Category: forgiveness

It Changes Everything

Old Testament: Amos 5 & 6

Poetry: Psalm 130

New Testament: Matthew 16

In our reading today, we see these verses:

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you. – Psalm 130

This was written back in the pre-Jesus times.  Yet even then, the writer speaks of forgiveness of our sins.  How much more is that available to us with the blood of Jesus to wash those sins away?  We can be so thankful that the LORD does not keep a record of our sins.  If He did, we could not stand.

Has someone ever done something to you that you hold onto and struggle letting go of?  Now I do think there can be wisdom in remembering things that are dangerous – say, you play a game of pool with your then-boyfriend, and he hits you with a cue stick in the face on accident.  Then maybe, when you play pool with your now-husband, you are a little extra careful to make sure you don’t get too close when he is lining up a shot. 

That’s a joking example, but there are times when serious hurt may be done, and we can learn from those instances so they don’t get repeated.  But learning from things and keeping a record of sins to hold against people is very different.  As you are reading Psalms 130 today, ask yourself, is there someone that you need to forgive or something you need to let go of?

Our New Testament chapter for today is Matthew 16 which is where Peter makes the big confession – identifies the truth – that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.  If we too confess this, we can take part in the forgiveness of sins.

The Psalm continues on –

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

I don’t feel that I do a great job of waiting for the LORD with my whole being.  It isn’t in the forefront of my mind.  It is easy to live life with the focus not being on God with so many different things available to distract us.  How would my life look different if that was my main focus? 

We talked in a youth group class this year about how the good news should radically alter our lives.  It should infuse every aspect of it.  That thought came up again in a book I was reading related to parenting.  The gospel changes everything.  If God is my main focus, and I let the salvation that Jesus has made possible alter every part of my life, that includes how I interact with my children.  Parenting is what stood out to me in that, but that might not be where it hits you – maybe for you, you are struck that the gospel should change how you go to school, interact with your friends, work at your job, etc. 

If you want a song reminder of this Psalm, visit https://open.spotify.com/track/6A6GlReEZA0eG48K9yKK0J to hear a song written by Aaron Winner called “Wait For the Morning.”

~Stephanie Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Is there someone that you need to forgive or something you need to let go of?
  2. How would my life look different if waiting on the Lord was my main focus? 
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A Proverb a Day Keeps the Folly at Bay #2

Old Testament: Jeremiah 27 & 28

Poetry: Proverbs 17

New Testament: 1st, 2nd & 3rd John Intro – found below

 

Today is the second of a three-day exploration of single-proverb contemplation. This time we will be considering Proverbs 17:9, which reads in the ESV, “[w]hoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.”  

There are basically two responses to the wrongdoing of your friend. You can, as they say in Brooklyn, “forget about it” or you can act in the same way one’s credit report does—that is, holding every delinquent payment against them. Friendships are meant to last but cannot if they are a score-keeping struggle. There will always be disparities, but the goal is not to get even. The goal is to give your best. If you are worried that the other person isn’t putting in the same amount of effort as you, sure, you could bring it up, but it is not necessarily what’s best for your relationship. So, what is? 

Paul explains in his first letter to the Christians in Corinth that true love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). For the Christian, it cannot be that we hold the mistakes of our brothers and sisters over their heads. Does this mean that we shouldn’t hold people accountable for their actions? Certainly not. This verse speaks to a healthy Christian relationship. In a healthy relationship, the two parties will not be engaged in constant offenses against one another. When this happens, the relationship cannot be defined as healthy and will not likely be a relationship for much longer if the problems are not acknowledged and addressed. To keep a healthy relationship healthy, each person must make a habit of not bringing up the mistakes the other has made.  

If someone is constantly causing offense against you, perhaps the best thing to do is withdraw. Especially in cases where there is violence (physical or verbal), the victim should not pretend like nothing wrong is happening. I pray you never find yourself in a violent relationship. This advice is not for such cases. When the other person is causing you great fear, seek help.  

