11/30/12- Temptation

¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10)

(Temptation- Sandro Botticelli)

Thoughts: The old saying is "Pride comes before the fall."  This passage tells us to beware of spiritual pride and at the same time to not think that evil is so strong that we must bend to it.
   Temptation is common- so we should not think that we are in an unbearable, unique situation.  Others have been there before us.  So, sexual immorality is not something new- and while technology makes certain sins more available, they are not new sins.  
    Then Paul changes the focus to God.  He is faithful.  He doesn't abandon us to our temptation without some help.  He limits the temptations we face by giving us strength to resist and also providing an escape hatch out of temptation.  When we are tempted, we too should put our focus on the Lord. 
There is a joy and peace that comes when we overcome temptation.  God does not put us in impossible situations, but ones in which it is possible to shine for His glory.   

Prayer: Today, Lord, help me to resist temptation as you did.  Help me to not give into my weakness, but to rely on your strength for your glory.  

WSC Q. 106- What do we pray for in the sixth request?
A: In the sixth request, which is "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and delivers us when we are tempted.

11/28/12- 1 Corinthians 10:6-10

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” ⁸ We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ⁹ We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. ¹⁰ And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

Thoughts: The Old Testament is a history book of the faith of a people.  We can learn, Paul says, from their mistakes and their successes- warnings and examples.  We do not do a very good job of listening.
   Paul gives four examples here: 
1) Idolatry- the making of the golden calf (Ex. 32) and the accompanied sexual immorality.  Today, we make things- the buying, selling, producing, our God.  If you don't believe me, try to talk about Sabbath (rest)- even on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day and people will look at you as if you are a relic.  We justify the destruction of rest and family by saying that sales were good on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  In other words- people want it- so it is okay.  People in Moses' day also wanted the golden calf- and no doubt it was beautiful.  But can someone ask, what would God want? 
2) Sexual Immorality (Nbrs. 25) - Today we have made this an art.  I woke up at 6:00 this morning, and turned on the television to a major news station.  To greet me in the morning was a girl strutting around in her underwear.  How much more advanced we are than the Muslim's with their veils!  In our culture it is very, very hard to get away from immodesty- we have lost our sense of shame.  Pornography is an art and multi-billion business today.  A survey done of our young people found that for the first time in our history the majority of our young people believe there is nothing wrong with sleeping with someone before they are married (from Presbyterian Outlook this week).  There are lawsuits today saying that to even counsel a gay person inviting them to change is illegal- as if it is impossible (contrary to Exit International and thousands of testimonies).  Even in the face of the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, and the plethora of hurt souls from the use of another human being sexually- we cannot learn and refuse to listen to scripture.
3) They tested the Lord (Numbers 21:5-6) when they were led out of Egypt's slavery into the desert and yelled at God for leading them that way.  They refused to believe that God would provide daily bread for them- and let fear take over their lives because they thought they had more in secular slavery than in following God.  So many today worry and would rather not trust God- and are turning from Him because He has disappointed their expectations. But they will find that abandoning their God- their hope and purpose has its own punishment. 
4) They grumbled (Nbrs. 14, 16)- You might think that people who had been delivered out of slavery and had seen the plagues, and the sea part would not be grumblers. 

Prayer: Help me Lord to be holy, learning from those in the past.  

11/27/12- Between Memory and Hope

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Rev. 22:16)

(Morning star rising)

Thoughts: We are approaching advent.  Some are advent purists, others don't know what advent is all about, and some, like me, are more flexible in how we celebrate it.  Advent is a wonderful tool to think and spend time waiting on God.  The word means "coming."  We live between the first advent (Christmas) and Christ's coming again at the end of the world- or coming to us (face to face) at the end of our lives.  There is a book on advent with an excellent title- "Between Memory and Hope."  It is not that Christ has not come- we do not, I believe, receive much benefit from artificially saying He has not.  Christmas hymns (contrary to what some say) can really be sung any time.  We can celebrate Christmas every day- for He comes into our hearts to make our home.  But advent is a blessing if used in the right way.  It is a season of putting our focus back on God- even if just for 4 weeks.  Today, we are even more busy in advent.  We have completely lost the idea of Sabbath in our culture- and now busy-ness even encroaches more upon us- as people are forced to work on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve or Day (believe it or not, many stores when I was young used to close on Christmas Eve).
Perhaps the best image of advent is like the sun's rising- or the morning star coming up.  When the morning star came, it was a sign to those without clocks that the darkness was about to end.  It did this every day.  So we could anticipate the coming of the morning star cycle based not only on math, but usually on simple past experience.  So advent and Christmas come as both memory and hope.  Christ is the morning star that brings light to our darkness.   He does that each day- each day He offers to come if we will look at Him.  As the morning star came long, long ago first at creation- so Christ came long, long ago at Christmas- but also comes every day.  As the morning star promises a time of brighter light and hope fulfilled- so Christmas is a promise of brighter light for us.   

