Ephesians 5:11-13 (ESV)
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible...
There are two things in this verse that I want to highlight today. 1) Sometimes it's easier to just let something happen then to confront the issue. 2) What we do in the dark never stays in the dark. I remember when I was going to school there was a bunch of my friends who would work together to cheat on tests. They had their own hand signals for each letter of the multiple choice questions and would be able to confer on who had the correct answer. Most of us knew what was going on. But, no one ever said anything. It was just easier to let it happen... because, "you do you." Right? This was all fine and dandy until they were discovered and then everyone had to retake the exams separately because we didn't know who was involved. That kicked a lot of us in the butt with lower scores. We are not only supposed to stay away from dark acts... but, expose them! Edmund Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
As we start thinking and reflecting on the last five months away from home it has been easy to hide things from those we love. Maybe there are things that you are doing or have done that you wouldn't like your family to know about. Or maybe they did and those issues are now in the light. It is important to realize that there is nothing done that stays hidden forever. It is time to start thinking about how you are going to confront these issues, expose the lies, and garnish forgiveness. Let's go back home with nothing on our conscience so that we can focus on loving those we are being reunited with.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
11Aug16
Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV)
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Anger is not a bad thing. When we see atrocities occur, when we see injustice in our midst, when we see the innocent abused, anger is an appropriate response. We should be angry. We should be passionately opposed to darkness. The problem with anger is that it is most often not applied to the plight of others but, our own offence. When we feel we have been slighted, short changed, or disrespected we become angry. This is not an appropriate form of anger. This is the opportunity the devil loves to utilize. It's the root of self-centeredness. It's the sin portion. When we act on our anger, when we want to harm another because of something that has been done to us, then we allow the wound to fester. It's infected. It needs to be cleansed, cleaned out, and sterilized for it to be useful anger. That only comes with reflection, prayer, and release... not immediate action. Pause, think, breathe. Are you angry because this is about you or because it is about protecting others? If it's about you... then you need to bring it to God to be purified before you can act on it. Don't let it fester. Don't give it more of your time. Don't let it steal your joy. You control your anger... not the other way around.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Anger is not a bad thing. When we see atrocities occur, when we see injustice in our midst, when we see the innocent abused, anger is an appropriate response. We should be angry. We should be passionately opposed to darkness. The problem with anger is that it is most often not applied to the plight of others but, our own offence. When we feel we have been slighted, short changed, or disrespected we become angry. This is not an appropriate form of anger. This is the opportunity the devil loves to utilize. It's the root of self-centeredness. It's the sin portion. When we act on our anger, when we want to harm another because of something that has been done to us, then we allow the wound to fester. It's infected. It needs to be cleansed, cleaned out, and sterilized for it to be useful anger. That only comes with reflection, prayer, and release... not immediate action. Pause, think, breathe. Are you angry because this is about you or because it is about protecting others? If it's about you... then you need to bring it to God to be purified before you can act on it. Don't let it fester. Don't give it more of your time. Don't let it steal your joy. You control your anger... not the other way around.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
10Aug16
Ephesians 5:33 (ESV)
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
As we start to round a corner and look towards Fort Hood and our family and friends, I wanted to take a second and share this verse with you. Over the last few months of separation we have gotten really good at taking care of ourselves and focusing on our daily needs without having to focus on our spouses and loved ones. I know I have done laundry more in the last month than I do in the entire year. I have washed dishes more than I have done in my entire life! These are things my wife usually does for me that show her respect for me and what I do. However, now that I am coming home it is a great time to be thinking about how I'm going reach out and show her I love her as much as I love myself. No matter who you are, or your relationship status, we are all called to love others like we love ourselves. So, what can you do to show it? Love is action!
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
As we start to round a corner and look towards Fort Hood and our family and friends, I wanted to take a second and share this verse with you. Over the last few months of separation we have gotten really good at taking care of ourselves and focusing on our daily needs without having to focus on our spouses and loved ones. I know I have done laundry more in the last month than I do in the entire year. I have washed dishes more than I have done in my entire life! These are things my wife usually does for me that show her respect for me and what I do. However, now that I am coming home it is a great time to be thinking about how I'm going reach out and show her I love her as much as I love myself. No matter who you are, or your relationship status, we are all called to love others like we love ourselves. So, what can you do to show it? Love is action!
Monday, August 8, 2016
09Aug16
Ezra 3:11 (ESV)
And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,
"For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel."
And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
Israel had been exiled. They had been kept from their home land and away from the temple of the LORD. They had spent generations in debauchery and disobedience which caused them to have to be separated from the physical representation of their God, the temple. When they were allowed to return they laid the foundation of the new temple. It was the start of something new and the restoration of the old. It represented hope to so many of them and reminded them that God had not forgotten them. There was a lot of emotion wrapped up in that moment. With it... they gave a great shout! They didn't hold back. They wanted the world to hear them.
There are times when we feel like we have been abandoned and lost. Possibly exiled even. But, when the foundation is laid for the future, when your dreams are coming close to realization, when you start down the path to restoration... don't whimper... shout! As we look toward home and the reestablishment of so many things we have an opportunity to lay a foundation that is worth being proud of and happy about. What will your foundation be?
And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,
"For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel."
