“All of You”

March 10, 2024

March 10, 2024

Read Leviticus 26, Psalm 69, Philippians 1

Sometimes we enjoy activities or hobbies individually. Reading, crossword puzzles, or mindlessly playing on our phones. Sometimes we enjoy them with other people. Board games, sports, or family trips to name a few. We all have time in our lives for each type, individually or together. What activities or hobbies do you like to alone and which do you like to join in with others to do?  The church is one part of our faith that we cannot do alone. The church is not a building, it is the people who make up the church.

In Philippians 1 Paul starts his letter off to the church in Philippi with a greeting and thanking them for their “partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” v. 5. The church had come to Paul’s aid and supplied and supported him in his mission efforts. Even though Paul was in prison, his heart was full of joy for the believers in Philippi whom he was writing to. Four times in six verses Paul used the phrase “all of you” to express his joy and thanksgiving for all the Christians who had partnered with him.

In his letter to the believers in Philippi Paul says “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” v. 6. There are a couple of things to note from this verse. First, it is God who started the work in us, not ourselves, not other Christians. Second, we are not done yet. We are still working on our sanctification and maturity in Christ. The truth is that until we breathe our last here on earth, we will always have room to grow in our walk with God. If we find ourselves being stagnant and not growing in our faith it might be because we have adopted an attitude that we have arrived and know everything we need to know. Nothing could be further from the truth. The other danger is that we could become frustrated with our spiritual growth. We might grow impatient with our struggles and the slow speed that we are walking with the Lord. Do not fall into this trap either. Remember our walk with the Lord is like a marathon and not a 50-yard dash. We must pace ourselves to make the whole race.

What else do you see in these three chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stick out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

“Armor”

March 9, 2024

March 9, 2024

Read Leviticus 25, Psalm 68, Ephesians 6

How do most people protect themselves today? Some purchase a gun or other self-defense items. Some people enroll in a class and learn how to do it personally. Some may purchase a security system for their home. Physical protection is one area, but spiritual protection in spiritual warfare is much more serious. One of the best ways we can protect ourselves is found right here in Ephesians 6. Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the Ephesians. Scholars believe that used the image of a Roman centurion guard to craft the last part of Ephesians 6 which is affectionately referred to as the Armor of God.

Paul says to put in the “full armor” and not just a couple of pieces. “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” v. 11. We want to be fully prepared to face the things that the devil will throw at us each day. Is there a piece of armor that you often neglect to put on? Which one is the piece you need to remember most of all. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” v. 13. Notice it says “when” the day of evil comes and not “if” the day of evil comes. We will face it at some point.

Paul describes the six pieces of armor. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” vv. 14-17. It has been pointed out that the sword is the offensive weapon, which is the Word of God. It is a vital part of the armor, and we should be well versed in God’s Word if we want to engage in battle. The sword can also be a defensive weapon too. A good soldier could parry with his sword and fend off blows from the enemy. Jesus did this in the wilderness when He was tempted by Satan. Jesus quoted the Scripture to fend off the attacks from the Devil.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

“Imitators”

March 8, 2024

March 8, 2024

Read Leviticus 24, Psalm 67, Ephesians 5

Children will often imitate or mimic each other to get on each other’s nerves. Unconscientiously children will often imitate other adults or an older brother or sister that they admire. As the saying goes, “imitation is the highest form of flattery.” In Ephesians 5 Paul challenges the churches in Ephesus to “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” vv. 1-2. The highest form of worship we can give to the Lord is to be an imitator of Jesus. If we truly love the Lord, we will not stop at expressing that in words alone, we will imitate Jesus teachings through our actions.

There are so many people today who want to put together their own version of Jesus that is far from the Jesus of Scripture. They either focus on love and neglect the truth of Jesus teachings, or they do the opposite. Both views are incomplete and are not the real Jesus. We need both love and truth to represent the Savior we claim to imitate. When I was younger, we played a game called “follow the leader.” If Jesus is really our leader, we should make our best effort to follow Him as close as we can. This means letting go of our own will and desires and the ways of the world to follow Christ.

What else do you observe in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

“The Church”

March 7, 2024

March 7, 2024

Read Leviticus 23, Psalm 66, Ephesians 4

When I say the word “church” what comes to your mind? A large building with a steeple maybe or do you think first about the people who are called Christians? When the Bible uses the word “church” it never refers to a building.” The church was the group of believers that gathered. Ephesians 4 contains great teaching on the church and what should be like and what they should be busy doing.

The first topic that Paul addresses in Ephesians 4 is unity. He urged the new believers to make every effort to live at peace with one another. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” vv. 3-6. Seven times Paul emphasizes the word “one” when he talks about the church. But we are not just to be one and the same. Clones or copies of each other. The body of Christ is filled with many unique and specific parts. Paul listed five of the occupational gifts that lead the church. “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.” vv. 11-13.

When the church functions like it should in its gifts the church will thrive more than when it is not operating in them. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” vv. 15-16. If Jesus ever fails to be the head of the church, we need to repent and put Christ back in His rightful place.

