And in this corner...

Genesis 32

In Genesis 31:3, we see Jacob being told to go back to his homeland. To comply, Jacob must face two situations where he could very well die (i.e. Laban and Esau). Why, then, do we expect obedience to be easy? Why do the things we know represent freedom and worship always have to fit into our schedules and budgets? I know, I know, we have to be wise, etc, etc. Is it not the height of foolishness, though, to demand God make life pleasant as a precondition to our obedience?

So, we wrestle.

It seems silly when we see Jacob do it - how can you wrestle with someone you know is God? Then again, how can we?

Mark 3

To highlight just how foolish it is to accept the wisdom of the world, Jesus is thought by his own family to be insane. This is the family of the virgin birth. This is the family of the angelic messengers. And now Jesus fails to conform to the world and he's crazy? Well, they said he was then, and we say he is now. If we don't think he's crazy, then our failure to follow should be enough evidence to have us committed.

And to close the chapter, Jesus really gets under the skin of good ol' American Individualism. Family, it seems, doesn't exist to provide comfort and security. Family has the same purpose as everything else, to point us to grace and obedience. "For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." (v 35)

Esther 8

"But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked." (v 8)

This has echoes of Matthew 18:18:
"Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

There is a reason that obedience appearing foolish is really wise - the God we obey has infinite power. He creates, He sustains, He destroys. No other power exists that is not given from Him. Be encouraged! He keeps his promises. He loves his children. He works ALL THINGS for the good of those who love Him.

Romans 3

Wow. Paul writes a few hundred pages worth of theology in a chapter. "no one seeks for God" (v 11b) - isn't that contrary to the basis for 75% of new American churches?

God's Righteous Judgment

Romans 2
1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?

So, we have all read the Bible on many occassions, and I know as popular as Romans is, we have all read it more than, let's say, Nahum. It still amazes my simple mind what stands out. Personally, I struggle with this topic. I find myself passing judgement on others, and then nudging God saying, "See, see, what did I tell you? I'm right, right?" But now, maybe it is where I am at in my life, I get knocked in the head with:

4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

Aah, see, now that's just not fair. (I kid). I have read and re-read that line about 10 times, and am speechless. So, I went to a reliable resource, Wikipedia, to re-educate myself on the the word contempt... bad idea.

• Contempt is an intense feeling of disrespect and dislike. It is similar to hate, but implies feelings of superiority/superciliousness. A person who has contempt for another individual looks down (condescends) on that person. The "recipient of contempt" is deemed unworthy, beneath redemption.

Verse 4 is such a powerful life changing verse. To honestly answer that is very hard. Do I show an intense feeling of disrepect and dislike to God's kindness, tolerance, and patience leading me to a true changing of my mind and heart?

It is definitely the one line that I will take from today's reading and really let it sink in.

Life Changing Catch Up

First off...this reading is life changing. Wanna hear your Father speak directly to your heart? This is a key way it's done.
Next...I think I've been caught up one or two days this month. So...not based on "today's reading" but rather thoughts from a couple recent days:

Mt. 26:
51And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his(A) sword and struck the servant[a] of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For(B) all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53(C) Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me(D) more than twelve(E) legions of angels? 54(F) But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?"

Acts 26:
31And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another,(B) "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment." 32And Agrippa said to Festus,(C) "This man could have been set(D) free if he had not appealed(E) to Caesar."

Esther 4:
16"Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for(I) three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law,(J) and if I perish, I perish."

1) From Mt 26 - how many times do I draw the sword when I see things getting out of control? I wanna take charge and fight off the bad guys. Who am I to think that I can do what 12 Legions of angels are being held back from? I am such a Peter. I am rash and impatient and controlling and need to think of how Jesus handled this situation...even in the face of death.

2) Jesus, Paul and Esther all have the same air about themselves in these passages. They all know what the Story is and what must be done for the Story to be carried out and God to be glorified. They abandon the easy way out (from denying legions of protection, to forgoing proper court defense procedure, to cowering in fear of the king's laws) and rather choose the way of the Story. Humility, submission, unselfishness...Father, make this my approach to everyday life! Even as radical as "If I perish, I perish" (hello, scary). Tell me your Story and open my ears that I may hear It and move fully into It.

One story in the whole universe.

One big encouragement for me in following this reading pattern is to see the unity of scripture. Today, we have the beginning of the tribes of Israel. "When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren." (Gen 29:31, ESV). What a weird way to kick off a "chosen people"! Deception and hatred. Already, we see the need for redemption.

And, oddly enough on the same day, we read about the empty tomb. So, deception and hatred have now been swallowed in victory. These two stories span a couple of thousand years. How can it be that we suffer at the hands of insecurity and fear with such a faithful God? We are, in fact, free. All that remains is to live. And what is living except to die (Philippians 1:21)? What is it to seek the best and greatest except that we seek out and serve the lowest and most despised?

We hear Paul's stinging rebuke of the religious establishment:

Go to this people, and say,
You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.

Dull hearts, deaf ears, closed eyes. I think these belong to those for whom the world has clouded their vision. They see only the dead things and call them life. They are blind and deaf to the reality just below the surface.

If you've never read up on Purim, now is a great time. It will add some depth to the story of Esther to see how these events are remembered even now.