Prayer: Light up my heart once again, O Lord.  I wait on you in hope because of the past, because of the promises, because of your great love.  

11/26/12- The Weaker Brother

⁹ Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)

(Family Thanksgiving picture- families can be divided over teams or even games)

Thoughts: Paul was addressing differing opinions about a secondary issue- eating meat sacrificed to idols.  To some, who could only afford meat that had been discounted because it had been sacrificed to idols, this was a seemingly primary issue.  Some said that anything offered at a pagan offered was tainted or polluted with evil.  Others said that since pagan gods weren't real, it really didn't matter.  Paul saw that such secondary things could split the church apart- both sides claiming a scriptural basis for their actions. 
     Paul was saying the church was more valuable than getting your own way affirmed.  There have always been various idealists and various purists in the church who put their ideals or their concept of the purity of the church ahead of the church itself.  So, instead of having a big umbrella (I hesitate to use the words "big tent"), over a variety of people, we kick people out into the rain or cold wanting only one viewpoint.  Too many times people in power in the church are not sensitive to those with differing viewpoints- and force their viewpoints down the throats of others.  So we try to separate the wheat and tares now (Mt. 13).  A small majority has no right to claim a mandate- whether  that is in the political arena or the church political arena.  To do so diminishes the church.
    So Paul is saying that even if you know you have a God-given-right, you should exercise that right carefully with a mind toward your brother or sister who think differently. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to put other believers ahead of my own ideals.  Give me grace to speak the truth, but speak it in love today.  

11/25/12- Christ the king

 ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,“Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” ¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

¹¹ The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

(Palm Sunday procession- Tissot)

Thoughts: Today is Christ the king Sunday.  it is a reminder that He is King and we are not.  In the American revolution many pulpits resounded with the cry (taken from Samuel Rutherford) "We have no king but Jesus."  But if He is our King, we owe Him our allegiance, put our hope and trust in Him to provide for us and protect us.  

Prayer: Hosanna to you, O Lord.  You are our King and our hope.  We put our allegiance and trust in you. 

11/24.12- We Won

⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”55 “Where, O death, is your victory?     Where, O death, is your sting?”⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.(1 John 5:4)

(football fan crying)

Thoughts: Today is "Rivalry Week" on college football and millions of Americans will be pulling extra hard for "their team" (including me).  Half of these millions will be disappointed.  Some will go into a hissy fit or mild depression, and we must be reminded "It is only a game."  If the winners brag too much, if the losers complain too much- the world will not end or begin.  Earlier this month we had some divisive presidential elections, in which some said the world was beginning again and others that the world was ending.  But there is only One who begins and ends- the Alpha and the Omega.
     The passage above says, "Stand firm let nothing move you."  Why?  Because we have hope, and we have a God who has won.  Our Lord Jesus has overcome the world, death, and the very worst human beings can do.  By faith we are a part of his team- his family, and plug into and take part in His victory.  So, no matter what happens on the football field today- a little perspective please... "we won!"  We win over death.  We win over the problems of this life.  The greatest human triumph cannot compare, and the greatest human tragedy is overcome.  

Prayer: Today I thank you Lord for giving me the victory in you.  

Great music piece from Handel: "Thanks be to God Who Giveth us the Victory"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH32wPeN1Qc

11/23/12- The Day After Thanksgiving

Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel

Thoughts: The day after Thanksgiving- some go shopping, many are travelling back- or getting ready to,  some have the day off, some still meet with other family groups- the in-laws or outlaws.   Some are still taking their after-turkey naps (fueled by tryptophan).
I think back on Psalm 103:5 which could be translated "He has filled you mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles."  For many super busy people, Thanksgiving is more than just a food refueling- but a spiritual refueling.  We refuel our relationships and renew our family ties. We refuel our hearts with a spirit of thanks.  The day after thanksgiving could be a time to give thanks and bask a bit in the refueling- digesting and appreciating it. 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for a day of food, family, and faith.  We remember those who do not have enough food, whose families are going through stress, and whose faith is on the edge.  As we sit comfortably, we remember those who are travelling far, and those hurt by Hurricane Sandy or other disasters whose homes are no more.  Be our home.