Uncategorized – Page 40 – BibleJournal.net

Living with Purpose

Today’s reading is Exodus 25-27, Psalm 90, and Philippians 1.

In our reading from Exodus we learn about God’s detailed instructions to Moses for the creation and construction of the Ark of the Covenant to hold the Ten Commandments, the Tabernacle, and related structures. We also read Psalm 90 which many to believe to be the oldest Psalm and the one given credit for being authored by Moses with 73 Psalms being credited to David, 12 to a musical director Asaph, and 12 to the sons of Korah with another approximately 50 being anonymous. To me this Psalm from Moses reads much like it could have come from Ecclesiastes where Solomon speaks about the vanity of life and the only true purpose and meaning is in God.

Yes, the Tabernacle is built, but Moses wants the people to know in Psalm 90:1, and he also states the same in his final words and blessings before his death to the tribe of Asher is Deuteronomy 33:27, that Lord is their true “dwelling place.” He has been with them all along. This is further established and is finalized with Christ’s crucifixion and Resurrection that we know that God now dwells with us and in our hearts. This is illustrated by the Temple curtain being torn when Jesus died (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45), signifying that there is no longer separation between God and man.

With this established that God is with us and even in us, the rest of Psalm 90 and Paul’s writing in Philippians 1 instruct us to make the most of our days and live for Him. A few years ago I developed my own personal purpose (or mission) statement which is “To impact others by helping them live life to the fullest.” The foundation of this comes from John 10:10. This challenges me to make the most of each day despite my circumstances and that life is not about me, but is instead about impacting others and glorifying Him through my words and actions which is not as easy as it sounds. I could not help but see a similar theme in Psalm 90 and Philippians 1.

Here are some of the verses that speak to this…

¹²So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
¹³Return, O Lord! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
¹⁴Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
¹⁵Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
¹⁶Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
¹⁷Let the favor^[a] of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!

Psalm 90:12-17

⁹And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11

²⁰as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²²If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.

Philippians 1:20-22

He should and will be glorified through whatever our circumstances may be. Not only are we to accept this, but we are to embrace and want Him to be glorified through whatever hardships we are going through. This is not easy, and we must remind ourselves each day that life is not about us and our individual wants and desires…it’s about the impact we can have on others for His glory. And through those hardships and challenges let us trust in Him and remember what Paul tells us in Philippians 1:6

⁶And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

Just like the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant, and I would say very much more so, He created us with thought and purpose for this reason.

¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Constant Love

Help me, O Lord my God; because of your constant love, save me!
Psalm 109:26

David, the author of this Psalm, had been experiencing numerous difficult times with many different people. As this chapter comes to a close, David cried out to God for help.

What do you do when you face a difficult situation? Do you seek help? I find that many times I seek different sources of help before I seek God. I might first google my problem and try to find relevant answers. I might seek out a confidant to ask advice about the situation. And sometimes, I just ruminate on the situation for hours which does not help solve the problem at all.

We see clearly from the verse above that David cried out to the Lord to save him. And as he cries out for help the emphasis remains of God. It is because of God and His constant love that David will be saved. There is nothing thad David had done that gave God a reason to save him from his struggles. God did not have to save him, but He is a God of love and mercy. Seeking God for help based off His love and mercy puts the focus on God and not self.

When we find ourself in a difficult situation, we are told through multiple scriptures to cry out to the Lord for help. This verse reminds us that the focus should be on God and who He is, not on ourself or what we have done. God hears us and helps us because of His constant love for us, nothing more.

This is a love we do not deserve or earn. Jesus died on the cross because He loves us, not because of who we are or anything we have done to deserve it. He hears us and answers our prayers when we cry out to Him only because He loves us.

Relying on God’s Provision

Today’s Reading: Exodus 16-18; Ephesians 4

In the narrative spanning Exodus 16 through 18, the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai is marked by a series of trials and lessons, offering insights into faith, perseverance, and leadership. These lessons resonate with the overarching theme of unity, maturity, and the proper functioning of the body of Christ, as outlined in Ephesians 4.

