QT 28 Jan 16, Gen 2:20-23, Selfishness inhibits our ability to support our spouse

Genesis 2:20–23 (RSV)

20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; 22 and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.”

NOTE: Being married carries a commitment of two people to each other. Eph 5:21 tells both persons to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. And while spouses' ministries may differ, we are both helpers to the other. Sometimes I do chafe in certain support roles and the primary reason is selfishness. I have things I want to do, and supporting an activity of my spouse is not on my list. And that really is just selfishness. We are both called to ministry. And we are both called to support each other in our ministry. When the ministry is the same, as sometimes it is, it is obviously much easier. God knew we needed a helper. We can't do life alone. And supporting each other in our separate and in our joint ministries is what God has called us to do.

QT 27 Jan 16, 1 Cor 12:18, God, what have you chosen for me?

1 Corinthians 12:18 (RSV) But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

NOTE: When I teach the topic of Spiritual Gifts, this is one of my favorite verses. It basically says that, you are here in this church for a reason. You may think you picked it, but God has arranged the body as he chose, and there is a place for your gift. Now, I suppose there could be some variations on that thought, and I wouldn't want to suggest we don't have free will, so there are some limitations. But assuming, through prayer and wisdom, you are in a church today, you are there with a gift that is needed. Sometimes the gift is latent. Once, I served as the leader of a puppet ministry to elementary age children. I had no acting skills and no desire to work with children (ever …), but God laid it on my heart that I needed to serve. And, amazingly enough, as I served, I realized some gifts I never knew I had. And I enjoyed it. And God blessed it. Because, God has arranged the parts of the body just the way he chooses. Where does God want to use you or me now? That is the question we need to ask ourselves.

QT 26 Jan 16, Eph 4:11-12, Our gifts were given by God to be used for HIS purpose

Ephesians 4:11–12 (RSV)

11 And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, …

NOTE: Every believer has a gift. The gifts differ in outworking, purpose, and probably many other things. But, they are all given by God, and four were specifically for building up the body and equipping the body for ministry. My gift is part of this list, and its purpose is to build up the body, the local church. That's my part. I've always known that but I probably saw my gift from the perspective of the universal body of Christ, the larger church. I want to use my gift in the way God intended it to be used. I look forward to the next chapter in my life as I continue to use it, but maybe with a slightly different focus.

QT 25 Jan 16, Eph 5:25-30, Jesus loves the church and so should I

Ephesians 5:25–30 (RSV) 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.

NOTE: We are to love our wives in the same way Jesus loves the church. In terms of the worldwide "church," I do care very much for its work in the world. But I do find myself cynical at times in regard to the local "church." I minister to those who desire to grow but I tend to shun those who think they have already arrived. And so, I tend to shun church activities in favor of meeting individually with believers. I enjoy bible study and teaching because the people involved, want to learn and grow, but other activities have left me cold over the years. And quite frankly, that is sin on my part. Jesus loves the church, the whole church. And if I love Jesus, I need to have the same heart and attitude toward the things he considers important. I do desire to see the church mature. I have become jaded over the years by programs but not real growth in the body (by that I mean character, not numbers). I've seen churches grow in numbers, and that is good (well, mostly). But I want to see us grow in character and in a lovely witness--a fragrance, an aroma that the world can't ignore. That is my desire. Lord, forgive for my attitude. Give me your love for the body, the whole body of Christ.

