Standing Up To Opposition

Scripture:
I Corinthians 16:8–9 — “But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
 
Observation:
Paul saw the need to stay in Ephesus for two reasons:
1. There was a wide open door to effectively minister.
2. There were adversaries (opponents/enemies) who didn’t want him working there.
Paul saw it as an opportunity and a challenge. Not only would he be able to proclaim Christ but he would also have opposition. With effective ministry comes opposition. Satan does not want us to succeed and will do everything within his power to stop or derail us.
 
Application:
Do I take opposition to the truth of Christ as a challenge? Am I willing to step up to that challenge or do I shy away while making excuses. If this truly is a spiritual battle, do I stake my ground and not all Satan or anyone else to derail me from ministering effectively? There is no reason for me to shy away form opposition when the Spirit is in me and God has opened the door wide for effective work.
 
Prayer:
Father God, May you instill me with your confidence so that I, like Paul and like Christ, will not fear opposition but know that you have overcome. And you have opened doors all around me that allow me to minister and serve those that need to hear or be reminded of your truth. May I never cower or be timid, but boldly proclaim Your Name and Your love.

— Jared Yates, small groups pastor, college & single adults, Reservoir campus

Cry for Restoration

Scripture:
Psalm 42:5 & 11 — “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
 
Observation:
Twice in Psalm 42 and once in 43, David cries out in agony because he is heartbroken due to his relationship with God being severed due to his sin. In the previous chapter he is asking God to be gracious to him and here he is reminding himself of what it was like when he was walking with God. And it is in this valley that he begins to recite this battle cry, “Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” to encourage himself as he tries to restore his relationship with God.
 
Application:
God is the same yesterday, today and forever; I am the one who changes. When I get in a valley do I quickly cry out to him? Or do I wallow in my shame and pity allowing Satan to render me useless? What have been my battle cries that have reminded me of God’s faithfulness and grace?
 
Prayer:
Father God, You are good and Your love endures forever. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations. Help me to keep my eyes focused on you. Help me to cry out to you and remember your faithfulness, whether I am in the valley or on the mountaintop or somewhere in between. My hope is in You and I will praise You, my salvation and my God.

— Jared Yates, small groups pastor, college & single adults, Reservoir campus

From the Outside Looking In

Scripture:
I Corinthians 14:40 — “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.”

Observation:
In I Corinthians 8-14, Paul addresses a wide range of issues from eating of meat sacrificed to idols, to women being required to wear a head covering. And even the controversy in Chapter 14 with questions regarding which spiritual gift was more important to express in worship. But one thing that remains the same is that he is addressing the church as a whole. He is not just talking to the leaders, nor was he just referring to the members. He was addressing the church as a whole entity, especially when it comes to verse 40. Paul instructs them that whatever is done in a church meeting should be done in an orderly, meaningful way that builds up the body. This verse is referring to doing things in an appropriate, orderly manner without confusion or discord. The word used here comes from a military term meaning order and regularity. Much confusion and questions can arise when a church begins to analyze the various modes of worship and customs in the church. Difficulties can raise tension, so Paul laid out a plain and simple rule for all to follow.
 
Application:
This short yet meaningful verse has so much to teach churches and individuals. About six weeks ago I had a chance to attend a children’s ministry conference on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas. Throughout the week one of the things that really stood out to me and the others who attended with me was how everything had been done in an orderly and proper fashion. One of their core values they discussed during the conference was doing things with excellence. While there, one of the pastors asked the following question, “What is the best thing the church has to offer the world”? Well, this is a no-brainer, isn’t it? Christ is the best things we have to offer the world. The pastor continued by saying that if Christ is the best thing we have to offer the world, then why wouldn’t we “do church” with excellence every single Sunday. This was what Paul was telling the church of Corinth. He was telling them to have everything in order and properly functioning so that when others looked at their church body, they saw something they wanted to be a part of. Not something with discord or confusion.  I think this applies to the entire church body whether staff, servant leader, member, or elder. Many probably look at our church as a whole and say, “Oh, we do things with excellence”. I would agree, but I wonder what a visitor would say. I began to think about this several weeks ago when my sister-in-law called me very distressed over a visit to a church in another city. Their family has recently moved and has been looking for a church home. One Sunday several weeks ago they decided to visit this one specific church, when they arrived the following occurred. No one greeted them. No one helped them with directions on where to go. There were no clear signs directing them where to drop off their children. There were many people standing around but no one designated to help them. Feeling overwhelmed and unaccepted, my sister-in-law and family turned, walked out of the church, and drove home. When she called to share with me her frustrations, I could not help to think how easily this can happen to us if things are not done with order and excellence. When we do things with excellence, those who come looking to experience God will find Him and we will get to be a part of leading them to Him rather than distracting them from Him.
 
Prayer:
God, help us to be a church body that gives You our very best. Show us ways we can draw others to you through doing things more orderly and properly. Help us to never forget that the best thing we have to offer the world is You.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

The Center of Attention

The Center of Attention

Scripture:
Judges 4:9 — She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Observation:
Throughout scripture, God continually uses men and women to accomplish great tasks and amazing miracles. But never does he allow anyone other than Himself to be the center of attention. He always accomplishes His will in such a way that we know it was His power. David used a sling shot to kill a giant. Moses used a stick to part the Red Sea and provide water from a rock. Gideon only had 300 men, Joshua used instruments, and Samson used a jawbone. In all these cases it was not the person’s strength, wisdom, or knowledge that allowed he/she to accomplish such great things. The same is taking place here with Barak. Deborah, a well respected and trusted judge tells Barak that he is about to kill Sisera, the captain of the Canaanite army. I am sure that Barak began to ask himself- Do I have enough men? Am I prepared for this? How will I do this? His fear lead him to experience a weakness of faith. Deborah assures him he will be okay but then the real twist comes. She tells him a woman will be the one to kill Sisera, not Barak or his men. Barak probably does not seem surprised. He probably assumes that the woman is to be Deborah. Prophets were known for having direct communication from God. Deborah was a prophetess therefore they felt her presence brought divine knowledge and power. But as the story continues, Deborah was not the woman God used to kill Sisera. Instead He uses a woman by the name of Jael who was just hanging out in her tent.  Once again God uses His power through an unexpected person to accomplish His purpose.
 
Application:
I am youngest in my family with a brother who is six years older than me. So you can imagine the attention I received growing up. Still to this day my brother reminds my parents how great life was for him UNTIL I came along. I was very shy and quiet, and unlike some kids, I did not act out or be loud to get attention, it just came naturally. I was the only girl, the baby of the family, and I learned from my brothers mistakes. So all these equaled attention, and I enjoyed it, who wouldn’t? Everyone loves to get attention or recognition. It is a part of our human nature. We all love the feeling of acceptance and approval. It is one of our core needs as a human. But there are times when it is easy to get caught up in being the center of attention and begin to forget that it is God who is allowing us to do great things. Then there are times when God chooses to allow someone else to be the “center of attention.” When this occurs, one may be forced to take the back seat in order to allow God’s will to be accomplished. This is what I thought of when I read Judges 4:9. Barak was told that he was going to be a part of a great victory but was not going to get the credit. But to make it even worse, he was told a woman was going to get the credit. Now I understand how fragile the male ego can be when it comes to competition and recognition. I grew up with a very competitive and athletic brother, and have been married to a husband who in 10 years has never let me win a game of monopoly. I was reminded of such an incident a few weeks ago when we were bowling with our small group. I am not great at bowling, just lucky. I had one of those lucky games and beat my husband (who is a pretty skilled bowler I might add). Not that it was bad enough that I beat him, but I did it in front of our small group. When the game finished, the first words out of his mouth were, “I will never hear the end of this”. So I can only imagine what a warrior like Barak thought when he was told a woman was going to get the credit for killing the captain of the army he was going to war against. But what I admire about Barak is that he does not become envious or jealous, instead he was humble and supportive.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the reminder today of how you can use anyone and anything to accomplish your plan in our lives. Help me to be as humble as Barak and as courageous as Jael. Never let me get so focused on being the center of attention that I take away from you being the center of my life. Continue to teach me your truths as I study your word and the examples you have laid out in scripture.