Firstly, these chapters underscore the importance of trusting in divine provision. Despite the Israelites’ doubts and complaints about food scarcity in the wilderness, God provided manna and quail to sustain them. This resonates with Ephesians 4, where believers are urged to trust in God’s provision and to rely on the diverse spiritual gifts given for the edification of the Church. Just as the Israelites had to trust in God’s provision of manna and quail, believers are called to trust in God’s provision of spiritual gifts and resources for the growth and unity of the body of Christ.

Secondly, the story highlights the virtues of patience and perseverance in the face of trials. When the Israelites grumbled about the lack of water, Moses turned to God for help, and God provided a miraculous solution by instructing Moses to strike a rock, bringing forth water. This parallels Ephesians 4’s emphasis on patience, gentleness, and bearing with one another in love to maintain unity. Believers are encouraged to persevere in faith and to trust that God will provide solutions to challenges, just as He did for the Israelites in the wilderness.

Thirdly, the narrative illustrates the importance of delegation and wise leadership. Jethro’s advice to Moses to appoint capable leaders to help him settle disputes among the people highlights the significance of shared responsibility and collaboration within the body of Christ. This aligns with Ephesians 4’s emphasis on the diversity of spiritual gifts within the Church and the need for each member to contribute to the building up of the body. Just as Moses delegated responsibilities to capable leaders, believers are called to recognize and utilize the unique gifts and talents of fellow members to promote unity, maturity, and the proper functioning of the body of Christ.

In summary, the lessons gleaned from Exodus 16 through 18 resonate deeply with the teachings of Ephesians 4, emphasizing trust in divine provision, patience and perseverance in trials, and the importance of delegation and wise leadership within the body of Christ. These lessons remind believers of the need to rely on God’s provision, to endure challenges with faith and patience, and to work collaboratively to build up the Church for the glory of God.

Let the joy return!

How do you find joy in difficult times?

One year ago, I was in the eye of a hurricane. Trouble and sorrow surrounded me personally and professionally. Friends and family had severe illnesses and catastrophic circumstances. During this time, I wrote:

Never in my life have I seen so much trouble around me, and in turn, never in my life have I prayed so much. God is absolutely using this season of sorrow and challenges to teach and mold me to be more like his son.

I don’t think a day has passed in the last year that I’ve not reflected on those tumultuous times. When various painful memories come back, I find joy in pausing to be thankful that those events are in the past. It was as though I was trapped or in a prison but now set free. God heard and answered my prayers, he rescued me, and he was faithful throughout. He revealed himself in mighty ways and continues to do so. May I never forget.

God has always been in the rescue business. In today’s reading (Exodus 13-15; Psalm 114; Ephesians 3), not only were the Israelites freed from slavery, they witnessed incredible miracles. As they experienced their exit, they were led by God via a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night.

Just when things were looking great, God hardened Pharoah’s heart. The enemy is relentless and will not stop until the final day.

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so. (Exodus 14:4)

Why did God harden Pharoah’s heart? Hadn’t the Israelites been through enough already? Just like the trials and tribulations in our lives, God allowed this to happen for HIS glory. God was preparing for the crecendo, the grand finale in this story. God always has a plan and his plans are always perfect. In the very same verse we are assured that God will be victorious. He won the battle before it even started, and that’s the same with his handiwork in our lives. All we need to do is trust and obey.

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14)

And then it happened. Death to the enemy and salvation for God’s people.

²⁸The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. ²⁹But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (Exodus 14:28-29)

All the Israelites had to do was be silent. Isn’t that how we should face our own troubles? What’s your “Red Sea” and what doubts do you have? Be silent. Pray. Listen. Trust. He’s got this. He goes before us and he stands by us. Death has already been defeated through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection so what do we have to fear?

Whatever you’re worried about today, let it go. Bring it to the altar, watch it burn, and let the joy return.

