Thursday, January 31, 2013

Feb 1 Exodus 35-38

Congratulations! You have begun a new habit - reading a portion of Scripture every day for a month. If you can do it for a month, you can do it for the rest of your life. It is now a habit. No doubt, you have moved closer to God in your relationship with Him.

Today's reading deals with the construction of the Tabernacle. If you ever go to Lancaster, PA (in Amish country), go to the Mennonite exhibit - they have constructed an actual size Tabernacle (minus the precious materials). It really helps visualize what we read about so often.

What strikes me today is that Moses had to tell the people to STOP contributing to the needs of the Tabernacle construction. That is an amazing show of generosity in gratitude for what God has done for them. Let us all have a generous attitude toward the work of God.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Jan 31 Exodus 32-34 Really Being For Others

One of the classics lines in Scripture comes from Aaron, the 1st High priests - "Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!" Talk about not taking personal responsibility.

Pertaining to all of you who interact with Catholics, notice how God feels about graven images. The golden calf was used to "worship" the LORD. Over time, man always will end up worshiping the image - that is why there is a commandment against it the making of images.

Notice that Moses acts as a true shepherd of the people by interceding before God and not accepting the option to be made into a great nation himself. Don't be afraid like Moses to pray God's promises to Him - that gives Him glory.

In Ch 34, we get the first of God's many admonitions for His people to not marry those outside the faith. God says that we will be drawn into unbelievers' "idol" worship and away from the Lord. I do not recommend anyone even dating an unbeliever (see the wisdom of Psalm 1).

There is much more to mine from these chapters. What do you see?

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Jan 30 Exodus 29-31 Bearing a Distinctive Fragrance

There is an excellent summation of this section of Scripture at the end of today's reading. Read it carefully to fully digest the big picture of what all of these detailed descriptions really mean.

I want to focus in on the anointing oil used for Aaron and his sons. It is a specific blend of fragrances that no one else is to use. The High Priest would have a very distinctive smell - unlike no one else. Our great High Priest Jesus Christ is also very distinctive. We as His followers should bear His fragrance. After reading today's reading, flip ahead to II Corinthians 2:14-16. As we live our lives, do we each really bear a distinctive "aroma" to other Christians - sweet and familiar - and to unbelievers - a reminder to them that they walk in death? We should have a distinctive "aroma."

The Old Testament (OT) helps us understand the NT, and the NT helps us better understand the OT. As you walk through the Bible this year, please be sure to make the points of contact.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Jan 29 Exodus 25-28 Every Detail of Cultic Worship Is Important

We are beginning a long section in Scripture about God's specifications for His tabernacle (meaning dwelling place or tent) and His worship in it. Every specification is a picture of great meaning. Most of the specifications somehow point to Christ. This is a wonderful study in itself.

In the Gospel of John, when Jesus declares that He is the gate, did you know that He was referring back to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting? The Jews would have gotten His inference. God dwelled in the tabernacle and the High Priest had to go through the gate to get to God.

Notice that all of the things associated with man were made of bronze. Bronze throughout the remainder of Scripture gets associated with sin. Check out Revelation 1:15 and 2:18 and see Jesus' feet of bronze. Understanding the Old Testament unlocks the Book of Revelation and all of its imagery.

This section can get tedious, but look for points of contact with other more familiar parts of Scripture to keep you going.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Jan 28 Exodus 19-24 The Holiness (Otherness) of God

For those of you reading non-chronological Bibles, this is where it will look like we are skipping around. I will do my best to call out the readings.

The extreme holiness of God is beginning to be taught to the people. Every stipulation points to the holiness (otherness) of God, including cultic (prescribed) worship  that is differentiated from the cultic worship ceremonies of the surrounding pagan cultures.

Notice how particular God was about the people's approach to Him. Because of sin, they had to keep a "safe" distance.

I often wonder how lax we can be about our worship gatherings. God is to be feared and revered unlike anything and anyone in our lives. As we move through the Book of the Law (the 1st five books of the Bible), please pay special note to the reverence God demands from His people.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Jan 27 Exodus 15-18 Jethro's Model at Calvary Church

Jethro observed that Moses, one man, was wearing himself and the people out trying to do it all himself. Jethro, a shepherd, probably well-acquainted with having undershepherds working under himself, proposed the same model to Moses. He told him to select capable men, train then, and let them handle people and their issues depending on their level of authority.

