Author: BJ Armstrong

Exodus 35-37, Psalm 26, Philippians 4

“Don’t worry,” people say.  I do, anyway.  They try, “You shouldn’t worry.”  That doesn’t work, either.   It makes it worse.  Now I’m worried about being worried!

I’ve tried many things to quell my anxiety, to no avail.  Attempting to steer my thoughts in another direction leaves me wanting solutions, and engaging distractions delays the inevitable.

I am sure that you have some advice for me, but is it as good as Paul’s?  Paul knows that this is a battle for our minds.  He also knows that there is a real and permanent solution.  It starts with taking our thoughts captive.

Once we identify that our thoughts have gone astray, we must do something with them.  Since we can just forget them, we need to transform them.  In Philippians 4:8, Paul hands us a simple framework.  In this situation, what is:

True – consider what is true from a Biblical context.  Truth exposes lies

Honorable – what is correct and righteous

Just – right, equitable

Pure – free from defilement, holy, sacred

Lovely – what is beautiful, pleasing, and agreeable

Commendable – well reported of, spoken in a kindly spirit, laudable, reputable

Excellent – moral goodness and virtue

Worthy of praise – what would God be proud of

Every time I filter my worry through these words, it resolves.  Not because I have put it off or quenched it with a temporary elixir but because I’ve brought it into the light.  The darkness dissolves, and I find peace.  At that moment, I see clearly that the Lord is at hand (v5), and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guards my heart and mind (v7).

Exodus 22-24, Psalms 109, Ephesians 6

We fight every day in the physical world.   Money, pleasure, and power are the primary objectives.  We have it wrong.  Paul tells us clearly in Ephesians 6.  There is another war, and it is not physical.  It’s spiritual.  In the spiritual battle, war is not waged against our bank account or in a competition for the next customer, it’s for our hearts and minds.  That means we are fighting against ourselves.

Evidence suggests that we are lousy at waging this spiritual war.  James 4 points us toward murder, fighting, and quarreling as the symptoms.  What’s really happening, according to James, is that our physical and worldly passions are going unfulfilled.  The only way to satiate our hearts and minds is to act out.  If we want freedom, we must wage this spiritual war.

Two things make this war especially hard.  First, we must surrender.  Jesus said it this way, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23).  Note that he added the word “daily.”  That means surrender is not a one-time event.  Our passions and desires will continue to bubble up in us.  Even worse, our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8).  Thankfully, we are not left to be wimpy fighters, which leads to the second reason that this war is hard.  We simply do not know how to wage a spiritual battle.

Thankfully, we get a great picture of waging the battle in Ephesians 6.  The message is hidden in the armor of God.  While it’s easy to focus on the pieces of armor, it is far more fruitful to see what they do.

Truth – the purity of the gospel ought to remove from our minds all deception, pride, and hypocrisy.

Righteousness – blameless, above reproach.  Our actions matter.

Readiness – the gospel of peace – the gospel that brings peace, even in great uncertainty.  Armed with it, we are ready and prepared for anything.

Helmet – salvation.  Our most valuable asset that can never be taken away.

Shield – Our faith.  Remember Hebrews 11:1? Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Sword – the word of God.  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

It’s one thing to know how our armor functions, but it’s quite another to use it.  Today, I am going to start by putting it on.

Exodus 4-6, Galatians 6

What would you do if you knew that you could not fail?  Go ahead, take a moment to answer that question.  Now that you have it, consider one more factor.  What if God blessed your plans?  It’s a no-brainer, right?  If God came to you and asked you, specifically, to do something, like maybe through a burning bush, would you then be fully encouraged to run with it?  Of course!  If God is in it, failure is impossible, right?

This is how it starts.  You know from our recent reading that Moses has been called to free the Israelites.  God has very specific conversations with him about it.  Reluctantly, Moses accepts and charges forward.  But it doesn’t work.  Moses fails.  Not because Moses wasn’t obedient, he was.  He went to Pharoah and did exactly as he was told.  Pharoah didn’t listen.  Instead, he retaliated.  Now, the Israelites are forced to work twice as hard.

Moses had to be devastated.  What more could he have done?  The people hate him and have lost faith in him as their leader.  They curse him, saying “the Lord look on you and judge because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” (Exodus 6:20).  Why in the world would God call a leader, then let him fail?

At this point in the story, I become frustrated.  I am rooting for Moses, but he is losing.  And it’s God’s fault.  He didn’t even hide it.  God told Moses, that “[He] will harden [Pharaoh’s] heart so that he will not let the people go.” Exodus 4:21.  In other words, God set Moses up to fail.  Wait.  What?