Reference from January 2023: Perfect Peace

Glory Given

Exodus 10-12, Ephesians 2

I pray more for success than glory. Whether myself or for a project is irrelevant, it’s the same thing. The mistake comes in thinking that they are the same thing for God, that his glory comes also from the success of the project. While this could be true, it might be absolutely untrue. The hardest prayer is for His glory. “God, be glorified” puts my project and my personal well being secondary. They may be scuttled to achieve the objective of exalting God. This was true of Moses too. His plans to free the Israelites were scuttled over and over. They were thwarted by the very God that called him to the job.

Ten times, God called Moses to approach Pharaoh. Ten times, Moses stepped up and planned for success. Ten times, God hardened Pharoah’s heart. Ten times, Moses failed. Or, did he?

I think Moses would have gone back eleven, or twelve, or twenty times. Did you notice that Moses never asked God why? He didn’t complain or resent the failure, he just kept saying yes. Instead of asking God, “show me what to do,” or “fix this situation” Moses kept working for God. So, how many times in would Moses go back to Pharaoh? “Enough,” says Albert Mohler, “that there is no possible way anyone could have mistaken the outcome to be anyone’s other than God’s.”

Why?

Today’s Reading: Exodus 4-6, Galatians 6

Why? I’ve asked this question often. I’ve asked it of others, and I’ve asked it of God. In recent struggles, I’ve asked it again and again. In today’s reading of Exodus, Moses struggled with various things. I thought of insecurity as I read Exodus 4. I could relate to times of inadequacy. Moses had said, ” “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” Of course, the Lord answered and told Moses ways to move forward. Then, in Exodus 5, Moses felt like he and Aaron had struggled to get the message from the Lord across to Pharaoh. Moses then asks the question in Exodus 5:22, “Why, Lord, did you bring trouble on these people?”

Why? How many times have you asked Why? As I mentioned earlier, I recently cried this word to God.

Moses prayed, “Why, Lord, have you brought trouble?” in Exodus 5:22

Joshua cried, “Why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan?” in Joshua 7:7

Gideon cried, “Why has all this happened to us?” in Judges 6:13

Nehemiah asked, “Why is the house of God neglected?” in Nehemiah 13:11

A Psalmist wrote, “Why, Lord, do you stand so far off?” in Psalm 10:1

David prayed, “Why are you so far from saving me?” in Psalm 22:1

Jesus cried out, “Why have you forsaken me?” in Matthew 27:46

I don’t understand. I pray for this trust daily. Not a sparrow falls from the sky without Him seeing it. (Matthew 10:29) I have to remember and trust that there is no problem in my life that God does not know about. Even though I may not understand…I can trust that God is in control and will work all things out based on His desires, not mine.

Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. Ephesians 1:11

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

One of Billy Graham’s daughters, Anne Graham Lotz, wrote, “Life is about more than temporary safety, health, happiness, and prosperity. It’s about a relationship with Him that transcends those things. He never, ever has promised to protect us from suffering, pain, and death. But He has promised to be with us and bring us through…when we place our faith in Him.”

So when you ask, Why – today…trust His love He has for you and the plan He has for you.

Did I miss something?

Today’s Reading: Exodus 1-3; Galatians 5

One of my favorite subjects is history. When you look at history and your view of history, you are more open to understand many of the things that are happening in today’s society. History will show you our Highs and our Lows. But we have to be willing to see the whole picture, not parts of that picture.

On our recent excursion to Hawaii, my son, and I went to visit Pearl Harbor. For the majority of my life, I have known about Pearl Harbor and the consequences of the attack on the naval base. But I was enlightened in Hawaii to understand that the Japanese intention was not to create a war, but to obtain and secure resources for their own endeavors in World War II. I also found out that there was an embargo act that the United States had placed on Japan before this attack. This embargo sequestered Japan’s fuel supply which fed into and would have contributed to the attack on poor Harbor. I am trying to explain or assuage the brutality of the attack, but I found a deeper understanding on the motives of Japan. If we do not understand our history, or if we do not die deeper to see the full story, we can have misconceptions.