QT 23 Jan 16, 2 Tim 2:1-2, Balancing the need to teach with the need to witness

2 Timothy 2:1–2 (RSV)

1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

NOTE: I think the strength of my ministry has been in discipling newborn or floundering believers. I have led people to the Lord, discipled them, and see them walking with the Lord today. But much of my evangelism has been more toward changing people's attitudes toward who a Christian is or what he believes. The culture and media have painted the Evangelical Christian in a ridiculous manner. And while there are individuals who certainly fit the description, it is not the norm. On the other hand, the vast majority of people who profess faith in Christ, while not like the media's description, do not necessarily provide the best witness. I suppose that has been my ministry, finding these immature believers, helping them to grow to maturity, and changing the attitude of non-Christians toward God, the bible, and Christians. I've seen some come to the Lord, sometimes after many years. And often, it is another who leads that person to Christ. And I am okay with that but I'm also sensitive that proactive evangelism has to be a stronger area of my life. I don't have to be the one who reaps, but I must let my planting be more obvious at times. God, continue to help me to grow in this area.

QT 21 Jan 16, Rom 15:23-29, There are plans and then there is God's plan

Romans 15:23–29 (RSV)

23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be sped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem with aid for the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem; 27 they were pleased to do it, and indeed they are in debt to them, for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been raised, I shall go on by way of you to Spain; 29 and I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ.

NOTE: Paul had quite a plan. He did succeed in gathering the contribution from all the churches. He did make it back to Jerusalem with the gift. But here is where it gets a little fuzzy. While he did return to Rome as he planned in verse 29, he spent two plus years in Israel, which was probably a little longer than he hoped. Also, he was in Caesarea (not Jerusalem) most of the time and he was in prison. He did get to Rome and he did stay in Rome (a little more than in "passing," vs 24) but also under house arrest. The history from this point becomes murky. He was probably killed in Rome with Peter around 68 AD, but some accounts suggest he made it to Spain and then back to Rome. So Paul did have a plan, and so did God--only, God's plan superseded Paul's. And I have no doubt Paul expected that and welcomed that. It is good to have plans, but ultimately it is God's plan that we want. I certainly want to continue in disciplemaking as I have for 38 years. I enjoy working with individuals. I know that it needs to work better in the church, and I have not seen many churches that truly have made disciples. I long to help the body grow as God intended it to grow.

QT 20 Jan 16, Isa 6:8-9, Different ministries, different results, common obedience

QT 19 Jan 16, Luke 8:4-8, How do we respond to the seed?

Luke 8:4–8 (RSV)

4 And when a great crowd came together and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

NOTE: The message is to a crowd, not to an individual, although the interpretation is given to a much smaller group. How we treat the word of God is the issue for all mankind (the crowd). Every person must choose what he does or thinks about God's word. Does he trample it underfoot? Is it meaningless to his life and undeserving of even recognition? That would seem to describe the majority of people and the first response. Another response is to give it acceptance but not much attention. In the end it withers away and makes no impact in a life because it really is not important. He gives it verbal acknowledgment but nothing else .This person is the verbal religious person who seldom attends a church.  A third response is to take it very seriously. To give it more than verbal acknowledgment and to try to follow its principles, but not to give it first place. The world and its desires have an equal place. This is the religious person of today, a hypocrite. Finally, we have the person who not only acknowledges its authority and truth, but puts it into practice. He is a true believer and his life reflects his beliefs. Many people in the church fool themselves into thinking they are this person, but their life outside church proves otherwise. The true believer ministers and serves God and has a positive impact on others for the sake of the kingdom.

QT 18 Jan 16, John 15:6, We are appointed to minister

John 15:16 (RSV)

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

NOTE: I think there is a natural tendency to think that we picked God. In John's first letter, he says that God loved us first. In other words, God has pursued us. We are His because he loved us and sought us. Now ministry is certainly a decision and pursuit, but even more importantly it is God appointing us to bear fruit. Where is my appointment? Most of my life has been in disciplemaking and teaching. A good portion also involved with young adults. But lately it has been with older adults, although still disciplemaking and teaching. At this point, it may also be communicating what I have learned to church leaders so that they can carry the vision and culture of disciplemaking into their local bodies, the church. God help me to see and understand my appointment. How do you want to use me? I don't want to do this for my pride or self-glory, but rather for your glory.

