Date: 02-09-2020

Title: Handling Adversity

(S) cripture:
    Acts 16:22-25 (NASB77) And the crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them, and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

(O) bservation:
    When Paul and Silas arrived in Philippi they were received well and then public opinion turned on them. They were beaten and thrown into prison. In prison they were heard praying and singing praise to the Lord. This greatly affected the other prisoners. When an earthquake opened the cell doors and broke their stocks Paul Silas and the other prisoners stayed put and did not escape, This led to the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his family.

(A) pplication:
    Too often when I am challenged or put down for being a Christian I go to the Lord and groan and complain about my mistreatment. I want God to change my circumstances so I can feel better and those challenging me will see that I am right. Today rather than complain and groan I will seek to follow Paul and Silas’ example of praying and singing praise to the Lord. That alone will change my attitude and most likely change or at least confuse those who would challenge me. I hope that this response would lead to the opportunity for others to follow Jesus. If I get my response right, maybe others will follow Jesus.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, when I am tempted to groan and complain, remind me to pray and sing praise to you. If I am following you, your presence and provision is with me regardless of my circumstances. Let me take heart in that and always praise you. Amen

Date: 02-08-2020

Title: Gracekillers

(S) cripture:
    Acts 15:1-2 (NASB77) And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.

(O) bservation:
    As Paul continued to preach salvation by faith alone in Jesus to the Gentiles. Some Jews came and began to teach that the Gentiles must be circumcised in order to be Christians. Paul and Barnabas took exception to this teaching and it was then taken to the Jerusalem Council for resolution. Paul and Barnabas would not let the “gracekillers” have their way with the new converts.

(A) pplication:
    In his book, “The Grace Awakening” Chuck Swindoll describes people who add unbiblical demands to following Jesus as “Gracekillers.” Anytime we add some work or action to faith it really does kill grace. I often wonder if I put unbiblical demands on people making following Jesus more difficult for them. In our churches do we demand a certain kind of dress or hair length or language? I try to be aware each day of what may be gracekillers in my life or from me into the lives of others. It is sobering to take a look at what I think and what demands I put on others for following Jesus. Today I commit again to identifying and laying aside the gracekillers I find in my life. I have been set free to follow Jesus and to do his will and I should never submit to legalism again.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, make me keenly aware for the gracekillers I experience in my life and especially of the ones I direct at others. Let me learn and teach following you by grace through faith. Amen

Date: 02-07-2020

Title: Dealing With Praise

(S) cripture:
    Acts 14:12-15 (NASB77) And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you in order that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.

(O) bservation:
    When the people saw the miracles Barnabas and Paul were performing they began to praise and worship them as gods. Barnabas and Paul would have nothing of it and declared they were just men who were preaching the gospel of Jesus to the people so they would turn from this kind of “idol” worship. Barnabas and Paul wanted their lives to praise and worship the Lord and wanted no part of taking advantage for personal gain.

(A) pplication:
    The praise and adulation of the people can be addictive and give you an inflated and misguided view of yourself and your importance. As a Pastor I am with people in some of the most important, stressful, and joyful times of their lives. The birth of a child, death of a loved one, marriages, loss of a job, and loss of a relationship are some of those times. In those times often people are so grateful for our presence that produces praise and loyalty. Some pastors let this go to their head and begin to think they are the source of the help they are giving. I never want to take credit for something that God has done. Like Barnabas and Paul, I am just a man who preaches the gospel of Jesus. I want my life and ministry to point people to Jesus and not to me.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I want my life to always point people to you. Make me aware of when I think more highly of myself than I ought to think (Romans 12:3). Amen

Date: 02-06-2020

Title: Being Called

(S) cripture:
    Acts 13:1-3 (NASB77) Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
    
(O) bservation:
    In Antioch the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians” and it is there that the call of God was recognized in Barnabas and Saul (Paul). The church then prayed and laid hands on them to set them apart for the work God had for them. They then sent them away to do that work.    

(A) pplication:
    I remember clearly sensing God’s call in my life. I was 15 and at the West Virginia Baptist Camp at Cowen. Rev. Elizabeth Caudill was the camp pastor and had asked if any felt God calling them into vocational ministry. I responded. My home Pastor, Ted Sisk, was a great encourager. My Uncles, Jim Crouch and Ward Robinson, both pastors in West Virginia were great influences and mentors. My parents fostered and nurtured that call. My training with Campus Crusade for Christ was invaluable. I then served on the staff of North Parkersburg Baptist with Sr. Pastor, Conrad Lowe. Conrad taught me much about leadership. In 1973 my home church, Highlawn Baptist in Huntington, WV, recognized my call and set me apart by the laying on of hands and prayer. We call that “ordination”. I have been blessed by those who poured their lives into mine over the years, there are too many to mention here, and have continued to recognize that call and allow me to do the work that God called me to do.
    As the years have passed I think that many have misunderstood ordination. Many have made it a separating apart to a higher status with the Lord. Somehow the “ordained” are more important than others in the church. NOT TRUE, we simply have different roles to carry out. Maybe we should lay hands on everyone we set apart for a ministry in the church, Sunday School teachers, ushers, youth leaders, decorating committee, trustees, etc. You get the picture. We are all called, just to different work to do.
    Today I am reminded of my call want to live out every day to the best of my ability.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, Thank you for your call in my life. Let me celebrate it and live it out today. Use me to help others see your call in their lives and begin to live it out. Amen

Date: 02-05-2020

Title: The Way to Live

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 15:1-5 (NASB77)
O LORD, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?
2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt, and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
    
(O) bservation:
    When I read this I am immediately struck with its simplicity. I am reminded that following Jesus is not tough to understand, it is tough to do sometimes. It is simple and not complicated.

