1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34 ~ Romans 4:13-5:5 ~ Psalm 14:1-7 ~ Proverbs 19:17
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Old Testament - It is interesting to read about the various gatekeepers, treasurers, officials, military commanders and leaders in today's First Chronicle readings! In some ways it is sad to read about how well organized things were - knowing that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and the exile to Babylon is coming up. All of this organization will be destroyed. Why? Because of sin. Sin destroys. Sin kills. So sad. It is true that the lineage from Abraham to Judah to David will of course continue through to Jesus and now to us as spiritual descendants. But, the nation of Israel at this time of First Chronicles, with all of it's great organization, will later fall because the leaders and people will turn their backs on God in sin. In disobedience. Is there a lesson for us in this today? Do you see the dangers of sin? Of how it can destroy everything you hold dear? Please - flee from sin. Jesus can set you free from the bondage of sin. Don't lose everything you hold dear to something as stupid as sin. Sin will sell you lies and leave you with nothing.
New Testament - Wow. Romans 5 verses 1 & 2 are so true: "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory." It is important to note that these verses are talking about more than just a "sense of peace." They are talking about literal "peace with God"! Peace with God is gifted to us through faith in Jesus' life, death and resurrection to redeem us from the depravity and consequences of our sin. Have you experienced literal peace with God? I know that we do not always "sense the peace" with God - but I do not think it leaves us once we've entered into an eternal right relationship with Jesus. I think we can certainly distract ourselves enough or make ourselves worried or frantic enough that we might think the peace is gone. But eternal peace doesn't ever leave us. I do think we need to take time to connect with and rediscover Christ's peace within us each and every day. Reading, prayer and meditation on Scripture are great ways to do this. I have also found getting outdoors and taking a walk in nature helps me connect with Christ's peace again. What are other ways that you connect with Christ's peace within you? Please post up in the Comments section below for others to learn from! Thanks!
Verses 3 through 5 are incredible today as well: "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Note that these verses are not saying to rejoice "because" of problems and trials (that would be morbid), but that we can still rejoice even "when we run into" the problems and trials. It is often difficult for us to remember to rejoice when problems and trials come our way - but please do remember these words of Paul in Romans about rejoicing during a time of trial. Remember our readings in Acts? Paul was ridiculed, beaten, jailed and shipwrecked - and yet, he never gave into a defeatist attitude. He kept preaching God's love! If anyone knows about trials and problems, it is Paul. And he tells us to rejoice through problems and trials because in this we learn to endure. I love that Paul says that character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation! And that this expectation will not disappoint! Do you believe this? Do you have a confident expectation of salvation?
Image above courtesy of stonesoupmusic.org. Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Romans titled "The Object of Our Faith" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 14 could be seen at first glance as a discouraging Psalm for us as we look at verse 3: "But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!" I think it is important to keep in mind that there is truth in this verse (particularly if we ever start thinking we're "good" and others around us are not...). But also I think it's good to keep in mind that this verse was written before Jesus came to the earth. Jesus was perfect. And through His resurrection we are called toward greater holiness and ultimately perfect goodness once we meet Jesus face to face in heaven. Jesus gives us the hope spoken of in the closing of this Psalm in verse 7: "Oh, that salvation would come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel! For when the LORD restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice." Do you recognize the salvation that has come to us? Are you shouting for joy for this salvation? Are you rejoicing!?
Proverbs - Today in Proverbs 19 verse 17 we read – “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” Do you believe that when you are kind to the poor you are actually lending to God? Are you someone who is consistently kind to the poor? Are you kind to the spiritually, emotionally, materially poor that God has brought into your life? Are you also kind to spiritually, emotionally, materially poor that you do not know? Do you believe this kindness is noticed by God? Do you believe it is rewarded?
YouTube: Based on today's Proverb, Shane Claiborne's book "The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical" comes to mind. I've recently read this book and thought it was a great look at how we as the church can truly be the church by loving and serving the poor. I didn't agree with all of Shane's politics or propositions in the book, but overall I was incredibly inspired by Shane's life and encouraged to love and serve others. So, the book cover is below and you can check out reviews of the book on amazon.com at this link. I do recommend reading this book - it will challenge you in some good ways. Also below is a 50 minute YouTube Video of Shane speaking at a youth conference. Shane is a humorous guy with a powerful message for the church.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
Romans 5:1-5
Benefits of Salvation
Paul has provided God's solution (rigteousness through faith) for mankind (as sinners). Paul said it is not a new idea - it was in OT, then gave Abraham/David as proof. In the end of Chapter 4 Paul linked the OT idea of "saving faith" as being the same "saving faith" when we Believe IN Christ.
