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Transcript of the Video

Hello and welcome to giveattentiontoreading.com, where you can get your daily dose of the Great Physician’s medicine. Today’s reading is from Acts chapters 27 and 28. I’d like to give attention to Acts 27: 23-24, 43-44.

“For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

Verse 43 says:

But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

There’s a debate going on in the religious world today, and it’s been going on for centuries. The question is–Is it God or is it us? How much of God and how much of us? This story gives me so insight into that question. This story asks the question–Is it God or is it us?–and it gives the resounding answer…YES! 

First of all, we see that these folks were in a shipwreck and yet all of them survived. Who was it? Was it God or was it the people? Well, the angel of the Lord had said that God was granting that all of them should live for the sake of Paul. So it was God. But Luke also records that those who could swim jumped overboard and swam and those who couldn’t grabbed a hold of wreckage and floated to land. And so because of their swimming and their floating, they were saved. So it was the men.

Was it God or the men? YES!

You see, some folks, afraid that we’re going to take glory away from God, don’t want to admit that there’s something we have to do. Other folks don’t want to talk about what God is doing because they’re afraid we’re going to tell people that they don’t have to do anything. What we see in this story is  that the work of these men was only beneficial because God was working on their behalf. It’s like that statement attributed to Augustine: “Without God, I cannot. Without me, God will not. ” If the men hadn’t swam or grabbed hold of the wreckage, God wouldn’t save them. But if God wasn’t going to save them, it wouldn’t matter how much they swam or grabbed hold of the wreckage; they were going to die.

I have no idea exactly what God did in saving these men. But I know the angel says God was the one doing it. When I look at my own life, I have no idea exactly what it is that God is going to do so that I might be saved in the end. I don’t know how He’s going to work in my life today. But that doesn’t change the fact that when I’m done doing what I see in His Word, I need to glorify Him. My work is only beneficial because God is working on my behalf.

So, today, instead of getting bogged down in trying to figure out how much of it’s God and how much of it’s me, I just want to get in His Word. I just want to do what He says because I know He’s working for me. And because He’s working on my behalf, what I’m doing can actually accomplish something.

Praise God for working in our lives!

What are you going to do today?

Thanks again for checking out giveattentiontoreading.com. I’d love to know what you thought about today’s post. I’d love to know what else you got out of today’s reading. So feel free to drop down to the comments section and join the discussion. And don’t forget to come back tomorrow for another dose of the Great Physician’s medicine.

This is a video post. For my e-mail subscribers who can’t see the video, click here.

Transcript of Video

Hello and welcome to giveattentiontoreading.com, where you can get your daily dose of the Great Physician’s medicine. Today’s reading comes from Acts chapters 7 and 8. I’d like to give attention to Acts 7:25:

He supposed that his brothers would understand that god was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.

And also Acts 7:35:

This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, “Who made you a ruler and a judge?’–this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

This demonstrates the great problem that I often have. At first, Moses supposed that everyone would just understand that God was going to deliver them by his hand. I have that problem sometimes. I have a tendency to think that everyone else ought to understand the great things that God is going to accomplish by my hand.

My family’s going to be great by my hand.

My local congregation is going to do amazing things by my hand.

I can overcome your marriage problems by my hand.

I can fix your personal problems by my hand.

And I tend to suppose that everyone else agrees with me. But they rarely do. They just accuse me of being arrogant. The nerve of them.

But what made it really work for Moses? Not when he supposed that they would understand that God was going to deliver them by his hand. But when he finally began to realize that Moses could accomplish things by the hand of God. That’s what I need to recognize–not that God is going to accomplish amazing things by my hand, but that I can only accomplish anything by His hand.

And so, today, I need to quit thinking that God is lucky that I’m on His team, and, rather, recognize how lucky I am that God let’s me on His team. I need to quit thinking that God’s going to accomplish amazing things by my hand. And instead, today, simply surrender to His will, do what He says I’m supposed to do, and I’ll let Him decide what He’s going to let me accomplish by His hand.

Thanks again for checking out giveattentiontoreading.com. I’d love to hear what you think about today’s post or what else you got out of today’s reading. So drop down to the comments section and feel free to join the discussion. And don’t forget to come back tomorrow to get another dose of the Great Physician’s medicine.

For my e-mail subscribers who can’t see the video, click here.

Transcript of Video

Hello and welcome to giveattentiontoreading.com where you can get your daily dose of the Great Physician’s medicine. Today’s reading is Luke chapters 17 and 18. I’d like to give attention to Luke 18:9-14, where Jesus tells us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Phariess and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his hosue justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

I get one amazing lesson from this parable. How on earth could I ever think that I could impress God with my power and my righteousness? But that’s exactly what the Pharisee was trying to do. It’s as if he was saying, “Look at me, God. Look at how wonderful I am. Look at how awesome I am. Look at how righteous and holy I am.” How could he possibly think that he could impress God with his holiness and his righteousness? The God who created light from nothing. The God in whom is light and there is no darkness. How could he impress Him with his holiness and power?

