READ Matthew 26:69-75

Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. [Matthew 26:72]

Peter’s denial of Jesus was even more painful and poignant given the fact that Jesus had predicted it and Peter had strongly denied that he would do it (Matt. 26:33-35). It’s not hard to understand the fear that motivated Peter to deny the Lord. Jesus had just been arrested, and his death was imminent. If Peter had acknowledged his connection with Jesus, his own life would be in jeopardy. So he did what he had sworn he would not do, denying Jesus, not just once, but three times.

I have never been in a position like that of Peter, where my life was on the line because of my faith. Thus I have never been tempted to deny Jesus exactly as Peter did. But there have been many times in my life when I have denied Jesus in more subtle ways. With my words, I have sometimes backed away from bearing witness to him when I feared for my reputation. With my deeds, I have sometimes acted in ways contrary to his teaching. My desire for people to approve of me has at times been stronger than my love for my Lord.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have you ever been tempted to deny Jesus in one way or another? What happened? What helps you to remain faithful when you’re tempted to hide your faith?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, though I haven’t denied you as openly as Peter did, we both know there have been many times when I have nevertheless denied you. I have hidden my faith when I should have spoken up. I have acted more to gain human approval than to bear witness to you through my deeds. Forgive me, Lord!
Give me courage to speak and live for you at all times and all places. Help me to place your approval above that of people.
Give me wisdom to know how best to speak and live for you. Help me especially in situations that are fraught with complications. May I always speak and live the truth in love. Amen.

Keep me in your prayers.  Going home to check on Marcia's parents. 

Michael

The designers of an innovative Web site call their creation a “snapshot” of our world. Every hour, computers monitor international news sources, select the most frequently occurring words and pictures, then display them as an interactive image. Over time, these hourly snapshots compose a mosaic of unfolding world events.

If a computer could track our words and actions, what would a snapshot of yesterday reveal? Over the weeks and months, what patterns would emerge? And what theme would dominate the final mosaic of our lives?

Psalm 90, a prayer of Moses the man of God, is a powerfully honest look at the brevity and significance of life. The writer compares an entire lifetime to a dream or a blade of grass, and cries out to God: “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (v.12). Our days often seem so insignificant, yet they add up to so much. The Message renders verse 12: “Teach us to live wisely and well.” It is a prayer for the snapshots of life with the final image in view.

When all the pictures of our life are laid on the table, they will reveal our recurring words and actions. What story will they tell? It’s worth considering as we make our choices each day.

Choose well today.  Michael

Today's Reading:  Psalm 110-112; 1 Corinthians 5

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. John 17:15

Jesus' prayer to keep us in the world was truly based on love. He has provided everything we need for life and godliness, despite our circumstances. He has given us creation to see His handiwork and understand His unlimited abilities. He has given us His Word that sanctifies us and sets us apart for Him. And He has given us His own testimony as Jesus, Son of God, who walked on this earth and lived in this world. He prayed that the Father would not take us out of this world but to keep us from the evil one. Jesus prayed that we be made one with Him while remaining on earth. At times, it seems impossible to walk against the pattern of this world. We can take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands what we are going through. Our only hope is to depend on Him, which is exactly what He wants in the first place.

Where are you today? Do you secretly desire at times to be taken to heaven? Only you know the reasons why you feel this way but know today that Jesus has a plan for you being right here, right now. He loves you and has a plan for your life. Ask the Lord to give you strength in times of trouble, peace in times of struggle and hope when the world seems to be hopeless. Only in Jesus can we stay in this world and experience heaven on earth. 

Don't despair.  God has you where you are for a purpose.  Heaven will come soon enough.  Finish what He has begun in you.

Michael

From the Brink of Disaster

Thank you for your patience as I am migrating from my defunct computer to my new one.  From XP to Vista.  It's quite a journey.  I still don't have Outlook or my Bible software but will work on that this week.  Keep Don and Ann Gregory in your prayers tomorrow.  Ann has surgery at Indy.   Hopefully, I will be back on line at my regular pace this week.

Michael

Today's Text: I Chronicles 16:29   (The following text is taken entirely from the scriptures)

Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!  (1 Chron. 16:29 nkjv.)

