Hebrews 1-3

We all face an enemy that knows us well. An enemy that lurks at the very center of our being. That enemy is not some disobedient angel; even though "that" enemy wants us to believe he knows us that well. The Hebrew writer identifies the enemy in chapter 3:12 - our unbelieving heart. There is a part of us that continually rebels against God's commands. It hides our passions from us until circumstances drive them to the surface. When that happens we may be shocked at our reaction in the flesh, but God is not. Because that is precisely why God allowed that event to transpire. How else could he expose that hidden lust? What other means can he use to make the unclean aspects of our lives visible? Maybe it was this truth that James had in mind when he wrote; "Consider it all joy when you face trials of many kind." (Jas 1:2). So we should not take unexpected failures as losses but as opportunities for God to reveal and remove that which keeps us away from him.
Stuart

Leviticus 25-27

While I was reading Leviticus 26 I read verses 18-20 how God promised to rebuke the disobedience of his people by withholding the harvest. Then I wondered if God would apply this same principle to the church regarding the spiritual harvest? If a congregation, or assemblies in a region or nation are living in disobedience to God will the souls in that group diminish as a result of their disobedience? Will the ministry efforts be less effective because of their disobedience? Whether such reduced fruitfulness is a punishment by God or a natural consequence of disobedience is open for discussion.

 

Stuart

 

Proverb 17

Verse 1 of Proverbs 17 speaks of two possessions found in every household: food and atmosphere. The two extremes of food are feast, on the positive side, and famine, on the negative. The two extremes of atmosphere are the positive state of tranquility and the negative state of strife. We need to determine which of the these possessions are of greatest value to us. I am fortunate to have a family where both are valued and both are positive. I know of family where neither is valued and both are negative. The proverb writer points out that if you can only have one positive possession choose tranquility. If every member of the family chooses tranquility then the atmosphere in that family will sustain them even in a famine.
Stuart

Leviticus 17-19

The closing thoughts of Leviticus 19 (vv 32-37) focus on demonstrating respect toward those who are weak in the eyes of the world. The ages (v32), The foreigner (v33), and customers (v36). Even in our day we see the plight that many of the “weak” face. There are plenty of unscrupulous people desiring to take advantage of those who are not aware of the trap they are setting up. The people of God, in Moses’ day and ours, are called to live differently from the world. We are to place the needs of other people ahead of our desire for gain. We are to look for opportunities to elevate those who are in lowly positions and proclaim God’s love and support of who they are.

 

Stuart

 

Levitcus 13-15

Reading through the regulations regarding clean and unclean food, then maladies that make people, clothing, and material clean and unclean I wonder how the cultures around Israel responded to these same situations? All through this section God is explaining that these regulations are to set them apart as different, holy to God. Israel was to present a dramatic contrast to the cultures in which they live. There was supposed to be some different in the way they talked (always focusing on the creator God), how they dressed (with cloth woven with uniform material), how they ate (not just any type of animal), and their houses (nothing unclean within the house). Surely part of these practices were related to health and hygiene, but that was not the overriding reason. The main reason was to be noticeably different in every aspect of their lives. Probably the greatest difference was in their worship practices. While the pagans worshiped their false deities wherever they desired Israel’s God had only one location. No other location was acceptable for worship. And he was very strict in enforcing their conduct. But even these things had the purpose of demonstrating that Israel and her God was different from all the deities around them.

 

Stuart

 

Acts 26-28

The closing chapters of the book of Acts include the dramatic travel adventure from Crete to Malta. Acts 28:10 notes that many honors were granted the shipwrecked travelers. The irony is that some of those 200 plus people were prisoners of Rome. Those whose loyalty to the government was in question were granted honor and supplies. Why? Surely God's hand was with Paul and his companions, and the blessings of God overflowed onto those around them. There could be no doubt among those traveling with Paul that his life was lived in faith that God would provide for him.
Stuart