And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
Israel had been exiled. They had been kept from their home land and away from the temple of the LORD. They had spent generations in debauchery and disobedience which caused them to have to be separated from the physical representation of their God, the temple. When they were allowed to return they laid the foundation of the new temple. It was the start of something new and the restoration of the old. It represented hope to so many of them and reminded them that God had not forgotten them. There was a lot of emotion wrapped up in that moment. With it... they gave a great shout! They didn't hold back. They wanted the world to hear them.
There are times when we feel like we have been abandoned and lost. Possibly exiled even. But, when the foundation is laid for the future, when your dreams are coming close to realization, when you start down the path to restoration... don't whimper... shout! As we look toward home and the reestablishment of so many things we have an opportunity to lay a foundation that is worth being proud of and happy about. What will your foundation be?
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
04Aug16
Job 1:21
And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
I am still a twelve year old boy at heart, I think. When I read this verse the first thing I think of is, "hehehe. He said naked." Once I get past the giggling and mature up for a minute (just a minute mind you), I realize the absolute truth of this statement. The life altering, purpose changing, eternally minded, truth of this statement. What if we lived like we believed this statement for real? All of the "stuff" we work for every single day, even the people we love and work for, will not be there after we die. Yet we work so hard for them. If our life is truly just a vapor in the air of eternity, then why aren't we spending more time in the second half of this verse than the first? What do you think you are going to be able to take with you?
And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
I am still a twelve year old boy at heart, I think. When I read this verse the first thing I think of is, "hehehe. He said naked." Once I get past the giggling and mature up for a minute (just a minute mind you), I realize the absolute truth of this statement. The life altering, purpose changing, eternally minded, truth of this statement. What if we lived like we believed this statement for real? All of the "stuff" we work for every single day, even the people we love and work for, will not be there after we die. Yet we work so hard for them. If our life is truly just a vapor in the air of eternity, then why aren't we spending more time in the second half of this verse than the first? What do you think you are going to be able to take with you?
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
03Aug16
Colossians 1:29 (NKJV)
To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
I was watching a movie the other day and a group of fighters celebrated a victory by firing their AK-47s in the air together. I immediately thought two things: 1. What a waste of ammo (now they have to reload those clips). 2. What goes up must come down. There is a lot of force behind those rounds. They will fall on something, somewhere. Maybe someone. But, this is what happens when we just put a bunch of effort into our day to day life without direction. We work really hard, we fire into the air, but we have no idea where we are going to land. To what end do you labor?
The inverse of this is an expert marksmen who takes his time, trains his body, and focuses his sights on a target with the intent to put all that force to a use. To what end do you labor? God lends us His mighty power to exert on this world. What do you do with it? To what end do you labor? Let's not waste another round firing into the air aimlessly. Let's take aim, breathe, and control how we exert our power.
To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
I was watching a movie the other day and a group of fighters celebrated a victory by firing their AK-47s in the air together. I immediately thought two things: 1. What a waste of ammo (now they have to reload those clips). 2. What goes up must come down. There is a lot of force behind those rounds. They will fall on something, somewhere. Maybe someone. But, this is what happens when we just put a bunch of effort into our day to day life without direction. We work really hard, we fire into the air, but we have no idea where we are going to land. To what end do you labor?
The inverse of this is an expert marksmen who takes his time, trains his body, and focuses his sights on a target with the intent to put all that force to a use. To what end do you labor? God lends us His mighty power to exert on this world. What do you do with it? To what end do you labor? Let's not waste another round firing into the air aimlessly. Let's take aim, breathe, and control how we exert our power.
Monday, August 1, 2016
02Aug16
Exodus 14:15-16 ESV
The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground."
Miraculously God had delivered the Israelites from their captivity only for them to be cornered on the banks of the red sea with the Egyptians in hot pursuit. It's amazing how quickly we forget what God has already accomplished in us when we find ourselves in a new corner, backed against a wall, and trapped between a rock and a hard place. No, you may not be trapped against a sea with an Egyptian army about to descend upon you. But, you may be trapped in a place of financial burden, relationship stressors, work pressures, or maybe something else.
Notice what Moses is told to command the people to do... "go forward." No matter the stakes. No matter the depth of the water. No matter the danger. "Go forward." God has shown them the way they are supposed to be going and now it is up to them to continue on it. He will part the waters. He will make a way. In the hard times we are called to simply, "go forward." Stay the course. Do not give up God is faithful. The same God that parts the seas for His children can part the way in front of you.
The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground."
Miraculously God had delivered the Israelites from their captivity only for them to be cornered on the banks of the red sea with the Egyptians in hot pursuit. It's amazing how quickly we forget what God has already accomplished in us when we find ourselves in a new corner, backed against a wall, and trapped between a rock and a hard place. No, you may not be trapped against a sea with an Egyptian army about to descend upon you. But, you may be trapped in a place of financial burden, relationship stressors, work pressures, or maybe something else.
Notice what Moses is told to command the people to do... "go forward." No matter the stakes. No matter the depth of the water. No matter the danger. "Go forward." God has shown them the way they are supposed to be going and now it is up to them to continue on it. He will part the waters. He will make a way. In the hard times we are called to simply, "go forward." Stay the course. Do not give up God is faithful. The same God that parts the seas for His children can part the way in front of you.
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