Category Archives: Bible Stories

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May 29, 2015

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Bible Stories, Forgiveness, God's Grace & Love, Salvation: A New You

SPLISH, SPLASH, TAKIN’ A BATH!

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I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. [Isaiah 61:10 (NLT)]

When on a photo safari in Tanzania, I couldn’t believe how grimy I got. Tooling around on unpaved roads all day long in an open Range Rover meant for a lot of dust and, by the end of the day, I was caked with it. I’m sure you’ve had days when you’ve gotten incredibly dirty, as well. There’s nothing like hours spent gardening or cleaning out the garage to leave you and your clothes filthy, sweaty, and less than fragrant. Your hands and fingernails are coated with grime and even your teeth feel gritty. How refreshing it feels to strip off your dirty clothing and step into a hot shower and scrub away the dirt. Once clean, isn’t it pleasant to step into freshly laundered clothes? You feel like a new person.

3-15-15 wildebeest-WEBThe prophet Zechariah had a vision. In it, the high priest Jeshua, representing the nation of Israel, was standing before the angel of the Lord. Representing the sins of his people, Jeshua’s clothes were filthy. His clothing was removed and the angel said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and I am giving you fine new clothes.” [Zechariah 3:4 (NLT)] What an amazing image this is. Sins are literally being stripped off and replaced with garments of God’s goodness. Just as we feel refreshed after a shower and fresh clothes, imagine how much better we feel when we have shed the grime of sin. Our confession and repentance serve as soap and God’s forgiveness is the warm water showering over us, cleansing us of our sins. God’s grace is like the fresh outfit that is waiting for us. He will clothe us with his love and mercy; we just have to put on our new apparel. We won’t just feel like a new person; we can be a new person!

So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. … Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 13:12,14 (NLT)]

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy. [Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT)]

 

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May 11, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Holidays & Holy Days

MOTHERS-IN-LAW – MOTHER’S DAY

“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” [Ruth 2:11-12 (NLT)]

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Now in my seventh decade, I view the Bible story of Ruth from an entirely different perspective than when I was younger. While I used to connect with the youthful woman, Ruth, I now relate to the older one (and mother-in-law), Naomi. In a time of famine, Naomi and her husband Elimelech moved from Judah to Moab with their two sons. Even though Jewish law forbade it, their sons married local girls: Orpah and Ruth. Unfortunately, all three men died, leaving Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth widows. In those days, there was little worse than being a widow; widows were ignored, usually poverty stricken, and often victimized. Since a widow’s closest relative was supposed to take care of her, Naomi decided to return to her relatives in Judah. Orpah and Ruth set out to go with her, but Naomi stopped and advised them to go back to their families in Moab, telling the young women that she had nothing for them. Orpah, perhaps wisely, chose to return home. Ruth, however, chose to stay and said those words we often hear repeated in wedding ceremonies: “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.” [Ruth 1:16-17 (NLT)]

What an amazing declaration of love! It’s one you might expect from a wife to a husband but not from a son’s wife to her mother-in-law. What was it about Naomi that could inspire such words from her daughter-in-law? What kind of woman earns that much love and loyalty? What kind of woman arouses such devotion that her daughter-in-law willingly leaves the safety of her homeland to share a poverty-stricken existence with her? She’s certainly not the kind about whom bad mother-in-law jokes are written.

Naomi must have been cool and calm, loving and gracious. Perhaps she kept the Biblical equivalent of duct tape handy to place over her mouth when necessary. I’m sure she never interfered or told her sons’ wives how to manage their households. In spite of the fact they weren’t Jewish, Naomi must have accepted, loved and respected her daughters-in-law as if they were her very own daughters. Finally, she must have had a deep faith in God that was evident in the way she lived. Otherwise, why would Ruth chose to follow Naomi’s one God rather than the pagan gods of Moab?

My fervent prayer is that I can be a Ruth to my mother-in-law, a women deserving of such love and devotion. Moreover, I pray that I can be a Naomi to my daughters-in-law. Heavenly Father, show me how to be a woman filled with kindness and wisdom, love and faith. May I be the sort of woman who can inspire these loving words: “Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. … Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. [Proverbs 31:25-26,30 (NLT)]

 

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April 25, 2015

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Bible Stories, Church & Worship, Love & Works, Obedience

LET US HONOR HIM IN ALL WE DO

When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?  You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” [Genesis 4:3-7 (NLT)]

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Sundays, I take photos for the church website. As I was editing pictures from last Sunday’s service, I wondered why I was doing it and bemoaned the fact that it is so much faster and easier to take 150 photos than to edit them all. Couldn’t I just upload them without the painstaking process of editing? Or, couldn’t I just take a quick look through them and just eliminate the really bad or unfocused ones? Why did I have to analyze every photo before deleting or enhancing and cropping it to make it good enough for posting? Why am I so careful to eliminate any that, if I were the subject, I wouldn’t want someone to see? Who really looks anyway? Then, I remembered that there were 9,000 hits on the church’s Facebook page the week after Easter so I suppose some people actually do look at those photos. I had an idea: what if I didn’t take so many? Couldn’t I get by with just a handful of the band, singers, pastor and congregation? Think how quickly I’d be done if I only took twenty instead of 150 or more! I say I wasn’t complaining, but really I was.

