Author: BJ Armstrong

Ecclesiastes 4-6, Psalm 125, 2 Tim 2

Solomon like to talk about toil.  Toil, according to Merrium-Webster, is more than work.  It is laborious, burdensome, and exhausting work.  Toil also implies a grind.  A lot of action with little or no forward progress.  Yet we persist.  To alleviate our pain, we shift our strategies.  We set new goals and seek new positions, thinking these will finally fill our hearts.  Surely, these will bring joy and put an end to our toil.

Not so, says Solomon.  He says, “I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (ESV)

The truth is that we have gotten it backward.  The gift of joy does not come from our work, achievements, and possessions.  It comes only from the love of God in our hearts.  God “keeps him occupied with joy in his heart” through it.

Ravi Zacharias sums this up well, saying, “It is far easier for man to worship God in his toil than in his heart.”

1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4, Psalms 44, 1 Timothy 2

Problems are part of life.  Much of our daily efforts are an attempt to solve our problems.  Take money, for example.  If you are struggling to make ends meet, you may work harder so that you make more money.  But, the additional money and time spent only creates new problems.  This is true for relationships too.  We think we would have more friends if we were funnier, skinnier, or drove a better car.  But, no matter how hard we try, they don’t work.  They never will.  How long will you try before turning to God?

The Psalmist in Psalms 44 takes a minute to remember.  As he does, something special comes to light.  He realizes that there is nothing special about the Israelites.  They were not taller, smarter, prettier, or richer than their neighbors.  In fact, they were not even stronger.  He recalls,

They did not conquer the land with their swords;

it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.

So what was it?  What made them successful in battle and prosperous in everything they did?  It was the hand of God.  He says it this way,

It was your right hand and strong arm

and the blinding light from your face that helped them,

for you loved them.  Psalms 44:3 (NLT)

I don’t know what problem you are trying to solve or what hurt you are trying to heal, but I do know that there is only one path; Jesus.  I know that he is standing, patiently with his hand extended and asking, “Do you want to be healed?” (Matt 5:6)

Song of Solomon 4-6, 2 Thessalonians 1

The church of Thessalonica faced intense persecution.  We know they were frustrated and discouraged, but Paul does not describe how the Thesolonicans were persecuted. It probably looked like ridicule.  People would shout at them with insults and call them names. They were slandered and mocked.  Kind of like today.  I only have to name Planned Parenthood, or LGBTQ, for you to quickly remember that Christians are often targets. What about prayer in schools or the woke movement?  You and I both know that the world calls us not only to tolerate but to accept and even celebrate these divergent points of view.  Our failure to comply has consequences.  Those consequences, my friends, are called persecution.  It feels bad.  It’s easy to get discouraged.

As a leader, Paul knew that the general discouragement of the Thessalonians could be deadly.  He was not about to let that happen, so he wrote this simple letter of encouragement.  His words are as true today as they were then.

Good job! He reminds them.  Your suffering is evidence that God is with you v5.

Don’t worry, you will win, and God will be your relief. v6 – 10.

He will empower you.  This is not going to end soon, so have faith that God is near v11

He will be glorified, and you will be with him. You will prevail. v12

 

Proverbs 19-21, Psalms 40, Romans 16

Grace begets grace.  It means that if I give grace, I will also receive grace.  That sounds nice.  But is it true?

I’ve been struggling with someone recently.  I’ve been insulted, cheated, and slandered.  My response to this aggression has been only grace.  What does that look like?  It looks like kindness.  Despite the evil dished upon me, I have been kind.  Grace also extends hope.  Hope for a peaceful and productive relationship.   My heart says that if I give grace, grace will be returned.  Thus the phrase, grace begets grace.

But, the problem persists.  My generosity has been rejected.  My kindness has been returned with malice and outright hostility.  Why would I continue?  At what point do I stop extending grace?

In frustration, I cry out to God.  “What shall I do?  How can I make someone understand that I am for them, not against them?  How will they see that my love is real?”

God’s response was perfect.  “Exactly,” He said.

As He turns my thoughts toward the grace He has given me, my heart sinks.  My will is strong.  I have been rebellious.  At times, I have been hostile.

If grace begets grace, what does a graceful response to Jesus look like?  Surrender, humility, praise, and worship, and of course service.

2 Samuel 18-20, Psalm 34, Romans 2

My family had an Old English Sheepdog named Ziggy.  He was wild.  He chased rabbits, squirrels, birds, and me.  All the time.   The wildlife often led him out of the yard and into the park behind our house.  We spent hours chasing him.  Then, he chewed everything.  Socks and shoes, remote controls, door casings, and couches.  There were no walks with Ziggy, just tug-o-war.

We tried a couple of things with him.  First, we tied him up outside. The incessant barking annoyed the whole neighborhood.  So, we added this choke collar.  It was metal and fitted with sharp pokers that would tighten up around his neck when he pulled.  That didn’t work either, and believe me; I pulled that thing hard.  We had one last option.  Obedience training.

