Author: Chet Bandy

I live in Bloomington, Illinois with my wife Shannon and 4 children. I grew up in Central Illinois with Lutheran roots. We moved to the area in 2011 and began attending Eastview Christian Church where I now lead a Small Group. It's been awesome to see God's plan for our lives and our growing thirst for knowledge of His Word and a closer relationship with Jesus through our move to Bloomington. Professionally, I'm a wealth management advisor with Northwestern Mutual.

Redeemed!

Today’s reading is Ruth 4.

The book of Ruth is packed full of learnings about loyalty, faithfulness, and trusting in God’s plan through challenges as laid out by other Bible Journal writers this week. In Ruth 4 we get to the culmination where Boaz acts as redeemer and purchases Naomi land. Then, he marries Ruth, who stood by Naomi, and they have a child Obed who is the part of the bloodline of Jesse, David, and ultimately Jesus.

So, what is a redeemer or kinsman-redeemer? This is laid out in Leviticus 25:25. A redeemer is someone who buys land back on behalf a relative who had to sell land due to hardship. They do what that person cannot do for themselves. In Ruth 4:14 other women said to Naomi…

“Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel.’”

We know that a some generations later, from the same bloodline, God gave us our ultimate Redeemer, Jesus. Maybe some way and someday Naomi could have bought the land back on her own, but Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves when He became our Redeemer for our sins. No other human who has ever lived is without sin and could do what He did for us which now gives us the guarantee of forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in Heaven with God the Father as long as we believe in Him and ask for his grace which we could not earn.

As I read the glory given to God in Ruth 4:14 above for Boaz, Naomi’s redeemer, I could only think of similar glory given by the angels after Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:14…

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among those with who He is pleased.”

Both verses praise a redeemer with Luke 2:14 praising our ultimate Redeemer who was foreshadowed in Ruth 4.

Let us do the same and praise our Redeemer, who did for us what we could not do for ourselves!

We are redeemed!

 

 

 

An Epic Wrestling Match

Today’s reading is Genesis 32.

After reading this, couldn’t help but think of the question I heard asked by another kid at school when I was a child..

“Can God make a rock so big he can’t move it?”

Of course it’s a trick question, if he’s God he can make anything, but if he’s God he should still be able to move the rock no matter how big!

In this chapter we read about Jacob physically wrestling with a man later referred to as God, but God doesn’t quickly put Jacob in a chokehold or full nelson and make Jacob tap out and give up when God presumably could. The question is, why?

Jacob was a deceiver, con man, and liar. And specifically he was after worldly status and blessings. In Genesis 25 he took advantage of his older brother’s deep hunger to take his birthright and then in Genesis 27 went even further to steal his father’s blessing from Esau. Jacob also was so infatuated with Rachel that he was willing to serve her Dad Laban for 7 years so he could marry her, and then after that another 7 years for a total of 14 until Laban finally gave Rachel to him for marriage. To reiterate, Jacob, like us often times, was after worldly blessings and status.

So back to our question, why didn’t God defeat Jacob quickly in their wrestling match? I believe it’s because God wanted to see if Jacob would continue to wrestle him until Jacob finally said in Genesis 32:26, “I will not let you go until you bless me.”  Even after God put Jacob’s hip out of joint (Genesis 32:25), Jacob did not let go. Finally Jacob as willing to fight for something without resolving to deception and most specifically he was finally willing to cling to and go after the only blessing that mattes, God’s blessing, which he received (Genesis 32:29).

I believe we can learn a lot from Jacob’s life prior and his experience here. We can be critical of Jacob, but we are probably more like him than we care to admit. And like with Jacob, what God is really after is our heart and for us to seek after and cling to him in a manner that we only care about God’s blessings.

And just like God did not let go of Jacob and defeat him, Jesus not let go and come down from that cross even though he could have. He stayed to give each and every one of us an opportunity to be saved from our sins and to have eternal life with him by finally saying “yes” and giving our life to him. Ironically, we don’t have to ask for his blessing, he’s already given it. We only must be humble enough to realize it and receive it.

 

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

 

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9

A Christmas Reading?

