VOTD

Understanding – VOTD.02.26.18

Do you understand what you are reading? Acts 8:30

I was chatting with some very Bible-literate friends and they were marveling that so much of what the Bible is clear on is missed by so many people who avidly read the Bible. How can people miss what’s right in front of their eyes? I was explaining, from my background in cognition, how our brains pick up on an idea and then filter all new data through the filter of what we already know (or assume) and that makes us likely to read right over things that don’t square with the filter of what we already think.

It works like this: An idea is planted in our heads that we buy into. Then other ideas come along that don’t support or challenge our original idea. If we actually stop to consider these new ideas, we may find they create dissonance with our closely held belief. So, since our minds don’t like dissonance very much, rather than put up with the dissonance, we will either get angry at the person or book that presents the new idea, or more often, ignore it, without even realizing we’re doing it.

The evidence of this problem is everywhere. It’s the reason mystery-fiction writers can snooker us right up to the very end despite planting clues blatantly before our eyes. It’s the reason that political and religious zealots can completely miss the evidences that don’t support their mantra. It’s so pervasive in Bible teaching that I often pray that God would lead me beyond my own assumptions and understanding when I come to read or teach the Word. In fact, He has often answered that prayer and stretched my understanding. (more…)

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Hope – VOTD.02.20.18

We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people – the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven.  Colossians 1:4,5

A couple of important points of today’s verse:

1) Our hope comes from Jesus (heaven), and that hope produces two essential Christian qualities: Faith and Love. That’s how essential hope is, and it’s why the enemy attacks hope far more often than faith or love, individually. It’s also why the enemy gets along just fine with optimism. It masks the need for faith-and-love-producing hope.

2) We need to take hold of hope: God gives hope and our hope is in Him. Hebrews tells us that “we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” (Heb 6:18-20)

Sure, hope encourages us – it’s where we find Jesus’ strength and comfort. But hope also empowers us to seize what God has already determined to give us. Hope is the anchor which holds us to Jesus and His power. And notice this: It is hope that enters in to the mercy seat where Jesus is.

Which brings us to the difference between hope, and what often masquerades for hope: optimism. As we saw last time, hope is not some optimism trip or a mind over matter self-influence. Optimism and hope are not the same thing. The difference is this: optimism is inside of us; it rises from within us. It’s an attitude toward life that we choose, or maybe one we’re just born with or nurtured with.

However it got into us, optimism is internal, a personal disposition, part of our make-up… or not. But more to the point, if it’s something that’s just “in me,” it can fade away when life gets really tough. Or to use another image, it’s something like fuel that I have in my car’s gas tank. I can eventually run out of it. (more…)

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The Promises of God – VOTD.02.19.18

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. (1 Jn 5:14)

Hope, peace, and joy are only a few of the promises of God to every believer. His promises are both universal and unique – That means He has promises that apply to all believers and He has promises that apply only to me or to you, individually. Either way, it is in these promises that we walk out our Christian journey.

But it’s important to understand that God’s promises are not always inevitable – We may or may not experience all that God has promised us. Yes, God always keeps His promises. But often, whether or not we experience the fulfillment of one or more of His promises depends on whether we receive it and act on it. God’s promises are more like an invitation that He wants us to agree to join Him in.

So God has given each one of us an invitation, but we still need to RSVP. For example, He promises us, “Open your mouth and I will fulfill it. And you will see. The words that you speak, so shall it be.” (Ps 81:10) Now, that’s a promise. He’ll give us what He wants us to say, and He’ll back up the Words He puts in our mouths. But it depends on whether our “mouths” – our appetites for Him – are open to receive how much of that promise we will experience in our lives.

The point is, when it comes to God’s promises to us, we’re not passive in receiving His promises. We are co-laborers with Him. He is the King and we are the bride and we are called to actively walk out the faith that He provides us and by that faith to walk in the promises He has made. (more…)

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Hope, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit – VOTD.02.13.18

… so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

I want to tie up some loose ends today: The Holy Spirit is the one that produces His holiness in us as we walk in dependence on Him (Gal. 5:16-23; 1 Cor. 6:11). The Spirit opens our minds so that we can understand the truths of God’s Word (1 Cor. 2:9-13). These are some of our first baby steps in the Spirit.

The Spirit confirms our adoption as children of God and helps us as we struggle to pray (Rom. 8:15-17, 26). The Spirit strengthens us with power in the inner being so that Jesus dwells in our hearts through faith (Eph. 3:16-17). The Holy Spirit seals every believer so that we are kept for the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30).