(A) pplication:
    I am amazed at how often I make following Jesus a complicated, hard to understand endeavor. Here the psalmist again reminds me that it is simple:
Live with integrity
Do what is right in God’s eyes
Speak the truth
Watch your words
Love your neighbors and friends
Protect the innocent and less fortunate

Summed up it is again – Love God with all you have and Love others as you love yourself.     

(P) rayer:
    Lord, you know my heart and my desires. Let me live this way. Let my life please you. Amen
    

Date: 02-04-2020

Title: The Words of My Mouth

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 19:14 (NASB77) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

(O) bservation:
    The psalmist has just given us a litany of the virtues of God’s Word. He then turns to the difference God’s Word should make in us. They warn us about presumptuous sins and hidden faults. They must also affect our thoughts and speech

(A) pplication:
    I wonder if my speech is acceptable to God. When I think of some of the things that occupy my thoughts and speech, some seem so trivial and unimportant. It is not that God is not concerned with the trivial in my life but I wonder if those things are worth the time they take. It really is my desire to have God’s Word at work in me so that I might experience His love and grace and that my words and thought would be acceptable to Him. He is my rock and redeemer and I want my life to please him.

(P) rayer:     
    Lord, you know my thoughts and words. Make me aware when they are not acceptable to you. Let me use your Word as a filter through which my thoughts and word pass before they are on my lips. Help me to use my words and thoughts to help others know you better and love you more. Amen

Date: 02-03-2020

Title: Clean???

(S) cripture:
    Acts 10:15 (NASB77) And again a voice came to him a second time, ” What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”

(O) bservation:
    In Peter’s dream he is told to kill and eat from the animals there. He refuses because some of them are “unclean”. The Lord rebukes Peter by saying that he is not to call unclean what God has declared to be clean. This is a teaching that God will shortly use when Peter is told to share Christ with Cornelius, a Gentile.
    
(A) pplication:
    This is rightly addressing the disciples’ misunderstanding of the gospel only for the Jews. I want to take this a step farther today and apply it to my walk with Jesus. Not only is salvation and forgiveness for everyone I must also recognize that it is for me, too. So often the hardest person to forgive is yourself. We accept and trust in God’s forgiveness but refuse to forgive our self. The scripture declares that when we become a Christian our sins are forgiven and we are made clean by the blood of Jesus. We are told that when we confess our known sin that God cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). When I refuse to forgive myself I am declaring that I am not clean or forgiven. I think that I need to hear God say, “Who are you to call unclean what I have declared to be clean?” I need to trust God’s judgment of my condition and not my own. The devil will bring counterfeit charges that seem real but are not. I must trust God’s Word. I may need to make restitution for my sin, I might need to make apologies for my actions. That is part of forgiveness and rebuilding the broken trust, What I must not do is to wallow in my own self-imposed unforgiveness. Today I will seek to trust God and let Him speak for my condition before him. I will seek to agree with His declarations.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, let me listen to you and not myself. Let me live in a way that shows others that I am forgiven and offer that same forgiveness to them. Teach me to listen to what you say and to keep my mouth shut. Amen
    

Date: 02-02-2020

Title: Seeking Knowledge of the Lord

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 33:12-13 (NASB77) Then Moses said to the LORD, “See, Thou dost say to me, ‘ Bring up this people!’ But Thou Thyself hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Moreover, Thou hast said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ 13 “Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found favor in Thy sight, let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee, so that I may find favor in Thy sight. Consider too, that this nation is Thy people.”     

(O) bservation:
    The Lord has expressed his frustration with the people. He has called them “stiff necked” and that is not a compliment. He tells Moses to lead the people but there is still some confusion on Moses’ part. Moses then expresses this request to God. In the middle of his confusion Moses asks The Lord to teach him so he can know God better. Rather than letting the confusion drive him away Moses asks for better knowledge of God and His ways.    

(A) pplication:
    When I am confused or frustrated I don’t always ask for more teaching about the Lord and His ways. Generally, I retreat back to what I know and try to proceed from there. Moses in effect said, “Lord if I am on the right track teach me some more of your ways.” When confused I ask for less and here Moses asks for more. Today I will ask for the Lord to teach me more so that I will know him better and find favor with Him.    

(P) rayer:
    Father, there is much that I don’t understand but I do know that I want to know you better. I want to experience your favor. I do not want to disappoint you. So grant me your presence and teach me your ways so that I can know you better and experience your favor. Remind me of this request when I am frustrated or confused about leading or moving forward. Amen
    

Date: 02-01-2020

Title: Dodging Responsibility

(S) cripture:
    Exodus 32:21-24 (NASB77) Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. 23 “For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 “And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”
    
(O) bservation:
    Earlier Moses has been on the mountain and the people began to be restless without their leader present and asked Aaron to make an idol for them to worship. Arron recounts that to Moses in the verses I chose but sure didn’t want any responsibility for the consequences. He had called for the gold and had fashioned it into the calf, he then built the altar and called for the sacrifices. When confronted his explanation was “Not my fault, I threw the gold into the fire and out came this calf.” No way it was his responsibility – the people are prone to evil and forced me to do this. He wanted to dodge God’s anger and wrath.

(A) pplication:
    There are times when I am faced with people pressuring me to do or condone things that I know are not right. I certainly do not want to experience God’s anger and wrath and I also do not want to abuse or take for granted his forgiveness. I will not dodge responsibility or try to pass blame on to others but will confess my sin to the Lord and live with whatever the consequences might be. Apology, restitution, redoing a project etc. whatever the Lord requires.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I know that I cannot fool or deceive you. Thank you for loving me enough to allow me to confess my sin and experience your forgiveness. Give me courage to take responsibility and not try to switch blame to others. Amen