“The Word of the Lord Was Rare”

July 11, 2024

July 11, 2024

Read 1 Samuel 3, Isaiah 17, Matthew 1

Do you remember a time in your life when it felt like the God was silent or that God felt distant? Chances are we have all felt that way at one point in our lives if we are Christians. Maybe we were pushing for an answer to something and felt like God was not answering our prayers. Maybe we were stuck in a place in life where our routine and spiritual disciplines had become things to check off a list rather than something we looked forward to doing. Maybe it was none of those things or even something we could explain. If we have times like this the important thing to do is to stay committed to our time with God and to continue to practice the spiritual disciplines we have, maybe with a minor change to mix things up.

In 1 Samuel 3 the author says that “The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions” v. 1. God had used his prophets to speak to the people and guide them as a people. The problem was that Eli and his sons had not been obedient to the Lord and God had pronounced judgment upon them. Even with this dark time, God had a plan and was about to bring it to fruition with Samuel. Three times the Lord called Samuel while he was laying down resting. Samuel would reply thinking it was Eli. “The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me’” v. 8. Finally Eli realized it must be the Lord and taught Samuel how to respond. “So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place” v. 9. It was only after Samuel called him by name and also placed himself as “servant” before the Lord.  This is the posture we must take as servants of God if we want to hear from Him. We must humble ourselves and get quiet in order to listen to what God wants to say.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“A Slave Forgiven”

July 10, 2024

July 10, 2024

Read 1 Samuel 2, Isaiah 16, Philemon

The topic of slavery and the Bible is a complex topic. The type of slavery practiced by Israel was voluntary to pay off a debt owed. It had limits and the Mosaic laws protected the health of the servant to being set free if even a tooth was injured. The Old Testament also discussed other types of slavery such as prisoners of war and those outside of the nation of Israel. In a sentence, the Bible far and above all other cultures and laws held human life and dignity above all others. In the first century the Roman Empire had slaves and it was completely different than what the Old Testament described. The New Testament addresses slaves and their relationships to their masters in a manner that helps them walk out their faith in Christ as a slave. But probably the strongest discussion of slavery comes from the letter Paul wrote called Philemon. If you would like a more detailed summary of slavery and the Bible you can click https://wp.me/prUzS-xl and read my blog about it.

In the letter to Philemon Paul wrote to ask him to consider Onesimus, a former slave who had left Philemon, to come back to him not as a slave but as a brother in Christ. “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord” vv. 15-16. Paul even asked for a favor, if Onesimus owed him anything for Philemon to forgive him or that Paul himself would pay the outstanding debt owed. “So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self” vv. 17-19.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you.
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Posted by John Weldon

“Idle Busybodies”

June 26, 2024

June 26, 2024

Read Judges 13, Isaiah 2, 2 Thessalonians 3

An oxymoron is a combination of two words that are opposites. They combine to make a word with a deeper definition. Jumbo shrimp, Pretty ugly, organized chaos, and The Atlanta Falcons as Superbowl Champs!!

In the second letter to the church at Thessalonica Paul warns the church about two types of people in the church. First those who are idle and refuse to work. “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you” vv. 6-8. None of us might enjoy work, but it is what God intended for us BEFORE the fall in Genesis 3. The Scripture says that God placed Adam in the garden to work it. Sure, the work was much more tedious after sin than before.

Second, Paul warns the church about these idle people who are really busybodies. “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. 14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother” vv. 11-15. This concept of allowing someone to feel “ashamed” v. 14 is something to consider. Many people today will tell you that we should not make people feel ashamed, that it is damaging to their mental health. Yet the Bible talks about it as a good thing that brings conviction to the person. The key is only a shame that is in line with the biblical standard is permissible. If we introduce shame into people’s lives that is not something God speaks about, then we do cause damage.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stick out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“A Rebel Without a God”

June 25, 2024

June 25, 2024

Read Judges 12, Isaiah 1, 2 Thessalonians 2

What comes to mind when you hear the word “rebel?” Is it a biker with a bunch of tattoos, a little child that holds their ground against a parent’s instruction, or maybe a political leader that stands against the incumbent government? Do you remember a time in your life when you were rebellious? What was it over?