Today’s reading is Psalm 121.

When I first read Psalm 121, I thought to myself, “How is this going to be a Christmas reading?” However, in a short period of time and with prayer, it became very clear.

I lift my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made Heaven and Earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

On Christmas, our human minds think of Jesus’ first existence being when He arrived on this Earth on that first Christmas being born of His mother Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.

But let’s take a look at the book of John for a moment..

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1-4

Jesus was there in the beginning when the Heavens and the Earth and everything in it were created. This is easy to forget and wrap our arms around since we first see Jesus as that baby in a manger on Christmas. But it’s very clear He was there in the beginning from John 1, and we are also told in Psalm 121:1-4 around a thousand years earlier that our help comes the same God who made Heaven and Earth

We read later in John 1.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

How truly blessed are we that Jesus who made the Heavens and the World and everything in them chose to come down from His throne and Heaven on that first Christmas to live one of the most humble lives we can imagine to ultimately suffer and give his life on the cross so we could be united with Him and live eternally in Heaven?!

As we read on in Psalm 121…

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

He will keep your life.

Tho Lord will keep

Your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 121:7-8

Jesus’ life on this Earth started in that stable and being laid in a manger. But at His ascension when His physical body left this Earth to go back to His throne in Heaven where He was in the beginning, He told us the following just like Psalm 121:7-8 does…

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20b

So on this Christmas, let us remember that every Bible reading is a Christmas reading because the entire Bible points to and is about Him…He is the Word. And let us remember that He didn’t stay in that manger, just like He didn’t stay on that cross, just like He didn’t stay in that grave…He is with each one of us always both on Christmas and every other day until the end of the age.

Merry Christmas!

The Only Bible..

Today’s reading is Titus 1.

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to Titus after leaving him in charge of the church in Crete. Chapter one is a prescription for church leaders or overseers called elders which in the original Greek was presbuteros. Here are some of his qualifications for an elder in Titus 1:7-9.

7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

While many may read this chapter and never aspire to be an elder, we can all learn something from it. Although we will fall short and make mistakes because we are human, we all should aspire to be more Christ-like and live in a manner that reflects Him and His glory. As we read Titus 1 and these verses, we can see these attributes in Him and thus they are all attributes we should aspire to have. We should have a healthy reverence or fear of God and do our best to live like Him which is the way He wants us to. The life he lived and modeled is the standard we should aim to achieve.

When our actions reflect Him, some may not only be appointed to church leaders and at a minimum will please Him, but we will also draw others to Him. Famous podcaster Joe Rogan has recently been outspoken about exploring church and the truth that Jesus was the Son of God who died for our sins and was raised on the 3rd. Joe has been quoted as saying, ”Christians that go (to my church) are the nicest people you will ever meet. They are really kind.” While being nice does not save you or cause you to achieve eternal life (Romans 3:23) and only faith in Jesus does (Romans 6:23, John 3:16), our actions as a Christ-follower can trigger a curiosity and  “what’s different about them” questions in non-believers resulting in them exploring who Jesus is. They may want to get to know Him which may ultimately lead them to being saved.

Some of us may have heard the quote, “Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words.” Earlier this week I attended an event for the North Central Illinois Fellowship of Christian Athletes (https://www.ncilfca.org/). This event featured many coaches and also high school and college student-athletes discussing their faith and how they can glorify God through sports and how it’s impacting others they play with and against. One of the high school athletes referenced a similar quote that impacted him which also hit me hard. He said was following…”You may be the only Bible someone reads.”

My encouragement for each one of us reading Titus 1 today would be to read it and the above Titus 1:7-9 and reflect on the attributes we believe we need to grow in. While we may never be called to be an elder, aiming towards and living in a way that reflect these attributes will be pleasing to God and may lead others to want to learn more about who He is which could also result in them finding eternal life in Heaven through belief in Him.

Worth It

Today’s reading on Thanksgiving is 2 Timothy 3.