We would take him to the training sessions a few times per week.  These sessions were designed to teach him.  We ran around a ring on a leash and shook an aluminum can full of rocks to get his attention. It didn’t work.  After a couple of weeks, the trainer asked us to stop coming because he was too disruptive.

Then, one day, Ziggy was gone.  He didn’t run away, we just couldn’t take it anymore.  All I know is that he went to “the farm.”

We spent enough time with Ziggy to teach him the rules.  He knew what to do.  The problem was that he wouldn’t do it.  He didn’t have the will to follow.

In Romans 2, Paul talks a lot about obedience.  He says, “It is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.”  Do you know what that means?  It means that we are good at doing things that look good on the outside but fail to bend our will to the things that matter.  Think of it this way; we can go to church every Sunday, attend small groups every Wednesday, and even write for BibleJournal every week.  According to Paul, these things are good but do not lead to righteousness.  In fact, nothing that we do outwardly matters.  Only the mark of God on our hearts will make us whole.  It is this mark of God that produces obedience.  Jesus said it this way in Luke 6:45, “the good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

The lesson is simple.  Be doers of the law.  While Paul does not discuss the consequences of our disobedience in Romans 2, I think we all know.  It looks a lot like being sent to “the farm.”

1 Chronicals 14-16, Acts 24

I remember a book that I was reading, a long time ago.  I do not remember the name of it or the actual content.  What I do remember is being scared.  Really scared.  But not in the way that you might think.  I mean, when you think about being scared, we usually think about something evil.  But this was not the case.  It’s not evil that I was afraid of.  It was holy.

I think that my experience was similar to Felix’s.  You may want to reread it in Acts 24-25.  Let me set the stage.  He was talking to Jesus, and Jesus was telling him of our behavior and God’s judgment that would soon be upon us.  Then, “as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed.”

Stop for a moment and think about Felix’s alarm.  What was he afraid of?  Do you see it?  Felix was not afraid of something evil.  He was afraid of something good.  Jesus was showing him the Holy, and he could not hear it.  What is it about the holy that we do not want to hear?  Simply put, it’s the price.

If you can tolerate the old English, it is worth listening to John Calvin.  He says that we  “do desire to hear the gospel preached.”  But, he continues, as soon as we have heard, we do by and by either loathe, or else they cannot suffer it.” Do you hear it?

There are only two reasons, according to Calvin.  First, we may loathe it.  That means that we disagree with it.  We want to fight it.  That does not describe me.  If you are reading this, it probably does not describe you either.  Instead, I am the one that “cannot suffer it.”  Do you know what that means?  It means that I am not willing to give up myself.  I cannot fathom sacrificing my own agenda for his.  That would mean too much suffering for me!

Is there a limit to your suffering?  A point that you no longer want to follow Jesus because it’s just too hard?  The answer is yes.  It is too hard.   I am thankful for his grace.

For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

 

 

1 Samuel 30-31, 1 Chronicals 10, Acts 20

The Amalekites just raided David’s camp.  All the women and children were taken, and the city burned to the ground.  The men returned to nothing.  All hope was lost.  Every spec of joy had been removed from them.  Forever.  Naturally, the men blamed David, their leader.  If not for him, we would not be here, they said.  If not for him, we would still have our families.  If not for him, our homes would be secure.  “And David was greatly distressed” (1 Samuel 20:6).

What do you do when you are in distress?  Avoid it?  That’s the easiest thing to do.  TV, a good book, and maybe even a glass of bourbon.  None of these help.  Tomorrow, the problems are still there, and the distress returns.  David takes a different path.  The text reads, “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”  That sounds good, but what does it really mean to be strengthened by God?

First, we need to be comforted.  Comfort comes with the assurance that everything will be alright.  This assurance starts with our remembering who God is.  Love and grace come to mind.  Remembering who he is allows us also to remember what He has done.  David does this all over the Psalms.  He does it often, and specifically.  The bigger perspective he gains from it brings comfort.

God does not, however, give us comfort for comfort’s sake.   No, God’s comfort opens the door to courage and His courage empowers us to consider the unthinkable.  This was true for David.  With a renewed spirit, David fights for God, again and his victory is assured.  So is yours.

 

 

1 Samuel 14, Psalm 124, Acts 10

What are you praying for?  Anything?  As you answer that question, remember that we witness Peter praying in Acts 10.  To be fair, the text does not say what he was praying for, just that he was praying.  It does, however, reveal a few elements of how he prayed.  Through this act of obedience, we get a lot of detail about how God works.

Consider first that Peter had a location to pray.  Verse 10 says that he “went up on the housetop.”  Before you get your ladder out to climb onto your roof, think about what is unique about that location.  First, it’s quiet.  The rooftop was secluded so Peter was able to be alone.  In this seclusion, he is less distracted and, therefore, more likely to encounter God.  That is the primary factor of being on the rooftop.

