Tag: Tom Siderius

You Feed Them

Exodus 11-12

Proverbs 31

Matthew 14

Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Matthew 14:13-16(NLT) As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

As we read in Matthew 14 today, we find the “feeding of the five thousand”, a famous story of Jesus doing a notable miracle.  But what is the real lesson and reason for doing this miracle?  The disciples are very logical and show common sense.  “Send the people away to the local Kroger or Aldi and let them buy their own supper while the shops are still open”.  For most people their bread would be the staple of their diet, and where most of their calories would come from.  As we read the Word, we see the emphasis on bread  as sustenance for us repeatedly. 

Try to be one of the disciples in this situation. Five thousand with nothing to eat and Jesus just says Hey you feed them!!  No prob Jesus we’ll get right on that, lets see.  Hey Matthew what’s in the lunch pail you brought?  Hello John how about those granola bars you have in your pockets?  Hey, Peter and Andrew, how about those sandwiches your Mom made for lunch for us? 

Sorry, Jesus, only 5 loaves and a couple of salt fish, not going to get it done, lets go with our plan.

Matthew 14:18-21(NLT) “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

Wow what a miracle and how about those leftovers they’ll be eating for days!!  Actually, Jesus is using this as a teachable moment for all his disciples both then and now.  It is not about the miracle but rather that we would trust God for our sufficiency and nourishment, not our own ability to take care of every situation we find ourselves in.  If you examine your life, you will see the hand of God feeding you all through it.  Only by His grace and mercy does the rain fall on the just and also the unjust.  

What did it take to bring the bread to your table today?

Why are we always so hungry?

John 6:29-40(NLT) Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” 30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

What is the bread of life we all desire to have?

How can we give it to others?

True believing in our Father and God and the Son He has sent is the only good work that we can do.  Nothing else we can do has real value except to believe and act on that belief walking day by day with our Father and our brother Jesus Christ.  Beware of the temptations and the sin of religion in this world and see that our help and sufficiency for our lives can only come from the God that loves us and has called us to Him. 

Mark 8:14-21(NLT) But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. 15 As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.” 16 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? 19 When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”
“Twelve,” they said.
20 “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.

You feed them!!

Reflection Questions:

See questions in bold above

Prayer: 

Father God help us to look to you for our help in time of need, and for our very lives.  Thank you for your sufficiency for every day’s challenges and opportunities as we believe your Word.  Help us to become like our big brother Christ as people we see have needs that we can minister to.  We thank you every day for calling us to this time and place of fellowship and love.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Who is Agur?

Exodus 9-10 

Proverbs 30     

Matthew 14

Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Agur son of Jakeh is not normally a familiar character in our English Bibles.  Here we are reading right along with the chapters of Proverbs, mining every nugget of gold and truth from these verses and wondering how Solomon is so wise.  And now along comes Agur who writes a whole chapter in the book and is a complete unknown to us. 

His name “Agur” can be translated to mean “gatherer” and his father’s name Jakeh means “pious”.  So from the name we gain some clues about who this man may have been.  He could have been a scholar or writer of their time who wrote down or compiled wise sayings, maybe even from Solomon himself.  It is a mystery for us, but we can see from his writing God’s familiar wisdom pattern.  He compares the physical with the eternal, the earthly with the heavenly, and the corrupt with the pure. 

Agur starts with some statements which are deeply humble in God’s sight and remind me of the later chapters of Job where the majesty of God is compared to our puny, small efforts of this earth.

Proverbs 30:1-4(NLT) The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.
I am weary, O God;
I am weary and worn out, O God.
2 I am too stupid to be human,
and I lack common sense.
3 I have not mastered human wisdom,
nor do I know the Holy One.
4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
Tell me if you know!

