Judges 6:1-6:10 "Sorry, I Forgot....Again"

"I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave them your land." ~Judges 6:9 (NIV)

Here, once again, the Israelites did evil in God's eyes and the Midianites swooped in. For seven years God's chosen suffered under a foreign oppressor. It finally got so bad that they cried out to God for help -- again. This time, God didn't just rescue them, but reminded them of where He had brought them from and their disobedience to Him. Thus, they are suffering.

When I read this passage, two questions popped into my mind. 1) Why are we so forgetful? 2) Is there a way to break the cycle of forgetfulness?

All of life is filled with peaks and valleys. We experience them in our marriages, our jobs, our weight, our moods, our exercise plans, our bank accounts. So is it just inevitable that we will have peaks and valleys in our spiritual walk? Probably. My daughter, Gabby, was just at youth camp. She said that the speaker, Matt, gave a great final sermon on coming down from the mountain top that they had been on all week -- both physically and spiritually. Gabby summarized it this way, "You can't keep the high, but Jesus can keep you in the lows." With sin, pain, and disappointment in the world, we are going to experiences many highs and lows. But we serve the King and have His Spirit living within us. There must be a way to minimize those lows that cause spiritual forgetfulness. I need to be able to face the next mountain I need to climb by remembering how God enabled me to conquer the last mountain. And the one before that. And the one before that.

Here are some ways I know I can remember:

1. Stay in the Word and Prayer!!! If I become slack and don't maintain regular times alone with the Lord, I drift in my thinking and attitudes. It's like checking the rope daily to be sure the boat is connected to the dock. If you don't, wind, rain, and the pounding waves will loosen that rope and the boat will drift away. I need clear rope-checking time every day.

2. Faith Journal. I have not been good about keeping this and need to do better. When I just stop and think for a while about my life and the things God has brought me through, I am completely overwhelmed by His faithfulness. I have so to speak been rescued from Egypt; I have faced plague and famine; I have met up with opposing armies at insurmountable odds. God has worked in my life, and I must remember His power that can conquer any obstacle I face and trust the He will be there again. But to do so, I must stop and remember. Quiet reflection time is difficult to find with jobs, families, responsibilities. But floundering in the insecurity of facing battles without power is so much worse. All I have to do is remember and believe.

3. Keep myself accountable. I'm a list maker. If I don't, I will not remember. Already this week I double booked myself because I didn't write down the first commitment. Maybe I need some more vitamins or possibly shock therapy, but I just do not have a good memory. Used to; but time has robbed me. In the same way as I use lists to keep track of my "to do's," I need accountability to keep track of my spiritual walk. I have my husband and one main female accountability partner, but then I am also in an accountability group. Those regular meetings help keep my mind on God's activity in the world today. I am constantly reminded through those ladies of God's power at work in and through every day people, and it builds my faith and attentiveness to His plan.

4. Run from sin. If I am doing #1-3, this one is so much easier to accomplish. Because I spend time with my loving Father, I want to obey Him. Because I remember His faithfulness in the past, I don't want to hinder Him working in and through me in the future. And because I am accountable to several people, I have fellow warriors fighting through the battle with me and I am made stronger.

I know I am going to face times of doubt and fear. I know that I will sometimes start up a mountain with trepidation. But I will push through because I have safeguards in place to make me stronger. I never want to forget again -- He is always with me.

Further Thoughts:
1. When have you forgotten and what were the consequences?
2. Do you really want to be there again? Why or why not?
3. What's your plan to not forget God's faithfulness?
4. Who are you going to ask to hold you accountable?

Father, we are frail and weak, but that is no excuse for forgetting your amazing grace and faithfulness. Empower our minds to remember, Lord, and help us develop daily habits of remaining focused on You and the goal -- to run the race well in Your strength and power.

Psalm 119:11 His Word Protects Us

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. ~Psalm 119:11

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have the responsibility to uncover and retrieve counterfeit money. But in their training the Royal Canadian do not study counterfeit bills. They only study the real thing. The reasoning is that if they know what the genuine product looks like in every detail, they will instantly recognize a currency that doesn’t belong.

