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I Corinthians 14-15 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 14:1-15:58.

“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (I Corinthians 15:42-44).

The congregation with which I work has been focusing on confident living in Jesus Christ. We want folks in Christ to be confident about their salvation. We are convinced that confidence in God’s love is much more likely to produce love in us that constant doubts and worries (cf. I John 4:19). We are convinced that confidence in God’s working is much more likely to produce working out our salvation than doubts about God’s presence (cf. Philippians 2:12-13).

Paul reminds me that confident living is one thing. Confident dying is another. But where is my confidence if I’m not also confident at death. We have nothing to fear regarding death. Look at these pathetic, pitiful, perishable, dishonorable, weak, natural bodies. These are going to get put in the ground. We get to shed these bodies like a molting lizard. For those of us in Christ, we have hope beyond hope (earnest expectation, not wishful thinking) of our resurrection. This pathetic body is going in the ground but we will come out of that ground again with new bodies, with spiritual, powerful, glorious, imperishable bodies.

When the time of death draws near, why would I desperately cling to this frail flesh. Let’s die confidently, as we have lived, looking forward to the glories that will be revealed to us (cf. Romans 8:18).

Today, while I’m not hastening y death, I won’t fear it either. I’m going to live confidently so I can die confidently in Jesus Christ.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can 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.

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.

Luke 13-14 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Luke 13:1-14:35.

“He said also to the man who had invited him, ‘When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just’” (Luke 14:12-14).

Too often we develop relationships to get something in return. We are willing to serve, but only when we think someone will return the favor. We give gifts in hopes to receive gifts. We offer hospitality in hopes to receive hospitality. We extend friendship in hopes to get something out of the friendship. Jesus suggests a different course.

Certainly this is hyperbole. Jesus is not absolutely opposed to inviting friends over for a get together. After all, we consider the feast that Levi held for a large number of his tax collector friends back in Luke 5:29. But, we must not think the hyperbole here lets us off the hook. To whom do we extend our friendship? Who do we serve? Why do we do these things? Are other people a source of something for us? Or are we offering ourselves in complete service? Are we looking for some immediate and present day reward or recognition?

How much serving do we do for those who can’t possibly repay us? How much volunteering do we do for which we will not ever get paid and never receive notice? We’ve all learned it is more blessed to give than to receive. But Jesus here points out that even more blessed is giving when there is no possible way to receive repayment. Why? Because God will repay us in the resurrection.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can leave your comment 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.

Today’s reading is Matthew 27:1-28:20.

“But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen…’” (Matthew 28:5-6).

Is there any greater news on which to base our day? There is an empty tomb outside Jerusalem. No amount of searching is going to find the body of Jesus. Despite the lies of the guards, no one ever produced the body of Jesus. No DNA research will ever find Jesus.

I can live today, because Jesus lives today. I serve a risen Savior, not a dead prophet. I serve a risen Savior, not an imaginary god. I serve a risen Savior, not some mythical concept. I can turn to Jesus for strength and help. I can face today and tomorrow because He lives.

He is risen. Praise God.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Mark 15:1-16:20.

“And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him’” (Mark 16:6).

What more encouragement do I need today than to know the tomb was empty. Many go on pilgrimages trying to find the tomb. Why? He is not there. How much better to find Jesus and let Him live in my heart than to find a tomb where He no longer resides.

I can serve with faith today because that tomb was and still is empty.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Mark 5:1-6:56.

“Taking her by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha cumi,’ which means ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age,) and they were immediately overcome with amazement” (Mark 5:42-42).

by Royce Bair

I have seen the miraculous healings of Jesus’ ministry as allegories for our own spiritual healing. To be sure, these miracles took place, but the purpose for recording them is to say if Jesus could give physical life to these people, He can give spiritual life to me.

Thus, the story of Jairus’ daughter really hit me this morning. Her name is not given. She is just Jairus’ daughter. She did not go seeking healing or resurrection. Jairus went on behalf of his daughter. Many of the miracles say if Jesus could heal them physically or resurrect them physically, He can do the same for me spiritually. But what does this one say? It says if Jesus could heal or resurrect Jairus’ daughter, He can spiritually heal and resurrect my daughters (and my sons).

I needed to read that today. As I grow and see my own defects that Jesus is conquering in me, my biggest fear is how those defects have been harming my own children. At times, I think their salvation is hopeless because they’ve been stuck with a father like me. In despair I think, “I’ll never be able to raise them up or heal them. They are lost for sure.” But that is exactly the point. Just as Jairus could not heal or raise his daughter, I cannot heal or raise mine. But Jesus can.

