Proverbs 11:15 - Verify the one receiving gifts

Proverbs 11:15 

He who is surety for a stranger will surely suffer for it,

But he who hates going surety is safe. 

Message: Verify the one receiving gifts

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: NIV - Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe. 

He who is surety for a stranger or for another. 

“He is in great danger to be undone, who stands bound to pay the debts of another man, especially of a stranger, whose ability and honesty are unknown to him; and the way to be secure from it, is not only to avoid such engagements one’s self, but to dislike to see other men enter into them.” Simon Patrick (1626–1707), a highly regarded 17th-century Anglican bishop, theologian, and biblical commentator.

Hmm. This evening I have been struggling with this guy begging me for money. I have been friends with this man for a while now. He credits things I did that I don't think I did. But I suppose this situation is different as it seems this verse speaks of giving to someone when you do not know how they will be using it. I have always wondered if we need to do our due diligence in making sure that our money is being used for good purposes, that we need are good and true and this verse seems to confirm that this is so. 

I saw this -- The Septuagint translates differently, "A wicked man doeth evil when he mixes with the righteous; he hateth the sound of safety (η΅χον ἀσφαλείας)." Interesting that the word doeth is now speaking of here as surety in other translations. Surety is taking the responsibility of another. And odd that this verse starts with the wicked mixing with the righteous rather than the other way around. Matthew Henry says, "Our Lord Jesus Christ became a surety for us when we were strangers, and he smarted for it, he was bruised and wounded for our sins; but then he knew our circumstances, and what the consequence would be, and became a surety on purpose to pay the whole debt and set us free." He knew what he was getting into. 

So we must be careful how we give. Like Jesus, once we know what the ministry is about, we have then the option to give and perhaps we need to give if it is a worthwhile situation. Maybe I need to be quicker to give when I found out areas that are in need. I have been given much and so much responsibility has been given to me to help those in need. 

Looking at this verse - "I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." (Luke 6:27–31)

Not sure if this is literal. And so I don't think we have to give to everyone who asks. We need to be able to verify that our gifts are going to a good cause. To bridge these two verses seems to be the idea from the Book of Numbers -- "Be careful" of the authority of God. God is on the throne and in charge, so I need to be careful to make sure I am obedient to all that He says. And in the process, make sure I am not being selfish. If I have the funds, I need to give. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you so much for this Proverb. I have wondered about this thought for some time. I believe we are living in a time of so much need and we need to be careful as to who we are giving to therefore. And this verse confirms that I need to make sure righteousness and evil are not mixing. And so the money that I give to people needs to be for good causes. Help me with this recognition and seeing the need and therefore giving. You will provide for my needs and so I can give. Help me to be a cheerful giver again and not one that is sore about giving or doing it reluctantly. I praise you God. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 17:1-37 - The Threat of Goliath

I Samuel 17:1-37

Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philstine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (verse 26)

Message: The Threat of Goliath

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: Saul is still king over Israel with David residing in his court. Chapter 17 begins with the word that the Philistines have gathered for battle. [Found this great map here showing the place where the Philistines have gathered - Socoh which is in Judah, below Jerusalem (which resides in the tribe of Benjamin)]. Philistines camped on one side of the mountain and Israel on the other mountain side with a valley in between (v.1-3). 

Enter Goliath, about 9 feet 9 inches tall and had armor weighing 125 pounds. He had on shin guards and a javelin (v.4-7). 

Goliath stands and announces himself as the Philistine and asks Israel for a man to come to him. A fight is offered with the winner becoming servants of the other (v. 8-10). Israel was afraid (v.11). 

In the next 8 verses an overview of David and Jesse is given. Jesse had 8 sons and lives in Bethlehem (15 miles to Socoh, the place of battle so probably a days journey). "David went back and forth from Saul (in Socoh) to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem (verse 15)." David isn't even thought to be included in the battle but Jesse's other sons are present. Jesse instructs David to bring food to the camp for his brothers. 

The next 6 verses (v.20-25) David arrives and heads to the battle line to greet his brothers. Goliath speaks again the words he spoke before and David hears them. Men of Israel tell David that whoever defeats this man will be extremely honored and respected and receive the king's daughter. David responds in verse 26, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?" David is marveled that anyone would have that audacity to think they could defeat anyone represented by the Living God. 

From the moment David arrives throughout all of the conversations he has confidence in himself, his experience as a fighter, recalling when he fought a lion taken a lamb from his flock. He used his bare hands. It is in David's words (verse 32) that reflects his confidence, "Let no man's heart fail on account of him."  He tells Saul that he is able to fight the Philistine and Saul says to him in verse 37, "Go, and may the Lord be with you." 

Verse 26 are the first recorded words of David. And his words declare his confidence in God. Previously, it is God that has chosen David without any words or works shown by David. But when David does speak he proclaims his confidence in God. His first description is a man after God's own heart. He is the unlikely hero. 

As I have studied Saul, he seems like an everyday leader. On the surface there isn't much wrong with him, but Samuel does reflect him as being not too confident in God and having to be reminded to look to God for help and guidance. Contrast is David who is chosen by God and immediately reflects confidence in God. Saul was not anti-God by any means. He tried to please God, but perhaps his pleasing was more defined by himself. 

Summary: The Philistines have come to do battle and Goliath challenges anyone to fight him with the winner resulting in those people serving the other. David in coming to provide food for his brothers declares confidence that he can defeat Goliath because of God. 

Promise: God can deliver us from His enemies and we need to have complete confidence in Him alone. 

Prayer: God, you choose your workers and You have clearly chosen some for your purposes while others do not work for your glory completely and yet you sill can work through their lives for your good purpose. I think all people hope that they would be on your side. I pray that I am like a David, chosen by You, after your own heart, reflecting You. Be the strength in my life. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 14:1-23 - Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

I Samuel 14:1-23

Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few." (verse 6)

Message: Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: As I mentioned in the last lesson, in the choosing of God, he was to deliver the Israel people from the Philistines (I Samuel 9:16), though it was his son Jonathan that initiated this while Saul was staying back in Gibeah. In this chapter we pick up the battle. 

Jonathan left to "cross over to the Philistines' garrison...but he did not tell his father" (v. 1). He had to cross over these crags or steep rugged rock or cliff which had names Slippery (“Bozez”) and Thorny (“Seneh”) and in verse 6 he does something his father Saul had not done and mentions that the "Lord will work for us" (v. 6). In crossing over with his armor bearer he looks for a sign from the Lord that the Philistines have been given into their hands. In the process, about twenty men were put to death (v. 13-14). 

We are to be a people that speak of the Lord in our life and give honor and glory to Him for working out the details of our lives. It is God who is at work in our lives. 

Meanwhile back in Gibeah, Saul's watchmen and later Saul saw that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not present. Saul and his men proceeded to the battle. 

"The Lord delivered Israel that day (v. 23)." It was threw Jonathan's initiative that this conquering occurred. He looked to the Lord, but even in looking he did not assume God word work, but rather said words like "perhaps" and then looks for a sign, again showing a confidence in the Lord, but still making a request. 

