Ephesians 5:20-21 tell us to give "thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Sometimes it's hard to find things to be thankful for. I'm still sad about losing my job with the sheriff's office. But right here this passage is saying to always and for everything give thanks. And if I think hard enough about it, I do have things to be thankful for in this situation. I have a new job, one I know and understand, in a market where people are having trouble finding jobs. I have a family I love. I have bills I've been able to pay. And Sunday, I went to a church service that I truly enjoyed. The music was a good mix of hymns and songs, the pastor was well spoken and explained the text very well, and I felt like I was able to corporately worship God again.
Sure there are negative things in life too, but we need to find God's purpose for placing those things in our lives. We need to find ways to turn them into ways to glorify God. I think someone like me, who tends to be arrogant and dominating, faces these negative times more often. And after reading verse 21 and seeing we all need to be submissive, I believe God puts these hurdles in my life to bring me back to a place of submission. God works all thinks for His glory.
I want to live a thankful life and a submissive life style for God's glory. God is the ruler of all things. I will strive to glorify Him in all I do.
Praise God for All Things.
Praise God the Ruler and King.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Know the Word, Address One Another with It
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of time, because the days are evil." Don't be foolish. Understand what the will of the Lord is. Don't be drunk with wine, it's debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.
That's a quick summary of Ephesians 5:15-18. I really wanted to get to verse 19. We are to "address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart..." The Word of God should be so abundant in our lives that we can just start gushing it when we talk to each other. Just like the Word of God should fill any worship service through the singing, preaching, reading, and praying; our lives should be fill with the Word of God. It is the only source and authority over our lives. It is the key to understanding the character of God and what he demands from us. It is God's words for us to read and live and know. As Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." The word of God will reveal the sin in our lives and direct us in the way God would have us go.
Praise God for His Word.
That's a quick summary of Ephesians 5:15-18. I really wanted to get to verse 19. We are to "address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart..." The Word of God should be so abundant in our lives that we can just start gushing it when we talk to each other. Just like the Word of God should fill any worship service through the singing, preaching, reading, and praying; our lives should be fill with the Word of God. It is the only source and authority over our lives. It is the key to understanding the character of God and what he demands from us. It is God's words for us to read and live and know. As Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." The word of God will reveal the sin in our lives and direct us in the way God would have us go.
Praise God for His Word.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Expose Unfruitful Works of Darkness
It seems like time speeds up in the mornings. Even if I wake up 30 minutes earlier, I seem to run out of time to blog my devotions. I have read this passage a few times and feel like it really does ring true in my own life. I work with a lot of non-Christians who all seem to have "drama" in their lives. Ephesians 5:11-14 seems to be a sort of reminder to me to stay away from the "drama" or conversations about it. This passage tells us to "take no part in unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
There are opportunities for me to get wrapped up in unfruitful works of darkness every day. But God's Word tells me to expose them. By exposing them, they become visible. And when they are visible, they become light. They are light because they are now knowledge of unfruitful works of darkness, avoidable as sin.
What I'm trying to say with all the distractions from all the people in my house right now, is that exposing sin can free you from that sin. If you are involved in sin, and you confront the sin, you become aware of the sin and the Holy Spirit works with your conscience to help you flee that sin in the future. If you are involved in sin, confront the sin, expose the sin, know that it is sin. Then turn from the sin, remove yourself from the temptation, flee from the sin.
The Holy Spirit is our guide. God provided a helper at salvation; the Holy Spirit works in conjunction with our conscience to help reveal sin. God does not want us to sin, and He provided a way of escape.
Praise God for His Holy Spirit.
There are opportunities for me to get wrapped up in unfruitful works of darkness every day. But God's Word tells me to expose them. By exposing them, they become visible. And when they are visible, they become light. They are light because they are now knowledge of unfruitful works of darkness, avoidable as sin.
