29 August 2015

Scriptures:

• 2 Peter 3
• Habakkuk 1:12-2:20
• 1 Samuel 16
• Psalm 27

Observations:

In the 2 Peter passage, I see three things of note:

1. Do not be dismayed by scoffers and naysayers, who mock you for your faith.
2. The Lord fulfills his promises and the end times will come in fearful glory.
3. Thus, we should hold on to righteousness and wait with patience, doing the work we have been given to do.

In Habakkuk, we see the prophet asking God why the wicked triumph and the righteous suffer, to which we see God's answer that the righteous shall live, because of their faith, but the wicked shall receive their punishment. Instead, we must be patient and wait, for punishment may not come in this life, but punishment will come. In 1 Samuel, we see the departing of God from Saul and anointing of David. We can see what a difference the Lord's presence makes just by examining the difference in Saul before and after God departed from him. Saul was instead tormented; he received little to no peace.  In Psalm, we see the opposite. We have the psalmist praising God for his shelter and protection, before asking that he might remain under the Lord's protection.

Application:

How do we live in the face of those around us? When others are mocking us or oppressing us because of our beliefs, do we stand firm in our faith and continue in righteousness, or do we cower and bend to the world? We see that those who scorn and disobey the Lord shall receive their punishment, so why would we add ourselves to their number? Instead, shouldn't we be asking the Lord for his shelter and be relying on him for our providence and well-being through times of oppression?

The first three verses of Psalm 27 stand out to me in this:

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, yet I will be confident."

Fear not. There is a reason that this is the most commonly repeated phrase in the Bible. Aside from the fact that coming face-to-face with God or his messengers is not frightening enough, God wants those of us who trust in him to rely on him and have fear, for, as John writes, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear." (1 John 4:18) If we are filled with the love of God, then we should not fear what may come against us, for the perfect love of God in us drives out all fear.

So, then, where do we stand with God? Are we confident in him or are we needing him to still fill us completely with his love? What is holding us back from that assurance that God as our backs? I know I'm not perfect; there are times when I find myself worrying over things that God has well in hand. I, myself, need to grow in the fullness and surety of his love just as much as the next person.

Prayer:

Lord, fill me with your love. Allow me to grow in my depth of understanding of you. Permit my reliance upon and surety of you to increase, that I might fear nothing of what the world can throw at me. Search my heart, Lord, and bring my fears before me, that I might rely on you more.

Forgive me my sins, that I might come to you openly, with nothing occluding my vision of you.

Thank you for your provision in finding a new place to live for us and for answering certain other prayer requests as well.

I thank you for my wife and ask that you would continue to grow her in you as you are working in me. I ask that you would increase her own faith and that, through this process of mutually growing towards you, that we would grow closer to each other.

Help me as I prepare for Monday's test.

Amen

27 August 2015

Scriptures:

• 2 Peter 1:12-21
• Lamentations 5
• 1 Samuel 14
• Psalm 25

Observations:

In 2 Peter, we see the apostle writing to show that what he is telling them is not some man-made myth, but something he and many others saw with their own eyes. In Lamentations, we see Jeremiah writing of Jerusalem as it stood then, in its disgrace from sin, asking when the Lord will return his favour and restoration. In 1 Samuel, we see an interesting story. We see a young man who trusts in God, relies on his strength, and a king who made a rash movement. Jonathan went on a solo foray into a Philistine encampment and, with God's help, began laying waste. Saul, seeing the commotion had the army rush in after him, but also to take an oath not to eat until the Philistines were finished. Jonathan, not knowing of the oath ate, but, what is greater, because of their great hunger, when the Israelites were finally able to eat, they tore into the livestock that were the spoils of war and ate them "with the blood," something they were commanded not to do in the Levitical law. The psalm today is one of entrusting oneself to God. It speaks of drawing near to God and receiving from him, knowledge, pardon, friendship, and consideration as the psalmist comes in humility and honesty about his own situation, seeking God.

Honestly, what stands out to me from all of these passages, is the faith and trust that Jonathan had in God, seeking to honour God in his foray, only attacking on his signal.

Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few." And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul." Then Jonathan said, "Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us." - 1 Samuel 14:6-10

Application:

I want the heart that Jonathan had, that had an understanding and certainty of God. He is one who entrusted himself to God, as the psalmist wrote about, and grew in his knowledge of God. What we believe and who we believe in is nothing fake and, as we can see in Lamentations, there are consequences for not trusting in God, but what I really desire is for that heart that is so deeply rooted in Christ that it has a certainty of God. This is no laissez-faire regard, but a knowing that comes of having spent much time with God.

Prayer:

Lord, I give you myself. Mold me in the way you desire, that I would be fully prepared for the work you have appointed me to complete. Give me a heart that is confident in you. Grow me in the knowledge of you and in your humility.

I thank you for how you have worked in my life and  have granted me opportunities to serve you and to know you. I thank you for how you have grown my marriage, even in this short time and I thank you for my wife, who is a blessing to me. 

As I prepare for school and she for work, I ask for your blessing on us both.

Forgive me my sins and give me the strength to face temptatio today. Give me victory over sin, that I may point to you and give you glory.