If you find yourself continually bringing up a friend’s (or, spouse’s) wrongdoing, ask yourself why you keep doing it. Do you think that relationships are supposed to be (or, that it’s even possible for them to be) even, 50/50? Are your own insecurities leading you to point out flaws in others to make you feel better about yourself? Could you be worried that the hurt from your past will repeat itself in the future? Whatever may be the reason you keep bringing up your friend’s past mistakes, it cannot continue if you want the relationship to. There may be some difficult conversations that need to take place, but a little difficulty now is worth the chance of saving a relationship, making it stronger, or even changing the type of relationship it is (if it’s for the best). Relationships cannot flourish if one or both parties are holding on to the hurts of the past. Forgiveness is essential for relationships with others. When we bring up hurt, we are showing that we’re still holding on to offense and maybe haven’t forgiven the other person.  

If you are the one in the relationship whose action keeps getting brought up – be sure that those actions that are mentioned aren’t something you keep doing. If you keep doing something harmful maybe you shouldn’t be surprised if a human being with feelings keeps bringing it up. If it is something for which the other person has supposedly forgiven you, but they won’t let you forget it, let them know that their continuing to mention it is hurting you and making you feel like they haven’t really forgiven you. This may be a tough conversation. Perhaps the other person doesn’t realize that it hurts you (hopefully, they don’t realize it). But make sure it doesn’t become a score-keeping battle. It is entirely possible that you don’t realize you’re doing the same thing to them. Make sure you are aware of how you are speaking to them and how it is affecting them. And always remember that love covers a multitude of sin (1 Peter 4:8).  

-Joel Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Think of a time when someone could have brought up one of your past mistakes but didn’t, how did it make you feel?
  2. Do you sometimes think of some of your relationships as a score-keeping battle? Why is this harmful? What is a better view? And how can you remind yourself of this when you slip back into score-keeping mode?

1 – 3 John Introduction

First, Second, and Third John were written by “the elder”, who is believed to be John, the son of Zebedee, the disciple Jesus loved.  This is the same John who wrote the gospel of John and the book of Revelation.

John started out his message explaining that he saw, heard, and touched Jesus, and wanted to bring the next generation of believers into fellowship with “us” (apostles? believers?), and into fellowship with God and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

The two overriding themes of the three books are:  Love, and beware of false teachings.

John explained that God is light, and that people need to walk in the light by obeying Jesus’ commands.  He echoed Jesus’ command that believers should love God and should love one another.  And warned believers not to love the world, because the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

John also warned the church to beware of false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Christ (messiah), trying to lead people away from the truth.  He warned that false prophets did not acknowledge that Jesus had come in the flesh – this is the spirit of antichrist.  John urged believers to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the  world.”

He pointed out the great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.  He wrote, “this is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Continuing on the theme of love, John wrote, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

In his conclusion to the book of First John, John wrote, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

-Steve Mattison

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Abundantly Pardoned

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55-56

Poetry Reading: Psalm 86

New Testament: Book of James Intro – found below

Today’s Old Testament reading of Isaiah 55-56 is another encouraging message for those who reflect and return to God. Along with instructions to listen carefully, incline ears, and come to Him, we also read terms like mercy, compassion, and the phrase “abundantly pardon”.  People who return to God ( a daily need it seems!) are not just scraping by in a free trial period or conditional agreement. They are abundantly pardoned. The preceding chapters told us how (and through whom) that works, and it is not through anything we do. We are unworthy, but when we seek Him, we are recipients of abundant love, provision, and pardon in ways we far too often take for granted.

Some of my favorite passages in the Bible are the ones that remind me that God’s ways are perfect, and He has a plan and understanding that is superior to mine.  One example is Proverbs 16:9, and another is right here in Isaiah 55:9: 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

 New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020), Is 55:9.

 I don’t know how you feel, but I read this and I say…..thank goodness!

As I was reading along in Isaiah 55 the reference to the plants stood out to me in verse 13. I really enjoy plants….learning about them, looking at them, growing them, sometimes killing them, watching perennials spread and annuals do their thing, seeing flowers turn into fruits, milkweed attract monarchs, learning about their medicinal and nutritional uses, smelling them. Pretty much, God’s creation of plants and nature are good things for us all around! (In fact, I learned a new term at work recently from a colleague who works with me with our pediatric patients who all need more time outside it seems, and if you haven’t heard of “forest bathing”…..it’s a thing!)  But, back to verse 13.  I was familiar with juniper, but wanted a reminder what the myrtle plant was that was going to replace stinging nettle.

