Setting Priorities (2006 March 1-8)
March 1, 2006
Revelation 2:1-5
Shawn Robinson, Clayton Community Church
Read the passage and respond to these questions:
1. What are the positive things God has to say about the church in Ephesus?
2. What does God have against them?
3. What is the promise for those who “overcome”?
The season of Lent is a time of reflection and remembrance. Through this time we are reminded of both the great love and the great cost that was paid at the Cross to ransom humankind from their sins. Jesus’ love for you is clear, but have you stopped to ask yourself if Jesus is your first love?
¼br /> The church of Ephesus had to ask this question. They were devoted to doing hard work for God and persevering under difficult circumstances. They were workhorses for Jesus! Yet somewhere in the midst of Godly pursuits, their passion and love for their Savior had dried up; their activity was devoid of love.
Do you remember when you first fell in love with Jesus? I know I do. I was hungry to be with Him, always looking for times when we could be alone together, whether in prayer or through His Word. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I was always talking to others about the difference he made in my life, and I changed many of my priorities just so I could keep him as the center of my devotion.
Yet over time, some of the luster began to fade. Relationship turned to ritual, love faded to cordial friendship. Passionate devotion gave way to busy activity—and I was trapped! Trapped in a “God machine” that had little to do with God.
Does this sound like your experience lately? The good news is that it’s not too late to fall back into love with Jesus. His words to the Ephesians are not to give up, but to “remember the height from which you have fallen!” and to “repent and do the things you did at first.” These days I’m still busy, but I try to take a regular time out each day to be with my first love—and when God seems distant, I remember and repent. My prayer for you this day is that you would do the same!
prayer
Dear Lord, right now I need to stop all that I am doing and let you know that I love you. I have been busy and I am tired and I need to surrender my activity to you. Will you meet me today so we can be close? Come alongside me; guide me in every activity, thought, and conversation this day. Embrace me in all I do and am. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen
March 2, 2006
Isaiah 55:1-5
Floyd Roseberry, Fair Oaks Baptist (Concord)
Read the passage and respond to these questions:
1. Ultimately, what is the difference between the groceries we buy and the products God wants us to invest in?
2. What are the promises of God in this passage?
This text begins as an invitation to “come.” It is addressed to all who are thirsty. Wine and milk are offered to quench that thirst. They are offered to us as gifts of grace “without money and without cost.” There is food as well as drink. We are invited to “eat what is good” and “delight in the richest of fare.”
What is offered as drink and food is in fact spiritual nourishment. God wants to renew his everlasting covenant with his people and assure them of his faithful love. It is this fare that we all need during this Lenten season as we prepare for Easter. We need to be reminded of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ and that we are God’s beloved children in Him.
How are we to do this? The key word is “listen.” God invites us, “Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live”. We are invited to solitude and silence and listening. We are to take time away from the noise and mental clutter of our lives and allow some space to hear God speak to us. He has a Word for us! In Psalm 81:13ff God pleads for his people to listen to him and promises, “You would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Lent is the season when we give special attention to the One who says to us, “My sheep listen to my voice” (John 10:3).
prayer
Pray with Henri Nouwen: “O Lord Jesus: There is so much talking going on within me. It seems that I am always involved in inner debates with myself, my friends, my opponents, my colleagues, and my rivals…. These arguments show my insecurity….and my need for being recognized and receiving attention. You, O Lord, will give me all the attention I need if I would simply stop talking and start listening to you. I know that in the silence of my heart you will speak to me and show me your love.”
March 3, 2006
Isaiah 55:6-11
Jim Shields, Sanctuary (Concord)
Read the passage and respond to these questions:
1. What actions you are urged to take in Isaiah’s prophecy? List them.
2. What actions and attributes of God mentioned here give you confidence to do the things you identified in question 1?
I was approached the other day by a man named Eric. He was obviously homeless. He was a nice enough fellow. He seemed to be fairly intelligent, although a bit dirty and not far from his last alcoholic indulgence. Do you ever wonder how a homeless person ends up without a home? I wonder if homelessness was their plan. Probably not. But if it not, what happened? As we begin this season, let us look to the Prophet Isaiah and search for some answers for Eric.
Eric started his journey with a plan. I don’t know who the advisor was for his plan, maybe an intellectually inspiring teacher or a somewhat distant dad. I don’t know, Eric probably doesn’t even remember. But I am certain he didn’t “seek the Lord” or “call upon Him” as Isaiah suggests.
As time went on, Eric’s plan began to mutate into something he hadn’t originally decided upon. Like all of us, he made mistakes; he sinned. That isn’t the tragedy. The real turn for Eric came when he began to rationalize his mistakes and his sin—most likely pride. Most of us are tripped up by that. The Prophet leads us to the Lord’s mercy, hands us our pardon and everything it takes to forsake our ways and our thoughts. But Eric continues to have a “death grip” on his own ways. His plan has been reduced to answering the need of the moment, but refuses to say to the Lord, “My plan isn’t going to work.”
