Friday, February 29, 2008

Mark Chapter 7 - February 29, 2008

7:1-22 - The Pharisees continue to look for something to discredit Jesus and his disciples. What is their deal? I mean I know what their deal was - they didn't want their status and authority taken away from them and they didn't want to change anything about the way they lived their lives, but seriously - what is their deal? Jesus sets them straight about what really defiles a person - it doesn't have to do with the food they are eating, but the fruit that they produce. It reminds me a little of people who leave churches or complain or cause church splits because they don't like the way...somebody dresses, worships, takes communion, etc. What is their deal? Does you ability to worship God or connect to Him really come down to what other people are wearing or what type of music is involved? Are you really so unmoved by the meaning behind the bread and the juice during communion that you are busy writing a list of people who you don't think are baptized who were taking communion? I'll be the first to admit that there have been plenty of times when I was spiritually arrogant, and allowed myself to get disconnected with the Spirit of God's truth because I was too busy obsessing over the differences between the way another person's faith is lived out when compared to mine. I just think it isn't God honoring and I want it to stop.

7:36-37 - Is it not insane how many times people refused to listen to Jesus when he asked them not to talked about their miraculous healings? Basically every time Jesus specifically tells someone not to talk about his power - they run off and tell everybody they meet! It's pretty funny. What is not funny is the stark contrast that we see today...today we understand that he has specifically told us to introduce others to the miracles he has done in our own hearts and lives - we are THE game plan to get the Word out - and we often times look like the people he told not to talk about it. Not funny, huh? Not funny at all.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Mark Chapter 6 - February 28, 2008

*Many of these verses are repeats of events from Matthew, so I am going to focus on only the verses that I haven't previously discussed.

6:6 - He marveled at there unbelief! We saw a few instances from Matthew where Jesus marveled at a person's faith, and here we see the polar opposite coming from the people of his hometown. Jesus has been surrounded by unbelief throughout his life (Everywhere he goes, I'm sure who knows who doesn't believe in God), yet these people are in such a bad place he MARVELS at how lame their faith is...he is in awe of their ignorance! Sometimes it is the people who know us best that have the hardest time understanding when God brings changes into our lives...never let someone else's unbelief about your ability to change affect how God is reforming you. Fight on!

6:16 - Strange verse, huh? People are wondering who this guys Jesus is. Some say he is Elijah reborn...some say he is a prophet...even King Herod chimes in and says, "Maybe he is John the Baptist (Who I beheaded!) reborn!" That is what this verse means - it means Herod thinks Jesus is the resurrected John the Baptist...I guess he didn't know much about them growing up as relatives and John baptizing Jesus, etc. The sad part is that Herod is so close, yet so far. We can see that he kinda likes John...John is one of the few men on earth who will tell Herod how it is...who will tell him what needs to change in his life. I think he knows that Herod is a prophet of God, but his beheading of John the Baptist after making the stupidest vow the world has ever known (Half my kingdom for a little dance - that must have been one killer dance...the Macarena perhaps?) kinda shows how much Herod cares about God (Not at all). He even sees that the message and the ministry of Jesus is very similar to John's, but he doesn't check it out...he never takes it further than that, and he misses out on redemption. He ends up thinking, "Uh, I guess Jesus is John reborn...that's nice, now I'll go on with my life." How many people do we know that think Jesus is...a great teacher, good guy, nice man, cool dude, etc...but they never lean in to get a closer look to see how life-changing the big picture of who Jesus is can be? I hope that we as Christians can live out Christ in such a way, that we bring Jesus into the lives of people who are apart from Him so that they can see the truth for themselves.

6:42 - Taste and see the Lord is good - he offers us more than enough to be satisfied - he offers a food that will never allow us to be hungry again and living water that will quench the desperate longing of our soul...eat it up...drink it in...he is good.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Mark Chapter 5 - February 27, 2008

5:4-7 - There was no one in the area who had the strength to subdue the demon possessed man. They had tied him up with ropes and chains and nothing could hold him. Then Jesus walks up and immediately the man falls face down before him, begging him for mercy. Do you see the power of Christ? His mere presence can bring a wild man under control that no human being could stop. That is power...that is a king I want to follow. The only chance I ever have of overcoming the demons of sinfulness that plague my life, is to bring them to the foot of Jesus...and allow his power to scour my life clean.

5:28-34 - I love this story...the crowd is crushing in around Jesus...many people are touching him, begging him for help and healing...all of these people have problems and pain in their lives, but only one hand draws power from Jesus. Why? Because she truly had faith. Her faith is what connected her to the power of Jesus...our faith will do the same for us. When you need help and strength and healing - do you truly believe you are going to get it? This woman did.

5:38-40 - It is interesting to see the reaction of the crowd here...they are weeping as they mourn for the little girl, but immediately begin to laugh and mock Jesus when he tells them that the girl is not dead. Their lives have been taken captive by the power of death - anyone that would have the audacity to suggest that there may be miraculous life-bringing change is a fool to these people. Have you ever been a member of that crowd? Have I? Doubting the power of Christ to bring life to a dead existence? When the little girl walks out of the house a few minutes later, who do you think is laughing then?

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Mark Chapter 4 - February 26, 2008

4:1-20 - There are basically four main reactions when someone comes in contact with the word of God. 1.) You come in contact and Satan immediately steals the word. Ex. Someone hears the truth about God, but allows doubts, questions, selfishness, Christian hypocrisy, etc...to turn them away from the truth. 2.) Shallow faith is destroyed by tough times. Ex. Maybe this person had a feel good experience with Jesus, and they think that life will be a fairytale land of perfection...until hard times hit and their shallow faith evaporates around them. 3.) Come in contact with the word of God, but outside influences pull you away. Ex. Being completely immersed in the world - materialism, serving yourself, ego, power, whatever...when that is the only thing you are being fed, the faith will die off. 4.) You find Christ and you live out your faith - you produce fruit. Ex. There is life change in your life and in the lives of people who come into contact with you. Which of these best describes you right now?

4:12 - Uh...wow...pretty harsh verse here don't you think. It seems the first time you read it like Jesus is basically saying, "I'm teaching in parables so that some people will never be able to understand and get saved." That sounds harsh doesn't it? What is really going on here? I think what we have to do is go back to the passage that Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 6:9-10. We have to understand the context...in Isaiah the verse is used ironically...what it means is that God is sending Isaiah out to speak truth to the people of Israel even though God knows they will not listen and will not change. Isaiah is instructed to go even in the face of imminent failure. Jesus is also using the passage ironically...in Isaiah's time the people could not understand the message of God and Jesus knows that the people he is speaking to will most likely not understand either...but he teaches them anyway. If anything...this passage shows us the love of Jesus - that he would continue to teach to a people he knows are going to reject him and ultimately kill him.

4:21 - If you faith is real, how could you possibly hide it? How could you ignore it? How could you keep it from people and act like it meant nothing to you? That would be like lighting a candle and putting it under your bed before you go to sleep...in a word, absurd! No one would do that - how can we justify ignoring life-giving truth if we really believe it is life-giving and all-important?

4:25 - Questions...why do so many life-long Christians live out a lukewarm faith? Why have so many people started out on fire for God and then found themselves wondering a few years down the rode where the fire went (I've been there)? Mark 4:25 - use it or lose it. How can we expect our faith to stay strong if we don't use it...if we don't step out in faith and trust in God?

4:39 - Does Jesus also not have the power to calm the noise and the storms of conflict raging within us? Would he be saying to us when we allow worries and trouble to cast our lives into chaos, "Do you still have so little faith?" Interesting for me to ask myself the next time I'm throwing one of my little pity parties.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Mark Chapter 3 - February 25, 2008

3:5 - Jesus looked at them in anger, and deep distress. What was it that made Jesus anger non-sinful...when we know that he equates anger to sin in the Sermon on the Mount? Anger in itself is not always wrong...it is the motivation behind the anger. Jesus is angry because these "men of God" were living out hypocritical, uncaring lives. I also think it is really interesting that Jesus felt great distress for the men he was angry with. He was upset that their hearts had become so hard - he felt for them. When was the last time you felt sorry for a person you were angry with? Our anger usually results in a blinding white-hot anger that keeps us from seeing anything but how we have been wronged...Jesus is focused on how God has been wronged and how far these men have fallen from the life they have been called to live. Jesus also allows his anger to be used constructively - to heal a man's hand. Does your anger bring about healing or destruction?

3:6 - It is ironic and sadly funny that the Pharisees have accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath by healing a man...and then they go out and break the Sabbath by plotting a murder. Sick, sad and laughable, all at the same time.

3:7-11 - We frequently see Jesus get away from the crowds and his disciples so that he can be alone with God and spiritually recharge. When I read this passage about Jesus speaking from a boat so that the crowds cannot crush in around him and touch him to receive healing...I wonder if Jesus human side had to limit the amount of healing and demon exorcism that he did to avoid spiritual exhaustion. I don't know, maybe because of his human limitations as God and man - there was a limit to the miraculous works he could do before he needed to go "re-fill": with God. Just a thought. But it is important for us to understand that we can easily become spiritually exhausted and burned out if we are not taking the time to get alone with God and drink in His presence.

3:20-22 - Jesus can't catch a break! His family thinks he has gone nuts and turned into a crazy cult leader because the people are crowding him so badly that he can't even eat. The Pharisees think he is possessed by Satan because he is doing incredible things that their distorted faith can't produce. Jesus is living out the example of what he says will come to us when we follow him - there will be problems. People will not understand you...others will think you are crazy...some people will hate you because you have something that they do not. When things are getting crazy and when you feel alone in your journey, remember that we serve a Savior that has been through it all. He is there for you - turn to him for strength.

3:27 - I love this verse...I know I talked about the same one from Matthew, but I still love it. Jesus charged into this world - tied up the strong man (Satan) and is robbing his house right now. Every person that puts there faith in Christ is another stolen possession from Satan! Being stolen goods has never felt so good!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Mark Chapter 2 - February 22, 2008

2:4ff - I have always loved this example of dedication from the friends of the paralytic. They refused to let their boy by shut out from the blessings of Jesus...even to the extreme of tearing through the ceiling of some unfortunate person's house. And Jesus didn't chastise them for their destruction because he saw that their true faith produced action. We all need to ask ourselves a few questions: Is our faith so real and important to us that we are willing to do anything to get the people we come in contact with into the presence of Jesus? Do we have friends that are willing to fight for our faith...pray for us constantly...carry us when we are unable to go on...hold us accounatble, etc? Are we that kind of friend for others?

2:15-17 - What do our churches look more like...gathering places of broken sinners or self-righteous perfectionists? If the goal of the CHRISTian church is to look as much like Jesus as humanly possible - shouldn't our congregations look a little more like that table Jesus was sitting at? Maybe the real sickness is when we allow ourselves to think it is okay to keep the "undesireables" out.

2:18-22 - I think sometimes there is a belief out there that Jesus was always serious and kinda depressing, thinking constantly about his future death and how screwed up the world was and always tearing into anybody that was being an idiot (I've struggled with a picture of Jesus like this)...but this passage along with many others is one of the ones that implies a different side to the Jesus-man. He and his dsiciples were living life like it was a wedding feast! They enjoyed life and they enjoyed eating together and they did it whenever they could. Jesus asks his retractors, "Why should we be somberly fasting when the bridegrrom is here - the wedding is coming...it is party time!" Yes, there are times when Jesus was serious and confrontational - but there are many times when he was celebrating life and feeling sympathy and loving individuals for their extreme examples of faith...there are many facets to the personality of Jesus, don't close him up in a one deminsional box (Which I guess, would be a square!).

2:27ff - I love these verses. Sometimes it seems like we look at the command to keep the Sabbath holy as just another rule in the long list of rules that are burdening us in this world. That is how the Pharisees looked at it! Jesus explains to us all how it really is...the Sabbath was not created to burden man...it wasn't created so that you can feel guilty about working on a Sunday (Saturday is the 7th day anyway!). God created a Sabbath so that man could be free...so that man would take some time to slow down, stop working, relax, chase after peace and reconnect with God. The Sabbath was created for our sanity...it was made for you and me - we were not made to be owned by the Sabbath. Remember for your soul's sake and for your sanity's sake to take time to be still and know your God. The Sabbath is a freedom, not a burden...take hold of it.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Mark Chapter 1 - February 21, 2008

1:8 - A baptism of water only cleans just the outside - the baptism of the Holy Spirit scours the inside too. Jesus offers his followers not just a path to walk, but he offers to dwell inside us...he offers us access to a power that is far beyond ourselves. Thanks Jesus.

1:17-20 - I have always loved the disciples' response here - "immediately they left their nets." Jesus invited them to follow him and change lives and their reaction was instant - they went. I want to be a man that is so tuned in to the goodness of Christ and his message that I am ready to go at an instant when he calls me to act. I think sometimes as Christians we get so distracted with the "stuff" all around us that we forget how incredible it is that we are invited to join in with Jesus and his work on this earth. The disciples knew how privileged they were and I hope I can fully appreciate that too.

1:22 - The power and authority that Jesus spoke with was shocking to his audiences. The scribes and teachers of the law did not teach with authority - they gave their opinions on what God's law could mean. Jesus said, "This is what it means." That was it - no one had ever heard anyone so brash and confident before, but then again, no one had ever heard the God/Man speak before this. The message of Jesus is still shocking to people who don't want to believe in truth...Jesus offers no alternatives, no options, no way around things...he offers himself as the way, the truth and the life.

1:24 - I have always found it shocking that the demons instantly recognize Jesus for who he is, and the religious leaders of the day completely missed him. That is scary. We should pray that we don't get so caught up in denominational dogma and saving ourselves through "perfect living" that we miss seeing Christ at work around us in this world. God please open my eyes and let me see you at work...God open my heart and use me to further your kingdom.

1:35 - Okay, Jesus Christ the son of the living God needs to get away to a place of quiet and spend time spiritually recharging alone with God...how could I ever have been arrogant enough to assume that I don't need this kind of desolation and God-focus in my own life? Am I purposefully setting aside time to get away from all the noise and listen to my creator? It is spiritual suicide if I am not.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Matthew Chapter 28 - February 20, 2008

28:17 - It seems strange that Matthew would put "but some doubted" into the middle of this victorious event in which Jesus has come back to life as he promised and is giving his disciples their mission before he leaves. But for me it is very uplifting because even though some of Jesus closest friends doubted him when he was right in front on them...they were still able to overcome their doubts and live completely sold out lives for him in the end. Like every Christian, doubts creep into my life and verses like this help me to push on, trusting that God will give me the strength to live for Him. (I also like how transparent the biblical writers are when they present their stories...how easy would it have been to leave that part out and make the story all "happy-YAY-Jesus-is-back-times"?)

