Date: 02-29-2020

Title: What Do You See

(S) cripture:
    Mark 8:22-26 (NASB77) And they •came to Bethsaida. And they •brought a blind man to Him, and •entreated Him to touch him. 23 And taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes, and laying His hands upon him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I am seeing them like trees, walking about.” 25 Then again He laid His hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. 26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

(O) bservation:
    After Jesus’ first touch the man could see but not clearly. Jesus then touched the man’s eyes again and he could see everything clearly. My guess is that the man was thrilled to see “people as trees walking” even though it was not clear. At least he could see something. But Jesus wanted him to see clearly.

(A) pplication:
    It seems to me that when it comes to seeing the needs of people around us many Christians are content to have blurry vision. If we saw things clearly we would be compelled to do something about it. Why are we content to live with blurry vision? I think that most often it is because we think we are better than others or that they are in their condition because they deserve it. We fail to see clearly as Jesus wants us to because that would mean we would have to act. Each week our Food Pantry provides food for about 100 families. The Food Pantry also prepares a backpack of food for 130 elementary students to take home each week for the weekend. We give hygiene kits to the homeless and send them with our mission team to Haiti. Sunday School classes take care of each other. That is seeing clearly. There are so many things we can do if we will only let Jesus open our eyes. Today I want to see clearly with eyes that Jesus has opened.

(P) rayer:
    Father, it is so easy to be content with blurry vision. Let Jesus touch my eyes again today and let me see clearly so that I can do what you want me to do. Amen

Date: 02-28-2020

Title: Speaking Truth

(S) cripture:
    Numbers 24:10-13 (NASB77) Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times! 11 “Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, ” Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, 13 ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the LORD, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the LORD speaks, that I will speak’?

(O) bservation:
    Previously in this story God placed an angel in the way to prevent Balaam from going. Balaam’s donkey saw the angel and balked three times and then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth and it spoke to Balaam and then Balaam saw the angel. God allowed him to proceed but now with the courage to speak only what God would command. Even though Balak sent for Balaam to have him curse his enemies (the people of Israel), Balaam has stayed true to what he said he would do. In addressing Balak’s anger Balaam reminded him of the conditions he set before he came. He would only speak what the Lord would tell him to speak. Balaam stood courageous before King Balak and said, “What the Lord speaks, that I will speak.” Balaam blesses Balak’s enemies and then pronounced God’s judgment on Balak and his followers.

(A) pplication:
    . Today I want the courage to speak the truth even when it is not what the powers that be want to hear or called me say. I want to the same attitude and commitment that Balaam demonstrated. I want verse 13 to be true of my life. Numbers 24:13 (NASB77) ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the LORD, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the LORD speaks, that I will speak’?

(P) rayer:
    Lord, grant me the courage and strength to speak your truth even in the face of opposition from the “powers that be”, knowing that their power is nothing compared to yours. Amen

Date: 02-27-2020

Title: If God Can Use A Donkey, Then…

(S) cripture:
    Numbers 22:22-31 (NASB77) But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. 24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck her again. 26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. 28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.” 31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.

(O) bservation:
    After refusing King Balak’s request to come and curse the Israelites before they overthrow him on a number of occasions Balaam agrees to go. He goes with the stipulation that he will only say what the Lord tells him. The Lord is still angry that he would go and puts an angel in his way to stop him. The donkey he is riding on sees the angel and balks on three occasions and Balaam beats the donkey to keep it going. When the donkey lies down in the middle of the road Balaam beats it again and then the Lord opens the donkey’s mouth and it speaks to Balaam. Balaam then sees the donkey and the Lord also speaks to him and tells him it is the donkey that has saved his life. Here God uses a donkey to speak His truth to a wayward prophet.

(A) pplication:
    This is one of my favorite and also most intriguing stories in the Old Testament. It seems that Balaam gets God’s permission to go and yet God is still angry with him for doing so. God must have known some motives that are not revealed to us in the story. God allows the donkey to see his angel along the way as a warning to stop. After three failed attempts to stop Balaam God has the donkey speak truth to Balaam. I take heart in this passage because it is an encouragement to me. “If God can use a donkey to speak his truth then maybe, just maybe, God can use me.” I really do desire to speak only those words that come from the Lord. Today, I want my speech to be truth and to point people to Jesus and to stop their journey to destruction.

