Welcome to the first installment of the Holy Week Devotional. I'm hoping this will encourage you during this special time of the year when we think back to a dusty hill in Jerusalem where the curse upon the earth was broken by a man some thought was too insignificant to ever be more than a day laborer.
The Scripture I want us to think about is Luke 9:51 which says: As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem
Jesus' ministry up until this point was based on teaching, healing, ministering, and seeking disciples. Many great things happened during this time, thousands were fed, the blind were able to see, the lame were able to walk, tax collectors and sinners were converted, and Jesus modeled for us the way to live. During this time we truly see what it means to live as a child of God, by loving those who are unloved, and weeping for those who are outside the joy of salvation. We see a selfless life lived, one that is focused on the Kingdom of God. Jesus showed us how to love one another. He also was a miracle worker who displayed His power over creation and demonstrated that He came from God to do the work of God. Only God could forgive sin, and Jesus told many people that their sins were forgiven them. Only God could control the weather, and Jesus quieted storms.
And for many people, this is where the story ends. Many people believe that Jesus was only a good moral teacher who lived the exemplary life. And if this was where the Bible stopped, that would be true. But that isn't where the Bible stops. Luke says that Jesus turned and made a straight line for Jerusalem. The reason Jesus came was not just to show us to live and heal the sick, but more so He came to die. Jesus' ministry would not be complete without the cross. If He did not come to die, all we have is a cute baby at Christmas. But not only did He come to die, He came to die and conquer death! If He doesn't rise from the dead, all we have is a rotting corpse and no hope for salvation. But because the tomb is empty, we can have confidence that there is hope for us to be saved and spend eternity with God.
Jesus turns to Jerusalem and makes His way there because He knew that was His mission. We should not feel sorry for Jesus on the cross. He willingly and gladly the punishment for our sin. God was pleased to bruise Him, it says in Isaiah. Jesus turned to the cross and turned to death because that was the only way that we as lost sinners could ever come to God. He had to die in order to tear down the curtain that separated us from being with God.
This week as we look at what happened during those 7 days in Jerusalem, remember that Jesus gladly went to the cross for us and gladly bore our sin. I hope you are encouraged by the fact that the sinless Son of God, though He was meek and mild, held within Himself an amazing power to conquer sin, Satan, and the grave. He was no mere teacher, He is God! While many people thought He was just a man, there was power and strength beyond comprehension in Him, that He withheld on the cross, so that He could be led like a lamb without fighting, as One willing to be sacrificed for us.
Thank you for reading this, I pray that God blesses you during this Season.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
More thoughts on the church
Last night we got into a great discussion over the nature of the church, what it is and the characteristics involved in it. One of the greatest things in studying theology is the broad view you get of the landscape of Scripture. And over and over again the Bible is clear that the church is unlike anything else on the earth. The church has a very unique place in society. We as the church are not only thinking about life here on earth, but the Bible calls us citizens of heaven. Our identity is found in Jesus Christ, and He is the source of our joy, strength, and hope. We might live in Memphis TN in the USA, but our spiritual "passport" says we have a mansion in heaven prepared for us. The church has a forward-thinking view of itself, and therefore should be free from the trappings of petty disagreements, bickering, differing opinions, and what color the carpet is.
Sadly though many churches do get into these arguments over such trivial things. The goal of the church existing is to give us as Christians a foretaste of heaven, where every tribe, tongue, and nation will join together to worship the Lord; and to be the City on a Hill to show the Way for those who are lost. We as a church exist to make Jesus known. The word ekklesia does mean "the called out ones" and God has called us out from everyone else and given us a divinely-appointed mission, to share the Gospel with the entire world. A daunting task I will admit, but Jesus told the Disciples that they (and we) would not be alone, they (and we) have the Holy Spirit to serve as a Guide, Comforter, and Helper. This is the only way that us as ordinary average Joe's can make an impact on such a fallen world.
What can YOU do this week, as one who has been called out, to make Jesus known?
Sadly though many churches do get into these arguments over such trivial things. The goal of the church existing is to give us as Christians a foretaste of heaven, where every tribe, tongue, and nation will join together to worship the Lord; and to be the City on a Hill to show the Way for those who are lost. We as a church exist to make Jesus known. The word ekklesia does mean "the called out ones" and God has called us out from everyone else and given us a divinely-appointed mission, to share the Gospel with the entire world. A daunting task I will admit, but Jesus told the Disciples that they (and we) would not be alone, they (and we) have the Holy Spirit to serve as a Guide, Comforter, and Helper. This is the only way that us as ordinary average Joe's can make an impact on such a fallen world.