In the story of Exodus and Moses, I have read through this passage Countless times throughout my life. While growing up as a young man, I have watched “10 Commandments“ every Easter and Passover for 20+ years. But it wasn’t until this reading this year where I had my eyes opened more. While preparing for this blog, I read this passage several times, and also listened to it as well. When I was listening to it, my son was also there, and his eyes opened up when he heard that the children were killed. He did understand that there was a law to kill the boys of the Hebrews. He was shocked and wanted to know more about the situation. As a father, I was able to walk him through the history.

There are some things that I did not know for myself or I forgot.

Moses was a couple months old when he left his mom and was taken by his sister to the Nile.

”Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.“

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Moses actually was nursed and raised partially by his mom and his siblings.

”Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”“

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Moses was protected from the beginning of his life until the end of his life.

No matter what situation we are in, God has a plan and a purpose for us. We see that with Moses, that God had a purpose of a plan for him from when he was a newborn baby. God actually took care of Moses, and provided for him in his birth home, with his mother, with his people from an early age throughout his life. Sometimes it may feel that we are not in God‘s presence or feel that we are not being taken care of by God. But when we look back over the history of our lives, we look at the small details that actually are God’s presence in our life to make us who we are today.

What are some things that are in our past that we may have forgotten that allows us to be where we are today? Where are the small blessings that we have forgotten but others may remember that we need to be reminded of? Where has the spirit been in the small things this week for you that you may be a blessing to others?

Not Guilty

Genesis 49-50, Galatians 4

Today, we finish the story of Joseph. We’ve witnessed his many trials and his extraordinary success. It’s a fantastic story. So good, in fact, that it overshadows another story. The story of the brothers. Did you pay attention to them? They are in trouble. The death of their father, Isaac, has them worried that Joseph will now retaliate. Genesis 50:15 says, “When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” They were scared. They knew their guilt, and they deserved what they had coming to them.

Here’s what I don’t understand. Joseph forgave them. Fully and openly. Joseph has no animosity; he only has love. Joseph doesn’t want revenge on his brothers; he wants to reward them. In fact, he does reward them. Genesis 45:18 promises “I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.” They are receiving the best of the best from Joseph. So why are they now afraid? Something inside of them keeps reverting back to who they were and remembering what they deserve.

Our response to Jesus is often the same. He came to save us. He came to give us life, abundantly (John 10:10). He came to be our provision. Jesus wants to reward us. For what? For nothing. That’s the problem. I still feel guilty for what I have done, and I still feel inadequate for what I haven’t done. Why would Jesus ever want to reward me? Because he loves us. He loves us ridiculously, unreasonably and unconditionally. There’s only one catch. We have to allow Him in.

Freshness

Today’s readings are Genesis 47-48, Psalm 25, and Galatians 3.

While the new year starting can sometimes bring anxiety about what the coming year may hold, most of us get excited about the calendar turning over and the opportunity to hit the reset button on some things in our life. This year will be better we believe…better discipline on our workouts and diet, sticking to our budget, new business goals we plan to accomplish, being in the Word more, and an increased focus on our blessings and living with gratitude to name a few. So now that we are just over 3 weeks in…how are you doing?

Personally, I would say there has been some good and some bad for me, but in transparency I’ve failed in my patience, and I’ve been a little short tempered at times with those I love the most. I feel terrible about it. While many may say my actions have been very minor and just a quick overreaction, it makes my heart ache that I have caused hurt in any way…even if for just a moment…to those I love the most. I’ve asked for forgiveness similar to what we read in Psalm 25 in prayer and have apologized to Shannon and promised to do better. Why I have been this way? I don’t know..I wish I could say. I have so much to be grateful and happy for.

Reading Galatians 3 today makes thankful and is a good reminder that we are justified and saved by our faith, not the Law or our works. I want to do better, and I must do better..but I’m not perfect and am destined to fail again…if not in this way…then in another way.

