Scripture Nugget 2.14.2017

Scripture Nugget 2.14.2017

Scripture Read Judges 7-11

Nugget Judges 8:27-28, 33-35

“Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his town, in Ophrah and all Israel prostituted themselves to it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family. So Midian was subdued before the Israelites, and they lifted up their heads no more. So the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon. …. As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites relapsed and prostituted themselves with the Baals, making Baalberith their god. The Israelites did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every side; and they did not exhibit loyalty to the house of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.”

Devotional thought: Choices have consequences; sometimes the consequences of choices made today don’t show up immediately. Read Deuteronomy 30:15-20. In those 6 verses we read of choice – life and prosperity versus death and adversity and consequences – if we choose to walk with God and obey his commands then we are promised life, to become numerous and be blessed; but if we turn our heats from God then death. Gideon makes an idol, it becomes a stumbling block for he and his family; forty years later, upon his death, his family worships Baals. What choices have I made in the past, am I making today and will make in the future and what kind of example are they to my family, the congregations I am asked to serve? Life with God or life separated from God? “Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live…..” (Deut 30:20a-b)

Scripture Nugget 2.13.2017

Scripture Nugget 2.13.2017

Scripture Read Genesis 24-27

Nugget Genesis 24:6-8

“Abraham said to him, ‘See to it that you do not take my son back there. The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and swore to me, “To your offspring I will give this land,” he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.’”

Devotional thought: Presently residing in the promised land, Abraham has no desire to return to the place from which God had him leave. He has no desire for his son to return there either. Abraham displays Over-the-Horizon faith in what he asked his servant to do. By agreeing to do so, his servant displays Over-the-Horizon faith as well.

Scripture Nugget 2.12.2017

Scripture Nugget 2.12.2017

Scripture Read Romans 11-12

Nugget Romans 11:33-12:2

“O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable are his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good, and acceptable and perfect.”

Devotional thought: I will only fully realize and live into “the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God” when I present myself routinely, regularly and constantly as a living sacrifice. A living sacrifice, one that can be put be to use by God; a loving response to God’s love. A living sacrifice, may choose to crawl off the altar upon which it is giving itself up. This “dyeing to self” and living for God is a constant choice. Moses tells us, “Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days” (Deuteronomy 30:20a-b) Choose to be a living sacrifice, poured out for God.

Scripture Nugget 2.11.2017

Scripture Nugget 2.11.2017

Scripture Read Matthew 14-16

Nugget Matthew 16:24-26

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?’”

Devotional thought: A note in the margin of my Bible captured in 2016 says, “All who are drowning want to be saved, we will grab any rope, regardless of who throws it. But once on dry land we still must follow God – not necessarily the one who through the rope. There is a difference in rescue and salvation, Rescuer and Savior. God blesses all the Rescuers and the Rescued through the work of the Savior. Let us all be Rescuers; let’s be on the lookout for those who are drowning, prepared to cast out a line for others to grab hold of, but once we pull them back to shore or into the boat, let’s also introduce them to Jesus – the Savior. If we could save ourselves, generate our own salvation, we wouldn’t need a Savior. But we do and by God’s grace we have a Savior, who is Jesus Christ our Lord!

Scripture Nugget 2.10.2017

Scripture Nugget 2.10.2017

Scripture Read Isaiah 29-33

Nugget Isaiah 29:15-20, 30:18, 21

 “Ha! You who hide a plan too deep for the LORD, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, ‘Who sees us? Who knows us?’ You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay? Shall the thing made say of its maker, ‘He did not make me’; or the thing formed say of the one who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’? Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest? On that day the deaf shall hear the words of the scroll, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant shall be no more, and the scoffer shall cease to be; all those alert to do evil shall be cut off-. ....Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. …. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

Devotional thought: New life in dead places, dry deserts become fruitful places, deaf ears once again hear, blind eyes regain sight, the meek are joyous and the needs of the needy are overcome; while those who prey on the meek and needy are held accountable. That is the grace of God at work in our lives. Renewed life in dead places, that is God’s desire. Will I/You/We wait on and rest in the Lord and walk in the way He leads?

Scripture Nugget 2.9.2017

Scripture Nugget 2.9.2017

Scripture Read Job 11-12

Nugget Job 11:13-19

“‘If you direct your heart rightly, you will stretch out your hands toward him. If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness reside in your tents. Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure, and will not fear. You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. And you will have confidence, because there is hope; you will be protected and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid; many will entreat your favor.’”

Devotional thought: Being the “Lenten” person I am, Zophar’s calling Job to confession and encouraging Job to turn from iniquity/wickedness (sin) and turn to God hits home. That which separates us from God is the sin in our lives. Especially the sin we haven’t recognized or realized. Pray now to God that He reveal anything deep down inside that you haven’t previously recognized, upon His revealing, then admit, confess, and give to God. Jesus is the sacrifice to pay the price and wipe away that sin. Leave it with God, it is done, finished. Arise and sin no more. Arise, be confident and assured.

Scripture Nugget2.8.2017

Scripture Nugget2.8.2017

Scripture Read Psalms 15-17

Nugget Psalm 15:1-5

“O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the LORD; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.”

