SCRIPTURE:
10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
OBSERVATION:
Namaan of Syria had come to see Elisha in hopes that he could cure him of leprosy. The Syrian army that he captained had captured a little girl who now worked for Namaan's wife, and the girl told her that the man of God in Israel could cure him of the leprosy. After some events transpired Elisha told Namaan to go and wash in the Jordan seven times and then he would be clean as the verse says. As you can see Namaan was skeptical and thought the proceedings should have been a little more theatrical. Eventually he obeyed and was rewarded for his obedience with healing.
APPLICATION:
As I read this I thought of how many times I sort of scoff at the simplicity of the gospel. I believe it in my heart but sometimes I wonder intellectually if it can really be that easy - to believe in Jesus and all will be forgiven. Shouldn't there be more fanfare for something so momentous? Thinking of Namaan's reaction, it seems far too much like what I would have done - to trust in my own understanding. And then I realized that I DO do this - every time I doubt my own salvation. Every time I wonder if Jesus could really have forgiven me for all my many sins. Every time I wonder if I'm really worthy of His grace. But all I have to do is submit and do what he says and it's all mine. (And yours). It really is that simple, and all it requires is trust and obedience - which is actually quite a lot to ask.
PRAYER:
Father, help me to know that your promises are true, that your Son is enough. Help me to lean not on my inadequate understanding and build in me a faith that can move mountains. Grow me closer to your Son Jesus so that I can begin to plumb the depths of His sacrifice for me. I pray that I would listen to those who serve, that I would be humble and faithful to You, and that I will know I have been washed and am clean. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
October 3, 2012
SCRIPTURE
COLOSSIANS 1:3-6
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
OBSERVATION
Paul is writing to the church at Colosse from his prison cell in Rome Ephesus
APPLICATION
I often struggle with the “doing” of evangelism. I’m not particularly charismatic; I’m quiet, shy, and introverted, and all of those things impede my readiness to share my faith. But when I really think about how amazing it is that God not only created everything and did all the amazing things He did to make the universe work, but He also knows me and loves me, and considers me His child, and forgives me again, and again, and again, and again when I fail, simply because of His grace and the intercession of Jesus, I am overwhelmed with emotion. Even I become excited and want to be able to tell the people that I see that everything makes sense! There is a purpose! We are all useful, loveable children of God, and we can be redeemed! Enthusiasm is infectious, but it’s up to me to keep that fire stoked and my brain at the ready so I can share whenever, wherever, with all the joy that the peace of my relationship with God gives me.
PRAYER
Father, grow in me the ability to stoke the fire of faithfulness and joy in Your gift of grace. Help me to see the everyday opportunities to share how amazing this gift is, how absolutely free and how wonderful the freedom feels once it’s been accepted. God, awake in me that appreciation of every person as one of Your children, made in Your image, and help me to love them in the way that pleases You. I want to always please You and do the work that You have asked; God, give me Your strength and spirit of action in order to work well in Your ways. In Your precious Son’s name…Amen.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
April 4, 2012
SCRIPTURE
1 Samuel 17:38-40 - Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
OBSERVATION
This comes as Saul was falling out of favor as king of Israel in God's eyes, and David was rising as the anointed one to be the next king. It is also, of course, the beginning of the David and Goliath story. David has volunteered to go and take on Goliath as he believes he is protected by God. Saul finally agrees to let him go, then dresses him in Saul's own battle gear. David walks around in it for a minute, then shrugs the gear off because he can't move; then he leaves to meet with Goliath, and ultimately slays him using only his slingshot and a stone.
APPLICATION
I thought of why this detail would be included in the Bible, and believing that God has left all the details in for a reason, this is my supposition: We are all called to do battle daily, but we are called to do our OWN battle, in our own skins, using our own skills as weapons. I find that sometimes I try to take on the attitudes and "armor" of the people around me that I admire, but God has equipped us all uniquely, differently from anyone else, for a reason, and when I do stray away from what is naturally me, it feels artificial and unwieldy. David had been skilled in using his slingshot and his stones in the fields, and he knew that in order to capitalize on what he was good at, he needed to be clothed in his normal attire. Anything else would be false and would interfere with his mission. When I see people around me that handle situations with an attitude or a mechanism that I don't possess or isn't natural to me, it's ok to appreciate that fact, but I should be wary of trying on the armor of others because it is tailored to their lives, not mine. That's not to say we can't hone our skills and practice with new things, but we shouldn't go out and face an opponent (such as daily life!) wearing something we are not sure how to use.
PRAYER
God, allow me to recognize my own capabilities and skills and use them according to Your will. Help me to refrain from borrowing from others what is not meant to be for me - keep me focused on my mission and the tools I have and am comfortable with, knowing that it is Your power that backs them up and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, not through my own efforts. In your name, Amen.