Isaiah opens the door to the thoughts and ways of God. It requires but a small step. Anyone can take it. Eric, mine or yours. Whose plan are you following? You may live in a house, but maybe your life isn’t really leading you home.
prayer
Listen to Isaiah and follow his profound priorities today: Seek the Lord today, call on Him. Say out loud, “Jesus I want you in my life today!” Turn to Him. Really, I suggest you stand up and physically turn. And, as you turn, say to Him, “I turn to you. I turn away from my ways. I need your mercy, your pardon, your grace.”And finally, ask Him to give you His thoughts for this season. Let Him know that you don’t want to live in a house without moving toward home. And while you’re at it, say a prayer for Eric.
March 4, 2006
Psalm 1
Eric Strom, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Concord)
Read the passage and respond to these questions:
1. What is the basic contrast between the “blessed man” (v. 1-3) and the wicked (v. 4-5)?
2. In more detail, what characterizes the “blessed man”? What is the key condition that yields the fruitful result?
Near my home, there’s a trail that my wife and I walk on occasion. It’s one of those trails that goes through the neighborhood, away from the roads, away from the noise and busy-ness of the traffic. For part of it we walk alongside a creek bed. We know it’s a creek bed because we see water flowing in the winter.
The rest of the year, it’s pretty dry. There is a wonderful collection of trees in there—palms, locusts, pepper trees. It’s beautiful year-round. There’s not a time in the year when there isn’t greenery among those trees. And in the spring some of them put out striking flowers. Here’s the interesting thing, though. Not very far away are some hills that have nothing but grass on them – not a single tree. It’s a pretty startling contrast.
Psalm 1 says that a person who meditates on God’s law is like a tree planted by streams of water. Such trees are fed and nourished by the stream, like the ones on our walking trail. They are beautiful and healthy. Without God’s word, life can end up like a dry, treeless landscape. But a life steeped in and nourished by God’s word is a life strong and joyful in all seasons.
prayer
Holy God, help me not to let less important things distract me from spending time with you. Instead, grow in me an ever greater yearning to seek your word for guidance, wisdom, and nourishment. Amen.
March 5, 2006
Psalm 63
Sean Blomquist, Shelter (Concord)
Read the passage and respond to these questions:
1. David makes some comparisons in this psalm. What is of greatest value?
2. What do you find “gritty” and “gutsy” about David’s psalm? What is the attitude behind these statements?
The Psalms are real prayers of real experiences of God’s people throughout history. Psalm 63 is a gutsy, gritty, prayer from David who is in the desert. It’s gutsy because it is a prayer from his very inner most being. It is a prayer from his soul. It is gritty because it is earthy. David is thirsty; he is aching, tired, hungry and fed up with his season in the desert. Have you ever been in that place where you’re done with the dry season of your faith?
You have seen and experienced the power and goodness of Jesus in your life, it is undeniable— but it is past tense. This part of David’s journey is the opposite of what he had tasted in the past. David expresses something that paints a picture of a real relationship with Yahweh.
Beyond David’s desert, beyond his enemies, beyond his circumstances, he finds that deep place in his soul, that with utter confidence and guts, he can pray, “Lord, your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you and remember you, my soul clings to you.” David never flinches from his faith, but in the gutsy, gritty, earthy realness of life, he draws from the well of his soul and sings a prayer of the reality of who Yahweh is to him. Yahweh is his God and nothing will quench his deepest longings, but God alone.
prayer
Lord, help me to be honest with you about my need and confident in your presence.
March 6, 2006
Lamentations 3:21-26
Chris McCabe, Freedom Church (Concord)
Read the passage and respond to these questions:
1. The prophet Jeremiah is suffering with “the daughter of Zion” (Israel) the wrath of God’s judgment. How does this passage fit into the broader context?
2. What kind of “waiting” is Jeremiah referring to in verse 25?
3. What is your greatest challenge in waiting “quietly” for the Lord?
I remember a family vacation to the Grand Canyon when I was a very young child. What I remember of the experience is that it wasn’t very memorable. I was bored. I was bored even at the points that I was supposed to be most amazed.
Looking over the rail of the canyon, I remember those much older and much more mature than I being overwhelmed by what they observed. I didn’t get it. I knew I was supposed to be impressed with my surroundings. I knew we had driven a long way to get to this place, and the whole point of this trip was to stand where I was standing. My parents told me that God created this great wonder and that it was a testimony to His greatness, but I couldn’t grasp what it was I was seeing. The experience left me unchanged, because I didn’t know how to let the experience change me.
If I visited the Grand Canyon again as an adult, I would most likely have a completely different reaction. I’m sure I would sense God’s glory and fear His greatness when seeing its vastness. As a child, the problem wasn’t with my surroundings, the problem was with me. I was ill-equipped, ignorant really, to be able to process and to properly take in what it was I was experiencing.
