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Nov 18, 2009

James 4: November 29—Work on your humility

I doubt seriously that humility is a quality one can “work on.” A lady once asked me, “Are you a humble person?” Either way I answered the question was self-defeating. Had I answered, “Yes,” the answer would prove I was not humble. If I were to say, “No,” I would violate the goal of being humble, but at least there could be room for spiritual growth. If humility is an attribute of being humble, and the latter is to show “a low estimate of one’s own importance” [Oxford Illustrated Dictionary], an analysis of five problems we face might at least lead us to a sense of modesty.

Nov 18, 2009

Psalm 119:1-16: November 29—Obey God’s Word

The Book of Psalms is comprised of five books or collections of psalms. The fifth collection contains Psalms 107-150. Numerous smaller collections exist within this large group. For example, Jewish tradition called Psalms 113-118 “the Egyptian Hallel,” songs sung in celebration of Passover. Scripture itself calls Psalms 120-134 “Songs of Ascent,” that is, songs sung by pilgrim worshipers as they ascended upward to the Temple worship complex in Jerusalem. Psalm 119, the longest psalm, is located between these two collections. Perhaps the Jewish people associated this psalm with the next Jewish festival, Tabernacles, a festival that commemorated the giving of the law through Moses at Mount Sinai.

Nov 18, 2009

Micah 5:1-5a; 7:18-20: December 6—Come, thou long-expected Jesus

In this series of studies anticipating the birth of Jesus, we will introduce each session by citing the title of four beloved Christmas carols. Appropriately, our first topic came to be portrayed in a classic written by Charles Wesley titled, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” The song was inspired by Haggai 2:7, a verse closely resembling the contexts of the passage in Micah. Its message captures the anticipation of believers about the coming of the Messiah. Wesley’s hymn balances the Christian commitment to Jesus with the strong Messianic hope of Israel as well as the hope of all the earth.

Nov 18, 2009

Mark 1:14-31: December 6—How can Jesus help me?

John Mark wrote the second gospel as followers of Christ encountered difficult days. He wrote to Christians in Rome facing imperial pressure sometime around 60 A.D. Mark likely wrote with several goals, foremost among the goals, was the purpose to fortify suffering believers. Mark wrote an apologetic gospel to demonstrate that Jesus was the Son of God (1:1, 11; 9:7; 12:6; 14:61: 15:39). As the Son of God, His death was not defeat but a victory. Further, Mark wrote a discipleship manual. To follow Christ, means to follow Christ in suffering. At several points in the second gospel, Jesus correlated a Suffering Christ and cross-bearing discipleship. Finally, Mark wrote to motivate and train Christians for missions involvement.

Nov 5, 2009

James 2:1-13: November 15—Treat everyone fairly

Most parents can probably identify with the following. The child comes home from school, thoroughly dejected and ready to quit school. A parent sits down with the despondent one and tries to learn what happened. More than not, the answer comes, “Nobody at school likes me.” This pronouncement is followed by a list of supposed shunnings, bad-mouthings, and the like. The parent then quotes Proverbs 18:24, “A man [or child] that hath friends must show himself friendly.” This adage is frequently followed by another, “To get rid of an enemy, make the person a friend.”

Nov 5, 2009

James 3: November 22—Watch your language

Our major senses such as eye, ear, and nose are known by the function they perform. If we think of vision, we think of the eye, of sound, we think of the ear, and of odor, the nose.

Nov 5, 2009

Psalm 112: November 15—Live righteously

All people worship, even unbelievers. Through worship, we ascribe worth to a person or object. The object of human worship shapes and molds our life. We become like that which we worship. The twin Psalms of 111 and 112 illustrate this truth from a biblical perspective. Psalm 111 celebrates God. Psalm 112 celebrates the one who follows God. God’s righteousness endures forever (Ps. 111:3,9); likewise, the righteousness of a believer endures forever (Ps. 112:3, 9). God is gracious and compassionate (Ps. 111:4; likewise a believer exhibits gracious and compassionate qualities (Ps. 112:4).

Nov 5, 2009

Psalm 116: November 22—Give thanks

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (d. 1861) wrote one of my favorite poems. The opening line reads, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, perhaps we should ask another question. “How do I thank thee? Let me count the ways.” Sing “Count Your Blessings,” but ask, “How do I thank thee?”

Oct 20, 2009

Psalm 1: November 8—Choose wisely!

The third Indiana Jones movie involves the hero in a search for the Holy Grail, the cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper. When an evil villain picked out an ornate cup, the Knight Templar responded with the immortal words, “You chose—poorly.” Life is about choices. Indeed, a key to life is choosing wisely rather than choosing poorly. In the midst of a lifetime of choices, the Bible affirms that life centers on one choice. In an ultimate sense, we choose wisely or choose poorly in terms of the choice to follow God or not. In the HCSB, “happy” and “ruin” describe the consequent polarities of one choice.

Oct 20, 2009

Psalm 102: November 1—When I am afflicted

Jewish rabbis taught that Psalm 102 was an appropriate psalm for days of fasting. The early church viewed Psalm 102 as one of seven penitential Psalms (Pss. 6, 32, 38, 51,102, 130, 147), although the Psalmist never confessed sin. The Psalmist experienced unexplained personal suffering. The condition of Zion, the people of God, however, compounds the agony he felt. Old Testament scholar H. C. Leupold commented, “For surely, the writer would not be the first man who had his private affliction made heavier by the lowly estate of the church at a given time.” Individual despair and community abasement form the context of this psalm, yet the psalmist arose to a celebration of the eternal nature of the Messiah.

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WWII POW recalls capture in Ardennes Forest
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James 4: November 29—Work on your humility
I doubt seriously that humility is a quality one can “work on.” A lady once asked me, “Are you a humble person?” Either way I answered the question was self-defeating. Had I answered, “Yes,” the Read More Psalm 119:1-16: November 29—Obey God’s Word
The Book of Psalms is comprised of five books or collections of psalms. The fifth collection contains Psalms 107-150. Numerous smaller collections exist within this large group. For example, Jewish Read More Micah 5:1-5a; 7:18-20: December 6—Come, thou long-expected Jesus
In this series of studies anticipating the birth of Jesus, we will introduce each session by citing the title of four beloved Christmas carols. Appropriately, our first topic came to be portrayed in Read More Mark 1:14-31: December 6—How can Jesus help me?
John Mark wrote the second gospel as followers of Christ encountered difficult days. He wrote to Christians in Rome facing imperial pressure sometime around 60 A.D. Mark likely wrote with several Read More James 2:1-13: November 15—Treat everyone fairly
Most parents can probably identify with the following. The child comes home from school, thoroughly dejected and ready to quit school. A parent sits down with the despondent one and tries to learn Read More James 3: November 22—Watch your language
Our major senses such as eye, ear, and nose are known by the function they perform. If we think of vision, we think of the eye, of sound, we think of the ear, and of odor, the Read More Psalm 112: November 15—Live righteously
All people worship, even unbelievers. Through worship, we ascribe worth to a person or object. The object of human worship shapes and molds our life. We become like that which we worship. The twin Read More Psalm 116: November 22—Give thanks
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (d. 1861) wrote one of my favorite poems. The opening line reads, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, perhaps we should Read More