The remaining section of Ephesians 4 discusses some practical instructions from Paul on how we can live as the church together. Paul connects the way Christians live with the thoughts they hold.  “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking” v. 15. The bottom line, your thoughts, convictions, and beliefs all have an affect on your actions and behavior. Paul closes with an illustration of taking off clothes and putting new ones one. These clothes are the outer actions of the believers, the outward things seen from a new inward belief. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” vv. 22-24. The last few verses really zoom in on our words and the things we say to one another.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

“Just One Sentence”

March 6, 2024

March 6, 2024

Read Leviticus 22, Psalm 65, Ephesians 3

If you have been reading my journaling thoughts semi regularly from this year you know I am reading anywhere from 3-4 chapters a day and writing down some of the things that I reflect on after I read the chapters. Most of the time what I write or the amount of what I write directly corelates to the time I have in each day. I often try to write a little something from each chapter, but this is not always the case. I also worry that if I go too long, I will lose whatever audience I may have to start! Three chapters are a lot of material to cover. There is a lot to take in when you or I read three chapters, even shorter ones. Today I want to just focus on one sentence and dwell on that today in my reading. If you are reading the Bible and your focus is to get through it in a year’s time (which is what I am doing this year) you might be tempted to just read to check off the box to knock out your 3.5 chapters a day. You also might be tempted to try and soak everything you can from the chapters you read and that is a lot of thoughts to gather. I want to help you see the “tree” through the “forest” tonight and just simply focus on one verse. You can do this too. Read a day and see what verse or sentence stands out to you most in your daily reading. Don’t feel guilty to try and soak up every drop of God’s Word and then you can get some rest or move to other things. As people, we cannot really drink in the riches of God’s word all at once anyway. It would be like trying to drink from a fire hose. I’m not trying to tell you to back off and read or study less, only to tell you that it doesn’t have to be the same each day or reach a certain level. So here is the sentence that stood out to me most today as I read.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” vv. 20-21

These two verses are a reminder to me about what kind of God I serve. God is capable to handle anything because of who He is. How often do we sell our selves short when we come to God in prayer and ask him for help or strength or to work in a situation we might be facing. It’s his power “that is at work within us.” “At work” meaning that God is in the middle of doing something not yet finished. We should be encouraged that this is not a promise for just the Christians in the first century but also for us today. That’s where the “thought out all generations” comes in.

So… what one verse stood out to you today? Maybe you didn’t read the same chapters I am reading. What verse or sentence stood out to you most? What are your thoughts on it? Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

“For He… Has Made the Two One”

March 5, 2024

March 5, 2024

Read Leviticus 21, Psalm 65, Ephesians 2

Our culture loves to divide us. Identity politics like race, economic class, and men and women are just a few of the ways the culture loves to divide us. How are you tempted to divide people? Sometimes I divide people by their various beliefs or by their worldview. We want to understand people and what they think, but we all must be careful not to allow how we divide people to keep us from interacting with them or shutting the door to the gospel with them.

During the first century, early Christians had learned that God was not about division but about unification. No longer did they see the Gentiles as apart from God, they recognized that God brought Salvation to not only the Jews, but the Gentiles as well. Paul wanted to remind the Gentile Christians in Ephesus that while they were once apart from God, and the Jews; they were now one with them as Christians. A big dividing wall for the Jews and Gentiles was Circumcision. “Remember that formally you who are called Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” …remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” vv. 11-12. Paul reminded them that even though they were separate, now they were one. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” v. 13.

The Bible does divide people, but not by skin color, or money, or any other physical trait we might possess. The Bible divides people by their behavior and actions. We are called sheep or goats, we are either children of God or children of the Devil, we are heirs of the kingdom of God or we are headed for eternal separation from God. Paul reminded the Gentiles in Ephesus that they are “fellow citizens of God’s people and members of God’s household” v. 19.

What else do you see here in these three chapters?  What repeated words, or phrases stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

“Protection”

March 4, 2024

March 4, 2024

Read Leviticus 20, Psalm 64, Ephesians 1

People spend a lot of money on things that will keep them safe. They buy guns or other personal protective products. I recently heard a interview with Dr. Jeff Myers from Summit Ministries who went to Israel for a solidarity mission after the October 6 Hamas attacks on Israel. He said every house near the border of Gaza had a safe room, the parents made it their kids’ room so they could go to them in a time of crisis. Other people find security or protection in other things like money or obtaining power. These are some of the ways that people choose to protect themselves. The best protection we can have is from God.

