Thanks to everyone for all the calls, cards, well wishes on Facebook, etc for Gail. She is doing well. She decided to do a week of Rehab before coming home this Friday We appreciate the continued prayers as she recovers. Right now the plan is to have her next surgery in June or July barring any complications. That will give her time to truly heal and it will be more convenient for me with work. Gail said to tell everyone she has never felt more loved.
This morning as I was praying a phrase came to mind that I recognized as scripture but didn't know where it was or who it pertained to. It is "set thy face like a flint toward Jerusalem". It is actually parts of two different scriptures.
Isaiah chapter 50 contains a prophecy of the Messiah being scourged, having his beard pulled out, and being spit on. This was fulfilled so distinctly in the life of Jesus that it could not be accidental. Verse 7 says "I set my face like a flint". This somewhat archaic phrase means he was determined. The fulfillment of this verse is found in Luke 10:51, "he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem".
When Jesus knew that it was time to be crucified he resolved himself to follow through with it no matter what his flesh wanted. His purpose in coming to this earth was to redeem us and he was determined to fulfill it. At least one translation uses the same terminology here, "he set his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem".
There are times in all of our lives when we must make difficult choices. We are asked to do things that we'd rather not do. We find ourselves in situations we'd rather not be in. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are to consider in those times "him that endured such resistence of sinners.. so that you will not be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:3 paraphrased) He continues to say that we have not yet resisted unto blood ....
It is true that none of us will ever have to go through anything near as agonizing as Jesus did when he was on the cross. So if we are facing a challenging circumstance we just have to "set our face like a flint" and decide with the help and grace of God I will get through this no matter the cost. Once we know the will of God, let's put our all into it. Heaven is counting on us!
11/21/12
Our Daily Bread
With the Thanksgiving season upon us it seems fitting that the next part of the Lord's prayer deals with God's provision. "Give us this day our daily bread." What a concept! Let's examine it just a little. What exactly is our daily bread?
For most of mankind's existence it has been a daily struggle to get something to eat. Modern technology has created a different world for us but in Biblical days people were truly tied to the land. What they were able to raise is what they ate. Bread was literally "the bread of life." If they failed to have a good wheat harvest they could easily starve. It was a year long process of plowing fields, sowing and harvesting to have a daily portion of bread. Considering this should make us so thankful that most of us will never go to bed hungry. To this Jesus spoke! And what strange teaching he did!
He told his disciples things like "take no thought for tomorrow" and when you go to preach take no coat, no staff, no money in your purses, etc..." He wanted them to learn to depend completely on God. He was not telling them that they didn't have to prepare. The scripture is very clear that we must work to eat. But he was reminding them, as his word reminds us now, that our very existence depends on God's mercy and love. We can work ourselves near to death and without God's blessing on it, our work is in vain. David said it like this in Psalm 127:1. "Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it."
But we are God's children and he truly does want to establish "our houses and bless our fields." This prayer starts with "our father" and what a father he is. Let us take this time that we call "Thanksgiving" to truly give thanks to God for all he has given. Even for "our daily bread."
For most of mankind's existence it has been a daily struggle to get something to eat. Modern technology has created a different world for us but in Biblical days people were truly tied to the land. What they were able to raise is what they ate. Bread was literally "the bread of life." If they failed to have a good wheat harvest they could easily starve. It was a year long process of plowing fields, sowing and harvesting to have a daily portion of bread. Considering this should make us so thankful that most of us will never go to bed hungry. To this Jesus spoke! And what strange teaching he did!
He told his disciples things like "take no thought for tomorrow" and when you go to preach take no coat, no staff, no money in your purses, etc..." He wanted them to learn to depend completely on God. He was not telling them that they didn't have to prepare. The scripture is very clear that we must work to eat. But he was reminding them, as his word reminds us now, that our very existence depends on God's mercy and love. We can work ourselves near to death and without God's blessing on it, our work is in vain. David said it like this in Psalm 127:1. "Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it."
But we are God's children and he truly does want to establish "our houses and bless our fields." This prayer starts with "our father" and what a father he is. Let us take this time that we call "Thanksgiving" to truly give thanks to God for all he has given. Even for "our daily bread."
11/12/12
Not my will!
Good Morning everyone,
I pray that you've had a great weekend and are looking forward to a successful work week. You know sometimes it is easy to forget how much of a blessing our jobs are. If you've ever been unemployed for a period of time you can identify with how it is to need work and not have it. You probably prayed prayers in that time period asking God to open the door for you. You may have prayed things like "God, I don't care what it is. I just want to be in your will." Sound familiar?
Well if you've ever prayed that, then the next part of the Lord's prayer is for you: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven." What exactly does this mean? I know he is king in heaven, but does he really care about what I do on earth? I believe he does. In fact Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might." Collosians 3:23 tells us to do whatever we do "heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men." Whatever I am doing today, whether church work, school, or my secular job I should do it as a praise unto God.
He gave me this day. How I spend it is my gift to him. I may not have much control over what I'm asked to do today. But whatever it is, I will consider it God's will for my life and I will endeavor to do it with a cheerful spirit. Much of life is about the mundane, ordinary task that we must do. It might be laundry for a stay-at-home mom or filing reports for a working person. The exciting things come less frequently but are no more important. If not for our faithfulness in doing the mundane the exciting would not be possible. Whatever your task today, let it be your offering to God. Consider it his will for you. Do it with a cheerful spirit. It will make all the difference.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven ....
I pray that you've had a great weekend and are looking forward to a successful work week. You know sometimes it is easy to forget how much of a blessing our jobs are. If you've ever been unemployed for a period of time you can identify with how it is to need work and not have it. You probably prayed prayers in that time period asking God to open the door for you. You may have prayed things like "God, I don't care what it is. I just want to be in your will." Sound familiar?
Well if you've ever prayed that, then the next part of the Lord's prayer is for you: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven." What exactly does this mean? I know he is king in heaven, but does he really care about what I do on earth? I believe he does. In fact Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might." Collosians 3:23 tells us to do whatever we do "heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men." Whatever I am doing today, whether church work, school, or my secular job I should do it as a praise unto God.
He gave me this day. How I spend it is my gift to him. I may not have much control over what I'm asked to do today. But whatever it is, I will consider it God's will for my life and I will endeavor to do it with a cheerful spirit. Much of life is about the mundane, ordinary task that we must do. It might be laundry for a stay-at-home mom or filing reports for a working person. The exciting things come less frequently but are no more important. If not for our faithfulness in doing the mundane the exciting would not be possible. Whatever your task today, let it be your offering to God. Consider it his will for you. Do it with a cheerful spirit. It will make all the difference.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven ....
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