— Emily Suggs, children’s ministry, Madison/Ridgeland campus

The Body of Christ

Scripture:
I Corinthians 12:26- And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Observation:
1 Corinthians 12 addressed the use of spiritual gifts. Paul reminded the entire church that every gift was given by God for building up the church. He used an analogy of the human body to illustrate the indispensable nature of each gift. He addresses that every part of the body has a purpose much like every member of the church. Then in verse 26 he says that if one part of the body suffers then the whole body suffers. This is true with our bodies. If the head hurts, it affects your whole body and how you feel. If you hurt your foot it affects how the rest of the body operates. The word “suffer” is referring to disease or sickness. It only makes sense that the rest of the body would suffer because if one part is affected by the disease, then generally the disease spread to other parts of the body and affect it as a whole. There should be the same connection and sense of concern in the church. If someone is suffering then the church should feel it. If some one is struggling and burdened, the church should sympathize with them through their hardships. The same is true for someone who has been blessed. All members should rejoice and be excited for that person. This is not always the case and probably was not in the church of Corinth. Paul addresses throughout this chapter that there is not to be jealousy or envy over gifts. Evidently some of the members had decided that some gifts were more important to the work of the church than other gifts. Paul encourages them to rejoice with one another when someone is able to use their talent or gift in an extraordinary way for God.

Application:
As a child I grew up in an amazing church. I was blessed to experience what Paul talks about in verse 26. I remember the encouragement they gave me when I gave my life to Christ. I experienced their support when I went through hard times and struggles. But one time really sticks out in my mind where I felt them rejoice with me. When I was a senior in college, I participated in a mission trip to Brazil. I had to raise all of my money in order to participate. Like the rest of the college students, I did not have that kind of money sitting around. I was on staff as a part time student ministry intern and every penny I made was going towards starting seminary the following fall. The church I was on staff with had offered to help me, but before they could give me a dime my small country church I had grown up in had paid my entire way to Brazil. I was blown away by their eagerness to help me. It was their way of rejoicing with me. It is exciting when the body of Christ supports one another through hard times as well as through good times. Throughout the years as my family has moved, the hardest part of moving is always when we have to leave our church family. I have been blessed to have been a part of some amazing church bodies where the members understand the importance sympathizing and rejoicing with one another.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to be a member of the body of Christ who rejoices with others in good times and cares for others in hard times. Allow our body of believers to be united in such a way that they reflect a movement of You.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

Relying on God

Scripture:
Psalm 44: 6-8 — “For I will not trust in my bow, nor will my sword save me. But You have saved us from our adversaries, And You have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted all day long, and we will give thanks to Your name forever.”

Observation:
In these verses, the author of the psalm is sharing that he has hope and confidence that God will save them. Earlier on in the chapter he compares himself to his ancestors who also did not obtain the promise land by their own strength or skill. He lays the foundation that it is not about his personal strength or possessions but about his trust in God. Verse 6 is followed up with him remembering times when God had protected them from their adversaries and enemies. Then he confidently states that, “in God we have boasted all day long”. To me this is the best part of the verses. He is not boasting as we think of. Here boasting refers to “praise.” So he is praising God all day long and is completely reliant on Him. It is not a temporary or momentary thing. It is a constant or habitual form of praise and reliance on God.

Application:
It is easy to get caught up discovering what our strengths and weaknesses are. I know I love personality and spiritual gifts tests. And it is always an eye opening experience when I learn more about my strengths and weaknesses. Yet I often wonder if I spend so much time focusing on my strengths and weaknesses that I forget the importance of actually relying on God. I become self-reliant on the gifts God has given me rather than reliant on Him and allowing Him to use those gifts. I believe this is what the writer of this psalm was referring to when he emphasized not depending on his own bow or sword. In those days, it seems like everyone carried a sword or bow as a mean of protection and survival. But God did not need their swords and weapons to fulfill His purpose. Just like God does not need my gifts and talents to accomplish His will. He enjoys me using them to bring Him glory and honor, but He does not need me. Yet the exciting thing is He wants me to be a part of His work. He wants to watch over and protect me. He wants me to be reliant on Him. And He wants me to praise Him all day long!
 
Prayer:
God, allow me to be completely and solely dependant on Your strength and not my own. Continue to remind me that my strengths come from You and are not something I have accomplished with my own abilities. Cultivate humility in my life as You did in the life of the author of this psalm. Thank You for wanting me to be a part of Your great work.  

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

Emergency Exits

Scripture:
I Corinthians 10:13 — No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
 
Observation:
In chapter 10, Paul is warning the church to not make the same mistakes as their fathers did in the Old Testament. There were some great accounts in the Old Testament of how God provided and took care of the Israelites needs. Yet at the same time the Israelites were not perfect and continually found themselves doing things that displeased God. They grumbled. They worshipped idols. They acted immorally. They even tested God. Paul reminds the people that these accounts are examples of how we should not live. The Israelites mistakes caused them to be punished, and Paul is instructing the church to not be tempted in the same manner. But what I love most in this chapter is what Paul has to say in verse 13 about temptation. We hear people say things like, “I just could not help myself” or “I had not control over what I did.” Paul tells the church differently. He straightforwardly tells them that God does not tempt beyond what they have control. He tells them there is always a means of escape and they can endure temptation.

Application:
I am not a good person to be with when an emergency like a fire occurs. I never pay attention to emergency exits or what to do in case of emergencies. I am the one on the airplane who talks to the person in the seat beside me while the flight attendant is giving the spill on emergency exits/landings. I have at times thought about what my family would do in case of a house fire and how we would evacuate the house, but I in no way have a plan. Then there are those people like my husband who are alert and always know what to do in case of an emergency. They know the emergency exits in a restaurant and they have a plan for what their family should do in case of a house fire. They have thought ahead and plan for those times of emergencies. I believe this is what Paul was trying to communicate in verse 13 when he is referring to God not tempting us beyond what we can withstand. Temptation is much like emergencies. They usually come when you least expect it. There may be some warning signs but if you don’t know what to do then it is a little too late to start planning. This is why schools, hospitals, and other facilities have fire and tornado drills. They want to assure they know what to do when something arises. The same is true with temptation. If I don’t have an emergency exit plan for temptation then chances are I will fall prey to the same traps over and over again. So for me the way God allows escape from temptation is to have a plan of what I need to do when I am tempted. If I know that being around people who are negative and grumble influences me to be negative as well, then I need to plan to limit my time around them and find people who are positive and uplifting to surround myself with.