We will do this also at our church through ministry leaders and small group leaders. We will let our leaders lead. The pastor can't do it all, he needs to be accompanied by many capable leaders for our church to be what God wants it to be. We depart from the "Moses-model" because the New Testament calls for a group (plurality) of men to lead a church called elders, not a one man pastor-led church.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Jan 26 Exodus 13-15 How Quickly We Forget

As the Israelites see the oncoming Egyptian army in pursuit of them, they begin complaining against God playing this cruel joke on them. After displaying His might power through the plagues and shielding the Israelites from them, allowing the Israelites to plunder the Egyptians with gold, silver, and other goods, now He is going to allow them to be slaughtered in the desert??? How quickly they forget who He is.

Undeterred, God saves them with one of the most famous acts in all history - the parting of the Red Sea. Fortunately, God knows man well and all of our unbelieving tendencies, and He is so unlike us in temperament - praise the Lord!

Are we much different from the Israelites? Do we quickly forget all of God's provision for us in the past? Are we too quick to "get mad at God" when things get tough or do we immediately think we are going to solve all of our own problems in our way in our time? Prayer anyone!

I would like to encourage all to attend our Prayer meeting on Sunday night. Also, pray unceasingly - about everything in your life. Ask the same God who created the universe (150 billion light years wide) and parted the Red Sea to solve your piddly little item (when compared to His displayed works). Remember also, how God has come through personally for you in the past.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Jan 25 Exodus 12-13 Passover Prefigures Christ's Saving Power

The entire Passover is a picture of Christ. Through the shedding of His blood, our sins are covered over. He is the sacrificial lamb.

In 2013, I will preach on all of the Jewish feasts and explain their significance. The first will be on Feb 24, the Feast of Purim, commemorating how the Jews were saved through the heroics of Queen Esther. I will preach the Book of Esther on that day.

On Mar 24, also Palm Sunday, I will preach the Passover, probably from today's reading. We will, of course, celebrate communion that day.

Later in the year, we will celebrate Pentecost, the Day of Atonement, etc.

As we read through the Bible, please note that the Holy Spirit teaches us through a variety of literary genres (narrative, poetry, prophecy, etc.) and techniques, such as pictures to describe Jesus' saving actions by illustrating through the Passover. Whether you are a concept person or a picture person, the Bible will teach you.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Jan 24 Exodus 9-11 Hardening of Pharoah's Heart

"...that you may know that I am the LORD (Yahweh)." The plagues on Egypt were meant to show God's power so that His name would be proclaimed in all the earth. This all began when Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey Him?"

How much does God have to do to get our attention? I know we all too often, me included, can walk around like Pharaoh, ignoring the clear will of God. Of course  He can and does bring "plagues" upon us to get our attention. Most of the times, these "plagues" are nothing more than the natural consequences of our actions/inactions.

God always has good intentions when He allows these "plagues." Know that He is the LORD. Life will be much easier.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Jan 23 Exodus 5-8 Pharoah, Meet Yahweh (the LORD)

Pharoah begins by saying, "Who is the LORD (Yahweh, the personal name of God), that I should obey Him? Isn't this the 1st question of every human being? Who is this particular God of the Bible that you want me to receive as my Savior? We need to be committed to help people answer this question. How many of us really are? Does the way we spend our time or the people we interact with or how we interact with outsiders  show how committed or uncommitted we are to our mission?

Each of the plagues were actually against the false gods of the Egyptians (and probably the Israelites). God had to show all that He was over all the so-called gods that people worship. God still does this today about all of the idols in our lives. He will do this to outsider, also, to show them that their hope and "worship" is misplaced.

The "finger of God" is quoted by Jesus in Luke 11:20. Read that passage and see the parallels between Pharoah/his religious leaders and the unbelieving religious leaders of Jesus' time.

Notice that God does make a distinction in the plagues between the Israelites and the Egyptians, making these occurrences miracles rather than natural occurrences.

Also, when God hardens Pharoah's heart, is it a judgement on him for his previous sins. God does still harden hearts. Sometimes when we harden our hearts, God MIGHT say ok, you are going to reap what you have been sowing. Repentance is always God's objective - I think. I wonder if a person's opposition to God ever gets to be so thorough that they get to a place of no return.


Monday, January 21, 2013

Jan 22 Exodus 1-4 "Moses, I will make you successful."

