365 Reflections

Joshua 24:19–24 (ESV) But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” 22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” I have struggled with this text for a few days. Joshua seems very negative, almost convinced the people will not obey God. But what are the results? We find that in the next book. Judges 2:7 (ESV) And the people served the LORD all the da...

What kind of leader should you have? What kind should you be? In Exodus 32 we are confronted with two totally different kinds of leaders whose immense differences hinge on one simple practice. The first leader is Aaron. He quickly turns on his own brother and spiritual leader who has just performed incredible acts of God while delivering hundreds of thousands of Jews from 400 years of Egyptian bondage. He fashions an idol and quickly leads God's people into sinful revelry. When he is called out by Moses, this is his response: Exodus 32:22–26 (ESV)   Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” 25 And when Moses saw tha...

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul illustrates the concept of paid church leaders using "secular industries. When someone works hard at something: farming, cooking, plowing, they are the first to share in the material reward of that work - it's called pay. He says Apostles and church leaders have the same right. But he goes deeper... 1 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV) If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? He says we planted spiritual blessings among you... that's a BIG DEAL and a HUGE BENEFIT to your life.  Because of that benefit to you we have a right to receive back material benefits from you. Why? Because God's Word sown in any context is a tremendous blessing. The problem in many churches is that they simply don't pay their pastors properly. I know, we see the rare abuses on TV from the guy probably taking advantage of the sheep to line his own pockets. But let us not put that burden on the local farmer in God...