April 7 (Tuesday) -- Lips Are For Acknowledging

Just one little task, Joshua – be Moses’ successor: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27

Acknowledge the Son of Man before men: Luke 12:8-34

They kept on sinning: Psalm 78:32-55

Lying lips: Proverbs 12:21-23

The first two verses from today’s portion of Luke are from Jesus and are plain and simple. If we brag on Jesus to the people we know, Jesus will brag on us to the angels of God. However, if we’re so afraid that Christianity isn’t the cool thing to do when we’re around our pals that we downplay Jesus, then Jesus will downplay us. That’s both way cool and horrible. Jesus didn’t say that He’ll kinda sorta vouch for us if we kinda sorta vouch for Him. I promise you, there’s nothing mediocre about my Jesus!

I met a family yesterday that’s home for a few months from missionary work. They’ve been setting up underground churches and making converts in a country that heavily persecutes Christians. Their lives would be in danger if they disclosed even the country that they work in. Not even their fellow church members know which country they work in. The government follows much of Muhammed’s laws, including the part about killing Christians. Yet, they’ve served in this country for years, always risking that the next person they try to convert to Christianity will report them to the authorities.

Just something to think about the next time the Holy Spirit moves you to tell a pal of yours about Jesus, but Satan tells you not to do that because it’s not cool and you might be made fun of.

April 5 (Sunday) -- Choose Either Door # 1 or Door # 2

Intense Blessings or Intense Curses: Deuteronomy 28:1-68

Butt Whippin’ a Demon: Luke 11:14-36

I Will Remember the Deeds of the Lord: Psalm 77:1-20

Reckless Words Pierce Like a Sword: Proverbs 12:18

Deuteronomy 28 seems pretty intense. There’s no middle ground. Either the Israelites will follow God’s laws and be really, really blessed, or they’ll disobey Him and be cursed so bad they’ll eat each other for food.

When I read it I always go, “Duh. Not a complicated choice here. Choose the Lord’s way and be blessed.” It does seem pretty simple.

Yet, the distinction between Heaven & Hell is much greater than even the distinction between the blessings and the curses of Old Testament times. Jesus is the obvious choice. Choosing Jesus is choosing Heaven instead of Hell.

Now the question is, who will choose wisely? I hope everybody in our youth group makes a wiser choice than the Israelites did.

April 4 -- Saturday -- Bug God

Curse & Amen: Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26

Fish Is Better than Snake: Luke 10:38-11:13

God Alone Is to Be Feared: Psalm 76:1-12

A Fool Shows His Annoyance: Proverbs 12:15-17


I feel really bad about letting the Bible blog get behind, especially with the April 4th teaching. It’s a favorite of mine.

Does Luke 11 sound familiar to anybody? The prayer is Jesus’ response to the disciples when they asked Him to teach them how to pray.

Observe:

1) Forgive us our sins, as we forgive everyone who sins against us. This is huge. Forgiveness from God goes hand-in-hand with forgiving others.
2) Ask, Seek Knock: The Greek words literally translate to “keep on asking”, “keep on seeking”, and “keep on knocking”. Plus, Jesus’ parable backs that up. Jesus basically told us to pray without care about how much we think it might bug God. :)
3) The Holy Spirit is ours for the asking. We don’t have to memorize some ancient chant or ritual. We don’t have to be born in a special family. We don’t have to find some sacred charm. We simply have to ask and we get the Holy Spirit. And it’s more certain than any of you youth getting fed when you ask your parents to feed you. That’s way cool! The Holy Spirit is key to both our faith in Jesus & in empowering us to bring others to Christ. If we want to get our church on fire for the Lord we need to be experts in forgiveness & prayer, especially in praying for the Holy Spirit.

