Today's Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1

The more that I am in the word daily the more I am realizing that God doesn't like to beat around the bush.  The stories found in scripture are of people just like you and me and the things that troubled them trouble us today and vice versa.  In the opening chapter of Thessalonians, Paul praises the Church in Thessalonica for their steadfastness while enduring persecution. 

The words that Paul uses are so soothing to me.  Especially in the sense that although we don't always see the justice being dealt out.  We have God's promise that the same will come to those who persecute us.  Don't get me wrong I don't want others to suffer I just want to know that eventually even the biggest doubters will see the truth and understand. 

These verses remind me of the bitter sweet passages found in Revelation. There will be justice and thankfully for us it will be dealt out by the one and only perfect God that has planned all things since the beginning of time.

Today's passage: Isaiah 56-58

Today's Passage:  2 Thessalonians 2

It's very interesting that we've had these two passages (along with yesterday's Isaiah verses) back to back!  Yesterday I wrote about trusting that the prophecies of God will come true...that we can trust in the things that have not yet come.  Today, Paul tells the church in Thessalonica that they shouldn't live in fear of the things that have been prophecied about the end times. 

The church was afraid they had missed it...that Jesus had returned.  Paul tells them that they will know when these events begin to happen because of the rise of the antichrist.  He will, apparently, be very easy to spot because of his overwhelming opposition to the Lord.  He will try to set himself up as a god...and unfortunately, the book of Revelation teaches us that many will be fooled.

But Paul tells the church the same words we can hold to today:  we have Jesus!  We have been saved by His blood.  We know the truth, and that truth is continually being taught to us by word and by scripture.  And if we hold to that truth, it will truly set us free!

If we hold to Jesus, there is nothing to fear.  Remember, as we talked about yesterday, we know the end of the story....He wins!

Today's Passage:  Isaiah 53-55

When you read the words of prophecy in these chapters, it is easy to see the life of Christ...we have the benefit of the New Testament to help us see clearly how Isaiah was proclaiming the coming of Jesus.  We read that He was "despised", "rejected by men", a "man of sorrows" who was "pierced for our transgressions" and we can instantly point to specific times in the life of Christ that fit all these descriptions.  It is certainly encouraging to read prophecy when we know the outcome!

Passages like these should not just remind us of what was, but also of what is to come!  There is much prophecy that has not yet come to pass...if you've been in growth groups recently, we've been studying most of this prophecy in the book of Revelation.  We don't yet have the historical evidence of these events to affirm our trust.  When we read these words today, however, how can we not trust that the rest of the story will come true as well?  When Isaiah can talk about Jesus being pierced on the cross for my sin, shouldn't I be just as confident that one day Jesus will return for me?  Isn't there enough evidence to rejoice in what will be as much as what has been and is true right now?

Take some time today to praise God for what will be...an eternity in His presence.  We can trust that these words are true!

Today's Passage:  1 Thessalonians 4

What are the skills or traits we are usually impressed by?  Good speaker?  Attractive?  Good people skills?  Intelligence?  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this list of traits that most of us are impressed by and look for in others.  However, it is quite discouraging that we do not applaud a person's character much more often than we do.  It seems throughout Scripture that God is much more concerned about a person's character than anything else. 

As Paul was writing to the Thessalonians, he wanted to encourage them to keep on growing in the Lord.  He even spelled out what that specifically looked like.  The Thessalonians were to give up lustful passions and to maintain self-control.  This encouragement had little to do with public acts or deeds.  This was sin that was done behind closed doors, whereas speaking blasphemy against Jesus Christ was a very open sin.  In other words, it is character that counts with God and not with what people can always see.

'Self-mastery' is a phrase I like to use when discussing character.  While we will certainly never be perfect, we should seek to master ourselves through the Holy Spirit as to throw off all the sin that we get wrapped up in (Heb 12).  Our Christian faith is one that stretches our abilities and we must continue to grow in that love/grace relationship.  Are you mastering yourself or are you being mastered?  It is a daily decision we each have to make.  What is your decision going to be today?