I suppose Peter may have seen another opportunity in being on the rooftop.  Being elevated, he may have felt closer to heaven.  Of course, we know that physical distance is not a thing for God, but it may be for us.  Perhaps Peter could better focus his heart on God because of it.  I’ve found this to be true for myself.  Specifically when sitting in the cathedral at the Chiara center.  While God can be found everywhere, there is something sacred about certain places.  The challenge here is to find our sacred space and use it regularly.

The text also suggests that Peter used this place regularly.  It even cites the time as “the sixth hour.”  Could it be that Peter went to this place at the same time, every day?  It’s probable that he utilized a variety of spiritual locations and very likely that he prayed every day at the same time.

Let’s be clear that God does not mandate where or when we pray.  He does, however, ask us to pray.  Prayer is not just an opportunity to communicate with God, allowing us to seek guidance, express gratitude or voice our needs and wants.  It is also an outlet for God to guide and direct us.  In prayer, he guides and directs us toward fulfilling our mission and purpose in life.  In short, it is transforming.

One commentator says, “As Christians engage in prayer and seek God’s guidance, they believe that he will lead them toward their mission and purpose in life.  This may involve opportunities to serve, share their faith, help others in need, or make a positive impact in their communities and the world at large.  Prayer is seen as a way through which God equips and empowers his followers for their mission, providing them with the spiritual resources, strength, and guidance needed to fulfill their purpose.”

This is abundantly clear to Peter.  As he prayed, his thinking was transformed.  He went from believing that some things – and some people – are unclean to understanding that God makes all things clean.  This was no small thing.  This transformation sparked Peter to take action he would have never considered. Now, the Gospel message will be shared with the Gentiles.

I wonder, where am I holding God back?  How do I need to be transformed?  There is one simple answer to those questions.  Pray as Peter did.

Judges 9-11, Psalm 17, Luke 23

Easter is such a great time of year.  The warm sun and the blooms of spring are just the beginning.  These are great reminders of the resurrection that we celebrate.  For a moment, we drink it in, basking in the love of family and the precious blood of a risen savior.  All is well with the world.  And then, It’s Monday.

The problems return, and so do I.  I still have a house to pay for and kids to send to college.   I go to work and find everything just where I left it on Friday.  The toil begins again.  This is not what it’s meant to be.  Jesus opened the door, but we have to walk through it.

If today you find yourself confronted with your old reality, there is work to do.  Start as the Israelites did and “put aside your foreign gods and serve the Lord” (Judges 10:10).   That is where God’s promised life is.  AW Tozer explains it well.  He says that “We are long on talk and short on conduct. We use the language of power, but our deeds are the deeds of weakness.”   That is what Monday does.  It exposes the incongruency of our deeds.

As Monday ends and another Easter is behind me, I ask God if I experienced the life that Jesus suffered for today.  I know the answer, yet my soul is reassured as I turn to Him.  Like the Psalmist says,

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.  Psalms 17:15

 

1. W. Tozer; Caleb Sinclair. Lessons from Tozer for the Christian (p. 3). Kindle Edition.

 

Joshua 22-24, Psalm 116, Luke 19

I like the parable of the ten servants (Luke 19:11-27).  At least I like it as long as I am the one that gets the most minas (money).  Do you remember what he did with his?  He doubled them.  As a reward, the governor gave him ten cities.   Not only that, the governor gave him all the money from the lazy guy.  That’s who I am, right?

Truth is, we have to look at this story from the other angle.   The story is not so fun when I become the lazy guy.  He’s ruled by fear and lives in safety.  Of course, that’s not me.  Is it?

To answer that question, let’s first understand that Jesus is not talking about money here.  He is talking about the kingdom of God.  As such, God has invested in us.  In fact, I quickly become overwhelmed when I think of all his benefits to me.  I can start with bountiful earth.  He gave it to us and commanded us to be fruitful and multiply.  He wants us to fill the earth and subdue it, giving us dominion over the fish and birds and every living thing (Genesis 1:28).  How’s that for an investment?  But wait, there’s more.

To cover the crazy mess that humans were making, God went all in on his investment.  He sent his son.  Now, God promises you are guaranteed salvation.  Now, he vows, you can have abundant life.  Now, he asks gently, do you love me?

You don’t want me to respond, do you, God?  I mean, yes, I appreciate all that you’ve done, and I know you to be an angry and vengeful God, so I’ve just been hanging out over here in the corner, trying to mind my own business.  You know, over here where I can’t get into any trouble. I sure don’t want to make you mad.

And just like that, I’ve become the lazy guy.  Choosing to rest on what I have been given for fear that I might say something offensive.  Equally bad, I might do something that doesn’t work.

This isn’t the way God designed it. This is not why he invested in us.  The Psalmist in Psalm 116 gets it right with one single question.  He asks, “What can I offer to the Lord for all he’s done for me?” (v12).  That is a good question for me to answer.  Right now.

The Psalmist responds this way:

I will lift up the cup of salvation

and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.

I will keep my promises to the Lord

in the presence of all his people.