Date: 01-10-2020

Title: The Source of Rejoicing

(S) cripture:
    Luke 10:17-20 (NASB77)
 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” ¹⁸  And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. ¹⁹  “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. ²⁰  “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

(O) bservation:
    Jesus has sent the seventy out two by two ahead of Him into the places He would travel. When they returned they were excited that the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name. Jesus responds by telling them that he saw what was happening and yes He had given them authority over the enemy but that should not be the source of their rejoicing. Rather they should rejoice that their names are recorded in heaven. For some Christians today the response is the same. What gets them charged up is the thought that they somehow now have power over demons. Their faith seems to be wrapped up in this idea of power over things rather than in their relationship with Jesus and that their name is written in heaven. Sometimes I wonder if these folks would be following Jesus if that power was not part of following Jesus.

(A) pplication:
    I am often attracted to power, the control over something. My spiritual life cannot be fueled by power over anything but rather by the fact that I am a child of God and my name is written in heaven. If that is not enough to cause rejoicing in my life then I have missed something. I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB77) that says, “But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” Today I do not want to be distracted by anything from my devotion to Jesus. I will rejoice in my simple devotion to Jesus.

(P) rayer:
    Father, make me aware when I am more excited about power than I am about knowing you and do what you must to bring me back to what is important and to rejoicing in You. Amen

Date: 01-09-2020

Title: Not One of Us

(S) cripture
Luke 9:49-50 (NASB77)   And John answered and said, ” Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to hinder him because he does not follow along with us.”
⁵⁰  But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”

(O) bservation
    Jesus recognizes that the disciples have been talking about who is the greatest among them. Then John, one of the “sons of thunder”, asked about a man who was not a disciple but was doing things in Jesus’ name. It seems to me that John was trying to protect the status of the disciples with Jesus because this man “was not one of them”. Jesus reminded John that “whoever is not against you is for you.” Let them do what they are called to do.

(A) pplication
    Many times I am this way. Because a person in “not one of us” I question the “what and why” of their actions. I wonder if it is because I am afraid they will get ahead of me or be more favored by God than me. My selfish pride can keep me from celebrating the work God is doing through people who are not like me. How arrogant is it for me to think that people need to be like me or from my camp before God can use them. Today I will try to keep my pride in check and celebrate what God is doing regardless of the source. IF God ids in it I want to celebrate it.

(P) rayer
    Lord, you know how difficult this will be for me. Help me to recognize Your work and to celebrate it with whoever is accomplishing it. Amen

Date: 01-08-2020

Title: Being Part of Jesus’ Family

(S) cripture:
     Luke 8:19-21 (NASB77)   And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. ²⁰  And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” ²¹  But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

(O) bservation:
    Jesus is surrounded by the crowd of followers and his mother and brothers want to talk to him. They probably let folks know who they were and expected to be ushered right through the crowd at Jesus’ urging. Jesus though throws us somewhat of a curveball when He identifies his family as those that hear and obey God’s Word.

(A) pplication:
    We talk a great deal about God’s family and being called his child and yet there is more to it than just saying I am part of his family. I can hear Jesus saying, “Robin, it is more than talk.” My life is transformed as God’s Word takes root in my life and I obey it. That is easier said than done and in no way a substitution for God’s grace. I am saved by grace alone and my place in God’s family is revealed by living my life obedient to the Scripture. Today I want to show by my actions that I am part of God’s family.

(P) rayer:
    Lord make me keenly aware when I am not acting like your child and draw me back to yourself. Thank you for forgiving me when I “misbehave” and do not reflect you or your word. I want your Holy Spirit to help me walk by faith each and every moment. Amen

Date: 01-07-2020

Title: A Common Problem

(S) cripture:

    Luke 7:47 (NASB77) “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

(O) bservation:

    Jesus is having dinner at a religious leader’s home. None of the common courtesies have been done for Jesus, washing feet, anointing with oil. A sinful woman comes and wipes his feet with her tears and hair and pours an expensive perfume on his feet. The religious people are indignant and appalled. Jesus explains that, “he that is forgiven much loves much and he that is forgiven little loves little.” A person’s love for Jesus is based on their understanding of how much they have been forgiven.

