Souljourn

Obedience first, understanding second

This morning when I was preaching I noticed something in the passage we were looking at.  It wasn't the point of the sermon so I mentioned it quickly but I definitely think it bears looking at more closely. Here's the verse that stuck out to me:  

        "...That day the Spirit led him [Simeon] to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, ²⁸ Simeon was there..." Luke 2:27,28 

On an ordinary day, full of all its normal routine and schedule, Holy Spirit prompted Simeon to go the the Temple.  There was no explanation of why he was to do this, just the nudging of God towards a certain direction.  It was only once he was there that it became clear why Holy Spirit had directed him there. (he encountered Jesus)

What I noticed in reading this was that God desires a readiness in us to obey first and understand second. Our understanding of what God is doing in our lives comes AFTER our obedience not before it.  The other way around (understanding first and then obedience) would probably be easier but definitely not require the same amount of faith.

So the challenge before me is, am I willing to interrupt the schedule and normalcy of my life to respond to a prompting of Holy Spirit without even knowing why?  It's clear from this passage that it is the person who is willing to do this who will encounter and embrace Jesus.

This will probably be a sermon at some point next year so consider this a sneak peak.

 

 

Devotional thoughts

I am reading through Nehemiah in my devotions right now.  I am really enjoying it from the perspective of seeing a leader help people step out of brokenness and oppression and into the desire of God for them.  Here's a quick recap of some of the highlights for me:

Chp 1 - How will I respond when I become aware of the needs of others?  Nehemiah welcomed the burden and went before the Lord, his brother was even more aware than he and yet did nothing. 

Chp 2 - The power of testimony.  Nehemiah tells of what God has done in his life and those around him are encouraged to take bold steps of faith. (2:18)

Chp 3 - Revival (rebuilding the walls) requires everyone.  It isn't about superstars, it is about everyone standing together and working for the same purposes.

Chp 4 - The correct posture for engaging the enemy in battle comes out of a constant awareness of God's glory. (4:14)

Chp 5 - (What I read today) If my personal rights/freedoms will harm, or put others at a disadvantage, then I must willingly yield them.

 

I pray you have a great day!  I'm headed out today with Nehemiah 4:14 ringing in my mind and reflecting on our glorious God!!

A great challenge

Here's a verse I read in my devotions this morning. I think it pretty much sums it all up:

        “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” Nehemiah 4:14

I protect my hands by doing nothing that they were intended for

Worship with Ipads

Check out this church's Christmas medley all done with Ipads and Iphones.  I love you Steve Jobs!!

But Dad, I'm starving!

We have three children and at different points they have all come to Naomi or me with the same plea for food, '...but I'm starving....if I don't get some food I'm going to die...'.  (I'm sure that I did the same to my parents.)  They really did believe they were starving, famished, ravenous.  If a morsel of food was not to soon pass over their lips their very lives would escape them.

Each time they came with that cry I knew they were not starving.  I knew that the actual state of their hunger was greatly exaggerated.  They may have thought they were starving but they were far from it.

Those childhood moments make a point very clear to me.  It is quite easy to be self deceived about our hunger level.  I know that even in the face of those anguished declarations had I produced a Disneyland brochure their supposed hunger pangs would have immediately subsided.

This self deception and misplaced satisfaction doesn't just happen with food.

It happens with our hunger for more of Jesus.  We can fool ourselves about our actual level of hunger for more of Jesus in our lives.  The Bible gives us a litmus test for our actual hunger level 

Proverbs 27:7 says, " A person who is full refuses honey, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry."

All I need to do is pause and reflect on my life and I can quickly determine the level of my hunger for Jesus.  Do I pass over, or push back from sweet opportunities to worship, linger in God's presence, take time to enjoy reading His Word (these are just a few examples).  Do I embrace the more difficult (bitter) tasks in life - sacrificing my time in service, adjusting my schedule to walk with those in pain and dysfunction, dying to myself with opinions, perspectives and communication that does not add to the unity of the Body?

With just a quick reflection I can safely conclude that I am nowhere near as hungry as I thought I was.  I am nowhere near as hungry as I want to be, and need to be. I have allowed my hunger pangs (we all have them) to be drowned out and satisfied with so many other things.  

Why don't you take the Proverbs 27:7 test and see what your true hunger level is and then respond accordingly.

 

 

 

 

Dodged a bullet

My wife went out this evening with some girlfriends to watch a 'chick flick'.  When she texted me at work today to run this plan by me, I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied, 'go for it!'.  I know that she will enjoy her evening out, and I will enjoy my evening in, and we will both be happy.  I also know that there will come a time when I won't be able to avoid participating in viewing a 'chick flick' with my wife so I'm keeping these tips close by. (thank you Tyler Stanton)

A Beginner’s Guide to Chick Flicks:

1. Passive-aggressively scoff at wife’s initial chick flick suggestion. Don’t overdo it, but make it loud enough to demonstrate your boundless masculinity to other males within earshot.

2. Roll eyes during previews for good measure. Sighs are optional. Please use discretion.

3. After his first shirtless scene, whisper disturbing information about hot male protagonist you learned during your TMZ cram session prior to the movie.

4. Feel sudden twinge of emotion. Suppress it.

5. Insist to wife that lead actress is, in fact, “ugly” and that you cannot fathom why her face has been chosen for numerous magazine covers.

6. Not wanting to miss what she says when he says what he said he was going to say, forego urge to use the restroom despite drinking the equivalent of a 12-pack of Fanta Orange in the last half hour.

7. Feel another twinge of emotion, this time accompanied by mild eye-moistening. Rub temples with index finger of hand shield and cough to hide your true feelings from everyone who is certainly watching you instead of the movie.

8. Ride home in silence.

9. Once wife is asleep, succumb to your sudden impulse to journal about the paradox of love – its complexity, its simplicity, and your thankfulness that Hugh Grant taught you how seamlessly they intersect.

10. Deny having seen said movie when friends and co-workers talk about it. Quickly change the subject by spouting off obscure facts about Iron Man 2 you researched on IMDB for just such an occasion.

11. Repeat.

 

Makes me want to find out more about Hanukkah

I only know a little bit about Hannukah. It is an eight day Jewish festival celebrating the rededication of the temple. There are some wonderful lessons and truths we can learn from this ancient celebration of God's hand at work in our lives.

Absurdly logical

Wow, the difference one minute can make.  Talk about living in a time when no one wants to take responsibility for their actions.  

Devotional thought

I just finished reading through the book of Ruth in my devotions and one of the verses that stood out to me was Ruth 4:6.  In this verse, an unnamed man who has the opportunity, and the responsibility, to serve as a redeemer for Ruth and her inheritance, doesn't do so because of what it would cost him.  He says;

    "Then I can't redeem it," the family redeemer replied, "because this might endanger my own estate."

As I read this verse I felt convicted (remember, I changed my prayers) about the undue attention I pay to my own affairs and neglect the opportunity to see people, and their God given inheritances, redeemed.  There is only one Saviour, and His name is Jesus Christ, but He has tasked us to go into the world and see people redeemed through His work on the cross.  There is no doubt about it, to see people redeemed and dwelling in their God given inheritances will cost us.  It will require faith and sacrifice.  This is what this unnamed man was unwilling to give, "...this MIGHT endanger my own estate....".  

I pray the same will never be said of me.