QT 14 Jan 16,Ps 145:8, God is gracious and merciful, but some day He will execute justice

Ps 145:8 (RSV) The LORD is gracious and merciful,

      slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

NOTE: This is an oft-repeated verse in the OT. As such, it is a concept that God wanted his people to remember, hence the repetition. God does not have to deal with us this way, he chooses to be. As his creation, he has every right to demand perfect obedience or to be angry for our failure to obey. He is not required to be gracious or merciful--he chooses to be. We are blinded by our own self-importance to expect God to be our servant. We have destroyed the idea of him as creator so that we don't have to serve him. But our arguments against him are very weak. Random evolution is mathematically not feasible, but that is a point we refuse to consider. So, we ignorantly live in denial of him as our creator. Thankfully, he has chosen to be gracious and merciful. But while he is slow to anger, that does not mean he will never be angry. He has prepared a day in the future to pour out his wrath on mankind for their rebellion and stubborn blindness to his truth. The day is coming. We need to repent or face terrible consequences. His mercy will not last forever.

QT 13 Jan 16, Jn 15:8, We are to produce "MUCH" fruit

QT 6 Jan 16, Exo 14:10-13, Real prayer, not grocery list recitations

Exodus 14:10–13 (RSV) 10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were in great fear. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord; 11 and they said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

NOTE: This is pretty typical of God's children -- panic when things go badly. We see with our eyes the physical world, also called the temporal. We don't see the spiritual world, also called the eternal. We see with our physical eyes rather than eyes of faith, and consequently we panic. I don't say that this is hard, that is, to see with eyes of faith versus what is physically happening around us. But rather than drawing conclusions of doom and gloom, as the Israelites do here in this passage, why don't we start with prayer. And I don't mean just prayers of "help," which always do happen when our world falls apart, but honest discussions with God about our fears, our worries, our desires, and our failures. A real discussion, not a laundry list of things we want. I think we would respond differently if we learned to pray differently. Lord, help us to have frank discussions with you and not grocery list recitations. 

QT 4 Jan 16, Ps 34:19, Trust God for the timing of deliverance

Ps 34:19 (ESV) Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

      but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

NOTE: Even in the OT, righteous living was not a guarantee of a pain-free life. There were certain quid-pro-quo conditions attached to the nation of Israel which cascaded down to the people, but life is difficult, and has always been difficult since the rebellion. Life is not as God intended when he created us, and he is actively working to restore his creation. He could do in an instant, but instead he has chosen a different timeframe. Even though we are afflicted and suffer, God promises to deliver. I think our worry or fear is that the deliverance will come, 1) in a longer time than we want to wait, or 2) when we are  dead. But, the real problem is trust. We need to believe that God is fully aware of our wants and desires, and will deliver us exactly when we need. And someday, when we view the tapestry of our life, some things that did not seemed as ordered as we would have liked will look perfect. We don't know why God delays, and in many cases we may never know. But we have to believe that God will do what is the best.

QT 1 Jan 16, Exo 34:2, In 2016, let us meet with God regularly

Exodus 34:2 (RSV)

2 Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain.”

NOTE: In context, God was calling Moses up to Mount Sinai to meet with him for the giving of the law. He was to bring two stone tablets, which he would later break upon returning down the mountain. And he was on the mountain for forty days. So, metaphorically it breaks down somewhat as a passage for quiet time. But God does want to meet with us, and he does want us to carry something away from his word. That is why I meet with the Lord every morning and I read a short passage of scripture. I also try to write something down that I can carry with me during the week. For my generation, the tools are there in abundance to do such things. The Youversion bible phone app offers hundreds of devotionals of any length in the "plans" section that a person can use to read a short passage, and a companion devotional. There is no lack of Ideas or ways to have a quiet time every morning in 2016. We need to listen to God. In many verses, God calls us to come to him. If we want to grow in our relationship with God, we must meet with God regularly and not half-heartedly. This is the year to meet with God regularly and to transform spiritually. Don't miss out on the greatest of all presents.