I would like to say that I’ve outgrown this, that the years have given me a greater appreciation for the Divine –that I am no longer so naïve. I would like to say that I am mature and intellectual and possess great understanding of those things I formerly did not understand. But, the sad truth is, I live my life every day like I’m still four years old. I’m completely numb to the greatness of God. It’s not that I haven’t been there or done that.
I have seen God, yet His mystery leaves me baffled, so I don’t take time to process His greatness. I interact with amazing men and women, but I pass them off as ordinary or unimportant because I constantly think about me and how to make my life easier. I interact with His creation, His Word, His church . . . often with the same result: the inability to see His daily work in my life.
Can you identify? Do you forget that God is still at work? The same God that gave us the Grand Canyon wishes to work and move in your life today. His mercies, His faithfulness, His love – all listed in this passage, never end, never fail, and are continually new and fresh and awe-inspiring each day we open our eyes and get out of bed.
prayer
Jesus, open my eyes to see your glory as I stand on the cliff of your mystery and greatness. Open my eyes to a fresh movement of You in my life today.
March 7, 2006
James 4:7-10
Jim Stilwell, Family of Faith
Read the passage and respond to these questions:
Have you ever heard of the phrase, “the cart before the horse”? Many live their lives before God with the frustration of trying to obey Him before truly submitting to Him. We get the cart of obedience before the horse of wholehearted love and surrender to His will. It is difficult to obey over the long haul without surrendering to His will.
Recently I asked my 9- and 13-year-old sons what this scripture verse meant to them. My 8-year-old responded, “It means to let God into your life and don’t worry about the devil.” My older son responded, “Just give in to God in every area of your life.” Ah! the simplicity of youthful hearts. Yet, as our hearts live life under the sun, we get burned from its experiences and learn not to let anyone in, let alone giving in to anyone, even God the Father. Where does He need to come in to your life? Where have you have been burned by life? Where do you just need to give in to Him?
James says to us “come on, come a little closer to God and you will experience how close He is to you. As you read these words you are moving toward Him and He has come close to you. Why? He can’t resist a heart that makes a move toward Him. Even in the weakest attempt. Notice all the things James tells us to do—wash, purify, grieve, mourn, change—all happen as we come close to the One who empowers us to do all those things.
Where is God asking for your obedience in life? You are sons and daughters of the Father and He has your best interest in His heart. When we know this we will obey without gritting our teeth. We can humble ourselves and be lifted up and encouraged by Him. God loves humility; this is how He set up His Kingdom. Jesus wore the garment of humility and the Father loved it.
prayer
Lord, I surrender to your will today. Bring my heart closer to you, and clothe me with humility. Help me to set right priorities that line up with you. Fulfill your promise to be with me with every step I take today.
March 8, 2006
Luke 6:12-16
Art Barrett, New Life Christian Fellowship (Pleasant Hill)
Read the passage and respond to these questions:
1. What kept Jesus awake all night?
2. What might be the connection between his focus overnight and his action of the next day?
If you are too young (and who isn’t) to have heard of “Make Room For Daddy” a.k.a. “The Danny Thomas Show,” check it out on Nick at Nite or just use your imagination. I remember it because it began its popular run the year I was born (lets just say 1960ish okay?).
Whether you think of “Make Room for Daddy,” “Andy Griffith,” “The Lone Ranger,” or “My Three Sons,” there was an era during which people actually talked to their dads. An important decision or question would be resolved only after an interview with Dad. I can almost hear “Beaver” starting up the ladder of wisdom with his brother and being told to ask Dad. “Hey, Wally, why is Joey so dumb? Gee, I don’t know Beav, You better ask Dad.”
In today’s passages we find Jesus taking his business to Dad, making room to listen to his Father’s heart. “One day soon afterward Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night” (v. 12 nlt).
• Jesus got away from distractions.
• Jesus had a purpose on his mind. He was about to select the twelve men who he would entrust his life mission, men whose witness would change the world.
• Having humbled himself and taken on the nature of man, Jesus related to God—his Father in heaven.
• Jesus talked and listened to his Heavenly Father all night about what he should do.
If perfect Jesus is on the mountain all night, what should my prayer life look like? I am a doer. I resist prayer. Without intentionality I won’t make the room for Daddy. Why am I like that? Answer the question for me and then see how well it describes your life.
Do you take stuff to your Daddy in heaven before you act or just suggest he bless what you already did? What kind of listening do you think Jesus did?
Imagine the scene: Who talked the most in this all night prayer? How did time with Dad affect Jesus’ confidence? At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. (v. 13 nlt)
How could it shape your life if, before you chose your life partner, or before your next occupational adventure, you were to “Make Room For Daddy?”
prayer
Lord, let me hear your voice and guide me into my next big decision.