Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — February 2010
Joshua 8 & 9 -- Ask Even About The Smallest Stuff
Back in chapter 7, the people of Ai had soundly whipped the Israelite army. Once God had revealed Achan's sin and dealt with it, the army was once again told to ready for the attack. Three times in chapter 8 I read, "Then
Back in chapter 7, the people of Ai had soundly whipped the Israelite army. Once God had revealed Achan's sin and dealt with it, the army was once again told to ready for the attack. Three times in chapter 8 I read, "Then the Lord said to Joshua ..." As the new leader, Joshua is beginning to see the real advantages of close and constant contact with God. Sure enough, God blessed their plans and the cantankerous city was destroyed.
But victory has a way of taking our minds off God. It may even develop spiritual cockiness in us at times, and once again Israel found itself between a rock and a hard place for just that reason:
The leaders of a nearby city, Gibeon, didn't want to suffer the fate of the residents of Ai and Jericho at the hands of the Israelites, so they used the same type of subterfuge that intelligence agencies today use - everything about their appearance was designed to make the Israelites believe that they'd traveled from a country outside of the Promised Land to seek a peace treaty with Israel, although they actually lived close by.
The big mistake that Israel made was listed in 8:14 - "They did not ask the LORD what to do." Israel believed the lie and soon found itself in a binding contract not to kill one of the very groups of people God had commanded them to destroy. One would think that a promise to God would trump a contract made by deception, but my commentary pointed out their wisdom in honoring the treaty, because later Saul would attempt to destroy these same people and would be punished for it.
Maybe we don't want to bother God with the small stuff, or maybe we think there is some level of urgency beyond which we should automatically call upon Him. But that simply isn't the case. God is already working on the details of every person's life. He appreciates being asked and included in our planning. I've been amazed at how He helps me even when I pray about miniscule things - like locating a lost piece of paper! He doesn't want to be seen as simply some noble patron granting medium- to large-sized favors. He's Lord of every part of our life, and reaching out in faith on even the smallest things glorifies Him!
Father, help me to remember to bring everything to You. Guide me in every aspect of my life. Teach me to never be afraid to ask and remind me to ask often!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
But victory has a way of taking our minds off God. It may even develop spiritual cockiness in us at times, and once again Israel found itself between a rock and a hard place for just that reason:
The leaders of a nearby city, Gibeon, didn't want to suffer the fate of the residents of Ai and Jericho at the hands of the Israelites, so they used the same type of subterfuge that intelligence agencies today use - everything about their appearance was designed to make the Israelites believe that they'd traveled from a country outside of the Promised Land to seek a peace treaty with Israel, although they actually lived close by.
The big mistake that Israel made was listed in 8:14 - "They did not ask the LORD what to do." Israel believed the lie and soon found itself in a binding contract not to kill one of the very groups of people God had commanded them to destroy. One would think that a promise to God would trump a contract made by deception, but my commentary pointed out their wisdom in honoring the treaty, because later Saul would attempt to destroy these same people and would be punished for it.
Maybe we don't want to bother God with the small stuff, or maybe we think there is some level of urgency beyond which we should automatically call upon Him. But that simply isn't the case. God is already working on the details of every person's life. He appreciates being asked and included in our planning. I've been amazed at how He helps me even when I pray about miniscule things - like locating a lost piece of paper! He doesn't want to be seen as simply some noble patron granting medium- to large-sized favors. He's Lord of every part of our life, and reaching out in faith on even the smallest things glorifies Him!
Father, help me to remember to bring everything to You. Guide me in every aspect of my life. Teach me to never be afraid to ask and remind me to ask often!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Joshua 10 -- So I Think I'VE Had A Long Day??
Over the last 40 days, it certainly seems that I've been busier than just about any other time that I can remember, but God showed me all of that was nothing compared to one particular day in the Bible. At the request of the people fr
Over the last 40 days, it certainly seems that I've been busier than just about any other time that I can remember, but God showed me all of that was nothing compared to one particular day in the Bible.
At the request of the people from Gibeon who'd tricked the Israelites into agreeing to a peace treaty, the Israelite army marched all night from Gilgal for a surprise attack. They engaged the combined armies of five city-states, decimating the armies on the battlefield, then chasing the survivors as they fled. The Israelites then watched in awe as God took over the battle for them, throwing down large hailstones from the sky that only hit enemy soldiers and not a single Israelite!
