“Old Habits”

January 20, 2024

January 20, 2024

Read Genesis 20, Psalm 20, John 20

In Genesis 20 we again find Abraham in a similar situation to before. Last time Abram lied to the king of Egypt, and now he finds himself Lying to Abimelech another leader from the Negev. There are several lessons we could learn from this passage. First, we are not always guaranteed to get it right the first time, or the second time! Looking out for himself, he goes back to the sister/wife story to save his own skin. He should have known this would not have ended well for his wife. Second, Abraham assumes, “There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife” v. 11. Have we not heard that assumption is the lowest form of knowledge. Many times, we make assumptions about others and are wrong. Many times, others make assumptions about us and are equally wrong. Once again, God steps in and saves the day by appearing to Abimelech and inflicting some type of “barrenness” on all the women in his area.

In Psalm 20 we read a short psalm of David where he praises God for saving Him and protecting him. Verse 4 can be a misleading verse if we read it as if God gives us a blank check. “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” We must remember that we must align our hearts and our will to the Lord’s first. We must seek to live according to his laws. Even then, we are not guaranteed that we will get what we want. Often God knows better, and His plans are greater than our own. Verses 6-7 remind me of Genesis 20 and the situation with Abraham and Abimelech. “Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Even though Abraham messed up again, God came to his rescue, because God had plans for him and protected those plans of the man, He had anointed to be the father of the Jewish nation. People place a lot of trust in things today, the government, organizations, businesses, individual people like friends and families. They may let us down from time to time, but God never will.

In John 20 we have the account of the empty tomb. The empty tomb is the evidence that we can trust God. Mary is the first to visit the tomb on the third day. She finds it open, and the body of her Lord is gone. She runs to tell Peter and John who race to the tomb to see for themselves. The fact that women were the first to see the resurrected Jesus and give testimony to it is a fact that tells us that the gospels were not made up. If they were, it was a very weak testimony that gave women the first claim to see.

While Mary is in shock and filled with questions Jesus tries to have a conversation with her and she doesn’t recognize that Jesus is the one talking to her. Not until he calls her by name, “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher)” v. 36. In all the time that Mary spent with Jesus before his death, Jesus may have conversed with her and called her by name many times. Now doing the same again made the connection for her. Only in our relationship with God will we learn to distinguish the voice of God when He speaks into our lives. How important is it to develop and maintain our walk with the Lord so that when He speaks to us, we like sheep will recognize the great shepherd’s voice.

In the last part of John 20 we find the conversation between Jesus and Thomas. He had missed the first meeting with the disciples and would not believe unless he saw Jesus for himself. Jesus was pleased to offer him the evidence he needed to see. Jesus offered his wounds to touch and see for himself. If we are searching for truth, the best thing we can do is to keep looking for it. When we face doubt, the worst thing we can do is nothing. If we stand still and refuse to look for answers our doubt will grow. If you are facing doubt, keep searching and seeking the Lord and He will supply the evidence that you need to believe.

 What else to 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

“Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled”

January 14, 2024

January 14, 2024

Read Genesis 14, Psalm 14, John 14

What things in your life trouble you most? Is it a circumstance you face, a relationship, financial or material needs, a physical illness or perhaps something new you are facing with an unknown future? What takes your peace away from you? One thing that can make these difficult circumstances better is knowing that we do not face them alone. If we are blessed to have family, friends, a church to lean on can make these times more bearable. There is greater comfort knowing that whatever we face as disciples of Jesus that the Lord is with us, and that God can rescue us from anything we face.

In Genesis 14 we find the story of Abram who rescues Lot from a battle where he is caught in between some rival kings. Abram rounds up 318 “trained men born in his household” v. 14.  Abram goes all out to rescue His nephew Lot from trouble and the Lord gave him success in his efforts. In almost 30 years of ministry, working in a church, I have seen many people in need. One common theme is that bridges often have been burned in families and there is no help available for those in need. Be thankful for the family that you do have. If you do not have a family that you feel you can call a blessing, why not turn it around and be a blessing to them or create that type of family going forward.  

After the battle is over Abram is greeted by The King of Sodom and the King of Salem, named Melchizedek. These two kings can be contrasted against one another. Melchizedek is an interesting person which we know little about from Genesis 14, but psalm 110 and Hebrews chapter 5 and 7 speak more about. Melchizedek is said to be priest of El Elyon “God Most High.” Abram strangely gives him a tenth of the spoils he collected in the rescue. This is the first time we see the use of a tenth given in the Bible. The King of Sodom asks for the people back but tells Abram he can keep the goods. The King of Sodom comes out next and asks for the people back that he rescued but tells Abram he may keep all the goods. Abram informs the King of Sodom of his oath – “have taken an oath” v. 22 “I will accept nothing belonging to you” v. 23 Not even the smallest items? – “a thread or the thong of a sandal” v. 23 Abram wants only to have others know God was the source of Abram’s blessings and possessions and no one else. – “you will never be able to say ‘I made Abram rich’” v. 23. Many believe, including myself, that Melchizedek is a theophany of the preincarnate Christ whom Abram pays a tenth to. You can dig into that deeper in Hebrews if you wish.

