365 Reflections

Judges 11:1–4 (ESV) Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. 2 And Gilead’s wife also bore him sons. And when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him. 4 After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel. Jephthah is a flawed man. He is also infamous for a terrible decision in life that he really should not be defined by. But it happened and we'll get to it, but not today. For right now I want you to look at who Jephthah was from birth to adulthood. The definition of his reality during that phrase could be described as one thing: A raw deal in life.  Consider that he is the son of a prostitute. His father's one night stand before se...

Long before we needed to do it, before we understood the benefits, before anyone would ever focus on personal hygiene to the extreme that we do so today - God said - "Wash or die!" Exodus 30:17–21 (ESV) The Lord said to Moses, 18 “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing . You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, 19 with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 20 When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord , they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. 21 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die . It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.” Two years ago during a 4th of July cookout I didn't wash my hands while I prepared meat to barbecue. Two trips to two different doctor...

Psalm 4 has a specific structure that centers the Psalm on verse 4: Psalm 4:4  (ESV)   Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.  The first verse is a cry of distress based on the goodness of God from the past. The second verse is a renunciation of all who come against him in godlessness. The third verse is a reminder of God's promise and protection. The fifth verse is another call for trust in God. The sixth verse denounces those who question God. The seventh verse is reminiscent of God's goodness in the past. The eight verse is confident assurance of God's peace. But in the middle, the fourth verse is what we do when we pray. We refuse to let our emotions get the best of us. We don't let our feelings control our actions. Be angry, sure that's a feeling, an emotion. Do not act on it. Remember who God is, ponder this in your heart and mind. Think about God and stop talking for a few moments. Let His presence...

Ephesians 4:17 (ESV) Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. The problem is not in the world. The problem is in your mind. It is also in your heart and soul, but here Paul addresses the mind. The word for "futility" can be translated "nothingness." A "what's the point" existence that lives for today and nothing more.  It's the word Paul uses when he speaks about our faith apart from the resurrection hope: 1 Corinthians 15:13 "if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain ." There's no point to the mind of an unbeliever. There is no ultimate goal. For your mind may conceive of things wonderful and beautiful, but in the end, they are all vanity and nothingness. The world is full of knowledge, but not much wisdom. Th...