Now And Then – March 3, 2009

Now And Then

Mark 10:31

Jim Stephens

03-03-09

 

Scripture:

 

“But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then.” (Mark 10:31 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Now and Then.  Jesus said that many who were part of the religious in-crowd now would end up out in the cold then, and notorious sinners who were desperately hungry for God now would find a place in God’s Family.  Jesus said that many who pushed and schemed and forced their way to the front now, would be sent to the end of the line then, and patient, humble servants would be promoted.  Jesus said that many who worked so hard to accumulate wealth and hoard their valuable stuff now, would cross into eternity penniless and those who kept a loose grip on things and generously shared what they have now, would reap eternal rewards then.  Now and Then.

 

Application:

 

We live in a culture that values success, accumulation, achievement, promotion, and recognition.  Jesus was clear in communicating his values – the values of God’s Kingdom:  Humble yourself, serve from the heart, give generously of what you have, keep a loose grip on your stuff.  We must choose the right set of values to live the right kind of lives.

 

42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them. 43 But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45 NLT)

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I embrace the values of your Kingdom.  Please help me love and give and serve.  Help me let go, step back, and honor others.  Help me live by the upside-down, right-side-up values of the Kingdom of God.  Amen.

Indifferent – January 10, 2009

Indifferent

Genesis 25:33-34

Jim Stephens

01-10-09

 

Scripture:

 

33 So Jacob insisted, “Well then, swear to me right now that it is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his younger brother. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank and went on about his business, indifferent to the fact that he had given up his birthright. (Genesis 25:33-34 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Twin brothers.  Moments-older Esau was the athletic extrovert who loved the outdoors and who was his father’s favorite.  To him, by the priority of first birth, belonged the rights of the first-born son – the right to carry on the family name, the right to oversee the family business affaires, the right to inherit twice as much of the estate when father died.  Jacob, the quieter, likely introverted son, passionately cared about family, traditions, and rights, and wanted Esau’s privileges as first-born son.

 

When the opportunity came, Jacob offered hungry Esau a pot of soup and a loaf of bread in exchange for the rights that would matter significantly in the future.

 

Application:

 

Esau was indifferent to his privileges and to what that would mean in the future.  He lived for the moment, but not in a very wise or healthy way.  His indifference to true values and his willingness to make a cheap swap of future potential for present gratification is a lesson to me today.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, help me not to be indifferent to the value of my birthright as your child and never, ever, swap your potential plans for me in exchange for a momentary satisfaction of physical appetite.  You know how foolish I am.  Please keep me from temptation to trade the precious for the cheap, the eternal for the momentary.  Amen.

 

Babylon Is Fallen – December 30, 2008

Babylon Is Fallen

Revelation 18:1-3

Jim Stephens

12-30-08

 

Scripture:

 

1 After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor. 2 He gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal. 3 For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.” (Revelation 18:1-3 NLT)

 

Observation and Application:

 

Babylon is fallen!  There are three things referred to in the Bible as Babylon.  First, the city of Babylon, in present day Iraq, made powerful as the capital of Nebuchadnezzar’s empire.  Second, the city of Rome, center of Roman power is referred to as Babylon.  The world political and economic system is also called Babylon.

 

John says Babylon is passionately immoral, faithlessly adulterous, and that her appetites fuel the economy of the world.  It doesn’t take much to disrupt Babylon’s flow of cash and credit, of consumption and production.

 

God’s people, the faithful, are warned to get out of Babylon before she collapses.  To me that means that we should:

·        Place our trust in God as our source of supply and provision.

·        Adjust our values to align with Kingdom of God values.

·        Curb our appetites for consumption.

·        Disentangle ourselves from the credit system.

·        Be willing to adjust our luxury level.

·        Learn to give, share, and live more simply.

 

But that’s just me and it isn’t as easy as it sounds.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, help me to be willing to make the adjustments that allow me to live like a Kingdom of God citizen more than a Babylonian.  Amen.