365 Reflections

Naaman's leprosy is cleansed because he listened to the voices of God's servants every step of the way. Listening to them was his ultimate test of faith as he was a notable man and the conquering leader of the Syrian armies. Having been cleansed his outlook on his own standing has radically changed. 2 Kings 5:15 (ESV) Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant .” Notice that Naaman now calls himself Elisha's servant. This is the transformation God wants from us when we are healed from the plague of sin. We are ready to serve the Lord because we know the Lord works through serving people. There's more to Naaman's transformation. He wants to bless Elisha with gifts but Elisha will not accept them. This will contrast with Gehazi's greed later on but notice the turnabout in the conv...

Once again in the books of Kings we have a subtle lesson in the text giving us the real message of the narrative. The 5th chapter opens with Kings, conquering Generals, and the prophet of Israel. We are invited to see the life of a Syrian commander stuck in a desperate situation. 2 Kings 5:1 (ESV) Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. The first thing we should note is this narrative focuses on a foreign general who has been responsible for victories against other nations, most likely one of them is Israel. Yet, for all his glory and fame he had an incurable disease - leprosy which serves this passage as an analogy for sin.  Though we should conquer the world and win accolades of the crowds, we all have a condition that will undermine all we accomplish and eventually finish us, that spiritual disease of sin w...

The Church is an intergenerational movement built on the leading fathers and mothers investing in and believing in the sons and daughters of successive leaders. Yet one of the great obstacles of many future leaders is their own lack of confidence once the torch has been passed. It's very hard to start in ministry. You go in a moment from being brothers and sisters with the flock of God to being their shepherd and spiritual parent. This hurdle keeps many great leaders from reaching their potential. Yet Elisha wonderfully exhibits the pathway forward by taking the mantle from Elijah and using his God-given authority to serve the needs of those Elijah left in his care. First, after the departure of Elijah, Elisha takes the cloak that fell from Elijah and performs a repeat of Elijah's last miracle: 2 Kings 2:13–14 (ESV) And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fal...

If you're going to follow Christ, you have to get used to being outnumbered, undermanned and overmatched in the physical realm. Why do I say this? Because it's all I see in the Biblical narrative for those God saves and uses in the plan of redemption. 1 Kings 20:1 (ESV) Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. Once again, God's people are outmanned. Syria musters not just an army but a coalition of 32 other kings to come up against the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This happens right after the Elijah revival at Mount Carmel. While Elijah is licking his wounds at Mount Hebron, the nation is facing an overwhelming army.  We must remember that Ben-hadad is attacking Israel because of an alliance made with him by the Southern Kingdom king of Judah, Asa! (See 1 Kings 15:19). That is, God's people have used God's enemies to at...

Numbers 8:14–16 (ESV)   “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. 15 And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering. 16 For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself. Numbers 8 shows Moses consecrating all the Levites to the Lord for His service and to shelter His tabernacle from intruders. Something interesting happens. The Levites are substituted for the firstborn sons of Israel. From now on, they will be the "living sacrifices" before God from among the people. This is a further reason to believe that the Old Testament Levites point to the New Testament believers. Numbers 8:17–18  (ESV)   For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I s...

Exodus 2:11–13 (ESV)   One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” Moses Part 1 is impulsive, reckless, emotional and a bit arrogant. He sees an Egyptian doing what he did not approve of and kills him. Moses is an adopted son of Pharaoh. He could have court marshaled him. He could have reprimanded or punished him. He had many options. Moses just kills him. In that moment we see a man with passion but very little character. He's the impulsive diplomat who sees his position as one of sovereign autonomy... albeit an autonomy he keeps to himself as he hides the man in the sand. The next day he's at it again. T...

John 4:4 (ESV) And he had to pass through Samaria. In Jesus' time, Jews NEVER needed to go through Samaria. They avoided it like the plague. Samaritans were half-breed sell-outs who had their own temple and their own version of the Bible. And Jesus had need to go through there to sit at the well and minister to a woman of ill-repute.  For as blind as Nicodemus was, that is how passionately Jesus searched out the lost and lonely. The ones others avoided (like a woman coming to draw water at 12 noon in the beating Palestinian Sun) are the ones Jesus sought to save. How different Jesus is from us. We would look at a rich and powerful man like Nicodemus and bend over backwards to impress him and capture his attention for our self-fulfillment - be it a sports star or rich friend, etc. Jesus instead confronts Nicodemus with difficult truth and then moves on to someone who has nothing to offer Jesus or His ministry.  Why is Jesus like this? Because He knew Hi...