Prayer:
God, you have promised us that you are faithful and will never tempt us beyond what we can endure. Help me to remember that you trust me enough to allow temptations to come. You also expect me to have a plan and make wise choices. Thank you for providing us with an example through your Word of how to live our lives.
 
— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

A Competitive Runner vs. A Disciplined Runner

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 — “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

Observation:
1 Corinthians 9 is packed full of rich, insightful verses. Paul teaches so much through this one chapter about salvation and our daily walk with Christ. In the verses I chose to focus on today, Paul is using the example of being a runner to communicate a point about our walk with Christ. He is encouraging believers to not be so focused on the here and now but remember the real goal should always be to keep the focus on what is to come on earth as well as the future kingdom of heaven.

Application:
I don’t know a lot about running but what I do know is that I am not very good at it. I think my problem is not that I am not competitive. I am highly competitive when it comes to sports, games, etc. My problem is I am not disciplined enough. To be a good runner, you must have discipline. It does not matter how competitive you may be. If you don’t have discipline, then you are going to have a hard time training for a marathon. I do believe most disciplined runners have a competitive spirit. It helps drive them to want to win. At the same time, it is their discipline that allows them to get up at wee hours in the morning and train in all conditions — cold, rain and even heat. It is their discipline that pushes them to go farther and run faster.

This is true for my spiritual life. When I read these verses and it mentions that not all runners will receive the prize, my competitive attitude arises telling me I need to do more and work harder in order to be one of the winners. But what Paul is teaching me is that it is not about being a “competitive” Christian but about being a “disciplined” Christian. What is the difference? A disciplined Christian stays focused on the long-term goal, while a competitive Christian is focused on instant gratification. We live in a world of instant gratification. The idea of working hard and disciplining yourself to receive a prize is something rarely found. We want it now! I know I am guilty of this so often. I forget that God has great treasures in store for me.

A disciplined believer knows it is not about what he/she can get out of a relationship with God, but it is about how he/she can bring glory and honor to God through spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, worship, scripture memorization, and more. A disciplined believer learns to exercise self-control in order to be better prepared for the spiritual marathon. A competitive believer does not always see the benefits of self-control, because he/she is only interested in today’s sprint.

Prayer:
Lord, help me be more disciplined in my spiritual life. Being disciplined takes a lot of forethought and strength. Grant me the self-control needed to become more discipline in my daily life. Give me the endurance needed to withstand the tough spots of the journey. Most of all, allow my disciplined life to bring you glory and honor because I know it will only be through your strength that I will be able to finish the marathon.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

Grey Areas

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 8:1-4: “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one”.

Observation:
The church of Corinth was facing some several issues that were dividing them as a church. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses one that arose because pagans in Corinth believed meat was contaminated by demons. If a person ate meat without first having it cleansed of its demonic influence, then the evil attached to the meat would enter a person’s body when he/she ate it. The non-believer in Corinth would first take purchased meat to a pagan priest in order to have him remove the evil influence.

Once the meat was cleanse of its demonic influence, the person who purchased the meat would cook it and invite all his/her neighbors to a feast. The Christian community was divided over whether or not the meat was acceptable to eat. Weak believers refused to eat the meat. Strong believers accepted the invitation to eat meat. Ultimately, Paul advised strong Christians to give up their rights to eat meat that had been offered as a sacrifice to pagan gods for the good of their weaker brothers and sisters.

Application:
These grey areas can be tricky. I can relate to the struggles that were going on in the church of Corinth. I know there have been times when I knew something was not a “sin” but I had to stop and ask myself what others who may not feel the same way would say. Would it cause them to doubt my relationship with Christ? Would it cause them to question my character? There are even times as a mother I have to be careful because my four-year old picks up on everything. If I say it, you better believe she will be repeating it in the next 24 hours and usually it is repeated to teacher, neighbor, friend or family member. I believe this is what Paul was instructing the church of Corinth to be aware of. If there is something that can cause another to doubt my character or my authenticity as a believer, then I should also give up my rights like Paul instructed Christians of Corinth.

Prayer:
Lord, help me not be a hindrance or distraction to others in their walk with you. Allow me to be sensitive to your teachings and guidance when grey areas arise in my life that could cause others to question my relationship with you.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

Inheritance

Scripture:
Joshua 13:33 “But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give and inheritance: The Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance as he had promised to them.”

Observation:
Chapter 13 basically describes how the land of Canaan was divided among the tribes. Joshua was old and needed to make sure the tribes had their inheritance (13:7). Then in verses 14, 33, 14:3-4 we see that the tribe of Levi did not get land. They actually got something so much better. It says that they actually got God as an inheritance! The Levites were like worship leaders in that day. They went into God’s presence for the people. The beautiful thing about this passage is what the New Testament says about our inheritance.

Ephesians 1:11, “also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose.”
Colossians 1:12, “giving thanks to Father who qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”
1 Peter 1:4, “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you.

There is an inheritance beyond what we can imagine. It is greater than any amount of money or piece of land that may come on earth. It is the inheritance of eternal perfection in the presence of the God of glory. It is being face to face with Jesus for a billion years plus infinity!

Application:
Today, the day Jesus was in the grave, was the day that this inheritance became a reality. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” So today I am waiting to celebrate the resurrection because it is the moment everything was made right for all eternity. I am thankful He is “in the grave” because I know that tomorrow He beats death for me. My application is simple gratitude for what He did.

Prayer:
Thank You for the inheritance that comes through the cross the grave and the resurrection. Thank You for the billion plus infinity years I get to be with You.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Living in Honor of the Cross

Scripture:
1 Cor. 6:18-20 – “Flee immorality…Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God with your body.”

Observation:
Paul is continuing to get on to the church at Corinth about the way they are sinning. There is apparently a pretty big issue of sexually immorality. In verse 17 he reminds us that through Christ we are joined, or united with Christ through the Spirit in us. I like the aggressive nature of the phrase “flee immorality.” It gives me the picture of getting as far away from immorality as I can and doing it as fast as I can. He says RUN AWAY! Then the reminder that our bodies are not just bodies. They are the dwelling place of the spirit of God in the way the temple was. The temple was a sacred place that required people to be clean from sin to meet with God. IT was a set apart place. The temple was a holy place, not just another place and that is how he describes the body of the believer. He then turns the corner to say, “You did not come to have the Spirit of God in you by anything you did.” God did it. So now you do not belong to you. You belong to God. The final reminder and response is simple. I have been paid for with a huge price so I should glorify God in my body.

Application:
What does it mean to glorify God in my body if I am not caught up in sexual immorality? 1 Peter 1:13-19 comes to mind. It reminds me of the price that was paid…the spotless and unblemished blood of Jesus. It reminds that the Father I call on is Holy and I should pursue to be Holy. It reminds me of the cross and all God “said about himself” on the cross. Peter says to “conduct yourselves in fear during your time of stay on earth.” Today I want to be reminded of the cross and judge my behavior based on the work of Jesus on the cross. Does anything I do communicate that the cross did not matter? I am I acting in a way that is respectful of the price paid for me?

Today in history Jesus went to the cross. He died for me. He went through pain. He took on my sin. He took my place. He became sin that I might be God’s righteousness. He brought me near to God by the cross. He has given me eternal life. He has made me holy. So, I want what I do in body to honor the work of Jesus on the cross.

Prayer:
Thanks you for the cross. Help me remember the great price paid for me. Help my life honor you.

