Journaling Life - March 25, 2010

Joshua 21-22 / Psalm 47 / 1 Corinthians 10

Wow, today’s readings had a lot to say.  From the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to the house of Israel as stated in Joshua 21:45 to the whole of chapter 22 which in a nutshell is an example that before we go in to a fight we first need to confront the other party, there may just be a misunderstanding as there was with the Eastern Tribes.  This was also an example of holding one another accountable to doing what the Lord would have us do.

Paul continues in 1 Corinthians by warning us to stay true to God using the history of Israel.  He goes on to tell us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and that when we are tempted that He provides us an out – a way to stand up to the temptation.  Finally Paul tells us to do everything for the glory of God; just as it turned out that the Eastern Tribes had done by building the altar when the returned to the land that Moses had given them.

In all things, do them for God by leading by your example.

Too often we are afraid to confront one another when we are not being true to God or for any reason for that matter.  What is your reason?  Mine has been that I don’t want to make anyone mad.  The leaders of Israel that went to confront the Eastern Tribes and found out that what they had perceived was wrong.  How many times have I perceived something incorrectly and caused even more trouble.  Probably more than I’ll ever know.  That is not leading by example and is not God honoring.  Time to man up and do it God’s way and not my own.

Father, help me to do things your way, not my own.  Provide for me opportunities to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings to that in all things I can bring glory and honor to you.  Amen!

Journaling Life - March 24, 2010

Today’s reading is from Joshua 18-20 and 1 Corinthians 9.

In the passage from Joshua we read that 7 of the tribes have not received their land yet. Joshua doesn’t get it, why are they taking so long. It doesn’t say why there hadn’t claimed the land, but it does tell that Joshua gives instructions on how those 7 tribes need to figure out what land they want and then report back. By the end of chapter 19 all the tribes had their land and Joshua had his land. The only group that did not receive land was the Levites for their work was to serve the Lord.

Jumping to the New Testament reading we read Paul’s thoughts on earning a wage for doing the Lord’s work. We already know that the Levites in our Old Testament passage were taken care of for doing the Lord’s work and because of that they did not own any land. I remember as I was growing up the pastor at my church, First United Methodist Church in Clarion, Iowa, lived in the parsonage. It was the home that the church owned and provided for the pastor and his family to live in. When I started going to my wife’s church, Hus Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I heard someone mention the manse and I wondered what that was so I asked and found out it is the same thing as a parsonage. Both are homes provided by the church for the current pastor and his/her family. I am not sure about the church I grew up in, but Hus has since sold the manse.

Paul reminds us that it is our responsibility to take care of the men and women who are doing the Lord’s work. Just as the Levites received what they needed for the work they did, so should those in ministry today.

I am truly blessed by the congregation that I serve as the director of youth ministries. But with that blessing comes a responsibility not just to the congregation, but to our community and ultimately to God. It is not something to take lightly. I am also blessed to a mentor that holds me accountable as I seek to be a servant of God.

Thank you Lord for the blessings that you have given me. I pray that I am doing your work while constantly improving. Help me to plant the seeds of faith, nurture those you have placed in my care and to be a servant to all. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Journaling Life - March 23, 2010

Yesterday's devotional readings were from Joshua 15-17 and 1 Corinthians 8. As I read the passage from 1 Corinthians 8 I stopped to really think about how what we do as followers of Jesus affects everyone we come into contact with, especially those who do not hold the same beliefs or are new to the faith.

In this passage Paul is talking about food that was offered to idols. He begins the passage by defining what an idol is. He tells us that there are many idols that are known as both god and lord both in heaven and on earth. But for us as Christians there is only one God, our Father and there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. He further goes on to explain that not everyone knows this. This is where I not only thought about those who were new Christians, but also to those people that have heard, but still do not believe. Part of that unbelief is that so many Christians do not live their faith that the non-believers just shake their heads and chalk up it up to all Christians being hypocrites.

Can it be that Paul's message was so much more than being about eating meat that was sacrificed to idols? I'd have to say yes. When we do things that would make anyone question what we believe, then we are taking away the opportunity to fulfill Christ's words just before he ascended to heaven:

"All power in heaven and on earth is given to me. ¹⁹So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age."

If we are to reach our friends, families, neighbors, communities and beyond we have to live a life that will "not cause any of them to sin."

How? That can be the hard part. Many times we all, myself included, have found it easier to not do the right thing. When we do that we are saying we don't want to stand out, we want to be comfortable. Two brothers who were tired of being comfortable decided enough was enough and a few years ago wrote "Do Hard Things" because they were tired of low expectations. Since then Alex & Brett Harris have written another book, "Start Here" in which they talk to their readers about doing hard things from right where they are at. They decided they didn't want to be comfortable, they didn't want to let the culture dictate what they should do.

What about you, are you ready to "do hard things" or will you remain complacent and comfortable? I'm tired of being comfortable and complacent, but doing hard things can be, well hard. It is something that I know I will always struggle with, but I refuse to let that be an excuse. It means thinking before speaking or doing. It means letting God be my guide, not the world.

Hey God, its me again. I know I struggle with a lot of things, especially with things of the world. Please help to me overcome those things and that when I do mess up that I don't just learn from it, but that I do not make the same mistake again. In Jesus name I pray ... AMEN!