Psalm 64 is a psalm of David. It is a prayer for protection from his enemies. David asks God to “hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers” v. 2. David sees their motives, “They plot injustice and say, We have devised a perfect plan!” v. 6. But then the final verses of this psalm David reminded himself that the wicked will not get away with their plans. God will protect him. “But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down” v. 7. David knows the wicked schemes will only come back on themselves. “He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn” v. 8. We should take comfort in knowing that nothing can happen to us without God’s knowledge and permission. We might seem to be in trouble or to lose, but in the end God will have the victory and if we are his children, we will too.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stick out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

A List of Do’s and Don’ts”

March 3, 2024

March 3, 2024

Read Leviticus 19, Psalm 63, Galatians 6

Have you heard someone summarize the Bible with the phrase, “The Bible is not a list of Do’s and Don’ts?” They are trying to encourage us not to look at the Bible simply as a book that says, “Don’t do this…. Do this….” On one hand, the Bible is much more complex that a list of rules that we can check off. But there are some passages where it does become a list of commands we need to follow. Leviticus 19 is just one of those passages. As you read through these verses you might start grouping the laws into categories in your mind. Sone laws you can read and find immediate agreement with, “Do not steal, do not lie, Do not deceive one another…” v. 11. Then you might read other verses that cause you pause and question why that is a law. “Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material” v. 19.

We must remember that there were different types of laws in the Old Testament times. The moral law, the civic laws, and the ceremonial laws for sacrificial systems. Only the moral laws and laws that are repeated in the New Testament are still applicable for Christians today. We no longer have to offer sacrifices because of Jesus ultimate sacrifice on the cross and we are not bound by the civic laws of the nation of Israel because we do not live in that forgone nation. Think of it like moving from California to Georgia. You no longer have to abide by the laws of California if you live in Georgia. We might not understand some of the civic laws in Leviticus 19, but they were most likely to call Israel to live differently than the nations around them. They were to be a “light to the Gentiles.”

Leviticus 19 is a reminder that there are some Scriptures that are black and white. Things that we can easily read and understand. The obedience is the harder part. Knowing what to do and then doing it are two different things.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words and phrases stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

“Freedom for Fruit!”

March 2, 2024

March 2, 2024

Read Leviticus 18, Psalm 62, Galatians 5

As Americans, we love our freedom. Maybe a little too much. We tend to think of freedom as the goal and highest achievement. Many people are tricked into the myth that if they just get more power or money, they can increase the amount of freedom they have. We should not compare freedom to autonomy. These are two different things. This is where Galatians 5 teaches us that freedom is not ultimately for ourselves, but as Christians we are free to serve Christ. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” v. 1. There is a difference between “freedom for” and “freedom from” for all of us to consider. Take a musical instrument or a symphony orchestra. You could take the approach that says, “I have the freedom to play my instrument however I like.” You could play any notes, melodies, in any key or rhythm. Imagine that with everyone in the orchestra doing the same thing. It would be a mess and make our ears bleed for sure. But if we play in the constraints of a certain key signature or time signature and play along with everyone else we have the ability to create beautiful music. That’s how it is with our freedom in Christ. Yes we are free from the law, but we must play within the moral key signature that God has given us in his word. This is the way God designed us as his musical instruments to function.

In Galatians 5 Paul writes about how Christians should not use their freedom in Christ, freedom from the law as an excuse to sin. “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” vv. 13-15.  

Paul encourages the Christians in Galatia to “live by the Spirit” v. 16. In the last part of Galatians 5 Paul contrasts the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. He says “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law” vv. 17-18. Because God exists and we have a moral ought to do right and not do evil we are ultimately free in Christ, but to live by the Spirit and produce the fruits that Paul lists out. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” vv. 22-23.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

“Slave”

March 1, 2024

March 1, 2024

Read Leviticus 17, Psalm 61, Galatians 4

The word slave is not a word that brings up good vibes. We know that Old Testament slavery is different from that of the chattel slavery that took place in America almost 200 years ago. It was voluntary and had limits and God gave protections for slaves against any mistreatment. Much of the Bible deals with this topic, both in the Old and New Testaments. Many of the New Testament authors used slavery as an analogy for connecting a spiritual truth to their readers too. This is the case in Galatians 4 with Paul.

Paul compared the Christians to “sons of God” rather than that of a “slave.” Paul explained that as sons and daughters of God we have blessings that a slave does not have. “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” vv. 6-7.

In the middle section of Galatians 4, Paul uses this analogy to ask the church in Galatia, “Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” v. 9. The church had turned back to their old ways and beliefs that were based in the law of Moses and not from freedom that Jesus had brought on the cross. (The book of Galatians is the only Pauline epistle where Paul forgoes the pleasantries and goes right to taking them to task in the opening chapter of Galatians.)

One interesting little nugget that stands out to me is that Paul records the reason that he met the people of Galatia in the first place. “As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself” vv. 13-14. Think about that, whatever Paul’s plans were, they may not have included a connection with the people he wrote the letter to, but because of an illness he had it put the two parties together. I hope that reminds us that good or bad that comes our way, God will use it for His purposes, and we can too.

The last section of Galatians 4 Paul compares the two sons of Abraham. “For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.” Paul was encouraging the Christians to live in such a way as they are sons of Isaac and free. We should do the same as well and live in the grace and freedom that God has given us through Jesus. We should not desire to go back and live in the slavery that we once did according to the Law without Christ. “But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman” vv. 30-31.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by John Weldon

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »