New Inner Tube Needed
Oh, my, today was a rough one. My bed felt so comfortable and warm and I almost rolled over and went back to sleep…but Father my time with You is vital and I cannot ignore it. Bless me, my Father, as I come before You today. Amen.
Matthew 9:14-17 (<<click the green)
One thing that above ground pools need when being readied for winter is something to float in the middle to help the ice push up and not out when the water freezes thus preserving the integrity of the structure. Several years ago we switched from the recommended plastic “pillow”, that always ended up burst on the bottom of the pool come spring, to an old-fashioned inner tube.
Now the inner tube we used lasted for several years and it was old to start with – Karen and her brother used to go tubing down their hill with it in the snow when they were kids. It would lose a little air through its ordeal in the pool but I was always able to pump it back up…until a couple of years ago. It developed a hole – actually a few holes. So I patched them and we made it through a winter but the next year it wouldn’t stay inflated. Much to my chagrin, I discovered it had developed many small holes too numerous to repair. Much like Your statement about patching “old clothing with new cloth” being worthless, Lord, the old tube had to be thrown away.
You came amongst us Lord not to just “patch” the old system of worship and reconciliation with You. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the system. You didn’t come to do away with it but to fulfill it, to complete it. We didn’t help any. If we had abided by Your commands things may have been different but we are very bad at leaving things as they were meant to be. We have to add and tweak and of course, we leave out the things that we don’t like.
Your new system wasn’t a patch but an overhaul. The old required a perfect lamb each year to shed its blood so forgiveness could be found. You, Lord Jesus, became the Perfect Lamb of God shedding Your own blood once and for all so that we all might obtain forgiveness once and for all.
Lord, thank You for being willing to do what needed to be done so we could have a permanent solution to our separation. We are all eternally indebted to You for storing “new wine…in new wineskins so that both are preserved” for our salvation. All praise goes to You!
Mar 8th, 2018, Thurs, 6:41 am
Show Love…Know Me
As I look out this morning, Father, and see the snow swirling about it once again reminds me of Your mighty power and the awesomeness of Your creation! People left and right are going on about how it is time for Spring and we are less than two weeks out on the calendar from its start. Crocuses are blooming and daffodils and tulips are up 3 or 4 inches as well. But just because we clamor for it and the calendar says it is almost here, it will come when it will come. Thank You, Father, for making all things the way you did!
Matthew 9:9-13 (<<click the green)
Lord, in Your rebuttal against the Pharisees – the teachers of the law – in yesterday’s passage You challenged them to “learn the meaning” of a particular Old Testament passage. In our Bibles, the passage is Hosea 6:6 (a wonderful book of Your love for us, by the way!),
I want you to show love,
not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me
more than I want burnt offerings.
The sacrifice of burnt offerings was a major part of reconciliation of humankind to You. At this point, it was the only point of finding forgiveness for sins in life. It may have been a major part but it by no means was the core of reconciliation. The core was supposed to have been our relationship with You! Love was, is and always will be at the core of our relationship!
As I look again at Hosea 6:6 God, You set it straight, “I want you [i.e. us] to show love…I want you [i.e. us] to know me.” Rules and regulations are important but without love, without relationship, they amount to nothing!
Lord, as this day is now rolling right along help me to show love. Draw me to You, that I may know You, more and more. Amen.
Mar 7th, 2018, Wed, 10:21 am
Bookends
Father, I am grateful that You are more than able to handle everything this world gives You to deal with. I am grateful although there are literally millions and millions of people and situations clamoring for Your attention, that You are here with me. I don’t have to wait in line. I never have to take a number. An angel has no need to put me on hold when I call. You are always here, by my side, as we walk this journey together. Thank You, Father – I couldn’t do it without You.
Matthew 9:9-13 (<<click the green)
When I read these verses, Lord, I see bookends. At the beginning of verse 9, You call Matthew to follow You as a disciple and at the end of verse 13, You speak of who You have come to call. You call an individual and conclude by clarifying all whom You are calling.