The battle was going so well that Joshua asked God to halt the sun and the moon in their tracks for an entire day to give them a chance to finish the battle! God agreed, and a miracle that defies every natural law occurred. It seems impossible to explain, but God DID it, and it is not beyond the Creator of the natural world to do supernatural things. Before the day ended, the five kings who started the fight were hanging from trees and all their soldiers lay dead. That was truly the longest day in history.
My commentary quoted Matthew Henry about why Joshua pressed the battle so hard: "But why needed Joshua to put himself and his men so much to the stretch? Had not God promised him that without fail He would deliver the enemies into his hands? It is true He had; but God's promises are intended not to slacken and supersede, but to quicken and encourage our endeavors."
God's promises enabled. So long as we are working within that enablement, we aren't really overworking.
Father, please energize me with Your promises. Keep me eager to be working beside You, in Your timing. Help me to have the desire to do Your will as Joshua had.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
At the request of the people from Gibeon who'd tricked the Israelites into agreeing to a peace treaty, the Israelite army marched all night from Gilgal for a surprise attack. They engaged the combined armies of five city-states, decimating the armies on the battlefield, then chasing the survivors as they fled. The Israelites then watched in awe as God took over the battle for them, throwing down large hailstones from the sky that only hit enemy soldiers and not a single Israelite!
The battle was going so well that Joshua asked God to halt the sun and the moon in their tracks for an entire day to give them a chance to finish the battle! God agreed, and a miracle that defies every natural law occurred. It seems impossible to explain, but God DID it, and it is not beyond the Creator of the natural world to do supernatural things. Before the day ended, the five kings who started the fight were hanging from trees and all their soldiers lay dead. That was truly the longest day in history.
My commentary quoted Matthew Henry about why Joshua pressed the battle so hard: "But why needed Joshua to put himself and his men so much to the stretch? Had not God promised him that without fail He would deliver the enemies into his hands? It is true He had; but God's promises are intended not to slacken and supersede, but to quicken and encourage our endeavors."
God's promises enabled. So long as we are working within that enablement, we aren't really overworking.
Father, please energize me with Your promises. Keep me eager to be working beside You, in Your timing. Help me to have the desire to do Your will as Joshua had.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Joshua 11-13 Complete Obedience Brings Complete Victory
I like what I kept reading about Joshua: "Joshua did what the Lord said to do ... He did just as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded ... Joshua did everything the Lord had commanded Moses." Even when Joshua was v
I like what I kept reading about Joshua: "Joshua did what the Lord said to do ... He did just as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded ... Joshua did everything the Lord had commanded Moses."
Even when Joshua was very old, God reassured him that he hadn't yet worked himself out of a job. There was still much land to take. He wasn't retiring after 40 years in the wilderness and seven years of war taking the new land.
In the sidebar of my Bible, Tim Burke, a major league pitcher, writes: "Several beneficial things did happen as a result of committing my career to the Lord. From that day on, I knew I had to concern myself only with my OWN effort and then trust the Lord with the results. If those results were good, it would be great; if they were bad, I would still believe He wasn't going to make His first mistake with me. If God was ultimately in charge of my career as well as my life, I didn't have to worry about what might happen as a result of my performance, because God was in charge of my future, whether it was in baseball or not."
Father, I want to be like Joshua, steadfastly believing and obeying every direction I receive from You, whether in my work or my personal life. I do believe that You aren't about to make Your first mistake with me either. Thank You for loving me so!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Even when Joshua was very old, God reassured him that he hadn't yet worked himself out of a job. There was still much land to take. He wasn't retiring after 40 years in the wilderness and seven years of war taking the new land.
In the sidebar of my Bible, Tim Burke, a major league pitcher, writes: "Several beneficial things did happen as a result of committing my career to the Lord. From that day on, I knew I had to concern myself only with my OWN effort and then trust the Lord with the results. If those results were good, it would be great; if they were bad, I would still believe He wasn't going to make His first mistake with me. If God was ultimately in charge of my career as well as my life, I didn't have to worry about what might happen as a result of my performance, because God was in charge of my future, whether it was in baseball or not."