'Oh Paul, that is pie in the sky stuff to come by and by - I am interested in the here and now!. I'll get around to that God stuff some day.'
Paul now talks about the Benefits of Salvation:
Peace, Access, Joy, Triumph in Troubles, and the Love of God.
vs 1a
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith.."
The Greek is so precise. "justified" is in aorist passive. It is completed action done to us. We did not justify ourselves - we cannot justify ourselves - we are unrighteous. Justification was done to us by God, through faith.
So what are the benefits?
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Peace
"we have peace with God..."
We don't have the peace "of God". We have Peace "with God". "With" is specifically in the Greek text. That peace is in present indicative, (voice is debated) - regardless it is "continuing and ongoing".
Peace - Gk. "eirene"
a state of national tranquillity
a) exemption from the rage and havoc of war.
I guess you can say it is "tranquility", but that tranquility comes from no longer being at "war" with God. Wait a minute, a person who has not accepted Christ says, 'I was never at war with God. I am a good person, go to church, I have nothing against God, etc.'
Yes, you are - you may not know it, but regardless God is at war with you.
Some never knew they were out of peace with God, but they were like drivers ignoring the red lights of a police car in their rear-view mirror - they are in trouble even if they don’t know it, and it will soon catch up to them. - David Guzik
James 4:4
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. NIV
Paul spent the early parts of Romans talking about God's judgment and wrath regarding unrighteous and self-righteous man.
"God is at war with the sinner. God is the enemy of the sinner. God fights against the sinner. God is the enemy of sin. God is the enemy of Satan. And by the way, if you're not a child of God you're a child of Satan and you belong to Satan's dominion and God is at war with that dominion. And that's the point."
http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/45-40.HTM
The good news is when you place your belief, faith, trust in Christ. The war is over. God is your ALLY. As Christians when we battle the temptation of "flesh" or the "ways of the world", we have God on our side. Sometimes I wonder if I use this powerful ally enough in my fights with temptation.
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Access
"..gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." NIV
Now at peace "with" God we can get God's Grace. "Access" being in the present active indicative means: by faith we now stand in continuing and ongoing state of receiving God's Grace.
We don't just need it for salvation, Christians need God's grace in their daily lives - and we have IT.
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Joy
"..hope is the certain, guaranteed hope that God will perform His Word because He is always faithful." - Vance's post
We have joy in the guaranteed hope of the Glory of God.
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Triumph in suffering (Tribulations)
As Christians we should welcome suffering. That is a strange thought. Who would want that? Christians should - even when I fail in my Christian life - I try to remember to thank God for thinking me worthy enough to "test".
Because we have access to God's Grace - when we suffer, we should persevere (patience), that leads to character which leads to hope.
But as a Christian we already have hope. Yes, but like Trust, hope is on a spectrum, and this process increases the guaranteed hope we have in God. It is part of the Maturity process of a Christian.
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Love of God
God - who we were at war with - when we come to salvation, will "pour" out his love into our heart.
"pour" - Gk. "ekcheo" to bestow or distribute largely
We don't just get a measure of Love, we get large amounts - through the Holy Spirit in us.
Every Christian should know what it is like to have the love of God . . . poured out in our hearts - to have a deep inner awareness of God’s love for us.
i. Paul’s logical arguments in Romans are devastating but the Book of Romans doesn’t lack emotion or passionate experiences with God. Paul wants us to think the right thoughts about God, but he also wants us to have the right experience with God - the love of God . . . poured out in our hearts.
ii. God’s love isn’t given to us in a trickle, it is poured out in our hearts. Some Christians live as if it was only a trickle but God wants us to know the outpouring of His love. - David Guzik
Posted by: John | July 17, 2007 at 06:48 PM
Rick Warren reckons [The Purpose Driven Life] that when we become christians, its as if God has taken a beachhead on our life. Slowly, He takes a bit more then a bit more untill the whole land belongs to Him and is underHis govern-ment. It makes sense to me, its taken me 40 years to stop wrestling with God and to trust Him enough to fall back into His arms in the hard times and the selfish times.