Summary: The people had in Saul the king they wanted and yet despite being called by God, anointed and set apart as king, in this instance it was his son that initiated the defeat of the Philistines. 

Promise: Our confidence is to be in God and his power and we can forge ahead trusting in Him and waiting to to see how he might work in the process. 

Prayer: God, you are good and I need to be a person that speaks more of You and proclaims You as Lord but also actively working in my life and as things are happening in my life, realizing that You are walking with me every step of the way. Change my thinking. Thank you for the praying time with Pamela and continue to help me to voice my confidence in You, like Jonathan did in this day. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Judges 1 - Trouble In Canaan

Judges 1

And it came about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely (verse 28). 

Message: Trouble in Canaan

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: After Joshua has died, the question comes up in verse 1 of Judges about who will now fight the Canaanites and in verse 2 it is mentioned Judah (a fulfillment of prophecy from Genesis 49:8-12; about 400 years prior). It seems they are still going to the areas that are allotted them.  Verse 4 - "The Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands and they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek." 

Verse 8 mention how the sons of Judah then fought against Jerusalem, capturing it and then setting it on fire. And Judah continued to fight against other Canaanites in other cities. Caleb then offers up his daughter as wife to the one who attacks Kiriath-sepher (verse 12). Caleb's younger brother, Othniel, is that one. The daughter received a gift of the upper and lower springs of the Negev at her request. 

Other cities are captured, like those living in Zephath (v 17), Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron (v. 18). The Jebusites did not leave Jerusalem and stayed with the sons of Benjamin (v.21). 

In Bethel, family requests to be treated kindly and they are allowed to go free. Manasseh lived alongside people in Beth-shean as those people did not leave (v. 27-28), nor Ephraim in Gezer (v. 29), Zebulun in Kitron and Nahaloi (v. 30) or Asher in Acco or Sidon (v. 31-32) or Naphtali in Beth-shemesh (v.33) and sons of Dan with Amorites in the hill country, though they became forced labor (v. 34-36). 

And that's the chapter. So a 2nd leader is provided in Judah. Jerusalem is seized. And many other lands as well, some with their captors remaining and some being killed. Perhaps it seems kind that people did not die, but another way to look at this is probably the antithesis of what we will continue to see in this chapter and that is the people in these lands were supposed to be driven out. And they were not. perhaps because the people became frightened and let the people remain. They did not trust the words and promises given in Joshua earlier that people would be driven out if there were obstacles. But instead, they gave into the obstacles. 

Summary: Judah takes over now after the death of Joshua and lands continue to be inhabited. The goal was taking over these lands but often people remained as Israel let obstacles stay rather than trusting in God for their conquest. 

Promise: Outward success occurs, but often at the expense of spiritual failure. Our success comes only from the Lord. 

Prayer: O God, let my world be defined by You and only You. You give me the power and strength, but I must trust in You. Show me each day the ways in which I need to trust in You and not give in to the things around me. I pray for your power in my life. 

 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 13:36-38 - Peter's Overconfidence

John 13:36-38

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times."

Message: Peter's Overconfidence

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Verse 36 seems to begin where verse 33 left off when Jesus said, "Where I am going, you cannot come." Peter is not understanding Jesus and wants to go with Him. Jesus seems to be mentioning his ascension after His death to the Father. Peter is confident in his surrender to the Lord, but Jesus now once again, as in showing the betrayal of Judas, predicts also the denial by Peter of Jesus that will occur 3 times before the rooster will crow. 

Previously in John 10:11 mentioned that as the Good Shepherd He will lay down His life for His sheep. And in other places there is the prediction that Jesus will one day die. It is said that Peter is sort of a spokesman for the other disciples often. He speaks here wondering where Jesus is going and wants to go with him, but Jesus confirms that Peter cannot come. Peter does not really understand what Jesus is doing yet. I am sure I would not understand either at this time if I was in the same place as Peter and the other disciples. Jesus also mentions thought that one day Peter will go where he is going, "you will follow later." As such Jesus is confirming that Peter will be with him one day in heaven. 

But in response to this now, Peter is not listening well. He wants something and Jesus' reply is not holding weight to what he wants. He states that he will lay down his life for Jesus. He will follow Jesus even to death. Peter has a devotion to the Lord that is clear even when he does not necessarily understand all that Jesus is saying. Peter has a willingness to follow Jesus. The disciples left everything to follow Jesus initially and this unreserved devotion to Him continues here. They have had a willingness to follow Him and that resolve has not changed. 

Yet, Jesus sees something that Peter does not see. Despite the fact that Peter seems to be expressing a heartfelt commitment to follow, Jesus knows something about Peter that he doesn't know: that Peter will deny Jesus when put to the test. Jesus conveys this information to Peter. Jesus makes a statement and yet it doesn’t change the fact that Peter will still deny him. If someone told me something that I was embarrassed by that was going to happen, I would think I might try to make sure it doesn’t happen. And yet it still happens.

It’s also really hard to be critical of Peter, because I might hope that I would respond differently given the situation, yet it’s not until I’ve been placed in that situation that I would know for sure. 

Summary: Simon wants to follow Jesus and go where He goes when He is glorified, but Jesus lets him know that He will come later, but first Peter will deny Jesus 3 times. 

Promise: We dare not trust in ourselves but only in the power of Christ to keep us faithful to Him. Let us ask Him this day to make us persevere.

Prayer: O Lord, I pray that I am a faithful follower of You all of my days. And yet Lord, I am concerned of my own failure and the way I might deny You given a circumstance. I pray that I am not like that and that instead I make you known always. Thank you for these words though it is hard for me to hear them about Peter. Thank You for Your great love. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Isaiah 40:8 - Confident in the Truth

Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. 

Message: Confident in the Truth

Time: Isaiah, the prophet, the writer of this book, in Jerusalem. The year is 739-681 BC. Isaiah lived during the time of four Judaen kings and pronounced judgment on the people of Judah as they did not love their neighbors and serve God with humility, but offered meaningless sacrifices in temple. Isaiah asks them to return to Him. 

What the Lord is Saying: I continue to follow Tabletalk, to help act as a guide and direction for me in reading scriptures and studying them. After Tabletalk covers the lessons related to an issue, it often ends by compiling a set of lessons linking a teaching series by RC Sproul with devotions. Today's lesson starts with a reminder that we live today in a world that values 'relativism.' Relativism is the belief that there is no absolute truth. Personally, I think this came alive in the 90s with the Menendez brothers trial occurred and they got off murdering their parents because their parents misbehavior justified their killing of them. To me it chronicled this idea that each person gets to define their own truth based upon their environment they find themselves in, thus there is no absolute truth. 

This can make sharing the gospel then a challenge because of the idea that, "just because it is good for you doesn't mean that it is good for me." And so rather it seems today the only absolute truth is there are no absolutes that can be prescribed on every person. And yet our culture today in America does have absolutes now such as systemic racism and once a leader does something racist or abusive toward women, there is no forgiveness. So it seems like society or Satan really is coming against another key principle of the gospel: forgiveness. 