Could you imagine me saying, “Hey, God, look at me. I did 5 giveattentiontoreading posts in just one week”?

“Really? I created the universe in just one week. Come back when you can beat that.”

And yet, that’s exactly what I try to do sometimes. I try to impress God with my righteousness. I do that because sometimes I convince myself that the only way I can get to heaven is if I impress God with how good I am.

But then I remember the tax collector. He didn’t try to impress God. In fact, he understood completely and utterly that he couldn’t impress God. And so he simply threw himself on God’s mercy. “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”

I’m going to quit trying to impress God. I’m just going to put myself into His merciful hands, surrendering myself to Him. I’m going to do what He says because I love His mercy. I’m going to go where He sends because God’s Way Works. (“You know that’s right!”)

So, I’m not going to impress God today. I’m just going to surrender myself to His mercy. How about you?

Thanks again for checking in at giveattentiontoreading.com today. I’d love to hear what you think about today’s post and what you thought about today’s reading. So, feel free to drop down to the comments section and join the discussion. And make sure you come back tomorrow for another dose of the Great Physician’s medicine.

For my e-mail subscribers who can’t see the video, click here.

Transcript of video

Hello and welcome to giveattentiontoreading.com where you can get your daily dose of the Great Physician’s medicine. Today’s reading is from Luke chapters 15 and 16. I’d like to give attention to Luke 16:13, where Jesus says:

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Jesus makes this comment in the context of financial matters. But I think we need to think about it in other areas of our lives as well.

You cannot serve God and fame.

You cannot serve God and power.

You cannot serve God and pleasure.

You cannot serve God and food.

You cannot serve God and lust.

You cannot serve God and sex.

You cannot serve God and your family.

You cannot serve God and your friends.

You cannot serve God and your self.

No matter what is vying to be put up on the pedestal with God, we’re going to have problems. Because we’ll end up loving the one and hating the other. Now some of those things I mentioned aren’t bad in and of themselves. But when they are vying to be  god in our lives, then it becomes a problem.

Only when God is first in our lives can everything else be in its proper place, if it has one. So the question we need to ask today is who am I going to serve today? Who am I going to let tell me how to live my life today? Today, I want to serve God. I want to go where He sends me, do what He tells me? How about you?

Thanks again for checking out giveattentiontoreading.com where you can get your daily dose of the Great Physician’s medicine. I’d love to hear what you thought about this post or what you thought about today’s reading. Drop down to the comments section and be a part of the discussion. Let’s hear what you have to say. And as always, come back tomorrow for another dose of the Great Physician’s medicine.

2 Corinthians 10-11 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 10:1-11:33.

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (2 Corinthians 10:17-18).

I need to read this every day. How easily I want to boast in me. I preached a sermon. I wrote a post. I put together some class material. I led a study. I baptized someone. I, I, I, I, I. Me, me, me, me, me. Someone complimented a sermon or class. Someone told me a blog post meant something to them. My head begins to swell, I start checking my stats. I start thinking I’m something.

God? Who is God?

Of course, I would never say that out loud. I would never even consciously think that. Instead, I would just not consciously think about God and His involvement. I just sometimes tacitly forget about God in my fervor to make sure you’ve heard about me. Have I told you about me yet? I’m pretty cool.

But then I remember that I am nothing. I think about where I’ve actually ended up when I was doing things my way and on my own. It wasn’t pretty. Anything I may accomplish for good is totally and completely by the grace of God. If I preach a sermon, it is because God gave the opportunity. If I actually say something meaningful and helpful, it is because God granted the words. If I get to baptize someone, it is because God caused the growth. I’m just a servant. I just go where I’m told and do what God says. Have I told you about God yet? He’s pretty cool.

Keep the faith and keep reading.

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Add your input by clicking the following link: Post a Comment.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

2 Corinthians 4-5 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:21.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

The Wordle above really says it all. Who is important in 2 Corinthians 4-5? Not me. Not you. God. Look at how small “self” is in that picture. Can you even find it? But look at how large “God” is. Look at how large “Christ” is. Look at how large “Jesus” is.

God has granted us exceeding great treasures through His ministry of reconciliation. We are growing from glory to glory. We can be ministers of reconciliation. We can accomplish amazing things in God’s kingdom and plan. How easy it is to get puffed up. I study with someone and think I’m special. I convince someone of the truth and I really think it was me. I baptize someone and I begin to think I saved them.

And yet, here we are still stuck in these earthly jars of clay. We still struggle and stumble. We still have troubles. We still lose jobs. Our bodies still get old and frail. Why? This is our ever-deepening reminder that the real power behind this ministry of reconciliation is God. Not us. God’s gospel is the power of God for salvation, not me. The surpassing power belongs to God, not me. I need to remember that.