No sooner does a church grow than administrative problems arise fast and furiously. The Greek widows were feeling mishandled in the daily distribution of food. What's the solution? Men, full of the Holy Spirit. Acts 6 puts fullness of the Holy Spirit in perspective. This was not casting out demons or preaching powerful evangelistic messages. This was not raising the dead or calling fire down from heaven. This was not spot-light,high-light reel ministry. Yet the qualifications were clear: "seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom." What do we need the Holy Spirit for? We need the Holy Spirit to handle challenges in administrating the ministry of the church. There is no lack of need for better, more effective operation in almost any church. We usually look for skill, but God's Word says look for the fullness of the Spirit . We need to be full of the Holy Spirit so that we can SERVE people. This was food service. This was ordinary behi...

1 Corinthians 16:15–18 (ESV)  Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people. The first converts in Ahcaia were also the hardest working. It's often true of a new Church plant. Those who were there from the beginning and have their lives changed by Christ are often the ones who do a lot of the little things that make the church go. Notice Paul tells us they devoted themselves to the SERVICE of the saints. These were die hards. They were cleaning up long after most people went home. They were staying late praying with people who were going through a tough patch. They were the ones Paul coul...

1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV) for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. This is an incredible verse because it highlights the new reality of the resurrection presented in the Gospel. Paul fully acknowledges the open door for effective work for Christ while at the same time acknowledging those opposing him. He's making a statement only possible because of the Gospel. The Gospel is about open doors.  We have an open veil straight to the presence of God as the temple veil was torn from top to bottom at Christ's death.  We have an open grave as Christ arose 3 days later triumphant and powerful. We have an open eye to see Christ as Lord and Savior. We have the scriptures opened to us through the illumination of the Holy Spirit (see Luke 24:45). We have an open grave where death no longer has the last word. We have an open ended ticket to heaven made possible by the blood of Jesus. In evangelism, we have an open do...

Are you spiritual? Do you consider yourself a spiritual Christ follower? There are simple tests to determine whether or not you are. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul seeks to inform a church filled with people who are very gifted in the Spirit about the reality of what being spiritual is all about. A Spirit-filled person is someone who allows the Spirit to control what they have and where they fit in the body of Christ. The gifts of the Spirit "are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills." 1 Corinthians 12:11 I think we forget the Holy Spirit is a Person. He has a will and a plan. He works through the church according to His plan to build up the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit's main objective is not to make your dreams come true. It is to build up the Body. Are we concerned for the body? Or are we concerned for ourselves? Paul make it clear the reason why you are where you are is so that you will love the body of Christ. ...

1 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV) If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. There is something fundamental to this passage you need to know. The word for "you" is plural in the Greek. Paul is not referring to an individual Christian here, he's referring to the whole body of Christ, in the Corinthian's case, their local church! Don't mess with a man's bride... especially the Bride of Christ, the Church. He gave his life for the Church (Ephesians 5:25). He promised to build a triumphant Church (Matthew 16:18). He is coming back for His bride, the Church (Revelation 21:2). The Church is the most precious people on the planet to the risen Lord and to destroy the church brings the wrath of God. Admittedly, not everyone who calls themselves Christians are the "Church". We need to remember that in two ways. Number one, darkening the doors of a Church doesn't make you part of the body. The...

(Luke 11:41   NLT ) So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.  In this verse Jesus is challenging the Pharisees and religious leaders of his day. They were so absorbed with their religious fanaticism, that they forgot about the very reason for serving God. That God is the one who reaches down to those who cannot help themselves. And those who claim to follow him must also be those kind of people who seek to help those who cannot help themselves. The thing that surprises me most about this verse is how even religious devotion can be an idol in our lives. We can look to our own devotion as some sort of acceptability before God and feel that we have arrived based on our works. Jesus calls them hypocrites. That they are playing apart. They look religious but deep down inside there is nothing about them that reflects the character and nature of the God they claim to serve.  Who can't possibly be challenged by this verse? Jesus indeed had ...