Today's Passage: Isaiah 47-49

These chapters are right in the middle of the Messianic prophecies found in Isaiah.  In fact while reading you might have noticed the transition from chapter 48 to chapter 49 in which Isaiah finishes describing the act of Israel's deliverance and begins his description of the one that will be preforming the deliverance, the Messiah, Jesus.

All three of these chapters are filled with powerful scripture but the verses that I was lead to focus on today are 49:22-26.  These verses to me sound like a hero's monologue.  They are filled with promises from God of how He will over come what we think is impossible, and become our redeemer and savior.  We, knowing the sacrifice that Jesus made understand this better then the people of Isaiah's day, but God doing the "impossible" is a key part of our Christian walk today.

We all face uncertainty on a fairly frequent basis.  Our reaction to this uncertainty should be rooted in our trust and obedience to God.  God has proven Himself time and time again that He will not leave us.  That fills me with more excitement than any hero's monologue in a big budget movie.  In this I am reminded of the lyrics from a popular worship song:

Today's passage: 1 Thessalonians 3

"How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?"(vs.9)  Is there anyone in your life that you can ask that about?  Is there anyone in your life that would ask this about you?  In the middle of persecution, the body of Christ is Paul's concern; it is his source of encouragement.  How different things are here in 2010!  In the U.S. we cannot relate to this level of persecution, and when things get difficult we typically run to everything else but Christ or His bride, the church.  Maybe we need a road trip, a movie, a day at the mall, a day at the spa; the list goes on and on.  Rarely do we look for encouragement in what God is doing in the lives of our Christian brothers and sisters around us.  In Hebrews, Paul made the exhortation, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (10:25).  Nurture the relationships you have, forge new ones that you might minister in the name of Jesus!

Today's Passage:  Isaiah 45-46

As I was reading these passages, I was struck by how many times we see the phrases "I am" or "I will."  God continues to repeat two ideas over and over.  First,  "I am God...just me, not you or anyone else.  Only I have the power to do what I'm talking about here.  You may look to other things for your salvation or provision, but only I am God."  God is reminding the people of just who controls the universe...and therefore is in control of their lives as well.    Second, "I will do these things I promise.  You don't have to doubt it for one second.  If it comes out of my mouth....if I promise, then you can take it to the bank.  Not only do I have the power to do them, but I have the authority, wisdom, and means to make them come to pass."

The Israelites had a hard time locking in to the truth of "I am" and "I will", even though God reminded them countless times.  Are we any better?  Where are we looking for our help in times of trouble?  What do we fear?  What do we trust for provision?  Do we believe that God will do everything He promises us in His word?  Do we live each day like we believe these things to be true?

Just for a moment today, stop and tell God how you really feel about "I am" and "I will".  If it's anything less than complete trust, ask Him to strengthen your belief in the Almighty, All-Powerful God!

Today's Passage:  1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 2:8 is one of my favorite verses, as it was our fraternity verse at Baylor:  "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well, because you have become so dear to us."  The verse speaks to one of our favorite words at Bear Creek...authenticity.  It was not an obligation for Paul to share with the Thessalonians.  It was not because it was his "job" or even because he had been told to go.  It was his deep love for them that motivated him not just to share Jesus, but to be real with them and do life together.  Paul uses the word "delighted"...he was overjoyed to be a part of this body, even for just a short time, and to share with them the source of his hope.

If anything but love is our driving factor, we're going to struggle on this journey to be like Jesus.  A sense of obligation just doesn't provide the energy and enthusiasm we need to be a "lamb among wolves" like we talked about last Sunday.  Moreover, people will sense in us that we're only doing something out of duty...why would they want to add that to their lives as well?

But if love is our driving factor, there is enough energy, enthusiasm, hope, joy, peace...you name it, there's enough to go around!  Are you following Jesus out of love or obligation?  Are you sharing His love out of duty or out of the overflow of love He has for you?

