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.

Thankful – Today and Every Day…

Today’s readings are Daniel 7-9, Psalm 91, and John 19.

Earlier this week our 7-year-old son began asking me questions about questions about Thanksgiving. He was somewhat confused because he realized it wasn’t necessarily a holiday in the Bible or celebrated by only Christians. He was asking who people are really thanking. I explained to him that as Christians we believe all that we have is given to us by God, so we are thanking God for His blessings. For this reason I’ve always loved Thanksgiving and rank it right up there with Christmas and Easter even though it isn’t officially a Christian holiday. As for non-Christians, I was having a hard time explaining it to him because it’s hard for me to even comprehend…I told him I guess they are just thankful. But as believers James 1:17 says it best..

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

And there is no gift we should be more thankful to God for than for Him giving His Son Jesus up on the cross as we read about in John 19. He turned the worst event and biggest injustice in the history of mankind, the only truly innocent man ever who never sinned suffering and dying a horrible death on the cross, into the greatest event in the history of mankind by using it for the forgiveness of each and everyone of our sins. It is truly hard to fathom how thankful we should be on this day and every day for this gift of mercy He gave us.

Jesus said in John 19:30, “It is finished.”

Titus 3:5 says, “he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy…”

Regardless of whatever challenges and hardships we are facing, this is something all Christ followers can reflect on and be thankful for today and every day. Our eternal salvation and life in Heaven is secure not through our doing, but only through His incredible grace on the cross.

 

Dangerous Witness

Today’s readings are Ezekial 25-27, Psalm 85, and John 9.

Pretend for a second with me you were born 2,000 years ago, and you were also born blind. Could there be anything much more hopeless? Even today a quick google search will tell you that there is virtually nothing that can be done to restore sight when you are born fully blind…no matter how much money or fame you have. Ask Stevie Wonder. I’m sure blind man we read about in John 9 felt there was no possibility of him ever being able to see again and to do anything other than beg for money as we read he had done for many years. But then what happens, he has an encounter with Jesus who restores his sight. Can you imagine if you were him?

When asked by His disciples why this man was born blind and if it as due to his sin or his parents, Jesus responded with neither. Jesus told them it was so that God’s works and glory could be shown through him (John 9:3). We read on in this chapter the man was very outspoken that Jesus had healed him and even gave his witness to the Pharisees…. even though they threatened supporters of Jesus. He became a witness to others of what Jesus had done for him, and here we are reading about it 2,000 years later.

Is there an area of your life or someone you know which seems hopeless? Does it seems like there is no way out or any possible way God could use it for good or His glory? But, could it be any more hopeless than the situation of the blind man from John 9? Yet, we see what Jesus did in his life and the impact it’s still having today for God’s glory. Will God heal you from your pain and problem the way He did with the blind man? I can’t promise you that, but I can attest that many with earthly challenges such as those born with special needs or stricken with sickness who were never healed have made a far greater impact on others through their life for God’s glory than many who have never had significant challenges and achieved what our small minds would view as worldly success. Romans 8:28 reads, “ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

However, maybe God will actually bring you out of your hopeless situation like He did for the blind man. When He does, are you prepared to share it with others and give Him the glory and praise He deserves that may ultimately lead others to trusting and following Him? Or will you attribute your healing to something else such as luck or even if you do believe it was God who healed you will you have the courage to share it? Let us learn from the blind man’s example.

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Hebrews 10:39

Restore Us

Today’s readings are Jeremiah 47-49, Psalm 80, and 2 Peter 2.

The title in my Bible for 2 Peter 3 is “The Day of the Lord Will Come” speaking of the 2nd coming of Jesus. Our reading for today, 2 Peter 2 is titled “False Prophets and Teachers.

Here are some verses from 2 Peter 2…

And many will follow their sensuality and because of them the way of the truth will be blasphemed.

2 Peter 2:2

For speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice for sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

2 Peter 2:20

Be whatever or whoever you want to be. Do whatever what every you want to do. Do whatever you feel you want to do. It’s your choice. Follow the science…until it doesn’t fit what you want or how you feel.. or the agenda.

These are common themes of the world we live in today, and this world sounds an awfully lot like what Peter describes in 2 Peter 2…especially in the United States.  I’m not going to try to predict the end times will happen soon even though it may seem like it based on Peter’s description and what’s going on in our world. Most can a agree though that regardless of when it will occur…each day we’re getting closer in same way that we don’t know the day each of us will die, but we know today we are closer than we were yesterday.