More information about 1 Samuel: http://biblica.com/niv/study-bible/1-samuel/
1 Samuel 17:38-40 - Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
OBSERVATION
This comes as Saul was falling out of favor as king of Israel in God's eyes, and David was rising as the anointed one to be the next king. It is also, of course, the beginning of the David and Goliath story. David has volunteered to go and take on Goliath as he believes he is protected by God. Saul finally agrees to let him go, then dresses him in Saul's own battle gear. David walks around in it for a minute, then shrugs the gear off because he can't move; then he leaves to meet with Goliath, and ultimately slays him using only his slingshot and a stone.
APPLICATION
I thought of why this detail would be included in the Bible, and believing that God has left all the details in for a reason, this is my supposition: We are all called to do battle daily, but we are called to do our OWN battle, in our own skins, using our own skills as weapons. I find that sometimes I try to take on the attitudes and "armor" of the people around me that I admire, but God has equipped us all uniquely, differently from anyone else, for a reason, and when I do stray away from what is naturally me, it feels artificial and unwieldy. David had been skilled in using his slingshot and his stones in the fields, and he knew that in order to capitalize on what he was good at, he needed to be clothed in his normal attire. Anything else would be false and would interfere with his mission. When I see people around me that handle situations with an attitude or a mechanism that I don't possess or isn't natural to me, it's ok to appreciate that fact, but I should be wary of trying on the armor of others because it is tailored to their lives, not mine. That's not to say we can't hone our skills and practice with new things, but we shouldn't go out and face an opponent (such as daily life!) wearing something we are not sure how to use.
PRAYER
God, allow me to recognize my own capabilities and skills and use them according to Your will. Help me to refrain from borrowing from others what is not meant to be for me - keep me focused on my mission and the tools I have and am comfortable with, knowing that it is Your power that backs them up and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, not through my own efforts. In your name, Amen.
More information about 1 Samuel: http://biblica.com/niv/study-bible/1-samuel/
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
March 21, 2012
SCRIPTURE
Joshua 9:14
The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.
OBSERVATION
This short and to-the-point verse comes as Joshua and the Israelites were taking over the land of Canaan. They had defeated the towns of Jericho and Ai as per God's instructions - He had told them to clear the land of everyone there and make it their own. Another local tribe, the Gibeonites, heard of the defeat of those cities and lived in fear of being destroyed. They devised a plan wherein they would send out a party of men disguised as being from a far-off land. They wore dirty and torn clothing, carried stale and moldy bread, and used wineskins that were old and patched to imitate the effects of long travel. They presented themselves to Joshua and the Israelites and said, "Make a treaty with us!". Joshua questioned them about where they were from and the Gibeonites lied, saying they were from far away. They said, look at us, look at our clothing, we've come so far to meet with you! And so the Israelites, although suspicious, believed them. In the verse I chose here, it says "they sampled their provisions", meaning they checked out the moldy bread and sour wine and saw their patched clothing, but they "did not inquire of the LORD." They made the treaty with them, then later found out that the Gibeonites had lied, and still they had to honor the treaty in spite of God's command.
APPLICATION
How often do I forget to inquire of the LORD when faced with a challenge? I can think of SO many times when I wrestled with a decision and I, for whatever reason, didn't consult God. Sometimes it worked out, but often it didn't. Now, it's my belief that God speaks to us mainly through his Word, so when thinking of consulting God I do mean going to Him in prayer, but I also mean consulting His life manual - the Bible. Pray for wisdom and for the Holy Spirit to help you to see clearly, but consult the Book for what to do. God has given us this enormous gift that details pretty much every single situation you could think of, and what was done and how it turned out. In reading these stories we can fathom the heart of God on any question. It just takes some familiarity with the Word, some prayer, and some wise people with whom we can review what we see before us. It's just so sad that we ignore this incredible resource sometimes. (I know, I'm harping on the same subject as last week...but it's been really clear to me lately just how important it is!)
How often do I forget to inquire of the LORD when faced with a challenge? I can think of SO many times when I wrestled with a decision and I, for whatever reason, didn't consult God. Sometimes it worked out, but often it didn't. Now, it's my belief that God speaks to us mainly through his Word, so when thinking of consulting God I do mean going to Him in prayer, but I also mean consulting His life manual - the Bible. Pray for wisdom and for the Holy Spirit to help you to see clearly, but consult the Book for what to do. God has given us this enormous gift that details pretty much every single situation you could think of, and what was done and how it turned out. In reading these stories we can fathom the heart of God on any question. It just takes some familiarity with the Word, some prayer, and some wise people with whom we can review what we see before us. It's just so sad that we ignore this incredible resource sometimes. (I know, I'm harping on the same subject as last week...but it's been really clear to me lately just how important it is!)
PRAYER
God, lead me to wisdom. Keep your Spirit active in me, guiding me to consult You in all things. Help me to understand that I can inquire of You in all situations, at all times, and You will be faithful in setting my path clearly before me, step by step. Let me think first of You when faced with any decision. In Your Son's name, Amen.
More information about Joshua: http://biblica.com/niv/study-bible/joshua/
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
March 14, 2012
SCRIPTURE
Deuteronomy 30:11-14
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
OBSERVATION
This is God speaking through Moses to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the land of Canaan. God was being very specific in Deuteronomy and reiterating his law and commandments so that the Israelites would be fully prepared to follow Him completely in the land that He had given them. He repeats this theme throughout the book - in fact I had originally had several additional passages picked out to write about: Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 11:18-21, and 29:29. They all deal with God stressing to His people the importance of knowing what He expects from them, and actually doing it! Again and again He tells them that He knows they are a "stiff-necked" people (stubborn) and that He is giving them these laws for their good. What He is saying is just that knowing His word enables us to follow Him, so...learn it.
APPLICATION
I think of my own resistance to committing verses to memory and wonder why. The verses that I have memorized I refer to constantly; in counseling myself during inner monologues and in speaking with others - it's so obviously beneficial, but I struggle with the discipline of learning more. God says here that He has given us this immeasurably precious gift in order to help us, to keep us close to Him. He has placed it at our fingertips, knowing the human tendency toward laziness and justification of bad behaviors. We have no excuses.
PRAYER
Holy Father, I thank you for giving us this amazing gift. A how-to manual for life! I praise you for your grace and forgiveness for us all. Please stir in me a deep hunger for Your word - give me the strength of will to overcome all distractions and lack of discipline and grow in me the template of how to live my life for You, by planting your very thoughts in me. In Your Son's name, Amen.
More information about Deuteronomy: http://biblica.com/niv/study-bible/deuteronomy/
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
March 7, 2012
SCRIPTURE
Numbers 33:50-56 - On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the LORD said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.
55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.
Deuteronomy 7:25 - 25 The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
OBSERVATION
I chose these two passages in conjunction because they really seemed to me that they could be one thought in the mind of God. The Israelites were at the end of their 40 year exile in the desert and were told by God to go to the promised land of Canaan and overtake it. What's key to me in these words is God's stress on the idea of cleansing the area first. In Numbers 33:52, He says to destroy the carved image and their idols, and that is repeated in Deuteronomy 7:25. Then, in Numbers 33:55 He gives a strong warning: "If you do not drive them out, they will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides - they will give you trouble in the land where you live".
APPLICATION
This speaks to me in the way that we have to change our ways to be a Christ follower. When we first commit ourselves, there are dangerous inhabitants in the land where we live: our sin patterns and the idols we have surrounded ourselves with. Even as a more mature follower there are things we allow in our lives that corrupt us and distract us from the ways of God, things that are detestable to Him; things we are ensnared by. That sentence: "they will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your side" resonates so clearly when I think about bad habits I have that really are barbs and thorns. I have never been one to advocate shunning the world around us because of its sin - I think that in order to execute the Great Commission we really need to be foot soldiers on the ground who understand the culture that is enslaving the lost, so I don't think this verse applies to actually weeding out every person in our lives who is a sinner (there would be no one left!). When I think of its application it seems more that it is a symbol of removing those bad habits and patterns we have that we think are too insignificant to bother with. Instead, it is saying that if we allow ANY of those to live with us without resistance, we are encouraging their growth and their negative impact on our happiness and our relationship with God.
PRAYER
Father, root out in me all my patterns of sin and my habits that are detestable to you. Bring them to the light so that I can see the damage that they do. Help me to clear my soul of the things that ensnare me and keep distance between us - give me strength to overcome the desire to ignore the small details, because all details are important to You. Give me the courage to face the things I'd rather not think about, the dark places of the soul, so that I can become the Godly woman you created me to be. In Jesus' name, Amen.
More information about the book of Numbers:
http://www.biblica.com/niv/study-bible/numbers/
More information about the book of Deuteronomy:
http://www.biblica.com/niv/study-bible/deuteronomy/
Numbers 33:50-56 - On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the LORD said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.
55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.
Deuteronomy 7:25 - 25 The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
OBSERVATION
I chose these two passages in conjunction because they really seemed to me that they could be one thought in the mind of God. The Israelites were at the end of their 40 year exile in the desert and were told by God to go to the promised land of Canaan and overtake it. What's key to me in these words is God's stress on the idea of cleansing the area first. In Numbers 33:52, He says to destroy the carved image and their idols, and that is repeated in Deuteronomy 7:25. Then, in Numbers 33:55 He gives a strong warning: "If you do not drive them out, they will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides - they will give you trouble in the land where you live".