28:19ff - Here it is - you never have to spend your life worrying over what to do - where to go - what decisions to make - why am I here? It is all laid out for us in black and white: go and make disciples of all nations. It doesn't matter where you are or what you are doing (As long as it isn't evil!) - you are supposed to be making disciples. That's it. That's our job. If you are a full-time your minister...a high school student...a college student...a pharmacist...a zoologist...a garbage man (Sorry sanitation disposal specialist) - you need to be making disciples. We've been given a mission...we are the plan - period - we are it...we are to go and expand God's kingdom here on this earth. Pretty simple, but pretty stinking hard at the same time. Go get to work.

*We start in on Mark tomorrow.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Matthew Chapter 27 - February 19, 2008

*Just a reminder...when you read through a chapter each day, type out some of your thought in the comment section of the blog. Write out what God has spoken to you through His word. That's all I'm doing.

27:3-5 - I know it sounds strange, but I have always felt sorry for Judas. He betrays the son of God for money and when the severity of what he has done finally sinks in, he kills himself in his anguish. I wish he could have turned back to Jesus for forgiveness. That's all it would take, even for the betrayer...all he had to do was repent - just like us. Peter denied he ever even knew Jesus - and returned to become the leader of early Christianity. Judas had the same chance to turn back to Jesus and got too caught up in self-pity to grab on to the grace of Jesus.

27:18 - "For he knew that it was out of envy that they offered him up." I know Jesus had to die for our salvation, but it is still tragic to see the religious leaders of the day offering their long awaited Messiah up to death because they didn't want to share any of the spotlight. It is also tragic when we allow envy to drive wedges between ourselves and other Christians. Every person is gifted in different ways...every one of us as ministers of Jesus Christ can reach people that others can't...I hope that we can be people that rejoice in the kingdom work of others and not feel jealousy over our differences.

27:34 - He refused to take the wine mixed with gall because it would dull his senses. Jesus knew that he needed every mental and spiritual resource at his disposal to fight against the temptation to save himself. He wanted nothing to dull his connection with God, even though it meant feeling every tendril of the pain ripping through his body. I hope that we can each make the choice every day to remove distractions and seek out the strength of God.

27:51-53 - This aspect of the story is talked about too frequently (As in, NEVER), but I think it is awesome. Out of the death of Jesus Christ came life and resurrection and redemption and second chances and victory! He has the power to conquer death and the dead believers in the tombs were brought back to life as witnesses to his power.

* I didn't want to say much on the actual crucifixion because it speaks for itself. This is the greatest profession of love ever given in the history of man.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Matthew Chapter 26 - February 18, 2008

75 verses! Matthew was bringing it! Chapter 26 sets the stage for the most important event in human history, so we can give him some extra verses to use can't we?

26:2 - I continue to love Jesus more and more when I read verses like this...he knows he is going to die a horrible, excruciating death and he is still willing to go through with it for you and me! That is love. How many times do we as humans bail on family and friends and churches when things get too hard? Jesus lived out a strength that is as beautiful as it is powerful.

26:6 - Three words, "Simon the leper." Jesus continues to give us the example for what it looks like to live out revolutionary love...he eats with the rejected, the unclean, the sinful, the hated, the revolting...he is love.

26:26-29 - Every Sunday we take the bread and the juice to remember the sacrifice of Jesus, but we need to be in communion with God every day. Do you let the fact that he allowed his body to be broken for you set the standard for how you live each day? Do you let the offering of his blood wash you clean from your mistakes and prepare you to do what it takes each new day to honor him? Our communion with God is not something we do at church once a week...it is a spiritual connection that we should be seeking out every day.

26:34-35 - Sometimes even when we hear the truth - we refuse to accept it. God please let my heart be open to your truth, no matter what that means for the way I like to do things. Sometimes when we speak the truth in love to others, they will refuse to listen to it. God please let me treat them with mercy as you did (Matt. 26:37 - even though he knew that Peter was going to betray him, he still brought him along).

26:39 - I feel closer to Jesus when I see his humanity in the scriptures...he understands what we are up against here on earth...he understands how difficult it is to go through horrible events in our lives. But he also sets the example for us by following God no matter what the cost...again, his strength is beautiful.

26:41 - We are told that there is no temptation that is too much for us to handle with God's help (I Corinthians 10:13), so I believe that Jesus is trying to offer Peter a chance to get strength from God so that he can overcome denying Jesus. He says watch and pray so that you might not enter into temptation...this could be saying, Peter you are about to deny that you have ever known me...seek God right now and let Him help you overcome that sin. But we all know what Peter does, he falls back asleep and by the end of the chapter he is telling people he has never known Jesus. Of course Jesus prophecy that Peter would deny him was going to come true (He is God), but I'm sure he didn't want Peter to deny him.

26:75 - Simple yet powerful sentence. How many times have I sworn to not betray my Lord, only to look back bitterly after I have failed.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Matthew Chapter 25 - February 15, 2008

25:1-30 - I think Jesus is trying to drive home a point here...maybe it was the three different ways he explained this to us in chapter 24 or the back to back parables he uses to start out chapter 25...but I think he wants us to understand that we should be using the gifts, the life, the time he has given us in this world to serve him. What else have we got to do? Collect a bunch of stuff that means nothing when we die? Completely serve ourselves and seek pleasure which means nothing when we die? We were created for a purpose - love God, love people - and we are expected to be living that out.

