Today’s reading is Acts 23:1-24:27.

Things were bad for Paul. He had been arrested, unfairly accused, nearly beaten, life threatened. Claudius Lysias knew he was innocent and hadn’t done anything worthy of imprisonment, let alone death (Acts 23:29). I can hardly imagine what it must have been like to endure this part of Paul’s life. I can imagine how I would have felt. I might have despaired. I might have wondered how God could let this happen when I had been serving Him so faithfully. It would have been hard to see any good in what was going on.

However, because of this, Paul had opportunity to speak to the Council, soldiers, prisoners, governors, kings, and then on to Rome and preaching to those even in the emperor’s household.

This is a great reminder to me. As I look at the moment in which I live, I can sometimes see some really bad things. Life seems awful. I can go from negativity, to depression, to despair. However, if I could see my life like I see Paul’s, written out from beginning to end, I might see a different picture. I might see how today’s discouraging occurrence builds together with yesterday’s and tomorrow’s to accomplish great things in God’s service. I would likely be completely surprised at what God is doing through my life if I could see the whole picture. But I can’t see that. So I have to take it on faith. I have trust God.

Today is not in a vacuum. Whether good or bad happens today, I can trust God to weave it in to the tapestry of my life and His glory. Instead of despairing, I need simply to trust God and let Him do His job. I need to do the next right thing. God can already see how he is going to use today. I need to trust Him and some day, I’ll be able to look back and see the good that comes out of whatever happens today.

Keep the faith and keep reading.

Today’s reading is Luke 23:1-24:53.

I can hardly fathom, hanging on a cross in immense torment and agony, dying, but then crying out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46). What absolute trust. What absolute surrender.

Jesus was quoting Psalm 31:5. Just listen to the beginning of that Psalm: “In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”

We know how the story ends so this statement may not seem as powerful as it really was. Having seen the end, we know Jesus was wise to commit His spirit into the Father’s hands. He was going to be resurrected on the third day. He was going to be delivered. But thing of this from the stand point of hanging on the cross. Think of this from the standpoint of being in the midst of the separation of the Father. How hard it must have been to look at the big picture of where all this would lead when distracted by the intense agony both physically and spiritually. Yet, Jesus trusted the Father.

I need to learn this kind of trust. Letting God be my refuge doesn’t mean I’ll never suffer. It means I know God will use it for good and I trust His knowledge of the big picture of my life, the lives around me, and eternity.

This helps me knowing that God if God is letting me go through some suffering, He has His reasons that will be for my good in the long run. When I actually have this concept firmly in my mind and heart, it produces a peace that passes understanding. I don’t have to live in fear that something awful might happen. If it does, I can know that God is working. He is my refuge. He is my stronghold. He is my deliverer. Instead of taking my spirit into my own hands, I can commit it into the hands of my loving, faithful Creator who really does have my best intentions at heart.

I’m going to make this prayer of Jesus a regular prayer for me, especially if I’m in the midst of something that I don’t like.

Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

Today’s reading is Luke 11:1-12:59.

What father among us would give his children a snake or a scorpion when they are asking for a fish or an egg. Even though we can mess things up pretty royally, we’re generally smarter than handing our child a rattlesnake or scorpion. Generally.

However, the great thing is that for God it is not “generally.” It is always. This teaching in Luke 11:11-13 is a powerful statement about God. God gives good gifts. He doesn’t give bad gifts.

Here are the two really important aspects of this that I have to learn.

1) Even when I think the gift is bad, I need to trust God that it is good. That is, some tough things happen in life. Sometimes I have a hard time figuring out how what is going on is really good for me. In fact, I may not be able to figure it out. That is when I simply have to trust God. His gifts are good. Since He’s God, He can see the good from them. Since I’m not God, I can’t always see the good. But His gifts are good.

2) This text says God won’t give me a snake when I ask for a fish and He won’t give me a scorpion when I ask for an egg. Here’s the great thing. Sometimes, due to my own immaturity, I’ve asked for the snake and the scorpion without realizing it. God will give me the fish and the egg anyway. God’s gifts are good.

We can trust God. When things aren’t going our way, that is when we need to simply trust that our refuge really is taking care of us. He really is helping us grow. His way will work best if we just trust it. All I know is this, when I quit trusting God and start trying to fix things on my own, I really mess them up. Today, I’m going to trust that God’s gifts really are good. One day I may see that. Today, I’m just going to walk by faith.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Luke 1:1-2:52.

