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

Continue Reading »

Hebrews 13 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Hebrews 13:1-25 and James 1:1-27.

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).

H.A.L.T. Hungry. Angry. Lonely. Tired.

I’ve known for some time now that these are dangerous times. Whenever I’m hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, I’m far more susceptible to temptation and triggers. James highlights one of these. Anger. I know that simply being angry is not a sin (cf. Ephesians 4:26). But at the same time, being angry can very easily lead to sin.

My anger does not produce God’s righteousness in me. When I’m responding out of anger, I’m not likely responding with God’s righteousness. When I’m acting in anger, I’m not likely acting with God’s righteousness. Oh, I know there is a holy anger. I’ve heard all about “righteous indignation” (by the way, can you find me the verse that mentions that?). There is a time to be angry. However, I need to be really, really careful. I have a tendency to think that anytime I’m angry is justifiable, but I’m probably biased. I’m guessing that even in response to sin, if I’m simply acting out of my anger, I’m probably not going to pursue God’s righteousness.

Therefore, today I need to check my motives. Am I just angry? Is that why I’m acting the way I’m acting? If so, I need to back up and slow down. What can I do to deal with my anger quickly and not give the devil any opportunity in my life?

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: Post a comment.

——————————————-

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

Matthew 3-4 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Matthew 3:1-4:25.

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! for it is written, ” ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” ‘ ” (Matthew 4:8-10).

Don’t miss the real temptation. Satan is not tempting Jesus with kingship, rule, and power. According to Psalm 110:1-7, Jesus was already promised all this from His Father. He was going to rule all the kingdoms of the world anyway. The temptation was that God’s way to the throne was going to be hard. He had already had to leave heaven to accomplish it. He was going to spend 3 years wandering as an itinerant teacher. He was going to be rejected, mocked, ridiculed, and eventually crucified to get to rule. Satan essentially said, “Hey, why bother with all of that? Here is an easier, softer way. Just bow down and worship me once. Just once. You don’t have to do it for the rest of your life. If you just worship me here and now, you won’t have to take up that cross.” But Jesus refused. He chose God’s way, though it included the cross. And I’m so thankful, because God’s way allowed me to be saved. Satan’s way might have given Jesus rule of the world (though I’m convinced Satan is a liar and would have yanked it out from under Jesus instead of really giving Him the rule), but it would have kept me and you from being saved.

I’m so glad to see this. First, because it lets me know I’m not alone. Satan tempts me all the time. Sometimes I begin to think I’m the only one going through this pressure. But even Jesus went through it. Second, it lets me know how to defeat the temptation. Just rely on God, His Word, and His way. God’s way always works. Third, I’m glad to read it because it helps me really identify Satan’s temptations. I often overlook temptation and sin with a dismissive, “Oh, surely God wouldn’t have a problem with that.” What I need to look for is when my choices include God’s way and the easier softer way. Satan often promises me the very same thing God does. He simply says I don’t have pick up my cross to get the promise. I need to be able to say, “Not today, Satan. I’m going God’s way. It may be harder, but it works.”

Which way are you going today? God’s way or the easier softer way?

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.

Mark 1-2 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Mark 1:1-2:28.

“And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Mark 2:17).

Can you imagine going to the doctor because you are not feeling well, but covering up the festering wound that is the heart of the infection because it embarrasses you to actually be sick? That would be ridiculous. And yet, that is exactly what I want to do with Jesus.

I need to rethink the advice I hear from my constant internal image consultant. That little inner voice tells me I need to cover up my sinfulness. I need to hide it. I need to present myself as righteous. I need to demonstrate that I’m good enough. Then Christ will want me. But that is not at all what He says. He wants sinners.

That is great. That means He is calling me. I can run to Him. I can show Him my sins and He will work on them. I can let Him in to see the real me. More than that, I can let me see the real me. I can pull off my blinders, take a long hard look at what I need to hand over to Jesus to clean up.

He is not asking for the few, the proud, the righteous. He is calling those who will admit they are sinners in need of a Savior.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

——————————————-

*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.

——————————————-

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

Acts 1-2 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Acts 1:1-2:47.

“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:37-38).

I’ve been cut to the heart before. How do I respond? Do I turn against the one who has cut me? Do I stop my ears and sing, “La, la, la, la, I can’t hear you”? Or do I examine myself. Do I recognize the despair my own actions have caused?

