Coffee Cup

While working on a fishing boat in Alaska I had a coffee drinking coworker named Dave. Dave never washed his coffee cup. The cup had a thick, encrusted layer of coffee residue throughout the inside. Finally the cook, who was a neat freak (gotta like him), washed the cup when Dave wasn't looking. Consequently for the next month Dave complained about tasting soap in his coffee!

Jesus writes about the Pharisee's in Matthew 23:26, "You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too." (NLT) Like Dave, we are uncomfortable washing some areas of our "cup." Sure we want to be like Jesus, but it can be a challenge to our pride to make a necessary change, and the needed repentance that goes along with it. Ask the Holy Spirit to search the inside of your cup. SWC

Children

Last night was the first night of our 2008-2009 AWANA year. It's great to see so many children interested in learning about God! Jesus gives an interesting instruction to adults regarding children in Matthew 18:10:

Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. (NLT)

It looks like children have an angelic advocate that speaks to the Father in their behalf! Are we upset, uptight, inconvenienced when children are in our way? Or are we demonstrating the love of Christ? SWC

Theology Blog

For those interested, I'm journaling my thoughts on another blog at http://bible08.blogspot.com/. This will focus more on theology as I explore different topics in detail. It will have more of a "note" design to it rather than a "paragraph" design like this page.

If your looking for a good online Bible with multiple versions, check out this great resource:

http://bible.logos.com/

Light in the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-7)

There are five Greek words in Matthew chapter 17 indicating light: Matthew 17:2 (shown, sun, white, light) and Matthew 17:5 (bright). This is a major theme in the New Testament, particularly in the book of John (John 1:5,John 3:19, John 8:12, John 12:35, John 12:46). What an amazing opportunity for Peter, James and John to to see Jesus in the brightness of his glory! We look forward to the same experience one day in heaven. Just remember that according to Jesus we can walk in his light TODAY by following his lead. SWC

John 8:12 (NLT)
I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.

Jesus is King!

The book of Matthew focuses on Jesus as King. Language, topics, Scripture quotations from the Old Testament all emphasize Jesus royalty. Keep this in mind as you read Matthew. In chapter two Matthew purposely presents us with a contrast of two kings. Herod is an earthly king, with an earthly, self centered focus. Herod will protect his position at all costs--and proves it by killing children! Jesus is a heavenly king, with a focus on bringing salvation to helpless people. Jesus will provide salvation for his subjects regardless of the cost--and proves this by dieing on the cross! Amazing! A ruler, a King who comes to serve! Let's be like our King. Scott

Mary

Consider how frustrated Mary must have been trying to communicate the virgin birth to her betrothal Joseph. And guess what? He didn't believe her. The days between Joseph discovering her pregnancy and his angelic visitor were certainly trying for Mary. I imagine she had multiple conversations with God that went something like this, "Please make Joseph understand!" God brought her through her trouble and he will do the same for us!

Check out the new poll in the top right column on this page. Scott

Congratulations!

Congratulations for reading through the gospels! Tomorrow we will go back to the top and start over with the book of Matthew. You might want to read through this time in a different translation. In a day or two I'll post a new survey to record your translation choice. If the translation you are going to read in is not on the current list, please send the translation name to me ASAP so I can add it to the survey--it's impossible to edit the survey after I post it. I'll be using the New King James Version this time around.

As you've noticed I will not post on every chapter. Please feel free to comment "off topic" if you wish. I will also be naming posts topically from now on. Have fun reading! Scott

John 11

After waiting two days before heading out to Judea to see Lazarus, Jesus' disciples were concerned that it was too dangerous to travel there. Evidently when he initially decided to NOT go to Judea, the disciples were in agreement--however for a different reason. Jesus delayed because of God's timing. The disciples delayed to protect their lives! To answer their concerns Jesus said, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world." (John 11:9) Look at J. Vernon McGee's comment on this verse:

There are twelve hours in the day, and you can’t change that. Because the Father has given the Son a work to do, nothing can stop Him. There is a great principle here. God has given to each man a lifework. You can’t extend that for one day any more than you can keep the sun from going down in the afternoon. But, thank God, you are absolutely invulnerable until your work is done. Nobody, not even Satan, can thwart God’s purpose in your life if you are following Him. To fail to follow Him is dangerous. (McGee)

Jesus went to Judea when the time was right. While we don't have Jesus' insight into perfect timing, we do have Scripture and the Spirit of God to give us direction. Are we listening? SWC

John 10

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:29 (ESV)

Isn't this verse awesome? We call it eternal security. Once saved, always saved. We can't jump out of his hand and no one can take us out! Romans 8:38-39 is also a great passage, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." SWC

John 9

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 8:1-3 (ESV)

I watched a movie recently that was filmed in Seattle. I bet you can guess the local landmark that was highlighted multiple times in the film...the Space needle. The landmark draws our attention to the city.