What can YOU do this week, as one who has been called out, to make Jesus known?
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The Newest Golden Cow
The idea of the "Golden Cow" comes from the story of the Exodus as told in the Bible. After Moses ascends Mount Sinai to receive a direct word from the LORD, the people of Israel are left at the bottom of the mountain. Up until this point, the Hebrews have seen the Red Sea split, received manna from heaven, and other miracles orchestrated directly by the hand of God. In chapter 32 however, they rebel against the very God who had brought them out of bondage and carried them through the desert. Aaron, the brother of Moses, calls for the people to bring their gold and makes a golden cow out of the melted gold. This was quickly put down by Moses who had the cow melted and crushed to powder and put in water, and then made the people drink it.
Over the course of history many things have been placed on the altar rightly occupied by the Lord. These are not always so obvious as a statue made of gold, but rather may be internal matters or private obsessions and idols. The point is that it always follows a cycle.
The cycle begins with something that makes you happy, which causes you to love it, loving it then causes you to desire it, desire causes dependence, dependence causes this to become first in our hearts, and whatever is first in our hearts is what we worship.
I want to suggest that the latest golden cow is not even something that can be seen, though it does take on an appearance in a white cup with a sleeve on it. The newest golden cow is community. The first thing you're going to think is that I was going to bash Starbucks. Well, I will, but not directly. They are a good company to work for with great benefits and flexible hours. I will however be taking them to task because they are creating a generation of people who are naive and blinded by the fact that they are seeking community and satisfaction from a cup of hot water, sugar, and milk. One of Starbucks' goals is to create the idea of a "Third Place" where one can go and find community and connect. Christians who find their sense of community and connection outside of the church and settle for manufactured community are running the risk of becoming idolaters. The golden cow of our day is the idea that a cup can give you community and you can find your satisfaction in that. Starbucks has made a fortune off the basic human desire to relate with other people, and has taken the fact that we all crave community with other people and turned it into marketing genius.
One of the reasons why I think they attract so many Christians is because I think the Church (universal) has failed as a worldwide institution to adequately give community. We have become a Church of programs, initiatives, vision statements, growth strategies, and catchy slogans so that have lost sight that one of the principal functions of the Church is community. Now there are many local congregations who have succeeded at this, and I feel like I am part of such a congregation.
The point of this blog is not to bash Starbucks or their product, which I think overall is a good product. The thing I want to do with this post is to call for Christians everywhere to find their community not in a cup but in the Christ. Our community should be based on Jesus Christ and the salvation that we have together in Him. This, not a latte, should be the driving force for us to find community with one another. There are many golden cows out there vying for our attention, love, and adoration, and many others are very indirect in their approach. The goal of Satan is not to get you to sacrifice a goat on an altar, it is to get you to replace Jesus Christ with something else in your heart. Whatever you love more than Jesus Christ is an idol, and I hope we never get to the point where we love a cup of coffee more than Him.
Over the course of history many things have been placed on the altar rightly occupied by the Lord. These are not always so obvious as a statue made of gold, but rather may be internal matters or private obsessions and idols. The point is that it always follows a cycle.
The cycle begins with something that makes you happy, which causes you to love it, loving it then causes you to desire it, desire causes dependence, dependence causes this to become first in our hearts, and whatever is first in our hearts is what we worship.
I want to suggest that the latest golden cow is not even something that can be seen, though it does take on an appearance in a white cup with a sleeve on it. The newest golden cow is community. The first thing you're going to think is that I was going to bash Starbucks. Well, I will, but not directly. They are a good company to work for with great benefits and flexible hours. I will however be taking them to task because they are creating a generation of people who are naive and blinded by the fact that they are seeking community and satisfaction from a cup of hot water, sugar, and milk. One of Starbucks' goals is to create the idea of a "Third Place" where one can go and find community and connect. Christians who find their sense of community and connection outside of the church and settle for manufactured community are running the risk of becoming idolaters. The golden cow of our day is the idea that a cup can give you community and you can find your satisfaction in that. Starbucks has made a fortune off the basic human desire to relate with other people, and has taken the fact that we all crave community with other people and turned it into marketing genius.