— Doug Hunt, pastor of worship/programming

Thankful

Scripture:
Joshua 7:1 “But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban…therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.”

Observation:
Joshua is a really tough passage to understand. There are some tough issues that are really hard to get my mind around that cannot be ignored. In chapter 6 Israel takes Jericho and they all shout because God had given them the city. Now all of the belongings in the city were to be destroyed. Everything! Then God tells the people not to take things that were under the ban because it would cause them to sin and Israel would be accursed (6:18). It was discovered later that Achan had taken a bunch stuff he was not supposed to take. God tells Joshua that the people need to get up and purify themselves. Achan comes forward and admits that he stole things. But this did not remove him from having to face the consequence of death. He sinned against God and had to pay the price of his own life. God is serious about paying the price of sin.

Application:
Even in all the things of God that I do not understand I come to see a couple of things.
1) God will not tolerate sin.
2) A price will be paid even if sin is admitted.

Today that makes my heart fill up with gratitude for the cross. Today is that day that Jesus shared the last supper with the disciples, having loved them he showed them the full extent of his love (John 13). He washed their feet. He ate. He went to the cross.

It brings to mind what the writer of Hebrews said, “Through Him (Jesus) let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise which is the fruit of lips that give thanks.”(Heb. 13:15) It also makes me think of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us form all unrighteousness.” The price has been paid by Jesus to satisfy God’s justice so that I do not have to die. So I will remember today to continually thank Him to glorify his Name.

Prayer:
Thank You Jesus for what You have done.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Deeper

Scripture:
Joshua 3:15-17 “…and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water…the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap…And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”

Observation:
This was a “God moment” in the life of the people of God and their leader Joshua. Moses had died. Joshua was appointed his successor. They had been in the wilderness a really long time. God had brought them to the banks of the Jordan and they had to get to the other side into the Land that God had promised. There is so much going on in this story but what grabs me in the stage of life that I am in is the point where the feet are dipped into the water. I can’t imagine what that moment had to be like. The river was overflowing (v.15). It wasn’t like a little creek in the back yard. This was a huge river that was running full steam. I think there are multiple things that lead them to actually following through on such a seemingly impossible mission. 1) God had brought them that far. They had seen Him at work for years and knew that was for them. 2) Joshua was a great leader. I think he was a little nervous about walking in Moses shadow but he did not let that paralyze him. He led anyway. 3) The glory and presence of God was before them. They had the ark and it went first. It was the thing that held the presence of God for them. It represented Him and they put Him first just as God had told them to do. 4) They took the step into the water. There was that moment when there was nothing else to do but obey and so they obeyed. Then God did exactly what He said He would do. The river stopped and they all walked across on dry ground. I bet their experience with God was deeper that day than what I can even imagine.

Application:
My application is pretty simple today. I want to thank God for all the times He has been faithful in hard seasons of my life. There have been plenty of times when I have thought the river was too much for me and it was. In some of those moments I never stepped in and I think I missed out on something God had for me. There have been other times where God has given me the grace to dip my feet in. He has never let me drown. So I thank God today for all the times He has taken me deeper.

In remembering those times I want to grow in my faithfulness to embrace more rivers and let God take me even deeper. I want Him to make me more like Jesus and have as much of me as possible. I want my eyes to be open to see Him in the midst of huge moments and I want to step in. He has brought me this far. He will help me overcome fear. I will keep Him in front. I will step in.

Prayer:
I know that You are good and that you will carry me. Help me to step in and go deeper with You.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Control and Delight

Scripture:
Psalm 37:3 – Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness…trust also in Him…Rest in the Lord…Wait for the Lord.”

Observation:
David is writing to give wisdom and comfort to those who are watching the “evil” and getting overly bothered and envious of them. He says in verse 1, “Be not envious toward wrongdoers.” Why would someone envy wrongdoers? Maybe because they seem to get away with doing wrong and “prosper” as a result. Maybe they seem happier in some ways? But, throughout the Psalm, David is trying to bring the reader back to an understanding of how God deals with wrongdoers as well as show the better way of the life of faithfulness. He says not only should you not do evil but you should cultivate righteousness in your life. Or simply put “DO GOOD.” It reminds me of when Paul said, “Do not grow weary in doing good.” There are three words that stand out as being the philosophy of living for the righteous. They are TRUST, REST and WAIT. All three of these are counter to human instinct and I think David knows that through God’s inspiration. Here is what he says in relationship to these three words.

TRUST- Commit your ways (what you do) to honoring God. In doing this God will bring righteousness and good judgment.
REST – Be patient in regards to God acting towards the wicked. It is His to handle. He will take care of it.
WAIT – Do not get ahead of God in what is His to do. He will act justly. He will reward when He wants to.

He also says that in this trusting, resting and waiting life there is DELIGHT! “Delight yourself in the Lord (v.4),” “The humble…will delight themselves in abundant prosperity(v.11),” “He (God) delights in him(v.23).” It is a better way to live.

Application:
In the end I think this is a message of letting go of control for me and trusting that God has great delight for me. Trusting, resting and waiting mean that I am ok with NOT being in control everything. I need to examine things, situations, relationships, etc. that frustrate me and pursue to trust that God is handling it. Not being in control (trusting, resting and waiting) is so counter to my culture of self advancement, efficiency and expediency. Those are the way of life in suburban America…but not the way of life for God…for a disciple of Jesus. Where do I need to let go? I know I need to admit that I am not in control. I know I just need to do more good. I think this is telling me that if I let go and trust God then I will be:
(1) Delighting or pursuing greater pleasure in knowing God.
(2) Enjoying the pleasure of God’s reward.
(3) Being found as a delight to God.

That sounds really good to me. I want that kind of life.

Prayer:
Father help me to release control of things in my life and trust you more. Keep me from being envious. Move my desires towards trusting your, resting in you and waiting on you. Help me believe that delighting in you and your ways is better than anything else.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Humility and Power

Scripture:
1 Cor. 2:3-5 – “I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

Observation:
Paul is continuing to encourage the church in Corinth by talking about putting their reliance upon God and not themselves. At the end of chapter 1 he says, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” I think he is saying this to start counteracting a growing sense of pride and arrogance in the church. It sounds like the Corinthians were “thinking more highly of themselves than they should” (Romans 12:3) and relying upon themselves and what they are able to do rather than on God alone. So Paul is saying “even when I came and preached it was not out my ability or skill. It wasn’t based on me being good at it. It was based on the power of the Spirit of God.” I love how he says that he came weak and even scared. For me this is a glimpse into Paul’s humility. I don’t naturally think of Paul as humble but he was. And it was from the platform of his humility that God had room to display great power. Paul said that all that mattered was Jesus Christ and Him crucified. So based on that alone he opened his mouth and began to preach and is showed that GOD was great.

Application:
I know that I depend on my talent and skill too much. I judge God’s use of me whether I play music good or teach well. If I am completely honest I would say that I judge God’s work through me whether or not other people tell me I am good. I am reminded today that the power of God is not about me being good at something. It comes through Jesus Christ and Him alone. My motivation doesn’t need to be seen as having “power” but the glory of Jesus Christ. If I will make that my aim then I will come to him in everything embracing weakness and pursuing humility with great passion. I need to ask myself, “Am I doing this thing so that people will see me as good or God as good?” I believe that the greatest platform for God to do whatever He wants in my life is a heart of humility. I hope I become more humble and pursue to know nothing other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Prayer:
Strip away all pride from my life. Search every motive. Examine every action. Convict me. Lead me to repent. Help me to be humble.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Unity

March 16, 2008

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no division among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and the same judgment.”