Our readings in the book of Jeremiah from chapters 47-49 describe the judgement on or fall of the Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam. Most all of these were caused by them turning away from God and His truth. While one could say the United States is not mentioned in Biblical end times prophecies due to not being near Israel geographically, others say it’s because it’s because we don’t exist then which could be as a result of our turning away from God like the aforementioned peoples or cities.

However, there is hope for the United States and us as Christians.

Let us learn from the Psalmist who cries for help for Israel in Psalm 80  where we read in Psalm 80:3.

Restore us O God;

Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 80:7 and Psalm 80:19 say nearly the same. We can see where God has protected Israel through thousands of years and even through tumultuous events in the just last few months which could have brought Israel’s end, despite all of Israels flaws and mistakes throughout generations.

We can also read in 2 Peter 2:9…

Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement,

As a Christ follower in the US, I will pray for our country to turn back to Jesus and the truth He gives us in the Bible which is the only real truth on how we are to live, and we know that in following Jesus He will protect us and our souls through His saving grace and Resurrection.

And while we wait, I can only borrow the words of Joshua…

..But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15

Spiritual Formation

Today’s readings are Jeremiah 22-23,26, Psalm 77 and James 2. We will focus on James 2:14-26.

Most Christians agree the Bible is very clear that works do not get you into Heaven and only the grace of Jesus dying on the cross can (Romans 3:23, 6:23). When you first read James 2, it can be confusing by making it sound like faith alone does not get you into Heaven. So, do works actually get you into Heaven then?

Diving in deeper can help us get a better understanding what James is saying. Check out James 2:19 where James tells us believing Jesus was who He said He was is not enough. Why?

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder!

James 2:19

Knowing Jesus is the Son of God does not gain you eternal life in Heaven…even the demons know.

We are currently doing an all-church study which is based off the book, Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. Jesus told us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). The word disciple can be confusing because it’s not used much outside the church. John Mark tells us we can gain better perspective for its meaning by looking at the Hebrew word which is talmid, and it can be translated as a student of a teacher. John Mark contends a better word for us to translate talmid into is actually apprentice. As an apprentice, your job is to be with your teacher, become like your teacher, and do as your teacher does.

So, John Mark says Christians should have 3 goals as an apprentice of Jesus.

  1. Be with Jesus.
  2. Become like Jesus.
  3. Do as Jesus did.

He argues spiritual formation is not an option. We are all following someone or something whether we realize it or not, and we are being spiritual formed by whoever or whatever we are following.

This gives us better context for James 2:14 which might initially have us raising our eyebrows when James says…

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead.

James 2:14

To be saved by Jesus, you can’t just believe..the demons believed as James 2:19 says. If you are truly a follower and apprentice of Jesus spending time with Him..then you will become more like Jesus and do as he did. It is by works that your faith becomes active and fully complete. James speaks to this and gives the example of Abraham in James 2:22.

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works.

James 2:22

He expands as we read on…

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 2:22

There you have it. You do not really have faith in Jesus if you are not completing works that demonstrate you are becoming more like Jesus and doing like He did.

Who or what are you following most closely that is shaping you?

Are you spending time with Jesus so that you are becoming more like Him and doing as He did?

Are you becoming an apprentice of Jesus?

I pray we will all reflect on these questions and let God speak into our hearts, telling us what He wants us to know.

Conviction and Courage

Today’s readings are 2 Kings 22-23, Psalm 73, and 2 Corinthians 5.

In 2 Kings 22-23, we read about King Josiah who took over as king of the southern kingdom of Judah at just the age of 8. Could you imagine? We don’t know a lot about his first 17 years of ruling, but we do know from these chapters that quite a lot happened in year 18.  Not only did Josiah want to reward the laborers who had been working on the temple financially (which seemed to be a very nice gesture), but he then became very convicted about changing many of the terrible and sinful behaviors including worshipping of other idols not only across the land but even within the temple.  After hearing the Book of the Law read to him (presumably for the first time after it was found in the temple), he not only became convicted of what was right and wrong, but he also took action to right what was wrong. And boy did he ever! I mean I can’t even hardly list all that he did and how he did, but I would encourage you to read these chapters to see. I’m picturing his words and action with the passion shown by Mel Gibson in the movie Braveheart after reading about what he did and how he went about it. It seems as though he would stop at nothing to fix things and turn Judah back to God which included not only removing the bad things, but also reinstituting the Passover which hadn’t been observed since the days the judges  (2 Kings 23:22).