Right when it seems that I have the wisdom of God for a situation figured out and internalized in my life then failure rears its ugly head.  I am confronted with the reality that there is nothing I can do for God that would indebt Him to me for my goodness.  Nor can I accomplish any great work that God could not do by lifting his little finger.  When we begin to approach God by understanding that with Him we are everything, and without Him we are a complete nothing, then we start to gain wisdom.  The only thing we can do for God is to love Him and believe His Word.  This is Agur’s message in chapter 30 to us.

Proverbs 30:5-9(NLT) Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
7 O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
8 First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

Jesus prays in the Lord’s Prayer:  “give us today the bread of our need”.  Our prayers and our desires need to be grounded in what we truly need, and what God is so willing to give us.  Our words and actions need to be true to His Word, and we need to stop telling lies to ourselves or to others to shade statements to give ourselves the credit. 

I was a truck salesman for more than 40 years during my career. Shades of truth in statements about what was good for the customers are sources of scorn and humor about how salesman deal with people.  My products and services weren’t always the best but those were the ones I had to sell to our customers.  I always took the view that I would not lie about anything but also promise that my efforts, and that of our dealership, would support their purchases.  Greed for riches would turn my lips to lies, acknowledging God’s sufficiency for myself and family made telling the truth an easy path.

What are the easy lies that come to your lips?

How do we guard against this?

Look at some more of these pure gold statements that are recorded for us to read by our teacher Agur..

Proverbs 30:18-19(NLT) There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
19 how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.

Just like our explaining to God how He should form, make and create the world and everything in it, we cannot explain from human knowledge exactly how these things work.  We think we know and understand but true to humility towards God will show us the shallow nature of our understanding and knowledge.  Only God’s wisdom is eternal and everlasting.

Reflection Questions

  1. See 2 questions above in bold.
  2. What can bring us to true humility?
  3. How can we turn these lights of understanding towards our hearts and lives?

Prayer

Abba Father, give us today the bread of our need and lead us in paths of righteousness following Your Son and our Savior.  God, we have no words or explanations for Your greatness and Your love for us.  Help us today to turn our hearts to hear, give us ears to hear Your voice.  In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ we pray.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Ears to Hear

Exodus 7-8

Proverbs 29

Matthew 13

Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Matthew 13:9-12(NLT) Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

The parables of Jesus are beloved by so many of us.  They are stories that illustrate the true purposes of God by comparing them to physical activities that are familiar to the people hearing the story.  The great question that Jesus asks of us is:   “Do you have ears to hear?”.  The question goes to the state of the ears of our heart, not our physical ears.  We will come to an understanding of the secrets of the Kingdom of God when we listen to God’s Word with our hearts and minds.  In the Greek the mind is considered to be the place of our thoughts, where the heart is the place of what we truly believe and treasure. 

What is the “pearl of great price” of your heart?

Then Jesus quotes from the book of Isaiah chapter 6. 

Matthew 13:13-16(NLT) That is why I use these parables,
For they look, but they don’t really see.
They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.
14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,


‘When you hear what I say,
you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
you will not comprehend.
15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.’


16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

In such a few words Jesus cuts right to the important things of life.  We will be blessed when hear God’s Word with our hearts, not just having good thoughts.  He also shows us what the righteous people of Israel have that makes them the people of God.  They desired to understand the wonderful truths that come so easily to us today.  Our access to Biblical understanding and the support and support that we have is amazing.  The history and scholarship that we have to access brings us a great knowledge, but also a great responsibility. 

How precious to you is this truth of God’s Word you have received?

Just in the time of my walk with God we have gone from typing a paper on a manual typewriter to using this wonderful Microsoft Word program I am using.  With my less than perfect typing and grammar being constantly corrected, I can put down decent communication without whiteout or retypes.  We have access to 20 different Bible versions at the ready and the Internet full of research and commentary to help search out this great truth.  I still have research books and materials that are paper bound and treasure them, but to find the passages or section with a search of material online is amazing. 

But still the Word needs to become rooted in our hearts.  Read Psalm 119:11 with me this morning.