Observation:
Paul is writing the church at Corinth because he has gotten word that they are fighting with one another. He is reminding them that God has given them everything they need through His grace. They, as a church, “are not lacking in any gift” (v. 7), and “are enriched in everything” (v. 6). God has been really generous to them as a people and Paul wants them to remember. First he is reminding them and then in verse 10 he is EXHORTING or speaking very strongly to them to help restore them to unity. I like how Paul “exhorts” them to unity. He starts off saying “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. I take this to mean that the only way, and only basis of true unity is the truth of Jesus. Jesus is the only one with the power to unify people. He is the common factor among true believers. They were getting divided (v. 11-12) over who they claimed to follow. Some said I am with Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or Christ. But Paul is saying the only one who unifies is Jesus Christ. I think this also means that I can be unified with people that I am really different than because of common factor of Jesus. Then Paul goes onto in verse 10 to say things like “agree,” “have no division” and “be made complete.”

Application:
Agreeing, having no division, being of the same mind sound like a pipe dream in many ways. That would have to be a supernatural thing. How can it really happen? I am starting by asking myself some tough questions:
Do I view people in my church through the lens of the common bond of Jesus Christ or through ways that we differ?
Do I show preference to people based things other than Jesus like how they dress, how they talk, how much money they have…?
Do I do anything that knowingly or unknowingly causes division at my church?
Do my life and words promote anything other than Jesus Christ as being what we need to be unified around?
What would Paul say about the things that we “fight” about at church?
I hope that I will pursue to be a person who fights for unity around the person of Jesus and nothing else.

Prayer:
Father help me to be a unifier and not a divider. Reveal to me the hard things about myself. Have mercy on me and help me change and fight for unity in my church.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Serving Others

Scripture:
Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
 
Observations:
Paul has been teaching the Galatians the burdens placed on them by living under the Mosaic law. In Galatians 5:14 it says, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Under the law of Christ we are to love one another and by doing so we fulfill the law of Christ. The word used here for “burdens” means a load that is more that one person can handle and exceeds ones strength. It is a weight that will drag you down. Bearing that weight for each other means supporting, shouldering, comforting and assisting each other. It means being there in times of need and going the extra mile. It means helping even when someone may not realize they need assistance. It means being the arms and legs of Christ in a lost world.
 
Applications:
I’m pretty good at helping others. Most of us are. If a friend or neighbor asks us to help, we usually will. We need to be observant and aware of opportunities to serve others. I tend to get caught in my own little world and ignore the things going on around me. God is helping me to remove my blinders and see chances to help others. The other side of the coin is a little more difficult. Most of us like to believe that we are independent, self-reliant people. I know that I am. I like to think that I can do things myself, to take care of any issues and problems that may arise. It seems like I have failed when I can’t take care of something on own. So I tend to keep struggling and fighting until I get to some type of solution. It probably wasn’t the best outcome, but at least I’m done with it. During the clean up after Hurricane Katrina, I went with a group of men to clean trees off an elderly couple’s house. We worked on that house for about eight hours. After we had finished and prayed with the couple, the husband said that he had always been the one that had helped others and that he had never asked for help. He said he didn’t know how to accept help. His words have resonated with me. I don’t really know how to accept help. What will others think of me if I ask for help? What if they say no? All those negative thoughts go through my mind. My pride can beat me up here. We were blessed to have been able to help that couple and others. The command to love your neighbor as yourself was lived out. It fulfilled the law of Christ. I still have work to do in this area. I still have a tendency to want to help myself, but God is working on me. He reminds me that my desire for independence and pride may be robbing someone else of a blessing. I need to give them the opportunity to live out loving your neighbor as yourself.

Prayer:
God, help me to recognize the burdens of other and to be willing share the load with them. Help me to realize when I need help and to put aside my pride and receive help. God, never let me refuse to be your agent in loving others.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Freedom

Scripture:
Galatians 5:1 – It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
 
Observation:
Freedom can be a tricky thing. On the surface it sounds easy enough to understand and grasp. The Galatians didn’t really know what freedom meant. They had never really been free. Someone else had ruled over them. They had freedom under the control of the ruler. Then Paul came talking about freedom. Paul had preached and taught the Galatians the true Gospel message. They had accepted it with unbounded joy. Later others came and brought a different message. The messages of these false teachers had just enough of the true Gospel to seem plausible, but their message contained differences that greatly impacted the Galatians spiritual life. They were teaching that to become a Christian you must first become a Jew or that you had to follow a list of “don’t” or that you could do anything you wanted because you are forgiven of your sins. Paul is showing here each of these is a type of bondage. Jesus sacrificed himself to free us from condemnation under the law and Jesus as king has freed us from the bondage of sin. Paul is encouraging them to the steady and unwavering in guarding their freedom. Paul wanted them to have the courage to defend their freedom.
 
Application:
America is called the land of the free. Are we free from something or free to do something? It’s actually both. Freedom in Christ is that way also. We’re free from the guilt and free from bondage. We’re free to worship God as He leads us. Each day God teaches me more about freedom in Christ. I strive to walk closer with Him each day not because I’m obligated to do it, but because I want to know Him. I don’t do my Life Journal because it’s a requirement, but because God teaches and encourages me through His word. One of my greatest feelings is when God shows me or teaches me a truth from His word. I want to love God with all my heart, soul and might.
 
Prayer:
God, thank you for the freedom I have in Christ. Continue to develop a hunger and thirst for you within me. Help me to stand firm and steady in the face of attacks from Satan that lead me back into guilt and bondage. Show me the truths in your Word that help me get through each day.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Joy

Scripture:
Galatians 4:14 & 15 – …And that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
 
Observation:
Paul was trying to assure the Galatians that his anger toward them was based on their attitude toward the Law and not at them because of a grudge that he had against them. In fact, Paul reminded them that the Galatians had welcomed him with open arms. They had accepted him when other would have turned him away because of his illness. They didn’t receive Paul out of compulsion or keep him at arms length, but rather greeted him like as a long lost friend or even as they would have received Christ. Paul could have asked for anything and the Galatians would have tried to do it for him, to the point of giving themselves. So what happened? The Galatians were so excited and enthusiastic for the Gospel message and for Paul. They had been robbed of their joy by the Law. The Law makes you feel guilty, feel not good enough, feel you need to do more to be accepted. Where once he had incredible friends because he shared the truth, Paul now had opponents.
 
Application:
I love to watch people’s expressions when they receive an unexpected gift or when they have a great need in their life met from an unexpected source. Their emotions and responses are pure and real. They have a joy and excitement that is often hard for them to express verbally. Their first response is usually that they can’t believe that someone would do that for me. All of us have the same response to unexpected acts of love. I have been privileged to see that from Pinelake’s work on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in Jackson. It is hard for any of us to communicate our gratitude for these undeserved deeds. After the initial shock has worn off, one of our next thoughts is, “I need to do something for them for them to repay their kindness.” Actually we’re not very good at receiving gifts. If we receive a gift at Christmas, we immediately rush out to get that person a gift. If it’s on our birthday, we get them something on their birthday. We feel like we have to repay their kindness. Just like the Galatians, I can easily fall into the trap of trying to repay Jesus. I think I’m not good enough, I need to be doing more for Jesus, or look how much more he is doing than I am. I get robbed of my joy. It’s during those times that I think back to the joy I received when I am walking close with God. I remember it’s not about what I can do for God or earning God’s favor, but rather what God has already done for me in sending His Son to die for me.
 