Oh yeah - on the mission God had ordained for Him. God spent 80 years preparing Moses for His mission to lead His people out of Egypt. God got him in Pharaoh's household to give him the secular training of a prince. Then, God humbled him as a shepherd on the backside of a desert for 40 years. Despite feeling ill-prepared for the mission, Moses had the power of God guiding him all the way.

What mission is God preparing you for? Are you learning your lessons carefully - most of all, faithfully?

Jan 21 Genesis 47:29-end of Ch 50 Joseph Blessed in His Lifetime

Both Jacob (Israel) and Joseph die in Egypt. Both live long fulfilling lives blessed with many children, grand children, and great grand children. One of the great lines of the Bible is spoken by Joseph in Ch 50 - "You intended to harm me, but God intended if for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

We all need to consider that God may be saving the best and most fruitful part of our lives for later. The hardships and trials that we encounter in our younger and middle years may be preparing us for greater things later. Faithfulness through our trials is required to bear the later fruit.

Congratulations you have finished the entire 1st book of the Bible. 65 to go!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Jan 20 Genesis 45:16-47:28 Promise to Become a Great Nation

The evil perpetrated upon Joseph by his brothers is used by God to bring the family to Egypt and to be made into a great nation. Do we ever stop to think that when bad things happen to us, that God can redeem them to make good come out of it? How many times instead do we blame God for evil men exercising their free will.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Jan 19 Genesis 42:6-45:15

Judah becomes the leader of the brothers. The line of Jesus proceeds through Judah. Judah is a "type" of Christ as he offers to bear the blame on behalf of his brothers and Joseph. he is now genuinely concerned about the feelings of his dad, Jacob.

Joseph can now see how God worked all this out (even through the evil of his brothers selling him into slavery) for His own purposes - for the good of the family. This is a good lesson to learn to wait on God and let His good plan play out.

We can see the free will of man and the sovereignty of God both working out here. Even through the independent evil of man, God is still in control.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Jan 18 Genesis 39:1-42:5 Bad Things Do Happen to Good People

Joseph is a great story of God's faithfulness to a man to whom evil people did evil things. Joseph remained faithful to God and things did turn around for him - certainly over a longer period than he would have preferred.

All of the bad things that happened to Joseph actually trained him for what God had planned for him to do.

Are we patient enough to be faithful to God in the cauldron of His training program? Do we have the patience to wait on God? Do we believe God is using our trials for good.

It is important to see that the evil that Joseph endured was not engineered by God, but be men. God redeemed the evil of men and meant it for good. Joseph will later state this in one of the most profound statements in the Bible.

Notice how the plan of God can not be derailed by evil.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Jan 17 Genesis 37-38 One Sordid Tale

I used to look at the narrative about Judah and Tamar and wonder why this was in the text - it is one sordid tale. After reading it, you want to go and take a shower. A man in the line of Christ sleeping with his daughter-in-law who has to dress up like a prostitute to get him to sleep with her!

But I have learned through study that this Scripture is valuable. First, it teaches us that God can still achieve His purpose (in this case, the line of Christ) even through the evil of men. God can make good come out of bad. When bad happens in our life through the evil of others, God can redeem these things and make good come out of it. Take for example, Tim Tebow - a good Christian role model - being the product of the rape of his mom.

Also, God can use an embarrassing low in a person's life to turn them around. Judah has been the chief scoundrel among the brothers up to this point. He was the one driving the brothers to sell Joseph into slavery and lie to their dad. He also acted wickedly with Tamar and his sons. But this incident with Tamar has showed him how low he is - "She is more righteous than I." From here on out, notice how Judah becomes the righteous leader for the brothers.

Do you pray for someone to be turned around? Are you prepared for God to bring him/her low to answer your prayer?

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Jan 16 Genesis 36 Ho Hum Geneaologies

As we read this chapter, we ask ourselves, "How could God possibly use this to transform my life today - through a long list of genealogies with most names that I can't pronounce?" If you are new to the Bible, the Edomites are descendants of Esau (you have read that already) who is the son of Isaac, Jacob's impetuous brother. They settled south of the Dead Sea and called their land, Edom.

Edom will be a constant enemy of Israel throughout their history. Remember, they are both descendants from Isaac. Herod the Great was an Idumean, actually a descendant of Edom, Esau. He tried to wipe out Jesus who was a descendant of Jacob.