Psalms 119:11(NLT) I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

Also, Psalm 1 tells us to meditate, which is to consider carefully our thoughts, motives, and actions in the framework of God’s Word.

Psalms 1:1-3(NKJV) Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

Part of the strength of the Word to change us is that God uses so many figures of speech as well as parables to get us to examine our lives.  Knowledge is great, but the understanding of a section comes from the spirit of God within you. 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10(NKJV) But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

What are the truths that you have learned that have most changed your heart to love God?

Have a wonderful day today with the meditation of your heart focused on God’s truths, and building our love for Him and His Son in all we do. 

Love in Christ Tom S.

Reflection Questions –

See bold questions above

Prayer

Dear God Almighty – I thank you for the wonderful gift of your Words and Wisdom delivered to us, through your dear Son Jesus, the master of parables, through all 66 books of the Bible, and through Your Spirit. I pray for eyes to see and ears to hear Your truths. Help me discern what knowledge, wisdom and direction is from You that I may go in the way You want me to go and say what you want me to say. I want my heart to be focused on You, Your truth, what You have done, are doing today and will do. Thank You for Your Son who is Coming Again! In his name we pray, Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Walk in Wisdom

Exodus 5-6

Proverbs 28

Matthew 13

Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

As we read this morning, I am convicted so many times by the pure and simple understanding that the true Word of God brings to the situations of life.  As I read and hear the news of the world around us, the complexity of the situations and actions sometimes is very puzzling.  I cannot immediately discern by my own understanding and knowledge what is the best path or the correct statements.  But when I read verses like these from Proverbs 28 I am convicted so quickly in my heart about what are the right things to think and to do.  These verses cut right to the chase or where our hearts need to be.

Proverbs 28:19-28(ESV) Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good,
but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A stingy man hastens after wealth
and does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.

We also see in the New Testament in Timothy where God identifies for us where our hearts should be when we walk with Him and His Son Jesus Christ.  God’s wisdom is pure and simple.

1 Timothy 6:9-10(NKJV) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

God shows us that prosperity is good, but when we desire to be rich, we are sinful and separate ourselves from God’s fellowship.  Money is not the root of ALL EVIL as some teach, but if we read carefully the verse says it is A root of evil.  Only when we desire to have it to enrich and pleasure ourselves does it become an evil purpose for us.  As we read the verses from Proverbs 28 we find so many pure thoughts and clear statements of how we are to handle our work, money, lives and relationships.  When we trust in God we become like that tree planted by the waters which is never without the water, help and love of Our Father. 

Psalms 1(NKJV)  Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Reflection Questions:

What are the priorities of your financial decisions?

How can we get the God perspective on our finances and relationships?

What can we do today to advance the message of the Gospel to others?

PRAYER:

Father God help us to turn our hearts to You.  Give us the wisdom that You promise here in Your Word to guide us in our lives.  We ask You for the prosperity that is needed to take care of our families and people, and the surplus that we need to support those who are in need.  Truly give us today the bread of our need and then help us to forgive those who trespass against us, keeping our lives pure and unblemished before You.  We pray these things in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

El-Shaddai God Almighty

*Genesis 35-36, Proverbs 18, Matthew 8

Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Today, as we read, we see one of the great covenants of the Old Testament where the promises made to Abraham and Isaac are now extended to Jacob.  The first time God speaks to Jacob is when he was on the way to Laban’s household and he has a dream at Bethel (or Luz).  We see this dream in Genesis 28.

Genesis 28:13-15(NLT) At the top of the stairway stood the LORD, and he said, “I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

Genesis 35:9-15(NLT) Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him, 10 saying, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel. 11 Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! 12 And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you.” 13 Then God went up from the place where he had spoken to Jacob. 14 Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him. Then he poured wine over it as an offering to God and anointed the pillar with olive oil. 15 And Jacob named the place Bethel (which means “house of God”), because God had spoken to him there.

God declares Himself to Jacob as the God who is Almighty, El-Shaddai.  It is a multifaceted name and does not have a direct English translation.  Read the following from “Prepare For Life Bible Study”  https://prepareforlifebiblestudy.com/el-shaddai.

“What Does El Shaddai Mean?

Knowing God as El Shaddai was pivotal in the faith/walk of Abraham.  Yet we are not certain of the exact meaning of this name for God although we have clues.  We know the El, the Hebrew name that is translated God, means prominent, preeminent, to be in front, strong.  The meaning of the Hebrew root for Shaddai is not totally clear.  There are at least four concepts wrapped up in these Hebrew characters. Each one brings more meaning to the name El Shaddai.

The root for Shaddai is similar to the root in Hebrew for mountain.  Mountains in the Bible connote might, strength and power.  They are often the symbol for governments.  They literally rule.  El Shaddai has the last say, He rules.

Tying in with this concept, the root for Shaddai also has the suggestion that he is mighty and awesome, even terrible and fierce.  El Shaddai is not a wimpy god who will back down and cower.  He is God Almighty.  He will accomplish His purposes.

A third concept brings a different connotation. The Hebrew word shad means breast.  The idea is that God is the one who nourishes, comforts and gives strength and sustenance to his people.  He meets their needs just as a nursing mother meets the needs of her child.  Think of the words bountiful and sufficient when you think of El Shaddai. Think of a nursing baby who comes to his mother worked into a frenzy and then receives from her resources and is content and satisfied and rests securely.

Closely following this concept is the fourth connotation that comes from the Hebrew word shadha meaning to pour out or shed forth.  The idea is that El Shaddai pours forth out of his bounty to meet our needs.”

Does this expand our knowledge and understanding about what God says to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by calling himself El-Shaddai? 

Our God is the God of all sufficiency who is able to do whatever He decides to do.  When He promises mankind His care, we can take that as an absolute promise of performance.  This is so different from what we receive from the world and the performance of the promises made by people. 

Also let’s examine the record of believing which we read in Matthew 8 where we read the story of the Roman centurion and his servant.  He would be the equivalent of a Captain or Major in our Army who would lead a company of 100-250 men.  You don’t get this position by being a shrinking violet personality. 

Matthew 8:5-11(NLT) When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed.

Our faith comes when the believing of our heart lines up with the promises of God’s Word. When we have faith, we will act in accordance with the instruction that the Word gives us in a certain situation or relationships. We can mentally assent to much of what God says that it is true but not have faith to make it come to pass in our lives.  This is an important question we need to ask every day about our hearts and then our actions. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What is the most important decision we need to make in any given situation?
  2. What do you imagine when you hear and study the name El-Shaddai? Is there any way your view of God should change?
  3. How have you heard the promises of God? What promises of God do you believe?
  4. What actions should accompany what you believe?

Prayer

Father, I look to You today to give me help in my time of need and effort. Thank you for your mercy and love which brings to pass the promises that You have made to us. I thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ who is my life and guide. I look to you today to give us all that we need from Your bountiful sufficiency. Love your son, Tom (insert your name if this is your prayer, too). In Jesus name we pray.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Knock and It Will be Opened to You

Genesis 33-34

Proverbs 17

*Matthew 7

Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)


Matthew 7:7-12(NKJV) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

It is so humbling to read the words of Jesus and see how he so quickly and precisely condenses the issues of life into a perfect understanding for us. Here in Matthew 7 Jesus tells many truths that illustrate God’s true desire for mankind and gives us the hope that is evident in the statements and wisdom he teaches. 

Ask, Knock, Seek. All these actions come from a believing heart which hears the Word and desires to have the wisdom that God gives to us when we seek Him. The life of Jesus is the way that we can see the true heart of God in Jesus’ actions and speech. Marcia Railton recently taught us in the lessons on Matthew 5 that it is not by following the rules we are made wise and righteous, but by changing our hearts to be like our Father God who loves us. Our minds and hearts need to become changed from our human nature and sin and grow into the attitude and actions of being Christ-like. We must earnestly desire and pursue the truth of God’s Word for our lives in order for them to be changed into what God would have us be. 

Jesus appeals to our human understanding by asking us a question:  Which of you that is a father to children would not be true to their desire for food. Jesus asks, “when the son asks for bread would you give him a stone?”  Their bread was baked in a sort of furnace that had great flat stones for the bread loaves to set on and bake. After an extended period of use the stones in their ovens would look exactly like the loaves of bread being baked on them. Jesus is challenging us to be honest and true in how we deal with people by not giving wisdom or judgement to them which is false or counterfeit. 

The next question is “what father when asked for fish would give his son a snake?”  There were fish that came from the sea of Galilee and other waters that looked like a snake, long and slender. But they were good to eat and nutritious. The counterfeit action here would be to give the child a snake which could be dangerous and certainly not what should be given to them. Luke expands this teaching with “when asked for an egg would give the child a scorpion?”  Here again the counterfeit is the scorpion which when drawn tight together looks like a hen’s egg cooked and ready to eat. But the counterfeit egg is dangerous and even deadly.

Then Jesus asks the question  if we have at least this honesty and integrity with our own children to bless them how much more our God and Father in heaven desires to bless us and give us His care and love? I think this a fitting example of a rhetorical question as it causes us to examine the motives and desires of our hearts. We can live good lives by the rules, I haven’t stolen today, I haven’t murdered today, I haven’t committed adultery today. But the day is early as I write this so how can I be sure I will follow every rule making myself righteous in God’s sight? What great reward does He have for me today for being good and doing all the rules? 

Then we are convicted by just doing what our human nature would probably consider good, giving the real fish, bread, and egg to those that ask. But how much more does God require of us to become like Jesus with his heart of compassion and true love for those we meet and interact with.

Look at Proverbs 17:3 for more wisdom on these questions.

Proverbs 17:3(NKJV) The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the LORD tests the hearts.

Yahweh God our Father is most concerned with our hearts and the test is what is really there. True wisdom comes from above and the words and life of Jesus give us such convicting records of how we are t0 believe and live.

Reflection Questions

  1. What good gifts have you received from God?
  2. Truthfully consider, what does God see in your heart today? What is He pleased to see? What doo you wish He did not see?
  3. What do you want others to do to you? How can you do, or give, that to others?

PRAYER:


Father God today we pray that You change our hearts from the hearts of stone we have to hearts filled with Your love and compassion. We seek you today and ask for Your help in all of life. We knock on the door of understanding and ask for You to give it to us. Father refine our hearts and motives so that we become like Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray this today.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

The Meaning of the Mystery

Colossians 1-4

Wow – today we have the whole book of Colossians to read and digest.   After Ephesians  Colossians is the next doctrinal and correction teaching which we have in our Bibles.  The message of the kingdom is proclaimed all through the Old Testament and the blessing to the Gentile nations is included in that message.  However, the fulness of the teaching of the mystery of the church of the body of Christ is hinted at in Romans 16:25, talked about in 1 Corinthians 2 and especially in 15:50-58, explained at length in Ephesians 3, and now the glory of the mystery proclaimed in Colossians 1:26-27.  What is this mystery and why is it so important to the church that Paul would put so much emphasis on it?

The book of Colossians is one of the ones written by Paul while in prison at Rome.  It follows Ephesians in the pattern where the first half of the book is doctrinal teaching and the second half of the book is a practical section correcting and teaching us how to live out this amazing Christ in us.  Read these 4 short chapters with this main distinction in mind.