Matthew, the author of this Spirit inspired Gospel, writes of his first interactions with You, Lord. He does not hesitate to label himself as one of many “tax collectors and…disreputable sinners”, for that is what he was. He would by no means have considered himself righteous but knew he was a sinner. (vs13)
Once again the Amplified Bible fleshes out the end of verse 13 a little more, “I did not come to call [to repentance] the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to change], but sinners [those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].”
Graciously I was raised in a Christian home and though that may have given me an outward appearance of righteousness, to some degree, true righteousness was not mine until I acknowledged my own sin and sought forgiveness
Jesus called me from sin and then called me to service, first as his disciple and eventually into ministry, proclaiming His message to all that would hear. Oh, that they would heed his call. Amen.
Mar 6th, 2018, Tues, 6:24 am
Penalty Paid!
The Cross by Ron DiCianniPenal
Father, at the beginning of another week, I do not want to go about my life randomly. I want to purposely – conscientiously – place myself into Your more than capable hands. I humbly give myself over to You – use me as You will. Amen.
Matthew 9:1-8 (<<click the green)
I don’t own a copy but I just love the Amplified Bible and thanks to biblegateway.com it is readily a part of my studies!
Lord, in this passage, when You said to the paralyzed man, “…your sins are forgiven” the Amplified Bible does what it does by saying “[the penalty is paid, the guilt removed, and you are declared to be in right standing with God].” That is most assuredly what forgiveness is and I know that is the case but having it right before my eyes brings me great joy! A paid penalty, removed guilt and in right standing with God – now that’s what’s it’s all about!!!
And when the teachers of the religious law got their dander up – one of their many “how dare You” moments! – You go straight to the heart of the matter and ask, “…which is easier, to say ’Your sins are forgiven and the penalty paid,’ or to say ‘Get up and walk’?” Again it is amplified by stating, [Both are possible for God; both are impossible for man.]
Many in the world today still balk at the reality of Your being God. In doing so, we continue to “think evil in [our] hearts”. Over and over and over again it is proven to us that You are who You are. Many throughout the millennia have attempted to disprove Your claims and many in their determination to do so have proven Your claims for they are undeniably true! Lord Jesus, You alone have the power and authority to forgive and to heal! For that matter, forgiveness is spiritual healing that we all need!
Thank You, Lord, for Your healing touch of our souls! Only because of Your sacrifice is the penalty paid, the guilt removed and are we able to be in right standing with God! All praise to God, our Creator, and Savior!
Mar 5th, 2018, Mon, 6:28 am
Pray! Be Open! Be Honest! Be Faithful!
Wow, Father! That seems to be an apt word to use to describe so many aspects of this weekend! Yesterday morning I woke right on time after being up only a couple of times the night before – thank You! Yesterday was a good morning at work and then I had a wonderful afternoon and evening with Karen – thank You!
Today? Today was amazing – all because of You! Thank You for using this cracked pot (and today I was quite leaky! I needed a new hanky when I got home!) to proclaim the Good News to Your people. I truly believe that Your presence was felt by one and all. You spoke, we listened and now Father I would ask that we would now act upon Your word. As we learned from Jesus’s time in the Garden of Gethsemane, we need to pray – connect with You! Be open! Be honest! Be faithful!
On the worst night of Jesus’ life, He returned to You three times asking that if possible that the cup (his pending suffering and death) be taken from Him if possible – He did not give up. We, too, can not give up! Even though we may be going through one of the most difficult times of our lives (and if we aren’t we will sometime in the future!), our only hope is to continue returning to You. We can not give up on You! You surely do not give up on us! Our victory, our overcoming of this world is only found in You!
And as Jesus exemplified as well, the cup was His alone to drink and He did so for he also proclaimed, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:36-46
Lord, at this moment, I pray for my church family members. I pray for the readers of this blog. I pray that people who don’t normally read this blog will be drawn to it when they see it. Lord, continue to speak through Your word. I lay hold of Isaiah 55:10-11,
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it. (emphasis mine)
Amen, Lord, so be it!
Mar 4th, 2018, Sun, 6:38 pm