I love Romans. Ch 5;5 says...we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love.
Proverb 19:17 "If you help the poor you are lending to the Lord and He will repay you." This is a strange idea, that I can "lend" to God. How can God owe me? I owe Him everything. It gives a bit of encouragement that I will not be out of pocket or worse off financially if I give a little to someone in need.
Posted by: Beryl | July 17, 2007 at 06:48 PM
I Chronicles 26:12-27:34
Mike you wrote: “All of this organization will be destroyed. Why? Because of sin. Sin destroys. Sin kills. So sad.”
As soon as I read your statement, I thought of something Paul wrote,
Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical. And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.
(Jam 3:15-18 NET.)
God is order, sin is disorder because there is no truth in it. When I read how organized David was in assigning the men of Israel to temple and political duties, I was thinking how our church’s today could take a clue from David. I didn’t see the big picture showing how this order would soon fall apart because God would eventually be taken out of the Temple. The Temple to honor His name would be built, destroyed and rebuilt all because of sin and not because of an expansion project.
Romans 4:13-5:5
13 It is clear, then, that God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God's law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith.
(Rom 4:13)
The above statement is so very hard for us to grasp. Either we have a hard time receiving a gift, which by its very nature is free, or it is not a gift or we think we are not worthy. It is through Jesus Christ’s righteousness that God sees those who call and believe on the Name of Jesus.
I love how the NLT begins the sixteenth verse, “1So that's why faith is the key!” If we have faith then we hold the instrument that can unlock all the doors that have been locked because we were in sin.
Psalm 14:1-7
7 Oh, that salvation would come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel!
For when the LORD restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice
Sometimes, no most of the time, my means of escape out of a situation that is not pleasing to God is always in front of me but I fail to see it. I can usually see the way out for others but not myself. Didn’t I here something about take the beam out of my eye before I take the speak out …?
Proverbs 19:17
So often before we will lend something to someone, we behave like a lending institution, we weigh the risks. Will I get it back? And if we just give money, we really don’t give we scrutinize how the person uses the money. Sometimes we fail to really listen to what the person is saying, misjudging the need and we wind up giving what they asked for NOT what they need.
As I think on this, I realize I’m guilty of superficial giving. A women with children and no husband may be poor because she not only has no support from her children’s father but she is also lacking in employable skills. Giving her money may help buy groceries, or shoes for her children, but what she really needs is someone to watch her children so she can go to school. My time is what I am unwilling to give, my time and patience to supervise someone else’s’ children. Yikes!
Posted by: R | July 17, 2007 at 06:49 PM
I agree completely with this statment:
"Sin will sell you lies and leave you with nothing."
I have to resist the devil and repent of temptation to sin every day. This is the ONLY way to walk in life.
I like these the verses below, because they show me that because I am free from sin and righteous IN CHRIST that I CAN AND MUST BE more and more free from sin and righteous in my character.
Colossians 3 (NKJV)
1
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
BECAUSE CHRIST IS MY LIFE... and BECAUSE MY LIFE IS IN CHRIST... therefore I put to death in my life and experience that which is still connected to death (i.e., sin).
Romans 4 (NKJV)
21
and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
22
And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[Genesis 15:6]
NOTE:
May we meditate, chew on, turn over and over in our beings, and pray over the fact that God has promised He is able--and will always--perform.
May we meditate on the character and promises of God until we KNOW that we know that we know for certain it is true FOR US.
May I do the same thing for me.
Romans 5 (NKJV)
5
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
NOTE:
Hope in the Bible is not like the popular phrase: "I don't know, but I hope so."
Rather, hope is the certain, guaranteed hope that God will perform His Word because He is always faithful.
Peace is like that. Peace is a state that Christ has obtained for us that we receive by faith.
Yes, we can choose to walk out of the peace and hope that God paid for us to have in Christ--
or we can "abide", that is, "remain" in what Jesus has paid for us to have.
Psalm 14 (NKJV)
1
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.
NOTE:
It is SO easy to compare myself to others in order to feel good. It is especially tempting to compare myself to Charles Manson or Adolph Hitler or the man or woman down the street who committed adultery and left his or her marriage.
Yet, I am not called to compare myself to anyone except Jesus Christ.