For me our reading today has perfect timing, like God’s Word commonly does out of no coincidence, as a bookend to a parenting conference and Sunday sermon by Brook and Elizabeth Moser and team with Intentional Parents this weekend at our church. This chapter reminds us that especially during end times and throughout our kids and our lives we will experience evil people with a love for self and pleasure above all things who can tempt us to head down that wrong path (2 Timothy 3:1-5). We often talk as Christians about the fact that we want others to see us and think, “What makes him/her different?” We discuss how we can impact them and their faith walk with Jesus by them to deciding they want the joy and peace we have through the Gospel as well. That’s what’s fun to talk about. What we don’t often talk about is that others will see us as “different” and not only judge us and laugh at us, but we are told here in 2 Timothy 3:12 that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted.” There is no sugar coating from Paul here, there is pain in parenting differently than others by doing it the way God wants. There will be difficulty and stones thrown at us and our kids for putting sin away and putting Jesus first.

Many of us are likely familiar with 2 Timothy 3:16..

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

If you’re like me you may point to this verse for your conviction for all of Bible being the true Word of God and not only is it true, but we can’t pick and choose the parts we like and don’t like. I think then sometimes we can overlook the rest of the verse which tells us how that helps us…”for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Again, if you’re like me you might easily stop there and not focus on finishing the sentence which is in 2 Timothy 3:17,”(so) that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” There will be fruit in following God’s Word despite the difficulty and persecution we will face. Who doesn’t want to be “complete” and “equipped for every good work” God has and wants for us?

Many of us can easily fall into the trap of saying we just want to raise good kids. But, good kids will not have an eternal life in Heaven if they don’t accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior when they die. The number 1 goal for us as parents should be to raise kids who have a heart and love for Jesus so strong that they will not stray from Him, their belief in Him, and His ways when they leave our house.

So parents, let us unite and win this battle together. We can have confidence we can do this as we are told here that God’s Word will help us be “complete” and “equipped for every good work.”

Let us pray..

Dear God, we love you. And today on Thanksgiving we are grateful for you and your Word which not only teaches us how to live and raise our kids, but also for the fact that you gave us your Son in the person of Jesus who was persecuted far worse than most all of us ever will experience for following you and your will, all the way to the point of death because He knew it was worth it. He followed your will for each one of us so that we could have eternal life. Although our children will make their own personal decision to follow Jesus, please help us know that following your will and leading them well to point them to You will also be worth it for our children despite the difficulty and persecution. Please help us do our part so that we can lead by example to help each one of our children accept and follow you in order to experience eternal life through your saving grace. Again, we love you and we are eternally grateful today on Thanksgiving and every day for doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. Amen.

Heart Check

Today’s reading is 1 Timothy 6.

In reading 1 Timothy 6, the 2 words that came to mind to me were “heart check.” Paul warns us of conceited teachers who want to bring attention to themselves and bend and twist the true Word of God (1 Timothy 6:3-5) and the problems that occur when our heart is focused on being rich financially (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

When it comes to monetary wealth, Paul encourages us to practice contentment in 1 Timothy 6:6 where he says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” He reminds us in the next verse 1 Timothy 6:7 that “we brought nothing into the world so we can take nothing out” and in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 that the love of money can be a “snare” leading to “destruction and ruin” and that “that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” He reminds us that if we have “food and clothing, with these we ill be content” in 1 Timothy 6:8.

So, is being rich or wealthy a sin? I really don’t know..I’ll say maybe. What is “rich?” Some might say having a net worth of $1 million or $2 million or more might be rich, while some in other countries outside the US might say making $20,000-30,000 per year is rich. I know people that most would agree by US standards are very wealthy, and they are incredibly generous in giving to the church and those that are less fortunate. However, some might say they should have never obtained that wealth if they were as generous as they “should have been” along the way. To me, it’s all between that person and God. He knows the condition of our heart 100% of the time. He knows if we are “content’ as He calls us to be in this chapter or if we want more not just to buy more stuff and show off our wealth, but if we want more to find our security and peace in that instead of Him. He knows if we are being generous with our money that we may also be saving and growing at the same time so that we can provide for ourselves when we can’t work or maybe want to devote our time to volunteering and working for His Kingdom 100% of the time, rather than to make money to provide for ourselves at that moment.

