Old Testament

Let’s Get Real in 2017 – VOTD.01.16.17

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

I’m always intrigued by how people introduce another person. Often it’s just along the lines of what defines their relationship to the person doing the introducing (e.g. “This is Pam, my coworker…”). Other times it gets more descriptive (e.g. “This is Bill, a man of the Word…”). Often times, the way we are introduced has more to do with what the introducer values about us than who we actually are. (e.g. “This is Suzy, she prayed for my mother who got healed.”).

So a lot of the time, we don’t have much control over how we are introduced; and that introduction maybe be different than what we would prefer to be known as.

So I ask the question: who do you want to be, when people introduce you? What would you rather be that first impression? What would you like to be known for? If you could rewrite your profile on Facebook or some other social media, what would you want it to say about yourself that would set the people you meet on the right track to knowing who you really are? (more…)

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Kindness, Identity and Relationship – VOTD.11.28.16

While David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.  1 Samuel 23:15,16

We’ve been looking at foundational questions in the Christian life such as “Who am I?”, “Why am I here?”, “What is God’s plan for me?”, “Does God Love me?”… The answers to these questions make up our personal identity. And without healthy answers to such questions we will have a shaky foundation for practicing Christian graces such as kindness.

A final question: “So what?” “Does anyone even care who I am, that God loves me, that He has a plan for me?” Questions like that brings us to the topic of relationships. That is, in my life, do I have relationships that affirm my value to God and His plan for my life?

In today’s verses, we see Jonathan coming to David and encouraging him in the Lord—in context he’s affirming David in who he is, why he’s here, and what God’s purpose is for David’s life. We all need relationships like that. Because when we’re bombarded with feelings of rejection it’s easy to conclude that nobody loves us, nobody cares, then the enemy has us right where he wants us: defeated. We give up. Stop trying. Throw in the towel…

Withdraw, withdraw, withdraw. And that’s the hopelessness route. It’s the battleground of no value. They feel like they have no value, period. Self-rejection and unworthiness typify their lives. And their hearts turn off and they’re numb and they isolate themselves and they’re miserable and they don’t even know why. (more…)

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Our Identity – Seeking God – VOTD.11.22.16

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

Last time we drew our attention to Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Today’s verses follow right on the heels of that promise. Last night I saw this meditation which I wrote 5 years ago on the same verses and it fit well with our theme of our identity and practicing kindness. So I’m reproducing it here. You see, God’s plan is active and He calls his people to actively pursue it. And Kindness is what happens when we’re pursuing our identity in Jesus.

God is telling His people: I’ve got a good plan for you (v29), here are some things you can do
1. CALL to Me. God is calling us according to His purpose, Paul writes (Rom 8:28). In keeping with the purpose and plan God has for us, He calls us. But He wants us to call out to Him. “the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him (Rom 10:12). Calling on God is both simple and profound. It was so central to the identity of Christians in the early Church that they were referred to as “those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 9:14, et al., 1 Cor 1:2) (more…)

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The Identity of Kindness (pt 4) – VOTD.11.21.16

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Closely tied to the question we’ve been looking at related to our identity in Jesus and our practice of kindness (Who am I? Does God Love me?) is another question that makes up our identity: ‘Why am I here?’ For Christians, this comes down to God’s call on our lives. This is where His plan comes in.

It’s not uncommon for Christians at times to be obsessed with God’s plan for their lives. This is especially true when they haven’t established who they are in Jesus, or internalized the fact that God loves them immeasurably more than they can comprehend. (See parts 1, 2, & 3 of this series).

So if Christians try to determine, establish, and walk in God’s personal plan for them—without the foundation of identity and the love of God—they are more likely to fear His plan or their inability to attain it…than a faith-building confidence they find comfort in. It becomes a frustration, like finding a needle in a haystack.

And it’s come to a place where saying “God has a wonderful plan for my life,” becomes a Christian cliché rather than a truth we live from. When I meet other Christians they want my resume (they ask the questions—what positions do you hold? what roles do you play?). They are trying to discover my identity but they’re looking in the wrong place. (more…)

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A Spirit of Rejection – VOTD.11.07.16

Grant to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3

We’ve been talking in recent weeks about Christian kindness and some of the things that make kindness happen; some of the things that hinder it. One of the foundations for any of us practicing kindness is how we see reality around us—and that has a lot to do with how we see ourselves…and how we see God.

Kindness is a weapon in the spirit realm. So when it comes to spiritual warfare, the enemy wants to give us a lens—a way that we see things—that gives the side of evil an advantage. These lenses are not necessarily a just a temptation or an accusation, even though the enemy is good at both. But with a lens, the enemy gives us a way of thinking that envelops us, and a filter through which we see everything else— how we see others, how we see ourselves, how we see God. (more…)

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An Attitude of Thanksgiving – VOTD.10.31.16

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published (saying that anyone who prays to any “god” except the king would be thrown into the lions’ den), he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10

As we saw last time, when God tells us to give thanks in everything (Eph 5:20), He is actually prescribing the way for us to position ourselves to receive what He promises us.