Whenever I begin to think I’m starting to be pretty important in God’s eyes and plan. I need to come back to today’s Wordle and remember this is about God, not me. I can’t do anything apart from Him. He is the real power.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Add your input by clicking here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

II Corinthians 2-3 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 2:1-3:18.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

WOW! How awesome. The Old Law was great. It was glorious. So glorious in fact, that Moses had to wear a veil before the people after God had revealed Himself and given the Law. But we are part of something even more glorious. Here is why it is more glorious.

1. Only Moses was part of the glory under the Old Law. “We all” are beholding the glory of the Lord now.

2. The glory of the Old Law was fading away. In fact, Paul claims the reason Moses wore a veil was not to mute the reflection of God’s glory but to hide the fact that it was diminishing. We are part of a permanent glory. The glory of the Spirit’s ministry is about righteousness and will not fade.

3. We are not just taking part in something that is glorious, we are being glorified. The ministry of the Law couldn’t change us; it could only condemn us. But this ministry of the Spirit is actually transforming us step by step until we get to that final glory to be revealed to us in eternity (cf. Romans 8:18).

I’m totally stoked today to know that the Holy Spirit is working to take me from glory to glory. I think today, I’ll stick with God and just do what He says so I can be part of that glory.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Add your input by clicking the following link: Click Here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

1 Corinthians 2-3 (ESV) by Wordle

Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 2:1-3:23.

“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (I Corinthians 3:5-7).

It must be providence. We seem to get back to this chapter at just the time I need it most. How easily we preachers can compete. If someone has a different style, we want to prove that ours is better and they are making all kinds of mistakes. Maybe I shouldn’t say “we,” but should just say “I.”

But this isn’t just about preachers. And in my preaching is not the only place I do this. What about on the job? What about in parenting? What about in school? How often are we caught up in competitions to prove we are better. If anyone does anything differently, has a different personality, has a different approach or viewpoint, we immediately try to figure out why they are wrong and their way is bad. (Don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to say everything in the world is okay.) It is like we are caught up in this competition and the only way we will feel good about ourselves is if we can convince everyone else in the world that we are the best.

Paul had a different foundation. He wasn’t trying to be the best. He wasn’t in competition with Apollos. If Apollos had some success that Paul didn’t, Paul wasn’t deflated. If Apollos had some failure that Paul didn’t, Paul wasn’t elated. Paul understood that the real power in all of this was God. God has the right to use each of us as He sees fit. Praise God if He provides a victory through someone else. Praise God if He provides one through me. Praise God that He shows us our weaknesses so we can grow. Praise God for the opportunities, resources and abilities He has given to each one. We need to look past the various blessings God has given to each one of us as if they are an indication of how great we are and instead simply look to the blessing giver as the great one. We need to be thankful that He has blessed us and let us be part of His plan.

Today, I’m going to quit worrying about competing and proving I’m the best at whatever. Instead, I want to look to God and glorify Him because He is the best.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

PPS. Check out this video by One Time Blind. It took me watching it a few times to actually finally get the point. But I think it is spot on. Enjoy!

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Romans 3-4 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Romans 3:1-4:25.

“For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring–not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:14-16).

For too long, I have tried to gain the promise of God by adhering to His law. My problem has been I continually fall short. It is not that I don’t like the law or don’t want to follow God’s law. I do. But I have repeatedly fallen. What hope do I have?

Great in every respect. I have hope because I have discovered it is not the adherents of God’s law that receive the promise. In fact, so long as I’m trying to receive the promise by keeping God’s law, I won’t receive it. Rather, I make it void. How great is God!? It is not those who keep the law that receive the promise. It is those who share the faith of Abraham.

Why was Abraham righteous? Not because he kept the law. He lied and tried to get around God’s plan and who knows what else (God knows). He was righteous because he came to believe God and live by that belief. I don’t have to live in fear today because I’ve violated God’s law. I can live in faith today that He sent His Son to wipe my sins away. I can rely on His grace and know that I’m guaranteed His promise. I believe and therefore have access to His grace. I am free today to simply serve God as best I know how, turning to Him when I mess up because He is my gracious and loving Father.

Praise God!

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add your input by clicking here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Acts 23-24 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Acts 23:1-24:27.

“But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust” (Acts 24:14-15).

Paul believed the Law and the Prophets. Because he believed, he had hope in the resurrection. Because he had hope in the resurrection, he worshiped. Why do I worship? Is it a checklist item? Is it to impress God? Is it because I think it is commanded? Or is it because I have faith and hope?

God is bringing a resurrection. This life is not just about this life, but about the next. God is preparing a way for us to enter to the next with Him. For that, we honor and praise and worship Him. Praise God for His plan.

Why do you worship God?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add your input by clicking here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.