I could pontificate about why God would do such a thing.  I could stretch the words to weave a story about how God had to do X to get to Y, or that by taking the circuitous route, more people got to experience God and his power was better revealed.  When I started down that path of thinking, I realized that I was asking the wrong question.  I have been focused on how.  What if I focused on who?

Something changes when I move to who this reveals God to be.  Sovereign is the word that comes to mind.  God is sovereign.  He can do what he wants, for whatever reason he wants.  Yea, but….

I want to resist his sovereignty.  I want to argue with his methods, just like Moses.  “Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord?  Why did you send me?” Exodus 5:22

God is patient with my questions, as he is with Moses.  Despite his careful explanations of why (Ex 6:2-7), my pride and self-preservation prevent my agreement.  God has to remind me I am the Lord!  (Emphasis God’s).  (Ex 6:8)

Now, at this moment, I see God as Lord.  I stand down, surrendering my foolish pride to exalt the Lord God Almighty.  Thy kingdom come.

Genesis 45-46, Psalm 108, Galatians 2

I like this part of Joseph’s story because I get to do a victory dance.  Joseph is now in charge.  He has the authority and ability to do as he pleases.  His dream was right.  He has been vindicated.  He is living in victory.  I picture him, in his private moments, doing a little victory dance.  But, this is not at all what happened.  These are pictures of the old Joseph.  The one we were introduced to back in chapter 37.  Remember him?  The Joseph that flaunted his favoritism (Gen 37:3-4).  The man blustering with self-glorifying dreams (Gen 37:9-10).  He’s not that man anymore.

Along the way, Joseph’s heart changed.  Perhaps it changed while he was enslaved.  Maybe it happened while he was in prison.  Did all of those demoralizing and challenging years beat the pride out of him?   Maybe.  But this story is less bout what came out of him and more about what got into him.  You see, many of us would replace pride with humiliation, emerging from slavery and prison as a shell of the person we set out to be.  We refuse to allow our current circumstances to drive us to our knees in submission.  Rather than cry out to God, we hold on to false hope.  God will protect us, we say.  Because God wins, we win.  But, that is incorrect.  God is not looking for our victory in the circumstance, he is looking for our humility.  Not our humiliation, mind you, but our surrender to him.  This is what happened to Joseph.  Never once does Joseph appear humiliated.  He does, however, appear surrendered.

What does surrender look like?  Consider the evidence of Joseph’s new life.

He looks upon others with compassion, instead of contempt – Genesis 40:6-7 (ESV) When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?”

He denies himself to exalt God – Genesis 41:16 (ESV) Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

He gives God credit – Gen 41:25 (ESV) God has revealed to Pharaoh, Gen 41:28 (ESV) God has shown to Pharaoh

God was visible in him, through others – Genesis 41:38 (ESV) And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”

He testified of God – Gen 41:51 – “For God has made me forget all my hardship”

Joseph’s journey brought him to freedom, but not victory.  While I look upon his final situation and declare victory, Joseph did not.  For Joseph, victory was not secured when he could lord power over his brothers, or find vindication for the trespasses of others.  Nor was his victory in loving, caring, and providing for his brothers.  Joseph’s victory happened every day, serving God.  No matter the circumstance, he had a reason to do a victory dance.

Genesis 30-31, Psalm 11, Mark 12

Why do you read the Bible?  Your answer to that question is essential.  There may even be more than one.  I answer it with to be a better person and to know God.  Both of those are fine answers.  But I question, how can either be true when we are reading about a bunch of idiots?

Let’s start with Jacob.  He was the 2^nd born son, but he wanted to be first, so he stole his brother’s birthright.  Then, with the help of his mother – who is no better – tricks his father into giving him the family blessing.  Trickery is something Jacob was especially good at.  He even tricks his wife’s father into a greater share of the family assets.  Seriously, Jacob is no prize.

Jacob leads us to Laban.  His tricks start with his daughters.  He swaps the ugly one for the pretty one, so Jacob ends up marrying both.  Then, he convinces Jacob to keep working his farm, even after Jacob has paid off his debts.

It’s not just the men.  Jacob’s wife Rachel is just as deceitful.  She can’t get pregnant so she offers Jacob her servant.  Then, hates her for it.  She is a thief too.  On her way out of town, she steals idols from her father.

