Let the Floodwater Come

Yesterday I was reading Psalm 69 to my daughter.  She sat next to me on the couch and wanted me to read her what I was reading in the Bible.  “Sure” I said, why not.  It was interesting to read the Psalm out loud.  It forced me to slow down and feel it more than if I were to just read it quickly in my mind.  So, today for our Bible Time my encouragement for you is to find a place where you can read Psalm 69 out loud and with a strong voice speak the truth of God.  After you read it out loud I have a few thoughts to dwell on all week. 

Psalm 69:1-18

Save me, O God!
    For the waters have come up to my neck.
² I sink in deep mire,
    where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
    and the flood sweeps over me.
³ I am weary with my crying out;
    my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
    with waiting for my God.

⁴ More in number than the hairs of my head
    are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
    those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
    must I now restore?
⁵ O God, you know my folly;
    the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

⁶ Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
    O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
    O God of Israel.
⁷ For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
    that dishonor has covered my face.
⁸ I have become a stranger to my brothers,
    an alien to my mother's sons.

⁹ For zeal for your house has consumed me,
    and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
¹⁰ When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,
    it became my reproach.
¹¹ When I made sackcloth my clothing,
    I became a byword to them.
¹² I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,
    and the drunkards make songs about me.

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
    At an acceptable time, O God,
    in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
¹⁴ Deliver me
    from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
    and from the deep waters.
¹⁵ Let not the flood sweep over me,
    or the deep swallow me up,
    or the pit close its mouth over me.

¹⁶ Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
    according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
¹⁷ Hide not your face from your servant;
    for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
¹⁸ Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
    ransom me because of my enemies!

Things to think about:

·         Read verse 13 again.  This was the verse that stood out to me yesterday that made me read it again, then again, and again to my daughter.  As an “acceptable time” and out of the “abundance of God’s steadfast love” he answers our prayers.  Everything that God does he does out of the abundance of mercy that he defines him.  He is so faithful that he does things in his time and his way that is always best.

·         Compare verses 1-2 and 14-15.  We can cry out in desperation, but let us never give up hope and think that God has lost or abandoned us.  Always have hope, even when it seems like the flood waters are covering over your head. 

·         In verse 7 David recognizes the sovereignty of God.  “It is for your sake that I have borne reproach…”  For the sake of God, David suffered greatly.  But, David still turned to the Lord in the time of his struggle.  If you are in the midst of pain, know that God is not blind to your suffering, but also know that He is the one you should turn to.  He has the only relief to be found.  Do not lose hope and turn to him, for his steadfast love is good!  He has ransomed you by the blood of his son, Jesus Christ.  Believe in him today and be saved, be delivered, and be made new. 

Behold the Lamb of God

I hope you are all having a great Easter Week!  May you find time to celebrate all that God has done for you.  As we reflect back on what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross to forgive us of our sins I thought it might be a good idea to look at a number of passages that highlight the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.  Take a moment today and read through these scripture passages and give praise to God for the love of Christ!

John 1:29

²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Revelation 5:1-10

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, ⁴ and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁵ And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. ⁸ And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
¹⁰ and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

Hebrews 10:1-14

 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
    but a body have you prepared for me;
⁶ in burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you have taken no pleasure.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
    as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

⁸ When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), ⁹ then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. ¹⁴ For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

2 Corinthians 5:21

²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 5:6-11

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Things to think about:

·         What is amazing is that this list of verses could go on and on.  I wonder if there is a theme in the Bible?  Jesus Christ died for your sins.  He rose from the dead and now gives victory over sin and death. 

·         This was no accident, it was no failure, it was no surprise.  Jesus came to this earth with a purpose.  He came to be the final sacrifice that satisfies the just requirements of our Holy God.  Look back through these verses and see the love of God!  See that no matter what you have done Jesus died for you.  It isn't about earning it, it isn't about deserving the love, Jesus loved you when you were his enemy!  Believe in him and be forgive.

·         May this Easter week be a reminder to you of the amazing gift of God’s love.  Don’t ever forget it.  