Mark 7 (NKJV)
20
And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22
thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23
All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Psalm 14 (NKJV)
7
Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
NOTE:
This reminds me of one of my favorite verses from another Psalm:
Psalm 35 (NKJV)
27
Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
28
And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.
Proverbs 19 (NKJV)
17
He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given.
NOTE:
When we give to others out of love and worship for God and to help others—we are giving to God.
Give, and it shall be given back to us—good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over (Luke 6:18).
God is the Source of everything we are and everything we have. He is the One who determines the best time and way that what we give will come back to us as a blessing.
We all sow something-- either to the flesh or to the Spirit.
I pray for wisdom on how to give to those who are truly needy. In the area where I live, there are "professional homeless" people. They pretend to be homeless, and play on peoples' emotions. However, they are actually not homeless, and they make a lot of extra money by pretending.
May God bring to light all false people, and may we love and give in wisdom.
Vance
Posted by: Vance | July 17, 2007 at 06:50 PM
I can connect with God no mater what I am doing by talking to him quietly and often do this though out the day . I often have to remind myself that just because I want something to happen may not mean it is the beat for me and to always be thankful in everything that has been put in my life as a blessing . All is in God's hands and it is my responsibility to use my talents that God has blessed me with everyday .
Posted by: Rebe Murphy | July 18, 2007 at 07:31 AM
Awesome video today, keep up the good work, God Bless
Posted by: Eric Berry | July 18, 2007 at 10:57 AM
The ways I connect with Christ's peace are: I take a bike ride and I am alone on my bike rides, just because I am in no hurry to get anywhere just me and God out there and I talk to him like he right beside me. Sometimes I will even sing to him. Jesus loves me, Jesus loves all the little children..we talk about the issues in my family. We talk about how to not complain so much, why the wind blows in my face everytime I make a turn back to go to the car, but it is just his way letting me know that he is there with me. I am not scared at anytime I ride my bike. Cause I know he is there with me.
Another way is in bed at night, I ask him to clear all my thoughts from the day and it works. He will clear my thoughts so I can rest. He is awesome! :)
I believe that if you are kind to the poor that it will be recongize when we get to the gates of heaven. But sometimes there is only so much one person can do.
I am always shouting for JOY!!! he has amazing Grace how sweet the sound!!!!!
Posted by: Brandie | July 18, 2007 at 05:32 PM
Thank you for the awesome job you are doing for us to could read and understand more about the scripture.
I find my peace in my night pray in my bed. I have much evil going around in my apartment and I can't get any rest in the night if I don't pray for protection of negative energies hitting me like nightmares.
If I fall to sleep before I say AMEN do I get all kind of nightmares so I can see that pray is a life saver as the devil visit me and sometimes do he try to struggle me in the night.
I find peace by talking to God in my mind beeing in public stressful places and I see how everything calm down and I see how I am in my own path thru the crowds.
I pray for to not be hit of the rain and that God stop the time when I am late...and He stop it all the time when I ask but I never use the pray if it's not of real needs.
I have listen to the whole long video and he was so very interesting to listen at and I fall to tears when I saw the little dying child in India. He maybe was 10 years old but he looked at the nurse like a little baby look at his/her mother who breastfeed him/her.
I wish we could have more of those HOT for Jesus people in this world. They are too few.
And Mother Theresa said a very important thing when she said that Calcutta is everywhere in this world.
I watch American idol after seen the vidoe and God showed me at the program that 9 million people in USA don't get enough food to eat !
For me beeing from Sweden do we not have such need as we have the best social welfare program in the world but our Calcutta is the psychologic issues.
It's seems the more the sociaty care for you the more do people forget to help each other.
Like a example from my life. I had an appointment at the Doctor and the same night did my mother died. I called up the Doctor office and said that my mother have died this night so I could go to the Doctor and she answer me " So what ? "
Or when I miss-caring in 5th month and I should do a ultra-sound and the nurse called me and was sooo angry at me and ask why I didn't showed up. And I answered her that I just had been to the hospital and give birth to a dead baby. ( The Hospital killed my baby by not taken care of me when I was there but that's another story )
I do write in my blog how bad Christian people was to me in USA. God told me to go as the most poor person in USA and He was sending me to maybe 300 Churches for to find out how they treated me ( and him ) there.
Of maybe 300 Churches I visit was it 0 church that really helped me out.
5 that gave me temporary help like food, clothes, bills.