April 6, 2009

April 6

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Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20

Luke 11:37-12:7

Psalm 78:1-31

Proverbs 12:19-20

In the passage from Matthew's gospel, Jesus is speaking primarily to what it's really all about.  He knew that the Pharisees were filled with loving the wrong kind of religion. They loved the type of religion that made them look good, that gave them power over others.  Jesus is urging them to consider their own motives.  Jesus knows that to truly obey God, one must be cleansed from the inside out and put the ways and teachings of God above all others.  In his teaching to the disciples he drives home the point.  Jesus is telling the disciples that God is completely in control of our lives.  Jesus is telling the disciples that it would be foolish to fear the opinion of other people when God is the one who has the power to give us life or give us eternal punishment. Therefore, he tells them, fear God and serve him only.  'The hairs of your head are numbered" We cannot underestimate the care, concern and power God has in our lives. Therefore humble yourselves before him.  Jesus is pointing to what truly matters in life. May the Holy Spirit apply these truths to our hearts... As the Psalmist says...

⁴ We will not hide them from their children; 
       we will tell the next generation 
       the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, 
       his power, and the wonders he has done.

April 3, 2009

April 3

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Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19

Luke 10:13-37

Psalm 75:1-10

Proverbs 12:12-14

May our prayer collectively call out to our Lord the words of the Psalmist:

"We give thanks to you, O God, 

we give thanks, for your Name is near;

men tell of your wonderful deeds"

And then in Luke, we can rejoice, knowing that because of Christ's victory, we can hear the words of Jesus with great joy:

"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you,  but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

And I simply must continue... this is wonderful...

"At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes Father, for this was your good pleasure"

What an amazing God and amazing savior.  Then we read of the responsibility we have. Jesus tells the story of the hated Samaritan man who helped the Jewish man who had been robbed. he tells us to do this. Go and help the people who treat you poorly. Now that's definitely a challenge...

P.S.

And in Deuteronomy there is some laws for what to do if your husband is in a fight with another husband... I guess it would also apply for any of you with boyfriends...

"If two men are fighting and the wife of one of them comes to rescue her husband from his assailant, and she reaches out and seizes him by the private parts, you shall cut off her hand. Show her no pity."

So remember that! (question: which of the two 'him's is she 'seizing'?)

April 2 (Thusday) -- Shaved Headed Women -- Plus, Healing the Sick

Marrying a Shaved Headed Captive: Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30

Heal the Sick: Luke 9:51-10:12

It is You Who set all the boundaries of the Earth: Psalm 74:1-23

He who chases fantasies lacks judgment: Proverbs 12:11

In Luke, Jesus sent out 72 of His disciples to minister to the lost. They’re to preach the gospel (good news) and heal the sick.

Imagine if everyone in our church did that. We’d shake up Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, Oak Grove, & Sylvan Springs! We’d have cities full of Jesus freaks. If someone rejects us, we can just move on.

I’m so glad my friend years ago wasn’t too chicken to share the good news of Jesus with me!

April 1 (Wednesday) -- The Prophet

No Sacrificing Your Children Through the Fire: Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20

The Three Prophets – Jesus, Moses, & Elijah: Luke 9:28-50

Surely God Is Good: Psalm 73:1-28

Good Boys Care for Animals: Proverbs 12:10


Isn’t it cool that God made it so that He could walk among us? I don’t know the exact construct of the Trinity. But I do know that God the Father is simply too much for us to be around and live (Deuteronomy 18:16). So God sent the part of the Trinity that’s both all God and all man – Jesus. He even foretold it all the way back in Deuteronomy 18:15-16: The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die."

And just so there’s no confusing Jesus with Moses or Elijah (two cornerstone prophets of the Jewish faith), in Luke God sets Jesus above them. Peter wanted to treat Jesus equal to Moses & Elijah, but God said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.” In Deuteronomy, the prophet Moses also said, “listen to Him”, when talking about Jesus. I think the point is: Listen to Jesus. Jesus is the part of the Trinity that was able to interact with his fellow man. But that doesn’t mean he’s just man. He’s also God. We should listen to God, even the teachings He gave when He looked human.