(A) pplication:

    One thing we strive to do in the church I serve is to get people to love Jesus more. From this passage it would seem that the problem is that people don’t really believe they have needed to be forgiven of much. Our problem is that we think we are pretty good people and God should be pleased that we are on his team. We have such a perverted view of our own sin, thinking that we don’t have many. If we really understood how utterly sinful we are it would change how we see and love God. Today I want to acknowledge my sinfulness and my forgiveness in Christ. I do not want to gloss over my sin or excuse it. I want to experience God’s forgiveness of it. When I understand how much I have been forgiven I will express a much deeper love to God.

(P) rayer:

    Lord, thank you for forgiving me of all my sin. Thank you for not crushing me with the totality of my sinfulness. I want to love you deeply because I have been forgiven much. Teach me to love you more as I understand how far your forgiveness extends in my life. Teach me to love others too. Amen

Date: 01-06-2020

Title: God’s Will My Way – No Way

(S) cripture:

Genesis 16:1-6 (NASB77)
¹  Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.
²  So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
³  And after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife.
⁴  And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.
⁵  And Sarai said to Abram, ” May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms; but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.”
⁶  But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.

(O) bservation:

    God had already promised Abram that his offspring would be numbered like the stars of the sky. He was old and his wife, Sarai, could not have children. How would God’s promise and will be fulfilled? Sarai devised a plan to accomplish God’s will. It was her plan not God’s. She told Abram to sleep with Hagar, her servant, and she could raise a family that way. Sounds noble but it was fraught with danger. Jealousy came in and Hagar got resentful and Sarai got mean. What was begun to accomplish God’s Will ends in disaster. God does make a way to keep his promise with Abram but not without some pain

(A) pplication:

    When I get ahead of God things tend to fall apart or at least go off course. Even if I know what God wants to accomplish, I need to wait for Him to move. This does not mean that I do nothing – that I don’t prepare or look for opportunities – It simply means that I need to do God’s will in God’s way and in God’s time. It is in the timing that I mess up the most. I have trouble waiting on the Lord and so get ahead of him way too often. It is hard to follow when you are ahead of the leader. In the passage today Sarai got jealous, impatient and mean with Hagar and Abram. I do not want to get that way in my relationships with the people around me, especially the ones closest to me. Today I will listen to hear what God says and then wait on Him to lead. I will prepare so I can be ready to move ahead when He says it’s time. Like so many other things in my walk with the Lord, this is easy to say and tough to do.

(P) rayer:

    Lord, you know how easy it is for me to get ahead of You. I want to follow you. When I start to move ahead, draw me back so I can walk with you and do your will in your time and way. Amen

Date: 01-05-2020

Title: Too Busy To Pray?

(S) cripture:

    Luke 5:16 (NASB77) But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

(O) bservation:

    In the reading for today Jesus is going from place to place doing all sorts of ministry. People are all around him. The needs are great and yet in the middle of this hectic pace of life we find this nugget of truth “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus left the people and his disciples and found a quiet place to pray. He did this to renew his spirit and to maintain his relationship with and dependence on the Father.

(A) pplication:

    If Jesus needed to get away from the people and pray how much more so do I need to do the same. Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Seminary, said in a leadership seminar I attended, “You can never do enough for people if you are always surrounded by people.” That is what Jesus is modeling in this passage. We need to get away from the hectic pace of life and spend time with the Father and we need to do it often. I think it was Martin Luther who said, “I have so much to do today I cannot afford to spend less than three hours in prayer.” My take is that if you have that much to do – get at it! He is right and I am wrong. I must take time to pray – often. These are not quick prayers on the way to doing something but rather times devoted only to prayer. Today I want to begin this practice that was so important to Jesus. If it was important to Him then it should be important to me.

(P) rayer:

    Lord, you know how impatient and scattered and hectic my life can be. Forgive me for neglecting my time with you. Help me get this right. I know that you do not coerce but I ask that you nudge me and remind me of my need to spend time in prayer with you – often. Amen

Title: Handling Temptation

(S) cripture: Luke 4:3-4 (NASB77) And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.'”

(O) bservation: When the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus answered him with scripture. In this passage Jesus is tempted in three important areas: Food, Power and Life.  Jesus answered each of these temptations by quoting Scripture. Interesting is the fact that Satan quoted scripture as part of the temptation. Jesus had to discern what the devil was doing and how he was misusing scripture.

(A) pplication: God’s Word is my best defense in overcoming temptation. The devil will use the same tactic (misusing Scripture) when tempting me. I see that happening in :”church leaders” as well when they use scripture to condone or promote things as holy and godly that God has called sin. I must know God’s Word so I can recognize when it is being misused and when I need to use it as a defense. Since I do not carry my Bible 24/7 I must write God’s word on my heart (memorize). When I commit the word to memory I can immediately recall it when needed.  Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”  Hid in my heart not my notebook. When it is in my heart God can use it when I need it most. Today I will hid God’s word in my heart so that I have something to use when I am tempted.

