Date: 02-19-2020

Title: The Priestly Role of the Pastor

(S) cripture:
Numbers 6:24-27 (NASB77)
24 The LORD bless you, and keep you;
25 The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;
26 The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’
27 “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”

(O) bservation:
After an explanation of the Nazirite Vow the Lord commands Moses to have Aaron and his sons (the priests) to bless the Israelites with the words of the verses I chose for today. By doing so the priests would be putting God’s name on the people.

(A) pplication:
Some years ago I attended a retreat for pastors. One of the speakers talked about our pastoral role as a priest. A priest stands in the gap between God and man. In so doing we represent God to the people and the people to God. He described this role as primarily what people want from us in those critical times in their lives. Why do new parents ask the pastor to hold and pray for the newborn – Why do pastors get called to the hospital – Why do families want a pastor at the time of a death? It is not because I am Robin Crouch but rather because in that moment I am the priest that represents God to them and carries their needs to God. Over the years of my ministry I have seen this played out over and over. It is good to be reminded that it was not me the people wanted but was the presence of God that I represented. I am not here denying the priesthood of all believers and I know that every believer can go directly to God’s throne. What I am saying that in those moments I represent God’s presence for them. That is an incredible responsibility and honor. Here is what I get to do; I get to place God’s name on them. WOW!!! What a privilege. As a Baptist I have shied away from the idea of being a “priest” (it seemed to “high church” for me) but in this context and with this blessing it is a role I will joyfully fulfill.

(P) rayer:
Lord in all I do today let me represent you well. When needed let me represent you to the people and the people to you. Let me place your name on them. Let me be a priest in that way today. Amen

Date: 02-18-2020

Title: Our Culture and Our Task

(S) cripture:
    Acts 25:19 (NASB77) but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.

(O) bservation:
    Paul is accused of wrongdoing for simply disagreeing with what some believe and for claiming that Jesus is alive. Sounds a great deal like our culture where as Christians we are constantly accused of being intolerant and somewhat unenlightened to believe that Jesus was resurrected and is alive today.

(A) pplication:
    It is a good reminder that the culture does not share my beliefs and often think I am intolerant. If because I believe Jesus is alive and therefore makes certain demands on our lives makes me intolerant then so be it. Truth is the argument is not with me but with Jesus and what He said and claimed. Since He claimed to be God and to be the only way to have a right relationship with God, I guess we are exclusive. I cannot be arrogant or mean spirited in my faith and I can neither deny what Jesus said. Because people do not want to believe cannot silence me and my belief in the resurrection of Jesus.

(P) rayer:
    Father, make me aware if I ever become arrogant or mean spirited in my walk with you. Help me to faithfully share with others the truth about Jesus and his resurrection. Give me courage to not be afraid to speak the truth with love and grace. Thank you for your power and presence. Amen

Date: 02-17-2020

Title: What A Way To Be Known

(S) cripture:
    Acts 24:5 (NASB77) “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

(O) bservation:
    The High Priest has brought Paul before the Roman rulers for trial. He accuses him of being a troublemaker (without specific evidence). He then accuses Paul of being a “ringleader of the Nazarene sect”. What a compliment to Paul. What the High Priest thought was an accusation was in fact a badge of honor for Paul.

(A) pplication:
    My guess is that you are familiar with the saying, “If you were arrested for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?” I wonder if I am living my life in a way that would cause people to say, “He is a ringleader of the Jesus sect.” I would hope so and not just because I am a pastor but rather because my life reflects Jesus so clearly that I would be known that way. Today I want my life to reflect Christ in such a way as to cause people to think, “there goes a ringleader of the followers of Jesus.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can reflect you in all I do and say today. Let my life reflect you. Let me be known as a “ringleader” among your followers. Let me live my life for you. Amen

Date: 02-16-2020

Title: The Reward for Obedience

(S) cripture:
    Leviticus 26:13 (NASB77) ‘ I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you should not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.

(O) bservation:
    God has just described the reward for being obedient to all he commands. This is a clear and simple statement from the Lord. The reward he says is freedom from what enslaves you and the ability to walk with your head held high.