APPLICATION
This speaks to me in the way that we have to change our ways to be a Christ follower. When we first commit ourselves, there are dangerous inhabitants in the land where we live: our sin patterns and the idols we have surrounded ourselves with. Even as a more mature follower there are things we allow in our lives that corrupt us and distract us from the ways of God, things that are detestable to Him; things we are ensnared by. That sentence: "they will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your side" resonates so clearly when I think about bad habits I have that really are barbs and thorns. I have never been one to advocate shunning the world around us because of its sin - I think that in order to execute the Great Commission we really need to be foot soldiers on the ground who understand the culture that is enslaving the lost, so I don't think this verse applies to actually weeding out every person in our lives who is a sinner (there would be no one left!). When I think of its application it seems more that it is a symbol of removing those bad habits and patterns we have that we think are too insignificant to bother with. Instead, it is saying that if we allow ANY of those to live with us without resistance, we are encouraging their growth and their negative impact on our happiness and our relationship with God.
PRAYER
Father, root out in me all my patterns of sin and my habits that are detestable to you. Bring them to the light so that I can see the damage that they do. Help me to clear my soul of the things that ensnare me and keep distance between us - give me strength to overcome the desire to ignore the small details, because all details are important to You. Give me the courage to face the things I'd rather not think about, the dark places of the soul, so that I can become the Godly woman you created me to be. In Jesus' name, Amen.
More information about the book of Numbers:
http://www.biblica.com/niv/study-bible/numbers/
More information about the book of Deuteronomy:
http://www.biblica.com/niv/study-bible/deuteronomy/
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
February 28th, 2012
SCRIPTURE
Numbers 11:21-23
But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”
OBSERVATION
This occurs while Moses and the Israelites are wandering in the desert. They have been eating nothing but manna and are getting pretty tired of it...they begin to moan and whine to Moses about wanting meat. He is frustrated about having to shepherd all these people and is tired of the whining. Moses turns to God and asks him to help - God says, sure, but rest assured, I will give them more meat than they bargained for...and Moses starts to question God on that, scoffing at the idea. So God chimes in and says, "is my arm too short?", saying "do you really think I cannot accomplish this??".
APPLICATION
This passage gets me thinking about all the times in scripture people question God's ability to follow through on His promises. I think of this passage, then of Abraham and Sarah, and her laughter at getting pregnant, then I think of all the times I question God's ability to do what seems to be impossible. It's so easy think of God in terms of our physical realm and the scientific parameters we know, and to disregard the fact that He is outside these restraints. He truly can do ANYTHING, and we need to train ourselves to not restrict God in this way.
PRAYER
Father, when I think of you, help me to not hold you to the restrictions of the world. You surpass the world, you created the world, and I need to recognize your power and might. You can do all things, even things I could never imagine. Let me not question your promise, remind me of all that you have done and how faithful you are to your word, and remind me of my place. Teach me humility and awe for your power and grace. In the name of your Son, who came to earth as a man born of a virgin, to die for our sins. Amen.
More info on the book of Numbers: http://www.biblica.com/niv/study-bible/numbers/
Numbers 11:21-23
But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”
OBSERVATION
This occurs while Moses and the Israelites are wandering in the desert. They have been eating nothing but manna and are getting pretty tired of it...they begin to moan and whine to Moses about wanting meat. He is frustrated about having to shepherd all these people and is tired of the whining. Moses turns to God and asks him to help - God says, sure, but rest assured, I will give them more meat than they bargained for...and Moses starts to question God on that, scoffing at the idea. So God chimes in and says, "is my arm too short?", saying "do you really think I cannot accomplish this??".
APPLICATION
This passage gets me thinking about all the times in scripture people question God's ability to follow through on His promises. I think of this passage, then of Abraham and Sarah, and her laughter at getting pregnant, then I think of all the times I question God's ability to do what seems to be impossible. It's so easy think of God in terms of our physical realm and the scientific parameters we know, and to disregard the fact that He is outside these restraints. He truly can do ANYTHING, and we need to train ourselves to not restrict God in this way.
PRAYER
Father, when I think of you, help me to not hold you to the restrictions of the world. You surpass the world, you created the world, and I need to recognize your power and might. You can do all things, even things I could never imagine. Let me not question your promise, remind me of all that you have done and how faithful you are to your word, and remind me of my place. Teach me humility and awe for your power and grace. In the name of your Son, who came to earth as a man born of a virgin, to die for our sins. Amen.
More info on the book of Numbers: http://www.biblica.com/niv/study-bible/numbers/
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)