One of the reasons why I think they attract so many Christians is because I think the Church (universal) has failed as a worldwide institution to adequately give community. We have become a Church of programs, initiatives, vision statements, growth strategies, and catchy slogans so that have lost sight that one of the principal functions of the Church is community. Now there are many local congregations who have succeeded at this, and I feel like I am part of such a congregation.
The point of this blog is not to bash Starbucks or their product, which I think overall is a good product. The thing I want to do with this post is to call for Christians everywhere to find their community not in a cup but in the Christ. Our community should be based on Jesus Christ and the salvation that we have together in Him. This, not a latte, should be the driving force for us to find community with one another. There are many golden cows out there vying for our attention, love, and adoration, and many others are very indirect in their approach. The goal of Satan is not to get you to sacrifice a goat on an altar, it is to get you to replace Jesus Christ with something else in your heart. Whatever you love more than Jesus Christ is an idol, and I hope we never get to the point where we love a cup of coffee more than Him.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
3:16 Devotional Thoughts
Hey everyone I hope you're up on reading the 3:16 devotional book. We'll talk about the day's entry whenever we get together on Sunday and Wednesday, but I thought I'd write some thoughts from today's (Day 9).
The Scripture passage comes from Philippians 4:8, which says Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (NIV)
How much junk goes through our minds during any given day? Part of the beauty of this passage is that when we focus on the things of God, our thought lives will be much different than those of the world. What do you daydream of? Truly seeking after God and truly wanting to be a Disciple, more than a Follower, will mean that our daydreams will be of the things of God. That doesn't mean that you always have to be praying through the Prayer List or always journaling, but it means that your mind be filled with good things. What sorts of things that are excellent are you thinking of? Is your thought life pure, or is it focused on what someone is wearing, or not wearing? Are you thinking of lovely or admirable things, or are you thinking about filth and cheap imitations?
Your minds are constantly under fire from the Devil, who wants to fill your heads with the junk out there. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Keep your minds focused on the prize guys, there's so much better out there than what MTV and today's Culture has for you. There is more to life than what meets the eye.
Scott
The Scripture passage comes from Philippians 4:8, which says Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (NIV)
How much junk goes through our minds during any given day? Part of the beauty of this passage is that when we focus on the things of God, our thought lives will be much different than those of the world. What do you daydream of? Truly seeking after God and truly wanting to be a Disciple, more than a Follower, will mean that our daydreams will be of the things of God. That doesn't mean that you always have to be praying through the Prayer List or always journaling, but it means that your mind be filled with good things. What sorts of things that are excellent are you thinking of? Is your thought life pure, or is it focused on what someone is wearing, or not wearing? Are you thinking of lovely or admirable things, or are you thinking about filth and cheap imitations?
Your minds are constantly under fire from the Devil, who wants to fill your heads with the junk out there. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Keep your minds focused on the prize guys, there's so much better out there than what MTV and today's Culture has for you. There is more to life than what meets the eye.
Scott
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
What's the deal?
If any of you have ever seen one of the greatest shows ever made, Seinfeld, you'd know that one of his favorite things to say was "Whats the deal..." and would talk about something going on that never made any sense to him. Well, the thing that doesn't make any sense to me is what's going to keep a lot of people out late tonight and in church early tomorrow. Today is Mardi Gras, otherwise known as "Fat Tuesday" and tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the forty day observance of Lent. Part of the Lenten tradition is to give something up as a sacrifice for the forty days. This is intended to be similar to the fasting that Christ endured for forty days while being tempted in the desert. This is something I can understand, and in fact I think it is neat to give up something for forty days and make it a spiritual fast, using the time you would spend say... playing video games, to read your Bible and spend time with the Father. I totally think that's a good idea, fasting is something we may do, would love to do a Bible study on it and the awesome benefit that comes from it.
But what I don't get and it makes me say "What's the deal?" is with the idea that the day before Ash Wednesday, you gorge yourself and get one last party out of your system. Is this really what God intends for us to do when we fast? Have you ever tried to fast for a day? The temptation is there to go to an all-you-can-eat buffet the night before so you won't be hungry. What I don't get is the attitude that it's a day where you can indulge all you want and tomorrow begin the fast. I think this idea of the buffet and Mardi Gras destroys the significance and benefit of fasting. Fasting is supposed to draw you closer to God, but the idea of giving it up after over-indulging just makes it cheap and tawdry. Jesus tells us to not make it a big deal when we fast, but rather that we simply go about our business and not brag. I think this attitude of meekness extends to not over-indulging before or after a time of concentrated focus.
