Scripture:
When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire." Matthew 26:40-41 (Msg.)
Observation:
As Jesus faces his betrayal, trial, and death, He is understandably anguished. Being God and man, simultaneously, He is loathe to walk the path He must yet willing to do what is asked of Him. During these dark hours, He turns to His disciples, His closest friends, and asks them to pray with him. Whether it was the darkness in the garden, the lateness of the hour, or influence of the evil of the time, the disciples cannot stay awake! Jesus repeatedly finds them not praying but sleeping.
Jesus offers Peter words of understanding not condemnation. He challenges him to discover and embrace the part of him that longs to follow after God and to rid himself of the part that wants to take the easy way.
Application:
I'm so very much like Peter: part of me is ready to take on whatever challenge God places before me, willing to follow wherever He leads; but the other part is, in Jesus' words, like a lazy dog, willing to spend my life resting by the fire. I want the following part to take over. I want to resist the laziness and comfort of my surroundings and embrace the path that God has mapped out for me. I know it will not always be the easiest, I know it will not always be what is expected by my culture, but I know I will find peace and contentment and fulfillment in following after God.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, will you look at me with the same eyes with which you looked at Peter? Will you somehow find in me the willing follower? Will you strengthen my resolve, firm up my discipline, move in my heart? I want to follow hard after you. I want to be your instrument, ready to be used. Give me the courage to live the life you have planned. Use me to do your will, whatever you want.
Amen.
Thursday May 8, 2008 by Keith
Title: Swimming in God's love
Scripture:
Psalm32:10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.
Observation: Sometimes the most complex things in life are simple. This maps out life’s two options: 1. Experience woes if you are wicked 2. Experience God’s love when you trust Him
There really are only two options in life. Trust the Lord or NOT!
I would love to say that I fall in the camp of always trusting the Lord. My favorite verse that I cling to is Proverbs 3:5&6 which starts with, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”
The result of trusting in God verse 10 of Psalm 32 tells us that the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds him. This is an awesome description… it’s like swimming in God’s love. An early verse in Psalm 32 described mighty waters that rise… this description was speaking of tumultuous times. However, with God on our side, we can be confident in His unfailing love and fully trust in Him despite our circumstances.
Application: As sit here in the morning, preparing to start my day, I can’t help but think, “Am I surrounded by God’s unfailing love?” I mean I can say it… but do I trust it?
Going back to Proverbs 3:5&6 do I trust in the Lord with all my heart and acknowledge Him in all my ways?
This is the goal today. Amongst my preparing, planning, meetings, and interruptions, how will I trust the Lord? Together with my brothers and sisters may we sense God’s unfailing love surrounding us. May the world around us get wet with God’s love because we trust in Him.
Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in you. I admit that I often pretend to fully trust you… yet hide insecurity in my heart. Today, I lay my life down and ask that you would do, as you will. For Your glory and Your fame. So be it and amen
Scripture:
Psalm32:10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.
Observation: Sometimes the most complex things in life are simple. This maps out life’s two options: 1. Experience woes if you are wicked 2. Experience God’s love when you trust Him
There really are only two options in life. Trust the Lord or NOT!
I would love to say that I fall in the camp of always trusting the Lord. My favorite verse that I cling to is Proverbs 3:5&6 which starts with, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”
The result of trusting in God verse 10 of Psalm 32 tells us that the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds him. This is an awesome description… it’s like swimming in God’s love. An early verse in Psalm 32 described mighty waters that rise… this description was speaking of tumultuous times. However, with God on our side, we can be confident in His unfailing love and fully trust in Him despite our circumstances.
Application: As sit here in the morning, preparing to start my day, I can’t help but think, “Am I surrounded by God’s unfailing love?” I mean I can say it… but do I trust it?
Going back to Proverbs 3:5&6 do I trust in the Lord with all my heart and acknowledge Him in all my ways?
This is the goal today. Amongst my preparing, planning, meetings, and interruptions, how will I trust the Lord? Together with my brothers and sisters may we sense God’s unfailing love surrounding us. May the world around us get wet with God’s love because we trust in Him.
Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in you. I admit that I often pretend to fully trust you… yet hide insecurity in my heart. Today, I lay my life down and ask that you would do, as you will. For Your glory and Your fame. So be it and amen
Monday, May 5th, 2008 by Randy
TITLE: Wrong Assumptions
SCRIPTURE:
1 Chronicles 19:2 (KJV) And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
OBSERVATION:
Nahash, King of Ammon had died. To show sympathy to his grieving son, Hanun, David sent messengers to comfort him. However, Hanum was adviced that they had come to spy out the city. So rather than receive David's kindness, Hanum reacted and had these men forcibly shaven and stripped. These actions were extremely humiliating for the men and insulting for Israel. My notes say that “In Israelite culture, all men wore full beards. It was a sign of maturity and authority.”
What happened? Simple. Nanum misread David’s movtives. Worse yet,even when he realized that David was angry, Nanum would not back down. Rather than rethinking the advice he received or seek clarity, he got "ready to rumble!" The tensions escalated, ending in the Ammonites defeat in battle. Interestingly enough, David was the first Israelite ruler to conquer the Ammonites, even though he never intended to go to war with them. And it all started with a wrong assumption.
APPLICATION:
How often have I made wrong assumptions? Or wrong assumptions have been made about me? It is so easy for us to be overly suspicion of another’s actions. I should never “fill in the blanks” but rather seek clarification. The sad thing is that when I leave a situation unresolved, almost always, it escalates into something far worse. I need the courage and grace to have those crucial conversations, even when they are difficult.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for reminding me today about the importance of communicating clearly with others. Forgive me for the wrong assumptions I’ve made about others just as I forgive those who have made wrong assumptions about me. Please give me the wisdom and the courage to do what’s right. AMEN.
SCRIPTURE:
1 Chronicles 19:2 (KJV) And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
OBSERVATION:
Nahash, King of Ammon had died. To show sympathy to his grieving son, Hanun, David sent messengers to comfort him. However, Hanum was adviced that they had come to spy out the city. So rather than receive David's kindness, Hanum reacted and had these men forcibly shaven and stripped. These actions were extremely humiliating for the men and insulting for Israel. My notes say that “In Israelite culture, all men wore full beards. It was a sign of maturity and authority.”
What happened? Simple. Nanum misread David’s movtives. Worse yet,even when he realized that David was angry, Nanum would not back down. Rather than rethinking the advice he received or seek clarity, he got "ready to rumble!" The tensions escalated, ending in the Ammonites defeat in battle. Interestingly enough, David was the first Israelite ruler to conquer the Ammonites, even though he never intended to go to war with them. And it all started with a wrong assumption.
APPLICATION:
How often have I made wrong assumptions? Or wrong assumptions have been made about me? It is so easy for us to be overly suspicion of another’s actions. I should never “fill in the blanks” but rather seek clarification. The sad thing is that when I leave a situation unresolved, almost always, it escalates into something far worse. I need the courage and grace to have those crucial conversations, even when they are difficult.
PRAYER
Father, thank you for reminding me today about the importance of communicating clearly with others. Forgive me for the wrong assumptions I’ve made about others just as I forgive those who have made wrong assumptions about me. Please give me the wisdom and the courage to do what’s right. AMEN.
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