Gladly

Matthew 20

29 As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. 30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.

But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” 34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.

Jesus felt sorry for me, too. A wayward lost child, self-absorbed, stubborn, and rebellious to a fault, I finally came to my senses and cried out, “Jesus, have mercy!” He did. He does. I now follow Him. Gladly.

Humility in Service

Matthew 20

25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Humility in service is the mark of a true follower of Christ. I haven’t always been nearly as humble as I hope that I am now. My attitude is one that I pray portrays humility. I have no desire to have the spotlight turned on me, I simply want to serve in the Name of my Lord Jesus. I don’t need to be the one getting any praise or honor, because it all goes to Jesus anyway. I don’t claim to have any authority, I simply try to lead others by example, and to Christ. Lord, help me be humble as I serve You daily. Forgive me when I allow pride to creep into my life. Do not allow me to desire the spotlight, the accolades, or any other such distraction to the mission for which You have called me. May I die to myself today, so that Jesus is lifted up on high in my life.

Everything Belongs To God

Psalm 24

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.

The world and all its people belong to him.

You know, when we FINALLY come to grips with this truth, our world view changes to the proper perspective. This week, I have been in heartsick prayer for the families of Crystal Keller, Lori Angel (both of whom died this week), David Bompart (shot while doing mission work in Haiti & in critical condition), Kim Miller (potassium levels through the roof, wife of my friend Gary Music Miller), and John Martinelli (diagnosed with a blood disorder that brings him dangerously high red blood cell levels). I have pleaded with God on behalf of these families, and I praise God because I know that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Since we all belong to Him anyway, I know that His plan for our lives is best. I know that He is worthy of glory, honor, and praise. I will do my best to serve Him on this day. To do any less would not make any sense at all.

Just As The Lord Commanded

Exodus 7

20a So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them.

Now THAT is what I would like said of me, both during my life, and at my funeral. “Scott did just as the LORD commanded him.” Sweet.

Making God Angry

Exodus 4

13 But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”

14a Then the Lord became angry with Moses.

Wow. Moses was either very brave or very dumb. Arguing with God to the point of making the Almighty Creator angry is not a good idea. Even so, God used Moses (though Aaron, his brother) to accomplish the Lord’s plan. I want to be God’s “yes man.” I often have tried to argue with God in the past, but this is a foolish exercise. My life is much more at peace since I instead have simply said to my Lord, “here I am, send me.”

Who I Am

Exodus 2

11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”

14 God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.”

We go from Moses asking who am I, to God saying that His Name is I AM. Quite the contrast, and one I would do well to remember. Who am I? I am a representative of the Great I AM. As such, I need to stop manufacturing excuses, and live my life in such a manner as to bring Him glory and honor every day of my life!

A Resounding NO

Matthew 16

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

My answer to the question Jesus asks at the end of the passage is a resounding “NO!” Nothing is worth more than my soul, and following Christ is the ONLY thing in my life that truly matters. I love Jesus and I live for Him daily. The things that I do are done for His glory alone. It is my desire to die to self and live in Christ always.

In Times of Trouble

Psalm 20

1 In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.

May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.

Yesterday brought tragic news from several different fronts. A nine-year-old girl orphaned as her Mom dies of a-yet-to-be-determined illness. Her Dad, who was a minister, died while on a mission trip four years ago. My heart breaks for this beautiful child of God who now has neither an earthly father or mother. I know that she has a loving extended and church family, and in that I take comfort. Then, last night some dear friends from church got word that their daughter had been in a car-train collision and is in critical condition. Lord, God, I am praying for these families in their time of severe distress and pain. May You comfort them, and bring to them a peace that passes human understanding. I love them all dearly, and love You even more, O God.

Thank You Lord

Psalm 19

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The skies display his craftsmanship.

2 Day after day they continue to speak;

night after night they make him known.

This morning, I was up before sunrise, and as I turned east on Oslo Road I literally gasped in amazement out loud, “thank You, Lord! How awesome is the sky this morning!” The sunrise was filled with blues, pinks, oranges, and purples, as the entire sky was ablaze with God’s glory. I never cease to be amazed as these displays of God’s handiwork. I never want to take them for granted, nor do I ever want to experience one without giving praise to God Almighty. He alone is the Source of every good and perfect gift including those beautiful sunrises as seen here in beautiful Vero Beach!

