What Good Is That? – December 19, 2008

What Good Is That?

John 6:9

Jim Stephens

12-19-08

 

Scripture:

 

“There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” (John 6:9 NLT)

 

Observation and Application:

 

This miracle, the feeding of five thousand men, plus women and children, is included in all four gospels.  It is a remarkable thing Jesus did here!

 

When he saw the hungry crowd and felt compassion for them, he challenged his closest followers, his disciples, to be part of a miracle.  He challenged Philip with the to consider the impossibility of a natural solution.  Andrew was aware of the meager resources at hand, a young boy’s lunch of sardines and biscuits.

 

Andrew spoke what is often on the mind of well-meaning Christ followers when faced with great challenges and limited resources – “What good is that?”

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I confess to thinking like Andrew did on that day – “The needs are so great and our abilities so small!”  “The future looks scary and this is all I have!”  Thanks for your patience with my “What good is that?” thinking.  I place all that I am and all that I have in your hands.  I believe it is good enough and that with the miracle touch of Jesus it will be more than enough.  Amen.

 

The Answers – November 12, 2008

The Answers

Job 40:1-5

Jim Stephens

11-12-08

 

Scripture:

 

1 Then the Lord said to Job, 2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” 3 Then Job replied to the Lord, 4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. 5 I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”  (Job 40:1-5 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

God reprimanded Job for his criticism of God’s justice and fairness.  It wasn’t that things were obviously fair and just from Job’s or any other human’s perspective.  It was that Job thought things through and came up with the wrong answers because he couldn’t see the whole picture.

 

Interestingly, God didn’t explain why all the bad things had happened to Job.  Encouragingly, Job humbled himself and repented for challenging God.  And his faith trumped his unanswered questions.

 

Application:

 

This story has helped a lot of people deal with unexplained tragedy and loss through the centuries.  Into every life come situations and circumstances that seem to have no right answers.

 

I need to know that God knows.  I need to know that he has the answers to the things I will never understand.  I need to know that he will forgive me for my fear, frustration, and questioning when I’m in the dark.  I need to know that the answers to life’s most challenging questions are revealed on a “need to know” basis.

 

Thanks, Job, for living the story that helps me deal with life when there seem to be no answers.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, please help me learn all I can – all I need to learn – from Job.  I don’t want to repeat lessons you’ve taught through the life experience of others.  I don’t want to hurt unless it’s the only way to get to where you want me to be.  Thank you for having the answers.  I love you and trust you.  Amen.

 

He Refused It – November 4, 2008

He Refused It

Mark 15:23

Jim Stephens

11-04-08

 

Scripture:

 

They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.  (Mark 15:23 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Crucifixion was a cruel and brutal method of execution.  The crucified person had to lift himself up with his legs, usually forced to put his weight on a spike driven through his feet, in order to take a breath.  It was an agonizing battle between the will to live and the relief that death would bring.  Death usually came by suffocation, when the body became too weak to take one more breath.

 

Jesus was offered a drug that would dull the senses, ease the pain, and probably bring death sooner.  He refused.  Jesus didn’t take any shortcuts.  He was paying the full price for all the sin and evil of all humanity and he bore the weight and experienced the agony of sin to the fullest extent.

 

Application:

 

How many times I’m tempted to take a shortcut.  Take the quicker easier route through a difficult situation.  Make excuses.  Seek preferential treatment.  Pull rank.  Manipulate.  Scheme to my benefit.  Blame someone.  Let someone else carry my part of the burden.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, forgive me for the times I’ve taken shortcuts in the journey you planned for me.  Forgive me for expecting or receiving preferential treatment because I think I deserve it.  Please give me the courage to walk the path you have laid out for me.  I’m not trying to be a hero here, I just want my life to please you.  Amen.

 

Our God Is Able – September 12, 2008

Our God Is Able

Daniel 3:16-18, 26-27

Jim Stephens

09-12-08

 

Scripture:

 

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! (Daniel 3:16-18, 26-27 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

I love this story!  I love everything about this story.  It’s got conflict and tension and even fire and smoke!  And I see four things in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that I want others to see in me:

 

·        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a “We do not need to defend ourselves before you” approach to the conflict.

·        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had an “Our God is able to save us” faith.

·        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had an “Even if he doesn’t” commitment to God.