(P) rayer: Lord, you know how often I give in to temptation. Too often it is because I try to face it on my own. Today I will face it with your Word. Help me to recall what I need so that I can overcome temptation rather than being overcome by it. Amen

Life Journal

Date: 01-02-2020

 Title: Knowledge and Casting Blame

(S) cripture: Genesis 3:7-14 (NASB77) 7  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

8  And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9  Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, ” Where are you?”

10  And he said, ” I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

11  And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

12   And the man said, “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

13  Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, ” The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14  And the LORD God said to the serpent, ” Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly shall you go, And dust shall you eat All the days of your life;

(O) bservation: God’s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not to inhibit but was to allow them to live freely before and enjoying God’s presence. The temptation was to be like God and in so doing they became overcome with guilt and shame. The knowledge they gained led to a loss of innocence and a recognition of their nakedness (sin). This knowledge then led them to try to cover up their nakedness and hid from God. When confronted about the sin, Adam blamed Eve, and then Eve blamed the serpent. This knowledge caused them to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.

(A) pplication: I see a great deal of the same in our world  and in my own life today. Romans tells us that “through the Law comes a knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). That knowledge is also active in me triggering a desire to avoid responsibility for my sin and at time to cast the blame on others. I know that nothing can make me sin, it is always a choice I make. I am thankful for a Savior and the full forgiveness He has given me. Today I will not cast blame on others but will accept the responsibility and confess my sin to the Lord and make things right where needed.

(P) rayer: Lord, today I want to be so in tune with you that I will use the knowledge you have given me to live for you and to make an impact for you in the lives of others. Make me keenly aware of when I am casting blame and help me to stop. I thank you for your forgiveness and constant presence in my life. Amen

Life Journal

Date:  01-03-2020

Title: Leaving People Behind

(S) cripture: Genesis 7:13-16 (NASB77) 13  On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark, 14  they and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, all sorts of birds. 15  So they went into the ark to Noah, by twos of all flesh in which was the breath of life. 16  And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him.

(O) bservation: On the day it started to rain (I believe this is the first record of rain in the Bible) Noah and his sons and all their wives entered the ark with the animals. I feel certain that the rain was causing panic among the people and as Noah entered the ark I think many of them wanted to enter too. They wanted to escape the calamity that was to come. Noah, being righteous, I don’t think could close the door and shut them out. Here is where God steps in and does for Noah what Noah could not do for himself, Shut The Door to the ark.

(A) pplication: There are times in my life when I have been called to leave some people behind. Not because I am righteous and they are not or as a result of God’s punishment but it is leaving them behind just the same. In those times I have to trust the Lord to close the door and allow me to go on to what He has next for me. In my life it is not that I can never see or talk with those folks but I have moved to another place and cannot develop the relationship as we had when we were together. One of the pains of pastoral ministry is leaving the people of one church to go to another. Only God can give you the grace and strength to go forward. Today I thank God for his faithfulness to me and to those I have had to leave.

(P) rayer: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness in my life and in the lives of the people I have served in your name over the years. Thank you for allowing my life to be impacted by them and for allowing me to point them to you. Let each one sense you presence and blessing today. Amen

Life Journal

Date: 01-01-2020

Title: And God Said…

(S) cripture: Genesis 1:3 (ESV) And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. See also verses 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26 and 29

(O) bservation: God simply speaks everything into existence. At each point of and on each day of creation God speaks and creation takes place just as He has declared. This reveals to me the awesome power of God.

(A) pplication: God speaks and all that we know is created out of nothing. At His word chaos and nothingness bring forth order and the heavens and all that is in them and the world and all that is in it and mankind and all that we are just as he declared and designed. How is it then that when I hear Him speak, I don’t pay attention? I have hearing aids that help my physical hearing and as I read the word this year, I am asking God for some spiritual hearing aids. This year I will seek to listen more carefully and then to obey more closely what I understand God to be speaking to me.

(P) rayer: Father, thank you for loving me enough to speak to me and patient when I seem deaf to your words. Make me keenly aware when I am not listening or only hearing what I want to hear. I want to walk so close to you that I will not misunderstand you or not hear what you are saying. Amen