(A) pplication:
    In a world where too many people are enslaved by harmful habits and walk with their head down and eyes looking to the ground it is good to know that God offers a way for the slavery to be broken and to walk with your head held high. I want that in my life and so it means that I need to be obedient to what God had commanded. This is not necessarily easy but the reward is worth the effort and work.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, too often I don’t listen and so I am disobedient and need to be forgiven. I confess my sin and ask for the strength to follow you closely. I want to walk with my head held high and free of the things that would enslave me. Amen

Date: 02-15-2020

Title:
Truth, Arrogance, Ignorance or God’s Grace?

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 26:1-12 (NASB77)
1 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity; And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
3 For Thy lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Thy truth.
4 I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I shall wash my hands in innocence, And I will go about Thine altar, O LORD,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And declare all Thy wonders.
8 O LORD, I love the habitation of Thy house, And the place where Thy glory dwells.
9 Do not take my soul away along with sinners, Nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10 In whose hands is a wicked scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; Redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on a level place; In the congregations I shall bless the LORD.

(O) bservation:
    At first look, David seems to have forgotten his past. If this was written before his sin with Bathsheba it seems a little arrogant and in either case he is not blameless. Is this the prayer of a faithful follower? David describes a life that I want to live. I want to mature to the point in my walk with the Lord that I could offer this psalm as a prayer. Certainly there are times when we see David being truthful, arrogant, a little ignorant or maybe naïve and especially aware of God’s grace. Here David is trusting in God’s gracious work in his life and calling on God to act on his behalf. David may have had a strong sense of his identity in God.

(A) pplication:
    I first thought how arrogant of David but then thought how much I would like to pray like that. My desire is to live so faithfully that this prayer could be mine. I am very aware that I do not have a blameless life but I do have a forgiven one and the New Testament declares that because of my faith in Christ I am blameless before God. I want my heart to be filled with God’s truth. I do not want to take the counsel of wicked and evil men but I must confess that I feel compelled to build relationships with men whose hearts are far from God in order to talk with them about faith issues. I am aware that I cannot do this on my own but can by the power of the Holy Spirit working in me. I ask the Holy Spirit to fill me and use me today.

(P) rayer:
    Lord my desire is to live so close to you that by your grace I could pray a prayer like David did. Fill me and use me today. Let my conversations today be productive for you. Amen

Date: 02-14-2020

Title: Approaching God

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 24:1-6 (NASB77) The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the rivers. 3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, And has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Thy face– even Jacob. Selah.

(O) bservation:
    This is one of the psalms that make my heart leap as we recognize the “King of Glory.” But first the psalmist describes the one who can approach and then recognize this “King of Glory”. One with clean hands and a pure heart. This is certainly not about washing hands but rather about a heart attitude of faithfulness to following the Lord. Clean hands (actions) and a pure heart (motives and attitudes) lead to being authentic and not to deceit in any fashion. The result is a blessing from God and a right relationship with the Lord.

(A) pplication:
    Today I want “clean hands” and a “pure heart” to be true of me. I want my actions, thoughts, motives and attitudes to be honoring to the Lord. I want to experience His blessing. I want to approach Him and have my heart leap as I come into His presence and recognize again the “King of Glory”.

(P) rayer:
    Lord make me aware of when my hands are not clean, and my heart is not pure so that I can confess my sin and be cleansed. Give me courage to apologize or make restitution to those I wrong. I want to walk in ways that honor you. I want to have my heart leap again as I see this King of Glory. Amen

Date: 02-13-2020

Title: Finish the Race – Complete the Task

(S) cripture:
    Acts 20:24 (NASB77) “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

(O) bservation:
    As Paul prepares to leave for Jerusalem, knowing he will not return, he calls the elders together to say goodbye. He sets before them the example of how he lived and what he wanted most in life. He warns them of challenges that will come to them and the people. He shares his heart of heart with them. He shares how he wants to be remembered and what he wants most for his life.