What does that mean for me? That means today I don’t have to go about trying to manipulate the right action out of my kids as if their salvation depends on me. What it means is I simply need to do the right thing. I need to behave in right ways because they are right, not because I’ve decided if I act this way my kids have to be alright. If my kids will be raised and healed, Jesus will do it. I can turn it over to Him. Of course, I understand that my kids may decide they don’t want that. That will be sad for me indeed. But that won’t be my fault.

Today, I’m going to quit trying to manipulate my kids into salvation. Instead, I’m just going to do the next right thing and let Jesus do His job of raising people and healing them, even my kids.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

PPS. For just a little fun, since the story of John the Baptist’s beheading was in this reading, I thought I’d share a cute story I heard once. Perhaps it will give you a little chuckle and brighten your day.

In the kindergarten Bible class, the teacher was dramatically telling the story of John the Baptist. She told how Herod had promised his step-daughter anything up to half his kingdom as a reward for her dancing. She told with flourish as the young woman asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

“Tommy,” she said, “What would you have said to this wicked woman if you had been Herod?”

Tommy tilted his head and replied, “If I had been Herod, I would have told her, ‘No, no, I meant something in the other half of my kingdom.’”

Today’s reading is Philippians 3:1-4:23.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (Philippians 3:12).

I’m in good company. I’m not perfect, which means I’m a lot like Paul. This passage provides me some of the most comfort I’ve had in a long, long time. This apostle who claims imperfection is the very same apostle who in Philippians 1:21-23 claimed that death would be better for him because it meant going to be with Jesus. He was going to be resurrected and spend eternity in the presence of His Savior.

WOW! He wasn’t perfect yet. That is, he still sinned. But, he was perfected by Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 10:14). But if he died that day, he was convinced he was saved. I’m so glad to hear that. I’m not perfect yet, but I have been perfected by the sacrifice of Jesus. If I die today, I don’t have to fear. I will be saved.

No, this doesn’t mean sitting on my backside. Because Paul knew this, he continued to press on. So will I. But it is sure a comfort to know that my imperfection doesn’t have to scare me anymore. I am free to keep pressing on because my mess ups don’t destroy my salvation.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading Acts 13:1-14:28.

Two things hit me today.

First, I normally don’t like the verse divisions because I think they cause an artificial reading instead of just reading it like a book or a letter (I do appreciate how it makes referencing scripture easier). However, there is one division in this reading that really grabbed me–the division between Acts 13:29 and Acts 13:30. 

Acts 13:29: “And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.”

Verse break. End of story. Over. Done. Jesus is dead and buried. The story ends. But wait, there is another verse:

Acts 13:30: “But God raised him from the dead.”

The story wasn’t over. Jesus was raised from the dead. He was victorious and I can be victorious through Him. Which leads to my “second.”

Second, Acts 13:38-39 really struck me.

“Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.”

Because Jesus was freed from death, I can be freed from death. Because He was resurrected, I can be resurrected from the spiritual death I have caused. I can’t help but think about what Paul says in Romans 7:24-25, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” My body is filled with death because of my sin, but God can and will raise me up from that death through Jesus Christ. In fact, He already has.

Then Paul goes on in Acts 8:2-4.

“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be filled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

My story is not over. God is still working on me. I don’t believe this means I was baptized, now I’ll never sin. Rather, this is a progressive victory over sin. This is an increasing putting off of the flesh and its passions. I’m peeling back the layers of the onion to get down to what God wants in me. I am reminded every day that God will set me free and resurrect me as He did His Son, Jesus.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Luke 7:1-8:56.

At first glance, there is something wrong in Luke 8:40-56. I mean sure, it is great that Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood and it is great that He raised the little girl from the dead. However, he touched an unclean woman with a flow of blood and a dead girl. There were laws about that. That made Him unclean. See Numbers 19:11-16. See also Leviticus 15:25-27.

I guess we can say that being unclean is not the same thing as sinning and so it doesn’t matter if He was made unclean. However, if we take that route, I think we actually miss the great point.

If you or I touched the woman or the girl, we would be made unclean. However, Jesus was so clean that when He touched them, their uncleanness didn’t rub off on Him. Rather, His cleanness rubbed off on them. They did not defile Him; He purified them. The woman became so clean her discharge stopped. The girl became so clean, she was made alive again.

What does this mean for me? When I draw close to Jesus, His cleanness will rub off on me. His touch cleanses me.

What am I going to do today? I’m going to figure out how I can get close to Jesus and touch Him.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?