Change in perspective

Day 8
OT Reading: Genesis 20-22
NT Reading: Matthew 7

For several months I've been meeting with a gentleman currently housed in the Dubois County Security Center (really smart, well-rounded guy who has just made some bad decisions). He's showed an incredible desire to dig in and read the Bible, and as he's started to read Genesis lately he's made a discovery that a lot of people miss or never realize.

Ready for it?

A lot of these people in the Bible are really, REALLY messed up.

After openly telling me about this shocking new revelation of his, I could not have been more thrilled with the next statement out of his mouth. It was simply, "And that makes me believe in it even more..."

You see my friend, like many individuals, had come to believe that the Bible was full of examples of perfect people who NEVER messed up and NEVER strayed from the path that God had set out for them. Then, he started reading and found something quite different.

He went on to say that if he had written the Bible, he would have made it full of perfect examples. But the blatant imperfection of even some of the most well-known characters showed him an honesty and a level of authenticity that he had never seen before.

I'm afraid that too often we revere these men and women we read about as if they had a "special in" with God and didn't ever stray from His will. But as we look through the Scriptures, we see that Jesus alone was perfect. Outside of Jesus let's not forget that no matter how much they wrote, prayed, or were involved in God's plan...let's see them as they were...broken, flawed, and messed up sinners...just like the rest of us.

Playing Favorites

Day 7

OT Reading: Genesis 18-19

NT Reading: Matthew 6

A couple years ago we did a sermon series called "Things I wish Jesus Never Said"¹. Some people were shocked that we'd dare say there were things we wish weren't in the Bible. These are usually the same individuals who, when you ask for their favorite Bible verse, story or book will say, "Well I like all of them."

If we're really honest, there are passages that we really love in the Bible, and those we don't. For example, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13, NIV) is one that's very popular and uplifting. However there are also passages like James 4:17 which read, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (NIV) Yeah...not a big fan of that one. Don't get me wrong. Just because we may wish it were not there, doesn't exclude us from following God's Word. However, if we're honest, we can all recognize some of those verses that we'd rather just scratch out.

I say all that because of two small verses that showed up today. In Matthew 6:14-15 we read this:

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

See what I mean? You might not like it...I may not like it. Especially when someone has wronged me in some way. But the fact is, Jesus tells us to forgive...otherwise we will not be forgiven.

It doesn't mean there will be immediate reconciliation. It doesn't mean the wrong-doings are forgotten. It doesn't mean that he or she has "gotten away with it". But it does mean that if I'm a follower of Jesus, I need to be willing to say to someone who has wronged me, "you don't owe me anything...you're forgiven."

This may be one of the hardest concepts to grasp in the Christian faith. And frankly it would seem completely unfair and impossible...if Jesus hadn't done it all first.

So...as you read through this today...who do you need to forgive?

¹This sermon series idea was not original with us at CCJ. We picked it up from Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL.

Simple thought for a Saturday

Day 6

OT Reading: Genesis 15-17

NT Reading: Matthew 5:27-48

Just because it's the weekend doesn't mean we can take a break from following Jesus. That's an every day commitment :-). But just briefly, I'd like to offer something to consider from today's reading.

In Genesis 16:13 Hagar refers to God as "the God who sees me." In Hagar's time this thought would have been pretty radical as most people believed that there were hundreds or even thousands of gods...any of which may be nearby or nowhere to be found. In their minds it would be quite possible to get away with something without a certain god seeing you (think back to when you would sneak cookies so your mom wouldn't notice).

But Hagar had an experience, an assurance that God saw and knew what she was going through. Reading this led me to two brief questions:

1. What are you going through right now? Have you recognized that God sees and knows exactly what's going on...even if you don't see any evidence of his activity? (Look up Hebrews 13:5 if you're in need of a reminder.)

2. How would your everyday language, attitude and actions be different if you kept in the front of your mind the fact that God sees all you do?

That's it for now. Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone!

Salt and Light

Day 5

OT Reading: Genesis 12 - 14

NT Reading: Matthew 5:1-26

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16, NIV

Growing up in Sunday School we sang, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..." But as I've grown I've found that concept easier to sing and talk about than actually do. Based on nothing but my own personal experience, evangelism in general is an idea that strikes fear into the hearts of many Christians. The idea seems to be that if we're not constantly turing a conversation back to Jesus (I know we were talking about the new overtime rule, but let me ask you, when your time is over do you know where you'll spend eternity?), or if we're not able to answer all the questions someone has...we feel as though we're somehow failing at this.

But then a few years ago I learned something about evangelism in a rather unlikely place. The lesson didn't come in a class or through a book...I'd been through those...I learned about evangelism through...my job. And I don't mean my "I work in a church" job. I mean my "I work for a secular company doing work like any other person" job. It may seem weird, but I learned more about evangelism in my secular job than I ever did from books, Bible College or Graduate School.

You see, from the moment I was hired, everyone knew I was an ordained minister...so my cover was blown before I began. But as I settled into the tasks related to the job itself, I began to see that I didn't need to be "that minister guy who for some reason is working here..." I just needed to be me...an imperfect guy trying to follow Jesus a little more every day. And over the course of the next 18 months a lot of relationships were built, some of them pretty close. During my time there, a LOT of conversations happened...most of them not directly spiritual. But occasionally someone would ask to sit down and talk about something that really mattered. When people began to see me as Mark, and not the aforementioned "minister here for some odd reason" a lot of doors began to open up to truly having serious conversations.