And while I learned myrtle is apparently a lovely, fragrant, evergreen shrub, I also learned that it is quite Biblically significant. It is referenced as a choice plant according to Isaiah 41 and included in Zechariah’s prophecy. Interestingly, it also pops up in the book of Esther since her Hebrew name (instead of the Persian one), Hadassah, is the feminine form of the word “hadas” or “myrtle”.  Jews and Christians celebrating the Feast of Booths often use myrtle in their sukkots and celebrations. In fact, that is coming up next week so myrtle of the world is undoubtedly getting ready to make some appearances!

But, whether or not you ever see or grow myrtle, the message of a beautiful, fragrant, fertile, eternal hope God has in store for you is one to keep alive no matter what!

Isaiah 56 continues to call God’s people to a pursuit of righteousness and obedience and shares the promise with those of us who may not be biological descendants of Jacob.

-Jennifer Hall

Reflection Questions:

1. Consider the abundant, complete, and perfect pardoning you have received regardless of the gunk in your life. Have you allowed God to share that forgiveness and hope?

2. What is hard about sharing forgiveness and mercy toward others as we are called to do as followers of Jesus? How can you extend abundant pardon toward another today?

3. As you reflect on God’s ways being higher than yours, how can you better trust and rely on Him to plan your steps and make sense of this world even when you don’t get it?

Book of James Introduction

The Book of James was written by a man named James, who was probably the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55) and the leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:13).  The book was written to the Jews who were scattered among the nations.  These Jews were obviously persecuted based on the way James started chapter 1.  These may have been Jews who were part of the Jerusalem church that were scattered after Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1). 

The main point of the book is to encourage the reader to actively live faithfully for God.  This can be summed up by looking at a couple of verses:

James 1:21 – Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

James 1:22 – Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.

James 2:17 – …faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 4:17 – Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

Here are some interesting verses about the author:

  • Acts 12:17 –  After Peter was rescued from prison, he told his friends to tell James and the other brothers and sisters…
  • Acts 15:13 – James was an important member of the council that met in Jerusalem
  • Acts 21:18 – Paul went to see James after Paul’s last missionary journey to give James a detailed report of his missionary journeys
  • 1 Corinthians 15:7 – Jesus appeared to James, then to all the apostles
  • Galatians 1:19 – Paul went to see James on his first trip to Jerusalem after his conversion
  • Galatians 2:9 – Paul called James a pillar of the church
  • Jude 1:1 – Jude identified himself as the brother of James

As you read the book of James, consider how it applies to you:  How do you react during trials?  How do you treat those who are less fortunate than yourself?  How do you speak?  Do you resist the devil and draw near to God?  Are your prayers powerful and effective?

I’ll close with James 5:20, “remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his ways will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

–Steve Mattison

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God Made Them Male and Female

*New Testament Reading:  Mark 10

Psalms Reading:  79

Old Testament Reading:  Isaiah 41-42 

The Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce to test him.  Rather than just answer their question, Jesus directs them to God’s original design for marriage…vs 6- 9 “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” There are several days’ worth of material in just that short passage.

Today, however, I want to focus on the phrase “God made them male and female”.   This is a quote from Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”   Psalm 139:13-16 says of God, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb….My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths …”.  Malachi 3:6a tells us, “For I the Lord do not change…”

When you put these thoughts together, you can see that God designed each one of us.  Individually, specifically, intentionally, purposefully.  He chose YOUR personality, eye color, height, if you like spicy foods or not, how you will process good and bad news, what will motivate you, and what sex/gender you are.  We can color our hair or learn to like certain foods, but we cannot change what we are at the core of who God made us to be.  HE CHOSE your gender.  HE CHOSE your gender because HE WANTED YOU.

How we bring glory to God is to be the best version we can of who He made us to be.  There are lots of gray areas up for interpretation in the Bible.  However, God is very black and white on the issue of gender.  He created them male and female.  That’s it.  No other options. 

Since that was so short, I feel like I have space to tackle one more piece from today’s reading.  Let’s look at God’s view of marriage and sex (another area where God is very black and white in His design).  In Mark 10 we read, ”…and the two shall become one flesh.  So they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”   God’s plan and desire for marriage is that one man and one woman get married and stay married until death separates them (yes, there are a few specific exceptions to this, and I’m not digging into that here, but please talk to your pastor or an elder or trusted godly person if you have questions on this.).  God’s plan for sex is that it is a wonderful gift for pleasure and for procreation, only to be experienced within the boundaries of marriage as stated above.

The world today says that anything goes.  The Bible says differently.  It matters to God what we do with our bodies.  If you have already stepped outside of the boundaries that God has set for His children, know that He will forgive you and that He will remove your sin from you as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).  You need only ask Him.  I know because I was there.  He will not only forgive you, but help you to forgive yourself, too.

I will leave you with 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.  “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Amy Blanchard

Reflection Questions

  1. Your body becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit when you choose to follow God’s plan for salvation.  In short, it is belief, repentance, baptism.  If you have not made that commitment, please consider speaking to someone who can help guide you there.  Are you treating your body as God’s temple?  If not, why not?
  2. Repentance is an acknowledgement that what we did was wrong and a turning away from that action, attitude, inaction, etc.  Since we all sin, we all need to repent.  Is there anything in your life that you need to repent of today? 
  3. It is a struggle to go against what the world is telling you is good.  God expects us to stand firm in our knowledge of His design.  What else did these passages reveal to you about God’s character?
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Feed My Sheep

Theme Week – Peter: John 21

Old Testament: Ezra 9 & 10

Poetry: Psalm 17

Peter has experienced so much with Jesus that it is difficult to wrap our minds around everything. Miracles, explanations of the Kingdom, who God is, how to live, even being resurrected to life are some of the actions and ideas that God accomplished and conveyed through His Son. Peter took it all in. Peter was undergoing a transformation through his relationship with Jesus.

Peter knew and stated that Jesus was the Messiah (the Christ), the Son of the Living God. (Matthew 16:16) This idea was revealed to him by God, but Peter stumbled when Jesus was on trial. He was terrified and rightly so. He saw the cruelty, the brutality released on Jesus so he denied him three times.

On the shore that morning, Jesus wants Peter to understand that he forgives him. After a miraculous catch of fish and eating a fish and bread breakfast, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him more than these?  “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” This time Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” Peter said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus is direct with Peter. He will express his love for Jesus by feeding, by taking care of his sheep. Of course, Jesus had taught them that his followers were his sheep. At that time, we were the ones that had not yet entered the sheep pen by the gate. But Praise God that Peter showed his love for Christ. He truly Followed Jesus. He became brave speaking to the crowds about believing and being baptized into Jesus. We are encouraged and challenged by what Peter said and did. He did feed the followers of Jesus then and we are still receiving that food and care today through the scriptures. Along with Peter, we have the chance to feed and care for the followers of Christ. We will faithfully follow the plan that God sets for our lives. We will follow Jesus Christ.

-Rebecca Dauksas

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you love Jesus (even if you have failed him before)?
  2. What job do you think Jesus has for you to do for him? How will you do it?
  3. Will you follow Jesus? How?
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Can’t Throw Stones

*THEME WEEK – PETER – Luke 5

Poetry: Psalm 13

Old Testament: Ezra Intro – see below

This week many are gathering for a week of FUEL – a youth and young adult camp of the Church of God. Our theme for the week matches FUEL’s theme of Peter and our writers this week will all be participants and staff at FUEL. Have a great week seeking God, growing faith and loving more and more!

The past few weeks, I have been thinking about this a lot. We are so quick to cast stones when someone hurts us, or we find something out about someone that we think is wrong or sinful. I have seen this in myself recently. I have been quick to judge people when I don’t agree with their opinions or beliefs. I was very excited to have an opportunity to write about Luke 5. The story about Jesus choosing his first disciples has always been one of my favorites. But I never took the time to read deeper into it.

Luke 5: 31

Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees who are watching Jesus have dinner with tax collectors and sinners. In this time, it was crazy and unheard of to associate with these types of people, because they were considered unclean. But Jesus responds and says it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the SICK.

We are to have the same attitude as Jesus and realize that we ourselves are sick. We have all at one time sinned. Jesus has come and brought us, the sick, out of our sickness so that we can do the same for others.

He shows the same act in Luke 5:8-11

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful Man!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.

            “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon, “From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.

Jesus called to the lost. He went to the darkest places to reach people and has instructed us to do the same.