Daniel is a great example of this. When he got down on his knees and thanked God he actually released the power of God into his dire situation. He released the favor of God upon himself.

Thankfulness releases blessing. It is an access to anointing God gives us to do great things for Him…to receive great things from Him…and to facilitate the fulfillment of His promises. Just like parenting children, it’s difficult to get into a situation where we’re rewarding an entitlement spirit by giving our children things they don’t appreciate. (more…)

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An Attitude of Entitlement – VOTD.10.25.16

The sacrifice that honors me is a thankful heart. It prepares the way so that I, your God, may show you my power… Psalm 50:23

There’s an old sermon illustration which I’ve enjoyed about two old friends who bumped into each other on the street after not meeting for quite a while. One looked dejected, on the verge of tears. His friend asked, “What’s the matter?” The sad guy answered, “Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, an uncle died and left me fifty thousand dollars.” “That’s a lot of money,” replied his friend. “Are you sad about your uncle’s death?”

“Well not really, it’s just that two weeks ago a cousin I never even knew died, and left me a hundred thousand free and clear.” “Wow! Sounds like you’ve been really blessed…” “Wait! You don’t understand!” the sad guy interrupted. “Last week my great-aunt passed away and I inherited almost half a million.” Now the friend was really confused. “Then, why are you so bummed out?” The sad guy answered, “This week no one died!”

We are a people that fall easily into an attitude of entitlement. God expects us to be thankful. Not in a circumstance-dependent way, but in a Spirit-induced way. If we are ever to practice kindness effectively, appreciation has got to be foundational.

Something that is often missed today, is that there’s an immense spiritual significance in thankfulness—in refusing to have to nurse and entitlement attitude. As today’s verse states, thankfulness is a significant key to release God’s power…a spirit of heartfelt and mouth-expressed thankfulness is one of the most life-shaping qualities you and I can possess.

Thankfulness releases God’s power. It gives us access to anointing (1 Jn 2:20). That is, it opens the way for us to experience a side of Jesus that we can’t so long as we live in an entitlement mindset. (more…)

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The Practical Side of Worship – VOTD.09.19.16

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Psalm 150:2

Most of us know Ps 46:10. It’s quoted often. It tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.” And we revel in the stillness and quietness of personally encountering Jesus with awestruck wonder.

But the in the context of today’s verse, the Bible also describes drums, cymbals, leaping and dancing, praising God with all our might, and shouting unto the Lord. This is not cacophony of confusion but joy-filled, overflowing worship—getting enthusiastic over WHO God is “His surpassing greatness” and WHAT He’s done—“His mighty acts of power”.

So which is it? Quiet meditation or outrageous, over the top, exuberance over God? Well, it’s both. There are times of the excitement of joy-filled, overflowing worship. And there are times to be quiet before the Lord in total awe at His character, amazing wonders, etc.

I was reading a list last week of ways we are called in the Bible to view God—to worship Him. It contained a whole lexicon of words like enthralled and exhilarated by God. Excited, astonished, amazed, and awed by God; ravished by Him, consumed, thrilled, obsessed, overwhelmed, enrapt, astounded, and absorbed, obsessed and eagerly preoccupied with God… (more…)

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Lighting the Fire of Worship – VOTD.09.12.16

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 7:2
Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

Metaphorically, worship is often likened to fire, biblically and traditionally. We’ve seen that the spirit of worship is fire within us, and the fuel that causes the fire to burn is our wonder and awe of Jesus. The more fuel, the hotter the fire. The more we seek God—the more we focus relentlessly on Jesus, the hotter our worship.

Problem is, it’s sometimes hard to get that fire started. For some Christians it’s just about impossible (without the Holy Spirit working in us). So how do we seek God? Today we’ll look at 3 ways we see in the Bible: (more…)

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Eagerly Seeking God – VOTD.09.06.16

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done.  1 Chronicles 16:10-12

Last time we finished with a question: How do we eagerly seek God? Today’s verse gives us a good list of things to do to prime the pumps of our praise:

“Glory in His holy name” Repeat His name often; repeat it over and over. Jesus is the name above all names (Phil 2:9,10). And there is power in His name. Even power to bring us into adoration. It’s in His name that every knee bows—even our overwhelmed hearts bow to His name.

“…let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice” Pursue joyfulness. “For the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10). Our culture pursues disgruntlement with all its heart. It values taking offense at everything. It’s hard to worship Jesus when we’re restless and dissatisfied. We need to instead, focus on God’s goodness to us. His love for us. His watchfulness. That’s how we cultivate joyfulness. (more…)

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