Please understand, not once was did someone fall down at my desk and say, "What must I do to be saved?" And looking back I know I didn't take advantage of every opportunity that came my way...frankly if anything there were too many times that I "put my lamp under a bowl". But one thing I can say, if I had not spent a good bit of time there, I would have little idea of what it means to be salt and light.

A reoccurring story

Day 4

OT Reading: Genesis 9-11

NT Reading: Matthew 4

Today is yet another day where we were introduced to a whole lot of names. In fact, chapter 10 was pretty much all names with small details thrown in. Unless you really enjoy those sorts of things, just skim through them, trying to pick up any of the small details or stories that are sometimes thrown in. You'll likely see me say this a few dozen more times before we're done reading the Bible.

Mark Twain is credited with saying, "History never repeats itself; but it often rhymes."

I'm not sure if you noticed...but that is a pretty accurate picture of the first 11 chapters of Genesis. It all went something like this: Man sinned. God punished man for his sins. God gave man another chance. Think about it. How else would you sum up the story of the garden of Eden? What about the flood? And how about the Tower of Babel? The details changed, so history wasn't repeating itself. But it sure did seem to rhyme.

Yes, man did still have to deal with the consequences of his sin (being kicked out of the garden, having to start over after the flood, etc). But each time God opened another opportunity...another chance...another choice to serve Him or to disobey Him.

The weird part, for me at least, is that we're only four days into reading the Bible, and I know that we are going to see this pattern throughout the Bible. From Abraham to the nation of Israel, to David to Jonah, this will be the story. The details will change but the story will rhyme in much the same way.

And that's much of my story. I mess up, I still do have to deal with the consequences, though thankfully Jesus paid the price in my place, and God gives me another chance. So...here's to the God of second chances.

and third...

and forth...

and fifth...

Uncomfortable moments brought to you by...John the Baptist.

Day 3

OT Reading: Genesis 6-8

NT Reading: Matthew 3

Most things I read tell me that it takes 21 days to build a habit. So if you're reading with me, today is day three and I hope you're still going strong. If you've missed a day, it's not a problem...we're still very early in the process and you can easily make up time or even invite someone to join with you. That will be a little more difficult when we're on day 157 :-). So give yourself a little grace, catch up if need be, and press forward.

In today's reading we came across a man named John the Baptist. He had this name because he was baptizing, not because he was a member of a certain church (e.g. Jim the Methodist, Phil the Presbyterian, etc.). And in the little bit of speech we have recorded, it's apparent that John has some less than flattering words for the religious types of his day. Unfortunately these aren't comfortable ideas to wrestle with...but reading the Bible isn't all about feeling warm and fuzzy (See the list in 2 Timothy 3:16 if you'd beg to differ). I see three quick hits that may make it into sermon form some day:

1. True repentance translates into change. John the Baptist told the most church-going people of his day to "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8, NIV) Repentance isn't just feeling bad for how I've been living...it's actually changing to live the way God desires. In fact I love how Martin Luther stated it when he said that, "All of a Christian's life is one of repentance.¹" Too often I, and others, have been content to ignore this simple truth.

2. Your religious tradition won't save you. Unfortunately I meet a lot of people who believe that their church attendance, or the fact that they were brought up in a church years ago, or that they have church membership at a certain place assures that they and God are tightlikethis. John told these religious folks that while they flaunted the fact they were Abraham's descendants, God wasn't impressed.

3. John's purpose was ultimately about Jesus. While this idea is in Matthew, this is really clear over in the Gospel of John, where John the Baptist (trying to keep my Johns straight) says, "He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:30, NIV) John was all about pointing people to Jesus. I know that too often I get those backwards, thinking that I'm the one that must become greater. And unfortunately my actions sometimes begin to reflect that mentality. But John shows that his purpose was to be about Jesus.

Three different ideas, all from John the Baptist. I suppose the question is, which one makes you the most uncomfortable? Because that's probably where God is wanting you to grow the most.

¹Paraphrased from the first of Luther's 95 Theses, available here if you're really interested in reading :-).

Trueish*

Day 2

OT Reading: Genesis 3-5

NT Reading: Matthew 2

"'You will not surely die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'"

Genesis 3:4-5 (NIV)

According to the definition I just made up while sitting at my desk, the word "trueish" is defined as "A lie wrapped up in just enough truth that it becomes a lot easier to accept."

Consider the following statements:

• It's not like you're hurting anyone.
• God wants you to be happy.
• You deserve it.

Sound familiar? Probably, because these are the sorts of statements that usually come to mind when we're considering doing things our way instead of God's way. And they're all trueish. I mean, God does want me to be happy (though that's not His primary concern...more on that another time). I may not be hurting anyone (at least...not right this moment). And I may feel like I deserve it (of course I'm the only one determining whether I really do or not).

Today's reading shows us that this is exactly how Satan came to Eve...with some trueish claims. Satan said that Eve wouldn't die, and she didn't...at least, not immediately. Satan told Eve that she would be more like God, knowing good and evil, and she did...though Satan didn't mention what she'd be losing with her disobedience. The fact is, Satan loves to use trueish statements in an effort to get any one of us to take a bite (we'll see this again in a couple days when we read Matthew 4).

Funny isn't it? How so often we replace the Truth (see John 14:6) with trueish. So before we get too critical of Adam and Eve why don't we ask ourselves, what have we been wholeheartedly beleiving that's really only trueish?

*To give credit where it's due, I first heard the phrase "trueish" from Lifechurch.tv who did a sermon series by this title.