Scripture:
John 9-11: Jesus heals a blind man, claims to be the Son of God, and raises Lazarus from the dead.
Observation:
Several weeks ago I was at Todd and Laura’s house and one of the evenings I asked Finn if he would read to me; I was quite surprised when he lugged over a tome on the life and works of Michelangelo. As we started flipping through the book, we came upon many portraits of Christ and Finn started asking questions about who he is, and why he was on the cross. Honestly it was somewhat awkward, especially with Todd sitting right there. Whatever the case, I told Finn that Christ was on the cross because the leaders of his day were angry with his teaching because it challenged their authority and their laws. It was interesting.
I couldn’t help but think of that conversation when I read through these passages leading up to the pharisee’s ultimate decision to plot Jesus’ death. On one hand, it’s astonishing that they so completely missed it. He healed, he brought people to God, he brought people together. On the other hand, the understandable part, there is no greater affront to who we think we are or who we want to be than the person of Jesus Christ. We are born seeking our own fulfillment, desiring pleasure and decadence. Christ asks us to give it all up – every bit of ourselves – to him.
Application:
Have I been affronted by Christ? Am I threatened by his teaching? Have I really considered its meaning to me? Then, if I have, do I reflect Christ’s offensiveness to the human nature? Is my life an affront to anyone? Interestingly, my first thought is applied to “the world” around me – but to those, Jesus was life, he was healing, he was restorative. The people he offended were the religious around him. I can’t think of many examples in my life of people offending, at the very core, the Christians around them … Is there anyone around me whom I ought to offend?
Prayer:
Lord, I want to be responsive to your message; Though the sinful part of me should be challenged, it has hope in redemption. The religious part of me Lord – That is a deeper lie still; let me identify those portions of my life and expel them quickly.
Scripture:
Jeremiah 52 – Titled “The Fall of Jerusalem” in my Bible.
Observation:
God has sent dozens of messages through multiple prophets to his people. He’s begged them to turn from their evil. He’s sent small signs and big that he will not stand by while this nation lives in adultery with the idols and practices of other gods. He’s shown extraordinary grace, mercy, and patience. Yet their continued rebellion finally lead them to destruction – complete destruction. The Babylonians even go to the work of tearing down the walls – why spend the energy?! Everything is desecrated. God’s temple, a temple built in Solomon’s time with extraordinary investment of time and resources, is burnt, broken down, and carried off.
I don’t like putting Jenna in her room, or bopping her mouth, or taking things away – these are paltry in comparison. I can’t imagine the grief and the pain God must have felt as he watched this unfold – even though he set it in action. It would be devastating. Compare that with the scourging and crucifixion of Christ – his son. For the sins of God’s creations. Sin, if nothing else, grieves our creator, and it has devastating effects on our lives – even without punishment. But continued sin results in punishment – and however appropriate it is, I truly believe it grieves God more to carry it out than it does us to receive it.
Prayer:
Lord – forgive me. Show me the patience you showed Israel. Please let me heed the small signs in my life so I don’t need to be broken so far down to come back to you. Thank you for your love.
Scripture:
Jeremiah 38:20 – Jeremiah tells King Zedekiah “You won’t be handed over [to die] if you choose to obey the Lord. Your life will be spared, and all will go well for you.”
Observation:
Judah is being punished for years of egregious sin against the Lord. King Zedekiah is the lucky leader of the nation when this punishment is taking place – he has done nothing to turn the nation back to God. Yet God offers salvation to this wayward king even as his punishment rains down on Judah. The old testament certainly displays God’s wrath in response to jealousy, protection, and correction of His people. But along with that wrath comes sincere love for his people. Even those who refuse to listen.
Application:
I do not want to need severe correction, but I know that if/when the time comes for an area of my life to be burnt to the ground, I will trust my life to this God who is benevolent even in punishment.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your empathy and your kindness. In times when you offer me a good way to go, please let me take it.
Scripture:
John 16:9 “The world’s sin is unbelief in me.”
Observation:
Yesterday I was reading a post on Ed Stetzer’s site which compiled a several lists of accountability questions – questions which begged deep, honest reflection and ultimately lead to the question, “Am I becoming more like Christ in my thoughts and actions.” It’s a great post. One commenter said, “We have it backwards. I propose that we abandon our religions of good works, becoming instead a living temple of the Spirit that compels us to right living, rather than “living right” in order to fulfill some list of legal requirements.” I could only disagree with his thoughts on the matter. However, Jesus words combined with this man’s thoughts challenge how I view sin in other’s lives.
The greatest sin from which a person can repent is unbelief. It is at this point that Christ forgives all others. This is the sin which Christ has called us as Christians to battle. Then, we are to allow their relationship with Christ and the leading of the Spirit to shape their character over a lifetime. Yet I get caught up in the momentum of this great repentance and cringe at every continued act which I know doesn’t align with His direction. Ultimately, I think our responsibility as Christians is to admonish and edify one another toward a relationship with Christ, rather than away from sin. Only Christ can effect real life change.
Application:
Rather than getting wrapped up in people’s sin – whether the person believes, I need to stay focused on encouraging a relationship with Christ, and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.
Prayer:
Lord, my relationship with you has a positive impact on my life – help me be an evangelist about that relationship, to “sinners” and “saved” alike.
Scripture:
2 Peter 3:16 “Some of [Paul's] comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.”
Observation:
Scripture can be twisted to benefit oneself, and it can also be twisted for condemnation of another. Sometimes God disrupts our comfort with a protruding verse. The easy course is to massage that verse back into the Bible. One way we can do this is by twisting other Scripture until it “contradicts” the verse.
Application:
Like a wedding ring molds an indent on a finger, so should scripture mold my life. When reading the Bible, I need to be sure that I’m sensitive to the moments when a verse disrupts my comfort. Then I need to let it mold me, rather than trying to mold it.
Prayer:
Lord, let me not mold scripture, but let scripture mold me.
