July 30

Esther 9 - 10

The story of Esther was recorded during a very difficult time in Israel's history. They were oppressed and without a country. They wondered if God had forgotten them. They questioned their future. Esther's story was a powerful one that offered hope. It reminded the people that God is always at work, even when you cannot see the actions of God.

I believe that is a lesson that we need to remember. Difficulty and tragedy is a part of life. We are called to have faith in the midst of the struggles of life. We are to remember that God is always with us and will somehow bring good out of every situation.

July 30

Esther 7 - 8

The King responds to Esther's pleas, Haman is destroyed, his property given to Esther and the Jews are saved. My only problem is how the new proclamation from the King now gives the Jews freedom to kill their enemies. That feels as bad as the Jews enemies killing them. Why is it that we just can't get along with people?

Sin is very powerful in our lives. Think in this story how many people die as the consequence of Haman's hatred of Mordecai. We can see incredible consequences of sin in the world; oil spills, war, fear, crime... The amazing thing is that God wants to forgive our sin and give us a chance to start anew.

July 29

Esther 5 - 6

"But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."

Haman's hatred of Mordecai is shaping his life. He tells his family of all that he has, how well his life is going, but it is meaningless because of his hatred of Mordecai.

I believe that a large part of why God calls us to forgiveness is what it does for us. If I don't forgive that anger begins to shape my life. Think about this in regards to Haman. He has become the second most powerful person in the Persian empire, yet he can't enjoy this because of his feelings towards one person.

Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive?

July 28

Esther 3 & 4

Haman is enraged that Mordecai would not bow down before him. Mordecai had defied the law, but there was no reason to punish all of the Jews. One of the temptations we face in life is to be angry or afraid of a particular person and then project those feelings to a whole group of people. A Jew offended him therefore all Jews must be destroyed. Our temptation is to project our feelings on the basis of skin color, country of origin or language. Have you projected your feelings as Haman did?

July 27

Esther 2

Quite a transformation for Esther, so goes from being an orphan to becoming the queen. The crucial thing in life is not what happens to us but how we chose to respond to those events. I can't control the forces of life upon my life but I can control the decisions that I make.

July 26

Esther 1

This week we will be reading the book of Esther. Chapter 1 sets the context. Xerxes is the king of Persia. He is an incredibly powerful man who throws a huge party. Two ideas about their culture come forth in dramatic fashion. The first is no one should say "no" to the king. When the Queen turns down his command to display her beauty he is enraged. The second idea is that wives are to be submissive to their husbands. To reinforce the idea, Xerxes has that proclaimed all over the land.

Reading a passage like this focus attention on how different our culture is than many of the ancient cultures. It is good to look at those differences. Sometimes, as in this situation, I am glad that our culture is vastly different. Other times, I see the weaknesses in our culture and how it needs to change. I do believe it is good to look at our culture with a critical eye. While this is a great place to live, it is far from perfect.

July 23

1 Corinthians 10

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Paul make is clear that we have a choice when it comes to temptation. God will not allow us to be tempted in such a way that we are simply overwhelmed and have no choice but to fall to the temptation. I can walk away from temptation. When I give into temptation it is because I chose to do so.

July 22

1 Corinthians 9

Have you ever thought about being spiritually competitive? Not where you compete with others, but where you strive to do the very best you can. Isn't that what Paul is teaching when he writes, "Run in such a way as to get the prize." He is encouraging us to strive with all of our ability to grow in faith.

July 22

I Corinthians 8

The whole discussion about food offered to idols is very foreign for us. The point that Paul is driving towards is that there is nothing wrong with eating meat offered to idols, the idols aren't real. However, if there are individuals who are weaker in the faith that believe it is wrong to eat this meat, then he will not eat the meat. He does not want to be the one that causes those weak in the faith to question their faith. He willingly gives up eating the meat for the good of another. We don't face the problem of eating meat, but we do face the same dilemma regarding other issues. For example, if you are out to dinner with a friend who is an alcoholic, do you order a drink? I would think not. The love of our neighbor calls us to set aside something we might enjoy for the good of the neighbor.

July 21

I Corinthians 7

Paul believes the end of time is near. In the face of such a dramatic time, he thinks it is best to not be married. He sees that marriage divides the person's attention. He doesn't condemn the person who is married or one who chooses to get married. It would be fascinating to know what Paul would write if he knew that 1900+ years later Christ had not returned. I wonder if he would have changed what he wrote? Personally, I am glad I got married.

