Date: 10-31-2020

Title: My Help Comes From The Lord

(S) cripture:
    Psalm 121:1-2 (NASB) I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

    Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV) I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

(O) bservation:
    This is a psalm of ascents. The psalmist reminds us that our help does not come from physical things but from God. His help can be trusted.

(A) pplication:
    As a native West Virginian I understand what it means to “lift up my eyes to the hills.” I love the West Virginia Hills. The state song goes like this:

    Oh the West Virginia hills how majestic and how grand,
    with their summits bathed in glory like our Prince Emmanuel’s land.
    Is it any wonder then that my heart with rapture thrills
    as I stand once more with loved ones in those West Virginia Hills.

    When we moved to Michigan in 2002 the biggest adjustment I had was not having a mountain on the horizon. Lower Michigan is relatively flat compared to West Virginia. It was somewhat unsettling. The psalmist though reminds me that my strength and help and comfort do not come from the hills but rather from the One who made the hills. I am to look to God and no place else for help and strength and direction. It is again a good reminder for me today. My Help comes from God!

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to always look to you and not things around me for help and guidance. My strength and help come from you and you alone. Amen

Date: 10-30-2020

Title: Pretending

(S) cripture:
    Mark 7:6-8 (NASB) And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’ 8 “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

(O) bservation:
    Jesus challenges the Pharisees with their hypocrisy. The Pharisees were condemning the disciples for not following the traditions of the faith. Jesus uses a quote from Isaiah to describe them. They “honored with their lips but their hearts were far from God. You have let go of the commands of God and hold to the traditions of man.” What an indictment. This is the height of hypocrisy. This is quite a condemnation of these men and their faith practice.

(A) pplication:
    Actors pretend to be someone they are not. “Actor” and hypocrite” come from the same root word. I wonder how many folks are pretending in their faith. How often do we hear people who talk a good game but whose actions are not consistent with their words? How many fall into the place that Jesus described; “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”

    How many of the things we hold “sacred” are traditions and teachings of man and have little or nothing to do with the commands of God? I cannot think of anything worse than to have Jesus look at me and say, “you honor me with your lips but your heart is far from me.” I do not want to be a pretender or hypocrite. Today I will check my heart and make sure it is close to God and that my lips honor God out of that heart.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for forgiving my sin and allowing me to be close to you. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and let me walk close to you today. Let me words and life honor you. Amen
    

Date: 10-29-2020

Title: Staying With Jesus

(S) cripture:
    Mark 5:18-20 (NASB) As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

(O) bservation:
    The man Jesus healed wanted to stay with him. He wanted to be with Jesus and to go wherever Jesus went. Jesus did not allow that rather he had a mission for the man to do. He was to go to his family and tell them what Jesus had done for him. His testimony was powerful and amazed those who heard it. Had he stayed with Jesus those people would not have heard his testimony.

(A) pplication:
    Many times I have found myself wanting to stay at a place where I have experienced a spiritual mountaintop experience. Whether it was at the WV Baptist at Camp at Cowen during my school years or at Campus Crusade for Christ Conference or retreat as a college student or at a retreat or conference now, it does not matter. When Peter asked to stay on the mountain after the transfiguration the answer was, “NO”. The mission was not on the mountaintop but rather off the mountain and where the people lived. The mission and ministry remain the same for us. As much as we would like to stay on the mountaintop our mission and ministry is off the mountain and with the people. What are we to do? Tell them how much the Lord has done for us. Simple instructions and a simple message. Why do we make it so complicated? Lord today I will tell people the simple story of what you have done for me.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, help me to get the mission and message right. Help me today to share the simple truth of all you have done for me and that you want to do the same for others. Amen

Date: 10-28-2020

Title: Have You Lost Your Mind?

(S) cripture:
    Mark 3:20-21 (NASB) And He *came home, and the crowd *gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”

(O) bservation:
    Jesus returns home after a time of teaching, casting out demons and healing crowds of people. He has also called the twelve to follow and he is preparing them to be sent out to preach. The crowds follow him home and press in on him to the point he cannot even eat a meal. When his family see and hear all this they don’t understand and think he has lost his mind, so they come to take him away. His family did not understand God’s call in his life.

(A) pplication:
    Often it seems that when people do follow God’s call in their lives people think they have lost their minds. The challenge is to follow Jesus even though some might not understand. In 1970 when I joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ many thought I had lost my mind. As a college graduate I was moving to Oxford, Mississippi, going to make $250/month and have to raise that myself from people that would support my ministry. Some said I could have made that much without a college degree. It was God’s call, and I am compelled to follow. Again when we left WV to move to Michigan where it is cold and we did not know anyone, people thought we were a little crazy. But following God’s call wherever it leads is not crazy. It might be tough, but it is satisfying to your soul. I thank God today for the strength He gives to follow even when some think you have lost your mind. So, if following Jesus’ call in my life means that I have lost my mind, then call me crazy.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, thank you for your faithfulness, strength, support and presence as we follow your call. I do not want to be anywhere but where you have called me to be. Amen

Date: 10-27-2020

Title: The Sabbath

(S) cripture:
    Mark 2:27 (NASB) Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

(O) bservation:
    When challenged for his disciples 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 is 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 crowded with stuff and this day gets neglected. As a pastor it is easy to let “church work” 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 need 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, help me not to neglect my Sabbath. Help me to keep that time for you. Thank you for the reminder today. Amen

Date: 10-26-2020

Title: Boldly Without Hindrance

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

    Acts 28:31 (NIV) Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

(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 an 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: 10-25-2020

Title: Our Culture and Our Task

(S) cripture:
    Acts 25:19 (NASB) but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a 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 thinks 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 must not 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: 10-24-2020

Title: Two Important Questions

(S) cripture:
    Acts 22:8-10 (NASB) “And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 “And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 “And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’

(O) bservation:
    Paul is telling the people his testimony of following Jesus. He was blinded by a bright light on the road to Damascus. From within the light he heard the voice of Jesus. In that moment only two questions came to mind:
    1. Who are You Lord?
    2. What am I to do?

(A) pplication:
    When I met Jesus these were the only appropriate questions to ask. They are also the questions I must ask and answer every day as I follow Jesus:
    1. Who are you Lord? This is how I grow in knowing Jesus better each day.
    2. What am I to do? This keeps me on the path that He sets for me to follow.
Too often I want to do what I want rather than what God wants. I must continually ask, “What am I to do?”, and then DO IT. That though will only happen as I get to know Jesus better each day.

(P) rayer:
    Lord, I want to know you better today than yesterday. Strengthen me to do your will today and let me do it your way, too. Amen

Date: 10-23-2020

Title: Futility

(S) cripture:
    Acts 19:13-15 (NASB) 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 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. 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: 10-22-2020

Title: How Will I Be known

(S) cripture:
    Acts 17:6-7 (NASB) 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.”

    Acts 18:24 (NASB) Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures.

(O) bservation:
    Here we have three men, Paul, Silas and Apollos. 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. They were also known as being “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.

(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 these 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. 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 the kingdom. Amen