I paused in my tirade when I came to the photo of the lovely crosses given to our music team in appreciation for their service to the congregation. It brought to mind the hours the worship leader, band, singers and sound crew work to give us the music that makes our one hour of worship so joyful, entertaining and moving. I pondered the hours our pastors work each week to make that same hour so meaningful. I looked at the photos of the men setting up and taking down the thousand chairs that get carted to the park each week for our worshippers. I looked at my shots of the volunteers who pick up or serve the food, coffee, and juice. I saw pics of the teachers for our kid’s time and youth groups. I saw the friendly faces of the greeters who faithfully hand out programs and carry collection buckets every Sunday. There are other pictures of the many volunteers who make our church so special: the blood pressure checkers, the men in charge of our veteran’s outreach, the Bible study teachers and small group leaders, and the food pantry volunteers. Every one of these people give their very best every Sunday.

God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s and it wasn’t because God didn’t like vegetarian fare! Abel gave God the finest he had to offer: the choicest piece of meat from the firstborn of his flock. Although he gave God some of his crops, Cain didn’t give Him the first of the harvest or even the best of his crop. It may have been the surplus yield or possibly blighted in some way. The best was accepted; the less than best was not. It’s clear that God expects the best we can offer; after all, he gave us His best when he gave us Jesus! I guess a few hours on Sunday afternoon aren’t all that much to offer. So, I’ll continue to take way too many photos at church tomorrow and I’ll probably grumble a bit as I edit them. I will continue to carefully look through them to delete the bad ones and enhance and crop the good ones so they are the best I can offer to God and my fellow worshippers.

What’s the best you have to offer?

“You Are My King (Amazing Love)” [Billy James Foote, songwriter]
Amazing love, how can it be
That You, my King, should die for me?
Amazing love and I know it’s true,
And it’s my joy to honor You, in all I do to honor You.
In all I do to honor You, in all I do, let me honor You.

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. [Hebrews 11:4 (NLT)]

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April 21, 2015

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Bible Stories, Forgiveness, God's Grace & Love, Obedience

UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS

If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit. [Leviticus 25:35-37 (NIV)]

If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. [Exodus 22:25 (NIV)]

birdsfoot trefoil--LkGenWI14webIn the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to give help to one another freely and not to expect a profit from their assistance. The purpose of a loan was to help a person in need, not to increase one’s wealth. Avarice, of course, killed that concept. People being people, greediness quickly replaced concern when loans were made. Although the lender was to give out of love not out of hope of gain, rates of interest became exorbitant and poor debtors became helpless. Sound familiar?

In the New Testament, debtors and creditors were often used to illustrate the concept of forgiveness of sins. Sin is a debt that must be paid or canceled before man can be free. Jesus taught us to ask God to forgive our debts (or trespasses) as we forgive the debts (or trespasses) against us. Sometimes, however, we want something more before we’ll forgive. Often, as a condition of forgiveness, we want an apology from the offender; we may want him or her to eat some “humble pie” or we may want them to make amends. We want them to pay for their offense! Not that the offender shouldn’t apologize or try to make things right but, as the forgiver, we are not allowed to demand or expect it!

Jesus freely repaid our debt on the cross. God doesn’t expect us to grovel and beg for His forgiveness; he readily hands it out to all who repent. We are to be as equally forgiving of our fellow man!

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [Matthew 6:12 (NIV)]

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)]

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April 7, 2015

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Bible Stories, Challenges & Difficulty, Fear & Doubt, God's Promises, Holidays & Holy Days, Knowing Him, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets

WILL WE RECOGNIZE HIM?

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. [John 1:10 (NLT)]

?????????????????????????????The Gospel of John tells us that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early that Sunday morning only to find it empty. Puzzled, upset, and thinking that someone had stolen the body of Jesus, she started to weep. When she saw a man, thinking he was the gardener, she asked what had been done with Jesus. It wasn’t until He spoke to her that she recognized the Lord.

Luke tells how, that same day, while walking to Emmaus, two of Jesus’ followers were talking about the crucifixion and the week’s events. Frightened and disturbed by the confusing news, a man joined them as they walked. The two, preoccupied with their sadness and disappointment, failed to recognize Him. It was not until Jesus sat down with them, broke bread and blessed it, that they finally recognized their Lord.

These men and Mary Magdalene were Jesus’ followers, yet they failed to recognize him at first. Were they so blinded by their grief or so focused on their disappointment that they couldn’t see their Savior? Were they so preoccupied by their troubles that they failed to see their solution in Jesus? Did they miss seeing Jesus simply because they weren’t looking for him? Was it because, in spite of Jesus’ promises, they weren’t even expecting him?

If we ever hope to experience Jesus’ power and hope, we must remember to look for him when we are grieving, disappointed or troubled. I wonder how many times I have seen Jesus and failed to recognize him, never realizing He was right beside me all of the time.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. [Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT)]

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April 2, 2015

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Bible Stories, Fear & Doubt, God's Plan, Prayer, Trusting God

IT’S A REQUEST – Maundy Thursday

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” … Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” … So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. [Matthew 26:39,42,44 (NLT)]

He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. [Luke 22:44 (NLT)]

A request allows a variety of responses such as “yes,” “no,” “perhaps,” “maybe,” or “later.” A command, on the other hand, expects the response of “yes!” In our relationship with God, it’s important to remember that He’s the only one who gets to command. We, on the other hand, can only make requests. If God’s response to our prayers is a resounding “No!” does that mean we didn’t pray hard enough or that we were unworthy or unloved?

Jesus was intense in his prayer that last night; he prayed so fervently his sweat dropped like blood to the ground. He certainly was persistent; he prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane. Without a doubt, being without sin, He was worthy. Moreover, Jesus surely was loved; after all, He was the son of God. Yet, God did not take away the cup of suffering that lay ahead of him. If God could deny His only son, we must accept the fact that He can deny our prayers, too. God denied Jesus because He had other better plans for Him; when God denies our prayers, it’s because He has other, better, plans for us, as well. Let His will be done!

May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. [Matthew 6:10b (NLT)]