesis 22 today.  Here we see Abraham’s faith in God prompting him to take action.  God tells Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering.  The long-awaited son born to him by Sarah to be sacrificed as an offering to God?  He had just sent Hagar and his son Ishmael away, was God really going to take Isaac from him too?  In order to do follow through with God’s command, Abraham had to trust that God would bless his action.  God is faithful.  Not only did he bless Abraham by preserving Isaac’s life, God’s blessed Abraham by promising to multiply his offspring.

What does that faith look like in your life and my life today? Are we completely trusting God enough to follow through in action?