So if you get to school tomorrow and your friends have a little piece of ash on their foreheads, ask them what they gave up for Lent. Invite them to come to Bible study sometime, if they don't attend church regularly invite them to Broadmoor.
Finally, if you're going to give up sweets for Lent, tonight is not the night to eat a whole mega-sized bag of M&Ms; or if you're giving up video games don't stay up all night with the XBox360 on.
Seeking Him,
Scott
But what I don't get and it makes me say "What's the deal?" is with the idea that the day before Ash Wednesday, you gorge yourself and get one last party out of your system. Is this really what God intends for us to do when we fast? Have you ever tried to fast for a day? The temptation is there to go to an all-you-can-eat buffet the night before so you won't be hungry. What I don't get is the attitude that it's a day where you can indulge all you want and tomorrow begin the fast. I think this idea of the buffet and Mardi Gras destroys the significance and benefit of fasting. Fasting is supposed to draw you closer to God, but the idea of giving it up after over-indulging just makes it cheap and tawdry. Jesus tells us to not make it a big deal when we fast, but rather that we simply go about our business and not brag. I think this attitude of meekness extends to not over-indulging before or after a time of concentrated focus.
So if you get to school tomorrow and your friends have a little piece of ash on their foreheads, ask them what they gave up for Lent. Invite them to come to Bible study sometime, if they don't attend church regularly invite them to Broadmoor.
Finally, if you're going to give up sweets for Lent, tonight is not the night to eat a whole mega-sized bag of M&Ms; or if you're giving up video games don't stay up all night with the XBox360 on.
Seeking Him,
Scott
Storm's Coming
As I'm sure many of you are aware and possibly celebrating, schools have been let out because of the imminent threat of severe weather in the Memphis area. One of the awesome things in being a Christian is that in many ordinary events, you can find a spiritual truth that is from Scripture that can encourage each other. So with the storms coming, let me encourage you from Matthew 7, where Jesus tells the story of two men who build a house on foundations, one on a solid foundation of rock, and the other on a flimsy foundation of sand. One thing happened to them both, the storms came and beat against the house. Aren't you glad that you are living in a home that was built with a good foundation, that won't blow away when a thunderstorm comes through? Our lives should be built upon such a similar strong foundation. That foundation is the Rock that Peter confesses to Jesus in Matthew 16, that Jesus is the Christ. That confession is the rock that allows us to stand up to the storms of life that will come our way. Jesus being our Savior gives us the strength to stand when the world seems to be coming apart all around us. And because He is such a strong foundation, all the rest of our lives are held firm because of Him. We trust the foundations of our homes, let us have that same trust in the foundation of our faith. He will give us the strength we need, and I hope that you continue everyday to put your trust in Him. He will never let us down. Paul says in 2 Corinthians that We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
In Him,
Scott
In Him,
Scott
Monday, February 4, 2008
What to think about the Super Bowl
So last night was the Super Bowl, and it has been talked about as being the biggest upset in the history of the NFL. The Patriots came in looking to prove history as the greatest team ever, and they were knocked off by a team who had been disrespected and always in the shadow of New England. On paper, this should have been a massacre. It should have been over by halftime. But "should have" is a phrase that will always be used in this game.
There's a similar story to this in the Bible, and it's the story of David and Goliath. Goliath single-handedly scared the entire army of Israel with his strength and reputation. Goliath could not be defeated, his sword weighed probably as much as I do. But David knew that no matter how big this giant was, there was a God in Heaven who was stronger than any strongman warrior. There's a phrase in boxing that no matter how big someone is, everyone has soft tissue in the nose. It's a phrase to say that anyone can be beaten. David was a young man, probably in his teens, who was always outcast and always in the shadow of his brothers. He was not even seen when Samuel came to anoint the next king. But God sees the heart, and He saw that David's was pure and sought after God. God prepared David throughout his life for the role he would one day have as king. And when he squared off against Goliath, there was one aspect of his preparation that paid off, his time fighting lions off with a sling while caring for sheep. We know how the story ends, David kills Goliath with one stone and Israel wins the battle.
You never know how the circumstances you're in now will one day have an amazing impact. No matter where you find yourself in life, know that God has a plan and a purpose for you. Read Romans 8:28 sometime, God works all things out for good for those who love Him. Know that if you are a Christian born again and bought with the Blood, you have a purpose and God works every detail of your life to lead to that purpose.
Just a little encouragement to send your way, hope you all are doing well. May the Peace of God continue to reign in your life evermore.
Scott
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