The book of Isaiah opens with a charge that Israel has been rebellious. “Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: ‘I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand’” vv. 2-3. Those are sharp words from the Lord to be labeled lower than a donkey or ox. We often read the Old Testament and can think things like “Don’t the Israelites remember what God just did for them” or “How could they turn away from the Lord after everything He did for them?” We would be wise to remember that we too are often short-sighted and fall into the same mindset that Israel does.

Israel had become rebellious, but you might not have noticed it from the outside. They were still going though the motions and offering sacrifices and other ritualistic things, but it was their hearts that were not right. “      The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the LORD. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?” vv. 11-12. God tells them through the prophet Isaiah, that their sacrifices are meaningless and that He can see right though them.

Are there any areas in our lives that we are still acting rebellious toward God? Are there any areas of our lives that we have yet to turn over fully to the Lordship of Christ? What else do you see in these chapters?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Your Grace is Enough”

June 17, 2024

June 17, 2024

Read Judges 4, Song of Songs 1, 2 Corinthians 12

We have all faced things in our lives that are difficult. Each of us have our own suffering that face. Sometimes these are things like dealing with locking our keys in our car and other times it is dealing with the loss of a loved one.

Sometimes when we read through the Bible we can loose sight of the difficulties that many of the people named in the Bible faced. We tend to look at the great victories that described how God answered a prayer or worked a miracle in a situation. But if not equally so, there are plenty of examples in Scripture when people faced hard times and even gave their lives for their faith. Joseph, Job, Stehpen, the disciples, just to name a few. In 2 Corinthians 12 we find the Apostle Paul sharing his personal story about a “thorn” that he had to face. “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me” vv. 7-8. Paul called this unknown thorn “a messenger of Satan,” that cannot be a good thing. No one know what it was exactly, but many have made an attempt to guess. Was it something physical like a sickness or maybe something to do with his eye sight since he was blinded on the road to Damascus? Others point to it being something on the mental or spiritual level. Was it the constant reminder of those Paul was directly or indirectly responsible for being persecuted or killed for their faith in Christ before his conversion? No matter what it was, we do know the answer that God gave to Paul.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” vv. 9-10. God’s grace would be sufficient in Paul’s life. We all need the grace of God in our lives. Grace is often defined by it’s own spelling, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Remember”

June 16, 2024

June 16, 2024

Read Judges 3, Ecclesiastes 11-12, 2 Corinthians 11

Before the age of cell phones, I had all my friends phone numbers memorized. I could spit out 20-25 phone numbers without any problem. Today I would be lucky if I knew all three of my own children’s phone numbers. What are some important things that you remember from your youth?

Here in Ecclesiastes 11-12 we find an admonition to “Remember your creator in the days of your youth” Ecclesiastes 12:1. Solomon tell the younger generations to “Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment” v. 9. We should pursue happiness and follow our heart in many areas, but to be cautious because our heart may lead us away from the Lord. We will face judgment as the end of verse 9 teaches.

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them” v. 12:1. Many people excuse the behavior of the younger generations by saying things like “they are just sowing their wild oats” but Solomon tells us to dedicate our life to the Lord while we are still young. A few verses later He adds, “Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” vv. 6-7. Maybe we have not had an early life of remembering the Lord. Solomon says, it’s not too late. We must remember.

The conclusion to the book of Ecclesiastes is at the end of chapter 12. Solomon’s grand experiment came down to this. “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” vv. 13-14. To fear God, doesn’t mean to be afraid of him, although we might have a healthy fear in that manner. To fear God, means to respect and revere God and his commandments. They are for our good, even if we don’t think so or understand them.