Prayer:
God, I just want to thank you for sending your Son. Continue to teach me to live in your love and not under the law. Teach me to live in the joy of my relationship with you.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Common Ground

Scripture:
Galatians 3:28 & 29 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
 
Observation:
The Galatian Christians had heard the true Gospel, had believed and received the Holy Spirit. Sometime after Paul left, the Gospel had been distorted by false teachings. They were adding requirements from the law. The main requirement was that the Gentiles must become Jews to be a Christian. Paul exposed these by explaining that you are not justified by works of the law, but only by faith in Jesus. One of other things that Paul exposed was the differences that the law made between Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free. During that time social standing meant a lot to how you were treated and the things that were available to you. Paul was saying that while those thing existed in society and still do today, that in God’s eyes we are all equal. We are all saved the same way, through faith in Christ Jesus. We’re not accepted because of who we are nor are we rejected because of who we are. We are all granted the same privileges. We all confess that we are sinners and that we are saved not through anything that we do or who we are, but rather by the merits of Christ Jesus. As believers, we are members of God’s family and heirs to the promise and entitled to all the blessings and freedoms of it.
 
Application:
I have had the privilege of making a numbers of mission trips to various parts of the world. At first, I thought as Americans that we had something special to share with the rest of the world. Rather God taught me that as believers that we all share a common background. We were all lost and have become brothers and sisters through our faith in Jesus. God taught me that the people of those countries didn’t need my American ways. They needed the hope of Jesus and that their faith put them on an equal footing with all believers. In a lot of ways, I did the same thing in Jackson. I saw us a having something that only we could provide. I quickly realized that just like all people, their hope had to be in Jesus. They are God’s creation and they have the same need as me. It wasn’t in what Pinelake or the other churches that came to Jackson to serve could give them. It was showing them that we loved them, because God loved us and them. God loved us while we were still sinner and we needed to do likewise. As I often heard, the ground at the foot of the cross is flat. We all have equal status in God’s kingdom.
 
Prayer:
God, I pray that you never allow me to think of myself as better than others. I thank you for your grace that is available to each and every one of us, if we’ll just ask and receive it. Teach me to love as you loved. I never want to judge others by their outward appearance, but rather to see them as you do.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Alone in the Crowd

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 18:9 – “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.”
 
Observation:
God knew that the Israelites were a people that were easily led astray and distracted. He had seen it with the golden calf, the first time they were to enter the Promised Land, and when they were hungry and thirsty in the desert. They completely forgot about God and it became about their wants and desires. God is warning them because He knows them and that they will abandon Him and His teachings again. God knew the lies and the lures that the Promised Land contained. To “learn” something, you have to spend time with it, study it and make a decision in your mind to know it. God knew that these detestable ways would be all around the Israelites and he wanted them to be aware of them and the harm they can do to them. Romans 12:2 says, “don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” God didn’t want them to accept the evil ways, but rather to make a mental decision and to be prepared for how they would respond once they entered the Promised Land.
 
Application:
I can’t tell you how many times I told my children they couldn’t do something or go somewhere and their response would be, “But so-and-so (insert friend’s name here) is doing it or gets to go!” Everyone wants to be accepted and to be part of the “crowd.” I was the same way. I didn’t want to get left out. My parents tried to set limits and teach me the situations to avoid. Once I grew up, I got to set my own boundaries and make my own decisions. I still made mistakes, but because of my parents’ teachings I didn’t have to make all the wrong decisions. Just as God was trying to warn and teach the Israelites of the dangers that were waiting for them, He wants to teach me. Through His word, prayer, Holy Spirit and others God wants to guide me through the pitfalls that come my way everyday. I want to learn more about God’s way and not the world’s way. The great thing is I know that God wants to teach me and guide me. He just asks that I be a willing and eager student. I need prepare my heart and mind to deal with the darkness of this world. I want to stand out from the crowd.
 
Prayer:
God, I want to thank you for being there for me. Show me the situations to avoid. Teach me to rely on you and your wisdom. I want to daily die to myself and live for you. Help me each day to set my mind on you and your ways.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Eyes Wide Open

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 15:10 & 11 — “You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’”
 
Observation:
Money. Wealth. It can be a blessing or a curse. It’s easy to look at others that appear to be better off wonder what it must be like to be them. Why didn’t you get the breaks to get to their level? God wanted the Israelites to understand that although there were differences, He cared for all of them as His people. Who are the poor? How did they get that way? When we begin to look for reasons or blame the poor for their condition, it becomes easy to close our eyes to them. We think they should be taking care of themselves. After all we live in America and there are plenty of ways to help ourselves. We can take the approach of “out of sight out of mind,” but they are always on God’s mind. God makes a point of saying that there will always be poverty around us and that it is our responsibility to care for them. God adds that if we take care of the poor, He will take care of us and bless us. Our attitude toward giving is much more important than the amount. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “God loves a cheerful giver.”
 
Application:
God can change our heart toward people. I needed an attitude adjustment. For the longest time I lived out at the Reservoir and really just ignored what was happening in Jackson. It was easy to avoid Jackson. I could shop, eat and get anything I needed and never have to go there. About a year ago God began to convict me about Jackson and wrote in my prayer journal that I didn’t know what that looked like, but that we needed to do something. Since that time God has opened my eyes to the people of the city. I had always just looked at the city and seen it as a problem, until I spent time there. I realized that God was working in the city. He loves the people of Jackson and wants me to love them. I have come to love God’s workers and the people they are serving. I still have thoughts about how the poor got that way, but God has helped me to see that the why doesn’t matter to Him. He wants me to be involved.

Prayer:
God, I want to thank you for the changes that you have made in my heart toward your people. I pray that you continue to change me, to allow me to see others through your eyes. Give me a humble spirit and a loving attitude in serving others.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

A History Lesson

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 10:12 – 13 — Now Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?
 
Observation:
The generation of Israelites that had been in captivity in Egypt had passed away and the new generation didn’t know all the things that God had done for them. Moses had been giving the Israelites a history lesson. They needed to learn from the past and not make the same mistakes their parents had made. I’m sure most were amazed by the stories. I’m sure there were some that wanted to know what all this meant to them. Moses boiled it down for them: respect God, follow God, love God, serve others and be obedient to God. This is God’s blueprint for our lives.
 
Application:
There were times when I was growing up that there seemed to be an endless supply of rules. There were rules at home and at school. Each sport had its own set of rules. Learning to drive brought another set of rules. Then getting married had rules that I never imagined. Everywhere I turned there were rules. It can get to the point with the vast number of rules that you just throw up your hands and say “I quit”. If I’m not careful I can make things really complicated and confusing. I can get sidetracked on things that are not that important. I can totally lose my focus. It’s at times like that when I need to bring everything back to what God requires of me; to respect Him, follow Him, love Him, serve others and to be obedient to Him.
 
