Luke 12-14

In Luke 12:15 Jesus makes this powerful statement; "..one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." There is a tendency to measure who we are or how important we must be by counting our possessions. Jesus followed this pronouncement with the parable of the man who saved only for himself. We must always be on guard for the growth of greed in our hearts. That is not only seen in our desire to have more. It is also seen in our view of those who have less. Do we judge them lazy, or stupid, or worthless? Those attitudes are also the fruit of greed.
Stuart

Psalm 95

Ancient Israel wandered in the desert because they were rebellious. Israel at the time of psalm 95 was rebellious as well. In verses 8 and 9 God pleads with his chosen ones to seek his favor so that they too don't have to wander in a different wilderness. The modern people of God also struggle against our Lord and creator. I have the tendency to move while asking God to join me rather then seek his plan for my life and follow his lead. It may not look like open rebellion but it definitely is. Though my eternal rest may be assured by the blood of Jesus such a calloused attitude toward my savior may rob me of the peace God has planned for me right now.
Stuart

Psalm 94

How often do we think of God as our avenger? Would we be more faithful if we did? We wouldn't focus on defending ourselves because we would entrust God with the punishment. We would allow Jesus to take the insults we receive and leave them nailed to the cross. We would walk into threatening situations, heart breaking relationships, and wounded friendships with confidence; knowing that God will avenge as he wills. No one could harm us without his permission. Nobody would cheats unless he allowed. Any transgression against us would be satisfied at Jesus' cross, or on judgment day. He is the God who avenges his people.
Stuart

Luke 8-9

Luke 8:22 begins a section of that Gospel that hints at the power of God at work in his life. After Jesus is awoken and calms the storm (vs 24) the disciples ask one another; "Who is this man?" His authority over nature prompted the question. After that he commanded demons (vs 29), commissioned another disciple with his message (vs 39), healed a woman with chronic bleeding (vs 44), commissioned another disciple (vs 48), and restored life to a dead girl (vs 55). But chapter 9 seems to be the continuation of the same story. Though Jesus demonstrated his power to his apostle the first priority he gave them was to share his message (9:2). The same priority should fall to us as well.
Stuart

Luke 5-7

This passage really opened some questions to me. Questions that I need to explore. First was why did Jesus choose four men who already worked well together; Andrew, Peter, James, and John? (Luke 5:10-11)
In Luke 6:6-11 Jesus sees a man with a withered hand in the synagogue gather and healed him. I wonder if the Jewish leaders grilled him like they did the man born blind who's sight Jesus restored? Of did he respond like the cripple Jesus healed at Bethesdia?
In the first part of Luke 7 why did the Jewish leaders feel the centurian was worth of Jesus attention (verse 4), but the centurian himself did not?(verse 6)
Stuart

Psalm 93

One of the most powerful force in the mind of the ancient Jews had to be the sea. The endless pouring of the waves, the terrific storms, the change of tides, even the unpredictable nature must have intimidated them. Verse 3 of Psalm 93 lays down this truth. With that thought still prominent in our minds verse 4 sets God above that mighty force; proclaiming his superior power. What are the obstacles in our modern life that seem undefeated? We need to acribe God the authority and power that exceeds those forces.
Stuart

Luke 1-3

When the crowds came out to John they heard a message in the spirit of the Old Testament prophets; a message of repentance. Like those earlier prophets there needed to be something more that a verbal acknowledgment of who God is. John said that God demanded changed lives. In Luke 3:7 he compared the stones near where the people were to the children of Abraham. How were they similar?
1. Stones don't change on their own. Once the forces of nature create them a stone remains pretty much unchanged until something else begins to reshape it. Wind, water, rain, and chisel are just some of the external influences that bring change to stones. The children of Abraham who stood before John didn't want to change, and they could not change on their own.
2. Stones don't move by themselves. Where they lie there they will stay until something influences them. Once again it takes wind, water, plow, or hands to change the location of a stone. The children of Israel didn't want to move from where they were; even if God wanted them to move.
3. Stones don't speak for themselves. They carry no message until someone inscribed on their surface words that make sense, or groups and arranges them into a message on the ground. The sons of Abraham thought they had God's message but they didn't understand that God wanted to give that message to the world.
Stuart