Devotional thought: Am I, are you one of those who walk blamelessly ……..? I begin pre-marriage counseling by asking the couple to read and discuss Luke 1:6 before they come for the first session. Luke 1:6 says this about John the Baptist parents, “Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.” What a way for a married couple to live! I ask them if that sounds like a pretty good way to live with each other – righteous and blameless before the Lord?! I know for certain, that as good as Cindy and my life has been together (36 years this June) it would have been even better, if I had been righteous and blameless before God much more often than I have. The great thing about God’s grace is that righteousness and blameless living are not just something to hope for, but by God’s sanctifying grace are achievable. It is possible, in this life-time, to be perfected in the faith. But perfected today, one must grow into tomorrow, for yesterday’s perfection is not enough for today. A mature 9 month-old baby must continue to grow to be a mature 16 year old, who must continue to grow in love with God to become mature (complete) 25 year old. In this life with God, we are welcome to come as we are, but are not welcome to stay that way. When the preacher pronounced Cindy and I married, husband and wife, we were as legally married as we were ever going to be. But, now years later, I am much more a husband and she more a wife than that June day in 1981 at Oak Grove UMC. By God’s grace we will continue to grow by faith as individuals and as a couple, and will walk blamelessly with God, abide in His tent and dwell on His holy hill – together, forever.

Scripture Nugget 2.7.2017

Scripture Nugget 2.7.2017

Scripture Read Judges 1-6

Nugget Judges 2:1-5, 7, 10-14, 22-23

“Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, ‘I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you into the land that I had promised to your ancestors. I said, “I will never break my covenant with you. For your part, do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; tear down their altars.” But you have not obeyed my command. See what you have done! So now I say, I will not drive them out before you; but they shall become adversaries to you, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ When the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept. So they named the place Bochim, and there they sacrificed to the LORD. …. The people worshiped the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel. …. Moreover, that whole generation was gathered to their ancestors, and another generation grew up after them, who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and worshiped the Baals; and they abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were all around them, and bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. They abandoned the LORD, and worshiped Baal and the Astartes. So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers who plundered them, and he sold them into the power of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. …. In order to test Israel, whether or not they would take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their ancestors did, the LORD left those nations, not driving them out at once, and had not handed them over to Joshua.”

Devotional thought: While much of the present political discussion is on immigration and whether or not to build a wall; there is a much more important issue to explore. Whose are we? Who do we follow?  Who do we allow to influence our lives? Is God, Lord of our lives, does God set the boundaries and do we submit to those boundaries or do we allow others to re-write the rules? Are we letting sinful people to influence our lives because we will not stand against idol worship, sinful behavior, and social practices that distract us/others from worshipping God? Formal prayer removed from schools, after school activities and little league take priority over Wednesday night services, children’s sports overshadow Sunday morning worship, our toys and hobbies distract our focus from God. Yes, God in His mercy and wisdom gives us a choice. The fact that we can say no to Him is huge. As a seminary professor of mine often says, “If we didn’t have the choice to say no, our ‘Yes’ would be meaningless.” The truth of the matter is this, when we say no, even once – just temporarily, we have separated ourselves from God, we have broken the covenant the weakened the kingdom. Yes, we are to love our enemies, but loving them does not mean accepting their sin, their worship of other gods and allowing them to distract us from our relationship with God. Will we, do we walk in the way of the LORD? Or are we distracted?

Scripture Nugget2.6.2017

Scripture Nugget2.6.2017

Scripture Read Genesis 20-23

Nugget Genesis 22:5

“Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.’”

Devotional thought: Having been commanded by God to offer his only son as a burnt offering (Gen 22:2) Abraham journeys in faith to the place God directed him to go. When the time came, Abraham expressed absolute faith in God; “we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” Talk about Over-the-Horizon faith in response to God’s Over-the-Horizon promise! O God, that my response to your will is always, I will worship you and I have faith you will place me where I’m supposed to be. Even when what you ask me to do is extremely hard and out of character for you. That I possess faith, that you will provide……

Scripture Nugget 2.5.2017

Scripture Nugget 2.5.2017

Scripture Read Romans 9-10

Nugget Romans 10:8-17

“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.  For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’ So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”

Devotional thought: In Matthew 5:13a, 14a, Jesus tells us we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt and light are powerless when not shared. A shaker full of salt will not season the pot of beans or plate of food if it just sits on the counter or the table next to those items. Salt must be poured and stirred into the beans and sprinkled on top of the plate of food to season the items in the pot or on the plate. Light inside a device; a bulb not switched on, a flashlight with no batteries, a candle not lit are useless. Once lit if any of these are blocked from casting light, to brighten a path, to light a blacked-out room they are a waste of energy. Those of us who confess belief in Christ as Savior, who do not share Jesus with others are like salt shakers that remain un-used, or lights never turned on. Over time, if we remain dormant, un-used, not turned on we will lose our seasoning and our power. “The man who is content to save his own soul, and is afraid to interfere with wickedness around him, is not even saving his own soul.” (The Pulpit Commentary, Matthew, pg 202)