Psalm 119:1-24
There are always forces that seek to shape our lives. Whether it is our culture, our desires or faith, our lives are being shaped. The choice that we have is whether or not we are intentional about determining what is shaping us. In this Psalm, the Psalmist wants scripture to be that which is shaping is life. He wants to "walk in the law of the Lord" and be shaped in the type of person God wants him to be.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
November 27
Psalm 1
The Psalmist uses a wonderful image of a tree planted by streams of water. We have trees in our backyard that have grown around a small stream. The trees are massive and dominate our backyard. Everytime there is a wind storm, we have small branches all over our backyard. But the trees remain strong. Ths Psalmist uses of trees planted by a stream as an image of our spiritual lives. When our lives are planted in God's word, our lives are a steady and strong a massive tree.
The Psalmist uses a wonderful image of a tree planted by streams of water. We have trees in our backyard that have grown around a small stream. The trees are massive and dominate our backyard. Everytime there is a wind storm, we have small branches all over our backyard. But the trees remain strong. Ths Psalmist uses of trees planted by a stream as an image of our spiritual lives. When our lives are planted in God's word, our lives are a steady and strong a massive tree.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
November 26
Joshua 3
This is one of the biblical stories where God directly intervenes. Direct intervention is not the normal behavior of God. We ask God to directly intervene quite often but the way God normally acts is through the lives of people. But as Israel crosses the River Jordan into the promised land, God directly intervenes and parts the waters.
I am very thankful today that we have a God who has directly intervened into human history by taking the form of a human being to live in our midst. I can't imagine what life would be like without the coming of Jesus.
This is one of the biblical stories where God directly intervenes. Direct intervention is not the normal behavior of God. We ask God to directly intervene quite often but the way God normally acts is through the lives of people. But as Israel crosses the River Jordan into the promised land, God directly intervenes and parts the waters.
I am very thankful today that we have a God who has directly intervened into human history by taking the form of a human being to live in our midst. I can't imagine what life would be like without the coming of Jesus.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
November 25
Deuteronomy 4:1-15
The writer is exhorting the people of Israel to obey the commands of God. He recalls how the people received the 10 commandments on stone tablets, He reminds them how they were taught the statutes and judgements of God. However, the easy part is learning, the hard part is obeying. Obedience to the ways of God often shifts us away from how we want to live. It forces us into decisions of trust. Who do we trust more, ourselves or God? Obviously, we are not the first people to struggle with this. The reason it is in scripture is that the people who received the commandments directly struggled with this. This is an ancient struggle that we live out every day.
The writer is exhorting the people of Israel to obey the commands of God. He recalls how the people received the 10 commandments on stone tablets, He reminds them how they were taught the statutes and judgements of God. However, the easy part is learning, the hard part is obeying. Obedience to the ways of God often shifts us away from how we want to live. It forces us into decisions of trust. Who do we trust more, ourselves or God? Obviously, we are not the first people to struggle with this. The reason it is in scripture is that the people who received the commandments directly struggled with this. This is an ancient struggle that we live out every day.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
11/24 - Exodus 20
Exodus 20
A couple of questions for you to consider:
Can you name all 10 commandments?
We talk about how important they are, yet we struggle to remember all 10.
Which is the hardest for you to obey?
As Americans I think there are a couple we struggle to follow.
- "the seventh day is a sabbath" Keeping a day of Sabbath, rest, is almost impossible for us. We believe that unless we are always doing, we will somehow miss life. The irony is that we create an incredibly fast pace of life then wonder where life went.
-"You shall not covet" It would seem that our economy is built on us never being satisfied and coveting what we do not have. The consequence is that in the midst of incredible abundance, we are in debt and wanting more.
- "You shall not take the Lord's name in vain" Taking the Lord's name in vain is so common we don't even pause when we hear God's name used in that manner.
A couple of questions for you to consider:
Can you name all 10 commandments?
We talk about how important they are, yet we struggle to remember all 10.
Which is the hardest for you to obey?
As Americans I think there are a couple we struggle to follow.
- "the seventh day is a sabbath" Keeping a day of Sabbath, rest, is almost impossible for us. We believe that unless we are always doing, we will somehow miss life. The irony is that we create an incredibly fast pace of life then wonder where life went.
-"You shall not covet" It would seem that our economy is built on us never being satisfied and coveting what we do not have. The consequence is that in the midst of incredible abundance, we are in debt and wanting more.
- "You shall not take the Lord's name in vain" Taking the Lord's name in vain is so common we don't even pause when we hear God's name used in that manner.
Monday, November 23, 2009
November 23
Genesis 1
"Then God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light."
The Bible begins with the power of God's word to shape all of creation. There are many arguments over how the universe was created. The arguments of creationism, evolution, or the big bang are areas of discussion among people. The Bible does not try to enter those arguments, it simply states that the word of God is responsible. The scripture teaches that God is so powerful, that by speaking light came into being.
Yesterday in worship, Pastor Catherine Mutua spoke of the power of God's word, scripture, to shape our lives. The power of God's word to shape our lives is the reason we are encouraged to read scripture on a daily basis. As she said yesterday, there are many voices in our lives. We want the most influential voice to be the voice of scripture.
"Then God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light."
The Bible begins with the power of God's word to shape all of creation. There are many arguments over how the universe was created. The arguments of creationism, evolution, or the big bang are areas of discussion among people. The Bible does not try to enter those arguments, it simply states that the word of God is responsible. The scripture teaches that God is so powerful, that by speaking light came into being.
Yesterday in worship, Pastor Catherine Mutua spoke of the power of God's word, scripture, to shape our lives. The power of God's word to shape our lives is the reason we are encouraged to read scripture on a daily basis. As she said yesterday, there are many voices in our lives. We want the most influential voice to be the voice of scripture.
Friday, November 20, 2009
November 20
1 Peter 4:1-11
"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins."
When I read this passage I remembered a saying from many years ago. The saying went like this, "Every day in every marriage there are a multitude of reasons for divorce". I don't think that is literally true, but the concept that in every marriage there are a many reasons to be angry and upset with your spouse is true. What makes a marriage strong, is when the couple allow their love for each other to overlook the offenses. This is true not only marriage but of all relationships. Love is willing to look beyond the immediate action and forgive.
"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins."
When I read this passage I remembered a saying from many years ago. The saying went like this, "Every day in every marriage there are a multitude of reasons for divorce". I don't think that is literally true, but the concept that in every marriage there are a many reasons to be angry and upset with your spouse is true. What makes a marriage strong, is when the couple allow their love for each other to overlook the offenses. This is true not only marriage but of all relationships. Love is willing to look beyond the immediate action and forgive.
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