Archive for » January, 2010 «

Acts 5 Splatter

29
Jan 2010
By Andy

Today I’m getting lots of little impressions from various verses…

Scripture:

Acts 5:30 “The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by crucifying him.”

Observation:

It struck me that even at this point, Peter didn’t even fully understand God’s plan for Christ, nor did he understand his culpability. Peter was just as guilty as the pharisees, and just as guilty as me.

Scripture:

Acts 5:38-39 “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

Observation:

I like this guy (Gamaliel, an expert on religious law and popular with the people) – he’s level headed, and seems to have a “wait and see” attitude.

Application:

Those qualities remind me of Rick – they’re qualities I admire. Just a couple days ago I journaled about the vastness of God’s plan vs the blip of my life. My tendency is to gather the troops and raise the torches – if I’m viewing life and time from God’s perspective, “wait and see” is really a better reaction.

Scripture:

Acts 5:42 “Every day, in the Temple and in their homes, they continued to teach and preach this message: ‘The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus.’”

Observation:

That really is a great message, it’s still relevant, and it’s true for everyone. We’re all looking for a savior, we all have a sense of inadequacy. And the message is no less relevant to Christians – we’re not “saved” once when we make that first commitment – it’s really the start of an entire life humbling itself to be rescued over and over and over again.

Application:

I can think of personal situations and situations of friends to which we must remember: “The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus.”  I would do well to apply it more frequently.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for speaking to me today, thank you for meeting me. Please help me be less like me, and more like you.

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An Altar is a Memory

27
Jan 2010
By Andy

Scripture:

Exodus 20:24 “Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you.”

Observation:

The difference between the altar to God and the the temple for God are strikingly different. Initially I was just thinking/appreciating the simplicity, but the temple’s ornate construction popped into my head right as I started. I’m not really sure what value that gains me … However, the second part of vs 24 – “build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered.” We don’t build altars anymore (neither do we burn sacrifices). I’m not really sure I have a place to build one, a place where I remembered God’s name. Really my moments of meeting God have been right here in my living room, perhaps in “the tab” at Riverview. I suppose a lot changed when the curtain tore in the temple. God no longer meets people at singular locations, but wherever they cry out to him. Still, when I consider that I have a relationship with God, it occurs to me that there are certain places that remind me of different people, and it makes sense for the same to be true of God. That even though we’re together, something about place x reminds us of our first love.

Application:

I’m reminded of the spare coffee cup dad used to pour during his devotions to remind if of God’s presence. I’m sure the cup didn’t matter (which is clearly important), but it really did represent a sort of an altar – it identified that this place, right here, was a place where dad would remember the name of God, and established the desire to be blessed.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for reminding me of your name, and thank you for your blessing. Also – thank you for keeping the girls asleep!

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Get Moving

26
Jan 2010
By Andy

Scripture:

Exodus 14:15 “Then the Lord said to moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!’”

Observation:

I can hardly bare to type the phrase that comes to mind given its horrible misuse against the poor, but, none-the-less, this scripture reminds me “God helps those who helps themselves.” In fact, ironically, I think I’d find it more accurate if it were “God helps those who cry out to him.” I guess you just can’t put God in a box.

Moses turned to God as the Egyptian army approached his people, and despite God questioning his inaction, he gave Moses the direction that, presumably, he didn’t have before.

Prayer:

Well Lord … kids were up early again this morning. I can’t do this with them up. Please help them sleep later.

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My Tour God

22
Jan 2010
By Andy

Scripture:

Exodus 3:1-2 “One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, … and he went deep into the wilderness near Sinai, the mountain of God. Suddenly, the angel of the Lord appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush.”

Observation:

Moses’ story is one of my favorites. He has an extraordinary encounter with God and receives a very clear calling that he tries to talk God out of multiple times. And God persists. I love it because so often the saying goes that God uses the willing, but Moses is a clear example of a very unwilling servant. This is not, however, why I chose this verse.

Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law. The man who would lead a nation of slavery, who would be God’s vehicle for countless miracles, who would record the ten commandments. Looking after sheep. I think this is when most people encounter God – tending flock. In the midst of the course of our life, we are called to God’s assignment for us. Some, for events which will alter the course of their lives, others, for events that will alter the course of others lives.

Application:

The theme of God’s vast timeline has recently arisen frequently in my life. It’s hard to separate our timeframe from the short span of our life to observe God’s overall plan. And it’s hard to feel like there should be a plan for MY life, when God’s plan is quite a bit grander, and yields important results for me as an individual. I think we can tend to put God in the position of a tour guide and if our “tour” isn’t what we hoped, we’re disappointed. Instead, we should view God as the attraction – the reason we’re here. There is nothing more valuable we can be doing than standing in awe in appreciation of His magnificence.

Prayer:

Alright Lord … kids are up – I can’t think anymore, but I love you, thank you for meeting me!

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Cost of Ownership

21
Jan 2010
By Andy

Scripture:

Luke 21:1-4 – A poor widow gives all she has (two pennies)

Luke 21:34 “Don’t let me find you … filled with the worries of this life.”

Observation:

It is easier to give all you have and to be unconcerned about about the worries of this life when you only have two pennies.

Application:

Heh – as a “rich man” it’s hard to think about getting rid of everything. All my possessions are so practical, I need them, and the list of reasons to justify the things I own goes on… You can see it in the life of the rich man Jesus tells to sell everything and follow him. Whatever the case, I know that the less I own, the easier it is to let go, and the less likely I am to be concerned.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the vast wealth in my life, we are very fortunate.

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