Prayer:
Dear Father, I that you help me to keep my focus on you. I want you to be at the center of everything I do. When I become distracted, I pray that your Holy Spirit would remind me that’s it is all about you. God never let me complicate your word or the Gospel, but let your simple message come through.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

To Do That I Gotta Do This

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 8:11 — “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today…”
 
Observation:
Out of all of the things that I have read in Deuteronomy this week chapter 8 is the one I have like best. It’s just filled with such good news. As I read it I get so excited at the potential and the promise. The imagery is staggering. A land awaits that if filled with honey and barley and wheat and copper and fruits and abundant water and the list goes on and on. Plus, the people are told that they will prosper and multiply. It’s a great day! Oh, and by the way don’t forget God. What?!? How could we ever forget God? He is the reason for all of this. But the warning is issued to be careful because one day you will be prosperous and comfortable. And it is if the people cry out, “We will never forget our God”.
 
Application:
What a great way to end today’s reading, right? But then I had to go and read Mark 15. The crucifixion of Jesus. God’s way of ultimately blessing all people. Why did He have to do it? Because His people kept forgetting about Him. They (and we) were incapable of keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes. If God was to bless His people He was going to have to go further, much further, than giving people guidelines to live by. So, because of His great love for us, He sent us His only son so that we could ultimately kill Him so that in His death we could have true life. To accomplish what God wanted to do he went to the ultimate length – To do that, He had to do this. I wonder if he finally has our attention?
 
Prayer:
God, may I never forget you. May my attention always be on you. I am so sorry to pray this, but forgive me for the times that I forget and do my own things. Thank you for Jesus – for giving me a way to you that is about you and not me. Your love is too much for me to comprehend. Help me love you more. Amen.

— Darren Miley, student pastor

Watch Out For That Rock!!

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 5:32 — So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.
 
Observation:
God gave the people of Israel the Ten Commandments and instructs them to follow them. God gave order, a path to follow. It is true of all people that left to our own will get off the path. We all sin and miss the mark. In the verse I am journaling today God is instructing the people (all people) to not turn aside either to the right or to the left, but to stay on track. Right now I am looking out the window watching it snow like crazy (I am in Kansas City this week). Because of the snow I am not really feeling like spring is just around the corner, but I know that it is. And with spring comes the desire for me to ride my mountain bike. I have been riding for about 10 years now and love it. One thing that I noticed early on was this simple biking truth: Wherever you look, that’s where you go. Its true! I can be riding on a sweet single track trail that has big rocks that you have to maneuver around and if I look at a rock I will hit it. If I look at the space between the rocks I will miss the rocks. Its almost like magic. If I look at something I go towards it.
 
Application:
The lesson of riding the bike is obvious, isn’t it? Today’s verse reminds me that I am in danger of going off to the right or to the left. I have found that when I enter into sin it is almost always because I have taken my eyes, my focus, off of the way I should be going and placed it on something off to the side. It really is all about where I put my attention. If I place my attention on what other people have that I don’t, it is just a matter of time until my attitude becomes one of coveting what they have. If I were to place my attention on getting ahead no matter what I can only imagine that it would be just a matter of time and I would lie and cheat and steal to get what I want. But, if I make sure that my attention is placed on the path that God has set before me I find that righteousness is the outcome. It is not easy and there are always things that “sneak up” on me, that is why I so desperately need Jesus in my life to offer me salvation. Yet the rule of biking is so true – now to practice keeping my eyes on my God.
 
Prayer:
God help me to be focused on you and forgive me when I am not. God as I go through my life give me wisdom to discern your path from the ways that seem right to me at the time, but are not leading to you. Thank you for your guidance and your love. Your patience with me is long and gentle. Your love is amazing. Your grace more abundant than my sin. I do not deserve, nor have I earned your presence in my life, yet you offer it to me in love. O how great a God you are. Amen

— Darren Miley, student pastor

I Just Ain't Got The Words

Scripture:
Psalm 36:5 — Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (NIV)
 
Observation:
I love this scripture because I love the song that Third Day sings based on Psalm 36.  The first time I remember hearing this song, though, it was not Third Day singing the song, but Pinelake’s own Jason Elam. This was long before either of us had moved to Pinelake.  In fact, I think Jason was still in school at Mississippi State.  I had asked Jason to come and lead worship for a retreat that my church and another church were doing for our student ministries.  Early one morning, right before we were to start a large group worship time, one of my adult leaders came in and got me and said, “Darren, you’ve got to come and see this.”  I went outside and down on the pier by the lake was Jason.  There was still a mist rising from the lake, it was early, and Jason was singing this song. He had his guitar and he was worshipping. Just Jason and God. Jason had absolutely no idea that anybody else was anywhere around.  We just stood there and watched and listened to Jason play and sing, eavesdropping on a child of God telling God how amazing His love is.  I was blown away. Not because I had never seen Jason worship before, and not because of the words of the song, but because it just seemed so natural…so right.
 
Application:
Now the truth of the matter is this: No worshipper will ever be able to say anything that will even begin to describe how awesome and amazing God is.  We just do not have the capacity to comprehend or describe God.  Yet as we attempt to do the impossible God will many times intervene.  This is what I watched and experienced that day while Jason was singing.  As we turned our attention to the indescribable nature of God, God met us there.  By “there” I mean that the Holy Spirit of God began to make up for what we lacked.  He met us there in something that could only be described as Holy.  Now, I don’t know if Jason remembers this event the same way I do.  I can’t remember if I ever even told him that we were watching him, but I remember being touched by God there.  The ancient Celtic Christian used to refer to “thin places,” places where heaven and earth just seemed closer than others.  I know that that morning the distance between us and God felt very thin indeed.  I love the Psalms because in them we see the writers attempt to understand and connect with God.  I love Psalm 36 because it reminds of one of the many times when God reached down and connected with me.
 
Prayer:
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness stretches to the sky.
Your righteousness is like a mighty mountain, and your justice flows like the oceans tides. And I will lift my voice to worship you my King, and I will find my strength in the shadow of your wings. O God my all the places we find myself be “thin places” so that in all things we see you.  May your name be forever high and lifted up for you alone O God are worthy of our praise. Amen.

— Darren Miley, student pastor

Once Upon A Time

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 1:1 — These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab.
 
Observation:
YYAAAAWWWWNNNNNN!! Just reading this first verse wears me out. All these place names and dates and people groups. Man, what a snoozer. The first couple of books of Deuteronomy is simply a retelling of the plight of the people of Israel. It is basically just a thumbnail sketch of what took long chapters in earlier books to convey. As I read these verses it just feels like another story. It really doesn’t even seem real – more like a sort of made up “Lord of the Rings” type of a saga. For me it is difficult to remember that this is the story of real people in real situations. I mean as I read some of these Old Testament stories I am just amazed at how hard headed and stupid the people of Israel were. There they were right at the point of going into the Promised Land and they chicken out and tick God off in the process. What faithless losers. But, remember that these are real flesh and blood people. So what if my wife, our three boys and I were in that crowd? Let’s just suppose that all we had known up to this point was slavery in Egypt? We had left the only life we had ever known and now we were facing a huge army and Moses tells us to that God wants us to go and take the land by force. Good grief, all I’ve ever done is make bricks and God wants me to go take a land away from an army. You have got to be kidding? It just isn’t logical. It’s well…crazy is what it is.
 