What I'm trying to say with all the distractions from all the people in my house right now, is that exposing sin can free you from that sin. If you are involved in sin, and you confront the sin, you become aware of the sin and the Holy Spirit works with your conscience to help you flee that sin in the future. If you are involved in sin, confront the sin, expose the sin, know that it is sin. Then turn from the sin, remove yourself from the temptation, flee from the sin.
The Holy Spirit is our guide. God provided a helper at salvation; the Holy Spirit works in conjunction with our conscience to help reveal sin. God does not want us to sin, and He provided a way of escape.
Praise God for His Holy Spirit.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Olympics
Sometimes family is important. This morning my wife and I caught up on some of the swimming events of the Olympics. And we are really into it. Michael Phelps is really an amazing swimmer.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
What is Acceptable to the Lord?
Ephesians 5:10 is the next verse, and I can't quite decide where to go with it. I wish I had included it with yesterday's section because it seems to fit better with those verses. I'm not sure why I didn't. It's a continuation of the sentence in verse 9. 10 says, "and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord." We are told to walk as children of the light and then to try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. The word try seems like it gives us an out. But, after 20 minutes of re-reading the verses around this one and trying to discern its meaning, I turned to my John MacArthur study Bible for some help.
My daily Bible is the ESV translation, and the JMac is New King James Version. The NKJV says, "finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." And the commentary notes explain it well. It says, ""Finding out" carries the idea of testing or proving to learn by clear and convincing evidence what is truly honoring to God," and "as believers walk in the light of the truth, knowledge of the Lord's will becomes clear."
Well, I can't say it any better than that. It's funny to think of one verse causing me such an issue, but having such a great meaning. It is good to know that as we live our lives according to our calling, we will gain the knowledge of the will of God.
Praise God for His Will.
My daily Bible is the ESV translation, and the JMac is New King James Version. The NKJV says, "finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." And the commentary notes explain it well. It says, ""Finding out" carries the idea of testing or proving to learn by clear and convincing evidence what is truly honoring to God," and "as believers walk in the light of the truth, knowledge of the Lord's will becomes clear."
Well, I can't say it any better than that. It's funny to think of one verse causing me such an issue, but having such a great meaning. It is good to know that as we live our lives according to our calling, we will gain the knowledge of the will of God.
Praise God for His Will.
Monday, August 11, 2008
I Wanna Be in the Light
Back in 1998 DC Talk had a song called "In The Light." I was helping the Youth Group at First Baptist Church in Auburn under Kirk Welch. We planned a "summer camp" with the Jr. High Group in Monterey, CA, where there was a Christian concert event called "Spirit West Coast." Our theme was developed around living in the light.
Now, 10 years later I sit hear and read Paul's letter to the Ephesians and I'm reminded that I need to be living in the light, as a child of the light. According to Ephesians 5:8-9 we were "at one time...darkness, but now (we) are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light..." The next part of verse 9 is what struck me today. it says, "for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true." What is good and right and true in my life? What about yours? We have an opportunity to be lights in our daily lives. I have a Christian boss who I see being a light in her work. I know she spends time every morning in the Word and praying for the people she works with. And she is a light at work.
I want to be in the light that God called me into. I want to be part of everything that is good and right and true. I don't want there to ever be any doubt that I am different and set apart from the world. I want to be a light shining out of the darkness of the sin that surrounds us. I want to stand out from the rest of my co-workers and make known the grace of God to all of the people I come into contact with everyday. I pray that the truth of grace and our desperate need for a Savior is so evident in my life. I want walk as a child of the light.
Praise God for His Light.
Praise God for all that is good and right and true.
Now, 10 years later I sit hear and read Paul's letter to the Ephesians and I'm reminded that I need to be living in the light, as a child of the light. According to Ephesians 5:8-9 we were "at one time...darkness, but now (we) are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light..." The next part of verse 9 is what struck me today. it says, "for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true." What is good and right and true in my life? What about yours? We have an opportunity to be lights in our daily lives. I have a Christian boss who I see being a light in her work. I know she spends time every morning in the Word and praying for the people she works with. And she is a light at work.
I want to be in the light that God called me into. I want to be part of everything that is good and right and true. I don't want there to ever be any doubt that I am different and set apart from the world. I want to be a light shining out of the darkness of the sin that surrounds us. I want to stand out from the rest of my co-workers and make known the grace of God to all of the people I come into contact with everyday. I pray that the truth of grace and our desperate need for a Savior is so evident in my life. I want walk as a child of the light.
Praise God for His Light.
Praise God for all that is good and right and true.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Lectio Continua Bible Reading
A Primer on Reformed Worship Part 1
Today for church, we listened to Part 1 of a series by Terry L. Johnson called "A Primer on Reformed Worship." Terry happens to be my uncle as well, but he is a published writer and the senior pastor at Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Georgia.
Part 1 of this 3 part series was more a background of his studies and how he came to believe the way he does. A quick overview of his philosophy of worship, from this first part of the series is to Sing the Word, Preach the Word, Read the Word, Pray the Word, and Administer the visible word – Communion. The focus being on worship of God through the Bible. It is such a simple plan with such a deep and powerful outcome. What better way to worship God than to use the living and active Word of God?
Again, this was part 1 of the series and was a background of how my uncle came to believe this is such a powerful way to worship God. Having first learned of the reformation in a Reformation History class at USC and reading such great books as J.I. Packer's "Knowing God", Terry decided to go to Trinity College in England to study under Packer and his faculty. During his college years, Terry also went to Scotland. He learned a great deal about the history of the reformation and Covenantal theology.
He watched and learned how churches in both England and Scotland were using the Bible in all parts of their worship services. One church sang from a book of Psalms which were rhymed and metered back in the 1650s. It was the whole book of Psalms but to music. They were singing the Word.
At one point in his studies he learned under John MacArthur at Grace Community Church in Southern California. John taught verse by verse through the Bible, also known as expository preaching. Terry said it was powerful and he felt like a new person every time he left one of John's sermons. John preached the Word.
Another time while in England, Terry attended a church where scripture was read during the service. Not part of the preaching, but it was a different passage of scripture read in a slow and deliberate manner. The comparison between lectio selecta vs. lectio continua was made, meaning the practice of selecting passages vs. reading verse by verse through the whole of scripture. Terry found this to be much more powerful and said, the whole Bible is the whole character of God. They were reading the Word.
Finally, Terry attended a prayer meeting were he was impacted by the deep and powerful prayer meeting he was part of in Scotland (I think). He said the prayers of these men were God centered, God dependent, scripture rich prayers. Use scripture in prayers. The language of scripture is God's centered, God glorifying, and more powerful than anything man could ever say on his own. These men Prayed the Word.
Sing the Word, Preach the Word, Read the Word, and Pray the Word. This is the method to a God centered worship service, rather than a man centered service. The church services I've been to lately are not God centered. They are man centered and can not be called worship services. The fact that the Word of God is not the center focus of a church worship service is a frightening thing in what is called the church today.
Even in my own life, I see myself looking for a church that has all the things I want. Instead, I should be looking for a church that has what God desires/demands from our lives. We are here to worship God, to glorify Him. That is our purpose and our design. Church should NEVER be about what we are getting out of it, but what we are giving God through it. Church should be a place to publicly and corporately worship God.
Praise God for His Word.
Sing the Word. Preach the Word. Read the Word. Pray the Word.
Part 1 of this 3 part series was more a background of his studies and how he came to believe the way he does. A quick overview of his philosophy of worship, from this first part of the series is to Sing the Word, Preach the Word, Read the Word, Pray the Word, and Administer the visible word – Communion. The focus being on worship of God through the Bible. It is such a simple plan with such a deep and powerful outcome. What better way to worship God than to use the living and active Word of God?