Reading these chapters and what Judah was doing against God’s Word almost makes the US seem like Candyland despite all the things our country is doing to turn away from God and His Word. Reading this also gives me hope that our country can turn back to God at some with the right leadership someday, even when it may seem way too far gone like I’m sure Judah did at the time.

What would you do if you were King Josiah? What would you do if you were the leader of the United States? Most importantly, what do you do now in your current roles at home, at work, and just as you go about your everyday life interacting with others? As a Christ follower, we should all pray for wisdom as to when to speak up and when to take action to point others back to God with the same courage and conviction that pushed King Josiah to do what he did.

Why? God doesn’t need us to defend Him or His name. But, Paul does state in 2 Corinthians 5:15 that…”He died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.” If we are living for Him, we can take action because we are not fearful of what may happen or what others may think, and we are called to help lead others back to Him and His Words. Later in 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul says that Christ followers are “ambassadors for Christ.” As Pastor Brandon Grant stated in discussing these exact verses this past weekend at Eastview Christian Church, an ambassador is a representative in a foreign land. Or another way of saying it is that we are no longer a citizen of this world but a citizen of Heaven where we act on behalf of the leader of where we are truly from and call home and this is God.

How do we do this? I don’t think it is to go to social media with more posts that may be more divisive than anything. And beyond that, I’m not sure. That is up to each of us to figure out in our daily lives, but I pray that each of us will ask God for courage to do so and wisdom as to how to go about it. We are told in 1 John 4:8 that God is love and if we abide in love then we abide in God and God abides in us. Jesus came and spoke truth in love, and when we have the conviction and courage do the same and to live for Him as Paul says we’re called to do we can make an impact in the lives of others to benefit them and His Kingdom.

 

Because of Christ

Today’s readings are 2 Kings 20, Isaiah 38-40, Psalm 68, and 1 Corinthians 11.

In 2 Kings 20 and Isaiah 38-39 we read about God healing King Hezekiah, king of the southern kingdom of Judah, from an illness which would have led to his death. Shortly thereafter Babylon sent envoys to see him because they heard of his healing. Hezekiah himself says he showed them all that was in his house (2 Kings 20:15 and Isaiah 39:4). God was upset about this and said as a result his lineage would be taken captive by the Babylonian empire which we know did later occur. Why was God displeased?

King Hezekiah did not glorify God through his healing and give credit to God. He missed his opportunity to tell these pagan visitors about the one and only true God of the Universe who saved him. Instead, he showed them his “stuff.” And on top of that, he did not give God credit for providing that either.

How often do we just show people who don’t know Jesus our “stuff,” instead of showing them Him? How often do we not give him credit for all He’s brought us through..most importantly saving us from our sins on the cross and giving us eternal life with Him in Heaven as a result?

In 2018, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis which would have eventually led to paralysis in my legs and loss of the use of both hands. By the grace of God, 5 surgeries between 2019 and 2021 stopped the progression. Not only that, but through a connection from my sister-in-law, Kim, to her sister, Diane, I was able to find a surgeon in Pittsburgh who fixed my condition without a fusion of my spine which is the only common treatment and what Mayo even recommend. A fusion in my late 30s would have not only led to loss of range of motion, but almost certainly more complications and fusions if I live to anywhere near life expectancy. While I still have some symptoms, most noticeable atrophy, and some minor loss of motor functions in my hand, I was told by a physician friend how blessed I am to even be able to type this right now, let alone throw a ball and play catch with my kids. Born at a different time, I would have been just like the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5) or the man with withered hand Jesus healed (Mark 3:1-6). This is not to even mention yet that my dream was to be an orthodontist, but at the very last minute something (I know now it was God) caused me to change my major to finance when completing my application to the University of Illinois and led me to my career today. If not for God’s provision to lead me on a different career path, I could be wondering right now what to do for a career, not to mention possibly experiencing major financial hardship or at a minimum financial change for my family. God has truly blessed me and my family.

