What They Noticed – February 28, 2009

What They Noticed

Mark 7:1-2

Jim Stephens

02-28-09

 

Scripture:

 

1 One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to confront Jesus. 2 They noticed that some of Jesus’ disciples failed to follow the usual Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating. (Mark 7:1-2 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

A group of Jewish traditionalists, the “defenders of the faith,” made the three-day journey all the way from Jerusalem to confront Jesus for his “heretical teaching.”  Actually, they were jealous of his popularity with the people.

 

When they arrived, they noticed that some of Jesus’ disciples didn’t perform the Jewish ritual hand-washing before lunch.  Here’s what was actually happening:  “Wherever he went – in villages and cities and out on the farms – they laid the sick in the market plazas and streets. The sick begged him to let them at least touch the fringe of his robe, and all who touched it were healed.” (Mark 6:56 NLT)

 

People were being healed everywhere, in the streets and the market plazas, the gospel was being preached to the poor, the Kingdom of God was at hand, and the Pharisees noticed that some of Jesus’ disciples didn’t wash their hands before lunch!

 

Application:

 

People see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear.  If I have a critical attitude, I will certainly find something to criticize.  If I have a heart for the needs of the people, I will rejoice when I see them healed and I will find a way to get involved.

 

If you’re looking for something to criticize today, you’ll find it.  If you’re looking for a reason to rejoice at the compassion of Jesus and the goodness of God today, you’ll find it.  Your choice.  My choice.  Choose well.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I want to see your grace at work in the lives of others today.  Please may I speak words of encouragement.  Please may I see opportunities to serve and support.  Let me be like Barnabas who “Saw the evidence of the grace of God and was glad.”  Amen.

Allowed To Enter – December 23, 2008

Allowed To Enter

John 18:15-16

Jim Stephens

12-23-08

 

Scripture:

 

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. 16 Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. (John 18:15-16 NLT)

 

Observation and Application:

 

“That other disciple” is commonly thought to be John, brother of James, one of the “Sons of Thunder” and the author of this gospel account of Jesus’ life, ministry, and death.

 

John was a fisherman from Galilee and if he really is “that other disciple,” how did he get to be an acquaintance of Annas or his son-in-law Caiaphas, the two most prominent and powerful Jews of the day?

 

Two things (only two?) this makes me think about:

 

·        No matter if we think we know a person or know a person’s story, there’s a lot we don’t know and we shouldn’t jump to conclusions based on incomplete knowledge and information.

·        If we put all our knowledge, experiences, relationships, and resources in God’s hands he can use us to bless others in surprising ways.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, please forgive me for thinking I know John, and a lot of other people, based on incomplete information.  I don’t know them like you know them.  Help me to be open to learn more about people, and to be a better friend.  And while I’m at it, I place all my resources and my relationships in your hands.  I’d like to use any influence I have to open doors for others.  Amen.

 

Killing Jesus – November 22, 2008

Killing Jesus

Matthew 12:13-14

Jim Stephens

11-22-08

 

Scripture:

 

13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it became normal, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting and discussed plans for killing Jesus. (Matthew 12:13-14 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Sometimes the absurdity of religious thinking and behavior just jumps out and grabs me!  Jesus and his followers were constantly badgered by the Pharisees and the other strictly religious Jews for infractions of the Jewish ritual law – “working” on the Sabbath, eating meals without ritual hand washings, talking to women, associating with Jewish society’s rejects.

 

In this instance Jesus attended the weekly Sabbath service at a local synagogue and noticed a man in the congregation with a deformed hand.  The Pharisees knew that Jesus might want to heal the man, so they set up a challenge that would make such a healing about “working” on the Sabbath.  Jesus confronted their religious attitude and made it about doing good rather than about religious legalism.

 

They called a special meeting of the board and discussed plans for killing Jesus.

 

Application:

 

I wonder if I ever get involved in meetings and discussions about killing Jesus?  I don’t know how much religion I’ve got in me.  We are moving into a season in which I believe that the ministry of Jesus will be expressed in many non-traditional forms, places, and activities.

 

I don’t want to get caught up in judging the things Jesus does.  I don’t want to go to meetings where we discuss plans for killing Jesus!