It is hard to reach out to people sometimes. Especially when we know their past. But how can we judge someone, when Jesus comes to us and says, “You are forgiven.” It says in James 2:10

“For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.”

We all know that we have sinned before, we are all sinners, but Jesus calls us – to love each other, and show everyone who HE truly is, WASH THEIR FEET.

Wash the sinner’s feet. Love them and serve people as Jesus would serve. We are all sinners, no matter what it may be, we have all fallen short somewhere.

Jesus washes the feet of his disciples in John 13:1-5. He is free of sin, and yet he washes their feet. In this time, washing of someone’s feet was an act of service. Jesus was willing to serve everyone no matter who they were. We are called to do the same.

It is easy to judge and to say, well I couldn’t do that for this person because… (You fill in the blank). I have done it. I have judged people whether that be at work, or even when I was in school. I have judged and said, “Well that person is too far gone. There’s no way I could forgive them.” But the truth is, that everyone deserves Christ’s love. We are called to be free of judgement and full of love and forgiveness.

 You can’t wash feet and throw stones. We can’t do both.

Instead choose to wash the feet of everyone you can, not literally, but be kind and show them Christ’s love.

-Hannah Eldred

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you judged someone else and believed them to be too sick (in their sins) for Jesus to cure? How have you been proved wrong? What examples from the Bible and people you know prove that Jesus heals sinners and changes lives?
  2. Jesus called Peter to catch people not fish. What is Jesus calling you to do? What might you have to leave behind (as Peter left behind his fishing boats and nets)?
  3. How can you – will you – show others the love of Christ this week?

Ezra Introduction

The book of Ezra was written by a man named Ezra who was a Godly scribe and priest – a direct descendant of Aaron the first high priest.  The book starts with the decree of the Persian King Cyrus proclaiming the Israelites could return to Jerusalem and build a temple for God.  This was prophesied in Jeremiah 25:12; 29:10; 50:1-5; and Isaiah 44:28-45:5,13.

The first half of Ezra details the people who returned, and then describes the fits and starts of building the temple, along with the stiff opposition to building that temple.  (It took 23 years to rebuild the temple.)

Once the temple was built, the Israelites needed priests to perform sacrifices and teach God’s laws to the people.  It was at this time that Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem in a second wave of returning exiles along with priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants.  

I love the description of Ezra found in 7:10, “Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”

We see a glimpse of his faith in Ezra 8:21-23, “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.  I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”  So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.”

The second half of the book talks about addressing the sin in Israel, culminating in people’s confession of their sins and their pledge to live according to God’s laws.

I’ll close with Ezra 10:6, “… he [Ezra] ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.”

How often have you been this distressed over your own sins, let alone the sins of people who claim to follow God, or even the sins of our nation?  

-Steve Mattison

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Physically Strong – but – Spiritually Weak

*Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 10-13

(my apologies, chapter 10 was supposed to be included yesterday)

Poetry: Psalm 4

New Testament: 1 & 2 Timothy Intro below

     Today we again check in on the history of the ancient kings, with 2 Chronicles 11-13. The twelve tribes of Israel were just split into two nations, confusingly known as Israel (to the north) and Judah (to the south). Civil war would have broken out but God sent a message: “You shall not go up or fight against your relatives; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me.” (11:4). It is good that the Lord prevented bloodshed in this case, and that the people were prepared to listen, but it could almost be seen as comical: ‘don’t fight, chalk this one up to me and just draw a new border.’

     King Rehoboam of Judah didn’t assume peace would last, he began preparing fortresses and weapons. It did him no good at all because he prepared physically, and not spiritually. “When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him forsook the law of the Lord.” (12:1). Just five years into his reign he lost his grip on what really mattered – his relationship with God. He barely restored the connection in time, humbling himself before God when Shishak of Egypt and his allies attacked. Still, they took “everything” from God’s own temple treasuries, and those of the palace (9).

     Rehoboam should have spent more time reading the copy of the Law which, as the king, he was supposed to be guided by (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). That book lists a whole series of curses that God promised to bring on the nation if it abandoned Him, and He worked through them over the years. But God accepted Rehoboam’s humility, and He held back from further destruction in his lifetime (1 Chronicles 12:10-12). The books of kings show that only a quarter of the kings of Judah were viewed with favor by God, so you might consider that the nation just limped along.