July 20

I Corinthians 6

Obviously, Paul has reasons that he is writing the Corinthians. He knows a great deal about what is taking place in their church. He is upset that they are taking each other to court. Surely, if they are brothers and sisters in the faith they can find a way to settle their disagreements. Why do they have to use the courts to deal with their problems? How about you? Do you have problems with anyone in the church? Have you been willing to deal with the problems?

July 19

I Corinthians 5

Paul asks us to hold each other accountable in our actions. He specifically deals with a man having sex with his step mother. He tells them they can't ignore this but must bring it out into the light. This sort of confrontation seldom occurs. We are no different than the people in the Corinthian church, we would just rather ignore the situation. But Paul wants us to challenge the actions of brothers and sisters in the faith for the good of their souls. He believes this action has the chance of saving the person.

July 17

1 Corinthians 4

In reading this chapter you can see that Paul is having problems with the Corinthian church. There behavior has been not appropriate for people of faith. He is not trying to shame them but he is challenging them.

Even in the early church people behaved badly. If that is the case, we should not be surprised when Christians do the wrong thing today. Being a Christians does not mean we will be perfect. We will still sin. We will do the wrong action or say the wrong words. What makes us different as Christians is our willingness to admit our wrong and our willingness to offer forgiveness.

July 16

I Corinthians 3

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

Have you ever heard someone say, "You shouldn't do that in the church!" It is usually a parent correcting the behavior of a child. The statement is sign of respecting the church building as a place set apart for God. As a place set apart for God, it requires changed behavior.

Paul teaches in this passage is that it is our bodies that are the temple of God. The church is a place that is set apart for God, but it is within us that the Spirit of God resides. You are the holy temple of God.

July 15

1 Corinthians 2

"I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate--I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it -- so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else." (The Message)

I don't put the idea of fear and the Apostle Paul together. I have always thought of him as fearless, as this amazing him who just did what God wanted. I have never considered that he would face fear as I do. It would seem the issue then is not whether I have so much courage as to never have fear, the issue is do have I have the courage to overcome my fear.

July 14

1 Corinthians

"called to be holy"

You may not think of yourself as holy. Typically, we think of people who are holy as the extraordinary people. Individuals who do amazing acts of faith. People like Mother Teresa are holy. What scripture teaches is that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we are made holy by God. Holiness means that we are set apart for God. As we become Christians we are set apart by God to be the children of God. That is what makes us holy. You are holy in God's eyes whether you see yourself that way or not.

July 13

Romans 16

"Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and Innocent about what is evil"

Obedience is a word we enjoy discussing when talking about the behavior of others, we don't necessarily enjoy talking about our own obedience. Parents love this word when talking about their children, but how do we like this word when considering our obedience of God? At times obedience means turning aside from what we want to follow the desires of God. It is hard to be obedient to God.

July 12

Romans 15

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."

Paul teaches us that we are connected to each other. I am not an isolated Christian that lives only in connection with God. My life of faith brings me into a community of believers.

At times being in a community of faith brings great joy. Friendships emerge in the community. Love and support is apparent. At other times, frustration and disappointment are the fruits of the community. We find ourselves wondering why we are in this community or what is the point. In the last two chapters Paul has been addressing one of the parts of the community life that can be frustrating, dealing with those who are weak in the faith. Paul teaches that we are to help those who are weak in the faith. We may not like what they say or do but they are part of the family of God. As part of the family, we do what we can to help them.

July 10

Romans 14

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters"

As we grow physically, so we grow spiritually in our faith. Physical growth is related to age, spiritual grow is not. You can encounter a young person who is very mature in her faith. Or you can encounter a person who is old and yet is not very mature. Within a church you will encounter all different levels of spiritual maturity.

Paul asks us to have patience with those who are spiritually immature in issues that are disputable. Our task is to help them grow up. Notice how he uses the word "disputable" instead of saying in "all" matters. I believe that in matters that are essential to faith, Paul would have us correct and teach when we hear or see actions that show weak faith. This doesn't mean we are judging or condemning but acting as a parent does in helping his son grow into maturity.