25:31-46 - These are just about the most self-explanatory passages in the bible...which one are you? Are you so caught up in "religion" and life that you fail to see the sons and daughters of Christ that are walking through this world in need? Are you so tuned into your mission that you serve without bias?

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Matthew Chapter 24 - February 14, 2008

This is an incredible chapter because we see Jesus step into the role of the prophet. Prophecying that the temple is going to be destroyed and teaching about the tough times that are ahead for human beings.

24:9-14 - This is a pretty important passage for us to understand, because Jesus gives it to us straight. As believers we are going to go through hard times. We are going to be persecuted. We are going to be hated. We are going to live in a world that gets more and more lawless, and a world where we see false teachers springing up everywhere. But, if we endure these hard times and hold true to our faith (Faith is really the only path to sanity in a world like this anyway!), our lives will be a testimony to all nations! It is good for us to go through rough stuff, because when we do, and when we stay true to our faith...other people will know that our faith is different. Other people will be led to know God by our perseverance.

24:27 - Jesus says that false teachers and fake messiahs will rise up in our world, and some people will buy into their garbage...they will say look over at this little corner of the world - that's the savior...look over here, I know it's hard to tell, but he's the messiah. Don't buy into the lies...when Jesus returns it will be as plain as lightning striking across a pitch black sky...you will know. You will know.

24:30 - It seems strange that the tribes of earth would mourn when they see Jesus return. Why are they mourning? Shouldn't they be shouting with joy and praising him. I believe this is referring very specifically to the "tribes of earth"...the people who have made the earth truly their home...the people who have totally bought in to the lies of the world. They will mourn because they will no that they were wrong - they will fear Jesus because he is not what they chose...the dark cannot stand the light. The members of the kingdom of heaven (Believers) will rejoice and will taken into the arms of their savior, but it doesn't bode well for the tribes of earth.

24:42-51 - Do you want to know how serious Jesus is about us spreading the gospel? Read through this passage a couple times! Check out verse s 50 and 51! WOW - it's time to start living like we don't have much time. Every day should be lived as if it is our last, because we don't know. I know it is cliche, but seriously, if Jesus came back tomorrow would you have given his message to all the people you wanted to? It begs the question - if we don't live like he's coming back, do we really believe it? Harsh...but something to think about.

*There is some really intense stuff in this chapter - if you have any questions, leave them in a comment (Not that I am the authority on understanding every aspect of the bible, but I give it a shot).

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Matthew Chapter 23 - February 13, 2008

As we read through these "7 woes" it is really easy to look down on the Pharisees and teachers of the law and imagine how much better we would have reacted to Jesus had we been there, but before we go there...let's check out verse 30. The Pharisees liked to say the same thing! They liked to sit around, look at the OT, see how their ancestors treated the prophets, and talk about how much better they would react to the message of the prophets. Hmm...that sounds familiar...where have I heard that before? As you read through the "7 woes" ask yourself where in your life you are walking dangerously close to being somebody Jesus would say, "WOE" to.

23:8 - This is something I need to remind myself of from time to time. I may be a professional minister, but we are all ministers. We are all brothers in Christ that are following in the footsteps of the one and only rabbi. I am a student and will be a student for my entire life, and I am journeying together with fellow Christians to try and be as much like Jesus as possible. This is something I need to remember when I start worrying about my effectiveness...it's not about me.

23:13 - Woe to those who not only refuse to understand live out and understand the kingdom of heaven, but they also slam the door in the face of people who are trying to get there. Do I ever refuse to step into the purpose and life that God has called me to live? Do I ever allow my hypocrisy to get in the way of other's faith?

23:15 - Woe to those who do whatever it takes to make a disciple and then turn that person into twice the child of hell they are! Uh...wow...intense. Imagine how ticked off the Pharisees must have been upon hearing this. Imagine how ticked off Jesus must have been when he saw the twisted, hypocritical message the Pharisees were cramming down people's throats. What is the message we are living out for the people we come in contact with? Does it draw people to God, or lead them away?

23:16-22 - Woe to those who put more emphasis on man-made religious stuff then on the God who created everything. People in the modern Christian Church would never get caught up in anything like that...oh, wait...my bad - we do it constantly.

23:23 - The Pharisees were so obsessed with doing everything perfectly down to the letter of the law that they would tithe even on their spices, yet they failed to treated real live people with justice and mercy. Do you see anything wrong with that picture? Do you ever get so caught up in going through the religious process of Christianity that you fail to truly "love others" you come in contact with?

23:25 - Woe to those who look good on the outside (I.E. - perfect, smiling church mask and "Sunday best"), and are corrupt on the inside. How could it possibly be good for me to be more worried about people's impression of me then who I really am on the inside?

The sixth woe is another one about the inside being filthy and the outside being clean, and the seventh woe was referred to in the opening paragraph (23:30).

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Matthew Chapter 22 - February 12, 2008

22:5 - Does this sound familiar to anyone else - people too caught up in their own day to day exsistence that they don't have time to enter into the realm of God? We are being invited everyday to step into the party of all eternity and over and over we turn it down for mundane crap that leaves us empty and wondering why we have no joy. Gee...what could the problem be?

