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Colossians 3-4 (ESV) by Wordle

Today’s reading is Colossians 3:1-4:18.

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:5-6).

I often go to Ephesians 5:15-16 to talk about making the best use of my time. Somehow, I’ve overlooked this parallel passage. Paul’s point is a little more…well…pointed. In Ephesians, the point is more general. Just be a better time manager. Here, Paul points me to an area in which I need to make better use of my time. How do I walk toward outsiders? That is, how do I walk toward those who are outside of Christ?

I’m humbled by this. I’ve read this book dozens of times and slid right through this passage. So now I have to ask how I’m walking? When I relate to outsiders, am I being wise about it? Or am I essentially ignoring their souls? When I am paying attention to their souls, am I walking in wisdom? Or am I being reckless and careless? Am I acting in ways that will let them know that Jesus is with me? Or am I caustic, harsh, devilish? When I talk to outsiders, is my speech always gracious? Or am I sometimes sarcastic, cynical, mocking? Do I seek to understand them so I can learn from them and help them? Or do I listen only for their intake of breath so I can jump in with my “greater wisdom”?

My aunt once cautioned me not mock others beliefs. I recklessly responded, “But some people believe stupid stuff (chuckle, chuckle, mischievous grin).” Next time I say something stupid like that Mary, smite me with this passage.

Today, I have something to really think about. Am I making the best use of my time when it comes to outsiders? How about you?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

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

Romans 9-10 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Romans 9:1-10:21.

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believer in him of whom the have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Romans 10:14-15).

God could save people however He wanted. If He wanted to send daily visions into the minds of all mankind and see if they wanted to submit. He could have determined in His mind who would submit and who wouldn’t and just save them. He could have decided before the world began who He would save and just elected them to salvation. But He didn’t do any of these things.

Instead, He developed a plan, sent His Son to die, then gave that message to us through certain men, and now asks us to carry that message to others. How awesome is that? He could have done it however He wanted, but He chose to use you and me to help save the world. The #1 way God is planning on saving people today is through you and me. What a privilege. What an honor.

What am I doing to be part of that plan? Is it a privilege and an honor I take for granted? How am I training myself to spread the gospel? Am I paying attention to the opportunities? Am I using the opportunities?

How will they believe if no one tells them? Who am I telling? Who are you telling?

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 9-10 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Acts 9:1-10:48.

“Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ And the lord said to him, ‘Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying…’” (Acts 9:10-11).

Jesus could have saved Paul on the road to Damascus all by Himself. He could have either simply declared Paul saved if he wanted or could have told Paul what He wanted him to do to be saved. He didn’t need Ananias to do this. But, Jesus wanted to use Ananias.

While Jesus could do all of His work all by Himself, He has chosen to use us. He wants you and me to be part of His plan. He wants us as a working part of the team. That means Jesus thinks we can accomplish something worthwhile. He has faith in us. He simply wants us to step up to the plate.

I need to do that today. What work can I do for Jesus today? He wants me on His team. He wants to put me up at bat. That is amazing.

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.

Today’s reading is John 11:1-12:50.

“For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment–what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me” (John 12:49-50).

Imagine that. Jesus, God in the flesh, God the Son, incarnate deity, would not speak on His own authority. That is,  unless He had authority from the Father, He did not speak. He did not go out on a limb saying, “The Father is silent about this, I will speak.” He did not cross the Father saying, “The Father has spoken against this, but I will speak for it.” He did not say, “The Father has spoken for this, but I will speak against it.” He spoke only what the Father authorized.

How much more should we?

But why?

Because what the Father has authorized is eternal life. Jesus was not trying to be legalistic here. He was simply recognizing that what the Father had taught and said was the way that worked for those who wanted eternal life. When we go out on our own authority that won’t lead to life. That way leads to death. God’s way works. Ours does not.

Today, I want to simply speak where God speaks and be silent where God is silent. I don’t want to step out on my own authority. I want to be like Jesus.

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 Acts 17:1-18:28.

“Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak, boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:24-26).

Being eloquent doesn’t mean I’m always right. Just because I can put words together well and make my position sound good, doesn’t mean I’m right. Just because I’m competent in the Scriptures, doesn’t mean I’m always right. Just because I’ve received good teaching doesn’t mean I’m always right. Just because I’m fervent doesn’t mean I’m always right. Just because I’m right some of the time doesn’t mean I’m always right.

I hope I can take the correction of those who know the will of God on some issue better than me as well as Apollos did. But it is so easy to get defensive if someone questions whether or not I’m right. I don’t know if Apollos was defensive at all, but it appears in the end, he came around to the truth on this baptism issue. I hope I do so well when someone corrects me with truth.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS: What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:20.

Today, Paul said I need to be like a nursing mother. In I Thessalonians 2:7-8, Paul said, “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”

I am much more attuned to 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God…” I think I get the being like a father who coaches, teaches, tells and even directs. But being like a nursing mother, gentle, affectionate, sharing not only the gospel but sharing myself? That is not something I’m really up on. That sounds kind of girly.

I don’t have a tendency to want to share myself with others. I want to tell them what to do and send them on their way. But watch a mother with her nursing child. It is a slice out of the day. It is a burden. It is tiring. Yet, for love of the child a mother nurses her infant, accepting the burden, the sacrifice, the labor, giving herself to the child, not just giving direction and then shooing away.

If I will walk in the footsteps of Paul as a teacher, I will learn that my job is not merely that of the father, exhorting and directing, but also that of the mother, caring, nurturing, sacrificing, sharing.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

Today’s reading is Romans 1:1-2:29.

I feel like I’ve been kicked in the teeth by today’s reading. Paul said, “You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?” (Romans 2:21). In the previous verse he talked about how some want to be seen as teachers of children. 

I guess today gets to be confession time. I’ve made a realization. Over the past years I’ve been trying to teach my children how to get along. I’m always stopping them from yelling at each other, being sarcastic with each other, picking at each other. I rebuke them for making demands, instead of asking nicely. I discipline them for acting like they don’t want the others around or acting like their friends are better than their siblings.

I finally figured out where all that came from. I wish I could say, “Their mother.” Regrettably, that isn’t the case. Or if she’s involved in it too, that is for their mother to confess on her own. The truth of the matter is, they have seen all those things in me. They have heard me talk to them in those ways when I’m angry. I justify it with, “I’m the father, I’m supposed to be like this.” But the reality is these attitudes aren’t healthy in any relationship whatsoever. They have heard me talk like this to their mother. That is really sad. 

How can I do that? It’s easy. I can spend most of my time thinking my job is to teach everyone else. My job is to teach you. My job is to teach my kids. My job is to teach my wife. When I spend most of my time thinking my job is to teach everyone else, I can ignore me and think I’m doing pretty well. What I need to remember is that first and foremost my job is not to teach you. My job is to teach me.

So, here goes. “Edwin, quit yelling so much. Ask, don’t demand. Be pleasant. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Stop being sarcastic and making fun of people.” I hope I can learn my lesson.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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