June 24, 2009 - Ephesians 6

Kind of continuing with the battle theme, today I read Ephesians 6, which contains Paul's description of the armor of God that he encourages us to put on. Not too long ago, I taught a Sunday School lesson on this portion of scripture. One of the things that the lesson writer brought out has stuck in my mind. He wrote that at the time Paul wrote these words it was likely that he was in the presence of, possibly even chained to, a Roman soldier. This gives us a fresh perspective of the pieces of armor that Paul describes. He also said that Paul wrote about these pieces in the order in which a Roman soldier would have put them on. Therefore, it all begins with truth. Paul ends this section with an admonishment to pray in the Spirit and keep praying. Even with our armor on, we need to be in constant communication.

June 22, 2009 - Deuteronomy 20

Do you have a battle cry? Something that encourages you when you know you are going to face a struggle. Today I noticed Israel's battle cry. It is recorded for us in Deuteronomy 20:3-4. It is a cry that would be a helpful reminder for us each day as we enter the battle or struggle of life. Let me share it with you. "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." I hope you find that an encouragement.

June 17, 2009 - Galatians 5

As one who studied the book of Galatians in Bible Bowl many years ago, I could have told you that Paul says that in Christ circumcision or uncircumcision doesn't matter (5:6). What I could not have told you, until it hit me this morning, is that Paul goes on to tell us what does matter. "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." This is quite a profound summary for me to have missed. Isn't it true that we have get caught up in the things that don't matter, even to the point of arguing, and neglect the things that matter? Paul says here that faith is what counts, and it shows itself through love. James wrote that faith with works is dead. I think Paul would say that faith isn't really faith until it shows itself in acts of love. So the question for us becomes, is our faith showing itself?

June 10, 2009 - Deuteronomy 8

Do you know of God's amazing provision for you? A simple reading of Deuteronomy 8 should be a reminder and inspiration. Here Moses is reminding the Children of Israel of their travels since leaving Egypt and before he leaves them and they are led into the land of promise. He reminds them that they hungered and that God fed them with manna. He also reminds them that during their 40 years of wandering that their 'clothes did not wear out' and their 'feet did not swell'. As a father of two teenage daughters, I believe that 40 year clothes are truly miraculous! The provision of God is truly amazing, beyond our comprehension. What makes this even more remarkable is that during the time of this provision, God was punishing the Children of Israel! Even during their punishment He would not abandon them, but would provide for all their needs. That is the same God that we love and serve today. His character is exactly the same. He will treat us no differently. Let's remember that the next time we think we are going without.

June 8, 2009 - Deuteronomy 6

The Shema, Hebrew for 'Hear'. One commentator says that this portion of scripture, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, became the Jewish confession of faith. It is still valid for Christians today, because it contains what Jesus described as the greatest commandment. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This is the foremost call of the Christian life, to be in relationship with God. The Shema continues that these are the things that we are to teach our children, talk about with them, and to keep before our eyes as a constant reminder. This was the true legacy of the Jewish people and should be ours as well. There is no better bequest to leave to our children.

June 3, 2009 - II Corinthians 5

What a key verse for us. II Corinthians 5:21 is one we should all know. God is completely righteous and the only way we can have a relationship with Him is to be completely righteous ourselves. We know well that is simply not possible. We blew that possibility a long time ago But this is where God shows the full extent of His love for us. He 'made him who had no sin' (Jesus), 'to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God'. God trades us our sin for his righteousness, through Jesus. What a deal! We could never make a better trade. That is the kind of deal that you tell everyone about.

June 2, 2009 - II Corinthians 4

Do we possibly understand the idea of the unseen a little better than Paul did when he wrote II Corinthians 4? After all we have discovered how to broadcast waves that none of us can see, yet they can deliver sights and sounds. It has also become commonplace for us to use machines, that few of us ever open, that connect to machines all over the world to bring us virtually all of our knowledge at our fingertips through this 'internet'. Sometimes these two tools are combined and the information flows from one computer to another via the air waves of cellular phone service. These things are amazing and beyond most of our comprehension, but they are still 'seen' in the sense that they are temporary. If you have any doubt that computers are temporary, try to use or sell one that is more than five years old! Paul says in II Corinthians 4:18 that we 'fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.' No, I don't think we understand that concept better than Paul did almost 2,000 years ago. Our modern tools and electronics have given us that much more to 'see'. What we should be looking for are the things that we cannot see, the things that last forever. Which are your eyes fixed on?