22:11-14 - I know this sounds a little scary, but it is an awesome passage. This is one of the many invitations that Jesus is making to Gentiles like me. When God's people chose to ingore the kingdom of heaven party, everybody else got invited. The good the bad the ugly - all of us. YAY! But it is also a stark reminder...all are invited, but only those dressed in the bright white clothes of righteousness (Washed clean by the blood of Jesus) are allowed to stay.

22:15-22 - If he says, "pay the taxes" the Jews will hate him because they hate their Roman oppressors. If he says, "don't pay the taxes" the Romans will kill him for leading a rebellion. It is the perfect hyper-political trap to catch Jesus...but Jesus is Jesus, he goes his own way. He says - Whose money is that anyway (Holds up a coin with Ceasar's face on it)? Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's...we've got bigger things to do then worry about a tiny hunk of metal. Don't we all.

22:23-33 - What started out a couple chapters back as the triumphant entry into the city, has turned into a "how-can-we-trap-Jesus-fest." The Sadducees take their shot with a jumbled hypothetical question about marriage in the after-life (These guys don't even believe in an after life - sheesh!). Jesus says, you guys don't get it...we will be beyond all the physical stuff...we will have spiritiual bodies like the angels. We will be fully and completely connected with God and will not need the physical partners we had in this life. Secondly - I love when Jesus quotes the OT scripture, God is the God of Abrham, Isaac, and Jacob. He didn't say - I was the God of them...He said, I AM the God of these guys. Death is not the end...it is the beginning of true life when saved by Christ. Our God is the God of the living!

22:36-40 - Love God, Love people - pretty simple (Except for the fact that we have proved over and over that we are terrible at it!). Who says Christianity has tons of rules...we just have the two! Now let's get to work.

22:46 - Great message for us here...again Jesus is confronted and again Jesus silences his enemies with scripture. Just as he destroyed the arguments of Satan in the wilderness through the words of God...he destroys the arguments of the Pharisees with the bible. That is our weapon in the spiritual war we fight. If we do not keep scripture in our minds and heart we will be unable to fight back.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Matthew 20 and 21 - February 11, 2008

Matthew 20:1-16 - This has always been a great reminder for me to quit whining about what other people are doing and live the life that I was called to live. As a Christian, I have access to the kingdom of heaven lived out here on earth...I am connected to true living. Everyone else is living out a form of hell on earth, and if they discover Christ and give their lives to Him after "living it up" for a few years - I should be excited for them. I shouldn't be jealous that they got to waste more of their life before coming to Christ. The workers in the fields that had been there all day knew the wage they were going to get...they worked hard and accomplished the task they had been hired to do and they got paid for it. Why are they whining! All day long they had known that they would be able to feed their families that week. The workers who were doing nothing all day, had no idea where their money was going to come from...they were probably worried throughout the day because no solution to their problems was in sight. That is not fun...that is not good. It is better to be the worker who was working hard and worry free because he had been hired early. It is better to go through this life connected to the way of Christ - than to live separated from Christ until the very end.

Matthew 20:20-28 - Even at this point the disciples were very focused on their place of honor and power in the kingdom. Jesus asks if they really think they can drink from his cup. The sons of Zebedee immediately say that they can drink from his cup, but they don't understand the kind of cup that Jesus drinks from. A cup of sacrifice. A cup of God first no matter how hard the task. A cup of service. A cup of humility. A cup of forgiveness. A very heavy cup...God, please grant me the strength to pick it up.

Matthew 21:1-17 - The people wanted a revolutionary leader...they praised him...the cheered him...they honored him as he came into Jerusalem - and they got what they wanted...they got the revolutionary, he just didn't lead the kind of revolution they wanted him to lead. They wanted a warrior to fight against the Roman oppression, but what they got was a warrior fighting against religious oppression. Jesus stormed into the temple and drove the oppressors out. Sometimes I think we say we want Jesus to be exactly what we want him to be and do exactly what we want him to do, when we need to be asking what do I need to change to get in line with the revolutionary message of Jesus Christ?

Matthew 21:19, 21:33-44 - It is pretty clear that God is going to deal harshly with those who do not produce good fruit. This has nothing to do with our good deeds saving us...it has to do with living out your faith. If you believe in the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ, then you should believe in the message that came with Jesus Christ and live it out.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Missed chapter

I will be doing 2 chapters on Monday. I was traveling on Friday...don't worry I still love Jesus.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Matthew Chapter 19 - February 7, 2008

19:5ff - God's plan is that one man and one woman should become one flesh in marriage. Jesus says that they are no longer two, but they have become one completely. They are one entity that cannot (Or should not) be torn apart. I think that maybe instead of trying to broaden the rules of marriage and divorce to make splitting up more socially acceptable and reasonable...Christians should take the spiritual act of marriage more seriously and understand how meaningful it is to make a vow of unity before God. Instead of always thinking in the back of our minds that we can get out of a marriage if we need to...we should be thinking, can I commit myself to this person before God forever? If more people truly asked this question and understood fully the seriousness of the vows they were making, maybe there would be less people marrying into toxic/destructive relationships. When Jesus talks of how important the marriage vow is, his disciples say, "If God is so serious about this, isn't it better just to not get married?" I think it would be better for people to not marry and focus in on God as apposed to getting into doomed relationships because that is "what you do." I'm am definitely NOT advocating living together instead of getting married...I'm saying, maybe more people should not get married and not get into serious relationships if they can't stay true to what they are going to vow before God. Maybe we should have more spiritual eunuchs in this world (Spoken boldly from the man who is happily married...uh yeah...that's awkward).