God gave us money. Money is not evil in and of itself. It can be used for good for His Kingdom, but without a doubt He makes it clear in 1 Timothy 6:10 that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

So, give yourself a “heart check” today like I am.

Am I hyper focused on worldly wealth, money, and financial gain?

Am I looking to find security in money and wealth alone?

Or, am I content?

Am I grateful and satisfied with what I have?

Is God enough?

A Place Like None Other

In today’s reading, Psalm 93, we read about how the Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty, and His throne is everlasting (Psalm 93:1-2).  I’m not sure whether it was the recent passing of my Uncle Tim, our recent readings in Bible Journal of 2 Thessaloniansn on end times when  conflict in Israel is in the news, a recent sermon/podcast on angels, or likely a combination of all of them…but I have definitely been thinking more as of late about what Heaven will be like.
Once one develops a healthy fear of God and yet an understanding of how great God’s unconditional love and grace is and reads their Bible…it’s exciting to imagine what it will be like to meet Him in Heaven and what Heaven will be like. Although there is still more God has not yet revealed to us, there is lot throughout the Bible, including in the book of Revelation, that tells us what it will be like there. One of those places in Revelation is Revelation 7.
Revelation 7:9 tells us…
“After that I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.”
Revelation 7:10-12 goes on to say how the angels will join in and singing praises and worshiping God. And later in Revelation 7:14-17, John tells us our robes will be white washed with the forgiveness from His blood and none of the things that cause us pain and sorrow will be there in Heaven. We will be as God intended us to be, one with Him in peace.
With all the division we see in the news and on socal media both in the US and abroad, it so encouraging to think about the peace and unification that will come for all believers from all nations, tribes, and languages in Jesus in Heaven worshipping Him together…a “great multitude”…with angels! Here on Earth, I feel a connection to God and a oneness with Him and others when we sing worship songs in church and I’m in awe when I see a large stadium doing so. How much greater will this be in Heaven when we don’t have the distraction of pains here on this Earth weighing on our minds, when we are one with our Savior, and we are singing with billions of other saved souls and the same angels who sang at Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:14…”Glory be to God in the highest!”
As the famous song says, I can only imagine…
If you are feeling sad, hurt, or anxious today, I pray you can find peace in the temporal reality of this life here on Earth and the eternal reality of joy and oneness without pain in Heaven with Him.
My encouragement is to listen to the song Home by Chris Tomlin and I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me.

A.C.T.S.

Today’s reading is Psalm 86.

Prayer is always good. We should not worry about whether we have the “right” words to say to God. It is just a conversation with God.

And while I believe the above to be true, I do believe we can improve our prayer life to better connect with God and His will for and in our lives.

With the now 13U boys baseball team I help coach and lead devotionals, we’ve gone from being very thankful that they will volunteer to pray at aall to now trying to help them grow a little bit more in the prayer life, instead of just saying, “Lord…please help us get this Dub..(W for win)”

One way to help us connect with God better and His will in our lives is to have a framework or a method/process. One that I use that we have taught the baseball boys is A.C.T.S.

A – doration

C – onfession

T – hanksgiving

S – upplication

My first thought when reading Psalm 86 was, “Wow..what a prayer!” My second thought was how much we can learn from this awesome prayer and while it doesn’t go the same A.C.T.S. order, it definitely nails all 4 areas and then some.

My encouragement would be to read and praythis prayer in Psalm 86. We can learn a lot from a prayer written by a man, David, who God called a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). As you read and pray it, pay attention to these verses that hit on the different parts of A.C.T.S. and enjoy!

Adoration…

Psalm 86:2, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 86:7-10, Psalm 86:12-15

Confession…

Psalm 86:6

Thanksgiving…

Psalm 86:4, Psalm 86:12-13

Supplication…

Psalm 86:1-4, Psalm 86:6, Psalm 86:11, Psalm 86:16-17

The Battle is Real

Today’s reading is Psalm 81.