Proverbs 13

The saying of Proverbs 13:3 addresses our conversational habits. There is a contrast drawn between the one who considers his words and the loquacious person. A guarded pattern of speaking is of greater benefit that a torrent of words. One displays self control while the other reveals a vocabulary with no restraint. Ruin is the destination for the person who doesn't know when to be still. Life is the inheritance of the person who measures the words spoken.
Stuart

Acts 22-24

When Paul is mobbed at the temple he is arrested and carried off to be interrogated (read "beat up"). Paul states that he is a Roman citizen (22:25). The commanding officer of the Jerusalem detachment questioned Paul regarding this (22:27). I am curious why this Roman commander thought he could not get the truth about the Jewish commotion without beating it out of Paul and yet he takes the prisoner's word regarding his citizenship? We could readily dismiss this reaction as an act of God's providence, which would not be without scriptural precedent. But I wonder if there were somethIng more to it. Was it the authority in Paul's voice? Was there a growing suspicion that every "criminal" identified by the Jews was not guilty of a Roman "crime"? Scripture does not reveal the answer, so we will never know. Yet this incident does show that God honors those who speak the truth.
Stuart

Acts 19-21

In Acts 21 Paul is confronted with the recommendation to accommodate the Jews. In verses 23 - 24 the leaders of the church in Jerusalem advice Paul to participate in the ritual of purification along with some other believers. Why was this acceptable? When we consider all that Luke has written we find some very important truths in this situation. First of all neither Jesus nor Paul had rejected the Law. Both expected 100% obedience to the Law in their disciples. That was one prime demonstration of fidelity to God. Paul still revered and understood the intentions behind the purity vows in which he was about to participate. Perhaps Paul felt he had a more complete understanding of the messages in the ritual as a Christian than when he was a Jew. Equally important is that the participation was neither a substitute for God's work of grace nor a requirement to receive or maintain that seal of grace. The purification process was an expression of worship being offered to God. So in Paul's native expression of worship he would have the opportunity to focus on Jesus as Messiah.
Stuart

Acts 16-18

In the beginning of Acts 16 we are introduced to Timothy. A Gentile believer in whom Paul and Silas saw potential for the work of evangelism. In verse 3 Paul persuaded TImothy to be circumcised. Then in verse 4 Timothy joined in sharing the message that obeying the Law of Moses was not a requirement for becoming a Christian. The principle seems to be this; in order to evangelize Jews the team must show respect for their beliefs. So how do we modern believers apply that principle to the lost people groups we seek to reach? First we need to understand their belief system. Not just the stereotypes but the depths; for in the depths we find the vacancy of God. Then we need to go where they are. Most importantly we need to identify with them.
Stuart

Proverbs 9

The invitation of Wisdom (Prov 9:4) and Folly (Prov 9:16) start off sounding the same. The calls to the naïve and simple are desperately needed. Both call out to the people from the heights of the city. Wisdom stands and makes her plea while Folly lounges about hawking her wares. Maybe we should know them by their posture or perhaps by the state of their house.  We should stop on the street and observe the state of those who traverse their doorways. Because after the invitation the messages are worlds apart. And the fruit of their offering are as different as life and death.
Stuart

Proverbs 8

The closing thought of this chapter is chilling in its starkness; "all who hate [wisdom] love death." (Proverbs 8:36) When I chose to sin do I realize that I am welcoming death? When I rebel against God do I understand the covenant I am making with destruction? To forsake the love of God is a demonstration of love toward the grave. There is no other way to look at it.
Stuart

Acts 4-6

When Peter and John healed the cripple (Acts 3) they spent the night in jail because they spoke in the name of Jesus. One detail that I have ignored for years is what happened to that crippled man. In Acts 4:14 the Sanhedrin noticed the man standing with Peter and John. Had that man spent the night with the apostles? What an interesting first night of walking. He had gone from the lifelong bondage of an invalid into a Jewish jail. I wonder if he spent the night walking around the dungeon? Or did he listen the Peter and John tells stories about Jesus? Was his first action after leaving jail a request for baptism? Was he still holding on to Peter's coat or just his words?
Stuart