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth (Ps. 8:1 niv.)! I delight in You, the King of glory. You are strong and mighty in battle (Ps. 24:7–8), and Your kingdom is built on righteousness and justice (Ps. 89:14). You have given all authority to Your Son Jesus (Matt. 28:18), the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). Jesus, I rejoice that at Your name, every knee will bow—both in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10–11).

Almighty God, there is no king like my King. There is no god like my God. All the nations are but a drop in the bucket compared to Your power and might (Isa. 40:15). Your reign extends from human events and the change in seasons (Dan. 2:21) through eternity (Dan. 7:14). The powers of death, sin, and hell are no match for You. I can’t help but sing and shout for my King. You reign (1 Chron. 16:31)!

To look upon Your face in all Your fullness would mean certain death (Ex. 33:20). Yet You allow me—laden with sin that I am—to enter into Your presence through the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 4:16). And as I approach Your throne, I am enamored with Your beauty. The grandeur and splendor of Your presence astound me.

My heart trembles at the thought that I am privileged to enter into the courts of the almighty God who reigns above the heavens and holds the destiny of earthly kingdoms in His hands (Dan. 2:21). So I build a throne of worship and praise for You to take Your rightful place (Ps. 22:3)—in my hardships (James 1:2); in my successes (Ps. 115:1); in my thoughts (Col. 3:2); in everything I do (1 Thess. 5:16–18).

Your holiness describes Your beauty. You are perfect in all Your ways (Deut. 32:4), devoid of all evil (Ps. 5:4) and unrighteousness (Ps. 92:15). There is no one like You (Isa. 40:25). Jesus, You are the manifestation of God’s beauty (Isa. 4:2). The beauty of this world reflects the essence of who You are. Lord, let Your beauty be upon me (Ps. 90:17).

Only those with clean hands and a pure heart may enjoy Your presence (Ps. 24:3–4). Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit so that I may have the power to be holy just as You are holy (Lev. 11:45).

The one thing I desire is that I may dwell in Your house all the days of my life, to behold Your beauty, and to seek You in Your temple (Ps. 27:4). “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Ps. 84:10 niv.). As I see You in all Your beauty and splendor, I fall in love with You all over again.

So I pledge my allegiance to You my King and join the four living creatures surrounding Your throne who cry, “Holy, holy, holy/Lord God Almighty,/Who was and is and is to come!” (Rev. 4:8 nkjv.).

Michael

Today's Text: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Thelma Jo Sterling is sitting up and talking.  The Lord be praised.  But the coma has left some loss of memory and confusion.  Keep her in your prayers as she progresses.  Also remember Stephanie Johnson (Rob's wife) in your thoughts and prayers.  She suffered a miscarriage this week in Kentucky.  Those of you who have suffered the same know how to pray. 

In a world of so much pain and disappointment, it is good to know we work to make it better as stated in this text. 

The key idea in this text is reconciliation. Because of his rebellion, man was the enemy of God and out of fellowship with Him. Through the work of the Cross, Jesus Christ has brought man and God together again. God has been reconciled and has turned His face in love toward the lost world. The basic meaning of the word reconcile is "to change thoroughly." It refers to a changed relationship between God and the lost world.

God does not have to be reconciled to man, because that was accomplished by Christ on the cross. It is sinful man who must be reconciled to God. "Religion" is man's feeble effort to be reconciled to God, efforts that are bound to fail. The Person who reconciles us to God is Jesus Christ, and the place where He reconciles us is His cross.

Another key idea in this section is imputation. This is a word borrowed from banking; it simply means "to put to one's account." When you deposit money in the bank, the computer (or the clerk) puts that amount to your account, or to your credit. When Jesus died on the cross, all of our sins were imputed to Him—put to His account. He was treated by God as though He had actually committed those sins.

The result? All of those sins have been paid for and God no longer holds them against us, because we have trusted Christ as our Savior. But even more: God has put to our account the very righteousness of Christ! "For He has made Him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).

Reconciliation is based on imputation: because the demands of God's holy Law have been fully met on the cross, God can be reconciled to sinners. Those who believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior will never have their sins imputed against them again (Ps. 32:1-2; Rom. 4:1-8). As far as their records are concerned, they, share the righteousness of Jesus Christ!