There are two "families" on earth, the seed of the promise and the seed of the serpent. The two families have been at war with each other since Cain and Abel. We are naturally born into the family of the serpent, but can choose to be born again (spiritually) into the family of promise, sons of God.

Praise God if you are in the family of God. Go out and make some new brothers and sisters.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Jan 15 Genesis 34-35 Cozying Up to False Religions

In these accounts, the three oldest sons show themselves to be a chip off the old block - deceitful in their dealings with others, Sexual sin becomes an issue. But I notice how Dinah began hanging with the local pagan women. She gets raped. Then we find out that the brothers all have local gods.They were being immersed into the local paganism.

We all need to be careful to not be absorbed into our culture. We are there to be different and to redeem the culture through our witness. Our primary mission is NOT to redeem the culture, but to bring the Good News to people. As people are redeemed, the culture will be changed. But as we become more and more like the pagan culture around us, we lose our witness. Let's see if we have any local gods in our possession - rid ourselves of them and rededicate ourselves to the one true and living God.

As you read the Bible, share with us how God speaks to you. Focus on one application of the text to your life. Read each day for life transformation, not just knowledge.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Jan 14 Genesis 31-33 Significance of Taking Laban's Gods

Rachel taking Laban's household gods shows her to be a deceiver like the whole rest of the family. If it had not been for God warning Laban, the result may have been disastrous. The giving of the household gods was an ancient custom that entitled the holder to the household inheritance. Rachel wasn't happy enough with God's provision, she wanted more.

Family doesn't work when everyone is selfish!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Jan 13 Genesis 29-30 Jacob and Laban - A Great Pair

Who in the family can you trust? Deception begets deception.

Notice that polygamy is never shown in the Bible to be a good thing. All of the conflict reported is probably only the tip of the iceberg.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Jan 12 Genesis 26:34-28:22 Favorites, Family In-fighting, Deceit

Quite a title for a post about the family from whom the whole world would be blessed! And you thought that your family was dysfunctional. We can see why our world and every individual in it needs a Savior.

Isaac's family was not in good order with God's plan. We each can learn from what we see. Do any of us favor one child over the other? Does one child feel less favored than the others? Do we set up sibling rivalries - even unwittingly? Do we have good communication with our spouse?

As adults, is there anything we can do to foster better relationships with our parents? Siblings? Extended families? Do we have to reach out to mend long broken relationships?

Friday, January 11, 2013

Jan 11 Gen 25:1-26:33 Lust and Its Long-term Consequences

Lust is defined as a desire to gratify the senses. Esau came in hungry and would do anything for some food - like sell away his birthright. Little did he care that he was selling away 1/3 of all that his very rich father had for him. Instead of him getting 2/3 and Jacob getting 1/3, it would now be vice versa. We many times answer the carnal call of our earthly desires never giving a second thought to the long term consequences of our carnal desires.

Jacob was no saint in this fiasco either - offering such a hard bargain for some stew. He certainly did not exhibit brotherly love. Remember, Jacob is in the line of Christ and through whom the whole world would be blessed. If you ever think that you aren't worthy enough for God to do great things through you, you can find hope reading about this family - Jacob is just getting started.

Parents and future parents, take note of how Abraham's deceit out of fear gets passed down to Isaac (lying about their wives being their sisters). Much of what children learn is "caught." How you live your life will affect your children and grand children and more - good and bad.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Jan 10 Genesis 24 The LORD Provides the Right Wife

If I am not mistaken, this is the only place in the Bible where the LORD specifically picks out a wife for a man - but it is an important one - the continuity of ethnic Jews.

We also meet one of the biggest scoundrels in the family - Laban - stay tuned. We got a little bit of his act as he wanted Rebecca to stay another 10 days.

Jan 9 Genesis 22-23 Sacrifice of Christ Prefigured

The most important thing about the sacrifice of Isaac is that it prefigured the sacrifice of Christ - He provided! God takes us through the emotional journey of Abraham so that we begin to understand how He felt sacrificing His son. The Old Testament is filled with types of Christ - keep an eye out for them.

Do a little Bible search on Mount Moriah and some geography and you will come to the possibility that the exact spot where Isaac was to be sacrificed and where David sacrificed on a plot from Araunah and Calvary were one in the same place.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Jan 8 Gen. 20-21 Fear Causes Abraham to Sin

Abraham, a great man of faith, feared King Abimelech, so Abraham had Sarah lie/withhold the truth about their marriage. Had God not intervened, the results would have been disastrous. Fear (not trusting in God's promises) led to Abraham's weakness - his default sin - deception. We all have our weaknesses - our default sins. Abraham will pass on his deceptive ways to his children and grand children - stay tuned - a family weakness.