 

Prayer:

 

Father, only you know what’s in my heart.  Please help me root out any religious legalism and wrong thinking that may be lurking in there.  May we never call a meeting to discuss plans for killing Jesus because he is doing things differently than we do!  Amen.

 

What Is Right? – November 8, 2008

What Is Right?

Job 34:1-6

Jim Stephens

11-08-08

 

Scripture:

 

1 Then Elihu said: 2 “Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge. 3 Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’ 4 So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. 5 For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights. 6 I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’ (Job 34:1-6 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Here’s the thing that stands out for me, reading through the story of Job this time:  Job’s friends said a lot of things that were true.  Job said a lot of things that were true.  Then they all made judgments based on the true things they thought and said.

 

Job’s friends said that God blesses good people and curses wicked people, therefore Job must be wicked.  Job said that God wasn’t listening to his cries for help and so God must not love him.

 

All of them said things that were essentially true, but none of them reached the right conclusion because they didn’t see the whole picture.

 

Application:

 

I want to be wise, but I want to be wise with the wisdom of God, not the wisdom of man.  I want to be able to take truths and observable consequences and form those into principles – like the Book of Proverbs does.  But I want to be aware of the bigger picture, an awareness that comes only by God’s Spirit, so that in wrestling with realities and truths in my own life and in the lives of others, I don’t make wrong judgments.

 

I keep seeing the scene from the episode of West Wing Jean and I were watching last night where the Jed Bartlet character was playing two chess matches at once and he said to the Sam Seaborne character, “You’ve got to see the whole board.”

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Please give me both wisdom and understanding.  Help me not to learn lessons that you’re not teaching.  Help me to blend reason and revelation, grace and truth.  Please.  Amen.

When You Have Repented – October 9, 2008

When You Have Repented

Luke 22:32

Jim Stephens

10-09-08

 

Scripture:

 

But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers.  (Luke 22:32 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Very intense time.  Jesus was aware of the suffering he was about to endure.  Judas had his betrayal plans in place.  The other eleven were jockeying for position in the Kingdom of God.  Peter was about to protest his courage.  Jesus saw Peter’s denial coming in the next few hours.

 

Jesus, speaking out of knowledge that Peter would very soon deny that he even knew Jesus, said, “I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail,” then knowing that the Father would answer this prayer, instructed Peter, “When you get through this personal failure, I’m counting on you to be a strength to the others.”

 

Jesus knew full well how badly Peter was about to fail him, yet he forgave him in advance, looked beyond this sin and failure, and saw Peter taking his role as leader and pillar of strength.

 

Application:

 

I know that Jesus looks at me and sees the mistakes and failures yet to come, then looks beyond those to my repentance and “turning to him again” and forgives me in advance and prepares a plan for me to be a productive and positive influence on others.

 

I want that kind of grace on me.   I want to be able to look at people and see them on the other side of their weaknesses, their mistakes, and their failures.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, thank you for seeing beyond my sins and failures again and again to a future in which I again and again repent and turn back to Jesus and influence others to get up and stand up and take another step of faith.  Please give me grace to see beyond the immediate messes to the ultimate successes.  Amen.

 

Stop Criticizing Others – September 23, 2008

Stop Criticizing Others

Luke 6:37

Jim Stephens

09-23-08

 

Scripture:

 

Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Mark Twain said, “It’s not the things I don’t understand in the Bible that bother me, it’s the things I do understand!”  Today’s Ready Set Go reading included chapters from Ezekiel that I don’t understand.  But these simple words of Jesus are pretty hard to avoid.

 

When I read these words, I am amazed at myself.  I can find reasons and excuses for judging or criticizing others… “I have the gift of discernment..”  “I need to warn others…”  “It’s my job to evaluate and point out failure or weakness or whatever…”

 

Application:

 

I decided upon reading this verse and thinking about it for a while that I’m going to try to obey it today.  Years ago I asked God to help me become a person whose life is marked by wisdom and who is known as an encourager.  I work on those things.  Today I’m going to work on not judging or criticizing others.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, What are we going to do with me?  I still have such a long way to go in the very simplest and most important things.  Please don’t give up on me.  Amen.

 

You Stood Aloof – September 9, 2008

You Stood Aloof

Obadiah 11

Jim Stephens

09-09-08

 

Scripture:

 

For you deserted your relatives in Israel during their time of greatest need. You stood aloof, refusing to lift a finger to help when foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem. You acted as though you were one of Israel’s enemies. (Obadiah 11 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

The nation of Edom was descended from Esau and Israel was descended from Jacob, many centuries earlier.  There had always been some conflict between them, partly caused by the resentment Edom felt because of God’s preferential treatment of the Jews, his “chosen people.”

 

Now that Israel and Judah were experiencing judgment and tragedy, Edom was rejoicing with the attitude, “You finally get what’s coming to you!” and even joining in with Judah’s enemies in plundering the helpless.

 

Application:

 

We must be very careful not to allow jealousy or resentment or a judgmental attitude to develop toward someone we feel has hurt us, treated us unfairly, or received preferential treatment.  God alone is in a position to determine judgment and to administer corrective judgment with compassion and mercy.

 

My response to the misfortune of others should be to pray for them and to offer assistance where I can, but never to gloat or secretly approve of their suffering.  It’s a heart issue.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I know that it is because of your great mercy we are not consumed.  Help me never to have an attitude of superiority or contempt towards someone who is suffering misfortune.  Help me not to assume that the misfortune of others is the judgment of God.

 

Live Not Die – September 2, 2008

Live Not Die

Ezekiel 18:23

Jim Stephens

09-02-08

 

Scripture:

 

“Do you think,” asks the Sovereign Lord, “that I like to see wicked people die? Of course not! I only want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.”  (Ezekiel 18:23 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

For prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah, who were prophesying right at the end of the warning period, right when it was time for judgment to fall, when it was too late to turn the tide, it must have been hard to remember that God is merciful.

 

The messages God gave to Ezekiel were so full of the detail of the sin and wickedness of the people – both those still in Jerusalem and Judah and those in exile in Babylon, that it just sounds like God hates them, is fed up with them, and will be glad to see them die.

 

But that’s not the case at all.

 

Application:

 

I have to be careful when someone hurts or offends me that I don’t expect God to stop loving them and feel the way I do.  When I see evil or injustice here in the US or in other parts of the world, I must not expect God to hate those who are taking advantage of others or persecuting them.  God loves the just and the unjust alike.  God loves me and the person who hurts me.

 

God doesn’t want to punish the wicked.  He takes no delight in judgment.  God only wants wrongdoers to repent – to turn from wrong to right, to turn from sin to salvation.

 

I must be as ready to forgive as God is.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, help me not to get caught up in the judgment game.  I must remember that you never do a “sting operation,” that there is no divine “Gotcha!”  I want to see people turn from wickedness, to live and not die.  Amen.

 

He Was Led To Prophesy – August 9, 2008

He Was Led To Prophesy

John 11:49-52

Jim Stephens

08-09-08

 

Scripture:

 

49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” 51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.  (John 11:49-52 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Caiaphas, the high priest, and his father-in-law Annas, the former high priest, were the key conspirators in the illegal plot to have Jesus killed.  They were jealous of Jesus’ popularity and fearful that his popularity would attract the attention of Rome and that the Romans would take away by force the measure of freedom they had to practice the Jewish religion and personally profit from their positions.

 

In spite of this, Caiaphas spoke a prophecy that perfectly aligned with God’s redemptive plan and aligned with other prophecies given through the centuries about the suffering and death of the Messiah.  What’s up with that?

 

Application:

 

Two things this made me think about as I read this story:

1. God honors and works through the principle of established authority.

2. God can speak through people I don’t trust or don’t even like!

 

James says in James 1:19, Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

 

For what it’s worth, God does things in ways I don’t understand and can’t always figure out.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Please help me to be quick to listen and slow to judge.  I believe you are in charge and that you do not need my permission nor do you need to explain to me why you put people in positions of authority nor why you use or speak through people I don’t consider credible.  I submit to your authority and your wisdom.  Amen.