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law and do them.”

Galatians 3:10

No one is capable of doing “all things” of the Law and not making a mistake as we are also told in Romans 3:23. But we can be grateful for more clarity on how we justified in the following verses in Galatians 3.

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:11

And then a few verses later..

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us- for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree-“

Galatians 3:13

We are fully redeemed and can be with God when our life here on Earth ends because of what Jesus did for you and for me. He took on the curse of death that should have been mine and yours.

Does this give us an excuse to sin and do what we want? No..absolutely not. We are told in Romans 8:9 and 1 Corinthians 6:19 that the Holy Spirit is in us when we believe.

This year I’m reading through the devotional My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. On January 20^th it reads the following, “Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us ‘in the light as He is in the light’ (1 John 1:7).” A little bit later it also reads, “Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.”

This serves as a reminder for me, and I hope for some reading this, to stay close to Him so that we can find forgiveness, peace, joy, life, and “freshness” from the Holy Spirit who lives in us to start over today and everyday…regardless of what we’ve done or what day it is on the calendar.

Steadfast Praise

Genesis 43-44, Psalm 108 and Galatians 1

Is your heart steadfast? What does that even mean? When I read Psalm 108 today, this is the first sentence of the chapter. Usually I just keep reading and don’t take time to really think about each verse, but for some reason this word got me to pause and take a deeper look.

steadfast – firmly fixed in place, immovable
firm in belief, determination, or adherence, loyal
(Merriam-Webter.com)

“Steadfast has held its ground for many centuries. Its Old English predecessor, stedefoest, combines stede (meaning “place” or “stead”) and faest (meaning “firmly fixed”). The word was first used in battle contexts to describe warriors who stood their ground, which led to its “immovable” sense. That sense gave way to the word’s use as an adjective implying unswerving faith, loyalty, or devotion.”
(Merriam-Webster.com)

So what does it mean if my heart is steadfast? It means that my heart is firmly fixed, immovable and loyal to God. My heart is not capable of of being moved or diverted from God.

My heart is steadfast, God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.”
Psalm 108:1-4 ESV

This chapter opens with King David making the statement that his heart is fixed on God. We know that David faced many challenges in his life, so he had reasons to doubt God or question why he suffered. But, this verse tells us that he CHOSE to keep his heart firmly fixed, immovable and loyal to God, no matter the circumstance that he encountered. He was determined to praise God. Why??? Why would David continue to praise God through his struggles?

Your love is so extravagant, it reaches higher than the heavens! Your faithfulness is so astonishing, it stretches to the skies!
Psalm 108:4 TPT

David chose to praise him through his struggles because he knew that God never changes. His love is extravagant. His love reaches higher than the heavens. His faithfulness is astonishing.

God’s love for David is the same love He has for you and I. His love for us is steadfast. His love for us will never change. His love for us is extravagant. When life is good it is easy to praise God, but when life is hard we have to fix our thoughts on God and praising Him. We have David to remind us to be steadfast in our praise.

When I face challenges in my life, I have to make a conscious decision about my thoughts. I can go down the road of fear and what-ifs, taking my worries into my own hands and trying to figure it all out. Or, as I am called to do by God, I can make the choice to praise God for Who He is. I can tell Him how great He is. I can thank Him for All He has done previously in my life and in the lives around me.

I know from experience that this choice does not come easy. Even just this week I got lost in my own thoughts and fears. I knew in the back of my mind that God was in control, but I unfortunately did not choose to praise Him through the circumstance. This chapter of Psalm 108 reminded me to praise Him through the storm no matter what. And the best part is that I get to try again and again. God is the God of 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 100th+ chances. And that is a good thing, because I seem to take a long time to learn certain lessons. I can praise God that He never gives up on me. He loves me to the ends of the earth, and that is worth praising Him.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:39 NLT

I am a warrior. I am steadfast. I will keep my heart steadfast and praise Jesus for Who He is, What He has done, and What He will do.