I usually want to avoid that despair because I think there will be no solution. I think things are too far gone and no one, not even God can do anything about it. But when these folks cried out, there was a solution. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive forgiveness and the Spirit’s gift. Peter had an answer to their seemingly unanswerable question, “What shall we do?”

Peace has never come by ignoring the despair of a pricked heart. It has only ever come for me when I faced it and asked the questions I thought had no answers. When I face those questions, I find that God does have an answer. He will forgive my sins. He will preserve my soul. He will protect and guide me. Blessed are the mourners, for they shall be comforted.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can add 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 Hebrews 11:1-12:29.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1).

What a cloud of witnesses: Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Here are children of God that wrestled with different issues, committed different sins, struggled in different ways. But they all had one thing in common. They believed God. Because they believed God, they cast off their sins, their doubts, their hindrances and they grabbed hold of God.

Instead of letting the obstacles get in the way, they held on to God and received His blessing. I can’t help but think of Jacob wrestling with the angel as a very literal example of this. Here are people just like me who increased their faith and through that cast off their weight and sins. Because they removed the excess baggage, they were able to run with endurance the race God set before them. I can do the same. The fact is I can’t become more like Christ if I continue to feed the obsession with sin. I have to stop feeding it, cast it off, quit pursuing it. I have to let it go even if it means cutting off my own hand or plucking out my own eye. Half measure will avail nothing.

Today, instead of hanging on to my sins, I must lay them aside, no matter how closely they cling. Then I will be able to run with endurance.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Hebrews 5:1-6:20.

“He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness” (Hebrews 5:2).

No doubt there is a time to rebuke the arrogant and impenitent sinner. Those who wish to treat God with disdain need to be chastised and disciplined. But through all of this, I need to have a healthy respect for my own sins. I cannot stand up as anyone’s judge and jury. After all, if I were living under the Old Covenant as a priest, I would have to offer sacrifices for my own sins as well as everyone else’s.

When I have a healthy recognition of my own sins and struggles, I can deal more appropriately with the sins of others. This doesn’t mean ignoring the sins of others. That would be wrong. But it does mean dealing gently with the ignorant and wayward. After all, aren’t I in the same boat as they are? Should I act as if I have the right to blast and belittle? Or should I recognize we both need the same thing? We both need Jesus to be our guide and strength.

Today, I need to think about my own weakness before I start commenting on someone else’s. That is when my comments will be appropriate.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 2 Peter 2:1-3:18.

“Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9).

God was able to rescue lot from Sodom and Gomorrah. But that rescue was not simply from the destruction that would come upon them. No, it was rescue from their perversity and sin. Lot was tormented by their unrighteousness and God delivered him from that. In the same way, though we are surrounded by temptation and trial, God can keep us and protect us.

Instead of facing my temptations and trying to overcome them on my own. I need to flee into God’s arms and let Him protect me. I need to simply find His direction and follow it. He will be able to protect me from my temptations. He will be able to protect me from myself. As long as I’m fighting the battles with my own strength, I will fall. But when I rely on God and turn to Him for protection, He will give it. I can take comfort knowing that God is actively working on my behalf to protect me from sin.

Today, I need to get into God’s word, find His direction for me and follow it. That is the only way I’ll overcome.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

PPS: For all you sticklers out there, I know we have no idea what the fruit in the garden was. If you find a picture that represents temptation without an apple, send it my way.

Today’s reading is Romans 13:1-14:23.

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:12-14).

I needed to read this today. Thank you, God, for the reminder. Some days are harder than others. Some days are fraught with temptation. Today is one of those days for me. I needed this reminder that my job today is not to make provision for the lusts of my flesh. Today, I need to put on Jesus Christ. I need to wear Him like clothing, like armor of light. I need to surrender the works of darkness that are tempting me to Him. I need to throw them away from me and just let Him guide me into the next right thing.

As Galatians 2:20 says, I need to let Jesus live in me today. I need to work on increasing my faith in Him today. I need to understand that pursuing orgies, drunkenness, immorality, sensuality, quarreling, jealousy, et al, will not draw me closer to God, but drive a wedge between us. These will not make me the man I want to be but will lead me further down a path of guilt, shame, and slavery.

Today, I’m going to wear Jesus.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?