Psalm 81:1-3 begins with an instruction to worship the Lord with songs, instruments, and praises. There is then a reminder to Israel of what God has done for them in Psalm 81:6-8 and then a warning to listen to God and put him first in Psalm 81:8-12. This is followed by a promise to provide for Israel when they put God first in Psalm 81:13-16.

Over the last few months it seems as though we’ve seen a substantial number of mass shootings, including multiple in churches with one this past weekend. This is in addition to many other heinous crimes in the news. Despite these terrible events, I’m more encouraged than ever in my 42 years on this Earth that the people of the United States are turning back to God. I’m not going to site all the sources, but you can quickly do your own research to find that there are increased Bible sales, increased streams of Christian music even out pacing top secular artists, and church attendance and baptisms are growing rapidly. What’s maybe most encouraging is that Generation Z (those born between 1997-2012) is leading the way in these areas. Our youth, the future of our country and the ones who will are and will be getting married and having kids, is turning to God. Praise the Lord!

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Boy are they ever, and I could not be prouder. It seems as though a revival is happening through them and also carrying over to older generations as well.

So why are all the other terrible events happening we read about in the news and maybe even see firsthand? God is real, so that means Satan and evil is real. In fact, I’ve seen some saying on social media that recent terrible events prove evil is real so that God also must be real, spurring them to go to church.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

The Bible tells us the battle between good and evil, spiritual warfare, is real. Satan is fighting back. But, God also tells us in Bible from the very beginning when sin entered the world that He would defeat it through Jesus.

He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

Genesis 3:15b

As a recent popular saying on shirts says, Jesus won. He defeated sin and the grave through His Resurrection so we can too when we give our life to Him. Let us remember that as we see evil and let us pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to win hearts in our country and throughout the world one by one.

He Is

Today’s reading is Colossians 1.

The last few weeks has been tough for most in our country. We’ve seen multiple school shootings yet again, an innocent Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska who was trying to escape war in the US stabbed and killed, more shootings in the inner cities that happen so frequently the individual names (only numbers usually and unfortunately) make the national news, and of course the murder of Charlie Kirk.

These events have caused heavy hearts and some unity, but yet still more division too with some judging others about how they should be just as, or more upset, about X event as Y event.

If you are reading this as a Christ follower…please pray that we stop this. ALL these heinous events are terrible and evil coming from Satan. We must stop judging other Christians and calling them hypocrites because they do more or post more or call to action for change on one topic, but don’t on another you are passionate about. This is EXACTLY what Satan wants. He wants to break the church and God’s people from within through division.

Maybe this is a poor analogy, but it’s one that just came to mind to me. Many of us have organizations/charities that we give to or volunteer with. There are certain things that tug on your heart that you feel called to give or help with. Do we judge other Christians because they give or volunteer with one cause which is still good, but not the one that you feel passionate about that is also good? I hope not.

I realize there are also more complex topics that one Christian would call an atrocity and the other might think it is actually good. My one prayer is that we discuss these topics with other Christ followers… and not just lash out on social media calling the other hypocrites. That will not solve anything. I’m not saying be silent… I’m saying let’s seek to understand in a one on one or a different setting. There’s probably some good and some wrong in your thinking and probably some good and some wrong in the other’s thinking. But having a real talk and conversations about these topics and finding commonality in Jesus and His love is where we come together and create unity in Him instead of more division like Satan wants.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

Colossians 1:15-20

If we look at those who cheered the death of Charlie Kirk who are very far from Jesus all the way to those who mourned deeply over his death to those who believe his killing was wrong, but yet vehemently disagreed with his position on many topics… the only way we find hope and healing and unity is through Jesus.

We are ALL sinners separated from God because of our sin in need of a Savior. Verse 20 tells us through Him we can find reconciliation and unity. It tells us His blood is the only thing that can bring us peace and save us from our sin.

He is the only way we all find hope and healing in our individual hearts and together despite our differences.

This song by Crowder and the title of this post He Is has been what I have felt God laying on my heart this week.

My prayer is that it will impact others and again that we can find hope and healing in Him together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9s7GogPKCg&list=RDy9s7GogPKCg&start_radio=1