Colossians 1:15-18(NKJV)  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

The meaning of the mystery is that it is the sacred secret of God’s purpose which has been revealed to those that have the ears to hear and eyes to see.  Christ died for our sin and to give us a newness of life which we now can receive.  This brings us as children into the family of God, members of His own household.  The body of Christ is a spiritually bonded people who all have the DNA of holy spirit to bring us together.  Whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female we all become one in Christ.  All tribalism is swallowed up by the coming of the one body of Christ with him as the head.  It is Christ in each one of us which then unites us together.  Amazing what God has done for us!!

The message of the kingdom changes on the day of Pentecost when the new covenant is instituted with believers in Christ. The time period between the passion of Christ and his glorious kingdom on earth was not revealed in the OT Bible.  That is why the apostles ask him before Jesus ascends whether the kingdom is going to be restored that day.  Jesus answers them that the timing of all these events are in the Father’s hands.  The mystery revealed by Paul and Peter later on is that the time of the church of the body of Christ is now and is alive in Christ.

Colossians 1:24-28 I(NKJV) now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:6-7(NLT) And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

How does the mystery revealed intersect with our preaching and teaching of the kingdom message?

Colossians 2:6-10(NLT)  And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Chapters 3 and 4 are the practical application teaching us about the doctrine taught in chapters 1-2.

How do the message themes compare between chapters 1-2 to chapters 3-4? 

Colossians 3:12-15(NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

What is our motivation for doing the good works God calls us to do?

Colossians 4:2-6(NLT) Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. 5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

How do we develop our willingness and ability to give a Godly answer to every person we talk to about Christ?

I pray for you as did Paul centuries ago that you will live out this wonderful mystery of Christ as part of the body of Christ, his church.  Remember who you are this day!

Love in Christ Tom Siderius

SGL.2025.DecemberFullPageDownload

To Rome

Acts 27-28

Does Luke go with Paul on this epic trip to Rome?

Why would that be important?

Acts 27:1-2(NLT)  When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. 2 Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province.

Notice the “we” in the first sentence.  Luke is the writer of Acts and appears to accompany Paul on his journey to Rome by ship.  Many difficulties of sailing at that time are shown in this record.  They go with the wind in directions that are not necessarily to Rome but used because of the wind direction for sailing.  Ultimately they are caught up in what appears to be a northeaster blow that lasts for many days, finally driving the ship ashore on the island of Malta.  This is a miracle of its own as this is the only land anywhere in that part of the Mediterranean Sea.  Further God shows Paul that no one on the ship will perish but all will be alive but shipwrecked.

Acts 27:10-11(NLT) “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul

Acts 27:22-26(NLT)  But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

How does Paul get such a good understanding from God when he has disobeyed God about going to Jerusalem?

Why does Paul not get depressed and morose about all that happens?

Ultimately, they get to Rome where Paul goes into house imprisonment.  This took money and support from some source in order for him to be in a house and not some dungeon somewhere.  How do you think he was supported there?  God gives him opportunity to speak, teach and write letters of which are many of the ones we read today.  God truly does make lemonade out of the lemons that Paul finds himself in the middle of.  He even preaches to the Jews at Rome the message of Christ to try to persuade them to become believers also. 

Acts 28:23-24(NLT)  So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.

Paul openly teaches and preaches the message of the kingdom of God to all that are Rome.  He strengthens the Roman church and also talks to all that come to see him at his house.  He is still imprisoned and eventually put to death, but God works mightily in his life and witness to change the whole world of that time. 

Acts 28:28-31 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”
30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

God also directs Paul in writing these  letters from Rome while imprisoned there.  Ephesians , Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and 2 Timothy are those epistles that scholars believe Paul wrote while in Rome.  A large body of our present scripture was written while he was imprisoned which to me is amazing and thoughtful. Paul also fellowships with the believers in Rome and directs Timothy, Titus, Epaphra and others in the work of the ministry to the Gentiles. 

Acts 23:11(NKJV)  But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

How does Paul stay in fellowship with God when his life is so constrained by his circumstances?

What is the lesson we can learn from this record of trust in God?