So it’s not surprising that as time goes by, we find that the Holy Spirit is the power who produces in us His fruit, like Peace and Joy as we trust in Him, so that we abound in Hope.

This requires a shifting in how we think – how you and I perceive reality. We’re either going to limit our thinking to the natural, living in that place of limitation, or we’re going to open ourselves to the Spirit and enter into a Joy and a Peace that culminates in a life-attitude of Hope. (more…)

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Hope, Peace and Joy in Troubled Times – VOTD.02.12.18

Everything we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God has already been deposited inside us by his divine power. For all this has been lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him … As a result, he has given us magnificent promises … so that through the power of these tremendous promises we can partner with the God’s own nature.  1 Peter 1:3-4

This may sound so obvious you’d wonder why I bother mentioning it at all. But there are far too many Christians who, when reminded that they are supposed to be walking in joy and peace and hope, feel a sort of despair, or else they feel a huge burden – “I know I’m supposed to be that way and I try and try.” So I think it’s worth mentioning the obvious.

If we want joy, peace, and hope, the way to get it is by prayer, seeking God, and worship. There is no formula that can compare with this because God is the God of Hope, He’s the God of Peace, He’s the God of Joy. Outside of Him, it’s practically cruel to expect ourselves to have any of these fruits (results) of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

But God promises us Hope, Peace, and Joy. And like all of God’s promises, they come by us focusing on Him: A lot of God’s promises are found right in the Bible. Write them down on a list or memorize them so you can recite them over and over…especially when you aren’t feeling very peaceful, joyful or hopeful. The point isn’t the method, it’s that we meditate on God’s promises and focus on Him and His promises often.

Secondly, we need to change our minds about joylessness, grumbling, complaining, hopelessness, and peacelessness. They are not just unfortunate, they make us miserable and miserable to be around. They are the prayer language of hell. They are accusations against our God that He’s doing a bad job. Rather than bringing us closer to Jesus, which is the solution to all of this, they drive us further away.

When we feel overwhelmed with despair or depression, we need to use that as our cue to talk ourselves toward hope: Tell yourself again and again to hope in God. The depressed psalmist did this repeatedly: (more…)

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Joy in the Wilderness – VOTD.02.06.18

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka (tears), they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength… For the Lord God is their sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from them… Psalm 84:5-11

Jesus is faithful. In fact, His name is “Faithful and True” (Rev 19:11). And He promises to withhold no good thing from us as we walk in communion with Him. For “the lovers of God who chase after righteousness,” Proverbs promises, “find all their dreams come true: an abundant life drenched with favor and a fountain that overflows with satisfaction” (21:2).

…But in the wildernesses of life (pilgrimage), when we’re stuck in the valley of tears (Baka), we can’t see how God will ever bring His promises to pass.  When we aren’t even certain we have a promise in the first place, it can be difficult to rest in Him, and find the joy of the Lord, even in our wilderness.

We all find ourselves in the valley of tears or sorrows. Yet God enables us in those times and place to dig deep springs in our wildernesses; and He fills our efforts with pools of water as we are energized by Him (from strength to strength). We find Him to be the Giver of good gifts (sun-the source of energy and warmth) as well as our shield (protector).

But too often our focus is in the wrong place – when we spin-in on all our troubles, we miss the joy that is in His presence. Maybe we neglect the opportunity to rejoice in Jesus because the atmosphere isn’t very conducive to being joyful. We don’t feel like it. But if keep putting it off until the promise is fulfilled, there’ll be another promise we need fulfilled just around the corner that we will wait for… and the result is that we’ll never find rest and we’ll never be joy-filled.

Joy in the wilderness requires faith in the Lord of the wilderness. Faith will always be needed as long as we live in this world where we face trouble, and we need to know how to be joyful and rest, even in our wildness. That joy and rest come from deeper communion with Jesus, rather than our finding solace in our immediate circumstances… to discover by experience that “in His presence there is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11). (more…)

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Confidence in the Wilderness – VOTD.02.05.18

Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

Last time we talked about the God of hope filling us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we overflow with hope (Rom 15:13). Getting to know God and His ways builds trust and hope within us because we know Him personally, we know His character, we personally experience His love and care.

I sometimes call this experiencing Jesus first hand: Through the ups and downs of life, we grow in the knowledge and experience of His nature and character. By experiencing His grace over and over in all kinds of situations, He shows us what is really important, shifting our focus away from ourselves and our problems, desires, and priorities onto Him, His faithfulness, and His abundance.