Yet God in His word is not wishy-washy. He had high expectations for the people of Israel and Judah. I have been reading a chapter a day since November in the Bible starting with Jeremiah and now in Ezekiel and in this time I am seeing a Lord God that hated idolatry and expects a people to be completely surrendered to Him. When they are, God is honored, but when they aren't, God will judge them. The secret is that God must be honored. And obviously this is not a great principle for man because man instead wants to be God. And so naturally society (Satan) will continue to seek to strip the ways of God from the way of the world. 

But as today's lesson is titled, we are to be confident and remain confident in the truth. Our church right now is having a series on evangelism and reaching our neighbors for Christ. It is interesting that we have to somehow manufacture this focus in our lives to share Christ with others. I find it odd in a way because as believers in Christ we should be bold and confident simply because of who Christ is in us (Acts 4:13 says, "As they observed the confidence of Peter and John..."). And yet Bobby and I hit the mall regularly to talk to people. In some ways we get out there and talk to people because we are trying to get our culture to re-align themselves to truth and in a way we need to remind them that there is a Gospel of Jesus Christ. And Paul also asked the church to encourage him to be bold in making the gospel known (Ephesians 6:18-20). The Old Testament lacks this, rather than it speaking of how we are to encourage one another to boldness, it seems to focus more on our direct commitment to God. But we live in a dark world and our minds and lives for that matter are like shifting sand. We get tossed to and from by this world and what it values as important. 

Today's verse is a great one, found in a book that I think is similar to Jeremiah and Ezekiel that speaks to a people that keep living life their own way. A people that was around almost 3,000 years ago and yet how they live is similar to how we live. And in the midst of this is a verse and word from God that says, "The Word of God will stand forever."  Life will shift, will ebb and flow, grass will wither, flowers fade, but God's word remains. Even in our day, what is important to people of the word is important now, but in 20 years it will be something different. But our lives and our message of live needs to remain confident in the truth of God and naturally then, with the help of the Spirit of God, we remain bold for Him. 

Summary: Life will shift, will ebb and flow, grass will wither, flowers fade, but God's word remains and we remain confident in the truth of God. 

Promise: Our confidence must be grounded in the Word of God itself, in our conviction that it is enduring and will always accomplish its purposes. 

Prayer: God, you are good, indeed so good and yes, your Word endures and stands forever. It remains the same and you remain true and you still deserve all of my praise and glory. Lord, thank you for the church and the refuge it is and the encouragement we have to remain strong in our faith and remain bold before You. Lord, help us as Your people to stay in community and stay engaged with our neighbors and with the people of God. Thank you for placing so many good people in our lives and the mission we have in this world. 

TABLETALK - August 2017 Article Summaries

I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Church Leadership Offices

Prophets and Apostles - There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers - Only mention of pastors in the New Testament. 

Purpose of the Church

Our Arena for Growth - It is being at church, present, that we are to be equipped, build one another up, in order to grow in maturity. Communion in Gifts and Graces - As believers joining in Christ’s sufferings we have community, exercising our spiritual gifts, in order to grow up the Body of Christ. Receiving and Giving God's Love - We come together because of His sufferings, but once we are together, we are to be about exercising our gifts to build up and grow one another, and it is done with love. 

Significant People from Church History

The Witness of Polycarp - Athanasius' Defense of the Incarnation - Thomas Aquinas and the Knowledge of God - John Calvin's Offering to the Lord - Jonathan Edwards and the Beauty of Christ

What I've learned from this study

As I finish this study now on the church body, I am left with the conclusion that church is not optional. That we must assemble with one another and that community is something we all need. First and foremost, it is important for each of us to come together regularly and agree on the principles of the gospel and that who we are is because of Christ and we are to boast in Him and what He has done for us individually and collectively. For the sake of the gospel, we are striving to be a part of the invisible church which is the church only God knows because only He knows the true condition of each person's heart. What we are doing as we assemble is meeting up with the visible church or those that we see. Yet, we must realize that there are those with us that are not part of the true church. And we are not all alike that are in the church. The church is made up of people from every tribe, every tongue, throughout history. And the church is more than one place. The invisible church I believe is made up of people in all walks of life, attending all different types of churches and denomination of churches today and in history. I think we need to be careful to avoid the temptation to boast in anything but Christ and this includes boasting that our church is the only true church. As such, we need to remember that we are all still fleshly beings with temptations and are influenced daily to live in manners more pleasing to Satan than God. This happens even in the church. But Christ is the head and we need to be centered on Him. Once we are in church, we need to submit to our leaders. A church needs to be committed to preaching the word of God and observing the sacraments - The Lord's Supper and Baptism. We need to keep encouraging the Gospel, turning from our sin, and returning to Him. And just as there is service and work in our world, it is to be present in our churches. We are all members of the Body of Christ. The church leaders that are often paid are not the only members, but we are all to be serving with the gifts that He has given us. Why? To grow me and to grow one another. This was probably one of my biggest learning aspects in this study and that is that tendency in me to be selfish. And the reminder that in serving I am to be about helping others grow. This is why ministry continues to call me in life - to talk to people at the mall, online as I do, and others face to face - and I need to do this at church as well with that Body of Believers. This is what life is really about - getting myself grounded but then also serving others to help them grow in Christ. 

Here also is a summary of the articles from Tabletalk for August 2017. 

Searching for Truth - Dr. Burk Parsons (editor of Tabletalk magazine) - As a pastor, when people find out he is one, they react in many different ways. Most of the time their response will be to start asking various questions. We are inquisitive people by nature and in this age, many are searching for answer's to life's ultimate questions. Pastors do have a responsibility and probably more opportunities and yet like a pastor, each Christian is a theologian and apologist. Every Christian is to always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (I Peter 3:15). As people ask questions, we must be ready to speak and the Holy Spirit will give us courage and compassion to speak the truth in love. It is the Holy Spirit that opens people's eyes and makes them alive to the glory of Jesus Christ. 

The Role of Experience - R.C. Sproul (founder of Ligonier Ministries, founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and first president of Reformation Bible College) - We live in a time when personal experience or personal feelings have been elevated to the final criterion of right and wrong (e.g. divorce and no longer feeling like being married; homosexuality based upon the feeling of being attracted to the same sex; even Christians made decisions based upon how they feel). People always said the 4 minute mile could not be achieve, then Roger Banister in 1954 achieved it. Experience is a good teacher, but the problem is when we see it as always the final authority. Experience is not a license to disobey God. Some people claim an experience with the Holy Spirit that led them to do things contrary to scripture but this is impossible. Only the creator can be the final arbiter of right and wrong. 