Again, this was part 1 of the series and was a background of how my uncle came to believe this is such a powerful way to worship God. Having first learned of the reformation in a Reformation History class at USC and reading such great books as J.I. Packer's "Knowing God", Terry decided to go to Trinity College in England to study under Packer and his faculty. During his college years, Terry also went to Scotland. He learned a great deal about the history of the reformation and Covenantal theology.
He watched and learned how churches in both England and Scotland were using the Bible in all parts of their worship services. One church sang from a book of Psalms which were rhymed and metered back in the 1650s. It was the whole book of Psalms but to music. They were singing the Word.
At one point in his studies he learned under John MacArthur at Grace Community Church in Southern California. John taught verse by verse through the Bible, also known as expository preaching. Terry said it was powerful and he felt like a new person every time he left one of John's sermons. John preached the Word.
Another time while in England, Terry attended a church where scripture was read during the service. Not part of the preaching, but it was a different passage of scripture read in a slow and deliberate manner. The comparison between lectio selecta vs. lectio continua was made, meaning the practice of selecting passages vs. reading verse by verse through the whole of scripture. Terry found this to be much more powerful and said, the whole Bible is the whole character of God. They were reading the Word.
Finally, Terry attended a prayer meeting were he was impacted by the deep and powerful prayer meeting he was part of in Scotland (I think). He said the prayers of these men were God centered, God dependent, scripture rich prayers. Use scripture in prayers. The language of scripture is God's centered, God glorifying, and more powerful than anything man could ever say on his own. These men Prayed the Word.
Sing the Word, Preach the Word, Read the Word, and Pray the Word. This is the method to a God centered worship service, rather than a man centered service. The church services I've been to lately are not God centered. They are man centered and can not be called worship services. The fact that the Word of God is not the center focus of a church worship service is a frightening thing in what is called the church today.
Even in my own life, I see myself looking for a church that has all the things I want. Instead, I should be looking for a church that has what God desires/demands from our lives. We are here to worship God, to glorify Him. That is our purpose and our design. Church should NEVER be about what we are getting out of it, but what we are giving God through it. Church should be a place to publicly and corporately worship God.
Praise God for His Word.
Sing the Word. Preach the Word. Read the Word. Pray the Word.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Don't Let It Be Named Among You
Okay so here we go with too little time and way to much to write about. Ephesians 5:3-6 strikes right at the heart of my life for the past year. I'm not going to be able to go into great detail as to why I feel these verses apply to me so strongly, but the jail was a rough place, with foul language, crude conversation, and filthy talk. I did, for my first year, stand out from the group. They all knew I didn't cuss or participate in the joking and dirty talk. Things like, "Hold on, Burch is here and won't want to hear this one," were said a lot my first year. Then I started to let my guard down. The second year I started to laugh at the jokes and even started adding to conversations I should not have been part of.
Fast forward to now, a new job with new people and a kind of "redo" for me. Since I didn't do what verse 7 tells me to do and "not associate with them" (the people involved in this filthiness) God removed me from the jail. But even in this business professional environment, there are still opportunities for me to fail God in these ways. The scariest part is that people involved in this sin have "no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." We have to flee from this. Things mentioned in this passage that we need to flee from are sexual immorality, all impurity, COVETOUSNESS (dang, I want a lot of "stuff" people have), filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking (darn sense of humor crossing the line too often). These are all things we all struggle with but we need to STOP!!!!!!!! If we are still struggling with these sins, we need to take a good hard look at our relationship with God.
Do you have a relationship with God? Are you working on improving it every day? The Word of God is so important. Like the reformers of the 16th century, we need to be reading the Word, praying the Word, singing the Word, preaching the Word. And then we need to apply the Word to our daily lives.
Praise God for His Word.