A Prayer to Pray

What do you pray for?  Besides the emergency type of prayers for sicknesses, help, or rescue.  What do you pray for regularly?  If you were to categorize your prayers what would those categories be?  This morning I was looking at a passage of scripture with a friend and it reminded me of the kinds of prayers the Apostle Paul prayed.  In many of Paul’s letters he writes out some prayers and they are eye opening.  Here is one such prayer from the book of Colossians.  Read it and think about how your prayer life can change.

Colossians 1:1-14

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

² To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

³ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— ⁵ 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 ⁶ 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. ⁷ You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, ⁸ and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Things to think about:

·         Paul starts by thanking God.  What does he thank God for?  What can you thank God for? 

·         Can you make the claim like Paul does in verse 9 that he always remembers the people of Colossae in his prayers?  Who do you remember to pray for all the time?  Do you think it is important to constantly be lifting others up in prayer?  Why?

·         Paul asks God that the people in the church would have “knowledge, understanding, wisdom, live a life worthy of the Lord, etc.”  What do all of these prayer requests tell you about what God wants most for these people? 

·         What do you think it means to “live a life worthy of the Lord?”  How do we do that?!

·         In verse 12 how are we “qualified” to share in the inheritance of the saints? 

·         Read verse 12-13 again…Look at what Jesus has done for us.  Do you believe all of these things?  If Jesus has done all of that for us why does Paul pray for all of verses 3-11?  Could we possibly be so bold as to ask for more?  I think yes, because Jesus wants us to ask for more. 

God give us the wisdom and patience to endure to the end having a faith that is so strong and bold for you that our love will abound more and more giving you glory and letting us find satisfaction and joy in you.  Amen.  Now you go and pray a prayer for all of this and more!  God is waiting and he wants to hear from you.

A Boat Ride to Freedom

Yesterday I attended a conference entitled, “Mental Illness and the Church.”  Fitting for me, right?J  One of the speakers unpacked a great passage from Mark 5 about the demon possessed man who lived among the tombs.  Here is a brief background to the story.  Jesus was with his disciples on the shores of the sea of Galilee.  At night he decides to get into a boat, leave a crowd of eager listeners, and sail across the sea.  In the night he falls asleep, but the disciples fight for their lives against a raging storm…at night!  They were afraid for their lives.  They wake Jesus and he simply calms the storm and causes the disciples to marvel and wonder, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”  Then they land on the other side of the sea and have an incredible encounter with a demon possessed man.  Here is how that goes:

Mark 5:1-20

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.² When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. ³ This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. ⁴ For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. ⁵ Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. ⁷ He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” ⁸ For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

⁹ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

¹¹ A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹² The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” ¹³ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

¹⁴ Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. ¹⁷ Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Things to think about:

·         Do you think Jesus knew about this man on the other side of the sea?  Did he sail all night just to find the man amongst the tombs?  Notice he didn't teach or preach or heal anyone else.  The people asked him to leave!  So he left.  One healing, one miracle, one lesson, one life.  Totally worth it for Jesus. 

·         Can you think of a more outcast type of person.  Imagine the guy that you are most afraid of, that is probably this guy in the tombs.  We would label him crazy today, violent, unpredictable, beyond hope.  But, Jesus saw something different.  He could look past the screaming, look past the cuts and bruises, look past the nakedness, look past the unclean spirits and see the man inside.  The man without a voice. (Notice it is the demons that respond to Jesus at first, not the man)  Do you think Jesus can look past your pain, your cuts and bruises, your cries, your “demons” and see you?  Just you?

·         When he sees the man he heals the man, he frees the man, he clothes the man, and he gives the man purpose and a mission.  When Jesus sees you he can do the same.

·         Read the story again.  Do you see the power of God on display in the darkest of situations?  I do.  Have hope that the same Jesus that stands with confidence and power before a powerful legion of demons stands next to you and offers freedom, grace, forgiveness, hope, and salvation!  Turn to him today.