I can hardly imagine being Zechariah or Mary when Gabriel appeared. I wonder what he looked like. I wonder what it felt like with an angel in the room. I’m simply in awe of what that must have been like.

What feelings did it engender? Looks like fear was the common response. But the angel calmed them, “Do not be afraid,” he said. Then he explained interesting events. Elizabeth, barren for many years, would finally have a son (hear Abraham and Sarah’s story in this). Mary, a virgin, betrothed but as yet unmarried, would also have a child.

The part that really struck me today was Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Did she know what she was agreeing to? Did she know the scorn and ridicule she would suffer as an unwed mother? Did she know that people would hold that against her son as he grew up (cf. John 8:41)? Did she know the pain she would experience when her son died a young man, an innocent man dying a criminal’s death?

I have no idea what she knew or thought at the time. She didn’t know either. However, as her father Abraham followed God wherever He led even if he didn’t know where it was going to be, she was willing to pursue whatever God had in store for her.

I need to have this attitude as I read God’s word. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” I need to have the faith and trust that God’s way works. Whatever He has in store for me will be all right in the end, even if it leads through hard and difficult times.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What caught your heart in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Matthew 15:1-16:28.

Today, when the disciples were rebuked by Jesus for not understanding His statement about the leaven of the Pharisees, I was struck by something. Jesus said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how may baskets you gathered? Or the seen loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:8-11).

I sometimes read this story thinking, “Had I been there, I would have gotten it. I mean, come on guys, He had just fed the four thousand in the last chapter. How on earth could they miss this?” However, how many times in my own life do I do the exact same thing? I get worried and stressed about how we’re going to make it through the month. I get worried and stressed about how we’re going to live through retirement. I get worried about how things are going to work out over some problem in the congregation. I get worried and stressed about some relationship.

What do I do in those moments? Do I say, “God is in control”? Do I say, “I just need to submit to God, He can work everything out if I’ll just do what He says”? No. I usually begin to try to manipulate and control things so they will work out the way I want. Do you know what happens then? I usually just get more stressed because I can’t control everything.

While the point in my life is a bit different than the one Jesus was making to the apostles, I think there is a point to be made here. Jesus was able to feed five thousand with five loaves. Jesus was able to feed four thousand with seven loaves. If Jesus was able to do that, I can trust Him to take care of and provide for me. I don’t need to be in control. I need to simply spend more time in God’s word being reminded of what God has done and what God is doing. I don’t have to get stressed out about what I’m going to do. I simply need to relax, trust God, and do what He says. He’ll take care of me. That is how powerful He is.

***Question: How do you increase your trust in God?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Acts 7:1-8:40.

At the end of Acts 7, Stephen was stoned. Then in the beginning of Acts 8, the first purposeful, full-scale persecution against Christians began. This was easy to conduct because they were all in and around Jerusalem. But this persecution spread them out. According to Acts 8:1, the Christians were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 

I can’t imagine what that must have been like. Up until Stephen’s stoning, Acts 2:47 was the general rule. They were praising God and having favor with the people. Then Stephen started debating with those Freedmen and they had enough of this upstart sect. They would stamp it out, starting with Stephen. How many others died in this persecution? How many lost their homes? I simply can’t imagine being driven from my home because of my faith. I simply can’t imagine watching my family die because of our faith or being executed myself because of it. I can imagine that if I had been in their shoes I would have been wondering, “God, how on earth can you let this happen? Why aren’t you stopping this?” I wonder how many Christians left the faith during this very trying and turbulent time?

However, not very specifically that the text says the people were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. This hearkens back to Jesus’ direction to the apostles in Acts 1:8. He wanted them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, and then the remotest parts of the earth. So far, they had only worked in and around Jerusalem. 

Why did God let this awful tragedy occur? Because it helped accomplish His plan. It helped spread His saving message into Judea and Samaria. We immediately see Samaritans turning to Christ, even the Sorcerer himself. Then we see the Eunuch traveling home from Jerusalem, probably after one of the feast days. Philip, who had gone into Samaria, teaches the gospel to him and the taking of the gospel on into the remotest part of the earth is on its way.