Today's Passage: Isaiah 43-44

When reading chapter 43, I was struck by the title to one of the sections of the chapter: God's Mercy and Israel's Unfaithfulness. I know this title was not a part of the original book of Isaiah, but the stark contrast between the two really stood out to me. So I went back and reread that part of the chapter. God is recounting for his people the things that he has done for them to protect them and to make a way for them and yet Israel did not obey the Lord and worship him as they should. Sometimes we get really harsh on the Israelites and think that if we were in their shoes we would never have done that. But think about your life now...don't we do that all the time? God is protecting us, making a way for us. Do we always follow him like we should? Are we the best example to others of who God is and how much he cares for his children? As you go through your day today, think about that. Are you living your life in the best way so that your example to others shows an accurate picture of who God is? If not, don't be like the Israelites. Don't ignore God and what he has done for you.

Today's Passage:  1 Thessalonians 1

Who do you usually pray for?  I think if we are all honest, we usually pray for ourselves.  While there is certainly nothing wrong with asking God to help you (Neh 1), we should never be the primary focus of our prayers.  Notice how chapter 1 opens today.  It all has to do with praying for others as they do the Lord's work.  So right now jot some names of people who are doing the Lord's work that you can consistently pray for.

Alright, so we have the prayer list situated, but there is a bigger issue at hand.  The issue of what prayer is and why we do it.  At face value, prayer is simply communication with God.  On deeper level though it is begging and petitioning God to act.  There is obviously some significance here because the apostle Paul begs God to help others all the time.  While we certainly do not hold the power to change the world; we do know the Person who has the ability to change the world.  The prayers of God's people move Him into to action (i.e. Abraham, Moses, Jabez, Paul, and others).  Our prayers to God play a significant role in how God uses us and others in His story.  

So again I will ask, who are you praying for?  Hopefully after reading this chapter of Scripture, we will all pray for God to work in His people and in those who do not yet know Him. 

Today's Passage:  Isaiah 41-42

Do you ever feel like you are the center of the universe?  If something is going on in your life that is difficult then the entire world must be off kilter in some way, right?  Unfortunately, you are not alone.  Many of us feel as though our emotions, thoughts, and just over all attitude are central as to how the world operates.  Often times that feeling leads to a statement of 'Nobody understands what I'm going through.'  We may even enjoy rolling in our pity and making a party of it. 

In our text today, we see that God is a caring and just God.  His people were in exile and needed comfort.  I can just hear some people grumbling and saying something like, 'No one really understands just how bad we have it.'  God wanted the people to know they were loved and were being watched over.  That is true comfort.  Not the comfort that says it will get better quickly (because it generally will not).  The comfort God is providing here is that of a caretaker.  God clearly shows that he will avenage the enemy of his people (Isa 42).

So what does your life look like right now?  Are you stressed?  Do you feel like no one can understand what is going on in your life right now?  Well go to God and let him comfort you!  Your situation may not miraculously improve.  However, if we learn to constantly rely on God's comfort and care then most of the stuff that gives us so much trouble will likely fade away into nothingness.  Pray to the God of all comfort today!

Today's Passage: Colossians 4

Two verses leapt off the page at me as I read this chapter, verses 5 & 6.  As we have been talking a lot about living out the great commission on Sunday mornings.  These verses provide for us a little bit of the "how" to accomplishing this. 

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."

These word are so true and I believe the church has some history of not heeding their command.  Being wise when interacting with pre-believers is so important to overcoming any negative preconceived notions that they mite have about believers.  Doing this with the motivation of making the most of every interaction adds to our level of commitment to sharing the Hope we have in God.

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

There is no one and only way to share the gospel with others.  We all learn and understand in different ways.  This verse outlines the two necessary components to a God honoring conversation about His gift to us all.  First be full of grace, not judging or assuming anything but presenting total acceptance to the person you are speaking with.  Second be well seasoned by God, meaning be changed by God in such a way that you direct all of the good attention to Him.  By doing this we bring Him all glory and honor in our interactions with pre-believers. 

What great directions for "GO"ing and "Leaving a Mark" for Him!

Today's Passage: Isaiah 39-40

Isaiah 40 is full of music!  At least the text of Isaiah 40 has been used for lyrics in a lot of music: worship songs, anthems, and classical works. We could make a list of all of them and talk about which verses each song uses.  Or we could focus on the truths found in the text that make this chapter so rich, so full of music! 

   It is full of wonder!  Verses 12-14 ask (summarizing), "Who holds all of creation?  Who can understand God?"  Verse 22 and following describe the vastness, height, and width of our great God! 
   It is full of prophecy of Christ. "And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind togethrer will see it.  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."  Verse 11 speaks of how Jesus loves us, gathering us in His arms like a shepherd gathers a lamb. 
   It is full of profound truth.   My childhood pastor's favorite verse is found in this chapter, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God will stand forever."
   It is full of promise.  The last verse (31) states truth that we can lean on every moment of every day.  And when we forget about it in our straying, we can come back to it.  

Oh, that we would only hope in the LORD!  Let's walk, let's run, let's soar with Him!

Today's Passage:  Colossians 3

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." -- Colossians 3:17

You could write a week's worth of blogs on this passage alone...it is so rich in wisdom and instruction that I encourage you to read it several times.  Even though there are many things to learn here, if we could master verse 17, the rest would come naturally to us.  What if we lived every day...gave every thought...focused every action on bringing glory to the name of Jesus Christ?  What if everything we did was worthy of carrying His name?

Let's think about it for a second.  We wouldn't struggle as much with our sinful nature because the name of Jesus would be our measuring stick for our actions.  If we did everything for Him, we wouldn't be as selfish with our time, our talents, or the blessings that He's entrusted with us.  We would see people the way He does, loving them with a love that passes understanding.  We'd be focused on sharing that love with the people around us.  We'd be caring, compassionate, gentle, kind...the list would go on and on.

What if today was a day you focused on doing everything...your job, your relationships, your family...everything in the name of Jesus?  Would your world be different?  Ask God to give you that focus and see what happens!

Today's Passage:  Isaiah 37-38

How can the God who knows everything before it ever happens change His mind?  It doesn't seem like He would need to, and yet we see that very thing happen in Isaiah 38.  Hezekiah is told to get his house in order because his life will soon end...these are not words that anyone would want to hear!  Hezekiah responds the same way most of us would, by earnestly praying that God would relent and spare his life.  God not only hears the prayer, but sends a sign to confirm that He will indeed spare his life! 

Someone asked me one time, "Why pray if God already knows what is going to happen?"  Because time after time, God hears those prayers and relents through His mercy and grace.  He relented in the days of Noah and spared Noah's family instead of wiping out the human race.  He relented in the days of Moses.  He relented in the days of Jonah.  If we can learn anything from scripture, it's that God hears the prayers of His people.

God always has a plan for our good.  His plan is always best for us, even if we can't understand it.  Even though He has a plan, it doesn't stop us from earnestly praying our heart's desires to Him.  This passage and others show us He is listening!

Today's Passage: Colossians 2

I find it hard to read this chapter and not be encouraged in how much Jesus loves us. When I think about who God is and all the power that he has, I am often amazed at how he chooses to interact with us. It is humbling. The first thing that jumps out at me is that in Christ is where all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. Because we have an intimate relationship with him, we get to be let in on some of that mystery. It's amazing to me that God wants to share it with us! The second is that once we receive Christ, we're not done. We get to live in him, being rooted in him and being built up in him. He doesn't just let us figure it out on our own, but we actually get to grow in him and learn and be strengthened because of our relationship with him. A third thing is found in verse 9: that the fullness of Deity lives in bodily form, Jesus. I can't begin to fathom what it means that God...full on God...lived in human form for a time in Jesus. We can't fully grasp this concept and I love it. Sometimes I try to think about it and figure it out and my head literally begins to hurt.