Father, I want to be like Joshua, steadfastly believing and obeying every direction I receive from You, whether in my work or my personal life. I do believe that You aren't about to make Your first mistake with me either. Thank You for loving me so!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Joshua 14-16 A Man That God Could Write About
I'd have loved to have known Caleb. Like Joshua, he was the only other man who'd been born in Egypt and remembered what life had been like there. Every other man his age had died during the wilderness trek, except his frien
I'd have loved to have known Caleb. Like Joshua, he was the only other man who'd been born in Egypt and remembered what life had been like there. Every other man his age had died during the wilderness trek, except his friend Joshua.
He'd been 40 years old when he'd first set foot in the Promised Land as a spy 45 years earlier. He'd helped carry the huge cluster of grapes on the pole on his shoulder with other men as they hiked back out to make their report. He'd spotted Hebron and loved the place, and God promised it to him for his faithfulness. He'd probably never dreamed that he'd be waiting longer than he'd already been alive at the time before he would be declared its owner. I really loved what this now-85-year-old young man said about himself: "The other men who went with me [to spy out the land] frightened the people, but I FULLY BELIEVED the Lord ... Now then, then Lord has kept his promise ... Now here I am, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out, and I am just as ready to fight now as I was then. So give me the mountain country the Lord promised me that day long ago."
He didn't want the beach, where an old man could tread softly on the level sand. He wanted the mountains, the fresh air, the pines, and the challenge - for there were still descendants of Anak living there - the giants - and he was ready to take it from them. No easy retirement for him. What a man! What a believer!
Father, keep me strong, both physically and spiritually. Remind me often of Your faithfulness to me, and I will continue to give You the glory. I want to be a man like Caleb, who never gave up, and who always saw the promise of what His future with You held.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
He'd been 40 years old when he'd first set foot in the Promised Land as a spy 45 years earlier. He'd helped carry the huge cluster of grapes on the pole on his shoulder with other men as they hiked back out to make their report. He'd spotted Hebron and loved the place, and God promised it to him for his faithfulness. He'd probably never dreamed that he'd be waiting longer than he'd already been alive at the time before he would be declared its owner. I really loved what this now-85-year-old young man said about himself: "The other men who went with me [to spy out the land] frightened the people, but I FULLY BELIEVED the Lord ... Now then, then Lord has kept his promise ... Now here I am, 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out, and I am just as ready to fight now as I was then. So give me the mountain country the Lord promised me that day long ago."
He didn't want the beach, where an old man could tread softly on the level sand. He wanted the mountains, the fresh air, the pines, and the challenge - for there were still descendants of Anak living there - the giants - and he was ready to take it from them. No easy retirement for him. What a man! What a believer!
Father, keep me strong, both physically and spiritually. Remind me often of Your faithfulness to me, and I will continue to give You the glory. I want to be a man like Caleb, who never gave up, and who always saw the promise of what His future with You held.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Joshua 17-19 Receiving The Blessings
Any time people try to decide how to do a job, there will always be differing opinions. I've seen that just this week, and it was even happening in the book of Joshua. Back in Egypt during the glory days, Jacob had adopted Jose
Any time people try to decide how to do a job, there will always be differing opinions. I've seen that just this week, and it was even happening in the book of Joshua. Back in Egypt during the glory days, Jacob had adopted Joseph's two sons as his own, and he'd promised them both an inheritance, effectively making Joseph the first-born with a double portion of the inheritance. Fast forward to Joshua's time, and part of the land they'd received was, by their own choice, east of the Jordan. When the remainder was assigned within the Promised Land, their lands adjoined each other, and they tried to say they'd only been give one portion rather than two, and that they were a large group and needed more land. Joshua turned their arguments against them, saying that if they had so many people, then they could clear the forests and make better use of the land they had. In God's wisdom, He'd placed Joshua as a wise and charismatic leader whom the people would listen to and obey.
So which tribe ended up with the best deal? My commentary thinks it was Benjamin - Joseph's younger brother. Benjamin's land included Gilgal, where the stone "billboards" had been erected after the people had crossed the Jordan and stepped into the land. The first Passover had been celebrated there and the nation was once again circumcised there. The ruins of Jericho were still visible. "The portion belonging to Rahab's house remained standing as a testimony to the grace of God, which always responds to faith. A Benjamite could always visit here whenever he needed a fresh reminder that the battle was the Lord's."
It also contained Bethel, which reminded them of the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Jerusalem, which would become the royal city, but which wouldn't be conquered until David's time. "What a rich lot fell to Jacob's youngest son," my commentary said.
Father, I value my spiritual markers far above anything else I have, because they too speak of what You've done in my life. Thank You for calling me back to You, for causing me to seek after You through Experiencing God. Thank You for helping me to share what You've taught me with spiritual brothers and sons. Thank You for taking me to my own sons a whole world away, and for bringing them back here. Your portion is exceedingly above all that I deserve. Thank You for planting me in the Promised Land of Your faithfulness.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
So which tribe ended up with the best deal? My commentary thinks it was Benjamin - Joseph's younger brother. Benjamin's land included Gilgal, where the stone "billboards" had been erected after the people had crossed the Jordan and stepped into the land. The first Passover had been celebrated there and the nation was once again circumcised there. The ruins of Jericho were still visible. "The portion belonging to Rahab's house remained standing as a testimony to the grace of God, which always responds to faith. A Benjamite could always visit here whenever he needed a fresh reminder that the battle was the Lord's."
It also contained Bethel, which reminded them of the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Jerusalem, which would become the royal city, but which wouldn't be conquered until David's time. "What a rich lot fell to Jacob's youngest son," my commentary said.
Father, I value my spiritual markers far above anything else I have, because they too speak of what You've done in my life. Thank You for calling me back to You, for causing me to seek after You through Experiencing God. Thank You for helping me to share what You've taught me with spiritual brothers and sons. Thank You for taking me to my own sons a whole world away, and for bringing them back here. Your portion is exceedingly above all that I deserve. Thank You for planting me in the Promised Land of Your faithfulness.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Joshua 20-21 A Father Provides And Protects
God had the Israelites set up cities of refuge, and anyone guilty of accidentally killing another was no more than 30 miles from one of those cities, where he could run to safety and escape the victim's avenging relatives. The sideba
God had the Israelites set up cities of refuge, and anyone guilty of accidentally killing another was no more than 30 miles from one of those cities, where he could run to safety and escape the victim's avenging relatives. The sidebar in my Bible says that God did this in justice and love for His people, "providing for all their needs, even for unforeseen accidents."
It goes on: "To recognize God as lord is to acknowledge that He is sovereign and supreme in the universe. To accept Him as Savior is to accept His gift of salvation offered on the cross. To regard Him as father is to go a step further. Ideally, a father is the one in your life who provides and protects. That is exactly what God has done. He has provided for your needs. He has protected you from harm. He has adopted you. And He has given you His name. God has proven Himself as a faithful father. Now it falls on us to be trusting children. Let God give you what your family doesn't. Let Him fill the void others have left. Rely upon Him for your affirmation and encouragement."
Father, I've only been a dad to my own sons for about seven years now. I'm far from perfect, and I still have much to learn. Please give me the wisdom and discernment I need to love my sons and to raise them up to be men after Your own heart. Help me to love each of them according to their own personalities and as You designed them. And let it always be with the unconditional love You have for me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
It goes on: "To recognize God as lord is to acknowledge that He is sovereign and supreme in the universe. To accept Him as Savior is to accept His gift of salvation offered on the cross. To regard Him as father is to go a step further. Ideally, a father is the one in your life who provides and protects. That is exactly what God has done. He has provided for your needs. He has protected you from harm. He has adopted you. And He has given you His name. God has proven Himself as a faithful father. Now it falls on us to be trusting children. Let God give you what your family doesn't. Let Him fill the void others have left. Rely upon Him for your affirmation and encouragement."
Father, I've only been a dad to my own sons for about seven years now. I'm far from perfect, and I still have much to learn. Please give me the wisdom and discernment I need to love my sons and to raise them up to be men after Your own heart. Help me to love each of them according to their own personalities and as You designed them. And let it always be with the unconditional love You have for me.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Joshua 22-24 Their Dirty Little Secret
In Joshua's farewell address to Israel, I wonder how many people found themselves thinking, "BUSTED!" when he said, "Throw AWAY the gods that your ancestors worshiped on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt.&qu
In Joshua's farewell address to Israel, I wonder how many people found themselves thinking, "BUSTED!" when he said, "Throw AWAY the gods that your ancestors worshiped on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt." I think his heart must have ached at the fact that God had led Abraham out of the land on the other side of the Euphrates River, through Canaan; that He'd safeguarded Jacob's family to Egypt during the famine in the Promised Land; that He'd rescued them out of Egyptian bondage and purified their ranks during 40 years in the wilderness, then fought for them for 7 years while they took the Promised Land, but through it all, those foreign idols had been smuggled and snuggled despite God's faithfulness. My commentary said, "Idolatry seems to have been one of Israel's besetting sins."