So what is each of our default sins that emanates out of our weaknesses  We all have them. Remember, all sin is really a distrust of God and His ways as being best for us.

Note that the Bible never paints people - even those of great faith - as sinless perfection. Jesus is the only ultimate model for us.

As a personal sidelight for me is the dispute over water - a very precious commodity in the Mideast and all over the world. Many of the struggles in the Mideast over boundaries and land has got to do with water rights - though hardly ever talked about in news reports. In a previous career, I was in the water treatment industry and delivered a keynote address at a water conference approximately 15 years ago about the coming worldwide shortage of clean drinking water and sewage. Its here!!!!

Monday, January 7, 2013

Jan 7 Lot and the Allure of Evil

Lot had chosen the lush valley of the Jordan to graze his flocks. Next we find him living in Sodom and no flocks are mentioned. He apparently becomes an elder of this wicked city because he was perched at the gates. He is willing to give his virgin daughters to the men of the city. Then, he gets so drunk that he doesn't know that he is having sex with his daughters. It is amazing how messed up he got over time, yet God still spared him.

We need to be careful who we hang around with. When we are surrounded by wickedness with no godly fellowship, evil starts to look like the new normal. WEEKLY Sunday Service has got to be the absolute minimum, but being in a small group and having Christian friends that we routinely interact with are better. But let's not go all the way to the other side and live in a Christian bubble - we need to win others to Christ - to do so, we must interact with outsiders - and change them!

Jan 6 God Isn't Tied to Our Schedule

Part of the fruit of the Spirit is patience. If Abraham and Sarah had it, Hagar, Ishmael, and the whole Arab-Israeli conflict may have been avoided. Sarah and Abraham thought God needed help making good on His promise to give them a son. This was a classic case of not letting God be God.

We can learn much from this episode - God doesn't always work on our time schedule. We need to trust that God's schedule is the right one - even when it doesn't seem like it to us. Many times, when we outrun Him, we actually create new problems for ourselves. Wait on God - He is God.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Jan 5 Abram and His Attitude Toward Money and Stuff

Obviously, the most important theme of the Abraham narratives is his faith in the one, true, and living God. It is interesting to see how this faith in God plays out in his attitudes toward money and stuff.

God promises to bless Abram. Abram gives Lot the choice of the best land - and of course worldly Lot chooses the best for himself. Abram honors Lot's choice, presumably trusting God to bless him, even on the less lush land. Then, Abram risks his life to save Lot and desires none of the spoils of his win for himself. He wants God to bless Him. He even gives 10% of everything to King/Priest Melchizedek (a type of Christ being a combo king/priest and his name meaning King of Righteousness). He is King of Salem (which means Peace, so he is King of Peace).

Having faith in God means more than trusting Him for heaven after death. We need to trust Him in this life, too. One of the many ways to trust Him is for His provision. Giving of our very 1st 10% of our earnings (gross) is a great example of trust.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Jan 4 Continual Pursuit to Elevate Man and Diminish God

The Tower of Babel is an interesting narrative (I don't use the word story because people begin to think fictional account). Man always tries to elevate his status and push God out of the picture. This began with Adam and Eve wanting to know good and evil themselves instead of depending on God to tell them. Nothing has really changed. God says to wait until marriage for sex, but we all think we have a better way - how is it working out for us? I need to accept God as the higher authority in my life and to follow his direction - to lift Him up - and for me to decrease.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Even the Righteous are Less Than Perfect

January 3 Scripture describes over and over again what happens when godly people get unequally yoked with ungodly people - the ungodly win over the godly. I wish I could get young people and all unmarried people to heed the Bible's warnings in this area. I deal with far too many people who grieve over their decision to ignore Scripture's clear warnings. The lure of "beautiful" people!

Also, the Bible shows people as they are - even righteous Noah got drunk and had some sort of sexual sin. The Bible shows all families to be less than perfect. In this, God shows His grace and mercy - and man's need for a Savior.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Two Lines - Godly and Ungodly

Jan 2 After the murder of Abel, two lines of generations are shown - the godly line of Seth and the ungodly line of Cain.