Because of all this, we get to live in him and not in the world. I love that Paul says that we died to the basic principles of this world. We get to live in the principles of God, which are MUCH better. Sometimes it may be more difficult, but it is always better. And during that process, you are not alone, but you are with the God who created you and loves you so much that he came to earth, died for you, and allows you to live and grow in him.

In chapter thirty-four the deterioration of all nations is declared; God is enraged against them. However, rejuvenation is declared in the following chapter. This is a foretelling and a mirror image of our salvation. Once we were dry and desolate but now we are beautiful and thriving. We were once enemies of God and now we walk on His path and dwell in His courts. Sheltered from His rage by the blood of Jesus Christ, we stand firm in our salvation. 

In chapter thirty-six we see the ramifications of the pride of Judah. They had put their hope in egypt (the nation that enslaved them in years past) and neglected their true protector, who is now coming against them with Gentile forces.

What a warning to us to not forsake our first love but to be steadfast in our devotion to Him. For he took our dry, desolate souls and brought for springs of living water.

"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isaiah 35:10

Today's Passage:  Colossians 1

How often do you pray?  Once a week?  Maybe once a day?  Alright let's say you pray daily, but then we need to talk about what or who you are praying for.  Likely you are praying for your family, work, health, and finances.  While these are certainly not bad things to pray about; they are certainly not all we should pray for either.

Paul begins his letter reminding the recipients of his constant prayers for them.  It seems as though Paul prays for this church all the time.  To put it into context, this would be like us praying for another church in another city that we may or may not know well.  In essence, Paul is praying that the Gospel will be continually growing by means of God's people in local congregations.

Are you praying that the gospel is changing lives in communities around the world?  If not, please begin now!  Prayer to our God about other churches, ministries, and missionaries can absolutely help change lives!  Today may we be more like Paul in praying for others as the Gospel of Christ is concerned.

Today's Passage: Isaiah 32-33

These two chapters of Isaiah are in the middle of a section where he is prophesying about the judgment and blessing that will come when Jesus returns.  In chapter 33 Isaiah paints a detailed picture of what both of these will look like.  What we should gain by reading this is a better understanding of God's perfect justice.  God has promised multiple times throughout scripture that we will all face judgment.  However as these verses describe there will be two very different verdicts given to people.  One will be the verdict of guilt and it will be given to those who are treacherous and destructive.  The other will be the verdict of innocents and it will be given to those who abide and trust solely in the Lord.  As Christians we understand that the only way to achieve a verdict of innocents is to believe and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. 

If you have made the commitment to follow Christ then these verses should fill you with hope and thanksgiving toward the the Lord.  It should also break your heart for those who have not yet put their trust solely in the Lord.  Much like the prophesies found in Revelation, these prophesies should be a source of great motivation to fulfill the great commotion found in Matthew 28:18-20:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Today's Passage: Philippians 4

Do you remember that "Which one of these is not like the others?" game from when you were a kid?  Well, if we played that game with the following words: anxiousness, prayer, peace, thanksgiving, which "one of these just isn't the same?"  Can you say, "anxiousness"? I knew you could!  Prayer, thanksgiving, and peace are all parts of and evidence of an intimate relationship with God.  Anxiousness is a sign that we might not be walking as closely with God as we once did before.  I think of the words of the hymn, "In the Garden": "And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.  And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known." It is important to note that no matter how close we may be in our relationship with God, there will always be the things that make us anxious from time to time.  However, the practice of this passage keeps us from having to live in day after day after day anxiousness.  May we all experience, "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding..."

Today's Passage:  Isaiah 30-31

The themes of these chapters are established in the opening verses of each.  Both contain vivid imagery that help us understand the behavior that God wants us to correct or watch out for in our lives.

Chapter 30 begins, "Woe to the obstinate children"...and as a parent, I can certainly relate.  There are times when kids decide they just don't want to listen to advice or correction...they think they know the best way.  In our house, we often ask our kids this question, "Who is in charge?  Who's way do we follow?"  We're hoping that this reminds them that we are the ones who set the path in our home.  We don't have this responsibility just because we are older or bigger, but because we know better the ways to success and safety.