0 asked me why I was in USA or even wanted to know who I was. Not for to talking so much about the color skin but all the time was I the only white person asking for help in the Church so I kind of was sticking out and wasn't hidden.
You maybe wondring what sort help I needed from the Church ? There is more needs than those I mention above !
For example:
1. A safe place to stay bcause the shelter isn't a safe place. I was in 6 shelters and I was in one shelter were I saw a woman be raped of other women, I was laying with my most value things under me as some people was up in the night and looked in my bags.
I was in a shelter that said they couldn't stop to take in mental ill people or people going on drugs.
And the worse of all !!! Kids was in some of the shelter too !
2. Need of help like how to get a workpermit in USA , it took me 10 months to get a temporay visa so I could work in USA.
3. Personal protection in workplaces like for me every September 11 people refused to work with me as I was not from USA.
4. Someone that adopt us so we have a person to go to that am really listen and take time for us that have no home or family.
5. If any true Christian should have been listen should they had known that I didn't get any money support from Sweden or USA. When I had a good job I call the Swedish embassady to send me a letter in English that it said " You have left your country with free will so we don't have to support you " but I never needed to use it as I returned back home when God said I should.
I was in 3 and half years in USA walking on the street as a poor woman. One time a Pastor said that Jesus was walking 3 and half year in the bible.
So I think Jesus was with me in my walking and saw everything Christian people did to me.
The best help I got was from the homeless people. They teached me where to store my clothes. They showed me where to get food and clothes.
I knew I could count on them if someone was coming up to me in the street and be bad to me. I had eyes protecting me in all the corners in Norfolk, Virginia.
And in the end the homeless said I was a hero for them when they saw how I struggled to survive in a country that I didn't knew and where I had no person that helped me.
They said if I could do what I did , they said they could too !
( I had nothing first and then did I get a house and become a supervisor in a mall )
And my best Bible readings was together with homeless and druggy people because they could ask question that I could see come from their heart but the Church that provided the Bible studies for homeless was sending ordinary people there...I never saw any Pastor, Ministrs, deacon....... visit us !!!!!
Posted by: Eva | July 18, 2007 at 05:33 PM
Peace is often mistaken for a feeling, our emotions. There was a book a while back called "Emotions: Can u trust them?" The answer is no. Our emotions sway up and down and all around and are often based on circumstances and many other things. The world is wrong in that saying: listen to your heart. The scripture clearly teaches the heart is wicked and cannot be trusted. there are ppl in various religions who say their basis of salvation is, 'oh, i just have a peace about it'. Thats emotion based. I want truth bcos my emotions can be all over the map (HELLO, I'm a female! haha). Truth is based on God's word and through Christ. We may not always feel at peace bcos life isnt always peaceful! When I'm going through a turbulent situation, I cant say I'm at peace always.
What Jesus Christ came and did for us was give us access to God that we who believe and call on His name and are born into His family, we are at peace with God: we are no longer enemies of God. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Rom 5:10)
Therefore, we were once all enemies of God until we were justified by faith through Christ's work. So this gives option: we are either enemies of God, or friends of God. No neutral ground.
It is also true that being in a devoted relationship with Christ often results in a peaceful life. I am no longer in bondage, no longer fighting God so I am in rest and peace in my spirit! When we first came to christ or recommitted our life, I know we all went thru probly a similar thing, feeling this HUGE weight being removed from us! Thats a spiritual war that we had toward God and surrendering to God, that is definitely peaceful! that is peace that surpasses all understanding!
Proverbs reading encourages us to be giving ppl. I think if we are born on God, that will be a byproduct, God will move in us, giving us a heart and compassion for others. "Lending"...well, we arent lending to the Lord per se bcos its all His anyway! He just gives us custody of certain things...we are more giving back what He gave us. Trusting Him in this is very wonderful and its a privilege. We arent to give in hopes to get back from God, but we trust that He will take care of us.
If we are faithful in the little things (ie. we give to the poor) God will entrust us with more, so He may increase our funds or He may not, thats not why we give, or shouldnt be why.
Posted by: Jenny | July 18, 2007 at 07:06 PM
real beautiful!
Posted by: | July 16, 2008 at 03:47 PM
I am interested in this video and will watch it when I have more time.
I have a request, can you please increase your font size. it will be easier for visually impaied people like me to read
Posted by: Amrita | July 19, 2008 at 01:27 AM