What a mess!  As I read through this cast of characters, I consider them as who I do not want to be.  But, I am perplexed.  They live twisted lives and God blesses them anyway.  He gives them wealth and prosperity, family, and babies.  This is my quandary.  What in the world did they do to earn God’s favor?

Nothing.  That is the answer.  They did nothing to earn God’s favor.  They were undeserving jerks.  All of them.  He loved them anyway.   God loved them with the love of a lover, giving gifts and staying close by.  He loved them in their lying, deceit, trickery, and theft.

Truth is, if someone reads about my life 3,000 years from now, they will see me as an undeserving jerk too.  I am not proud of that.  But, prayerfully, they are a diligent student.  If they are, they will see the unconditional love of our great God. When they see it, I hope that they realize it is for them too.  He will take you too.  Just as you are.

Genesis 21-23, Psalm 107, Mark 8

I’ve been hearing lately the phrase “God is who he says he is.”  Every time I hear it, I am reminded of five simple statements that my mother taught me.  They steady my faith and encourage my soul.

I believe…

God is who he says he is.

God can do what he says he can do.

You are who God says you are.

You can do what God says you can do.

I believe God!

The Psalmist in Psalm 107 takes it deeper, noting specific attributes of God.  These are worth adding to my list:

He is good (v1)

His love endures forever (v1)

He redeems from trouble (2)

He gathers people (3)

He delivers from distress (6)

He leads (7)

He loves steadfastly (8)

He works wondrously for me (8)

He satisfies longing souls (9)

He fills my soul with good things (9)

He humbles me (12)

He delivers me from my distress  (13)

He brings me to the light (14)

He breaks my bonds (14)

He shatters bronze and cast iron (16)

He sent his word to heal and deliver me from de3structino (20)

He delivers me from self-induced distress, again (28)

He calms the storm (29)

He brings me to my desired place (30)

He turns rivers into deserts (33)

He dries up springs (33)

He turns fruitful lands into salty wastes (34)

He turns deserts into pools of water (35)

He gives me a place to dwell (36)

He watches me work the land (37)

He multiples my effort (38)

He pours contempt on my enemies (39-40)

He raises up the needy (41)

His love for me is steadfast (43)

 

How am I to respond to these things?  Just as the Psalmist does.

Give thanks.  Worship.  Cry out to the Lord.  Thank him.  Cry out to the Lord.  Thank Him.  Remember his works.  Thank the Lord.  Offer sacrifices of thanksgiving.  Tell of his deeds.  Sing with joy.  Cry to the Lord.  Thank The Lord. Go to church and extol him.  Praise him with other Christians.  Be glad.  Think about who God is. Consider his steadfast love.

Genesis 6-8, Psalm 104, Mark 3

I find it is easier to trust God when I am going through hard times.  What other choice do I have when everything around me is falling apart?  When I have nothing else, it is God who I turn to and He is faithful to lead me through the valley.  But, what if God told you to do something outrageous, would you believe that He would see you through?  What if the task He gave you seemed absolutely ridiculous?

This is what we learn about Noah today in our reading of Genesis 6-8.  Noah is an example of someone in the Bible who fully trusted God.  God commanded him to build an ark (Genesis 6:14).  This had to be hard to understand as Noah and his family lived in the desert.  The idea of a flood was not logical as it barely even rained.  God instructs to Noah exactly how big the boat should be built and it had to seem impossible as the boat would be bigger than a football field (Genesis 6:15).  I would have given up at that point due to overwhelm.  Then God tells Noah that he should gather two of every kind of animal and bring them into the ark (Genesis 6:19).  Surely Noah questioned how that would even be possible.  And finally, God made Noah aware that the entire human population would be wiped out except for him and his family (Genesis 6:17&18).  How would Noah even explain that to his neighbors and friends?  

But, we read that even through all that God commanded Noah to do, Noah did everything that God had commanded him (Genesis 6:22).  Even as God asked him to do what sounded crazy, Noah could have doubted what he heard God saying.  He could have said “No way am I doing any of that.”  But Noah obeyed, just as God commanded.  By obeying god’s commands, Noah demonstrated he fully trusted God and was willing to follow him.  No matter how difficult or crazy he looked to others.  Noah knew that God had a plan and a purpose.  

What is God asking you to do?  Do you trust God and believe that He has a purpose and plan for your life just as He did for Noah?  Are you willing to look crazy in front your neighbors and friends to follow through on what God asks you to do?  We can start by taking small steps to trust Him.  He might not be asking you to build a boat as big as a football field, but He might be asking you to begin by talking to Him and reading His Word.  