Is There a God? - Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson - (Ligonier ministries teach fellow and author of many books; previously served as senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C.) - This question is both easy and hard to answer succinctly. First, to answer the question - "Why is there something there, and not nothing?" The cosmos, my existence, and my ability to reason all depend on the fact that life did not and could not come from nothing, but requires a reasonable and reasoning origin; time + chance = reality is impossible. Second, this God is the biblical God for 2 reasons: God grounds what we know of the cosmos and His existence is the only rational basis for rational thought and communication. Atheists must borrow ultimately from the tenets of the Bible to even define their thoughts. What is good, true, rational, intelligible, and beautiful has no substructure. Even my conscience is fabricated as is "meaning." The Atheist has traded what is plain to them and repressing what they deep down know to be true: Romans 1:18–25. Our hearts are restless until we find him and begin as the Bible begins with, "In the beginning, God..." 

Is the Bible the Word of God? - Dr. Michael J. Kruger (President & Professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC) - Skeptics often question the Bible, calling it fanciful stories, but it is a Spirit book and "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:14). (1) - Scripture itself has divine qualities - it convicts (Heb. 4:12–13), it encourages (Ps. 119:105), it comforts (v. 50), and it brings wisdom (v. 98). All others have woven together a single, coherent message. (2) - God worked through man to reveal His word at the correct time; despite much scrutiny, the words are proven to be historically reliable. (3) - It is a book with words that people have been using, trusting, reading, and applying for thousands of years. Jesus even said: "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).

Does God Care? - Dr. John Blanchard (1932-2021; apologist and teacher; director of Popular Christian Apologetics) - Atheists say no God; deists say God marks the field and watches from the grandstands. Yet the Bible says differently. After Adam and Eve sinned he said, "Where are you? (Gen. 3:9). And then he would send a redeemer to rescue them. And throughout history, God's care for his people is recorded. "He delivered them from their distress (Ps. 107:6)." Despite all Job went through he stated to God, "your care has preserved my spirit (Job 10:12)." We often don't treat God well and then David asks, "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Ps. 8:4). Hard to comprehend and yet "because He cares we can cast all of our anxieties on him." (I Peter 5:6-7). And as He cares for us we are tasked to take care of others, of "orphans and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27). 

Is Jesus Really God? - Dr. James R. White (author, director of Alpha and Omega Ministries) - Read the words of Jesus and the writings of the disciples, in their context, and Jesus being God is the conclusion. (1) Jesus at His trial. When the chief priests were trying to find testimony to put Jesus to death - "Are you the Christ?" "I am. You shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power." The priests heard this statement and accused Jesus of blasphemy (Mark 14:55-54). Looking further at Psalm 110:1 - My Lord (Jehovah) says to my Lord (Adonai). David is writing and Adonai is a person of authority and based also on 110:5 - The person of authority is the Messiah. And Daniel 7:13 - There came on like the Son of Man, like of human descent - Not merely a man, but the Messiah. (2) Jesus defending the healing of a man on the Sabbath by stating both He and His Father (God) are able to work on the Sabbath showing God His Father and Himself equal with God (John 5:10-18). (3) Jesus states he has authority over life - and states He will lay His life down and take it up again or rise again (John 10:17-18). (4) The disciples speak - Titus 2:13 - God and Jesus Glory appears; 2 Peter 1:1 - God and Savior are righteous; John 12:41 - His Glory; This language is not merely of a man. He is worthy. We cannot be neutral about Jesus. He is worthy of our praise. 

Is There Only One Way of Salvation? - Dr. James N. Anderson (Associate professor of theology and philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary) - "Have it Your Way" was the Burger King Slogan of the 1970s and as in consumerism this same message is brought into our thinking of how we achieve heaven or the afterlife or acceptance by from God. Yet, Jesus was clear - only those that believe in Him have eternal life (John 3:14-17). It is a clear message from Jesus. He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (14:6; Matt. 11:27). As CS Lewis says - Either He is Lord over all, or He is Lord at all. The charge is arrogance to the Christian and yet we do mean that all other religions are wrong. And yet we are a people that often wants to negotiate in matters of life and death. In medicine, it seems ludicrous to not accept the cure for a disease and yet we all think we know best. Yet, God will not compromise His truth. His way is the only way as is voices by His apostles (Acts 2:39; 4:12; 16:31; 20:20–21; Rom. 10:9–17; 1 John 2:22–25; 4:14–15; 5:12–13). Yet, it must be that we truly do not understand the problem - that we are sinners standing under the righteous judgment of God, unable to make adequate atonement for our sins. Only Jesus removes this enmity between God and man, bearing the penalty for our sin (Rom. 5:6–11; 2 Cor. 5:18–21; 1 Tim. 2:5–6). 

Is God Unjust - Jared S. Oliphint (Phd. student in philosophy at Texas A&M and Th.M. student at Westminster Theological Seminary) - In the garden, Adam took the bite of forbidden fruit and God introduced earthly justice, resulting in his death, though it was a delayed sentence. But God also showed grace and mercy, two new ideas. God's people ask God to end betrayal, slavery, exile, and death. God's justice is fulfilled on Good Friday. Ultimate rest from injustice will be found in a new, eternal home. 

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People? - Dr. Greg Lanier (professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary) - Bone cancer in children, terminal cancer, abuse of a neighbor's child, terrorist bombings, hurricanes devastating entire islands. Important to distinguish between the head/intellectual side and heart/emotional side. Does the suffering of good people disprove God? 1. The question assumes there is "good" and "evil." Thus, a standard, hopefully a Godly one that determines right and wrong. "Evil" people do not think they are themselves evil. 2. Presupposes that suffering matters because humans have a unique dignity over animals and we are not randomly on this earth. Rocks and trees do not suffer. 3. There can be good reasons from God for suffering (punishment for sin Judges 2:11-15; display God's justice Rom. 9:19-26; driver sinners to repentance Ps. 119:71; the death of Jesus accomplished the good of salvation Acts 2:22-24; 4:8-12). 4. Despite evil and suffering, God is still benevolent to people. The idea of "do good, receive good, do bad, receive bad" does not hold true. Despicable people can prosper. "the sun rises on the good and the evil; rains on the just and the unjust Matthew 5:45." In other words, God's ways are not man's ways. It is inevitable, thus our response together, with one another, is to comfort one another with the loving comfort we have received from God (2 Cor. 1:3-7); grieve with people (Rom 12:15); bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2); and point people to Jesus who will wipe away every tear and one day all will be fixed (Rev. 21:4). [My observation: the conclusion is God knows best and He is in control. I still think sin is evil and has far reaching results on mankind that go even beyond quid pro quo in which there is a favor for a favor. And in general man thinks they know best always and always wants to be in control.]

Are the Bible and Science Compatible? - Dr. Keith A Mathison (professor of systematic theology at Reformation Bible College) - The issue here is how one defines the Bible and science. If one is a book of fairy tales and the other a book of facts, then obviously there will be conflict. Christians believe God is infallible. He reveals himself through his works that we see and read about in His Word. He is always truthful so if we think there is a conflict then the problem is our interpretation. Because humans are fallible, if there is a problem it is always man, never God. Science is not to blame. Science reveals to us the works of God. General revelation is God revealing Himself through His created works. Special revelation is God revealing Himself through His word. Between the two there is no conflict. For example, some find in scripture words that infer the earth as a flat disc and yet if it is true that it is a sphere based upon what we see and what science says, then the problem is our interpretation. How we interpret is always the cause of misinformation. Science and scripture are compatible unless we make them incompatible. Science is not the problem. False philosophies masquerading as science is the problem. As usual, it comes down to interpretation.   