July 9

Romans 13

"Don't run up debts, except for huge debts of love you owe each other" (Message)

This chapter consists of reminders concerning how we should live. I stopped on the one about debt and love. Did you ever consider having a debt of love? It is an interesting concept. But think of the people in your life who have invested themselves in you. Your parents, children, spouse, friends.... Consider how much they have invested in your life, often without asking for anything in return. This is not a debt we have to repay, but we do repay it every time we invest ourselves in someone else. Our lives are blessed as others have invested in us and our lives are blessed as we invest in others.

July 8

Romans 12

"And be not fashioned according to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

I think this verse represents one of the greatest challenges of the life of faith. Our lives are constantly being shaped or fashioned according to the world. It happens so quickly that we don't even realize what is happening.

I experience this when I go to Kenya. There I see the struggle of poverty and am confronted by the materialistic manner in which I live. I vow I will change. But when I return to America, within a few hours I am already slipping back into old ways. It happens so easily and quickly.

The challenge for me is to stay so connected to God that I am aware of what is shaping my life.

July 7

Romans 11

"Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes." (The Message)

This chapter is a complicated discussion of the place of Jews and Gentiles. Paul is arguing that there is a place for all people. The Jews turning from God opened a way for Gentiles. But God has not rejected the Jews, there is still a place for them. He ends with the chapter with this verse that everything comes, happens and ends up with God. It is all about God.

A basic thought to keep in mind is that our relationship with God begins with God. We live our lives in response to God. God always acts first and we live in response to what God has done. If we keep that in mind, it helps us keep a better perspective on life.

July 6

Romans 10

"After all these years of refusing to really deal with God on his terms, insisting instead on making their own deals, they have nothing to show for it." (The Message)

In this chapter Paul is talking about the Jews and their relationship with God. His concern expressed in the verse is that they have tried to deal with God on their own terms. I think this is a temptation that we fall into also. We try to have our relationship with God be with what we want. We want God to act in a manner that works well with our wishes. In essence, we want God to submit to us. Yet, the basis of Christianity is our willingness to submit to God. To accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. I don't know about you, but I find this to be a daily struggle.

July 5

Romans 9

"It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy"

Our relationship with God is about God. The relationship is not about me being good enough or working hard enough. The relationship is not about my earning God's love. The relationship is a gift that God gives to me. My role in this relationship is to merely receive the gift of mercy. As I open my life to God, the gift changes everything.

July 3

Romans 8

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

I can recall memorizing this verse in Sunday school early on. It is one thing to know the words and to be able to repeat them for a prize, it is another to know the words and understand the truth behind them. When I think of this verse, I automatically think of hard times-maybe because this is when I tend to hear it. If I am going through a bad time, or a friend has hit a rough patch, why is it this verse that is offered? I think this verse is a reminder that when we give our life to God, He is going to protect us and look over us as His own. What we often forget is that by accepting God's gift, it doesn't mean that everything in life is going to go smoothly and perfectly-that is not what God promised us. Paul tells us, that despite the things we may go through, we are not alone, we are never separated from God's love. That despite the troubles and turmoils we may have here on earth, there is a kingdom waiting for us in Heaven. That is the 'good' in all of this; the promise of a place in Heaven, the promise that our souls will be raised and will live forever, that they will not have to know death.

-Jenni

July 2

Romans 7

So is the Law of God good or bad? Does it cause us to be righteous or to be evil? Paul clearly tells us that the Law is not a bad thing, a sinful thing. The Law, however, causes us to recognize what sin really is-it tells us what is right and what is wrong. Paul is saying that sin uses the Law and tricks us into wanting what we are told not to do. The Law tells us to not be envious-well our friend gets a new thing and suddenly we want it. It is not the Law of God that is causing us to want what we are not supposed to want, but rather the sin in the world. Every day is a constant battle against committing sin. It is everywhere, lurking in every corner, waiting for us. We must be in tune with what God wants of us, of the path He has laid for us-I think it is then that we will be able to recognize sin and try to avoid it.

-Jenni

July 1

Romans 6

Although all our sins of the past, present, and future have been forgiven by God, it does not mean that we can continually sin. What Paul is saying here is that we become slaves to our actions. If our actions are sinful, we become a slave to sin. He is calling us to be slaves to righteousness, or slaves to God. The truth of the matter is that we will sin, and for that we must die. With the death of our physical bodies, though, comes the gift of eternal life of our souls. This was what God promised us when He sent His son, Jesus, to bear our sins and hang on the cross.

-Jenni