19:16ff ("ff" by the way, means and following, referring to the verses that come after...I know you probably already know that, but I'm just throwing it out there because I use that a lot) The thing that we have to see here is what the rich young man wants. He wants to work his way into heaven. He comes to Jesus feeling confident, because he is really good at following the OT law and he tells Jesus that. He has probably come up to get a pat on the back with Jesus saying, "You have done a great job, you are going to get into heaven because you have followed all these rules." But that isn't what he gets is it? No, Jesus knows exactly what this guy struggles with and hits him in the face with it, "Yeah, go sell all your stuff, give it away and come follow me." The man is heartbroken because he loves his stuff...he is greedy. Jesus proves to us again that no one is good. And that is the point. No one is good. No one can save themselves. Can a camel go through the eye of a sewing needle - HECK NO! Can a man because he is rich get in heaven - NO! The disciples cry out, "WHO CAN BE SAVED?" No one by their own power...only through the power of God and the sacrifice of Jesus can we be saved. Rich/poor, good/bad, young/old, ugly/pretty - salvation only comes through Jesus Christ. We have to remember to humble ourselves daily and understand that we are the recipients of a love offering that can never be repaid in full...let those truths define the way that you live your life. Oh yeah...and it would probably be a good idea not to worship stuff either.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Matthew Chapter 18 - February 6, 2008

18:3-4 - I often look at my boys, Dane and Aidan, and envy their innocence. They are totally worry free and they completely trust Mandy and I to meet their every need. They are free to find the joy of every aspect of life. I believe to humble myself as a child, I must see myself for what I truly am...utterly weak and helpless and in need of my Father's love and protection. May I chose to put my life completely into the hands of God, so that I can begin to truly live.

18:18ff - I think this ties back directly to what Jesus was talking about in chapter 16 when he blesses Peter. This does not mean that we are all given these incredible God-powers that allow us to bind and loose anything we want here on earth (That would mean we could limit God - and that is impossible). I believe that he is describing the power that we are able to tap into when we plug into God's plan...we will have the power to bind and loose because it is things that God has already bound and loosed that we are adhereing to and living out.

18:20 - I have heard this verse used flippantly about, uh...a mil...no, a billion times in churches over the years, and I think there needs to be some clarification. There are three important words that we have to understand here - "IN MY NAME." This doesn't mean that God is automatically behind anything any Christians say or do, when thy claim to be gathering in His name. Like everything else Jesus talks about in the gosepls, this is not about the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law. To truly be gathered in His name means that the people gathered are truly seeking His will with a humble heart and they are chasing after His spirit and His kingdom as they gather together. This does not mean: we say we are gathered for Him, and then try to push through the the agendas of our own selfishness and egos. I would say that most of the time I have heard this verse used, the latter was the case. Hopefully wherever we gather, we are trying to always seek first His kingdom and not our own.

18:32ff - How many times have we been in the shoes of this servant? Forgiven for countless cimes against the creator of the universe and then unforgiving with the trivial sins that flawed people have made against us. It doesn't make us seem very appreciative of the grace of God when we live ungraciously.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Matthew Chapter 17 - February 5, 2008

17:1-13 - I think the transfiguration of Jesus makes a really strong point for us to live our lives by. In verse 4, Peter sees Moses and Elijah and Jesus together and he wants to pitch tents right then and there. He is saying, "This is awesome! We can all stay here and just talk and hang out and never leave this mountain - this is what it is all about!" It is kinda like going to an incredible youth conference or worship service and feeling totally connected to God and never wanting to leave. But Jesus knows that he has got a job to do and he is going to do it...look at verse 12 - he knows that he is headed towards suffering and he still walks off the mountain. We need to understand that God brings us to the top of the mountain, so that we can go back down ready for anything that comes our way. We don't go to conferences or great quiet times or retreats to stay there forever...we go to get pumped up and then go back out and do our job - live out the message of Christ.

17:19ff - The disciples couldn't cast out the demon...why? Maybe as the demon was throwing the boy into the fir and attempting to drown him in water, they got freaked out. Maybe it seemed like to huge a task for the lowly disciples. Jesus is upset because he knows that if they had trusted in God's strength and forgotten about their own weaknesses, they could have healed the boy. Sadly enough, I fail to trust God in much smaller things...forget demon possessed boys, I get scared sometimes when I simply don't know what to say to someone who questions my faith! What do we give up on because we decide it is much too big for our faith? What would Jesus say to us?