The Scripture hidden in our heart will protect us by providing us with the genuine truth to measure everything else against. If I know God’s truths, I will also know when I am being tempted to sin. If I’ve learned His precepts, then I will recognize false teachings that may try to lure me away from Him. The enemy is the father of lies, and he will try every means possible to entice us to succumb to the destruction of his lies. But with The Truth firmly planted in our minds and hearts, we have a weapon that will slice any deception into shreds. Use your “sword of the Spirit” to fight against the powers that will cause your defeat. The Word is in your hand.

Further Thoughts:

1. Why does Scriptural memorization need to be an integral part of our spiritual habits?
2. Should all spiritual teachings be weighed against the Scriptures? Why or why not?
3. What must be coupled with memorization to keep us from sinning? (HINT: The Pharisees knew the Scriptures.) Explain.
4. What is your active plan to make the Word of God an integral part of your life?

Father, I choose to keep Your Word very close to my heart. Protect me by Your sword. Amen.

The Rhema becomes our daily mentor

Wayne Cordero in his book, Divine Mentor, writes how Christ and His Spirit is the best mentor we can find in this life. We have access 24/7 to God’s Word, Christ’s example, and the Holy Spirit’s teaching. Therefore, we must just take time to absorb the instruction that is available to us.

The Word of God as it stands in printed form is the Logos. The truth stands as truth all by itself. But there are times that you can be reading the Word, and it’s like the words comes flying off of the page into your heart. The truth to your present circumstances and challenges becomes crystal clear. Every door is suddenly open and your mind is full of ideas, peace, and certainty. In that moment you are seeing the world through God’s eyes. Absorbing His wisdom. Experiencing the Word as a living, breathing, active force that can change your entire perspective. That is understanding the Word as your Rhema or personal word from the Lord for your life today.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is your “go to” plan when you need help, counseling, or direction in your life?
2. Have you ever experienced the Logos becoming your Rhema? Describe.
3. What is each part of the Trinity’s role in touching our lives with Rhema?
4. How is it that an ancient writing can be relevant to life and its circumstances today?

Father, I need Your guidance in my life. May Your Word become my Rhema each day. Amen.

John 17:17 "The Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God"

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ~John 17:17

After Christ and His grace-filled sacrifice, the Word of God is the next greatest gift God has given to us. We can actually hold in our hands and study for ourselves the very words of the Almighty God of the universe, just as He had them written down by some particularly chosen men. The Word of God is literally “God-breathed” and made available to all mankind to read, meditate upon, and follow.

In the beginning God spoke directly to Adam and Eve. After the Fall, He spoke to the people through the prophets. Next, He sent His Son, Jesus, 100% God Himself, to walk among us. And finally, we are left with the Word of God along with His Holy Spirit to guide our lives. The power of the Word of the Almighty is within our very hands and heart. Moses tells us in Hebrews that the Word of God is “living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword.” The Word holds all dominion over the enemy. Nothing can stop us when we grasp the truth and power of the Word of God.

Further Thoughts:

1. How has the Word of God impacted your life?
2. How would your life change if you did not have the Word?
3. What difference does it make if the Word is inerrant and infallible or not?
4. Is truth still truth even if no one believes it? Explain your answer.

Father, what a precious gift You have given us in Your Word. We are not only given the wisdom of the ages, but also power over the enemy. Thank You for this amazingly powerful life tool. Amen.

Colossians 2:16-23 "The Heart of the Matter"

Read Colossians 2:16-23.

"Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining the sensual indulgence." NIV

Again, I know that Paul is addressing the heresy that was permeating the church at Colosse, but I have a really hard time not equating this passage to the division of denominations today. Don't misunderstand me -- I am a member of a denomination and support it as best as I can. But I can't ignore the fact that denominations are man made and can be a hiding place for personal agendas. Against drinking? Be a Wesleyan. For drinking? Be a Presbyterian. Against women in ministry? Baptist. For speaking in tongues? Assembly of God. For ritual? Episcopalian. And those are all Christian denominations. But my question is are denominations and their distinctive doctrines biblical?

Denominations were beginning to informally form in Paul's day. But the dramatic branching probably occurred at the time of Martin Luther's 95 Theses and the Protestant Reformation. I think Paul, if he could, would apply this passage to the denominations today. So many do's and don'ts apply that are not from the Bible or loosely based on interpretations from the Bible and from personal biases.

