clear river

Daily Bible 1-26-07

Scripture

Exodus 2:11-3:22
Matthew 17:10-27
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 5:7-14

Reflection Question

In the first half of the gospel reading today we find Jesus displaying a great amount of frustration. A boy had been brought to the disciples for deliverance but they were unable to free him. Jesus seems almost perturbed by the situation. "How long do I have to put up with these people?" is the basic idea here. After setting the boy free you can almost sense Jesus scolding the disciples for their lack of faith.

It's a good thing for us to see this side of Jesus. We preach a strong gospel of unconditional grace and so we do well to remember that our standing before God complete in Christ does not give us license to loaf!

Fight the good fight!
(1 Tim. 6:12)
Run the race with endurance!
(Hebrews 12:1)

Comments like these throughout God's word stir us to not only rest in Christ's finished work but to also follow hard after our Savior. Paul tells us in Ephesians that we can "grieve the Holy Spirit." (Eph. 4:30) None of us like the idea of provoking Jesus to the kind of exasperation presented here in the gospel but we can, in fact, do that very thing. You can hear it in the words of Jesus in Revelation 3 when he basically says "Get off the fence! Make up your mind! Follow me with all your heart or don't follow at all." He even suggests that he finds the lack of commitment rather nauseating.

Today, let's thank God for His grace that sees beyond our faults and secures us to His love but let's also repent of the grief we cause our Father when we refuse to grow up in that grace. Let's commit anew today to go after God with all our hearts. It will take a lifetime, but that's why it's called a race. Do you need to lay aside any thing today that hinders your heart from loving God more? (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Prayer

Father, I desire to bring joy to your heart! Forgive my complacency and indifference. Ignite a fresh desire within me to grow in Christ and fulfill your calling on my life. In Jesus name, Amen

 

Daily Bible

Scripture

Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10
Matthew 16:13- 17:9
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6

Reflection Question

Quite a roller coaster ride that Peter finds himself on! Rarely do you find a guy hitting such peaks and then falling in the mud so quickly.

Jesus asks Peter the crucial question that all of have to be asked: "Who do you say that I am?" When Peter answers, it's with the revelation that can only come from God's Spirit, not earthly flesh and blood. He must be elated in that moment. So easy for a new found insight to lead one to believe that they have a new level of authority! Hence Peter's attempt to convince Jesus that the crucifixion wasn't in the picture. "Get behind me Satan!" That's a bit of a come down from "blessed are you." That up and down simply reflects the truth of what happens to all of us. We are in a daily struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. If we're honest, we admit to being conquered by both several times a day!

When Peter gets invited to the transfiguration he's quick to offer the suggestion of a new building program. God's response is something for all of us to heed: Talk less. Listen to Jesus. Have you asked Jesus to speak into your heart as you read the scripture today?

Prayer

Father God, help me to be slow to speak and quick to listen. I feel so sure of things sometimes and yet I'm so often surely wrong! I need your wisdom. May your word penetrate my heart and renew my mind so that day by day the flesh looses ground and the "new creation" emerges. In Jesus name. Amen. 

 

Daily Bible

Scripture

Genesis 48:1-49:33
Matthew 15:29- 16:12
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 4:20-27

Reflection

This New Testament passage, like the feeding of the five thousand (14:15-21), reminds us of Jesus' power and care for us.

He heals the multitudes (15:29-31)
He acts out of compassion for their need (v. 32)
He provides for them (15:33-39).

What simple encouragement! The Lord of Heaven and Earth feels compassion for us and flows into our lives with healing and provision. Thanks be to God! One other item to rejoice in here: God does all this in spite of our reluctance to trust him. Think about it. The disciples have witnessed the feeding of the 5,000 already. They have seen what this Jesus can do with just a small amount of food. Now they face a smaller crowd with the same need and when the subject of feeding them is brought up by Jesus, they lapse into the same questions and doubts that it can be done!

Even more sad or funny depending on how you read it, is the account of them in the boat with Jesus afterward. Jesus is warning them about the deceptive teaching (yeast) of the Pharisees and they're fighting because nobody remembered to bring bread with them! Thank God that Jesus, the Bread of Life, promises to care for us and continues to work in our lives even when we still don't believe He can fill our baskets of doubt with hope for tomorrow. Is there something you are trusting God for today? Don't lose heart! He is able to do more than you can imagine.

Prayer

Jesus, Bread of Life, fill my heart with the peace that knows you are able to provide for my life and the grace to know that no matter what happens, you are completely worthy of my trust. In seasons of plenty and in times of want I will hold onto you. In your name, Amen

Daily Bible

Scripture

Genesis 41:17-42:17
Matthew 13:24- 46
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 4:1-6

Reflection

Jesus is teaching by the seashore. Why? It could be that his welcome in the synagogues has grown cold and now his ministry has shifted to teaching out among the everyday men and women.

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares is our focus. Several truths can be gleaned from this. We'll let Barclay give us the outline:

1) "There is always a hostile power at work." Even today there are parts of the world where the threat to "sow bad seed" is still made! We experience both the grace of God in our lives along with the influence of the one who comes to "kill, steal and destroy."

2) "It's hard to distinguish between those who are in the kingdom and those who are not." Remember our study in 1st John? People who seemed outwardly to be part of God's people eventually "showed their true colors" and left. We should never deceive ourselves by believing that we can never be deceived by others. Check out Matthew 7 for some insight on this.

3) "It teaches us not to be so quick with our judgments." Many times we're quick to judge but life cannot be judged by a short time span. Judgement comes at the end and often those who seem to begin well collapse at the end and those who often seem to fail now may end in great honor.

4) "Judgement will come." Why are so many allowed to revel in this life's pleasures and riches when their lives are in such rebellion to God? Why do so many who love God experience such hardship? Make no mistake, judgement comes to all men. Those who seem to escape consequence now will face grave ones in the future and in the New Heaven and Earth the blessings will set the balance right for those believers who suffer in this life.

5) "There is only one with the right to judge." How true a statement. Only God knows men's hearts. Only God sees the whole picture of a life. When we step into that role we can do great harm (v.28-29). If we do step into that role then we must be prepared to be judged as harshly as we judge others. (Luke 6:37)

Prayer

Father, great Judge of all, help me to see others through your eyes and heart of mercy. Keep me vigilant against deception but, in true love, always believing for the best in people. In Jesus name.

Daily Bible

Scripture

Genesis 39:1-41:16
Matthew 12:46- 13:23
Psalm 17:1-15
Proverbs 3:33-35

Reflection Question

One of the reasons the gospel parable is so well know is that we can all locate ourselves in it. All of us have probably been each of the "soil types" here at some point in our journey. Who among us never resisted the gospel? Who among us never loved this world more than we love God? Haven't we all felt the pressures and trials of our lives in such a way that we chose our way instead of God's?

What does "good soil" truly look like? Jesus gives us an insight in the verses preceding this parable. Who is "family" to Jesus?

"Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

When our hearts are intent on following after God and when we chose to obey Him it is then that we see a harvest in our lives. We were appointed to bear fruit; the fruit of Christ-like character and of changed lives. The harvest God wants to produce through us is "beyond anything we can ask or imagine." (Eph. 3:20) Let us take the plow of repentance and prayer to our hearts and determine anew to live fruitful lives of obedience!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, til the soil of my heart with the conviction and insight only you can give. I long to be good ground for the seed of your word. Let a harvest that glorfies you come forth in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Daily Bible

Scripture

Genesis 37:1-38:30
Matthew 12:22- 45
Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 3:27-32

Reflection Question

Today's passage is so full that we can't cover everything so let's focus on the idea that troubles so many. What is Jesus talking about when he refers to the unforgivable sin? What is behind this idea of "blasphemy" against the Holy Spirit?

First, let's remember that when Jesus says this, Pentecost hasn't happened. Jesus is talking to Jewish leaders about the Jewish idea of the Spirit. For them, the Spirit was necessary in order to receive and understand truth. In their understanding, every man has a Spirit given ability to recognize truth when it is presented. Now what happens when we don't use abilities? They deteriorate! In the same way that a muscle can atrophy from lack of use, or a talent can fade from lack of practice, this ability to hear God and understand truth can wither inside of us. These leaders had been opposing God and rejecting the truth for so long that when they encountered the power and truth of God revealed in Jesus they attributed it to evil. For them, wrong was right, truth was error and darkness was light.

Now, why would this be unforgivable? Quite simply because if we can no longer hear God and experience his conviction then repentance is impossible! Where there is no repentance, forgiveness is not an option. Jesus says that speaking against the Son of Man can be forgiven but not speaking against the Spirit. Why?  Jesus was a witness external to their person. The Spirit's witness was a presence within the person. Speaking against a witness is one thing but denying the internal conviction of the Spirit is another. Once conviction is gone, forgiveness is not possible.

Do you wrestle with doubts about whether you have committed this sin? Offer today's prayer from your heart.

Prayer

Father, thank you that the Holy Spirit lives in me. Thank you that my very concern is evidence that I am sensitive to the Spirit's conviction and long for your truth. Help me to practice hearing you in the Word and in prayer so that I will grow in my response to you. In Jesus name. Amen

Quotes

"I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy."

- Rabindranath Tagore

Daily Bible

Scripture

Genesis 32:13-34:31
Matthew 11:7- 30
Psalm 14:1-7
Proverbs 3:19-20

Reflection Question

Once again we see a passage familiar to many people. "Come to me all you who labor...I will give you rest... my burden is easy.." Comforting words and yet, once again, the context reveals some very challenging material!

Have you ever heard someone claim that if they could only see a miracle then they would believe? Have you ever thought that? It makes sense doesn't it? And yet the clear testimony of scripture is that the miraculous does not guarantee belief. The Israelites witnessed probably one of the most dramatic miracles ever when the Red Sea was parted but it wasn't long until they were bowing down to an idol of their own making. Jesus brings the point home here as he confronts the towns in which he did many miracles, suggesting that places such as Sodom would still be standing if they had witnessed the miracles.

The fact is that seeing is not necessarily believing! The key to believing is given to us in this passage when Jesus says that no one knows the Father except the Son and those "to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” How humbling! Do you believe in God? Do you know Christ? Then fall on your knees and give thanks. It is God who has chosen to reveal Himself to you!

Prayer

Holy Father, I bow in humble recognition that unless you had revealed yourself to me, I would still be lost. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit and the revelation he provides of Jesus Christ. Thank you for the gift of grace and the gift of faith to believe. Praise your name! Through Christ my Lord, Amen