Leviticus 18:1-7, 20-19:8 - Genesis 1:27 - "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him male and female he created them." God created us as sexual beings, male and female. This is a gift. Yet as Leviticus points out there are all kinds of ways we pervert this gift. This is a controversial topic to people because it is so personal. God of course knew this when He established what was beneficial and what was destructive. His rules aren't arbitrary, they're simply the way things are. Even if we can self-righteously check things off of this list, can we say we have truly honored this gift from God? The truth of our sin is damaging. The fact that Jesus would claim us as his people, the Church as his bride, is truly remarkable.
Luke 11:1-13 - Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray in this section, twice. First he gives them the words, then he gives them the proper approach. In essence he says, "be a pest". Keep asking for your needs, keep talking to your Father in heaven, keep seeking His will. This reminds me of the person who is always tapping you on the shoulder. It can get really annoying, but that person always gets your attention. It's hard to believe that Jesus is suggesting what to us is such an obvious character flaw. But Jesus is not concerned with our ability to fit societal norms, he is concerned with teaching us faith.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
April 28 - Easter
Leviticus 16:1-24 - Sin is a serious problem. Aaron and the later priests had a lot to do in order to atone for the sins of the people. And even to stand in the presence of God, Aaron had to carry out some extravagant rituals. It can almost seem silly to us, but perhaps that's because we have taken the sacrifice of Jesus and the closeness we have to God for granted. How does God encourage us to avoid such "cheap grace"?
Luke 10:1-22 - Jesus sends out the 72, and when they enter a town that accepts their message they are to say, "The kingdom of God has come near you." If they go to a town that does not accept their message they're supposed to warn the people and say, "the kingdom of God has come near." God's kingdom does not come dependent on our response. It's coming whether we want it to or not. This is powerful in terms of our witness to the world. We are not in charge of how people respond to the message of Jesus' death and resurrection. We are responsible only for our words and actions. It is a freeing thing to know that Christ's kingdom comes even without our prayer, but that we can pray for it to come among us even now.
Luke 10:1-22 - Jesus sends out the 72, and when they enter a town that accepts their message they are to say, "The kingdom of God has come near you." If they go to a town that does not accept their message they're supposed to warn the people and say, "the kingdom of God has come near." God's kingdom does not come dependent on our response. It's coming whether we want it to or not. This is powerful in terms of our witness to the world. We are not in charge of how people respond to the message of Jesus' death and resurrection. We are responsible only for our words and actions. It is a freeing thing to know that Christ's kingdom comes even without our prayer, but that we can pray for it to come among us even now.
Monday, April 26, 2010
April 26 - Easter
Leviticus 9:1-24 - Apparently I chose to read this at the wrong time: breakfast. This section has some pretty graphic details, at least if you're like me and have only received food far removed from the process. My gut reaction is to be grossed out and wonder why they were so "backward" but perhaps the issue is with my experience and not the sacrificial system. After all, God established these sacrifices in order to show the seriousness of sin and to remedy it, and also to point forward to the gruesome sacrifice of Jesus. Looking at the chapter just before this, we realize that this is Aaron's first go at offering the sacrifices as the high priest. I would imagine he felt a lot of pressure, and so would we if the solution for sin was a matter in our hands. Thanks be to God that the gruesomeness and the sacrifice has been done once for all.
Luke 9:18-36 - What does it look like to deny yourself and follow Jesus? Giving a ten point list will not suffice, and Jesus never comes close to saying anything like this. I think one key is to focus on the "following Jesus" before the "denying yourself". Don't get me wrong I think these are impossible to separate, but very often we start with the "deny yourself" and get ourselves into all kinds of self-righteous trouble. Anyone can deny himself in such a way that it's all about himself. But Jesus calls us to follow him, to look to him and the needs of others rather than to self. This is a challenge for us.
Luke 9:18-36 - What does it look like to deny yourself and follow Jesus? Giving a ten point list will not suffice, and Jesus never comes close to saying anything like this. I think one key is to focus on the "following Jesus" before the "denying yourself". Don't get me wrong I think these are impossible to separate, but very often we start with the "deny yourself" and get ourselves into all kinds of self-righteous trouble. Anyone can deny himself in such a way that it's all about himself. But Jesus calls us to follow him, to look to him and the needs of others rather than to self. This is a challenge for us.
Friday, April 23, 2010
April 23 - Easter
Exodus 39:32-40:16 - In this section we see some finishing touches on the tabernacle. This was essentially a very intricate tent that God established as a place for worship. His people could be assured to find Him there, even as they moved through the desert on their way to the promised land. Why do we get so much detail on this? We know that God is ruler of all creation and not limited to a single space. Are there places where God encourages us to seek Him out?
Luke 8:22-39 - Jesus has authority over creation and even over powers of evil. Many people wish they had been there for Jesus' miracles. "What a powerful experience," we think. Yet both of these stories show that power can be a frightening thing. Can we really handle it? I suspect that I would have reacted in much the same way as the disciples and the townspeople. Perhaps this is why God's greatest work comes in Jesus' weakest moment. No one appears to fear Jesus as he hangs on the cross. Yet this is the same Jesus who will rise on the third day. He will say, "peace" to his disciples. He will comfort his persecuted Church in the vision of Revelation. He will come again to make all things new. In his resurrected power there is no room for fear. May he make us like the man who was demon-possessed, sitting at his feet and returning home proclaiming his power and mercy.
Luke 8:22-39 - Jesus has authority over creation and even over powers of evil. Many people wish they had been there for Jesus' miracles. "What a powerful experience," we think. Yet both of these stories show that power can be a frightening thing. Can we really handle it? I suspect that I would have reacted in much the same way as the disciples and the townspeople. Perhaps this is why God's greatest work comes in Jesus' weakest moment. No one appears to fear Jesus as he hangs on the cross. Yet this is the same Jesus who will rise on the third day. He will say, "peace" to his disciples. He will comfort his persecuted Church in the vision of Revelation. He will come again to make all things new. In his resurrected power there is no room for fear. May he make us like the man who was demon-possessed, sitting at his feet and returning home proclaiming his power and mercy.
Friday, April 16, 2010
April 16 - Easter
Exodus 31:1-18 - In this section there appear to be two totally different topics being covered. In the first, God explains that He has gifted certain people for certain tasks. In this case it is craftsmanship and artistic talent for the worship space. In the second, God talks about the Sabbath, the 7th day of rest, and how His people are to honor it and not work on that day. It could be that these two items are unrelated, but I think that in both God is giving a gift and directing that it be recognized and honored. God gives us gifts for our work and vocations on this earth. We all have many talents. God also gives us periods of rest and encourages us to take them. Both work and rest are gifts from God.
Luke 6:1-19 - In Exodus we have seen God's clear directive regarding the Sabbath. Is Jesus simply going against that? What two reasons does Jesus give in this section for what he does? What is Jesus showing us about the intent of the Sabbath?
Luke 6:1-19 - In Exodus we have seen God's clear directive regarding the Sabbath. Is Jesus simply going against that? What two reasons does Jesus give in this section for what he does? What is Jesus showing us about the intent of the Sabbath?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
April 14 - Easter
Exodus 24:1-18 - Throughout the Old Testament, and especially in Exodus, there is the reminder that sinful man cannot see God and live. Several times God allows only Moses to come up to Him, and even then only shows him His backside. In this chapter the people are reminded of this restriction again, but after they have been sprinkled with the blood we see that the chief men see God, and eat and drink! Not only do they NOT drop dead, but they feast. This is something we do each Sunday in receiving the Lord's Supper. By means of a sacrifice sin is covered over, and there is peace between God and His creation.
Luke 5:1-16 - "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." I've always thought that it is much more frightening to be be a fisher of men than of fish. If I were Peter I'd be far more terrified to do something I had no experience for. But the other thing that can be overwhelming, which I had not noticed before, is that the catch of fish they have is too much for them to handle. As fishers of men, that won't change. It will still be overwhelming at times. But we also know that the one with us, filling the nets, doesn't change. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. He lives forever and ever, and this alone fights off our fear.
Luke 5:1-16 - "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." I've always thought that it is much more frightening to be be a fisher of men than of fish. If I were Peter I'd be far more terrified to do something I had no experience for. But the other thing that can be overwhelming, which I had not noticed before, is that the catch of fish they have is too much for them to handle. As fishers of men, that won't change. It will still be overwhelming at times. But we also know that the one with us, filling the nets, doesn't change. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. He lives forever and ever, and this alone fights off our fear.
Monday, April 12, 2010
April 12 - Easter
Exodus 22:20-23:13 - God makes very clear that His people are not to behave like those they were rescued from. Which of these directives make perfect sense to you and which do you have questions about? Why do you suppose we react differently?
Luke 4:16-30 - What does Jesus mean when he says, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing"? The people get angry with Jesus when he essentially tells them that they will reject him and he will go to the Gentiles. How could they have responded differently?
Luke 4:16-30 - What does Jesus mean when he says, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing"? The people get angry with Jesus when he essentially tells them that they will reject him and he will go to the Gentiles. How could they have responded differently?
Friday, April 9, 2010
April 9 - Easter
Exodus 18:5-27 - Moses has too great of a burden and Jethro makes a wise suggestion. A seemingly obvious lesson from this story is that God does not intend for us to bear burdens alone. It's also fitting that this idea comes from Jethro rather than directly from God. We have already seen in Exodus that God can speak directly to Moses and do powerful signs, but in this story we see Him working through plain wisdom of a father-in-law. In that way, God had already provided for Moses' burden. How is God providing for you in yours?
Hebrews 12:1-24 - "let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Laying aside every weight and sin is no easy task. And it is so easy to hold on to hurts, failures and anger. The author of Hebrews refers to this as the "root of bitterness". Can we throw these things off? Not simply by looking to ourselves, or struggling through some self-help. We fix our eyes on Jesus, who destroys sin and bitterness, who gives us faith and perfects it through his word and his gifts.
Hebrews 12:1-24 - "let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Laying aside every weight and sin is no easy task. And it is so easy to hold on to hurts, failures and anger. The author of Hebrews refers to this as the "root of bitterness". Can we throw these things off? Not simply by looking to ourselves, or struggling through some self-help. We fix our eyes on Jesus, who destroys sin and bitterness, who gives us faith and perfects it through his word and his gifts.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
April 7 - Easter
Exodus 16:13-35 - God provides bread in the wilderness for His people. Why does He make the bread last only for a day (barring the 6th day before the Sabbath)? Why not just let the Israelites collect and store up as much as they need? What benefit is there in providing the way God does?
Hebrews 10:19-39 - 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:19-39 - 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Monday, April 5, 2010
April 5 - Easter
Exodus 15:1-18 - "The LORD is a man of war (warrior)." For some people this thought is too barbaric. Why would God need to destroy anyone? Why would He need to enter into the fray at all? Yet Moses' song is entirely about God's victory and power over His enemies. And the resurrection we just celebrated shows us God who indeed enters the fray, who faces evil directly, and who rises victorious over it. Moses' song is a song of victory, justice and mercy. Sin and death are real. Our sense of justice is real. Our desire for mercy is real. Jesus Christ is risen!! This is our song of victory.
Hebrews 9:1-28 - Some of the things discussed in this passage can seem very distant to us. But what the author is doing here is showing how the Old Testament sacrificial system was preparing the way for Jesus. In short, God's plan from the beginning has found its fulfillment in Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection. God's people in the Old Testament were chosen for a purpose, and as people who stand between the resurrections, so are we. We are called to live the hope of Jesus' resurrection, and proclaim the truth of his reign.
Hebrews 9:1-28 - Some of the things discussed in this passage can seem very distant to us. But what the author is doing here is showing how the Old Testament sacrificial system was preparing the way for Jesus. In short, God's plan from the beginning has found its fulfillment in Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection. God's people in the Old Testament were chosen for a purpose, and as people who stand between the resurrections, so are we. We are called to live the hope of Jesus' resurrection, and proclaim the truth of his reign.
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