365 Reflections

The world is dark, run by evil forces in the heavenly realms. We are born sinners, enslaved to the passions of our flesh along with everyone else. Paul makes that clear in Ephesians 2. Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. The answer is simple: Repent - turn to God for mercy and grace. Joel calls on the nation of Israel to do just that as they watch the invading army decimate the Northern Kingdom.  Joel 2:15–17 (ESV) Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16 gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegro...

Sometimes I struggle to believe a verse of Scripture. Are you the same? One that sticks out for is from James 1. James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. I love that verse. I also have a hard time believing it. When I ask God for wisdom (or anything for that matter), I'm inclined to believe He's holding my sins in a cup ready to use them against me in a celestial court so that I realize I'm worthy of nothing and I shouldn't even bother asking. Yet that's NOT what it says. I am choosing to believe a lie in that case. The scripture clearly affirms that God gives without reproach! And notice, "to all" ! He's the Giver who doesn't find fault. Another translation reads just that way: James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault , and it will be given to him. Now, here in 1 Kings 3, we...

Judges 1:12–15 (ESV) 12 And Caleb said, “He who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter for a wife.” 13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife. 14 When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” 15 She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. Here in the first chapter of what will be a tragic history in the book of Judges stands a solitary example of the faith God wants from all of us. If this story sounds familiar it should. It is a repeat from Joshua 15 and placed here at the beginning of Judges on purpose. The Holy Spirit inspired this story for Israel's dark hour as a small rebuke to a nation who will not drive out completely the in...

It is one of the most iconic lines in all of Scripture. "Choose you this day whom you shall serve." We think one of the options of that proposal would be God. And we would be wrong. The options on the table were the idols/false gods of the pagan nations Israel had been experienced with both before and after their triumph in the Land of Promise. In Joshua 24, Joshua is reminding the people what God had done for them, how He had blessed them and prospered them. How everything good in their lives was the result of God's goodness to them. Joshua 24:2–3 (ESV)   And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord , the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. 3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. Joshua 24:6–7 (ESV) “‘Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the se...

In Genesis 45, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and immediately sheds his love upon them in full measure. Then after than, he adorns them with gifts and promises - the best of the land. Notice how Pharaoh instructs Joseph to speak to his family: Genesis 45:17–20 (ESV) And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ” I think about how Joseph was so adored by his boss (Pharaoh) that he would be instructed by him to give his family all these things! Pharaoh wants those Joseph knows and loves to be blessed and well care...

John 10:9 (ESV) I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:11 (ESV)   I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. These two "I am" statements of Christ beautifully depict the nature of His love for us. They also reveal what God is truly like. First, being the "door" and the "Shepherd" could mean the same thing. For a shepherd would lay down at the entrance of a sheep pen to keep watch over his sheep at night. Jesus certainly laid it down for us, allowing Himself to be nailed to a cross on which he was laid. He's the one who stops the thief then from coming in and us from wandering out. Second, He is the good shepherd that puts his life out there in exchange for sheep. I think of David's 23rd Psalm who said, "The Lord is my shepherd."  David was a shepherd who understood the sacrifice of caring for his father's sheep. H...

Luke 18 starts off with a parable that clearly reveals the point of the story: Luke 18:1 (ESV) And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. Doesn't get clearer than that.  The point of this story is to encourage us to pray at all times no matter what it looks like. A poor widow facing an evil judge persists in asking for justice.  She couldn't have faced a worse situation.  A judge with no conscience... and she's a widow (despised in those days).  Though the judge tries to refuse, eventually he gives in. And Jesus admonishes us: Luke 18:6 (ESV)  Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? In this parable, Jesus uses an opposing hyperbole.  The unjust judge is as far as you can get from God. If she could get an answer for an evil man, how much more can we expect an answer from a GOOD GOD! The reality...