Love in Christ, Tom Siderius

SGL.2025.DecemberFullPageDownload

What Does God Want Me to Do?

Acts 24-26

In this next episode Paul is arrested by the Jewish leaders, and they conspire to put him to death because of their hatred of Paul and Christianity.  As we read the rest of the chapters of Acts the largest questions that stare at us are:

What is the relationship of what we want to do in life vs what God would have us do?

What does God do when we disobey His direction and do what we decide is the better course?

How much more could Paul have done for God if he were not arrested?

The Roman legion commander comes to Paul’s rescue because he claims to be a Roman citizen, which is true.  The commander realizes that Paul cannot get a fair trial of any kind in Jerusalem and sends him to Caesarea to the governor to be tried there in a Roman court.  The Jews have men also that have taken an oath to kill Paul and try to do it on the way.  When Paul is tried by the governor, there is no decision and then Felix listens to Paul but is hoping that Paul will bribe him to be set free.  

Acts 24:12-16(NLT) And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

What do you think about how Paul goes to Jerusalem and how he is now arrested and in great difficulties?

Acts 24:27 – 25:5(NLT) After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison. 1 Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, 2 where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul. 3 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). 4 But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. 5 So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”

Acts 25:10-12 So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
  12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

Was this a good decision by Paul?

Acts 26:25-32 But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”
32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

With my 20/20 hindsight I am shouting inside for Paul not to do what he did.  I want him to do the things that will get him released, not go in chains to Rome.  Easy for me to think now, but we also are guilty of doing the wrong things for the right reasons.  Good intentions and sincerity are not the way to do God’s calling.  Walking in the spirit every day in Christ will get us the correct results.  True good works are doing what God has prepared for you to do.

Love in Christ, Tom Siderius

SGL.2025.DecemberFullPageDownload

Is Paul Disobedient to God???

Acts 20:4-23:35

The next few days we are going to read the record of Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and then in the end to Rome and imprisonment.  The story is one of great believing but also a cautionary story to us about listening to the voice of God in every situation.  The apostle Paul is most responsible for the revelation of the mystery of the church of the body of Christ being given by God to us.  He proclaims in Galatians:

Galatians 1:11-12(NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

Paul is the person chosen by God and equipped to do the ministry to the Gentiles and the formation of churches all over the known world at that time.  There are no other so central to this ministry and growth of the body of Christ.  Try to read the book of Acts records with this perspective in mind.  Also that most of the Gentile church looks to Paul as their father in the Word.  

Is the apostle Paul really susceptible to disobeying God???

Acts 20:22-24(NKJV)  And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Bold speech Paul.  I go bound in the spirit and don’t count the cost of my decision.  Is this the best that Paul can do in this situation?  I appreciate his desire to go back to Jerusalem and to try to convince his countrymen of the same truth of the Word of God he has preached all over the known world.  But early Christianity in Jerusalem has many persons that have accepted Jesus as Messiah but continue to promote the doing of the whole law of the scribes and Pharisees also.  These persons are not doing the will of God as God has revealed to Paul in his letters.  Read Galatians in concert with Acts for more perspective on both.  Then even revelation is given to other believers to warn Paul of the consequences of going to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:10-13(NKJV) And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Paul is not moved by anyone’s advice.  He is determined to do what he has decided to do.  

How are we like Paul in our lives?

Acts 21:27-30(NKJV) Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
  30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.

Acts 23:11(NKJV) But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

God goes with Paul’s decision but then shows him what will happen.  Going to Rome ad imprisonment is not part of Paul’s plan but God will give it help  to make it the best outcome for Paul and also for the church.

Acts 23:31-35(NLT) So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris. 32 They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea. 33 When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix. 34 He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered.
35 “I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.

Stay tuned for the  next episode of the Adventures of Paul Going to Rome tomorrow.

Love in Christ, Tom Siderius

SGL.2025.DecemberFullPageDownload
SGL.2025.CalendarBookletDownload