In reflecting, I realized recently when sharing my story when someone notices I have trouble opening something or I struggle doing something else requiring a find motor skill, I don’t always share as much of my story or always give as much glory to God in my shortened and rushed version as I should. I need to be reminded to show people Jesus and how He’s healed and me through my story and weakness (and most importantly saved me from my sins)..not just my “stuff” like Hezekiah.

2 Corinthians 12:9

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Because of Christ…

https://youtu.be/xcE5TiZwANM?si=NdLBjtLZOegNBBKm

Who Gets the Glory?

Today’s readings are Isaiah 17-19, Psalm 62, and 1 Corinthians 1.

From a very young age we seem to all have a need for attention. We want to be noticed. You might even call it human nature. Just this past holiday weekend I heard my young kids say in the pool many times, “Dad..look at me!” Is wanting to be noticed, seen, or heard wrong or a sin? I would probably say it is not, but there is a very fine line. We live in a world today where it is very easy to cross that line. We constantly post pictures of our latest vacations, sports games and concerts we are attending, dinner at fancy restaurants, ours or our kids’ achievements, and we can’t forget that selfie’s seem to be the norm these days. Yes…we have to admit that our “look at me” world has become a little excessive. And I’m not just pointing fingers at others.

Merriam-Webster defines boast as “to praise oneself extravagantly with speech: speak of oneself with pride.”

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:31, “so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Paul leads by example in this chapter starting in verse 1 where he gives credit to God saying he’s called by God’s will to be an apostle of Jesus. In verse 4 he gives thanks to God and in verse 9 he again gives credit to God saying it was God’s faithfulness that they were called into fellowship with Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 1:26-30, Paul discusses how many whom he is writing to were not wise or noble by worldly standards. He says God chose what is weak, despised, and low in the world to shame the strong so that He would get the glory, and they could only boast in Him.

Some of us may have come from really tough and humble backgrounds that is easier to realize we would not have gotten to where we are today without Him. Some of us may have been more fortunate in our background that it is easier to take what we have for granted or even if we came from a tough background we could say we worked hard and made it for ourselves. That is the “American Way” right?

But, we must all realize we were born into this world naked with nothing (so whatever we have/had has come from Him), and we all will die and leave this world taking nothing with us. And we are all dead in our sin without His saving grace which gives us who are believers eternal life found only in Him.

So, the next time we talk to others about what is going well in our lives, or we post that picture on Facebook or Instagram, let us remember to give Him the glory and praise He deserves knowing that we should only boast in Him (1 Corinthians 1:31).

Is God Enough?

Today’s reading is Hosea 11-13 and Matthew 19.

Question : “How big is too big of a house?”

Answer: “Just a little bit bigger than my house.”

Do you believe you are rich? You probably don’t, but if you put your income into this website, https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/how-rich-am-i, by worldly standards you likely are.

I’m sure I’ve shared this before, but a pastor I know shared a story of picking up a pastor from Africa at the airport who had never been to the US before. As they began to drive to their destination the pastor said he would pray for those in US. When the US pastor asked why perplexed, the pastor from Africa stated it was because Americans have everything they need and more, they don’t “need God.” Most of us don’t need to rely on Him for our next meal and our everyday things and then some.

Jesus states in Matthew 19:23 that only with difficulty does a rich person enter the kingdom of Heaven. By worldly and historical standards, that is you and me if you live in the US. It is easy to think we don’t need God when our physical needs are easily met without having to fully rely on Him. Jesus also challenges the rich young ruler to leave his possessions and follow Him in Matthew 19:21. The saddened young ruler walks away disappointed. What would we do if we were in his shoes? What do we do every day when Jesus is subtly whispering in our heart to let go of our worldly possessions and passions? Do we hold on too tight like the young man or do we give them away to His Kingdom and follow Him? Sadly, I know what I do.

I am inspired by the disciples who dropped everything to follow Him. I’m also inspired by the widow’s offering in Mark 12:41-44 where she gave 2 copper coins which were likely her last with the loss of her husband and his income leading Jesus to compliment her in comparison to the Pharisees who gave only the equivalent of their loose change.

I heard a past leader in our company speak and tell of a challenging time when her husband was killed in an accident, and she was about to lose her job for poor performance. She was at rock bottom and as she prayed she felt God asking her, “Am I enough?”

As we read about the rich young ruler today, and we reflect on our money, possessions, and passions we are holding onto too tight, this is a great question to ask ourselves, “If I lost it all, is God enough?”