·        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a “Didn’t even smell of smoke” attitude after the furnace experience.

 

Application:

 

I can see elements of each of these parts of their story in my trials and difficulties and I’m not as solid on all four as they were.  As I face my challenges, I’m tempted to waffle on any one of these and I want to do better.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, thanks for the example of these heroes’ “Our God is able” faith.  Please grace me with their other qualities as well.  I don’t want to go around “smelling of smoke” and complaining to others about how tough things are.  Keep my spirit sweet and my faith strong.  Amen.

Example For You – September 4, 2008

Example For You

Ezekiel 24:18-19

Jim Stephens

09-04-08

 

Scripture:

 

18 So I proclaimed this to the people the next morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did everything I had been told to do. 19 Then the people asked, “What does all this mean? What are you trying to tell us?”  (Ezekiel 24:18-19 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Every time I read through Ezekiel, I kind of dread getting to this story in chapter 24.  Jeremiah had it tough, being faithful as God’s prophet – persecution, accusations, beatings, imprisonment.  But Ezekiel really paid the price.  Not only did he have to do strange things like digging a hole in the city wall, and lying on his side for a year, he suffered the sudden death of his beloved wife just to make a point to the people!

 

15 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 16 “Son of man, with one blow I will take away your dearest treasure. Yet you must not show any sorrow at her death. Do not weep; let there be no tears. 17 Groan silently, but let there be no wailing at her grave. Do not uncover your head or take off your sandals. Do not perform the usual rituals of mourning or accept any food brought to you by consoling friends.” (Ezekiel 24:15-17 NLT)

 

God told Ezekiel and he told the people that all this was happening to Ezekiel as an example to the people.

 

“Ezekiel is an example for you; you will do just as he has done. And when that time comes, you will know that I am the Lord.”  (Ezekiel 24:24 NLT)

 

Application:

 

Like I said, I don’t enjoy reading this story.  This is really hard!  Then I thought about us.  Jean’s Mother died recently.  And I thought about Christians in the US who are going through terrible financial times right now.  I thought about how even when you’re a faithful follower of Christ, you still face hardships, sickness, death of loved ones.  And I thought about God’s explanation to Ezekiel and to the people.

 

When we go through really hard things, when we suffer loss, when we’re hurting, other people are watching us.  Others are seeing how Christ-followers handle the worst of life’s experiences.  As they see us go through these really difficult situations and respond in quiet faith, this scripture can be fulfilled for them…

 

“(My name here) is an example for you; you will do just as he has done. And when that time comes, you will know that I am the Lord.”  (Ezekiel 24:24 NLT)

 

Prayer:

 

Father, This morning I pray for special grace on me, my family, my friends, and my fellow Christ-followers as we face the storms, as we are hit with unexpected loss, as we face seemingly insurmountable challenges.  Help us to respond in faithful obedience – as Ezekiel responded to his tragic loss – so others will know that you are the Lord.  Amen.

 

Testing Philip – August 4, 2008

Scripture:

 

5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. (John 6:5-6 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

An impossible need is either a crisis or an opportunity.  Sometimes it is both.  Jesus could have ignored the need of the hungry crowd.  He and his followers had no obligation to feed them.  He could have cut the meeting short and sent them away.  But Jesus cared about the hungry people and he knew he could meet the need.  So this became an opportunity to test the current faith level of his followers and to create a learning opportunity for them and even for us, 20 centuries later.

 

Jesus made Philip part owner of the problem to test him.  And to teach him.  He wasn’t testing Philip to learn Philip’s faith level because later in the chapter, in verse 64, John says that Jesus knew all along who believed in him and who didn’t. He was testing Philip for Philip’s benefit.

 

When Jesus asked Philip how he would solve the crisis and meet the need, he already knew he was going to do a miracle.  Whether Philip got the answer right or wrong, the miracle was just about to happen.

 

Application:

 

How many of the problems and needs I face have in them the element of Jesus testing me?  Not so he can see what I’ll do – he already knows.  Testing me so I can see my current faith level.  Testing me so I can experience something that will take my faith to the next level.

 

Jesus already knows what he is going to do.  He wants me involved so I can learn and grow.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, thanks for such practical lessons from your Word.  I want to step up to the plate and swing at the pitch whether I know you’re testing me or not.  Help me to grow in faith and to help others grow in every faith-challenging situation.  Amen.