You Are A Stubborn People

I was just reading Deuteronomy 9:5-7 and was struck by the lengths God goes to to impress on the Israelites that they are not being rewarded because of their own righteousness:

"It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people. Remember, do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD."

And that's being charitable. It seems like Israel is creating an idol or complaining every single page from Exodus to Deuteronomy. It's hard to believe God didn't simply destroy them all, which He threatened multiple times.

But here's the thing I come back to every time I read this section of scripture: Are we any better? Sure, we look the Israelites and say "Hey, they got to see God in a pillar of fire, what morons they are for disobeying." But we have the Spirit. No one gets any excuses.

Culprit Or Child

I seem to remember when I was younger hearing discussions about the necessity of confessing sins as a Christian. This paragraph from Morning and Evening is as concise an explanation as I've read.

Lust

Here's an interesting article on lust from a Catholic website.

Matthew 4:1-11

I just read Matthew 4:1-11 and then checked out this commentary. Two interesting things stuck out:

1. First read James 1:14- "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust." But Jesus had no sin nature, so He couldn't be enticed by His own lust. The Devil had to show up and tempt him personally.

2. Jesus answered temptations with "it is written." Strength of will and determination are litte protection from temptation, we need to stand firm on the Word of God.

Brown City Camp

July 31 - August 10 was Brown City Camp. Because I had to be in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, I did not get to make it until August 6. But, for what I was there for, the teaching/speakers were excellent. I tried taking basic notes at night, so I'll see what I can post in the next few days.

Glory

Here's something that was pointed out at church on Sunday. Take a look at Mark 10:35-39:

James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You."

And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

They said to Him, "Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory."

But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"

They said to Him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.

Now look what happens to John when he actually sees Jesus in his glory, Revelation 1:17-18:

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Now, John was as close a friend as Jesus had on earth, and he still clearly didn't get it. It would seem he thought of Jesus to some extent as his "buddy", but when he saw His glory, bam, down on his face. So what should our response be?

One more thought: How would we live if we really believed that the being described by John in Revelation 1 loved us?

An MVP Dad

Notes from Pastor Bob Bressert's at Grace EFC on 6/15/08. (I admit to being somewhat distracted during the beginning of the sermon because Pastor Bob, a Cardinals fan, used a picture of David Eckstein hoisting the World Series trophy circa 2006 to illustrate what an MVP is. That was tough on a Tigers fan.)

This Father's Day, did, I challenge you to be that MVP your family needs.

1. Hit for average! Jeremiah 35:1-19
The main point here was to make contact every time you step into the batter's box. Luckily for us, in spiritual matters God provides the ablility to make that contact. This has a lasting impact. The sons of Jonadab (who we'll look at in point #2) were still following his example 240 years later.

2. Hit for power. 2 Kings 10:15-31
Jonadab was put in a position here where he had to come through in a big way, and he did. The verses note he was even more faithful than his king. Most of the time moving the runners is enough, but sometimes God will expect us to knock one out of the park. Again, thankfully for us, God provides the strength to do the job, we just need to stay in the box and swing.

3. Hit for the team.
A. Sometimes a bunt is just as important as a homerun! Jeremiah 35:1-7
Jonadab set an example and left commands for his sons to remind them who they were. Doing the little things kept them on the right path.

B. Sometimes moving the runners into scoring position wins games. Jeremiah 35:8-19
Jonadab's example, and his the obedience of his sons, led to this remarkable promise from God: "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to (AG)stand before Me always." As long as men live on the earth, a son of Jonadab will be faithfully serving God. Now that's a legacy.