Thank You Lord

Psalm 19

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The skies display his craftsmanship.

2 Day after day they continue to speak;

night after night they make him known.

This morning, I was up before sunrise, and as I turned east on Oslo Road I literally gasped in amazement out loud, “thank You, Lord! How awesome is the sky this morning!” The sunrise was filled with blues, pinks, oranges, and purples, as the entire sky was ablaze with God’s glory. I never cease to be amazed as these displays of God’s handiwork. I never want to take them for granted, nor do I ever want to experience one without giving praise to God Almighty. He alone is the Source of every good and perfect gift including those beautiful sunrises as seen here in beautiful Vero Beach!

You Feed Them

Matthew 14

16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

The crowds had gathered. Huddled and harassed like sheep without a shepherd, hungering for what Jesus had to offer. Then, as the day wore on, they were hungering for some physical food as well. Alas, the concession stands were not open, and Jesus’ Disciples come to Him with this problem. They want Him to disperse the crowds so those folks can go scrounge something to eat. Jesus simply replies, “that isn’t necessary - you feed them.” How often do I ask Jesus to do for me, what I should be doing in His name? How often do I deserve to hear, “that isn’t necessary - you DO it.”? Jesus has empowered me to take care of folks in His name. May I never again be guilty of trying to wiggle my way out of that responsibility.

You Feed Them

Matthew 14

16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

The crowds had gathered. Huddled and harassed like sheep without a shepherd, hungering for what Jesus had to offer. Then, as the day wore on, they were hungering for some physical food as well. Alas, the concession stands were not open, and Jesus’ Disciples come to Him with this problem. They want Him to disperse the crowds so those folks can go scrounge something to eat. Jesus simply replies, “that isn’t necessary - you feed them.” How often do I ask Jesus to do for me, what I should be doing in His name? How often do I deserve to hear, “that isn’t necessary - you DO it.”? Jesus has empowered me to take care of folks in His name. May I never again be guilty of trying to wiggle my way out of that responsibility.

Light Up The Way

Psalm 18

25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
to those with integrity you show integrity.
26 To the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.
27 You rescue the humble,
but you humiliate the proud.
28 You light a lamp for me.
The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.

It is my desire to always be faithful, to be filled with integrity, and to be pure before my Lord and my God. I don’t always succeed, but that is my desire nonetheless. Father, God, I humbly come before You asking for Your unfailing mercies and love to be poured upon my son, Ian today. I ask nothing for myself, just please light up the darkness surrounding my son. May he know Your love in a deeper way than ever before, and may he be determined to serve You to the best of his considerable abilities every day of his life!

My Savior

Psalm 18

1 I love you, Lord;

you are my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;

my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.

He is my shield, the power that saves me,

and my place of safety.

As my prayers continue for Ian, Lord, I am more than just concerned. I am pleading with You, Lord, my rock, my fortress, my strength, and my savior. Please strengthen Ian emotionally and spiritually right now. I could use a dose of that strength, too.

Hear My Plea

Psalm 17

1 O Lord, hear my plea for justice.

Listen to my cry for help.

Pay attention to my prayer,

for it comes from honest lips.

My prayers today are primarily for my son Ian. Father, strengthen him, and show him Your unwavering love. Use me to help in that regard. I know things are tough in his life. I also know that he loves You and really does want to follow You always. Don’t let him get sidetracked. Help him to refocus, Father, and to keep his focus on You always.

Bad Fruit

Matthew 12

33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.”

I am glad that the fruit trees on my property produce good fruit. If they did not, they would no longer be of any use to me. Jesus reminds us in this verse that bad trees produce bad fruit, just as wicked people behave wickedly. That is not me judging, that is simply using the common sense that God gave me to be able to discern what is happening around me. Those producing bad fruit need the love of Jesus. May my life be filled with grace, but may I also know not to allow my behavior to be influenced by the bad trees out there. May I act like fertilizer and pesticide to help those bad trees become good by producing good fruit. Otherwise, may those trees be cut out of my life.

