365 Reflections

When a Christian enters into a new relationship with God, they enter into a fight for their lives. For some reason, we don't focus on this enough. We tend to want Godly living to involve as little confrontation and effort as possible. God spells out for us here in Numbers 33 that no such experience awaits the person who follows Him. With Israel on border of the land, God reaffirms His instructions to Moses concerning what awaits the people on the other side of the Jordan. It is not peace and tranquility at first, it is war and fighting and effort first. The peace comes later. Numbers 33:51–52 (ESV) “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. Look at this command. These are ornate altars and high places the people are going to have to...

Genesis 45:24 (ESV) Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.” This last command of Joseph concerning his brother's travels back to get their father and come with him to Egypt has a twinge of humor. He knows these guys. He understands they have been liars and deceivers for years. He knows they tend to look out for number one. So before they leave to go get dad one little admonishment is tossed out there: "Don't fight on your way back to dad." Joseph knows they are going to have to come clean to dad. They are going to have to confess that the robe they dipped in blood out of jealousy was their doing. They are going to have to let him know that his preference for Joseph irritated them to no end. It's going to be tempting for them to go back to dad and start making excuses. Reuben would be able to tell how he wanted to save the boy. Judah will try to tell him how he stopped them from killing him and ins...

Being a Pastor, or even just being a Christian is simply joy and agony.  Joy in the illumination of our hearts to know and love Jesus, the scriptures, and enjoy the power of the Holy Spirit in the love of the Father.  Agony in that's we are at war within this world of sin, shame and death. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 ESV) Paul is giving Timothy some final edification.  A letter filled with how-to's on Pastoral ministry in the face of difficult people and circumstances comes to a final call: FIGHT. The Greek word for "fight" here is "agōnizomai".  It is simple to detect in the English.  It's the word Gony.  We fight in this life.  That is, we agonize through. I can tell you first hand on the outside my life looks really good, blessed and favored.  In many ways it is.  Yet I fight consta...

Have you ever had one of those days? One of those days that just took it all out of you. Took your strengths from you. Take your stamina from you. Took your patients from you. Not that it was a bad day, but it was a draining day. It could even be a day in which you had a great battles and great victories. But no matter the win it still took its toll on your emotions and physical strength. Life has a way of doing that. I think of Abraham fighting off those five kings and rescuing his nephew Lot from his own silly choice to live near Sodom. Abraham must of been totally spent. And here is what happens. This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. (Hebrews 7:1 NLT) Melchizedek is a type of Christ. He is the king of peace and the king of righteousness. And after Abraham had fought and won the battle, Melchizedek came and blessed...

1 John 2:13–14 (NLT)     I am writing to you who are mature in the faith        because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.      I am writing to you who are young in the faith        because you have won your battle with the evil one .      14 I have written to you who are God’s children        because you know the Father.      I have written to you who are mature in the faith        because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.      I have written to you who are young in the faith        because you are strong.      God’s word lives in your hearts,        and y ou have won your battle with the evil one . Twice in this passage John says he's writing to those who are young in the faith... who have WON their battle with the evil one.  What...