Psalm 14 starts off with an often-quoted verse by many Christians who want to take a swipe at atheists. David writes “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” v. 1. I’m not sure the best way to win the ear of an atheist or for them to hear the gospel is to start with name calling. Also, this misunderstands the meaning of the word “fool” in the biblical sense. Most often a fool was a morally deficient person. If a person does not believe that God exists, there is no higher authority in their lives than themselves. They will say and do what they want to, which is what the word fool in Scripture describes. The next few verses David reminds us all with some “hard truth” (as our student pastor recently said) that we are all sinners, “there is no-one who does good” v. 2, and not many people seek the Lord “The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God” v. 2. David resolves the psalm again with a reminder that God will bring salvation and restore the fortunes of his people. “Let Jacob rejoice and be glad” v. 7.

In John 14 we have the beginning of a long discourse of teaching from Jesus on the Holy Spirit. The chapter begins with Jesus telling the disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” v. 1. The disciples were trouble because what Jesus had revealed to them in the previous chapter. He was going to be with them only for a little while longer. Even worse, those who claimed to never leave Jesus would deny Him three times before the cock crows.  Jesus uses a beautiful wedding analogy in verses 2-3. Jesus was going away to prepare a room in his father’s house. In the first century Jewish culture the betrothal of an engaged couple would be a typically longer period. The groom would go and build a home or a room in his parents’ home and prepare it for he and his soon coming bride. After the wedding ceremony the groom would take his bride back to the home that he had prepared for her. The disciples ask questions and try to understand what Jesus was referring to. Thomas questions Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” vv. 5-6. This exclusive statement by Jesus has no doubt caused many relativists to push back and reject Christianity then and now.

In Jesus teaching about the Holy Spirit in this chapter we first learn that the Holy Spirit will act as a “Counselor” v. 26, not like a mental health professional, but a defense attorney who will defend us in times of need. Second the Holy Spirit will “teach and remind you of everything I have said to you” v. 26 when they teach and write the Gospels and Epistles. Third, and most importantly the Spirit will bring peace to them. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” v. 27. This is not an absence of war or conflict, but rather an inner peace that Christ’s followers will have despite the trouble they will face (John 16:33).

What else do you see in these verses as you read them? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you? Write your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“So We May Make a Name for Ourselves”

January 11, 2024

January 11, 2024

Read Genesis 11, Psalm 11, John 11

Every day that we live we can do one of two things. We can point people toward God with our words and actions or we can point people to ourselves and other people. It’s either the creator or the creation. The story of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 is an example of the latter. Men got together and decided that they wanted “make a name” v. 4 for themselves by building a tower that “reaches to the heavens” v. 4. The question may cross your mind? Why would God scatter and divide people? Doesn’t God want peace and unity in the human race? I think the answer lies in the actions God took. By staying together in a large city, it would be a protective measure for all that lived there. God wanted his creation to reach out to Him in times of need and to call on Him to provide for us. Another important part of this is the command that God gave men to “fill the earth” (1:28, 9:1,7) both before and after the flood. How can you live today and make God known? John the Baptist has great advice for all of us; “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

The rest of Genesis 11 gives the godly genealogy of Shem. As you can see from the ages of his descendants, there is a gradual decline in the life span of the sons. The final verses of Genesis 11 lead us up to the next chapter about Abram. It has been said by some scholars that more time may have passed in Genesis 1-11 than has passed from Genesis 12 – Revelation 22 even to the present day.

We can see a similar theme in Psalm 11. David exclaims “In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: Flee like a bird to your mountain” v. 1. David would rather be in the presence of the Lord in the temple than away from Him. David became short-sighted and forgot that there is no place that God cannot be. In one of the later psalms David would write; “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (Psalm 139:7-8). God is always present with His people. David is confident and knows that “For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face” v. 7.

The narrative of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11 is one the greatest miracles we have recorded in the Gospels. Again, much like Jesus’ statement a couple of chapters earlier Jesus proclaims that “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” v. 4. Jesus was ready to point people to the works of God, through Himself as God. The disciples remind Jesus of the danger they faced in Judea. The slow and dimwitted disciples do not yet understand what Jesus will do, but they are ready with obedience to follow Jesus as Thomas exclaims, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” v. 16. Let this be a lesson for all of us, we must obey when we know God is leading us, even if we do not understand.

Mary and Martha and the disciples wonder why Jesus would delay and not act sooner. “’Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died’” v. 21. Sometimes we have hope and trust in Jesus, we just misunderstand the method or measure of time that God’s chooses to work in our life. Jesus answers her with one of the seven “I am…” sayings in John. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” vv. 25-26. It’s not so much about how Jesus will work, it is more about who He is to do the work of God.

What other words, phrases, or themes do you see in these passages? What are some things you have seen God work in your life in the past that were not answered like you thought they would be? What are some things that you trust in the Lord in life now? Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon