Scripture:
Luke 12:31 “He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”
Observation:
I have such a hard time reading these promises. Same feeling I had yesterday when Christ tells us to just ask boldly and it will be given. I know my understanding and perspective are small, but I can’t see Jesus saying something like this with cryptic intent – ie “all you need” isn’t really food and water, but salvation. He was talking about food. I can’t see Jesus chuckling to himself afterward while he thought “no one can ever truly make the Kingdom of God their primary concern.” This isn’t love. Yet true worshipers of God, with basically nothing to be concerned about except the Kingdom of God, die every day from lack of food.
I can accept that such is the state of a broken world. I can accept that this is not the intent of God. I can accept that it is my very selfishness that contributes to others going hungry. That this occurs – I understand. It is the unfulfilled promises scripture makes, that Christ makes, that make me question. And that frustrate me. In many ways, Solomon’s teaching in Ecclesiastes lines up more consistently with my life experience – There are no guarantees for anything in this life – the good and the bad, righteous and evil, are all subject to the same circumstances on earth with no rhyme or reason to wealth, health, or happiness. Regardless of this, his final conclusion is to “Fear God and obey His commands.” This I can grasp.
Application:
Whether or not I sense these promises of Christ fulfilled in my life, or in the lives of people across the globe, the Kingdom of God will be my primary concern – if nothing else because I know that at that time, in that place, there will be no want for food, no need for healing, no cause for sorrow. Until then, I will fear God and obey His commands.
Prayer:
Lord thank you for promise of heaven that is fulfilled through Christ. Thank you for every measure of faith you give me – help me when I struggle. When you call me to be part of your plan of salvation, let me be attentive and obedient. Amen.
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:
Hebrews 13:14 “For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come.”
Observation:
Last month the Harts were in town painting the Dauer’s house – they stayed for four weeks. It was really fun to have them here, and they enjoyed it, but toward the end of their stay all of them grew very homesick and went home earlier than planned. Tallia actually stayed behind with Tom and Kathy to go to the cabin and she’s been away from her parents now for almost a week. You can almost see her heart aching for her parents. These are the feelings (I think) Scripture tells us to have regarding our life here. But it never really feels like that. I imagine my cushy and relative problem-free life contribute to feeling “at home” here. I also suspect if I were able to compare life here to life in heaven, I would feel quite differently.
Application:
One of my initial thoughts is that while I’m away from home, I’m less inclined to care what people think about me – “I’ll never see them again!” Another thought is that I don’t acquire stuff while I’m gone – perhaps seasonal clothing, if forgotten at home; perhaps a small souvenier or gift, but not furniture. Is there “furniture” that I’m collecting? It also occurs to me that, while away from home, most of my money goes toward relational purposes. Am I making the most of my earthly resources to build relationships while I’m “away from home”?
Prayer:
Well Lord, as I prayed before I began today, I can’t make this time happen without your help. Please give me the drive to get up despite the amount of sleep I get. Thank you for meeting me here each morning. Give me an “away from home” mindset and correct my perspective.
Scripture:
Joel 2:13 “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief; instead, tear your hearts.”
Observation:
How often do we make an inappropriate response to grief? Tearing your clothing seems an odd practice to me, though it is certainly well documented in scripture as a sign of mourning. As is typical of God though, he doesn’t “want an outward display of penitence without true inward repentance” (excerpted from verse note in the Life Application Study Bible). God is more interested in attitude than appearance.
Application:
I think the biggest area where my attitude doesn’t match my appearance is at work. I’m consistently frustrated by coworkers, whole departments, and general situations. I don’t think the correct course of action is to start losing it on people (man there are times I’d love to do that), but I need to figure out how to change me – my attitude. Life will always present opportunities with good reason to leave me frustrated and agitated – I need to decide beforehand that, no matter the circumstance, God is in control, and my heart will be at peace.
Prayer:
Lord, I want to be able to submit my attitude to you as a pleasing offering – help me make it so.
Scripture:
Matthew 14:13-14 “As soon as Jesus heard [of John's death], he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”
Observation:
John’s death was a tragic loss to Christ, the Kingdom, and Jesus’ advancing ministry. The personal grief must have been enormous, so Jesus attempts to find a solitary place to grieve and mourn. Instead he’s followed by a crushing crowd. Despite the heartache Christ must have been battling he is overcome with compassion for these broken people and heals them – a process which is described elsewhere as power going out – I don’t know if this affected Christ, but I know it would’ve been exhausting for me. Christ places others above himself even at what must have been one of the lowest points in his life.
Application:
Others should always be my top concern. Unconditional love applies both to the conditions of the other and to the conditions surrounding me. The state I am in should not effect how much love I show.
Prayer:
I know that when these times come the well of my own love and energy will be far too shallow – please help me depend on your resources.