(A) pplication:
    Today is a day of reflection on my life and ministry. I served as Sr. Pastor in two churches, FBC Wheeling, WV and FBC Charlotte, MI. I left Wheeling to go to Charlotte and then left Charlotte when I retired. In both places it was difficult to say goodbye, especially to those you have loved and shared your life and the gospel with. I hope that when I left the people knew of my great love for them but also of my great desire to follow the Lord’s lead in my life even when it means leaving people you care deeply about. I must daily decide to live solely focused on the race and task God has for me to run and complete. I cannot be double minded. If my life is to be a testimony to the gospel of God’s grace, then I must follow each and every day. As I think about having retired and moving back to West Virginia I hope that this is the example I set for the people in Wheeling and Charlotte.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I pray that those I have served as pastor have been strengthened in their walk with you. I want them to know of my great love for them and also that we each must follow you regardless of where that leads. Father, You know that I am easily distracted, I ask that you help me stay on the course of your race and task for me. Amen

Date: 02-12-2020

Title: Futility

(S) cripture:
    Acts 19:11-15 (NASB77) And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. 13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”

(O) bservation:
    Because of the miraculous healing that was being done at the hand of Paul in the name of Jesus some others wanted to cash in. They were trying to imitate God’s work without God’s power. That to me is futility.

(A) pplication:
    It is futile for me to attempt to do God’s work without His power, too. As a pastor it is easy to let my personal walk with the Lord slip some because of all the other study and preparation I do in order to preach and teach. But if my personal discipleship is slipping then I am not preaching and teaching with God’s power, I am only performing. Regardless of how polished the performance it is futile to do so apart from being empowered by the Holy Spirit. That power is a result of my personal walk with God that must be nurtured each day. That is one reason this life journal is so important. I cannot faithfully follow the Lord if I do not know His Word.

(P) rayer:
    Father, I thank you for the reminder of how important my personal walk with you is. I want my life to make a difference and I want to make that difference for you and in your power. Keep me focused on You and use me today. Amen

Date: 02-11-2020

Title: More To Learn

(S) cripture:
    Acts 18:24-26 (NASB77) Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

(O) bservation:
    The Lord had Priscilla and Aquila at the right place, they had traveled there with Paul, at the right time. They heard Apollos speak and realized that he knew the Scriptures, but his knowledge was not complete. Apollos received their instruction and learned the way of God more adequately or deeply.

(A) pplication:
    In my experience great teachers are always open to deeper understanding. Apollos was not offended or put off by the instruction from Priscilla and Aquila. He was drawn to it and embraced their instruction. I want to have that attitude. Although I am called on to teach, I want to continue to learn from those who will take my understanding of the Lord to a deeper level. For that to happen I must be open to it. I must put my ego in check and submit to the instruction I need. I thank God that He is never finished with us and the opportunity to grow is always in front of us.

(P) rayer:
    Lord help me to recognize the teachers in my life that will deepen my walk with you. Help me to learn from them so that I might walk closer to you. Help me to bring others along with me in the learning process. Amen

Date: 02-10-2020

Title: How Will I Be Known

(S) cripture:
    Acts 17:1-7 (NASB77) Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ” This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. 5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and coming upon the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also; 7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

(O) bservation:
    Here we have Paul and Silas preaching and teaching in Thessalonica. They were known as “men who have upset the world.” The KJV says “turned the world upside down.” My thought is that they turned the world “right side up”. Their teaching showed that they were also “mighty in the Scriptures.” Their impact on the places where they preached and taught came from a boldness that was fueled by the Holy Spirit and a knowledge of the Scriptures. They were unafraid of their surroundings even if it meant opposition, arrest or imprisonment. Their preaching brought opposition to their message.

(A) pplication:
    Today I ask myself, “How will I be known?” Will I be known as being mighty in Scripture and setting the world around me right side up? Will I settle for less than full commitment to Jesus and His call in my life? These are sobering questions. In order to have an impact on my community I must develop the same kind of commitments and traits. I must read and study the scriptures and I must seek a boldness that comes through walking by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. I must be willing to speak even if it brings opposition to the message. I must not be afraid. Today I commit myself to those pursuits.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, grant me the strength and courage to be the person you have created me to be. Make yourself so real to me that I am unafraid of the world around me. Father, my desire is to be known as a man mighty in scripture and making a difference in my community for your kingdom. Amen