Who Are You to Judge? - Gregory Koukl (president of Stand to Reason and author of Tactics and Story of Reality) - "Judge Not" (Matthew 7:1) is often misunderstood. To judge is to find fault. True moral guilt (admitting our fault) though is central to the Christian message. It seems acceptable to warn people that they may be caught by the law if they are breaking it (i.e. speeding in a car). Secular society believes that no one is allowed to pass judgment of any kind. Morality is now a matter of personal opinion. And yet this is not really true because judgment is warranted when it suits the secularist. Again, the complaint is against absolute truth. Often the thought is people want to be left alone. The best way to counter this is by asking questions. Ask "What do you mean?" This helps you understand what people are feeling as it is possible an apology is in order. Clarify that the standard is God's standard. Can also say, "Are you saying it's never right to point out a wrong? If so, they why are you doing it with me right now?" However, we are not trying to catch people in a fault or be clever, but we are aiming to have people recognize their sin, so that this will turn from it and toward the mercy of God. 

Is This Life All There Is? - Dr. Bruce R. Baugus (Associate professor of philosophy and theology at Reformed Theological Seminary) - God has put eternity in man's heart (Eccl 3:11). In each person is a deep seated sense that there is more to this life than this life. Humanity is fascinated with the afterlife; it is a cardinal principle of every religion. It is why living only for temporal pleasures rarely satisfy. Epicureanism (300 BC) argued that pleasure was the chief good in life; this is the way of living many Americans are in today. And yet the sense of eternity is stamped on our hearts. Jesus constantly spoke of the dilemma of man - 2 eternal states - a glorious kingdom of peace and a dreadful place of outer darkness. He issued sober warnings of each. And as such He asks people to receive Him by faith or reject Him. "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). 

Marriage as Two Pilgrims - Rev. Jason Helopoulos (Associate pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan) - The Christian marriage is different from other marriages around us: “they are heirs with you of the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7). Our marriage is centered on Christ and eternity. Our goal is the same as every Christian, but we go forth with it side by side. We are one flesh as Ephesians 5:28 says, “Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.” As such, when one hurts, the other hurts, injuring a spouse is injuring both; encouraging a spouse is encouraging both. And each one know the other person's weaknesses, strengths, temptations and knows how to encourage the other person. Thus, we go forward as coheirs and co-laborers united in one flesh. 

The Fruit of Patience - Robert Rothwell (Associated editor of Tabletalk and resident adjunct professor for Reformation Bible College) - I struggle with being patient. But I would like to be patient. My problem is a fear of the unknown. If I know what is going on, then I don't have to wait. Yet, waiting reminds me of my utter dependence on God and His Word. Examples: Abraham brought on more struggles taking on Hagar to get a son instead of waiting for Sarah. Instead of waiting for Samuel, Saul lost his kingdom when he offered sacrifices at Gilgal. Fear brings impatience, doubt, fear, and often greater sin. The ancient Israelites waited 400 years after Malachi to hear from God again, and awarded with the Messiah. We wait on eternal life. But in me waiting doesn't mean God is not working. He is working, but moving according to His perfect plan and purpose. He is working according to His plan, not my own. I can be patient. 

Shining God's Glory - Melissa B. Kruger (women's ministry coordinator at Uptown Church (PCA) in Charlotte, NC) - Two thoughts come to mind this morning - reading the Mark Stuart book and the meaning behind the song, "Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus" and the reality in that song that we don't need to try. Jesus is who He is. I am who I am. I'm never going to be as big as him. So no reason to try. The other idea was at the end of the Sunday School lesson was not asking for opportunities but seeing the opportunities God gives me. They are there. Then I read this article that Melissa gives us about cleaning silverware with tarnish and a simple way of using aluminum foil and a bowl of water and dish detergent and waiting and in time, the tarnish would be transferred from the silverware to the foil. This is what Jesus did for us. Our sin got transferred. He took our sin and now we can shine of the glory of God. But am I shining? I'm not. I'm living in this state of misery and not shining. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For our sake - he made him to be sin...so that in him we become the righteousness of God." The tarnish has been transferred. And I can shine the righteousness of God. I don't have to scrub myself clean. He made me clean. He did all the work. And now I can shine by loving Him, His truth, walking in His ways, and living in obedience to His commands. 

Discipleship and Growth - Jonathan Leeman (editorial director of 9Marks; elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC) - Everyone disciples. Everyone leaves a dent on someone - toward righteousness or wickedness. What impact will I have? "Today, I want to help others follow Jesus." (1) Begin with love. We follow people who love us. (2) It works through instruction and imitation. "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (I Cor. 11:1)." "Speak the truth in love...to grow...build up one another (Eph. 4:15, 29)." (3) Discover differences in one another. "God arranged the members in the body as He choose (I Cor. 12:17-18)." (4) It is churchwide. Everyone needs each other (I Cor 12:21). (5) Do it to equip others to do the same (2 Tim. 2:2). 

Finding Contentment Through Boasting - Tyler Kenney (Digital content manager at Ligonier Ministries) - A condition of our fallen hearts is instead of rejoicing when we see God's goodness to others, we become envious, antagonistic to their happiness and discontent with our selves. All people experience this but the Christian knows they should respond differently for God has given us every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3) and we are to be content since we have all things (I Cor. 3:21; Phil. 4:11). Knowing and doing are different but the Holy Spirit is there to equip us. In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul addresses a problem the church has in rallying behind a certain preacher stems from a worldly desire to exalt themselves through association. By favoring a certain leader, the people are trying to puff themselves up (I Cor. 4:6). Some boasted in Paul, some in Apollos, some Cephas, some Christ (I Cor. 1:12). Thus the world pulls us to divide our allegiance - be it sports, leaders, even preachers. Yet, Paul reminds people that we are all essentially nobodies and yet God is pleased to call us all His own. No one is to boast in men, but only in God; this is where true contentment lies. I Cor. 1:29-31 - no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

The Need for Rural Ministry - Kyle Borg (Senior Pastor of Winchester Reformed Presbyterian Church in Winchester, Kansas) - Author ministers in community of rural America, in Kansas, in a town of 551 people. He wonders if church associations are focused on rural America though it still makes up 15-20% of our population. In these cities, substance abuse, poverty, suicide, broken families, tragedy, and danger effect people at a larger proportion than those in the big city. Rural ministry is worth our time. We need to include these cities in our mission work and church starting endeavors. 

Keeping the Faith in a Faithless Age - Albert Mohler (President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky) - (Note: I noticed online that this article was published in 2004.) - The Christian church is no longer the center of western civilization and right and wrong are being redefined. It seems modern people act as if God did not exist. The church must speak from the words of Scripture. 

