There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Prov. 14:12 NIV
Is possible that our act or action of worship can displease God?
In 2 Samual 6, we read the story of David bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem. It was a festive occasion with great celebration. "David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals." (v.5) What happens next is a shock. The oxen which was pulling the cart, on which the ark rested, stumbled. the ark began to tip and Uzzah, one of the individuals assigned to guide the oxen and cart, reached out to steady the ark so that it would not fall to the ground. "The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God." (v.7) David became angry and refused to bring the ark to Jerusalem. He left the ark with Obed-Edom for three months. David again went back to get the ark of God to bring it to Jerusalem. This time read, "When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets." (vv.13-15)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Act On the Unreasonable and God Does the Impossible
In Luke 5:1-11 we see Jesus working the miraculous catch of fish. In order for the miracle to occur, Jesus asked, no instructed Peter, to launch out into deep water for a catch after having fished all night and caught nothing. In fact, Peter thought the request was unreasonable (v.5) "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything..." Sometimes we allow the methods we are accustomed to, the traditions we are conditioned by, and the repetitions of daily life that we are familiar with, limit what we think God can do. In order to stretch our faith God asks the unreasonable of us. When we act on the unreasonable, He does the impossible which is the miraculous.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Get Up
John 5:1-15
Thirty-eight years is a long time to lie around. Nothing can be accomplished without desire. Jesus asked this crippled man an important question. "Do you want to be healed?" Jesus started with the man's desire.
The difference between a winner and loser is desire. There was a heavy weight champion who had the motto, "Fight One More Round!" It rallied him when his arms were weak and he seemed to tired to lift them up. It brought him out of the corner when every muscle cried out, "Give up!" It kept him going when others would quit. His motto made him into a champion.
This crippled man enjoyed a measure of comfort within his discomfit. I have visted the ruins of the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. I can imagine its past beauty. Where he lay was one of the most attractive pools or health clinic of his day. Bethesda was surrounded by five covered porches. It wasn't an unpleasant place to have to lie around day after day. There was shade from the sun and cover from the storms. He could listen to the sound of the rippling water. Thousands outside of that pool area had to work hard and toil in the heat. I can imagine the merchants pushing their dirty carts. Farmers would be clearing and preparing their fields outside the city. Shepherds probably searched for green pastures for their sheep. It might have been easier to lie down. For this man, suffering ill health may have been easier by lying down. It was his comfort zone in the midst of discomfort.
Casey Stengel is a baseball legend. He led my New York Yankees (Yes you read right, this New Englander is not a Red Sox fan) to five successful league championships and world series victories. How did he do that? Through failure! He failed as a manager in Boston and Brooklyn. There was one season that he was paid in full not to manage. He simply refused to accept failure as final. He did not give up or give in. He pushed on. He stirred up the gifts as a leader and manager within him and out of such desire an amazing string of victories occurred. He got up!
Do you want to be healed? Do you want to be free of whatever it is that is holding you in bondage? Have you become accustomed to lying down?
The crippled man's response is interesting in verse 7. "Sir, I have no one..." That's a favorite alibi of those who lie around. No one seems to want to help me. I've never enjoyed the advantages that others have. The doors closed just before I arrived. I've been neglected my whole life. I have tried, but it never seems to do any good. Self-pity is like a parasite.
Don't look at difficulty. Look at opportunity. The man had a choice to make. There were a multitude of sick and impotent people under those colonades. They were all waiting. He could have chose to look at those problems or he could look to God through Jesus. He exercised his faith on hearing Jesus' words, "Pick up your mat and walk."
Jesus' prescription for healing was simple: (1) desire faith, (2) exercise your faith, and (3) don't do what you have been doing anymore.
Thirty-eight years is a long time to lie around. Nothing can be accomplished without desire. Jesus asked this crippled man an important question. "Do you want to be healed?" Jesus started with the man's desire.
The difference between a winner and loser is desire. There was a heavy weight champion who had the motto, "Fight One More Round!" It rallied him when his arms were weak and he seemed to tired to lift them up. It brought him out of the corner when every muscle cried out, "Give up!" It kept him going when others would quit. His motto made him into a champion.
This crippled man enjoyed a measure of comfort within his discomfit. I have visted the ruins of the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. I can imagine its past beauty. Where he lay was one of the most attractive pools or health clinic of his day. Bethesda was surrounded by five covered porches. It wasn't an unpleasant place to have to lie around day after day. There was shade from the sun and cover from the storms. He could listen to the sound of the rippling water. Thousands outside of that pool area had to work hard and toil in the heat. I can imagine the merchants pushing their dirty carts. Farmers would be clearing and preparing their fields outside the city. Shepherds probably searched for green pastures for their sheep. It might have been easier to lie down. For this man, suffering ill health may have been easier by lying down. It was his comfort zone in the midst of discomfort.
Casey Stengel is a baseball legend. He led my New York Yankees (Yes you read right, this New Englander is not a Red Sox fan) to five successful league championships and world series victories. How did he do that? Through failure! He failed as a manager in Boston and Brooklyn. There was one season that he was paid in full not to manage. He simply refused to accept failure as final. He did not give up or give in. He pushed on. He stirred up the gifts as a leader and manager within him and out of such desire an amazing string of victories occurred. He got up!
Do you want to be healed? Do you want to be free of whatever it is that is holding you in bondage? Have you become accustomed to lying down?
The crippled man's response is interesting in verse 7. "Sir, I have no one..." That's a favorite alibi of those who lie around. No one seems to want to help me. I've never enjoyed the advantages that others have. The doors closed just before I arrived. I've been neglected my whole life. I have tried, but it never seems to do any good. Self-pity is like a parasite.
Don't look at difficulty. Look at opportunity. The man had a choice to make. There were a multitude of sick and impotent people under those colonades. They were all waiting. He could have chose to look at those problems or he could look to God through Jesus. He exercised his faith on hearing Jesus' words, "Pick up your mat and walk."
Jesus' prescription for healing was simple: (1) desire faith, (2) exercise your faith, and (3) don't do what you have been doing anymore.
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