And it is in this every-day experience – this receiving His comfort in the trials, his enablement to stand against certain defeat – walking with us through victories and setbacks (we don’t like setbacks, but He uses those, too), learning from experience “the secret of being content in any and every situation” whether in plenty or in need, that we can do all this through Him who gives us strength (Phil 4:12,13).

When our circumstances seem to be the opposite of God’s promises and hope is hard to find amid the distractions and bewilderment of loss and disappointment, desperation breeds further revelation of Jesus in us, the hope of glory (Col 1:27). The main and most foundational revelation that we need is finding Him not only as Lord and Savior but as our truest friend and bridegroom. Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians. In fixing our attention on Him, we are transformed into His image from glory to glory (3:18). (more…)

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Hope, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit – VOTD.01.30.18

Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! Romans 15:13

Today’s verse is what Paul prays for every believer to experience. When we read a verse like this, it can either fill us with excitement over what we have and the possibilities of where we can go from here, or it can be a bit daunting. “Does that verse even come close to describing me? Does my life is filled with all joy and peace in believing? Do I abound in hope?”

To varying degrees we all fall short of experiencing the uncontainable joy and perfect peace and life-radiating hope that Paul prays for each of us. But considering the dullness of many Christians’ faith-experience, it makes sense to seriously seek God to fill us with all joy and peace, so that we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So in a sense today’s verse is one of the most practical passages in the Bible for us all as we navigate life in a world where we are promised trouble (Jn 14:33). Firstly, if we face discouragement and disappointment, the place to go is God. He’s the source or supplier of hope. In fact, He is also the focus of our hope. Paul describes Him in 15:33 and 16:20 as “the God of peace.” He gives peace to His people. If we lack hope or peace or joy, the first place we should look for it in God, who is the source of all three.

Secondly, while the foundation for this abundant is hope found in Jesus, the structure of hope that is built on that foundation is being filled with all joy and peace. And Paul doesn’t pray that we will have a little bit of joy and peace trickling into our lives now and then. He piles up these superlatives to show us that God’s method of building on the foundation of hope is to fill us with all joy and peace so that we will abound in hope. (more…)

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I Told You So – VOTD.01.29.18

I TOLD YOU all of this so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence to rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” John 16:33

Jesus has taken away the power this world has to defeat us and has conquered it for us. The peace He promises is resting in his victory rather than being anxious about all that is happening around us.

In context, Jesus has been talking about two things: The sending of the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and the persecution His true followers should expect from the religious institution under whose domineering practices they lived. The two are connected:

Jesus is preparing His followers for a radical shift in their reality. They are about to move from the domination of human leadership which was both tyrannically self-serving and devoid of God (no matter how much they talk about Him), to an intimate relationship with Himself, enabled by the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. These two realities would be at war over their allegiance and their souls.

You see, Jesus had already told them this on several occasions, but in John 8 He makes it clear that His Father was God, and their ‘father’ was the devil. Not surprisingly, these two weren’t going to coexist very well. (more…)

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Hope and Disappointment – VOTD.01.23.18

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

Last time we looked at the later life of John the Prophet. In Matthew 11:2-6, John is arrested and thrown in prison, which seems really strange to those who believe the successful Christian life is all mountaintop vistas with sugar-gum trees. I mean, here’s John, the one who correctly understands himself to be the frontrunner of Jesus the Messiah. He has been faithful. In fact, even Jesus would say that there is not a greater man born than John…Then he’s thrown in prison…Then he’s executed.

One of the take-aways from the history of the Israelites is that the relationship between Hope and Disappointment. Same in the New Testament and church history: If we don’t want to be disappointed, forget about hope. Disappointment is always rooted in hope deferred or crushed. (Prov 13:12). We can’t be disappointed if we didn’t first hope that something in the first place. And none of us are exempt. Every one of us has had a plan, a dream, a vision of what we want to happen in our lives that doesn’t work out the way we had hoped at some level.

When that happens, disappointment is natural, certainly not sinful. But disappointment can be the tip of a mean-spirited iceberg if we let it. When our shattered dreams and plans erode our confidence… Our confidence in ourselves, our confidence in our ability to hear God correctly, and even in our God, Himself.

“So do not throw away your confidence, for you are destined for a great reward! You need to reveal God’s will and then you receive the promise in full (Heb 10:36,37) God is working a plan in each of our lives, and that plan is a good plan, but it will almost always play out differently than we think it will…maybe differently than we think it should.

So, here are some things we need to do if we were going to thrive (or at least survive) in the sometimes slower-than-we’d-like revelation God’s good, right plan playing out…even in ways that are also sometimes confusing and don’t seem to make sense [and, at times, if we’re really honest, disappoint us]. (more…)

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