(P) rayer:
    Lord you once used a donkey to speak your truth so today here I am, use me. Amen

Date: 02-26-2020

Title: A Fresh Touch

(S) cripture:
    Mark 5:24-34 (NASB77) And He went off with him; and a great multitude was following Him and pressing in on Him. 25 And a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse, 27 after hearing about Jesus, came up in the crowd behind Him, and touched His cloak. 28 For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I shall get well.” 29 And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” 31 And His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?'” 32 And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

(O) bservation:
    The crowds are surrounding and pressing in on Jesus. It seems that the disciples are trying to create a barrier around Jesus, kind of like the Secret Service do around to President, to protect him from the crowds. A desperate woman makes her way and gets close enough to Jesus to touch his robe believing that even this touch would bring about her healing. Jesus asks, “Who touched me?” The disciples are astonished and respond with the fact that there are too many folks too close to even venture a guess. But Jesus knows and the woman comes forward and bows to worship. – Jesus tell her that her faith has made her whole. In the midst of a great crowd Jesus recognizes and responds to those who reach out for a healing touch.

(A) pplication:
    I may not have a health issue as acutely serious as the woman’s, but I do have the same need of Jesus’ touch in my life. If I want a fresh touch from God, then I must press on to touch Jesus. I want my faith in Jesus to resemble the woman’s. I want to believe that simply touching his robe is enough and yet as His child I can come before Him and express my needs without any hinderance. Lord teach me to make you the first option rather than the last. I want to live in your power and experience a fresh touch from you today.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, as I come before you today, hear my prayer and grant me a fresh touch of your power and love today. Let my life make a difference for you. Amen

Date: 02-25-2020

Title:
Believing What Jesus Says

(S) cripture:
    Mark 4:35-41 (NASB77) And on that day, when evening had come, He •said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 And leaving the multitude, they •took Him along with them, just as He was, in the boat; and other boats were with Him. 37 And there •arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 38 And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they •awoke Him and •said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

(O) bservation:
    Jesus has told the disciples that they are going to the other side of the lake. When the storm came the disciples panicked and woke Jesus with cries that they were about to drown. Jesus calms the storm and reminds the disciples of what he had said before. Did they not believe him about going to the other side or in the middle of a storm just forget what he said. I choose to think they just forgot. This was a great lesson in faith for them even as they wondered just who Jesus really was.

(A) pplication:
    The Lord has made promises about accomplishing His purposes in my life and ministry. There are times that storms come and I wonder if I am about to drown in the circumstances. As a pastor I am often placed in storms that are not my making but must be addressed. I also find myself in storms that I created. In both situations I need to be reminded that Jesus calms the storms and my responsibility is to trust Him. I need to remember that Jesus is master of the storm. He was not alarmed by the storm, in fact, He was resting during the storm. Today I want that rest and confidence that comes through exercising my faith in the Master of the storm.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, today I want to trust you and allow you to handle the storms I face. Give me courage not to panic but rather to trust you. When you rest let me rest, too. Grant me the strength to follow and not be afraid. Amen

Date: 02-24-2020

Title: Forgiveness and Consequences

(S) cripture:
    Numbers 14:17-22 (NASB77) “But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as Thou hast declared, 18 ‘ The LORD is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.’ 19 ” Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Thy lovingkindness, just as Thou also hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” 20 So the LORD said, ” I have pardoned them according to your word; 21 but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD. 22 “Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs, which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice,

(O) bservation:
    The Lord has just told Moses how he is going to punish the people because of their sin. The scripture I chose is Moses plea to God and God’s response. Moses repeats God’s words back to Him describing his character and actions toward the people. He also remembers that the Lord does not let the guilty go unpunished. God responds by forgiving the people but there are consequences for their sin. Here we see just how seriously God takes sin and the consequences of it. God forgives the guilt and ultimate penalty for sin but not necessarily the consequences of the sin.