Psalm 91

I think psalm 91 is very confusing to many Christians. Because Satan quotes verses 11 and 12 applying to Christ we might be tempted to consider this psalm wholly Messianic. But I'm not sure we want to trust the liar's interpretation. I think the psalm applies to any and all who submit themselves to the command of Jesus. What Jesus makes clear in the satanic encounter is that God does not limit his protection to the physical realm. Satan also ignored verse 13 where the believer will have victory over the serpent. A not so veiled reference to that lying accuser.
Stuart

2 kings 22-24

During the reign of Josiah the temple to God Yahweh was not the only thing still standing in Jerusalem that king Solomon had built. There was a high place east of the city to the Sidonite idol Astarte still standing. Josiah could have followed the example of all the kings before his and not touched this shrine. But he chose to bring it down. In his devotion to God Josiah would let nothing stand in his was of honoring the one true God os Israel.
Stuart

Psalm 90

The end of verse 10 spells out the trouble that we encounter in life. "Marred by trouble and oppression". That sounds really close to Jesus' pronouncement that to follow him means trouble. So no matter what our intentions we will face struggles that may bear down on our lives relentlessly. As Christians we must endure to the end. Confident that God will provide us the strength to work through any challenge.
Stuart

2 Kings 20-21

In 2 Kings 20 we read how king Hezekiah is sick and it was God's plan that he should not recover. But his prayer of sorrow by the king led God to change his plan. Hezekiah asked for a sign of confirmation. God offered him a choice; moving the shadow forward or backward on the steps. Hezekiah chose the "harder" of the two and the shadow moved backward. Indicating that there was nothing that God could not accomplish. But I wonder how the shadow moving forward would have been a sign? I don't think that Hezekiah showed a lack of faith in his choice. Yet why did God offer the first choice? it could be that Paul's words in Romans 1:20 show us that God's first stated sign is also a clear indication of his power. The orderly operation of creation is just as spectacular as any miracle.
Stuart

Psalm 86

The end of psalm 86 is a call for something more tangible than the peaces that surpasses understanding. And I wonder what are the circumstances in which God demonstrates his favor with physical demonstrations? David asked for mercy, strength, deliverance, and then he asks for evidence of God's favor. But this was not evidence only the David the oppressed believer, it was evidence that the oppressors would see. Since David expected those oppressing him to be ashamed it would make sense that his persecution was coming from those inside the faith.
Stuart

2 Kings 5-7

In 2 Kings 7 we find godless Samaria in the midst of a siege by the army of Syria. To show faithless Israel, and us, just how true God remains to his covenants he rescues Samaria. Not when they were expecting it but after they had given us on surviving. And it was through those pangs of hunger that God delivered his messages of relief. Four hungry outcasts where living in the no-man's land of the siege. When there were no more scraps to feed them their stomach's led the into the Syrian camp. They were the first to witness God abundance in his deliverance. They shared this Good News with the people of Samaria. And the people celebrated with joy.
Stuart

Psalm 81

Psalm 81 begins with a declaration of the beauty seen in the temple of the LORD. With the modern temple being the people of the church can we join the psalmist in declaring the beauty we see there? Am I aware of the intricate tapestry of humanity that God has shown me in his church? 
Stuart

Philemon

Who were the three recipients that Paul named in the letter to Philemon? First he named Philemon. The two descriptors Paul used, dear friend and co-laborer, indicate a close relationship with Paul. Either Paul and Philemon spent time together for the Gospel or Paul had detailed information about the letter's recipient and his ministry. Philemon was most likely the head of the house since the discussion regarding Onesimus seems directed to him. But who was Apphia the sister? Was she Philemon's wife, sister, daughter? From Paul's mention of here by name there can be little doubt that her influence in the congregation was noteworthy. And finally Paul names Archippus whom he refers to as a soldier. Was he Philemon's son, Apphia's husband, or some other relative?  I wonder what we can learn from this very brief interaction with Philemon's household?
Stuart

Psalm 83

The first verse of psalm 83 makes it clear that this is a song of petition to God by someone who cannot see the movement of his divine hand. God's voice, attention, and actions each appear to be still from the center of the storm in Asaph's life. What does God expect us to do when we are surrounded by those who seek to bring us down? Asaph, along with most of us, long for God to act as judge on our behalf. But since we know that the world has already been convicted of their sin are we sure God wants us to present him as a judge. Asaph thought God's judgment would convince the world of his sovereignty. Maybe God has his sights set somewhere else.
Stuart

Jonah

The drama at sea in the story of Jonah gives us a picture into the thinking of ancient sailors as well as ancient Hebrews. In 1:8 the sailors ask Jonah five questions; Who's responsible? What do you do? Where are you from? What is your country? And who are your people? Though verse 9 doesn't offer all of Jonah's discussIon with the sailors. Yet his brief statement may be his answer for those five questions. "I am a Hebrew!" Surely the men of Joppa knew everything about this strange group of people who lived to their southeast. They may not have met a Jew before but in the time before the destruction of Samaria and Jerusalem the exclusive behavior of the people of Israel must have been familiar to their neighbors. We should consider how that one answer addressed all five questions. We should also ponder if there is a message for the church in a similar answer; "I am a Christian."
Stuart

Psalm 82

The writer who penned psalm 82 exposed both the desires and fragility of men. Knowing that we are created in God's image and have been appointed lords (note lower case "L") we seek to be Lords (we want to change the case). What we always find out is that no matter how organized we are or how much cooperation we solicit our efforts will fall short of our aspirations. It is the LORD who rules over earth as well as the spiritual kingdom which is our life and inheritance. If we want something to succeed we have to mirror his will and turn the work over to him.
Stuart

Psalm 81

How many times has God spoken to me and I failed or refused to hear him? In psalm 81:5 the writer heard God speak. Either the voice or the words were unfamiliar. But is spite of the lack of recognition the writer still listened to what was being said. I assume so that he could ponder the words and consider how they align with scripture. That is the challenge we need to take up as well.
Stuart

1 Kings 19

When Elijah spoke to God on the mountain what was his request of God? Scripture doesn't record his request. There is nothing obvious to Elijah's prayer. But if we look at God's response (15-18) to the prophet's prayer the idea at which Elijah was striking becomes apparent; I don't want to do this anymore. Elijah cites three reasons for his request:
1 - His faithfulness is being over shadowed by Israel's rebellion.
2 - He feels like his is the only voice for righteousness left.
3 - His life was being threatened now.
Stuart

1 Kings 16-18

The story of Elijah during the drought is full of unexpected twists. Elijah hides in a valley and then in plain sight. Three years later he confronts the man responsible for the breakdown of faithful worship in Israel. I wonder what was happening in the spiritual realm when all of this was going on. Did Satan try to whisper Elijah's location in Ahab's ear? But God said "be silent"? Did the demons groan at the irony that Elijah was living safely in Jezebel's home town? Was Satan preparing a storm to light Baal's fire only to have God deny him access to the weather? During Job's testing God allowed Satan free reign in each of these areas. But with Elijah the accuser was permitted control in none of these.
Stuart

1 Kings 13-15

The book of Judges ends with the phrase; "In those days Israel had no king and everyone did as he saw fit." The books bearing Samuel's name describe the transition between the ages of no king and a physical man on a throne. After David's reign the people of Israel walk right back into the same sinfulness that marked the history after Joshua. It could be said "In the days of the kings everyone still did as he saw fit." Having a human leader had virtually no lasting spiritual effect on the generations of the people. We need to remember that whenever we think our solutions to a problem are a better than what we see God doing.
Stuart

Psalm 79

How will we respond when those who oppress and insult us are humbled by God? The last phrase of psalm 79 gives us a focal point; give thanks to God. The world will tell us to claim victory over those who opposed us. The Psalmist says to give thanks to God. Our friends may suggest a party to celebrate liberation. The Psalmist draws our attention to the one who brought justice. There will be many suggestions that our flesh offers. We are to reject each one and give thanks to our God. That is the way believers react to justice.
Stuart

Psalm 78

Throughout the Bible God's people are instructed to tell their children the stories of how God rescues. Beginning with the flood and down through Paul and Silas' liberation in the Philippian jail. Every story reminds us that the God we serve is the God who rescues. He is not like the fickle idols that MAY provide a good harvest. Our God delivers. Psalm 78:7 tells us why God wants these stories repeated: so that the children will place their confidence in God. And when they are confident that our God does not change then they will put their faith in him to rescue them as well.
Stuart