Amen

26 August 2015

Scriptures:

• 2 Peter 1:1-11
• Lamentations 4
• 1 Samuel 13
• Psalm 24

Observations:

• 2 Peter 1:5-7
• Psalm 24:3-4

In 2 Peter, we see peter outlining what maturity in Christ looks like as it progresses. In Lamentations, conversely, we see the description of a people who were once God-honouring, but now have turned their own way. In 1 Samuel, we see the moment of Saul's fall: in his haste, he did not wait for Samuel to come to seek God, but impatiently attempted to perform the necessary sacrifices himself, even though he was no Levite, appointed to intercede between God and Israel, going in direct, although well-intentioned, contravention of the law. The psalm today asks who shall be able to come forward to the Lord, the king of glory and lord of hosts, responding that he who has clean hands and a pure heart.

We see today a contrast. In 2 Peter and the psalm, we have the imagery of coming to God, who may come to God, and how we do so. In Lamentations and 1 Samuel, we see what disobedience is and the effects thereof. In fact, I want to write out two passages:

"5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." - 2 Peter 1:5-7

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully." - Psalm 24:3-4

Application:

To me, I think it's rather obvious. We're continuing the theme of clinging to God, but today, we're shown what some of that looks like. We're shown also, how easy it is to fall and the effects of falling.

So, the application is to add to my faith in all the ways outlined above, to not seek to honour what is false, but to seek cleanness of thought, action, and spirit.

Prayer:

Lord, I need quite a bit of work. I'm nowhere near perfect, but I am seeking the clean hands and heart that come from you. Lord, help me to grow in righteousness, that I may approach you and that my offerings would be honouring to you. Teach me your ways daily and give me opportunity t show you to those around me.

Amen

25 August 2015

Scriptures:

• 1 Peter 5
• Lamentations 3
• 1 Samuel 12
• Psalm 23

Observations:

• Lam 3:22-23

In this final chapter of 1 Peter, we see him exhorting the elders to shepherd the church wisely; we see him cautioning the younger towards humility; and we see him encouraging both to be sober-minded and firm in their faith, as the devil is a ready adversary. In Lamentations, what stands out to me is the first half of this chapter, in which Jeremiah writes that he is so overwhelmed and distraught with grief over the punishment of God, but then he changes tone and praises God for his love and constancy, even through punishment. In 1 Samuel, we have Samuel's speech at the transition of government from the judges to a king. What is notable is how Samuel rebukes Israel for seeking a human king instead of being content with God's kingship and how he encourages them to keep after God - if they continue to follow him, things will go well. If they disobey him, things will not go as well. The psalm is one praising God for his faithfulness and care.

Application:

Really, I see an exhortation through all of this to cling to God. We see God, here, as constant, faithful, a good shepherd, and loving. We see exhortations directly to cleave to God and encouragement to stand firm in our faith. I cannot stress this more. Cling to God and, though you may face trials, hardship, punishment, God will still be God. He will still be present, able to help, and willing. He will still lead you through to his table. He will still provide the best for you out of the hard times.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to cling to you. I thank you for the reminder to never forsake you, to stand firm in you and I ask for the wisdom and discipline to do so.

Help me in my daily life to live out your ways. Help me to show Christlikeness in my marriage. Help me in my daily struggles against the temptations and sins that come my way.

Forgive me of the sins I have already committed and thank you for the ability to come directly to you.

Amen

24 August 2015

Scriptures:

• 1 Peter 3:13-4:19
• Lamentations 2
• 1 Samuel 10:17-11:15
• Psalm 22

Observations:

• 1 Peter 3:14-15

The 1 Peter passage speaks very clearly on living after God. Live according to him and you will face persecution from the world around you, but you will also show a marked contrast between God and the world. In Lamentations, we see Jeremiah lamenting the punishment and fall of Israel. In 1 Samuel, we see the coronation of Saul and his first war victory. The psalm is one seeking the Lord and asking him for his protection.

The psalm and the 1 Peter passage fit nicely together. As Christians cleaving to Christ, we will face persecution and it will fell, at times, as though God has abandoned us, but we must take heart, as the psalmist does, and not forget he is with us. Israel fell because of their abandonment of God. Those who hold on to Christ are like wise men, who build their houses on solid rock and those who choose not to are like those who build their houses on sand, to parrot a parable of Christ's. Interestingly, the whole desire for a king and reign of Saul, as described in 1 Samuel, will follow the course of those who abandon God. At first, like this initial battle, everything goes well, but over time, we will see the strength of Saul and the holiness of Israel begin to falter.

Application:

For me, the big takeaway is to cleave to God, to stick to him like glue. We see what happens from abandoning God and we see how he looks after those faithful to him, though we are aware that we will not have things easy - persecution is a fact of life, especially for those who cleave to Christ. This is evident for anyone familiar with the history of the church.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to cleave to you. Give me the faith that endures, that I may honour you through any circumstance that life may bring. 

Be with my wife, who is not feeling well. Help her to recover. Help me to minister to her effectively, to be more sensitive to her needs than I have been, even when I am in a rush.

Be with our friends, some of whom are new parents, others of whom are waiting to adopt. Give them patience and endurance.

Guard my parents and siblings as they serve you today.

Amen