17:25 - Do the king's of earth tax their sons? No, they tax others so that their sons can be free. The king of the universe caused His son to pay our debt in blood so that we could be free. I love our God.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Matthew Chapter 16 - February 4, 2008

16:1-4 - The reason that Jesus refuses to give the Pharisees and teachers of the Law the sign they are looking for, is because of their motivation in asking for the sign. In verse one, the word from the Greek defined as "test" is the same word that is used about Satan when he tempted Jesus in the desert. The Pharisees have come before Jesus out of the same motivation as Satan...to trap and destroy Jesus. These men have already seen Jesus miraculously heal people and interpret the law like no man ever before him...they would have seen the signs they were looking for if they had a heart focused on truth and faith. There are many times that we miss the signs of God at work in this world, because we look through a lens of selfishness or distractedness or whininess. We will see God at work when we faithfully trust that God is at work.

P.S. - The sign of Jonah is a reference to Jesus returning from the dead. Jonah appeared to the people in Nineveh after being "dead" in the belly of a great fish. Jesus knows that he will be going into the tomb and will rise again...and even after the sign of his resurrection, the Pharisees and teachers of the law will still not believe.

16:17-18 - These are some of the most disputed verses in all of scripture! One of the reasons that they are so disputed is because many Protestant Christians don't want to sound anything like the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has taken this passage on Peter being the rock the church will be built on and turned it into a hierarchical church system that places Peter as the original Pope. To combat this, many Protestants have looked for any other possible explanation. Maybe Jesus is referring to himself when he talks about the rock. Maybe they were at a place with a rock formation and Jesus is making the point the church starts here and now with this group of men. Or maybe...just maybe...he means that he is going to begin the building of his church with Peter! Peter was the one who spoke for the disciples in verse 16 about who Jesus was...Peter is always an outspoken leader int he group...Peter preaches the sermon in Acts chapter 2 after the Holy Spirit has come that basically begins the Christian Church. I believe the rock Jesus referred to is Peter, and I don't think it has anything to do with Popes or hierarchies or anything like that...I just think that Jesus is saying Peter will be the early church leader that spearheads the Christ-following movement.

16:19-20 - So what does all that freaky stuff about binding and loosing things on earth carrying over into heaven mean? Does that mean Peter is being given the power to make the rules about who gets in and who doesn't get in in heaven? I don't think so. What I believe is that Jesus is continuing on with the ideas he started in verse 17 and 18. Peter is going to be given the keys to start the Christian church...the Holy Spirit...when the Spirit comes into Peter and he preaches the gospel and thousands become Christians, he has opened the gates of heaven through the power of the message of Christ. Jesus paid the price and conquered death and sent his Spirit to dwell within us so that we can open the gates of heaven to all those who hear our message and see our lives. So this passage has nothing to do with Peter or any of us having some mysterious power over God to make Him do whatever we want...it means that God has already paid the price and worked His plan and we can connect people to His Way by preaching His truth and living that Way.

Friday, February 1, 2008

Matthew Chapter 15 - February 1, 2008

This should be called the "Are you still so dull chapter, " because nobody seems to be getting the big picture here...

Pharisees - these "devout," "followers" of God again try to destroy Jesus ministry...this time for not washing hands before meals. Jesus calls them out for their own hypocrisy - they like to give away the money they should be helping their parents out with and say, "It's okay Mom, I know you're straving, but we're giving it to God" - and then Jesus gives another mini-sermon about where being truly unclean comes from. The Pharisees are worried about washing their hands and making their lives look good from the outside, while they are sin filled on the inside (See chapter 12 and the unclean spirits). Being truly unclean is about the words and actions they pour out of a corrupt soul. Good lesson for us to remember.

Disciples - They have been following Jesus around, they have heard all his teaching, and they get the behind the scenes stuff that we never see (Farting around the campfire with Jesus and what-not...don't look shocked, if Jesus was 100% man and 100% God, then that 100% man part probably farted a bunch and thought it was funny!) yet they never seem to get what he is talking about. "Hey Jesus, what do you mean by that, what comes out of your mouth makes you unclean stuff?" So Jesus explains it to them. Then they want Jesus to heal the Canaanite woman just to get her away from them, and Jesus says, "Guys, come on, you know I came to save Israel (This to me, shows his incredible focus on the path he had to walk...if he started healing all the Canaanites and Romans and everybody else...maybe they go back and tell their people and mobs come to Jesus trying to save him and overthrow the Romans...Jesus knows what he has come to do and he knows the people that are going to start the kingdom of God revolution - the Jews)!" Then a short time after he has just fed the 5,000, the disciples are confused about how they could possibly get enough food for 4,000 people...uh, DUH! Are you still so dull? It is always comforting to me that Jesus followers were a lot of screw ups like me...and he treated them graciously and used them powerfully anyway.

I feel at home in the "Are you still so dull" chapter, because there are so many times I have asked myself that same question. Are you still so dull, Brandon? After seing God move powerfully in your life, you can still doubt and fear and whine and turn to destructive habits? Unfortunately, I do. But fortunately I follow a savior who has an inexplicable, unquenchable love for me. May the "dull" moments be fewer and further in between as I come to know him more.

P.S. - The unrelenting faith of the Canaanite woman rocks! I think sh is another example of someone who completely impresses Jesus with her faith.