So when Joshua makes his famous "Choose now..." speech, it's stunning that the choice he mentions "is not between the Lord and idols: Joshua assumed that the people had already decided AGAINST serving God. So he challenged them to choose between the gods which their ancestors had serve in Mesopotamia (pre-Abraham) and the gods of the Amorites that they had found in Canaan." In other words, their entire history was tainted with idolatry.
Joshua's choice is the correct one: "As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." When the people tried to agree with him, he said, "You aren't able to serve the Lord, because He is a holy God and a jealous God." Their idolatry wrecked their ability to serve.
Father, I don't want to be like them. Show me any idols that I continue to smuggle and snuggle, and give me the ability to rid them from my life. I don't want to be unable to serve You. I want to be like Joshua.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
So when Joshua makes his famous "Choose now..." speech, it's stunning that the choice he mentions "is not between the Lord and idols: Joshua assumed that the people had already decided AGAINST serving God. So he challenged them to choose between the gods which their ancestors had serve in Mesopotamia (pre-Abraham) and the gods of the Amorites that they had found in Canaan." In other words, their entire history was tainted with idolatry.
Joshua's choice is the correct one: "As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." When the people tried to agree with him, he said, "You aren't able to serve the Lord, because He is a holy God and a jealous God." Their idolatry wrecked their ability to serve.
Father, I don't want to be like them. Show me any idols that I continue to smuggle and snuggle, and give me the ability to rid them from my life. I don't want to be unable to serve You. I want to be like Joshua.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Mark 1 -- What Was In Their Church Might Have Surprised Them
My commentary noted several important background items in this chapter: "1) The First Advent of Christ apparently aroused a great outburst of demonic activity on the earth; 2) Christ's power over these evil spirit
My commentary noted several important background items in this chapter:
"1) The First Advent of Christ apparently aroused a great outburst of demonic activity on the earth; 2) Christ's power over these evil spirits foreshadows His eventual triumph over Satan and all his agents; and 3) wherever God works, Satan opposes. All who set out to serve the Lord can expect to be opposed EVERY STEP OF THE WAY."
That agrees with everything I read today. Another quote in my commentary also highlights something else that's quite obvious, but oh, what a shame to have to acknowledge it: "It is interesting to see how often He cast out demons in synagogues."
Wow, it hasn't changed much in 2000 years either. The issues may have changed somewhat, but the turf wars still seem to be ongoing as Satan fights back. I'm sure that those Jewish rabbis and priests would never agree that they weren't on the Lord's side, yet Jesus shows us how far from the truth well-meaning people can stray without knowing it. It seems that the litmus test is identifying just which group is attempting to keep others from experiencing God, and whether they are operating by rules or by a relationship with the Father.
Father, let us not be like those who so long ago opposed Your kingdom by their opposition to what You were doing around them to bring people to You. Soften the hearts of any who hinder Your will when they favor religion over relationship.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"1) The First Advent of Christ apparently aroused a great outburst of demonic activity on the earth; 2) Christ's power over these evil spirits foreshadows His eventual triumph over Satan and all his agents; and 3) wherever God works, Satan opposes. All who set out to serve the Lord can expect to be opposed EVERY STEP OF THE WAY."
That agrees with everything I read today. Another quote in my commentary also highlights something else that's quite obvious, but oh, what a shame to have to acknowledge it: "It is interesting to see how often He cast out demons in synagogues."
Wow, it hasn't changed much in 2000 years either. The issues may have changed somewhat, but the turf wars still seem to be ongoing as Satan fights back. I'm sure that those Jewish rabbis and priests would never agree that they weren't on the Lord's side, yet Jesus shows us how far from the truth well-meaning people can stray without knowing it. It seems that the litmus test is identifying just which group is attempting to keep others from experiencing God, and whether they are operating by rules or by a relationship with the Father.
Father, let us not be like those who so long ago opposed Your kingdom by their opposition to what You were doing around them to bring people to You. Soften the hearts of any who hinder Your will when they favor religion over relationship.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Mark 2 -- Oh, How This Should Cause Us To Re-Examine Everything We Do
Wow! How the Pharisees and scribes, thinking they were doing right, had gotten it all wrong! When Jesus told the paralyzed man who'd been lowered through the roof of the house that his sins were forgiven, and He healed his paralysi
Wow! How the Pharisees and scribes, thinking they were doing right, had gotten it all wrong!
When Jesus told the paralyzed man who'd been lowered through the roof of the house that his sins were forgiven, and He healed his paralysis, those leaders should have acknowledged Jesus as God. They'd been shown the proof. Their mindset was so targeted on their traditions that instead they accused Him of blasphemy! My commentary: "Belief involves the will, and they did not WANT to believe."
In contrast to them, Matthew was a tax collector for the Roman government, though he was a Jew. Jesus was walking by, saw him, and simply said, "Follow Me." Matthew hadn't even heard a sermon, but that special something about Jesus - that authority - was all it took. He believed, and he obeyed.
The leaders certainly didn't like Jesus associating with sinners at Matthew's house that night. Rather than going to Him about it, they tried to undermine the confidence and loyalty of His disciples by questioning them about it, my commentary said.
Jesus used the illustration of new wine in old wineskins to explain just how impossible it was to fit His kingdom into the old ways of Judaism. My commentary: "The new wine typifies the joy and power of the Christian faith. The old wineskins depict the forms and rituals of Judaism ... The joy and effervescence of the new life MUST be allowed to EXPRESS themselves..... Christianity has always suffered from man's attempts to mix it with legalism. The Lord Jesus taught that the two are incompatible. Law and grace are opposing principles."
When Jesus' disciples picked grain to eat as they walked on the Sabbath, the leaders started in again on them. "The very fact that Jesus' disciples had to pick grain as they traveled showed that things were not right in Israel. The Pharisees themselves should have been extending hospitality to Jesus and His disciples instead of criticizing them," according to my commentary.
WOW! How we need to examine everything we do as a church, looking at it from Jesus' perspective, to see which side we are falling on! We might certainly be surprised!
Father, soften our hearts and show us where we are more like Pharisees than followers of Your Son.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
When Jesus told the paralyzed man who'd been lowered through the roof of the house that his sins were forgiven, and He healed his paralysis, those leaders should have acknowledged Jesus as God. They'd been shown the proof. Their mindset was so targeted on their traditions that instead they accused Him of blasphemy! My commentary: "Belief involves the will, and they did not WANT to believe."
In contrast to them, Matthew was a tax collector for the Roman government, though he was a Jew. Jesus was walking by, saw him, and simply said, "Follow Me." Matthew hadn't even heard a sermon, but that special something about Jesus - that authority - was all it took. He believed, and he obeyed.
The leaders certainly didn't like Jesus associating with sinners at Matthew's house that night. Rather than going to Him about it, they tried to undermine the confidence and loyalty of His disciples by questioning them about it, my commentary said.
Jesus used the illustration of new wine in old wineskins to explain just how impossible it was to fit His kingdom into the old ways of Judaism. My commentary: "The new wine typifies the joy and power of the Christian faith. The old wineskins depict the forms and rituals of Judaism ... The joy and effervescence of the new life MUST be allowed to EXPRESS themselves..... Christianity has always suffered from man's attempts to mix it with legalism. The Lord Jesus taught that the two are incompatible. Law and grace are opposing principles."
When Jesus' disciples picked grain to eat as they walked on the Sabbath, the leaders started in again on them. "The very fact that Jesus' disciples had to pick grain as they traveled showed that things were not right in Israel. The Pharisees themselves should have been extending hospitality to Jesus and His disciples instead of criticizing them," according to my commentary.
WOW! How we need to examine everything we do as a church, looking at it from Jesus' perspective, to see which side we are falling on! We might certainly be surprised!
Father, soften our hearts and show us where we are more like Pharisees than followers of Your Son.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Mark 3 -- Warning: Steel-Toed Boots May Be Required
Verses 1-6 appear to continue the theme that God's been showing me over the last several days. Just imagine the conversation that one of these unnamed church attendees could have had before heading to church that day: "Honey,
Verses 1-6 appear to continue the theme that God's been showing me over the last several days. Just imagine the conversation that one of these unnamed church attendees could have had before heading to church that day:
"Honey, I'm headed down to the synagogue!" "Alright, dear. Do you think that strange man named Jesus is going to be there again? Isn't He breaking our rules?" "That's why I'm headed there. I'm going to keep a close eye on what He's doing and exactly what He's saying. Who does He think He is, acting like He owns the place? He didn't even follow the order in the bulletin! And so help me, if He breaks the rule and actually heals on the Sabbath, He's had it! How dare He try to break our rules!"
Verse 2 says about those people: "Some people watched Jesus closely to see if He would heal the man on the Sabbath day so they could ACCUSE Him." Now that's a fine reason for being in church!
My commentary gets right to the meat of it: "Imagine their hypocrisy and insincerity. THEY couldn't do anything to help the man, and they resented anyone who could."
Jesus asked, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil ...?" Of course they'd refuse to answer, because they knew the answer and didn't like the fact that He was right. My commentary: "His question revealed the Pharisees wickedness. They thought it was wrong for Him to perform a miracle of healing on the Sabbath, but not wrong for them to plan His destruction on the Sabbath!"
Unfortunately, the Pharisees didn't corner the market on hypocrisy. It's still alive and well today in churches all over the world, and it's used by Satan to thwart growth in our churches. Though not quite dead, one example from the 20th century would be attitudes ranging from distaste to revulsion of seeing people other than those of one's own race in worship.
But I believe it's grown even more insidious now. The rituals of that same era have somehow managed to become defined as worship. Where anyone ever became convinced that sitting reverently for an hour with thoughtful looks on their faces and appropriately-timed echoes of "Amen" (co-existing with unspoken disdain for anyone or anything that isn't "like we've always done it") is in fact worshipful of our Creator and loving God is a mystery! The Bible teaches that worship is not a building up of defenses, but an emptying of self; not looking to see that what everyone else is doing agrees with our own definition of worship, but not caring about anything else around us because we are in the presence of our Creator and Lord, focusing solely on Him and giving Him all praise that is due. One has to want to worship, and any thoughts that crowd out that focus on sensing God's presence and love is not worship. Jesus proved it with the people in these verse. Ritual is law-keeping. Worship is grace.
Father, how I wish each person in every church this Sunday could come for the right reason, could block out every distraction, and could focus on You and Your Son, giving You the glory for all You have done. Wouldn't You love it if worship broke out?
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
"Honey, I'm headed down to the synagogue!" "Alright, dear. Do you think that strange man named Jesus is going to be there again? Isn't He breaking our rules?" "That's why I'm headed there. I'm going to keep a close eye on what He's doing and exactly what He's saying. Who does He think He is, acting like He owns the place? He didn't even follow the order in the bulletin! And so help me, if He breaks the rule and actually heals on the Sabbath, He's had it! How dare He try to break our rules!"
Verse 2 says about those people: "Some people watched Jesus closely to see if He would heal the man on the Sabbath day so they could ACCUSE Him." Now that's a fine reason for being in church!
My commentary gets right to the meat of it: "Imagine their hypocrisy and insincerity. THEY couldn't do anything to help the man, and they resented anyone who could."
Jesus asked, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil ...?" Of course they'd refuse to answer, because they knew the answer and didn't like the fact that He was right. My commentary: "His question revealed the Pharisees wickedness. They thought it was wrong for Him to perform a miracle of healing on the Sabbath, but not wrong for them to plan His destruction on the Sabbath!"
Unfortunately, the Pharisees didn't corner the market on hypocrisy. It's still alive and well today in churches all over the world, and it's used by Satan to thwart growth in our churches. Though not quite dead, one example from the 20th century would be attitudes ranging from distaste to revulsion of seeing people other than those of one's own race in worship.
But I believe it's grown even more insidious now. The rituals of that same era have somehow managed to become defined as worship. Where anyone ever became convinced that sitting reverently for an hour with thoughtful looks on their faces and appropriately-timed echoes of "Amen" (co-existing with unspoken disdain for anyone or anything that isn't "like we've always done it") is in fact worshipful of our Creator and loving God is a mystery! The Bible teaches that worship is not a building up of defenses, but an emptying of self; not looking to see that what everyone else is doing agrees with our own definition of worship, but not caring about anything else around us because we are in the presence of our Creator and Lord, focusing solely on Him and giving Him all praise that is due. One has to want to worship, and any thoughts that crowd out that focus on sensing God's presence and love is not worship. Jesus proved it with the people in these verse. Ritual is law-keeping. Worship is grace.
Father, how I wish each person in every church this Sunday could come for the right reason, could block out every distraction, and could focus on You and Your Son, giving You the glory for all You have done. Wouldn't You love it if worship broke out?
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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