Enjoy the day and look kindly on those around you.

Michael

Today's Text: Exodus 16:1-21

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks." That wise counsel comes from American preacher  Phillips Brooks.  When he spoke those words to his Boston congregation, perhaps he had the people of Israel in mind, for whenever the going got tough, the Israelites began grumbling and talking about returning to Egypt.

It was one thing for the Jews to stand by the Red Sea and joyfully sing praises to the Lord, and quite something else to trust God in their daily wilderness walk. They were no different from God's people today. Life is still a school, and the painful experiences of life teach us some of the most important lessons. What are you struggling with right now?  What is your desert? 

What you need is not your way but more power.  Power equal to the task.  No, power greater than your task.  So take whatever preys on your mind today and pray for power beyond the problem.  Pray to be more that strong enough.  Above all, don't just pray for an easy answer or way out!

I meet today with our FEMA case manager.  We have served two families and they have completed their relocation process.  We remain with one and this will require more power and effort.  Pray for them.  And remember Thelma Jo.

Michael

Today's Text: Deuteronomy 7:6-14

In Scripture, separation is not isolation; for if believers are isolated, how can they be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:13-16) and influence others for the Lord? Believers can be separated from sin and to the Lord and still be involved in the normal challenges and activities of human life.

Abraham was allied with some of his neighbors in Canaan and together they defeated the invaders and rescued the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 14); yet Abraham never lived or worshiped as his neighbors did. Jesus was the "friend of publicans and sinners" (Matt. 11:19), and yet He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb. 7:26). Jesus had contact with the real world and its people but He wasn't contaminated from that contact. True biblical separation is contact without contamination. We're different from the world but not odd. When you're different, you attract people and have opportunities to share the good news of Christ; but when you're odd, you repel people and they slam the door on your witness.

We must not overlook the parallel between Israel and the church. All who are born again through faith in Jesus Christ are "chosen in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:4). This salvation came to us "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy" (Titus 2:5).  Like Israel, the church is God's chosen people and His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:5, 9); and like Israel, we are called to be a light to the lost world (Matt. 5:14-16).

Remember Thelma Jo today.  She is making slow progress but progress.  Remember Mark, Linda and Barb.  A special thanks to everyone who helped with the Weaver house.  The debris is cleared and Carroll will keep it for gardening as long as his health holds.  I loved Taylor's testimony Sunday.  God is raising up good people.

Michael

Today's Text:  I Corinthians 1:9

In this passage of thanksgiving three things stand out.
     (i) There is the promise which came true. When Paul preached Christianity to the Corinthians he told them that Christ could do certain things for them, and now he proudly claims that all that he pledged that Christ could do has come true. 
     (ii) There is the gift which has been given. Paul here uses a favorite word of his. It is charisma which means a gift freely given to a man, a gift which he did not deserve and which he could never by himself have earned. This gift of God, as Paul saw it, comes in two ways.
     (a) Salvation is the charisma of God. To enter into a right relationship with God is something which a man could never achieve himself. It is an unearned gift, coming from the sheer generosity of the love of God. (compare Rom 6:23).
     (b) It gives a man whatever special gifts he may possess and whatever special equipment he may have for life. (1Cor 12:4-10; 1Tim 4:14; 1Pet 4:10). If a man has the gift of speech or the gift of healing, if he has the gift of music or of any art, if he has a craftsman's gifts upon his hands, all these are gifts from God. If we fully realized that, it would bring a new atmosphere and character into life. Such skills as we possess are not our own achievement, they are gifts from God, and, therefore, they are held in trust. They are not to be used as we want to use them but as God wants us to use them; not for our profit or prestige but for the glory of God and the good of men.
     (iii) There is the ultimate end. In the Old Testament the phrase, The Day of the Lord, keeps recurring. It was the day when the Jews expected God to break directly into history, the day when the old world would be wiped out and the new world born, the day when all men would be judged. The Christians took over this idea, only they took The Day of the Lord in the sense of The Day of the Lord Jesus, and regarded it as the day on which Jesus would come back in all his power and glory.

Our case is settled.  Jesus has ruled us free.  What we do with that freedom is the source of our thanksgiving.  Make God proud.

Michael