God designs events and then uses these events in our lives to draw attention to Him. Some of these events are fun (A blind man receives his sight) and some are not so fun (A man who sees becomes blind). But either way it is a good habit for us to always ask, "What is God doing?" and, "How does He want me to respond?" We either join Him, like the blind man in John 9, or we resist Him like the Pharisees. SWC

John 8

Look at the contrast in John chapter 8. SWC

Unbelievers:
Walk in darkness
Don't know where Jesus is from or where he is going
Don't know the Father
Will die in their sin
From below
Slave to sin
Father is the Devil
Not of God
Dishonor Jesus

Believers:
Have the light of life
Know Jesus
Know the Father
Abide in the word
Jesus' disciples
Know the truth
Set free
Is of God
Hears the words of God
Will never see death

John 7

What's your motivation for ministry? For attending church service? What about Sunday school? How about church activities? Your glory or Christ's? Is it what you can get out of it or what you can give? Jesus told his listeners in John 7:18, "The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true."

We get off track easily and before we know it we become the center and Jesus falls into second place or even last place. Check yourself out right now and make the very next thing you do an act that seeks to glorify Christ! SWC

John 6

You gotta love the little boy who shared his lunch with Jesus. Five barely loaves and two fish would probably be enough food for two people. J. Vernon McGee writes, "Remember, these five barley loaves were not big commercial loaves of bread or family loaves. They were more like a hamburger bun. They were just big enough to put with the fish." So the boy gives up his lunch. It's doubtful that he has any idea of what Jesus has in mind. He gives to Jesus all that is available to him. I think the faith lesson is clear. We surrender our resources to Jesus knowing by faith that he will take care of the rest! SWC

John 5

I'm falling apart. Bit by bit. Year by year. Today I go to the dentist at 11AM to turn a temporary filling into a permanent one. The reality is, that if I live long enough, I'll probably need to eventually replace this filling again. This is why I love the truth of the resurrection of the dead! This is the guarantee that one day our bodies will be permanently fixed. The power of our God is awesome! And the hope that he gives is beyond measure! SWC

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:28-29 (ESV)

John 4

Where do you worship God? At church? In your car? On a hike? In your closet? At lunch? On a city street? Alone? With a crowd? In another country? The truth is that believers worship in all these places and more. We worship whenever (and wherever) we direct our thoughts toward God.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24 (ESV)

One memorable experience for me (there are others) was over ten years ago in the Kingdome (I know I just dated myself) with Promise Keepers. There is nothing quite like thousands of men singing together! What was one of your most memorable worship experiences? SWC

John 3

"Look Daddy look!" I hear those words almost every day from one or more of my children. They want my attention. They want to feel important. Adults do the same thing, we are just a bit more subtle--usually. As believers our purpose is to draw attention, but not to ourselves. We are called to draw attention to God. Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3:21, "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." Be sure to use the tools, abilities and resources given to you by God to draw attention to Him and not to yourself. SWC

John 2

The word "believe" is the most important word in the book of John. This word appears 98 times. The next closest word count is 39 times in the book of Acts. The Greek word is pisteuo (πιστεύω) and means to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, to place confidence in (Strong's Lexicon).

Many people initially believed in Jesus after watching the miracles he preformed, "Many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing." (John 2:23) For most of his early disciples their belief was shallow and would soon fade when Jesus revealed the cost of genuine discipleship. Has my faith strengthened with time and trial? SWC

John 1

What a wild ride of weather we've had over the past week here in the Seattle area! Rain, snow, wind, thunder, lightening, sun, hail, freezing temperatures. The hail at our house was the size of a small marble! What a wonderful creation we live in. I marvel when I think that our humble Savior who submitted himself to human authority, a frail body and eventually death, was the creator of the universe. When Nathanael came to realize who Jesus was, he responded appropriately, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” My response is the same, worship. SWC


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (ESV)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (ESV)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. 1 John 1:1 (ESV)

Luke 10

In my Bible software program (Logos) I have the ability to automatically highlight the text based on predetermined criteria. For example all all verb imperatives (commands) are always highlighted green. In Luke 10:1-24 Jesus sends out his disciples to do ministry. Look at the imperatives (commands) in English... Pray,Go (x 2), Carry, Say (x 3), Remain, Eat, Heal, Know, Rejoice (x2). While I could comment on each of these commands, let's just look at the first two (pray & go).

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves." Luke 10:3-2 (ESV)

What catches my attention is that Jesus first commands them to pray for laborers, and then he commands them to go as laborers. In other words THEY become the ANSWER to their own prayer. Perhaps God is calling us to follow up our prayer with action! SWC

Luke 9

What do you do everyday? Get up, Shower, eat, brush teeth, fix bed, dress, drive, read and et cetera. When Jesus challenged his disciples to, "take up his cross," he adds the word, "daily." This should be a part of our regular routine, like breathing. The challenge with this is that breathing is easy and helps to keep us alive. The one who carries a cross does so to death. SWC

For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:25 (ESV)