Having just returned a successful missionary journey the name of Jesus, the disciples return with joy over the amazing productivity that they experience in His name. Jesus is quick to redirect their enthusiasm. Luke 10:20 (ESV) Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” When Jesus tells you to be happy about something, it's a good idea happy about something. It's also a good idea to prioritize what makes you happy. For ministerial success, professional success, Christian success will come and go at differing times. We cannot base our happiness only on what we accomplish. Jesus quickly reminds them, "I have given you power."   This didn't come from your success.  Apart from HIM we can do nothing!   Jesus teaches us that our joy should not be rooted in what we are able to do but rather on who we become in following Him. We become the children of God, with names...

The first two verses of Luke 9 have everything to do with the last 34 verses of Luke 8.  Jesus took the disciples on a whirlwind tour of trouble... 1. Into a boat and encounter and storm. 2. To the other side of the lake where a demoniac waits and a town rejects them. 3. Back to the other side for a dying 12 year old girl. 4. Stopping the crowd to note the healing of a woman bleeding for 12 years. 5. Right into the very room where the little girl lay dead. At the end of this tour... Luke 9 opens up with this passage: Luke 9:1–2 (ESV) And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. Do we understand what it means to be sent by Jesus?   It means we are going to need authority!  We are going to need His Power!  We are going to face storms... some of which may last longer than a night. We are going to face demons...  We...

I don't want to go to far in creating some sort of pseudo Christian "magic formula" to get what we want from God.  But the birth of John the Baptist was a miracle which happened when certain things came together.  It should be noted that the miracle Zachariah and Elizabeth received wasn't even something the texts mentioned them asking for.  So again, this is not twisting the arm of God. Luke 1:8–11 (ESV) Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. First, Zechariah and Elizabeth were devout people "walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord." VERSE 7.   But also: Verse 8 says he was serving...

How are you serving?  Are you serving out of duty or relegation?  Or are you serving well? Deacons are listed as the second office of the church in 1 Timothy 3.  An interesting parallel set of qualifications are presented to Timothy for who should serve as Deacons.  They need self control, they must ably care for family, and they must fully immerse themselves in the full revelation of the faith.  And these were the servants in the church! In other words, a deacon is more than just a doer.  They have something to them deeper than just maintenance or ability in some kind of trade.  I find this interesting.  Herein we may mistake people who can work hard for deacons when other qualifications are not yet met. God is clear about those who oversee and serve the church.  The people must meet certain necessary qualifications. This is how one serves well. 1 Timothy 3:13 (ESV) For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for th...

Hebrews 3:12–14 (NLT) Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Be careful.  That's the theme common in Hebrews. The author evidently believes there are some who are hanging in the balance of faith and unbelief.   He says they are to make sure their own hearts are not evil and unbelieving.  We have a responsibility to our hearts.  We have to take our spiritual pulse, check our vital signs, and administer CPR sometimes. Christians... take care of yourself. So often I see in the church a perpetual infant mentality.  People want to be served.  We even design ...

Mark 6:30 (ESV) The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. Mark 6:35–37 (ESV) And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” Look at the sequence of Mark 6… The "Apostles" go out and do miraculous things through all the towns.  They come back and report how much they did for Jesus.  This must have been thrilling and exhilerating. Notice the crowds chase them down because they "recognized them ." It was no longer Jesus alone who attracted crowds.  The disciples had experienced recognizable success!  They were demon chasers!  Here they are!  Wow! YET… just 7 verses later - the...

There's a difference between us and Jesus. We tend to care about people and Jesus shows us how to care for people. Big Difference. Now when Jesus heard this , he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:13-16 ESV) What had Jesus just heard? He heard that his cousin, forerunner, friend and partner was just brutally murdered by a wicked and immoral king. No doubt his own crucifixion was now looming over his head and he understandably wanted to be alone. But the crowds would not have it. They n...