The overarching lesson behind all of this is I need to remember I am on one side of the curtain and God is on the other. I can’t see what God sees. I can’t see how all these things will work together into God’s plan. But God does. When bad things happen to me, I can trust God that He will work things out for my good and His glory. I can trust Him no matter what is happening. When bad things happen, it doesn’t mean God is abandoning me. It simply means He is using things that I can’t understand to accomplish His will. I can rest in peace knowing that God really is working and His plan will come through in the end.

***Question: When were some very difficult times that upon looking back you can see God’s hand providing you something good even through the negative?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Luke 11:1-12:59.

I’m a little late getting to today’s reading. I was up late last night working on a project. Therefore, I slept until the very last minute to get my kids ready this morning. Then I headed in to the office. On the way, I made a phone call and ended up talking about some really deep stuff for a long while. I finally got to the reading and one section completely knocked my socks off. 

I know why it hit me and to be honest, I’m slightly ashamed to share with you why. But, I’m learning to violate the three rules I grew up with–1) Don’t feel, 2) Don’t trust, 3) Don’t talk. So, I’ll put it out there. 

My faith in God has never been stronger. My understanding of how God works and how He can work with me, however, is a bit shaky right now. Add to that my increasing frustration with the visible church and its seeming inability to help people really struggling with sin meet God in a practically helpful way. All this together produces a lot of questions I’m trying to answer. Of course, I want all the answers yesterday.

My phone conversation this morning was about those questions. By the time we were done, though I was thankful to have aired some of my questions to an understanding ear, I had still more questions than answers. Frustrated, I turned to today’s reading.

There was Luke 11:9-13.

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

I admit it. I have more questions than answers in a lot of areas of faith. I haven’t put this site up because I think everyone should listen to my answers about scripture. Rather, I’ve put it up because I need the continued daily reading and study to get answers. My faith is not complete and perfect. I’m like the man in Mark 9:24 who cries out, “I believe, help my unbelief.”

For all of that, at the end of my phone call there was a small part of me that felt like I would never have the answers I needed. A small part of me began to think why bother trying, just give up. Then God gave me these verses. Providence? Perhaps.

If I ask, God will give it to me. If I seek, God will put it where I can find it. If I knock, God will open the door. Additionally, God is a good God who loves me. He’ll give me the good gifts I need. I can trust Him to do that.

Now, don’t misunderstand. I don’t get to just sit on my duff and wait for God to drop it all in my lap. I actually have to ask, seek and knock. However, if I pursue the answers instead of giving up, God will give me what I need. He’ll do it on His timetable, but He will do it.

We serve a great God. 

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Luke 7:1-8:56.

I can’t imagine being Jairus. My oldest daughter will be 12 in six months. I can hardly imagine her lying on her death bed. If I were approaching Jesus, I would be frantic. “Please, Rabbi, come quickly! Come now! I’m begging you!” I would be yelling at the crowds. “Get out of the way! Can’t you see who I am! I’m the ruler of the synagogue! My daughter’s dying! Move! You’re holding us up! Jesus will get back to you later!”

The text is surprisingly silent about how Jairus responded when Jesus stopped and asked the seemingly insane question, “Who touched me?” I don’t know how Jairus would have reacted. I know how I would have reacted. “Rabbi, please. Does it matter? We’ll never know. You’re wasting time. My daughter…!” I would probably be tugging on His sleeve, trying to get Him to hurry.

But Jesus just stands there until this woman admitted what she had done. I can’t believe Jesus stopped to deal with this unclean women when my daughter lies at home dying. If we don’t hurry she may be dead before we get there. “Hurry!”

Then the unthinkable. A servant comes. I can see it on his face. It’s over. She’s gone. One of my greatest sources of joy has been snuffed out, just as she was beginning to blossom. She was about to enter womanhood and now she’s gone. The servant speaks anyway. I’m already crying. “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 

Would I collapse right there on the spot? I have a feeling this rule of the synagogue wouldn’t want to display such weakness. I might take the same approach. Snuff back the tears. There will be time for that in private. But the resentment for this woman who had the audacity to touch the teacher while my daughter was dying would already have been born. I wonder if I can get her kicked out of the synagogue.