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

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Posted by John Weldon

“Forgotten”

June 15, 2024

June 15, 2024

Read Judges 2, Ecclesiastes 10, 2 Corinthians 10

What’s something that you have forgotten before? Car keys, phone charger, sun screen, or a wallet or purse? Recently we were headed to my son’s graduation ceremony and after we were over half way there we realized we had forgotten the tickets that all the family needed to enter the building. We turned around and luckily we got to the arena just in time. The more important something is, the more we will go out of our way to retrieve what we have forgotten.

In Judges 2 the author tells us that Israel had forgotten something very important, God. “After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshipped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths” vv. 10-13.

These verses tell us the importance of passing on our faith to our children and family. If we do not teach and train our children, someone else will. More importantly, if we do not lead by example a life that walks with the Lord, the chances will go down that our children will too.

The whole theme for the book of Judges can be summarized here in chapter 2. “Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshipping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways” vv. 18-19. You will notice as you read through Judges that the further you go, the more wicked and weaker the judges become that rescue Israel. This is a very negative time for the nation of Israel. We must remember the Lord and all that He has done for us. We must also pass it on to our children so they will not face the consequences as well.

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

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Posted by John Weldon

“Choose”

June 13, 2024

June 13, 2024

Read Joshua 24, Ecclesiastes 8, 2 Corinthians 8

Free will is one of the best gifts that God gives us. Some will ask, “why can’t God create a world where we all love him and choose him?” The answer is simple, that is an illogical question. God can’t logically create a free will situation where we are all forced to choose him. Or even to always choose to do the right and good thing.. That would cease to be free will. The gift of free will is that it is our choice.

In Joshua 24 we see that Israel renews the covenant with God. Joshua challenges them, “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” vv. 14-15. What will you choose to do today?

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Posted by John Weldon

“Promises Good and Bad”

June 12, 2024

June 12, 2024

Read Joshua 23, Ecclesiastes 7, 2 Corinthians 6-7

Consider a time when someone made a promise to you? What was it? Did they keep it? Most of the time we think about good promises that we make to others or that someone might make to us. We might not even consider that a promise would be something bad. We could easily call that a threat.

In the last couple of chapters in Joshua there is a reminder of the promises that God gave toward Israel. Joshua calls all the elders and family leaders together as he prepares to die, and he reminds them of the promises that God made to them as a people. “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed” v. 14. It’s comforting to know that God keeps al his promises and that not one of them has failed to come to pass.

But when God makes a promise that He will deal with Israel if they violate the covenant that they made with him this changes our outlook. “But just as every good promise of the LORD your God has come true, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. 16 If you violate the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you” vv. 15-16. Just as assured that God keeps his good promises, we better understand that He will also keep the ones we wish He wouldn’t keep. What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Reconciliation”

June 11, 2024

June 11, 2024

Read Joshua 22, Ecclesiastes 6, 2 Corinthians 5

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Reconciliation?” Do you think about balancing your checkbook? Do you think about the bills passed by the United States House in budget matters? Do you think about working something out with a friend or family member?

In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul tells us that first, we have been reconciled to God through Christ. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ” v. 18. In what way were we reconciled to God? In some sense several of the examples above are useful. Jesus balanced the ledger for us by paying the price for our sins on the cross. He also resolved the conflict between God and us enabling us to be in a right relationship with Him.

The second half of the verse Paul then explains our role as the ones who would help others be reconciled to God. “…and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” vv. 18-19. We have a responsibility to help others find peace with God by being reconciled to God from our sins. Paul illustrates this through the idea of an ambassador. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” v. 20.

The story is told of when Ronald Reagan became the President. He called all his ambassadors together for a time of instruction and greeting. He asked them to come to the podium one at a time and tell the audience which country they represented. One by one they came and announced the countries that they were going to travel to. After several people came to the microphone and shared President Reagan stopped them, He said, they had gotten it wrong. They all represented the United States, not the countries they were assigned to travel to. May we never forget as Christians who we represent, the Lord Jesus Christ. May we take our role as ambassadors serious and point as many people as possible to what Jesus stands for and help them understand the need for a walk with the Lord.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes do find as you read?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

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