      In comparison none of the northern leaders had God’s favor, though we hear less about them in the Chronicles than in the books of the kings. We do read here that the Levites left for the south when it became clear that King Jeroboam of Israel had no interest in proper worship of God. That choice was folly on his part, of course. He feared that if the people worshipped at the Jerusalem Temple they would be influenced toward loyalty to Judah’s king while they visited there, so he provided golden idols for the people to worship in his territory (1 Kings 12:26-33). But that meant severing them from true worship, their history, and any hope for righteousness.

     We do see signs for hope in these chapters. God acts to defend the people, and He guides them. Those from out of all the tribes who wanted to worship God gathered into the southern kingdom (11:16-17), where the Temple was, which provided a faithful remnant of the nation. During most of its history the city of David may have been only a shadow of what it was intended to be, but it was at least a rallying symbol for the people – the covenant with David had been made and it would be fulfilled, no matter how far from it any individual king might be.

            We can imagine a better history, one where Solomon did not allow the nation to go into idolatry, and the nation was not split in two (1 Kings 11:29-39). Or where Jeroboam remembered the terms under which God gave him the kingdom of Israel, and he did not abandon the worship of God. I could keep giving suggestions, but is there much point in reimagining the Bible with Israel ruled by people who followed God perfectly? Wouldn’t that mean it was the kingdom we are waiting for? Solomon understood better than that when he prayed at the dedication of the Temple: “When [your people] sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) . . . if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul . . .then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and supplications, and maintain their cause and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.” (2 Chronicles 6:36, 38, 39). We all sin, and we need to have a way back to God. That’s why God kept offering us systems that provide them.

Lord, thank you for allowing your power and your mercy to be shown to us in so many accounts of the history of your people in the Bible. I am glad to be able to learn from their experiences, though I am also glad I have not needed to wrestle with some of the choices they had to make. Please help us to view these events with wisdom, to compare passages carefully to gain from the connections that exist among them, and let our memories serve us well when it is fruitful to draw on what we have learned. And I thank you, Lord, that one day we will see the perfect version of what was hinted at in these texts, a Temple that cannot be attacked by armies, a King who will never deny you, a nation undivided and fully committed to your will. Until that day, let me serve you in the world I have. Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you think Rehoboam replaced the golden shields of Solomon with bronze ones so it would look like he still had that great wealth, or to remind himself of the wealth he had lost, and the humility he needed to maintain (2 Chronicles 9:15-16; 12:9-11)? In what ways can we develop our humility to help ourselves have a good relationship with God?
  2. Deuteronomy 17:17 said that Hebrew kings were not to have many wives. What changes do you think it would have made if the kings had followed that rule? Why do you think they may have thought it unimportant to follow that rule? Are there things you think God wants you to do but which you have decided not to do, for now, or for reasons you think are good enough?
  3. If you intended to fight a battle, do you think the spiritual or the physical is the more important area to prepare? Do you apply that to all areas of your life?

1 & 2 Timothy Introduction

Paul wrote First and Second Timothy to Timothy, Paul’s “true son in the faith”.  

In 1 Timothy, Paul wrote to warn Timothy against false teachers in Ephesus – where Timothy was serving.  Paul gave many instructions for running a church, including rules and actions for overseers and deacons, even those who shouldn’t teach or have authority.  Paul also stressed the importance of holy living. 

Paul wrote 2 Timothy while Paul was in prison awaiting execution.  This was his farewell letter in which he also asked Timothy to come quickly to visit.  Paul tried to encourage Timothy to live a holy life and remain faithful despite persecution.  He strongly stressed living a holy life and gave warnings about godlessness in the last days.

Here are some well-known passages in 1 and 2 Timothy:

  • 1 Tim 2:5 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”
  • 1 Tim 4:8 “For physical training has some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
  • 1 Tim 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
  • 1 Tim 4:16 “Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
  • 1 Tim 5:6-7 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
  • 1 Tim 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and have pierced themselves with many griefs.”
  • 2 Tim 1:12 “…I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”
  • 2 Tim 2:2 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
  • 2 Tim 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
  • 2 Tim 3:16-17 “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
  • 2 Tim 4:2-3 “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

I hope to eventually be able to say, like Paul did in 2 Tim 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”  I hope you will be able to say this too.

-Steve Mattison

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All Forms of Malice

Old Testament: 2 Kings 11 & 12

Poetry: Psalm 132

New Testament: Ephesians 4

Thou shalt not murder. This is one of the simplest commandments to keep. But the Jews of old and the Western world today lay out conditions of killing another human being that are acceptable, or deserve a lesser degree of punishment.  In this standard, the most murderiest of murders is “murder with malice”.  This means that the crime was premeditated and the intent to kill was established well before the act was carried out – murder happened in the heart first. (Matt 5:21-22) Malice, this intention and desire for evil, has no place in the Christian’s heart.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32

Therefore, It is seemingly pretty simple advice when Paul states Christians should get rid of every form of malice.  Christians sin, yes, but isn’t it always accidental or sometimes in the spirit of the moment? Not quite.  The malicious premeditation of a Christian is more elaborate and filled with justifications for their crime.   Christians become apologetics for the immoral actions of a political candidate because their candidate does their bidding. Christians cheat on their taxes with the justification that the government is spending on abortion. Christians gossip under the guise of having more people in prayer over the concern.  Christians withhold the Gospel message from someone because we don’t want to save them (eternal murder with malice).  These premeditated actions of Christians remind me of the unreliable narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart, making elaborate justification for his act in madness.  They are equally crazy.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,  and do not give the devil a foothold.” – Ephesians 4:25-27

If we can feel the malice forming in our minds, it is time to address the issue. Paul states that we should be humble, gentle, patient, and loving, especially with our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we have an issue, ghosting brothers and sisters in Christ is unacceptable and leads to malicious talk and actions. We must find them, and speak truth in love and hope for a unifying and peaceful resolution.  Even further, when someone has an issue with us, we must abide by the same rules, seeking resolution and unity.  The only defense we are ever to play is accounting for the hope we have and the confidence within us about our faith. (1 Pet 3:15)

Be careful, O Christian.  Don’t let the sun go down with anger in your heart. It will turn into bitterness.  It will turn into rage.  It will turn into murder by the standards of Jesus Christ.  Let’s conclude with this ending thought by Paul: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. When was the last time you let the sun go down with anger in your heart? How could you have changed how you dealt with the problem?
  2. What is the danger with anger?
  3. Truthfully consider, is there an area where you lean toward malice? How would you go about getting rid of it? What would you replace it with? How?
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Grace That is Greater

Old Testament: 2 Kings 7 & 8

Poetry: Psalm 130

New Testament: Ephesians 2

“Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” Psalm 130:1-2

At the beginning of Ephesians 2, Paul terms the forces at work that draw us away and towards gratifying ourselves as the “Kingdom of the Air.” We hear the wind blowing from this kingdom as we see the work of countless groups that have formed today that are in direct opposition to God.  While these groups follow different threads, they each perpetuate this idea that gratifying your desire is a higher form of living and leads to a more fulfilled life.  This type of living isn’t enlightened; it is carnal.  The “air” is hot and it stinks, so it’s no wonder that this advice leads to a lake of burning sulfur. Yet at some point, we all were residents here.  However, with the waters of baptism, Christ moves us, sending an Uber (not a U-haul because our junk stays behind) and we have made our way out.

“If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” – Psalm 130:3,4 

 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:8-10

God doesn’t see our rap sheet, whether it extends feet or miles. He doesn’t care if we visited sin on the weekend, or if we had set up a mansion in the city center of a false kingdom.  Those who declare Jesus as the Lord of their life are covered in marvelous grace that hides the stain of sin.  This is not a one time deal, but a perpetual gift that will always outweigh our folly.  Grace isn’t earned through righteous acts, but it is the free gift of God received when we acknowledge the trespass, transgression, and unrighteousness.  We put to death the selfishness, and we become alive in Christ, ready to take on the mission which has been prepared by a loving Father. 

“Israel, put your hope in the Lord for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” – Psalm 130:7

Moreover, we are called to show grace to others. While we don’t live in the past, we should remind ourselves of where we once lived.  We do so, not as a comparison, but to remind ourselves that we desperately need the grace of God, and additionally, have benefited from the grace extended by those who follow Him.  Jesus addresses the issue of grace in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, as a response to Peter’s inquiry about how many times we should offer forgiveness (Matt 18:21-35).  We cannot out love God.  We cannot out forgive God.  We cannot out grace God.  Like our Heavenly Father, let the stories we tell not be about the trespass, but let it be about the grace that is greater than sin.

“In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. Make a little comparison chart – Old Life of Sin vs. New Life in Christ. Use Ephesians 2 and your own personal experience. What does each look like? Characteristics of each? Ruler of each? Future of each?
  2. If you haven’t personally experienced new life in Christ yet, what is holding you back?
  3. What does God’s gift of grace mean to you? Today, how will you thank God for this gift? How will you show God’s grace to another?
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When God Celebrates

Old Testament: Judges 17 & 18

Poetry: Psalm 115

*New Testament: Luke 15

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a perennial favorite in Sunday School lessons. As a child, how many of us studied this lesson on God’s forgiveness? I imagine most hands being raised! As adults, how many of us have taught our own children or other youth about redemption through this parable? Again, I can envision many nods of agreement!

Between you and me, I intensely disliked this parable in my youth and early adulthood. Don’t get me wrong; I understood the meaning and value of the parable. Through it, we learn that no mistake can separate us from God’s love and that He will always desire for us to return to the sanctuary of that love. 

However, a part of me always sympathized with the older brother. I understood his indignation, albeit misplaced, over the celebration of his wayward younger brother. Can’t you just hear the anger and self-righteousness dripping from his words in verses 29-30? “Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!”

Minus the part of being given a kid or killing a fatted calf, those words could have been mine. As the youngest of four girls, I understood the older brother’s resistance to the celebration. Throughout my childhood and young adulthood, I strived to be the “good child,” not giving my parents cause for grief, assisting them in old age, and caring for them in sickness. As I devoted my time to my parents’ needs, my sisters’ seeming freedom and my parents’ unconditional love towards them caused my resentment to grow unchecked.

It was during my father’s last months when I had my “Aha” moment. In one of our final conversations, he told me, “We always loved all of you girls. You all just needed our love in different ways.” During our conversation, I realized that my parents’ love for my sisters didn’t diminish their love for me. Love wasn’t meant to be a competition in the way I tried to make it. Love isn’t something to be given to a sole recipient, hoarded and kept from others. In fact, love isn’t something to be earned or gained through works. Love is given freely in spite of ourselves and our works. 

I hope the older son of this parable also had an “Aha” moment. Based on the final verses, I’d like to think he did. Read verse 28 in the parable again. When the older brother had his temper tantrum, his father “came out and entreated him.” His father so desired for him to be part of the celebration that he left the party to go find him. Then in verse 31, the father says, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.” In his words, we see that the father’s love is multifaceted. Just because he loves one brother and rejoices in his homecoming, doesn’t mean that he loves the other brother any less. In fact, he acknowledges that he appreciates the older brother’s hard work and is already blessing him for his devotion. But the father confirms that he also loves the younger brother and that this love is freely given, in spite of each brother’s work or personality.  

If our earthly parents can love all siblings with equal love, imagine how much greater it is with God’s love! In those final verses of the parable, we are reassured that God’s love has room for everyone, whether it is a faithful worker or someone returning to Him. Throughout 1 John 4, we are reminded that “God is love.” In this chapter and in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we see that the very nature of God is to love and do all things within the scope of His love for us.

We should not possess envy or resentment towards others in their faith journey because we are reminded in 1 John 4:20-21, “If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.” From now on, as I read the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I’ll be reminded to focus my eyes on the father of the story. Do I rest in the love of God? And, how do I show that love to others?

Throughout your walk this week, how can you share God’s unconditional love with others? Is there someone, like the younger brother, who could use your encouragement as they seek their way to God? Or, is there someone, like the older brother, working hard but needs a gentle reminder that we are saved by faith not works?

~Jen Siderius

Reflection Questions

  1. Focusing on the Father – do you rest in the love of God? And, how do you show that love to others?
  2. Throughout your walk this week, how can you share God’s unconditional love with others? Is there someone, like the younger brother, who could use your encouragement as they seek their way to God? Or, is there someone, like the older brother, working hard but needs a gentle reminder that we are saved by faith not works?
  3. Through Jesus’ parables what do we learn about the heart, motives, purposes, desires, words and actions of his Father?
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