I could ramble on about this all day, but I don't intend this post to be a denomination bashing. Here's the bottom line. Paul points out in verse 23 the problems that arise with man made rules -- even those that are based on Scripture. But the answer is not what we are doing or not doing. The answer lies in where is our heart and to whom is it devoted? I'm so thankful that I will be judged not by church leadership and how well I followed the rules, but by the Father who knows my heart. True change can only occur there.

Further Thoughts:

1. Keeping in mind that there are no perfect denominations, are you following "rules" or the Word of God? Take some time to really think this through. It's easy to admire a group of people and want to be like them. Then just accept everything they say at face value. Think it through for yourself.
2. Is your heart totally surrendered to Christ and His ways? Do you base everything you do on loving and serving Him? That's the heart.

1 John 1:1-4 "The Witness"

Read 1 John 1:1-4.

"... we have seen it and testify to it...." NIV

John jumps right in to counter the false teachings of Gnosticism with an eye-witness testimony to the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. John and the apostles heard Him, saw Him, and touched Him and could say that Jesus truly was "the Word of life." So John and the other apostles were proclaiming it to The Church so they would not turn away from the truth to the lies being planted among them.

In a similar way this is exactly what we are doing today, but in a spiritual realm. If we have received Jesus as our Lord and spent time growing with Him, we have seen Him, heard Him, and even felt the touch of His Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who lives within us, testifies to His existence every day. And the power of His death and resurrection is lived out in the lives of millions who follow Him. So many want to deny the divinity of Christ, but His work in our lives and indwelling in our hearts is part of the proof of His divinity. We are the living examples of who He is and why He came.

So, like the apostles, since we can testify to the power and truth of Jesus Christ, we have the same responsibility that they had in proclaiming to others "what we have seen and heard." Our Lord is alive and well. He is still at work in millions of lives, and we must share the hope and direction that He can bring through a relationship with Him. We are the body, and we are His Plan A. There is no Plan B. If we don't tell them, who will?

Further Thoughts:

1. Why does John call Jesus "the Word of life?" Where else in the Bible is He called this?
   
2. What statement does John make to give evidence that Jesus was with God from the beginning of time? For what reason does he emphasize this point?
   
3. What of Jesus that you have "seen and heard" could you proclaim to others? 
   
4. What would have happened if the person who proclaimed the power of Jesus to you hadn't?
   

2 Peter 1:12-21 "A Reminder"

Read 2 Peter 1:12-21.

"So I will always remind you of these things even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have." NIV

I was recently talking with a friend about how little believers study their Bible's. Then I was reading about research done by a large mid-western church and they confirmed in their studies that the percentages are not very high. Why is that? Time. Difficult language and cultural references? Do not see the relevancy? Act of duty instead of an act of love?

Many factors could influence why believers are not studying the Word, but the fact remains that no matter what stage in our Christian walk we are, we will never know enough of the Word and the things the Father wants us to learn. We need to be constantly reminded of the Truths that will prepare us to face difficulties and victories, guide us in our relationships, help us to resist temptation, and so on. And it will never end. In fact, the more I study the Word, the less I feel I really know about my God. In the depths of His Word He becomes vaster and vaster (Yes, I made a new word. Did you understand my meaning? Then it works. :) 

I can't just be reading about the prophesies or looking through the life of Jesus and walk away and say, "Well, that's that. I've read it." We must constantly come back to it again and again to learn new Truths that the Holy Spirit wants to reveal. Maybe we are going through something that the Word can address. More often than not the Lord reveals Scripture to me that prepares me for something that is about to happen. Then when I go through that whatever event, I know immediately what He was trying to teach me and I am prepared to scripturally face anything. I may have read that passage before, but by studying it again, the Word became active in my life right now where I am at.

The Word of God never becomes stale. It is alive and active -- changing, directing, molding us into the people God has called us to be. "... and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place." Thank You, Father, for Your Word. May I never become dulled to its meanings or complacent with the study of it. I cherish what you have to say to me.

Further Thoughts:

1. Is the Word difficult for you to get into? Here's some possible reasons why: 1)You have received Jesus as your Savior, but have not completely surrendered to Jesus as the Lord of your life so His words do not carry a relevancy to your life. Full surrender is the beginning of a desire to know Him more. 2) You need an easier translation to read.  3) You need study helps.  4) You don't allow time to reflect on what you have read and make application to your life. 5) You need an accountability partner to help you develop good habits of study and reflection on the Word.     These are just some possibilities. But you can ask the Lord to reveal to you your particular reason.