However, the Teacher has said something amazing. “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” Is that possible? It is too late. He must not understand. The servant didn’t say she was mostly dead. He said she was all the way dead. All that’s left is to go through her pockets for loose change. But the Teacher starts walking to my house again.

As we approach, the mourners are in full swing. There is no doubt. She’s dead. Everyone knows it. Jesus is too late. After all, He might be a wonder at healing, but nobody raises people from the dead. The mourners we’ve hired laugh when Jesus says she’s only sleeping. I have mixed emotions. I can hardly believe any good can come from this. On the other hand, I want to believe. But it is just too late.

Jesus kicks everyone out but three of his followers and my wife and me. I can see her. She’s dead. There is no flutter of the eyelids. The chest does not raise even a little with breath. Her hands and face are already cold to touch. Nothing. Dead. Jesus is too late.

He steps close to me and pulls my little girls hand out of mine. He says, “Child arise.” I’m trying to believe, but can hardly do it. I just didn’t get Jesus here on time. We might have made it if it hadn’t been for the crowds or that blasted woman. 

But then…did she do what I thought? Did I just see a catch of breath? Her eyes are fluttering open. How can this be? She’s alive? She was not asleep. I know that. She was dead. But this Rabbi has just brought my daughter back to me. “Yes, yes, giver her something to eat. Anything He says. Anything she wants.” She can hardly eat because my wife and I are smothering her with hugs.

I learned something about Jesus today. He may not be on my time schedule, but He is never late. Next time, I’ll wait on Him patiently.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

James 4:13-17 is a reminder I need today.

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’–yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (ESV).

I recognize the point of this passage is about relying on God and understanding that I cannot boast as if to say I am somehow by my own power going to ensure that I survive another year and by my own power will make sure the business I conduct is profitable. However, where this struck me today was the reminder that the reason such mental games are foolish is because I don’t even know if I’m going to be here tomorrow.

My problem is often the very opposite. Instead of thinking about how successful I’m going to be over the next year, I can get bogged down in worries. “Oh no, the economy is failing. What will that do to my income or my retirement or…” “Oh no, my kids are growing up and I know they are going to be faced with all kinds of temptations. What am I going to do about that?” 

One of the crazy “Oh nos” I have happened last night. My wife took the car to go to the store. It was raining like crazy and she lingered. Suddenly my mind was filled with fear that something bad had happened, at any moment the police were going to show up and now I was going to be a single father of four children. Actually, nothing happened to her. She showed up at home just as usual. However, this morning as I was stuck in traffic I started thinking about that scary possibility and I actually began to be filled with fear as if it were already true. How crazy is that?

The fact is, someday my wife will die. It may be before me or after me. It may be while the kids are at home; it may be after they are on their own. The thing is, it has happened today. She is at home right now doing her part of our family work. Why let all the possibilities of tomorrow over which I have no control mess up today.

You see it works both ways. I shouldn’t let my arrogance think I am going to ensure some success is going to happen apart from God’s will. At the same time, I shouldn’t let my fears about what might happen tomorrow send my today in a panic. Rather, I should just rely on God and pray “As the Lord wills.” Then, each day, I can rely on the strength He gives me to make it through whatever happens today.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

I guess James 1:2-4 stands out to me right now because of our nation’s perilous perch on financial failure. We haven’t heard as much over the past few weeks since the bailout, but that was no more than a band-aid. A government bailout cannot fix America’s financial follies. It can only prolong the inevitable if business practices steeped in debt do not change. The great fear is another depression. What an amazing trial that would be. 

What if it does happen? 

We as Christians can count it all joy. Why? Because we know that the test of our faith will only serve to produce endurance and steadfastness. That will only make us stronger. 

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that I lie awake at night praying for a depression. I don’t want to go through one of those anymore than anyone else. I’m totally unprepared for such an occurrence. But perhaps a testing such as that would be good for us. For Christians, it won’t be the end. It will merely be another time in which we can learn to more greatly rely on God. The more we rely on God, the stronger we will be. The stronger we are, the more we can accomplish for God’s kingdom, which is what is most important anyway.

Don’t fret the future. Just take it one day at a time. However, if the trial comes, lean on God and grow from it. The fact is, it is only the challenged who grow. The complacent who have it easy rarely do more than languish in their mediocrity.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC