Author: BJ Armstrong

Today, in Acts 1, we see Jesus appearing to the apostles after his death.  They are worried.  Even as Jesus is speaking to them, you can hear the anxiety in their questions.  Will you restore us now?  Will you make us free, finally?  They ask.  It’s funny, I find myself asking the same questions.  What is the point in Jesus if we cannot be free, right?   Of course, when I finally submit and ask the questions of God, I get the same answers.

You see, I have the same expectations as the disciples.  Now that I believe in Jesus and know that his work is complete, I expect life to get easy.  But that is not what Jesus does.  It never has been.  Take a look at Jesus’ response in verse 7.  Effectively, he says I cannot answer that.  That is for God to answer only.  So, no, I cannot do that for you.   Meh.  That is a tough answer!

Or is it?  Think about it.  Who would I become if everything was just handed to me?  So, short of death and perfection in heaven, Jesus offers something better.  Power.  “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8).  Now, before you dismiss that gift because it’s not what you want, right now, let’s consider what it is.

According to Strong’s Concordance, the word power is translated from the Greek word dunamis.   It is defined as power, might, and strength.  I get a better understanding of it, however, from studying how this word is used in the Bible.  Consider these: physical power, force, might, ability, efficacy, energy, meaning, powerful deeds, deeds showing physical power, and marvelous works.  That’s quite a list!

When I finally consider the power that the Holy Spirit provides, I see that my original question is the wrong one.  What if I began asking to be empowered by the Holy Spirit?  What might he choose to do in me and through me?  What about you?  There is only one catch.  In order to become it, we must first choose to accept and receive it.

1 Corinthians 14

“Pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts.”  What does that mean exactly?  First, it means that the outcome of all things for us should be love.  No, it doesn’t just magically happen and there will be people that thwart it.  It won’t always feel good and we won’t always be successful.  That is why we must pursue it.  It’s an endless, consuming drive toward love.  We must bring it.  We must share it, we must become it.  Paul rightly puts the pursuit of love first.  Then, he adds, that we should desire spiritual gifts.  But, he adds, not all gifts are created equal.

Like Paul says here, it is good to desire the gift of speaking in tongues.  That gift, however, is not as good as prophecy.  Why not?  Because the gift of tongues is more about the individual than the group.  Essentially, it becomes a selfish desire.  On the other hand, Prophecy is  “for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:3-4 (ESV)

Paul’s conversation gives us a great opportunity to examine our own gifts.  To start, let’s consider how we are using them.  More directly, list the ways that you are using your gifts to build up the church.  Next, think for a moment about which gifts you desire to have.  I get that this gets a little scary, but it should not be.  It should be exciting!  From these desires come growth.  Not personally, but spiritually.   These gifts, when properly deployed, build the church and extend God’s love.  There is nothing more worthwhile.

Psalms 130

This world is a mess.  Ten minutes on your favorite news channel will remind you.  There are wars, droughts, economic turmoil and threats of depression, inflation, stagflation, diseases, murders, and thousands more problems.  Most of the time, I am able to narrow my focus from that macro view and pay attention to my own little world.  But, that’s not always enough.  Eventually, world events come to infect our own backyard.  They can no longer be ignored.  

You can no longer ignore world events when they begin having an effect on you.  Yes, that could be physical, or circumstantial.  If for example, you became sick or unemployed.  There are other effects, however, that are more insidious.  These are the things that affect our souls, our inner lives.

Maybe you know what I mean.  We have all experienced it.  The pressures of the world rob the joy from our daily lives.  It seems that nothing will restore the joy and vigor that we once had.  Today, in Psalm 130, this is exactly what we see.  The author cries out “from the depths.”  That means he has sunk low.  So low, in fact, that he cannot see a way out.  The light is disappearing.  As he sits, watching the light fade, he is reminded of his shortcomings, his sins, and iniquities.  Maybe you know how he feels.

Thankfully, this is not the end.  The Psalmist knows that this is merely a passing moment.  His hope is not in the things of this world, or even it God’s immediate rescue.  No, the Psalmist relies only on the promises of God. He is keenly aware that forgiveness and salvation await.  Someday.

As I read this Psalm, again and again, I am struck by his ability to wait.  “My soul waits,” he says.  Waits for the promises of God to be fulfilled.  Maybe that will be today, maybe tomorrow.  Either way, he watches and waits.  Ironically, it is in the waiting and hoping that the Psalmist experiences God’s love and the promise is once again fulfilled.

Sometimes, when our soul is tired, the hardest thing to do is cry out to God, and dwell on his promises, but that is precisely what he expects us to do.

Psalm 52

I’ve become very good at setting goals. In fact, I follow an entire process that ensures my success.  That process includes engaging in and tracking specific activities that will bring about the results I desire.  Today, as I read Psalm 52, it occurs to me that I don’t always consider what happens at the end of success.  Is it really sunshine and rainbows?

The answer is that it depends.  To be more specific, it depends fully upon the object of your goal.  For example, every year I set a sales goal.  Realizing the goal assures me that I will have enough money to live the life I want to live.  It’s safety, security, and even a little bit of luxury.   You might say that the money I make becomes my “refuge.”

Here is where the Psalm comes in.  Verse 7 says, “see the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction.”  Hmmm…. did it really say that the refuge I seek will lead to my own destruction?

You know it did.  So do I.  So why did this particular verse stand out to me today?  Perhaps it’s because of an imbalance in my life.  You see, that’s the way the Holy Spirit works.  If we are really listening, we will hear him softly calling.  We will feel his loving nudge to come into his love.

Do you hear it?  What is your response?

1 Samuel 9

That is horrible imagery!  Nobody wants to envision a dead dog.  Ever!  But, it wasn’t always that way.  In fact, in the time of Mephibosheth, wild dogs were a nuisance.  They ran in packs terrorizing everyone.  So, seeing one lying on the side of the road dead, was less than a sad moment.  In other words, a dead dog was the lowest of the low.  So, why does Mephibosheth refer to himself as a dead dog in today’s reading?  Because he too, was the lowest, of the low.

Consider these four reasons that Mephibosheth considered himself a dead dog to David.

1. Mephibosheth’s family tried to kill David.
2. Mephibosheth is the rightful heir to the throne of Israel
3. Mephibosheth is handicapped.

As I think about this situation, I have to wonder why David wants to help him.  I mean, it makes sense that David would want to tread him like a dead dog, right?  But, that did not happen.  Instead, David does the unthinkable.  He shows him kindness, restores the land that is rightfully his and brings him into his own house, like family.

Why would David do such a thing?  Mephibosheth’s question in verse 8 is an appropriate one.  He asks “why would you show such regard for a dead dog, such as I?” After all, he knew his worth.  But David’s plan was love, not revenge.

If you didn’t notice, this story is a familiar one.  It’s about a man that gave his life so we could live.  He did it despite our family history or our physical insufficiency.  Like David, Jesus did the unthinkable, taking our burden upon himself so that we might be restored and become who He created us to be.

Ok, you have to read Hosea 1.  Are you in disbelief?  I am!

How could a good and perfect God command such a thing for the prophet Hosea?  Seriously, this is His good and faithful servant. Yet, God asks him to marry a prostitute and raise the children that she bears that are not his!

What?!  This angers me and makes me question if I really know God.  The life given to Hosea is not what he deserves.  Why God is paying for good with evil? How can this be?  Maybe God is not who I know him to be.

No, God is exactly who he says he is and God does exactly what he says he will do.  His promises are real.  Consider another man named Jesus.  He was righteous.  He was perfect in every way.  He loved God more than every other man, ever born.  Yet, God asked him to do the unthinkable.

Just like the life of Jesus, Hosea’s story does not end with pain and suffering.  Thankfully, he was willing to be used, in any capacity that God chose.  This faith and obedience give birth to hope and that hope gives way to true life.  This is when God is again able to call us “my people,” and “the ones I love” (Hosea 2:1, NLT).

What do you love?  Today, in Mark 12:18-44, Jesus reminds us that we are to love the Lord your God with all your heart.  So if you answered “I love Jesus,” do you love him with all your heart?  Let’s look at the evidence.

Our choices provide the evidence of our love.  You’ve probably heard that the easiest way to show what you love is to look at your calendar and your bank statement.  In other words, the things that we love show up in our priorities.  There is one more place, however, that doesn’t get talked about nearly as much and is far easier to hide.  Our thoughts.  What do you dwell on?

I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to be perfectly honest answering that question.  Partly because I know the “right” answer and partly because I don’t want to face the judgement and wrath that comes with the full truth.  Problem is, it shows up either way.  In his book Winning the War In Your Mind, Craig Groeschel explains that “our lives is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts.”

If Groeschel is right, the quality of our lives is directly correlated to the quality of our thoughts.  Now, consider this.  There are at least four voices in our heads.

1. Holy Spirit
2. Satan, or the unholy spirit
3. Spirit of my fears and desires (Jeremiah 17:9)
4. Spirit of the times

I find that this list helps me evaluate the quality of my thoughts.  More importantly, it helps me honestly answer the question, “what are you dwelling on.”  You see, if I am not dwelling with the Holy Spirit, I cannot possibly be loving Jesus with all our heart.

Thankfully, today is a new day.  And…

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.  His mercies never come to an end.  They are new, every morning.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Habakkuk 1

I have a business coach.  Part of her job is to hold me accountable to my goals.  Often that means making sure that I do something that I do not want to do.  Her method is an interesting one.  She will ask me to send her a check for $1,000 made out to my competitor.  Now, if I perform, she will tear it up and we move on.  If, however, I fail to do what I said I would do, she will mail it.  Clever strategy, huh?  We see a similar use of accountability today in Habakkuk 1.

Let’s start with verses 1-5, it’s a familiar story.  The Israelites are acting up, again.  The prophet, Habakkuk, lists several things in his lament to God.  He complains of violence, evil deeds and misery everywhere.  He is exhausted by people that love to argue and fight.  It’s so bad and there are so many wicked people, he continues, that justice no longer exists.  What, he laments, will you do about it God?

This is the ironic part.  God answers Habakkuk’s prayer, just not in the way he expected.  Instead, God says don’t worry, I’m on it.  Then he proceeds to tell Habakkuk about how he will have Israel destroyed by the Babylonians, their worst enemy.

Habakkuk is stunned.  How could God use such a horrible people to do his work?

His argument makes sense to me.  But so does God’s.  I mean, do we really expect God to look away forever?  When I think of how many promises, I have made to him – and broke – I get it.  At some point, there must be accountability, and beware, God is willing to use whatever means necessary to get it.

Luke 11:1-13

Today, in Luke 11, Jesus promises to give us whatever we want.  So, what do you want?  What are you asking him for?  What?  What did you say?  Did you say that that’s not really what Jesus meant?  I did.  In fact, I’ve been contemplating this scripture and come to the conclusion that I am wrong.  My doubt is not a product of God’s failure to perform, but the result of my failure to complete the task.  Let me explain.

Think of something you have prayed for, but not gotten.  Don’t filter it.  What did you pray for?  Was it money?  Maybe love?  Health? Now, consider Jesus’ teaching about prayer.  First, he tells us to ask.  This is the simplest part.  But, we must be clear.  If you want health, what is that exactly?  Whatever it is, Jesus promises in verse 9 to ask, and “it shall be given.”

That’s too easy, right?  Maybe.  Jesus does provide us with another step to get what we want.  He says that we need to seek.  This is altogether different than asking.  Seeking is active.  Have you ever lost your wallet?  I bet you “seeked” all over the house until you found it!  Unfortunately, many of us are good at asking, but lousy at seeking.  For those that are willing to learn, however, Jesus promises that if we seek, “we will find.”

So maybe you asked, and were even diligent in searching, but still, you got no answer.  I wonder, did you knock?  I like the way Google defines it.  To knock is to strike something noisily to attract attention.  Hmmm….that’s a little more aggressive. But that’s not all.  According to Jesus, it’s the “impudent” knocking that gets results.  Read back through verses 5-8.  Jesus describes a man being rewarded for his impudence.  That trait is depicted as cocky, contemptuous, and disregarding others.

As I consider these activities, it becomes more clear to me why God does not always answer my prayers.  Worse yet, I see how my previous failures have fostered doubt about who God is and what he wants for me.

Today, in Luke 11, Jesus promises to give us whatever we want.  So, what do you want?  What are you asking him for?  What?  What did you say?  Did you say that that’s not really what Jesus meant?  I did.  In fact, Ive been contemplating this scripture and come to the conclusion that I am wrong.  My doubt is not a product of God’s failure to perform, but the result of my failure to complete the task.  Let me explain.

Think of something you have prayed for, but not gotten.  Don’t filter it.  What did you pray for?  Was it money?  Maybe love?  Health? Now, consider Jesus teaching about prayer.  First, he tells us to ask.  This is the simplest part.  But, we must be clear.  If you want health, what is that exactly?  Whatever it is, Jesus promises in verse 9 to ask and “it shall be given.”

OK, maybe that’s too easy.  Jesus does provide us with another step to get what we want.  He says that we need to seek.  This is altogether different than asking.  Seeking is active.  Have you ever lost your wallet?  I bet you “seeked” all over the house until you found it!  Unfortunately, many of us are good at asking, but lousy at seeking.  For those that are willing to learn, however, Jesus promises that if we seek, “we will find.”

So maybe you asked, and were even diligent in searching, but still you got no answer.  I wonder, did you knock?  I like the way Google defines it.  To knock is to strike something noisily to attract attention.  Hmmm….that’s a little more aggressive, but, according to Jesus, it’s not enough.  In verses 5-8, he describes a man being rewarded for his impudence.  That trait is depicted as cocky, contemptuous, and disregarding others.

Believers ought not to be discouraged, if they do not immediately obtain their desires, or if they find them difficult to be obtained: for if, among men, importunity of asking extorts what a person would not willingly do, we have no reason to doubt that God will listen to us, if we persevere constantly in prayer, and if our minds do not slacken through difficulty or delay. ~ John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries