Author: BJ Armstrong

Beginnings

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?

Followed or Judged?

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)

Consideration and Worry

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.

 

 

No Compromises

We are surrounded by compromise. Take a look around your current environment and you will see it. Are you in the house of your dreams? What about your car? Is it exactly the one you wanted, or did you have to settle for less than the perfect one? How about your job? Truth is, very few things live up to the ideal in my head. It’s ok, we learn to live with compromises in the material world. But, what about the spiritual world? Are we compromising there too? Malachi says yes.
How do we find compromises in our lives?  The standards are provided in scripture.  Problem is, God’s rules are hard. So, we turn from rules and make up our own.  Instead of giving the full tithe, we adjust the definition of tithing. We hold back our time and talent, pointing our passion toward careers instead of God’s callings.  These shifts are subtle, we think.  But not to God.  He sees them all very clearly and they separate us from him.
Thankfully, Malachi tells of a messenger that is coming.  A messenger that will prepare a way for Jesus.  It is Jesus’ uncompromising life and perfect death that reunites us with God. He will eliminate our compromises so that we may have life.

Restored

Today, we find ourselves in the book of Nehemiah. It’s worth remembering a couple of things about him. First, Nehemiah was a king. God called him to restore Jerusalem. In order to accomplish this, he first set out to protect the city. This was accomplished, miraculously, by constructing a wall around the entire city. Once Nehemiah could guarantee the people’s safety, he restored the integrity of the city’s economy by returning the land to its rightful owners.  It had been taken from them as payment for taxes. Nehemiah knew, however, that there was one more thing to do. He must instill God’s law back into the hearts of the people.
It’s simple really. Nehemiah gathered the people together and he read to them from the Book of the Law. Not only did he read the words, but he “clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people to understand each passage” (v8). This is the beginning of a new Jerusalem. What made this so effective? Let’s look at two additional scriptures.
First, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) tells us that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” That’s right, scripture does that for us! There is a second benefit to the scriptures. It transforms our very minds (Romans 12:2). That means it changes us completely. We morph into something new.
Reading and digesting scripture promotes our renewal too.  That’s what I love about our BibleJournal.  It is our opportunity to read and clearly explain the meaning of what we read.  Thank you for your commitment.  Thank you for putting God’s word first.  Thank you for sharing so freely how God is working in your lives.

Don’t Panic!

If you invest in the stock market, you try to predict the future. We do this by combing yesterday’s results and today’s news. It doesn’t work. Instead of predictability, we get volatility. This is certainly true for the last several months. In fact, the last 6 months have produced significant losses. Maybe it is time to sell? You know how the pros answer. They say, “stay the course.” In other words, “do not be alarmed.” Wait, what? I am about to lose everything that I have worked my whole life for and you tell me not to panic? How can this be good advice?
Today, in Matthew 24, Jesus tells us the same thing. No, not about the stock market. Jesus is talking about our faith. “We’ve been going along pretty well lately,” he tells his disciples, “but bad things are going to happen.  I can’t tell you exactly what they are but droughts and earthquakes will be part of it. People are going to be suffering and hurting. “Even worse,” he says, “everyone will blame you.” That’s right, “all of this will happen and they will come after you. You may be thrown into jail. It’s even probable that you will be tortured.”
Why is Jesus telling us all of this? To prepare us.  He says it this way, “when all of this happens, do not be alarmed.” In other words, “don’t panic.” No, it is not time to sell! The goal has not changed!
Now, if you are like me, you still want to sell. It seems easier, and definitely safer. Tribulation garners the same reaction.  So rather than panic, let’s get back to what we know to be true.
We are not alarmed when we know God is in charge – he has a plan
We are not alarmed when we put our faith in God’s plan
We are not alarmed when his glorification is more important than our well-being

Good Morning!

How do you start your day?  Clicking through emails and scrolling headlines brings on the pressures of life.  What a mess! How will you respond, what will you do?   As I sit in self-pity, anger, and anxiety, I hear the voice of God.  “Hey, remember me?”  He asks.  I do.  In those moments, I remember that God is our helper.  He is in control of all situations.  In fact, I can use him. Surely, he will provide me with the strategies that I need to navigate this day.  So, that’s my prayer and off I go.
Why do I do this?  I tell myself it is responsible.  I should be informed.  It also seems strategic.  When I know what I am in for, I can plan better.  I can shape my activities to create the best possible outcome.
If you sense that something is wrong with this method, you are right.  In fact, our lives will be entirely different if our days start like David’s in Psalm 104.   Rather than finding ways to use God in his life, he determines who God is.  For example, when was the last time you thought about God as creator?
God is not just the creator.  He is also the orchestrator.  He brings all of creation together, in harmony, so that it acts in concert.  Each piece works together, for Him.  For His purposes and for His glory.
How about provider?  God provides for us in the way that we most commonly think – he gives us food and shelter, but there is more.  He gives us places to sing.  Just as he does for the bird with the branches of the trees (v12).
 Because of who He is, I will sing,  I will praise my God with every breath. I will think of Him and His ways.  I will please Him only.  I rejoice in Him.
Let’s go start the day.

Healed, Or Whole?

It is possible to be healed, but not saved. The first comes as a request. “Jesus, have mercy on me!” It’s not an outrageous request. there are many times we beg for God’s mercy. In high school, it might have been before a big test. Today, it’s everything from an unexpected tax bill to health issues. All are valid reasons to ask for mercy. The amazing thing is that God wants to help us.  Just like the 10-lepers.
In Luke 11, we see 10 lepers begging for Jesus’ mercy. They did nothing more than believe, if even for a moment, that Jesus could heal them. They believed enough to follow Jesus’ instruction to go and see the priest.  As they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. 10 miracles. Unfortunately, not every miracle results in salvation. Only one leper was able to procure that.
How did it happen? “One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done.” (Luke 17:15-16) In short, the man said, “thank you.” That’s it.
What do you need to go back and praise Jesus for today?

The Beginning of the End

Revelation 1

Many people struggle with the book of Revelation.  We complain about the imagery presented as we struggle to convert symbology to reality.  Our attempts are futile.  Rather than gaining assurance, we get fear.  Maybe, it is time that we approach this book differently.  Let’s leave our preconceptions and, more importantly, ourselves behind.  I discovered this as I read through Revelation 1. When I began, my focus was on one thing; myself.    Simply put, I begin worrying about my future.  What will the end-times mean for me?  This inward focus inhibits my ability to see the real message John presents.  Thankfully, God is faithful.  His word exposes my error and helps me correct it (Hebrews 4:12).  Today, as I read Revelation 1, I am reminded that:

    • God is in charge.  He gave Jesus the revelation to bring to us.  He commands angels and sits on a throne.
    • Because he loves us, He freed us from our sins by the blood of Jesus (v6)
    • He is the alpha and omega (v8). He existed before time began and will continue after it ends.

So what does the book of Revelation bring us?  A clear picture of who we are who God is.  Nothing else matters.  In fact, everything in this world will cease.  It will no longer exist.  Except for God.  He will continue.  He will rule and he will love us.  Forever and always.  That is enough for me.  Is that enough for you?