Acts 1-3

When Peter and John walked toward the temple (Acts 3:1) I wonder how God prompted them to act? Verse 2 indicates that thIs wasn't the first time the man had sat at the gate. Surely Jesus had entered by the same gate and had seen this man as well. Who caught their attention; the man, the Holy Spirit, or both? Surely he wasn't the only lame person by the gate that day. There must have been dozens of beggars all along the roads leading to the temple. What was it in this situation that triggered their faith into action? I want to know so that I am not blind to similar opportunities to proclaim Jesus' name. Maybe the man pleaded; "Please give me SOMETHING!" That would match up with Peter's words in verse 6. I need to listen for the same.
Stuart

Proverbs 7

The writer of the story in Proverb 7 makes a point in the narrative about the dangers of adultery. But I wonder if that is the only lesson he intended? For the woman described in verse 10-12 offers many lies as promises.  Are all of these empty hopes limited to sexuality? Aren't there many traps the world sets up to capture the weak willed? Greed, jealousy, and pride are just a few of the black holes of sin that look attractive before we are sucked in. But once we are inside there is nothing but darkness and no way to escape on our own.
Stuart

Exodus 38-40

A lot can happen in a year's time. Exodus 12:1 is when God told Moses to proclaim the beginning of the Jewish year. They would no longer be under the control of Egypt, even with their calendar. Which member of that slave nation would have pictured that they would be living out the events recorded in Exodus 40 in 1 year? No longer slaves. No more making bricks. No oppressive masters. No more hopelessness. Which of those artisans conscripted to serve Pharaoh would have imagined the beauty and details of the tabernacle would have been produced by their hands? When we allow God to rule in our life we might be amazed what he can accomplish in one year.
Stuart

Exodus 32-34

At the beginning of Exodus 34 Moses is directed to carve out two stone tablets on which God would inscribe the words of the covenant. I wonder why God didn't make the first set unbreakable? Or why didn't he reassemble the stones that Moses shattered? What message was he sending to Moses, Israel, and us by requiring Moses to carve out another set of tablets? Was it to allow Moses to participate in the recording of the Law? Was it to give him ownership in the care of the tablets? Was it a way to show Israel that God can take what little we bring and make it holy, fitting for his purpose? Doesn't God do the same thing with us. When we break something God has given us he will call us to bring the closest thing we can find to him. And then he will imprint his word on our efforts of faith.
Stuart

Exodus 28-31

In Exodus 28:3 God directs Moses to petition those whom have received artistic skills. The petition is that they would build the articles that God has instructed Israel to make. The tabernacle and the instruments for sacrifice and worship. From God’s perspective there is a partnership between God and the artisans. They have trained their hands and eyes to create the works of art, but it was God who allowed them to develop those skills. Therefore, it is only fitting that they should use what God had given them for his work. The same is true for each of us today. We have been gifted by God to accomplish specific tasks. We can use those skills outside of the church but they were given to us primarily for the benefit of the church and God’s name. We need to petition God to indicate where we should use those gifts.

 

Stuart

 

Exodus 24

In Exodus 24:4 it says that Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. I wonder if that is what started his writing of the Law? Could it be that just as Moses realized God was indeed in charge of man's mouth he also ruled over the written language. We don't have a record of Moses arguing with a burning bush over his writing career, but I wonder how long the two wrestled with the idea. God didn't have to go to the extreme of imprisoning Moses, which he apparently used to motivate the apostle Paul to put pen to parchment. But was there another wrestling match in which God allowed Moses to corner himself about his writing ministry? We'll never know.
Stuart

Proverbs 4

This chapter focuses on the benefits to our lives that wisdom brings. But I think the lesson is that wisdom is an expression of God's grace. We should do all we can to pursue it, and that messages is repeated throughout the chapter. Yet it is not something that we attain. Wisdom, like grace is a gift of God in our lives. Since its origin is with God the expressions of wisdom will be different in each person's life.
Stuart