A Time for Confidence - Stephen J. Nichols (President of Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Florida, chief academic officer at Ligonier Ministries) - Paul was one of the most intelligent people to ever live. He has every reason to have confidence and yet he counts all as loss for the sake of Christ. He never focused on Himself, but all instead on Christ. As we admire Paul and who He is and what He did, we can always see that there is someone else behind the scenes that is working everything out in Paul's life; and this is the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. The doctrine of justification is one of imputation. This teaches that our sin gets imputed to Christ. And Christ's righteousness gets imputed to us. In the presence of God we are now clothed in Christ's righteousness. In His passive obedience, He paid the penalty for our sins; in his active obedience He lives a perfect life. Thus, this is why not a day should go by that we don't rejoice in the Gospel. John and Charles Wesley are examples of men trying to get to God and then discover that Christ has done it all for them. In response, Charles wrote a hymn, And Can It Be. What made Christianity such a problem for Rome in the 1st century was its monotheistic stance and its desire to proselytize. Thus, being a Christian impugned you to death at any time and the death of Christians became a sport. Despite the fact that they lived exemplary lives, they were hated because of what they believe. Christus was hated and put on a cross and Christians are disliked even today. We still hold onto the truth of Gospel for we know it sets us free. 

My Utmost for His Highest - May 8th - The Patience of Faith

Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. - Revelation 3:10

    Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says--"I cannot stand any more." God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. For what have you need of patience just now? Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. "Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him. (Job 13:15)"

    Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, but you know Him. Shipwreck occurs where there is not that mental poise which comes from being established on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the heroic effort of your life, you fling yourself in reckless confidence on God.

    God has ventured all in Jesus Christ to save us, now He wants us to venture our all in abandoned confidence in Him. There are spots where that faith has not worked in us as yet, places untouched by the life of God. There were none of these spots in Jesus Christ's life, and there are to be none in ours. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee. (John 17:3)" The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportunity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

Mom's thoughts

Reckless and Confidence

My thoughts

That is a great analogy of our life being in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. He holds us and let lets us go when He thinks it is appropriate. I can trust myself in His hands. It is called the patience of faith or faith patience. I am not simply patience, but patient because of faith. I know Him because of faith and so I can fling myself in reckless confidence on God. My purpose is know Him and know Him better - so I can then face anything as He lets me fly. 

Maintaining Vital Contact - Abraham, Friend of God, Charles Swindoll Study Guide

In Genesis 12:1 “the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.’”  

Paul Tournier says - Man needs a place. To exist is to occupy a particular living-space to which one has a right. 

In this time I am living in - we are told to stay ‘safe at home.’ At this time we are encouraged to not leave but remain. The Lord told Abram to leave. Their is comfort in remaining where you are - I think moreso as I age. Granted I think that once retirement hits - it might propel me to leave and go some place different and yet leaving friends and family would be difficult. Perhaps instead the idea is to leave temporarily on vacation or even live some place else for a season. But always with the thought of returning. 

In moving Swindoll remarks on some challenges. 

- Rootlessness: when a plant separates from its soil it misses its nourishment and often has a hard time continuing. Familiar support systems are absent. 

- Loneliness: distance separates friends. It takes time to cultivate new friendships. We all knew one day we would leave college and graduate and yet most of those friendships are never as close as they once were. New relationships must be watered. 

- Insecurity: a new environment means learning new ways of getting around. Only the rare breed finds this exhilarating. 

- Uncertainty: what will things now be like? 

Key: Maintain vital contact with the Master Gardener. Regular contact with God will foster our courage and hedge us against the perils of moving. 

I can’t help but think of my dad right now and the angst he is experiencing after the loss of my mom. Granted there is much that he has kept that is familiar: family, his surroundings - yet all are different now. 

Abram was confident in God’s strength 

The good news about Abram is he was leaving with a promise - that blessing would continue by him, land will be divine. 

Altars built became visual reminders of God’s presence and the path promised. Our churches today are our altars: a designated place to worship God. 

I learned from my mom about having specific places to meet alone with God. Right now I’m on the porch - away from people - in a quiet place. It is morning while things are still awakening. This is my favorite time as the distractions haven’t yet started. 

I try to be regular in this time. But it is always hard. I go to bed at different times and wake up at different times. Right now during this pandemic I haven’t had to make food for Pamela so this time is more mine. 

Early on in my faith I was encouraged to have tbese quiet times. I spend time writing down my thoughts. I also keep a journal but this is often separate from this time or I try to keep it separate. Each day I seek to start afresh and start with Him. I like to study and I admit I have a hard time doing other things like praying - singing. I’m okay with the TV on at other times of the day but hate it on now. 

My Utmost for His Highest - November 13 - Faith and Experience

The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. — Galatians 2:20

We have to battle through our moods into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus, to get out of the hole-and-corner business of our experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think Who the New Testament says that Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meanness* of the miserable faith we have — “I haven’t had this and that experience!” Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims — that He can present us faultless before the throne of God, unutterably pure, absolutely rectified and profoundly justified. Stand in implicit adoring faith in Him, He is “made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (I Corinthians 1:30).” How can we talk of making a sacrifice for the Son of God! Our salvation is from hell and perdition, and then we talk about making sacrifices!

We have to get out into faith in Jesus Christ continually; not a prayer meeting Jesus Christ, nor a book Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, Who is God Incarnate, and Who ought to strike us to His feet as dead. Our faith must be in the One from Whom our experience springs. Jesus Christ wants our absolute abandon of devotion to Himself. We never can experience Jesus Christ, nor ever hold Him within the compass of our own hearts, but our faith must be built in strong emphatic confidence in Him.

It is along this line that we see the rugged impatience of the Holy Ghost against unbelief. All our fears are wicked, and we fear because we will not nourish ourselves in our faith. How can any one who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! It ought to be an absolute psalm of perfectly irrepressible, triumphant belief.


*mean: as used here, something or someone ordinary, common, low, or ignoble, rather than cruel or spiteful.

My Thoughts

• It is true that I am a victim of my mood all too often, and what I am feeling at any given time, rather than focusing on my devotion and the commitment I have made to the Lord. 
• I often think I am doing something great if I make a sacrifice in my devotion with God, but the reality is that I have been saved from hell and eternal separation from God - and I have the gall to say that I am making sacrifices. 
• My faith should never be based upon experience, but instead complete confidence in Him. 
• My identity with Jesus Christ should make me never doubt or fear.  

Mark 7:27-30 - The Faith of a Gentile Woman

Mark 7:27-30
27 And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered and *said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” 29 And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.

Message: The Faith of a Gentile Woman

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface: Jesus speaks to all the people, going beyond just the scribes, and declares clearly that when speaking of being clean, the key is what comes out of a person, not what is taken in. Jesus goes to the region of Tyre and Sido in an attempt to get away from ministry in Galilee for a time, perhaps in hopes of getting away from the crowds. But news of him is there as well and a woman appears to him requesting that an unclean spirit (demon) be removed from her daughter.