Chapter 31 begins, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help."  As the Israelites faced foreign invaders, they looked to their own strength to find the answers.  When that strength was lacking, they looked to form alliances with strong people...in this case, the Egyptians.  What they did not do is look to the supreme source of help and strength that they have in their Heavenly Father.  Instead of trusting His way, they tried to make their own.

Two different analogies with the same point...are we listening to, believing in and trusting God, or will we choose our own way?  Will we be obstinate children to Him, set on doing things that we think are best?  Will we solve problems in our own strength?  Who are you trusting today...I hope we can all decide that trusting in Jesus is the best way!

Today's Passage:  Philippians 3

Verses 7-11 are, to me, some of the most beautiful, honest and challenging verses that Paul wrote in the New Testament.  There is a hunger expressed here...these are not words void of passion, but rather increasing in intensity with each statement. 

Paul begins by saying whatever he used to think was for his benefit, he now has thrown aside for the goal of being more like Jesus.  It used to make sense to him, but now what made sense has become garbage in his eyes compared to what Jesus offers him...true righteousness.  Paul used to think he was more righteous than most anyone, but now realizes that he is nothing compared to Jesus.  That may sound harsh, but in reality, it is so liberating to know that it is Jesus who brings righteousness and not our own actions!

"I want to know Christ."  That pretty much sums it all up for us, doesn't it?  We either wake up today wanting to know more about Christ or wanting to get further away from Him by trusting ourselves.  I either want to be more like Him or more like me, but there is no middle ground.  Paul says he wants to know the power of the resurrection, the fellowship of the suffering...he wants to feel what Jesus feels.  He wants his heart to beat in time with the heart of Christ.  What an amazing, passionate desire.

What is your desire today?  There is no middle ground.  Who will you be more like today...yourself or Jesus?

Today's Passage: Isaiah 28-29

As I read through these chapters, I was overwhelmed with sadness for the people mentioned in these oracles. These cities are being warned of their disobedience to the Lord and the judgment that is coming to them. These people knew who the Lord was and chose to not follow after him. Some of them probably even worshiped God at one point but had fallen away from him. God is so merciful and understanding, but at the same time, he cannot allow that type of disobedience against himself and his laws.

So what do we do? How does reading oracles like this against ancient nations really benefit us today in 2010? Well, the principle idea is the same: worship God and obey his commands. God desires relationship with people. He is not wanting to go around and punish everyone, however he will not let sin go unpunished. We should do our best to live a life that is worthy of the Lord. At the end of 29, God restores the house of Jacob to himself. He has such a great love for his children. We should literally be in awe of this daily. Remember that God wants a relationship with you and wants you to desire one with him as well.

"...but in humility consider others more significant than yourselves."

I repeat this phrase quite frequently when I'm dealing with someone who is hard to love. You know the type: rude, awkward, obnoxious, mean. We all run into someone who just rubs us the wrong way. When I find myself being haughty or prideful in their presence, this is usually the verse God uses to remind me that I am here to LOVE.

It can be difficult and we tend to reason in our heads why I'm better than such-and-such but when I read on to verses 6-11, my heart is humbled. I remember the humility of Christ and how he considered his life nothing in order to give us life. He humbled himself even though He had every right to be be exalted and yet because He did not exalt himself on earth He was exalted in eternity.

So it is with our own walk. When we humble ourselves God promises to lift us up (James 4-10).

Today's Passage:  Isaiah 26-27

Have you ever noticed that we usually only trust in God when if it is something we really want happen?  I do this all the time.  During the everyday, mundane, drab, ordinary stuff, I usually don't think to trust in God for those situations.  But when a big decision comes up or something that I'm really excited about, then I pray like crazy and try to attune myself to God's direction.  What a selfish and self-centered way to live!