God Almighty

Genesis 35

11 Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’”

Only a very few times in Scripture, do we see God telling someone His Name. To Moses, God simply says that He is “I Am.” Here, to Jacob, the LORD proclaims that He is “God Almighty.” He is the Almighty Creator of the universe, the Author of our salvation, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. He alone is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. This day, and every day it is my desire to do just that. May the Name of the Lord be praise. He is indeed God Almighty!

Yoked With Jesus

Matthew 11

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus never says that we won’t have burdens in this life, He simply reminds us that those burdens are much more tolerable/bearable when we are in Jesus. I will gladly take up my yoke with Jesus, and tackle the burdens that come my way. I trust in Him, and in Him alone. May my life reflect that trust, and may it draw others closer to Christ daily.

No Peace

Matthew 10

32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’”

Jesus lays it out in plain and simple language here. As a follower of Christ, I must always be prepared to acknowledge His Lordship publicly, and I must not expect that my life will ever be anything closely resembling peaceful. My unwavering allegiance to Christ will, in fact, bring conflict into my life. May I be prepared to handle that conflict, and may Jesus be glorified in my life always.

The Lord's Promises

Psalm 12

6 The Lord’s promises are pure,
like silver refined in a furnace,
purified seven times over.

The Lord has promised that in this world there will be trouble. The Lord has promised that we will be opposed, and oppressed. The Lord has promised that brother will hate brother, that families will be torn apart, and that His followers will be flogged, imprisoned, tortured, and killed. But take heart, the Lord has promised that He would never leave us. The Lord has promised that He has overcome the world. The Lord has promised us that no matter what we face in this life, it will be worth. The Lord’s promises are pure, and I will hold tightly to them every day of my life.

Awe and Fear

Genesis 28

10 Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11 At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. 12 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.

13 At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” 17 But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”

Jacob’s reaction is what stands out to me in this passage. He was in awe and afraid. Revernece and fear are appropriate responses to an encounter with the Creator of the Universe. We have a tendency to be a little too comfortable around God. While God is our heavenly Father, and while He desires a close relationship with us, let me never forget that He is GOD, and is worthy of all glory, honor, praise, awe, and fear!

Jesus>Religion

Matthew 9

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Many people confuse religion with a relationship with Jesus. A YouTube video making the rounds these days talks about that in a way that speaks well to the younger generation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY

We would all do well to remember that Jesus came for the spiritually sick, not for the self-righteous.

Not Impressed

Proverbs 3

7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.

Continuing in the thought pattern from yesterday (which is good since these are the next two verses from yesterday’s reading), I am praying that I will never again be impressed with my “own wisdom.” I once thought I was a very wise dude. That was before I realized how much I simply do not know. The older I get in my walk with Christ, the more convinced that I really do not know much at all. In fact, I only WANT to know this one truth: Jesus Christ, crucified Son of God, Risen from the dead Lord and Savior, Sitting at the right hand of God speaker on my behalf, coming again some day to take me (and all who are called out by Him) to live eternally in His presence. Nothing else matters to me. Period.

Not Impressed

Proverbs 3

7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.

Continuing in the thought pattern from yesterday (which is good since these are the next two verses from yesterday’s reading), I am praying that I will never again be impressed with my “own wisdom.” I once thought I was a very wise dude. That was before I realized how much I simply do not know. The older I get in my walk with Christ, the more convinced that I really do not know much at all. In fact, I only WANT to know this one truth: Jesus Christ, crucified Son of God, Risen from the dead Lord and Savior, Sitting at the right hand of God speaker on my behalf, coming again some day to take me (and all who are called out by Him) to live eternally in His presence. Nothing else matters to me. Period.

All My Heart

Proverbs 3

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

This is so much easier said than done. We say we want to trust in the Lord, but we still try to hang on to our own understanding. Total surrender is what the Lord expects of His followers. I confess that I know nothing. I am the Sgt. Schultz of knowledge and understanding when left to my own devices. I will lean wholly on Christ Jesus, and will trust in Him alone. This is difficult for a stubborn, independent-minded goober like me. It is also the ONLY way I can live if I am to be a totally committed follower of Christ.