What small step can you take to trust God as you begin this new year?

Genesis 3-5, Mark 2

The beginning is fun! This first week of January marks the beginning of a new year.  It’s full of fresh goals, resolutions, and high expectations.  Maybe Sunday was your first day, your beginning.  Maybe you ran a mile or started a new diet.  If that’s you, then welcome to day three.  Does it feel like the beginning is over?  Answer “yes” if your muscles are sore and choosing to work out today is just a little harder than it was yesterday.  Guess what?  Tomorrow is not going to be any easier.

It’s fitting that we start our 1-year Bible reading with Genesis which starts with “In the beginning, God.”  Everything is great, just as God made it.  Adam is there, Eve is with him, and love is in the air.  I’m guessing that being naked and unafraid was pretty great too (Genesis 2:25).  Then, all of the sudden, the beginning was over.

In the very next sentence, just two short chapters into Genesis, the story turns.  Complications arise.  A crafty serpent appears creating all kinds of turmoil. The fun is over!  Now, the ground is cursed.  Thorns and thistles make our work hard.  We have to sweat to get results.  It’s not just hard work that created resistance.  Selfishness and anger interfere too, creating strife and animosity toward each other.  By Genesis 4:8, we witness the first murder.  Can’t we just go back to the fun part?  Back to the beginning?

The answer to that question is YES. Yes we can!  Luke 9:23 says it perfectly.  “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”  That is the way we begin every day as new creations.  Will you do it for one more day?

Titus 2

Titus is an interesting study on leadership.  While Paul lists many traits of leadership, there is one, that bears repeating: self-control.  We see it in verses 2 and 12 in today’s reading.  This is not the only place that Paul cites self-control as a distinguishing leadership trait.  2 Timothy 3:1-7 mentions it as well.  What is it about self-control that is so important?  It’s the consequences.

There are two consequences of our self-control or lack of self-control.  The first is that someone might follow us.  Think about this.  If you are the company leader, and you get drunk at the Christmas party, how many people will now think that getting drunk is ok?  We know intuitively that this is wrong.  We need to be a better example.  Romans 14:13 says“Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”  Do you hear it?  Our inability to control ourselves might be permission to someone else.  They will follow our example.

There is another group of people that are not followers.  Instead, they are judges.  This is the second consequence of our lack of self-control.  Simply put, these people will see our behavior and disapprove.  Their disapproval suspends the respect and confidence that are required to lead.  From that moment forward, you cannot lead them.  Worse than losing leadership is our ability to show and share Christ.  When our self-control fails, we cannot “let [our] good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”  (Matthew 5;16).

Today, we get to choose.  Where in our lives do we need more self-control? What are the behaviors that when seen by others, will disqualify our leadership? These are the behaviors that Jesus asks us to bring to him.  “Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise my name.” (Jeremiah 4:2)

Matthew 1:18-25

I wonder about this man, Joseph.  He was kind and honest.  Matthew 1:19 calls him “just.”  These character traits are apparent when Mary, his fiancé, becomes pregnant.  You know the story.  Joseph was not the father.  Wanting to do the right thing, he settled on divorcing her quietly.  Many of us may have stopped right there, but not Joseph.

Verse 20 gives us additional insight into Joseph’s life.  It reads simply, “as he considered these things.”  I can only assume he was considering Mary.  I would do the same.  Thankfully, Joseph didn’t “consider” the same way we often do.

When we “consider,” we worry.  I’m sure Joseph did too.  He probably woke up at 2 am in a cold sweat worried about what to do. “Mary is lying,” he must have thought.  He knew his rights.  Leaving her was a reasonable thing to do.  It was expected.  But, he loved her.  With all of his heart.

At some point, Joseph’s worry moved to God.   Maybe, he fell to his knees sobbing, or maybe he quietly carried the conversation in his heart for days.  Whatever his method, he fell on the truth of the prophet  Isaiah who said “they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). For Joseph, God was the only stable thing left in his life.

As Joseph submitted to God, his broken heart was healed and his mind was transformed.  God revealed a new vision for his life.  It would not be, as he expected.  Instead, God announced a bigger plan for him and Mary.  It would be the beginning of a new world order.

Behold, the virgin shall conevieve and bear a son and they shall call his name “Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23)

Immanuel, “God with us.”  It hinged on the faith of one simple man, Joseph, and his willingness to hear God’s bigger plan.  This is worth our “consideration” too.