God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah that the people of God should trust in Him.  That is as clear as it gets.  So in the big things in life . . . trust God.  In the small things in life . . . trust in God.  I know easy to say but hard to do.  But it's worth trying.  God absolutely loves and cares for us.  In turn, we must trust the Creator of the world that He knows best!  Are you willing to trust God today in the big and small things of your life? 

Today's Passage: Philippians 1

The verses in this chapter that really seemed to jump of the page at me were 19-26.  In these verses Paul describes the mindset that we should all have in regard to bringing Glory to God in every situation of our lives, no matter our circumstances.  

The hinge-pin of these verses is verse 21:

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Through this statement Paul is saying "There are two was this could go.  1) Jesus could choose to lead me through this difficult situation and bring even more glory to Himself or 2) He could choose for this to be the end of my journey here on Earth and bring me into His presence in heaven.  Either way I will be obedient to the Father and count myself blessed."  I can't honestly say that this is the way I feel every time I'm between a rock and a hard spot.  In fact I would even say that I feel this way most of the time.  More like every once and a while, maybe. 

The idea of being caught in a situation where we have no way out is scary for anyone.  But for us as believers we have a hope that overcomes all things.  It's not reckless, it's not arrogant, it's just a peace that is granted to us by our Father in heaven when we completely trust in Him.  Do you have that hope today?  Is there something that you need to trust God in more?  Is there something that you are trying to keep control of?  I challenge you to turn it all over to Him.  He only wants the best for you.  Are you willing to trust in Him enough to see what that is?

Today's Passage: Isaiah 23-25

In our growth groups we are talking about God's wrath & God's love.  Do these things really go together?  As strange as it may seem, they actually do.  Today we will study the wrath on Pharoah and the Egyptian people for not letting the Israelites go.  As we study the plagues that God sent on the Egyptians, we will see that Israelites were protected.  We will also look at the destruction that will come on the earth in Revelation 15-16.  The God who so loves the world and is slow to anger is the same God who cannot tolerate sin.  This is why Christ gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice on the cross.  One reason these two extremes are so hard to understand is found in scripture (later in this book, in fact)  Isaiah 55: 8-9 say, "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"  If we could understand everything about God, He would not be a god worth praising.  We can trust in the fact that His wrath and His love, faithfulness, and loving kindness are all consistent with who He is. 

Today's Passage:  Ephesians 6

When we were in Scotland a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see several suits of armor.  As we read the passage today, I'm trying to imagine someone fighting in one of those suits...while they must have been well protected, I can't imagine that it was very easy to move.  It also couldn't have been very comfortable inside those suits, as it didn't look they they had much ventilation.  Despite their limitations, armor was the most effective protection they could come up with when faced with battle.

As we read about the armor of God today, our spiritual armor has no such limitations!  If anything, wearing the armor of God makes us more comfortable and move through this world with greater ease.  Our bodies are not designed to fight this world alone...we need the kind of protection that only God can provide.  Fortunately for us, God has thought of everything, from our heads right down to our feet.  God wants to equip us so that we can be ready for the battle ahead!

Why would we choose to clothe ourselves in anything less?

Today's Passage:  Isaiah 21-22

What's the first thing you do when facing a problem?  If you are like most people, you survey the situation, take inventory of your resources, and then try to solve it.  That makes sense to our earthly minds...and it made sense to the rulers of Jerusalem in chapter 22.  They saw the enemy approaching, so they surveyed the danger and saw it was great.  They inventoried their resources...they had holes in the walls,but they tore down buildings to fix them. They stored up water inside the walls in case of siege. They looked to themselves to see how they could possibly fight this battle. Unfortunately, they forgot to look to the difference maker...God.

Why is it human nature to forget that God is not bound by human rules? Time after time we look to our own power when the God of infinite power is ready to show us the right answer. We inventory our resources to see if we can match up to the problem when the God of infinite resources stands ready to defend us. The people of Jerusalem would suffer because they once again didn't look to God....how many times do we suffer because of the same reaction.

We serve a God who longs to help us. He longs to do things that only He can do. Ask yourself today if you are relying on yourself or on Him...which one seems like the better choice?