Easily Identifiable

Matthew 7

15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

These words from Jesus help us to combat those who would misuse the “judge not, least ye be judged” passage. It is true that it is not my place to judge anyone, but I also have been given the good sense and discernment to be able to tell what’s what from the fruit of a person’s actions. God will take care of the judging, but to point out sin in someone’s life, is not judging, it is merely making an observation. Now, this applies to those of us who are followers of Christ only. Pagans behave like pagans because they are pagans. But those who claim to follow Christ, yet live like a pagan, well, those are the folks Jesus is talking about here. You can spot them from a mile away. So can I. Stay away from them. Period.

No Worries

Matthew 6

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

As a child, my Granpda nicknamed me “worry wart.” I have always been a very serious guy, and one of the things I have to work on is releasing my concerns/worries to God. I think I am doing better in that regard, but I know that there is still much work to be done. I do not worry about my daily provisions, because I firmly believe in the God Who provides. I do not worry about my salvation, because I am totally committed to the One Who saves. I do still worry about family and friends, although I try to couch my concerns more in terms of fervent desires for them rather than worry. I do want to daily cast my anxieties on Christ, and I do believe that He alone can/will handle that situation for me.

Stuff

Matthew 6

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

As a “typical American” I have way too much stuff. Today is a day I have designated to rid myself of much of that stuff. My attic and garage are overflowing. Father, it is my desire to better arrange what I need and to rid myself of that I do not need. My treasure is my salvation in Christ Jesus, but my material possessions could easily get in the way if I allow them to do so. May it never be so. May my stuff be used to proclaim the glory of God, and may any stuff I have that hinders that proclamation be swiftly removed from my life!

Perfect Love

Matthew 5

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Perfect love expects nothing in return. Perfect love gives to those who don’t deserve, nor appreciate it. Perfect love is the standard Jesus has set for His followers. Since I am claiming to be a fully committed follower of Christ, I must live a life of perfect love. To do any less is to be a liar to my Lord.

Lead Me O Lord

Psalm 5

8 Lead me in the right path, O Lord,
or my enemies will conquer me.
Make your way plain for me to follow.

Whether it be made plain to me or not, O Lord, lead me in the path You would have me to follow this day. My desire is to simply follow You daily.

Immediate Followers

Matthew 4

18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.

21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

As Jesus begins His earthly ministry, He calls four guys to come follow Him. Jesus still calls for us to follow Him today, and our response should be just like Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Immediate obedience. When we hear the call of the Christ, we should leave what we are doing at once and follow Him. We should immediately follow Jesus. To do any less is not following, it is being a fan. I am not a fan of Jesus. I am a fully committed follower.

Breaking God's Heart

Genesis 6

5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.

Sin breaks God’s heart. Today, I am burdened with the thought that my actions often break the heart of the One Who loves me more than anything. My actions bring sadness to the Creator of heaven and earth. My actions are deserving of the full wrath of God. Thank You, Lord for the forgiveness I have through Your Son Jesus. Thank You Father for Your great mercy. It is my desire to live in such a manner as to make You proud. May Your heart be gladdened by my actions today.

Awe, Fear, Discipline

Proverbs 1

7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

My desire is to be wise in the sight of the LORD. Therefore, I cannot afford to become to “comfortable” in my relationship with Him. I must remember that while God loves and even likes me, He is the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, and is worthy of my awe, my fear, and my reverence. Discipline as You see fit, O Lord, and help me to grow wise in this new year of 2012.

Very Good

Genesis 1

1a In the beginning God created...

31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!
And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

As we mark the beginning of a New Year, it is only fitting to remember that in the beginning God created. He created everything that exists. The earth and everything contained therein. The universe, and everything contained therein. Each of the six days of creation, God looked over what He had made and declared it to be “good.” That is, until the 6th day, when God created human beings, and then He declared His creation to be “very good.” Just as God decided that humans would be the crowning glory of creation, we humans need to acknowledge and worship God as the Master Creator. I LOVE the fact that this year, we get to start the New Year off in corporate celebration on the Lord’s Day. May the new beginning of a new year bring about a renewed desire to celebrate Jesus every day. May I look around at what God is doing in my life and together with Him declare that it is “very good.”