More Jesus. More Faith.

Today’s readings are 2 Chronicles 24, 2 Kings 12, and Matthew 9. Our focus will be on Matthew 9.

What are you praying and asking God for right now? Do you believe it can happen? More importantly, you believe it will happen?

James 1:6-8 says…

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

God instructs us here to ask in faith. So, what is faith?

Here is what Hebrews 11:1 says faith is..

 1To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.

Are you sure of things you hope for and certain of things you can’t see? I wish as a Christ-follower I could consistently say yes.

In Matthew 9 we see 5 miracles Jesus performed with all 5 of them showing the person who the miracle was performed for or someone close to them showing faith.

  1. Jesus Heals a Paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8) – A paralytic was brought to Jesus by his friends, and it specifically states Jesus healed him when he saw their faith in verse 2.
  2. Jesus Heals a Ruler’s Daughter (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26) – The ruler came to Jesus with his daughter dying and explicitly tells Jesus he knows she’ll live if Jesus lays hands on her in verse 18.
  3. Jesus Heals a Woman with Blood Discharge (Matthew 9:20-22)- The woman had this problem for 12 years but states in verse 21 that if she just touches his cloak only..she believes she will be well.
  4. Jesus Heals Two Blind Men (Matthew 9:27-30) – Jesus actually asks them if they believe he’s able help them see, and they say yes.
  5. Jesus Heals a Man Unable to Speak (Matthew 9:32-34) – This one is a little more obscure but we see in verse 32 that the man was brought to Jesus. He wouldn’t have been brought to Jesus if someone didn’t believe Jesus could and would heal him.

There are 2 common denominators in these miracles. The first is Jesus. How many times do we pray for things but then not involve him and try to do it ourselves? The 2nd common denominator is the faith that the miracle would be done. How many times do we pray for something without being sure God will do it?

What do our prayer requests need? More Jesus. More faith.

Hide and Seek

Today’s readings are 2 Chronicles 15-16, 1 Kings 16, and Philemon.

This last week our kids have been playing a lot of hide and go seek. They may go months without playing, but then all of the sudden they get really into it again. I must say they are improving from a few years back when Hudson was about 2 and Reese was about 5, and I go upstairs after counting to find Hudson in the hallway pointing and saying, “Reesey’s in the closet!” I always know these days when I come home from work that they have been playing when my closet is in disarray and if I go in theirs and it is the same.

I couldn’t help but think of this when reading about King Asa in 2 Chronicles 15-16. King Asa was a descendant of David and the 3rd king of the southern kingdom of Judah after the divide of Israel my brother, Chad, gave us some background on Monday (https://www.biblejournal.net/2024/07/22/seeking-counselo/).  While he is generally thought of a good king who was “wholly true to God” (2 Chronicles 15:17) and who worked to destroy the idols of Israel (2 Chronicles 15:8), even removing his mom from being queen mother for her idol worship, King Asa unfortunately made some mistakes later that did not please God.

First, despite the fact that Asa called on God to help him defeat the Ethiopians and Libyans, he did not call on God when there was a threat from Baasha, king of Israel. He instead took silver and gold from the temple and gave it to Ben-hadad, king of Syria, to try to help build an alliance with them for assistance. God understandably wasn’t too pleased that he both took riches from His temple, as well as turned to another earthly king for help instead of Him.  Not only did he make some mistakes in anger after being called out on his folly, but the final mistake Asa made in his last days was that after becoming sick and diseased in his feet, he still turned only to physicians and not to the Lord for healing.

Asa, although a godly man, stopped seeking the Lord and he didn’t finish well. So, my question to myself is, am I seeking the Lord in everything and always? Are my “closets” in disarray because I’m so diligently and actively seeking Him? Or am I just hiding…or maybe seeking other things instead of Him?

The good news is that God knew even good people who love Him would make mistakes, and He sent us Jesus to die on the cross to forgive us. And also we are told here in this same chapter…

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the earth, to give strong support for those whose heart is blameless toward Him.”

2 Chronicles 16:9a

Whether or not we are seeking Him, He’s always seeking us and ready…even when we don’t realize it. And when we learn from Asa’s mistakes and seek Him, we have His strong support. What an awesome thing to find strength, hope, and peace in.

Let us all say today, “Ready or not Lord…here I come!”