Mark mentions this Gentile woman who begs Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter. And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Jesus had previously commissioned his disciples to go and preach, first to the children of Israel and then later, to go into all the world. This exchange with this woman seems odd to me as the words from the Syrophoenician woman were just begging him to cast a demon out of her daughter, so why the response about children by satisfied first. Commentators have said that Jesus' words referred to Israel (the children), the gospel (bread), and the Gentiles (dogs). Thus, he was implying that she was a dog, but it seems that his exchange was not necessarily to be taken seriously or rather his purpose in saying the words he did was to get the response that he did. But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” Thus, the woman had faith and believed that the dogs or Gentiles still had a claim to the gospel. So, what Jesus was doing was continuing to teach his disciples. He wanted them to see the value there is in all persons. Prejudices were obviously present. People shows favoritism for different classes of people and Jesus did not want his disciples to approach people in this way.

Jesus shows here that he is looking for faith. This woman responded with faith in stating that even those individuals who may not have been the primary audience for the gospel can benefit from it. But, I don't think Jesus is saying this. He is looking for faith. He is wanting people to show that they have the faith and whenever they do, he backs up the truck and gives them what they ask.

Verse 30 is interesting because the woman seems to have gone to Jesus without her daughter. And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left. Tabletalk records here these words --

Ultimately, the encounter is about the place of Jews and Gentiles in God’s kingdom. The children—the Jews—get presented the kingdom first, and afterward, the dogs—the Gentiles—hear of it as well. This Gentile woman recognized the propriety of that plan. She did not ask for first place but in faith believed that Christ was for her as well.

Summary - Jesus goes to the regions of Tyre and Sidon and upon his arrival, a woman comes to him (without her daughter by her side) asking Jesus to heal her daughter, possessed by a demon. Jesus uses the situation to teach his disciples that faith is what he is looking for in people, not heritage (i.e. a Jew or even a Gentile). The woman shows her faith and she is healed.

Promise: Jesus lavishes his grace upon us. He wants to see us acknowledge our faith in him.

Prayer: Lord, I have faith in you. I do. And yet sometimes the way I act in my life gives the idea that I don't. I believe you are the Creator of all. I believe that you have saved me. I have faith in you. When I pray, I believe that you will do what I ask. Keep me aligned with you each day. Keep me focused on you, believing that you will do what you said, what you say.

Psalm 118:17-29 - The Cornerstone

Psalm 118:17-29
¹⁷ I will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the Lord.
¹⁸ The Lord has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death.

¹⁹ Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord.
²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous will enter through it.
²¹ I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation.

²² The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.
²³ This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
²⁵ O Lord, do save, we beseech You; O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
²⁶ Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
²⁷ The Lord is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
²⁸ You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You.
²⁹ Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Message: The Cornerstone

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Feeling the opposition of others
Taking a moment to go back and think about this chapter 118 and what it means to me. What I see is the psalmist walking through a stressful situation in life. But it isn't just a hard day, but feeling opposition. He is in distress (v. 5), feeling oppressed by man (v. 6), feeling the hate of man (v. 7), being surrounded (v. 10), being surrounded like a swarm of bees (v. 11), being pushed in order to fall (v. 12), and feeling like he is going to die (v. 17). This isn't simply a trial, but a feeling of being attacked. He is feeling oppressed, hated, surrounded, pushed, and near death.

No Matter What - I thank God
As he experiences this opposition, his response to those situations is to lean on God. The first thing the psalmist does is give thanks (v. 1) and speak of God's lovingkindness (v. 1-4). It is not that he is thanking God necessarily for the opposition or bad situation he is in, but his life perspective remains in thanking God. He continues to exercise thanks to God and his lovingkindness. The events of his life have not changed his thankfulness of God.

The Lord is for me 
At the first moment of him being in distress and feeling oppressed and hated, he calls upon the name of the Lord. He is reminded that God is there. He is reminded that God is for him. I need to know that though I am feeling alone, I am not. I am reminded of our recent trip to Block Island, off the coast of Rhode Island. My wife and I were riding bikes and we turned a corner and came upon a lake and a view of this large place with rolling hills, on this beautiful spring day. In my distresses and feeling oppressed, I get small and narrow. At times, I can't see but the closeness and immediacy of the trial. But, here, the psalmist says, "The Lord Answered me and set me in a large place (v. 5)." The Lord opened my eyes to show me that the I felt isolated, I am not alone and he is there, centered on me, and there is peace as it takes me to this large expanse and I can know there is more than this problem. The Lord is for me, my refuge is in Him, therefore my enemies are not big, but small.

The Lord is Victory over the Opposition
God is not just there, but God has given me victory over the opposition. In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off. I need to know that these forces, at times spiritual, Satan and his dominion will be defeated and cut from my life. In verses 10-12, it is repeated three times, "In the name of the Lord, I will surely cut them off." The Psalmist reminds me that victory is something God gives me and I get to carry it out.

The Lord Helps Me
The Psalmist begins with thanks, is reminded that Lord is for me, and then sees that victory can be had, and now sees that the Lord is my helper (v.13), my strength and song (v. 14), and my salvation (v. 14). I experience joyful shouting, like a crowd of people, cheering my victory. He is omnipotent or has all power. In verses 15-16, it says that the "Right hand of the Lord" which refers to God's omnipotent or all powerful way does valiantly and is exalted. To be valiant is to be boldly courageous.

I was reading this sermon online by Charles Spurgeon from 1872 - http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols58-60/chs3361.pdf

• At the red sea, God there overthrew the host of his enemies, by dividing the sea and Egypt swallowed up and the foes of Israel were swept away. 
• When the people of Israel, untrained for war, marched in the land of the Canaanites, they found that their enemies had chariots of iron, entrenched in their cities -- but the Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites could not stand against the 12 tribes of Israel
• David smote the Philistines hip and thigh with great slaughter
• the hosts of Sennacherib lay like the sere leaves of autumn when the breath of the archangel had blasted them

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly is repeated in verse 16. O how I need that reminder daily of the work God has done for His people, for His glory. The Lord helps me. He is there, against all odds, despite the way my circumstances may seem, the Lord is on my side. Help me O God to not forget this. Don't allow the world to squash you out and me forget the work you have done. Difficulties will arise, but I can know that you are there, to rescue.

Transition
I suppose the above is a different look of those first 16 verses of Psalm 118 and now we transition to the rest of this text.

Over and over this passage is about giving God thanks. There are tough times of oppression and feeling attacked from all sides in this passage, but the Lord still works valiantly in our lives. When we are rescued, God gets the praise. God gets the thanks. Lord, this is a chapter I need in my life. I need to give you thanks more for each day. You give me gifts and us gifts. There is too much of a feeling that man is the active agent and he bears good works. God is on the throne. God is to be praised. Turn me away from having a critical eye and help me to continually place my faith in you.

The Lord Disciplines
The reality is that hard times we have could be the result of God disciplining us. The passage speaks earlier of being in distress (v. 5) and surrounded (v. 10). While my attitude is one of thanks and dependence on God, I can't forget that God could be disciplining me and unhappy with me. I am too quick to think that I must just get out of this mess and figure out a plan. I do not look inward and ask myself, "Lord, is this happening for a reason? Is there something in my life that you want to correct or deal with? Or Lord, possibly it isn't even me. You could be dealing with the sin of society in which I am a member of or even the sin of this entire world. The reality Lord is you deal with sin." 

In verse 17 is the reminder that I am to recount the deeds of the Lord. He works and he works in people's lives and in my life and I am to voice this from the mountaintop. In verse 18, the Lord does discipline me, but not to the point of death. I am still here and still able to speak of him. Lord, make my words more eloquent in speaking of You.

Walk though the gates of righteousness
In response to discipline and perhaps sin, put me on the path of righteousness. Jesus, you are my righteousness. You are the perfecter of my faith. You are my redeemer and you are to live through me. Put me on the path of righteousness. As I live and walk in righteousness, again, I give thanks to the Lord (v. 19).

Answered me
I call upon the Lord and he answers me and I thank him for answering: verse 21, I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. What others reject, like Jesus and the Messiah, becomes the foundation or the cornerstone of my life. This it the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes....be glad in it (v. 22-24).

My confidence in me
Even in the reading of this text is my thinking that I give thanks because of what he is doing in my life. I need to be reminded that I give thanks because he is good. Who saves us? The Lord (v. 25). The Lord shines his light on me. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you (v. 28). Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever (v. 29). In conclusion, God is great. He is good. His love endures. 

Conclusion
I am realizing more and more that too much of my life is focused on me, my needs, my family needs, but my focus over and over should be on God and simply giving thanks for him being great. Lord, you are good. Your love endures forever. 


Promise: Ultimately, I deserve separation from God because of the sin in me, but he has rescued me nevertheless, but this doesn't mean that judgment still may not occur in my life or in life, in general. My Maker disciplines me, turns me from sin, and fights against my trials for me. You are my cornerstone Lord, my foundation.

Job 31 - Job's Final Defense

Job 31:23
“For calamity from God is a terror to me,
And because of His majesty I can do nothing.

Message: Job's Final Defense

Time: The time of Job is unclear and commonly debated. Often the language of the book can give clues. It seems to be that Job had a lifespan of close to 200 years as Job 42:16 says he lived 140 years after the events in the book.

What the Lord is Saying:

The Bible is often a book of repeats. There are core messages that basically are repeated throughout this book. 

In this chapter 31 Job asserts his integrity. 

Chastity
Verse 1 is a verse that is a good reminder that I have appreciated at various times in my life. I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? The meaning of this verse is great because Job states that he has made a covenant with his eyes. He remarks that he has purposed to lead a pure life and therefore, it is impossible that he could gaze at another woman. Like, how could he? 

Job then asserts that how can we be surprised with God's wrath when our actions or our choices are not for him. Thus, what he has done is guard himself from impurity or sin. Does He not see my ways and number all my steps?(Verse 4). God sees all. How is that we think we can live our lives without surrendering daily to the Lord. 

A sincere, upright, and honest life
Job states that if he lived a life in an improper manner then he did in fact deserve God's judgment. He speaks at first of falsehood or vanity. To live a life of falsehood is to misrepresent yourself. It is to make yourself out to be something that you are not. It is not to speak the truth. Or it is living a life of deception. When I see someone getting ready to experience calamity, do I help bring it to light. Am I a person that often will wrongly shine a spotlight on other people's shortcomings? 

If I have acted in this manner then God has every right to weigh me with accurate scales which is what verse 6 says, "Let him weigh me with accurate scales." Let God accurately look at my character and treat me according to my ways. If I act in improper ways then I should receive a consequence. Why should I expect my harvest to yield produce if I have spent my time sowing seeds of selfishness. Man is so quick to thank God for his blessings but shouldn't we do the same in regards to calamity. 

Verse 1 speaks of gazing at a virgin while verse 9 speaks of being enticed by a woman: If my heart has been enticed by a woman.  The sin here is adultery. If Job acts in that way, then he states that his wife would then be allowed to go after someone else or sleep with someone else as it says may my wife grind for another. If a man chooses another woman, then he should expect his wife to do the same. The wife would then became a servant of another man. The fire of adultery burns the house down as it would uproot all my increase.

Treated his servants in an upright manner
Job switches to another subject and expresses that he has to be a good leader. What happens when someone files a claim against him? What happens when someone asserts that we have done something wrong? What happens when someone calls us into question? How do we respond? His point is that he needs to respond in an upright manner and not simply assert his position. And then he asks what will happen when the Lord questions him. The point I think is that we need to honestly use this time to look at ourselves in the mirror and see that there may be something about us that needs to be changed. Verse 13 and 14 says, If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves when they filed a complaint against me, What then could I do when God arises?

Kindness to the Poor and Providing for the Poor
There are actually two thoughts here that Job puts forth. It seems often that all I think I need to do for the poor is write them a check and send in a little money, but Job first states that our actions toward them are to be actions of care an concern. He says in verse 16, if I have kept the poor from their desire. Have I frustrated their hopes? Have I disappointed their expectations? 

This is a tough application. There are poor all around us and how do I act toward them as they ask for money on the street corner. Do I take time to really consider them? Or do I look for a quick out? Job thought of this as supremely important. It says, "If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,or that the needy had no covering." I do know we give our old clothes and things to the poor. I do know I give counsel to the needy often through GMO. I guess in all of life I could always do more. 

He mentions dire consequence if he doesn't act correctly. In verse 22, Let my shoulder fall from the socket. And then in verse 24 he asks whether his confidence instead lies in his money -- “If I have put my confidence in gold, and called fine gold my trust, if I have gloated because my wealth was great, and because my hand had secured so much." This is a danger in life to put our confidence instead in what we have instead of in the Lord. It's one thing to say our allegiance is in God, but how do we show this through our actions. 

Properly treating those who injure us
Do I wish injury or something bad to happen to others? More often than not, I do not, for those that I like. But, what about those that I don't like? Or those that I feel like in one way or another I am in competition with? I sense at times, that I unfortunately want their demise. It is a sad reality. Here Job says he has not been this way. In verse 29 - Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy, or exulted when evil befell him? No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life in a curse. This is the nature of true faith, of true religion, as Albert Barnes states: It controls the heart, represses the angry and revengeful feelings, and creates in the soul an earnest desire for the happiness even of those who injure us.

Conclusion
The concluding verses of this chapter have been hotly debated over the years regarding their true meaning, according to Albert Barnes. The sentiment though is one of Job simply stating that he has tried to be a hospitable person to his neighbor and has not wished injury of them. And he does this all for His Almighty God.  
 
Promise: Job is proclaiming once again an important truth and that is his present calamity is not the result of past sin. He has lived a blameless life and his present situation is not because he has done something wrong. At times, I need to act like this and not be so quick to admit fault. I need to be confident in who I am in Christ and what I have done. I am a sinner and often do things out of that sinful nature, but I need to remember that God is working in me and many times His good ways are shining through my life.