1 Kings 4-6

God established Solomon’s rule as king over all of Israel. After 4 years he began building the temple that his father David had planned.  In 1 Kings 6:12-13 God repeats the promise that he made to David about accepting the temple and living among his people Israel.  But there are conditions.  God has rules, regulations and commandments. It is not enough to KNOW his rules, or UNDERSTAND his regulations, or RECITE his commandments. Such a reverence and respect for what God has said is important, but Following, observe, and obeying God has always been the condition that God placed on his people. I wonder if this was on James’ mind when he penned James 1:22; “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.” (NIV)

Stuart

Psalm 77

Asaph set an incredibly sigh standard of submission to God when he penned psalm 77:3. "I will remember God while I groan," the focus on God's presence and provisions don't begin with the thanksgiving after the storm has passed. Our attention to God must be so central that our groans amplified our pursuit of his heart.  "I will think about him while my strength leaves me." This phrase exactly describes Jesus' focus on the cross. That was the only way he could endure and overcome the physical and spiritual attacks arrayed against him. And as he was sucked into the depths of misery he was also raised to the highest heights by his faith.
Stuart

1 Kings 1-3

We see in the story of king David's successor the truth that God humbles the proud and exalts the humble. Adonijah proclaimed himself king. David's silence was taken as approval. But in his pride he singled out Solomon, making it plain that he was undesirable. Solomon was either ignorant of this reality or he knew this and depended upon God to deliver him. In the end the roles were reversed; Solomon sat on the throne and Adonijah wondered what would happen to him.
Stuart

Psalm 75

From where do I look for victories? Do I look to myself? I will be disappointed if I expect myself to be persistent in victory. Do I wait for human aid? We are all corrupted by sin and are bent on failure even when we try our hardest. Psalm 75:6 points out that our victories are not won in the "East or West or the wilderness" every victory is from the hand of God (75:7). From an NBA championship to getting the front seat in the car the victory comes from God's hand. A truth that I need to more readily acknowledge.
Stuart

Colossians

The very last personal request from Paul in this letter was for his readers to remember his chains (4:18). What might he have desired for those readers to denote from his chains? One this is that in spite of this terrible, disgraceful, and unjust situation in which Paul found himself God was still opening doors for the Gospel to be advanced. The readers should be encouraged that God could make them just as productive in their limitations. A second truth is that Paul had not abandoned his faith because of the difficult time he was living. Even in difficulties Paul continued to see the grace of God at work. The shame of Roman imprisonment had become a badge of courage because of his faith. And there are probably many more reasons that Paul desired for his readers to see in his life. Realities that only struggles can bring to light.
Stuart

2 Samuel 21-24

There have been many times that I have been slow to understand what God was doing in my life.  There are probably just as many times when I completely missed his message.  But when I read the beginning of 2 Samuel 21 I can take comfort that I am not the only one who has been challenged to understand what God is doing.  Israel faced three consecutive years of famine.  Finally David realized that God must be behind this calamity.  So after three long years David asked God about it.  I have no doubt that during those years David went up to the temple to worship, that he continued to offer his sacrifices, and that he wrote more songs of praise and worship.  But it took David three years before he sought out God’s face on this specific matter.  How many lives were lost because David was slow to seek God on this “physical” situation?  Why were the prophets, Nathan, Gad, and others, who stood before the king silent for three years?  Did they go to God during those three years on behalf of the people?  Was all of Israel ignorant to the suffering?  Were the people not crying out as they did in Egypt or during the oppressive times under the judges? 

Stuart

Psalm 73

God is gracious to the righteous. Yet there are times when my eyes see what looks like his favor on those who live in rebellion toward him. What I need to keep in mind is that I only see the appearance. My perspective misses a lot. If I focus only on the abundance of the wicked I may neglect to notice the joy and contentment that God has given me. I will be tempted to look past the provisions that are in my hand simple because I am trusting in God as my guide. My senses may entice me to believe that I have drawn the straw, but God's Holy Spirit reminds me that I have access to Heaven's throne room because of the grace of Jesus. In the end which is better?
Stuart