Application:
All of a sudden it seems a little more real now. Maybe I can understand why the people of Israel were so boneheaded after all. But what about today? A lot of people would say that they have never been in that situation or known anybody that has. Here is a question: Could it be that the reason that we have never been in a situation that would require us to do something that seems so ridiculous is because we never have left the land of our slavery? The people of Israel were never asked to walk in that level of faith while in Egypt. In Egypt they were in bondage. It was only in a state of freedom that God expected them to do such outlandish things.
 
Prayer:
God help me to live in your freedom so that I will be asked to so something for your kingdom that appears to be totally insane by the eyes of the world. And in that moment may I not hesitate to do something “crazy” for you. Amen.
 
— Darren Miley, student pastor

Who Told You That You Could Do That?

Scripture:
Mark 11:27-28 — They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?”
 
Observation:
A short time prior to what is happening in this passage Jesus goes into the temple and overturns the tables of the moneychangers and runs them out of the temple. This sends the chief priests and the scribes into a fury. Verse 18 says that this event leads them to seek ways to destroy Jesus. In this passage Jesus is again in the temple there in Jerusalem, and the chief priests and the scribes (the same ones who got so angry because of Jesus running the moneychangers out of the temple) come up to Jesus and begin to question Him. They want to know by whose authority He is doing the things he is doing. I absolutely love the response Jesus gives in verses 29 – 33.
 
Application:
Now there is so much that I could journal in regards to this passage, but at the moment my thoughts are on the idea of what is going on with the chief priests and the scribes. They were upset about what went on with the moneychangers. Why they were upset is a conversation for another time, but the fact is that Jesus was right and they didn’t want the truth to be told. Since they had no firm ground on which to stand they decided to simply question by whose authority he was under. These guys questioned God. They had the audacity to actually confront Jesus in regards to His authority. How dare they? Yet I know that I have sometimes been just as audacious. God requires something of me and I have been known to walk up to God and ask Him what is up with that.
This passage has reminded me to not follow after the way of the chief priests and scribes, but to remember that God is God.
 
Prayer:
God forgive me of the times when in my heart I have questioned you and acted as if you were my equal. You alone are God! There is none like you. You possess all authority and power. My response to you should always be one of submission for the life I now live in you. You are life. You are my God. Amen

— Darren Miley, student pastor

Children should NOT be seen or heard

Scripture:
Mark 10:13 – And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
 
Observation:
In this incident many people are bringing their children to Jesus so that he may touch them.  It is safe to assume that some of the children would have been sick or lame and that their parents, having heard that Jesus was a healer, was hoping that the touch of Jesus was going to provide healing. And it is also safe to assume that some of the children were being brought to Jesus with the hope that he would touch them and bless them. Whatever the motivational factor this verse makes it clear that the disciples were going to have no part of it. After all, these men knew that their leader, Jesus, was a very important man and they were getting used to large crowds pressing in on Jesus to receive from Him. They perceived part of their purpose to be to provide security for Jesus – sort of like Jewish bouncers. It is clear from Jesus’ response to them that they felt that a bunch of little kids were too insignificant to deserve a one-on-one with Jesus. Yet Jesus goes so far as to say that, “…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (verse 15).
 
Application:
When I read this Scripture and attempt to find a way to apply it to my life, two things emerge. The first is what I perceive to be the most obvious and clear application. If I desire to understand and take part in the kingdom of God then I must be humble and trusting, much like a child. To come to God any other way is impossible. The second thing that I pick up when reading this scripture is that if I am not careful then I may, like the disciples, end up keeping those that Christ desires to come to Him from actually doing so. Many Christians have been guilty of either pressuring people to clean up their lives so that they could then come to Christ or by making the process of coming to Christ way too difficult and cumbersome. How many people have walked away from faith in Christ because well intentioned Christians have turned them away and kept them from coming to Christ? May I always remember that we are all to come to Jesus as one of these little ones.
 
Prayer:
Holy and loving God please help me to understand what child-like faith is all about. I desire to have that type of faith and trust in you. Forgive me for not approaching you like that all the time. I also pray that you will help me to learn the lesson of this incident with the disciples. May I never be guilty of keeping anyone from coming to you. Amen.
 
— Darren Miley, student pastor

Trusting

Scripture:
Mark 9:32 — But they (the Disciples) did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him (Jesus).

Observation:
What is happening here is that Jesus has just foretold His death and His resurrection. He basically tells them that He is going to be killed, and after His death He will rise three days later. Now as I was reading over today's Scripture I knew that I would journal about this verse before I even had finished reading all of the Scripture. In and of itself verse 32 just really gives so little information. The Disciples didn't understand something Jesus said, and for some reason they were afraid to ask Him to explain Himself. Now why they were afraid is not specifically stated, but we can only imagine that if has to do with the difficulty that they had earlier with casting out the unclean spirit from the boy (verses 14 – 29). Don't you just know that they were so embarrassed by the whole thing? Not to mention that over and over Jesus has been asking then when will they ever understand. Whatever the reason, they were afraid to ask for clarification on what could possibly be the most important thing Jesus had ever said to them up to that point. Here it is all laid out for them and they let their fear place them in a position so that they missed it. Unfortunately, I think I can relate all to well with the Disciples on this one.

Application:
Sometimes when I come across Scripture that is hard to accept or when I sense that God is leading me to do something difficult, instead of going to God and seeking understanding and clarification, I allow fear to freeze me up. I hate it when it happens, I feel so defeated and so cowardly. You see, here is the rub: I know that I can trust God? He has proven that to me over and over again, yet I still fear Him at times. I think it has to do with the fact that so many times I want what I want and not what God wants. Its not like that all the time. Sometimes I follow hard after God. There have been many times when I have made very risky decisions because I believed I was following God. Still there are times when I, like the disciples, don't understand what God is saying and I am afraid to seek better understanding.

Prayer:
God please help me when I fear you. I know that your plans for me are to prosper me and not to cause me harm, yet I so often hesitate to follow you fully. Forgive those times and help me to be bold, for you are God and therefore worthy of being followed without question. Thank you for your patience with me. Please continue to teach me how to follow hard after you. Amen.

— Darren Miley, student pastor

The Cost of Discipleship

Scripture:
Mark 8: 34 — “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
 
Observation:
To take up your cross in Jesus’ time was a sign of accepting a shameful slaves death. Nothing about this statement was exactly appealing, yet it was Jesus’ call to His disciples. So many times today, I think we downplay the cost of following Christ. There is a cost to following Christ. It’s not simply the act of salvation followed by church attendance and a moral life. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. That’s the cost. It means refusing to follow the worldly desires that surround us. It means letting God lead and guide every step we take. Yes, there is a cost to discipleship but after receiving the undeserved gift of salvation, it is the natural inclination of your heart to want to follow God on the path He has for your life.
 
Application:
I must consciously lay down the worldly desires of my flesh and follow Christ in obedience. I need to learn to see myself as a modern-day disciple, following Jesus, sharing His Word and His love with those around me. I must never take my salvation for granted, getting comfortable with the fact that I’m saved for all eternity and forget that I must daily follow and grow with Christ.
 
Prayer:
Shepherd, help me to daily lay down my rights of freewill to your perfect plan for my life. Help me to not pawn off salvation as simply a “fire insurance” plan but as a way of life. Spur me on in the times I struggle to lay down selfish and worldly desires. Thank you for your willingness to grow me in Your word. Thank you for laying down Your life for mine.

— Crystal Stringer, high school minister