***I had other issues with this post so please don't concern yourself with errors in grammar or formatting. Sometimes the Internet is a beast. (not the beast, LOL)
Fast forward to now, a new job with new people and a kind of "redo" for me. Since I didn't do what verse 7 tells me to do and "not associate with them" (the people involved in this filthiness) God removed me from the jail. But even in this business professional environment, there are still opportunities for me to fail God in these ways. The scariest part is that people involved in this sin have "no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." We have to flee from this. Things mentioned in this passage that we need to flee from are sexual immorality, all impurity, COVETOUSNESS (dang, I want a lot of "stuff" people have), filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking (darn sense of humor crossing the line too often). These are all things we all struggle with but we need to STOP!!!!!!!! If we are still struggling with these sins, we need to take a good hard look at our relationship with God.
Do you have a relationship with God? Are you working on improving it every day? The Word of God is so important. Like the reformers of the 16th century, we need to be reading the Word, praying the Word, singing the Word, preaching the Word. And then we need to apply the Word to our daily lives.
Praise God for His Word.
***I had other issues with this post so please don't concern yourself with errors in grammar or formatting. Sometimes the Internet is a beast. (not the beast, LOL)
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Be Imitators of God
Ephesians 5 starts with a task that is really impossible for us as sinful beings. We are called to "be imitators of God, as beloved children." Verse 2 goes on to tell us to "walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us." Now I say these things are impossible but the Bible is telling me to do it. So how do I?
Well, with the Holy Spirit, God's promised helper, we can. With God's help we can. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with our own ability to be successful in this. It will take the help of God. But, if we are not imitating God and loving like Christ, we are not following the command set forth here in Ephesians, and therefore we are not doing the will of God.
Check out Jarrett's blog about change. It's great. And here's another Blog for your readers. Jarrett Tonn is a good friend of mine, who has a really great ability to write about God's truths. Casey and Jay Hobbs also write on the blog. Check out Reckless Raging Fury.
Well, with the Holy Spirit, God's promised helper, we can. With God's help we can. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with our own ability to be successful in this. It will take the help of God. But, if we are not imitating God and loving like Christ, we are not following the command set forth here in Ephesians, and therefore we are not doing the will of God.
Check out Jarrett's blog about change. It's great. And here's another Blog for your readers. Jarrett Tonn is a good friend of mine, who has a really great ability to write about God's truths. Casey and Jay Hobbs also write on the blog. Check out Reckless Raging Fury.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Just a Quick Update for Excuse Sake
I got promoted at the bank and I'm responsible for all of the daily operations of the branch. Lots of work, earlier start time, and a complete lack of time management are my current excuses for why the blog has been neglected the last few weeks.
Lame, I know.
Lame, I know.
Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit..Be Kind
Ephesians 4 ends with some powerful and applicable verses. Verses 30-32 really bring me back to looking at myself and seeing areas of struggle in my life as a Christian. I fear I do grieve the Holy Spirit, as verse 30 tells me not to do. I am a bitter and angry person. I am not kind to others, and it can be hard for me to forgive.
But the power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit are the only chance for change. It interesting for me to think about the phrase "do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" because I am truly affected by that. I genuinely do not want to grieve God or the Spirit. This reminder that my sins do grieve the Holy Spirit help me realize my lack of comprehension of God's love for me.
Today, a Monday, my goal is to start this week with the goal of being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. I will work on not being bitter or angry. Only by the grace of God am I saved from these sins, not because I've earned it. I obviously have not. The grace of God is so amazing and should not be taken for granted. I must work hard to live a life that pleases God and brings glory to His name. Only a better understanding of this grace can do that.
Praise God for His Grace.
Praise God for His Power Over Sin.
But the power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit are the only chance for change. It interesting for me to think about the phrase "do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" because I am truly affected by that. I genuinely do not want to grieve God or the Spirit. This reminder that my sins do grieve the Holy Spirit help me realize my lack of comprehension of God's love for me.
Today, a Monday, my goal is to start this week with the goal of being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. I will work on not being bitter or angry. Only by the grace of God am I saved from these sins, not because I've earned it. I obviously have not. The grace of God is so amazing and should not be taken for granted. I must work hard to live a life that pleases God and brings glory to His name. Only a better understanding of this grace can do that.
Praise God for His Grace.
Praise God for His Power Over Sin.
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