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

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

Continue Reading »

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

Continue Reading »

Matthew 17-18 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Matthew 17:1-18:35.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1-4).

That’s the same question I keep asking today. “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Oo, Oo, is it me? Is it me?” How do I get to be the greatest in the kingdom? Do I need to write the best blog? Preach the best sermon? Give the most money? Sacrifice the most fun? Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.

Wait! What?

Be humble? Like a child? What’s the point of that. I don’t want to be humble. I want to be great. I want everyone to know how great I am. I want everyone to see that I’m the smartest, I’m the holiest, I’m the brightest, I’m the best, I’m the greatest.

The amazing thing is the greatest among us will have no knowledge of being the greatest. In fact, the greatest among us won’t even care about being the greatest. The greatest among us simply aren’t concerned about being the greatest among us.

I guess today I need to quit being so focused on being the greatest among us.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click the following link to add your input: Post a comment.

——————————————-

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

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.

——————————————-

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

Luke 19-20 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Luke 19:1-20:47.

“Beware the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts…” (Luke 20:46).

I needed to read this today. I understand that a scribe in this context was a copyer and student of the Law. But I can’t help also think about writers today. Namely, me.

Really it was a great thing to be a scribe. They were preserving and passing on God’s law for the present and coming generations. Scribes were needed. However, apparently many of the scribes lost sight of their purpose. Instead of glorifying God, they just wanted glory. They wanted to be noticed, so they wore special clothes. They wanted to be known, so they loved greetings. They wanted to be honored, so they longed for the best seats at the feasts. Being a scribe had ceased to be about God and begun to be about them.

I love to write. I love doing this blog, my other blog, and posting sermons on my congregation’s page. I love writing books. But there is a danger (and I’m sure it can be present in any profession). Why are we blogging? Why are we writing? Why are we preaching? Do we do it to be well-known? To receive credit for our own greatness, cleverness, wit, ability? Do we long to receive the greetings when we walk into a congregation’s assembly? Do we hope to be the one asked to lead the prayer? Do we seek the places of honor?

Writers, beware the danger. Readers, beware the writers whose writing is about them and not about God.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

——————————————-

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

Today’s reading is Matthew 23:1-24:51.

“And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:9-12).

I understand these are not absolutes. As a description of a role in the family or in learning, being called a father, an instructor, or a teacher is not wrong. Jesus isn’t talking about using these terms as descriptives of roles, but in the since of greatness. Don’t set anyone on a pedestal. We are all brethren. None of us is a Father. Only God is the Father. None of us is the teacher, only Christ is the teacher.

But this struck me differently today and I needed to hear it. Too often, I want to be seen as “THE TEACHER.” I want folks to praise me for my skills and abilities. I want others to set me apart as if I’m special because of my gifts and abilities. Not only must I not call others Father, Instructor, Teacher, I should not seek that kind of honor. This isn’t about me. It is about Jesus. It isn’t about me. It is about the Father. The more I strive to be exalted, the more I will be humbled.

Today, I need to exalt God. May He be praised. Look to Him for guidance, not me.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 1 Peter 5:1-14; 2 Peter 1:1-21.

“Likewise, you who are younger; be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

I don’t mind the next verse so much. It says I should humble myself before God. But this one says I should clothe myself with humility toward you. I don’t always like that one. I would much rather you clothe yourself with humility toward me. But that isn’t God’s way. Didn’t God Himself do this for me when Jesus clothed Himself in humble flesh to die for me. How much more should I do this for you.

I have found that only when I humble myself do I gain the grace to overcome my sins. As long as I am puffing myself up as if I’m the one who should be served or I’m the one who has been wronged or I’m the one who has rights, I find that sin, depression, struggle abounds. But when I’ve humbled myself to clean up my side of the street, freedom rests with me.

Today, I must clothe myself in humility toward God and toward you.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Romans 15:1-16:27.

“For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience–by word and deed…” (Romans 15:18).

But I want to talk about me. I want to talk about I. I want to talk about number one. Oh my me my.

Sorry, didn’t mean to break into song there. But that is the problem isn’t it. I so desperately want approval and acceptance that I want to talk about what I’ve done or can do. I want to talk about what I’ve accomplished. I want to make sure you know what I’m good at, what I’ve learned, what I’ve taught, what I’ve figured out, what I’ve written, what I’ve done. This is just foolishness.

Paul had a healthy head on his shoulders. This wasn’t about him. This was about Jesus. Certainly, he was proud to be part of Christ’s work, but he understood what was really going on. As he looked at those he’d taught, those he’d converted, those he’d helped, he knew who was really behind it all. It was Jesus working through him. He was just the tool. So, he would only boast in what Jesus had accomplished. “Praise God,” he was saying, “I’m just a tool.”

I hope I can permanently reside in Christ’s toolbelt. But to do that, I have to quit trying to be the one fixing everything and just let Christ live in me.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Romans 1:1-2:29.

“You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law” (Romans 2:23).

I believe I’ve misread this verse. I usually read it to be an accusation of hypocrisy against the Jews. But I’m not sure that flies. Did Paul really believe all the Jews were hypocrites? They all taught the law but disregarded it? I don’t think he would have seen himself that way. This was not an accusation of hypocrisy, necessarily, though I’m sure that fit some folks. This was just a matter of the way life was. These guys were putting all their hope in the law. The problem was, every single one of them, no matter their intention, no matter their sincerity or hypocrisy had violated the law. What good was hoping in the law or boasting in the law when they had all violated the law.

Now this hits me. What am I doing with the New Law. Certainly I believe there is one. But what good does boasting in Christ’s law do me. I have violated it. To boast that I know it better, that I teach it better, that I keep it better does me little good because I haven’t kept it perfectly. I dishonor God by breaking the very law I want to boast in. What am I to do? That goes back to Romans 1:17. I need to live by faith. That is, instead of putting my hope and boast in my ability to keep Christ’s law. I need to put my hope and boast in Christ, increase my faith in Him and His way and just do what He says.

If I’m not careful, I’ll end up being just like those Jews who boasted in a law they didn’t keep. Instead, I need to boast in Christ today.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?