(A) pplication:
    I am comforted by the knowledge that, “‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.” I must be warned that forgiveness does not remove the consequences or punishment for my behavior. God’s forgiveness through Christ is complete and total when I receive Christ as Savior/Lord. I experience this forgiveness fresh every time I confess my sin. Even though forgiveness is experienced fresh the consequences need to be addressed. There may be punishment to endure or restitution to be made or apologies to be given. Today I will trust in the God who forgives and will not balk or complain about the punishment I brought on to myself.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to patiently and graciously endure the consequences of my sin. Let me experience your forgiveness and continue to live in your grace. Let me share your love with others. Let me be an example of what it means to live out your faith in a world that calls for compromise. Amen

Date: 02-23-2020

Title: The Sabbath

(S) cripture:
    Mark 2:27 (NASB77) And He was saying to them, ” The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

(O) bservation:
    When challenged, by the religious leaders, because his disciples were picking grain on the Sabbath, Jesus teaches the truth about it. The day of Rest was made for man’s good not for God’s.

(A) pplication:
    The Sabbath is the subject of some controversy. Let me say that the Sabbath has always been the seventh day, Saturday. We celebrate the resurrection by gathering for worship on Sundays but that is not the Old Testament Sabbath. Does that mean the Sabbath is no longer valid. NO WAY!! That’s what Jesus is teaching. The Sabbath, a day of rest and reflection dedicated to deepening our walk with God, was made for us. This day of rest is for our good and needs to be observed. I remember a professor saying, “If you are doing more than you can get done in six days you are doing more than God intended you to do.” It is easy for me to let my life get so crowded with stuff that this day gets neglected. As a pastor, even a retired one, it is easy to let “church work” and other things consume the week and my life to the point that I neglect a personal Sabbath. I can give all kinds of excuses and explanations but truth is I just let things crowd the week. I am thankful for the reminder that if Jesus needed a Sabbath I certainly need one. Today I want to do better at investing a day each week in rest, reflection and deepening my walk with the Lord.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, remind me when I am neglecting my Sabbath. Forgive me when I neglect you and your provision for me. Help me to keep that time for you. Thank you for the reminder today. Amen

Date: 02-22-2020

Title: A Quiet Time

(S) cripture:
    Mark 1:35 (NASB77) And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there.

(O) bservation:
    Jesus had a need for time alone with his Father. He used the early hours of the morning when he would not be disturbed.

(A) pplication:
    If Jesus needed time alone with the Father how much more do I need it? Jesus set the example of going to a solitary place where He would not be disturbed. That is an example I need to follow. This journal of my daily Bible reading has given me structure I needed to follow through with my personal time with God. This time each day with the Lord and His Word continues to make a huge difference in my life as I answer the question, “How will I be different today because of what I just read?”. This time allows me to grow as a follower of Jesus and to experience His presence in my life.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for waiting for me each day and over the years, too. I look forward to this time together each day. Thank you for guiding and empowering my life. Amen

Date: 02-21-2020

Title: Boldly Without Hinderance

(S) cripture:
    Acts 28:31 (NASB77) preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

(O) bservation:
    These are Luke’s last words describing Paul’s life and ministry. What a statement about how he lived and preached

(A) pplication:
    As I think about this, I wonder what a historian would write about my life and ministry. How would it be described? What would the last line say about me? I want to live my life in such a way that if anyone would ever write about me, they would say “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I want to live that kind of life. I want to be known as one who was faithful to your call in my life whether in times of ease or times of difficulty. Give me courage to preach and teach with boldness and without hindrance. Amen

Date: 02-20-2020

Title: Comfort and Strength

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 23:1-6 (NASB77)
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(O) bservation: The Psalmist, David, reminds us of God’s presence, provision, strength and comfort that are available to those who trust and follow Him.

(A) pplication:
    There are days when I need to be reminded of God’s presence, provision, strength and comfort that are mine because of His Son. When I get discouraged or frustrated or concerned about the future or just everyday events this psalm becomes a source of comfort and strength and an encouragement to carry on and maintain the course. There are days when even the “pastor” wonders and questions and needs a fresh experience of God’s comfort and strength. This psalm is that great reminder. Today I will again take heart in knowing that God’s presence, provision, strength and comfort are mine and I will experience them as I follow Jesus by faith.

(P) rayer:
    Father, thank you for the constant reminder of your comfort and strength in my life. Let me live confidently in that knowledge and also share it with others. Amen