Rainbows!! I love rainbows. Every time it rains if the sun even thinks about peaking through the clouds my eyes are glued to the skies looking for one. The sight of one is just so neat.
However some in our society have totally perverted the true meaning of this atmospheric phenomena. People claim it's the sign of the homosexual community or they make it into Irish folklore. Have you ever studied the origins of the Rainbow and what it truly means. It is a sign of a covenant. A covenant is a promise made, an oath swore, between two parties that can only be broken by the death of one of the for mentions parties.
Now when we read the account in Genesis of Noah and the flood we see that God destroyed the earth and all of mankind because of the evil and wickedness that was in man's hearts. He tells Noah to build the ark and two of every kind of animal came aboard for a 40 day tour and were all rescued. Noah, his family and all the smelly animals get off the ark onto dry ground. Noah sacrifices to the LORD and scripture says in 8:21 that the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart, "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, EVEN THOUGH every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done."
What God is saying is that man is so rooted in sin and evil that generation after generation it's only going to keep getting worse. If the earth and everything in it were to stay pure God would have to destroy each generation because of their sin.
This is where the covenant comes in, God is making a promise to the earth and mankind that He will never again destroy the earth with flood waters. Now in a covenant each party must promise to do something for the other. For example when David and Jonathan made a covenant the terms were to protect each other's family. That was the obligation of both Jonathan and David and in 2 Samuel 9 we see David fulfilling his part of the covenant with Jonathan.
So did you notice that God's covenant with man is kind of one sided. He promises never to destroy mankind again with flood waters (even though He Himself said that every generation is only going to get worse.) But what is our part of the covenant? What is our side or the earth's obligation in this covenant?
Nothing!!
Can we really give anything to God. Is there anything we have that God is in need of? The book of Job says who can give anything to God, who has anything that God needs? If you study the covenants god makes with mankind you will always see the God's covenants are one sided. He does all the work because He is the only one who can do the work.
This is reflected in the symbol of this covenant; the Rainbow. Sure it looks pretty in the sky, but it's a symbol of war and wrath. It is a BOW MADE FROM THE RAINS. Notice the way it appears in the sky. The arrow points away from us and toward God Himself. In this symbol He is foretelling us of the coming of Jesus to take our punishment. The wrath God has from generation after generation of sinful men, He points to Himself and takes in full measure.
The next time you see a rainbow, marvel at it beauty but let it also be a reminder to you. A reminder of what your Savior did for you. A reminder of how good God is that he would take the full brunt of the punishment meant for you and me. Let it remind you of God's love and grace.
May our LORD be with you.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Faith
Have you ever seen the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. If you haven’t put down what you are doing, go and rent it. After you’ve seen it come back and read the rest of this Daily Feast. For those who have seen it, do you remember the part toward the end where Indi is going through the tests to get the Holy Grail? The best one, in my opinion, is the last test. Indiana comes to this giant canyon, so deep the bottom is barely visible. He looks down at his Father’s journal and reads, “The path of God, only a leap from the Lion’s head will he prove his worth.” Then after a pause he says “it’s a leap of faith!” That phrase is so common in our Christian culture. Whenever we face a situation that seems impossible; when we come to that bottomless canyon with no visible bridge, we always say, “It’s a leap of faith!”
Faith is such a funny thing. If you remember back to the movie after Indi reads and realizes what he must do, he clutches his heart. Takes one last relaxing breath, sticks out his leg and takes the first step. That, my brothers and sisters, is faith. You see nothing but a bottomless pit, yet know that you must take a step, trusting and believing that you will land on an invisible path in front of you. Faith trusts and rests in the belief and hope that you will not fail.
This concept is all over the Bible believe it or not. Peter climbed out of a boat and walked on a surface that had never held him before. Abraham left his home, Hosea married a prostitute and David rejected Saul’s armor. Faith is a running theme in the Bible but there is one story that sticks out to me.
In the book of Acts the apostles were doing many signs and wonders. The people were amazed but feared them a little. Verse 15 of chapter 5 tells us that people were even bringing out the sick so that Peter’s shadow would pass over them and they would be healed. Now hold on just a minute. I understand that perhaps the people were afraid of the apostles because of what they were doing, but where does this shadow business come from? That’s a good question, I’m glad you asked it. This was actually a pagan healing practice. People would lay the sick outside and a pagan “witchdoctor” or “magician” would walk by and his shadow would supposedly heal the sick.
So now the question is why would these Jews (because remember they are in Jerusalem) be doing this pagan practice. I think the answer is because of faith. Think now, was it really Peter’s shadow doing the healing or was it the Holy Spirit using Peter’s shadow as the vessel which this gift was being given? These people believed that only if they could come into contact with some part of Peter they could be healed. That doesn’t say that Peter and the apostles approved or condoned this practice. They opposed a magical view to spiritual power. But verse 16 indicates that it was working, people were being healed by a simple shadow.
It’s like that story in the Gospels when the women touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. In Matthew 9:21 she says, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” So she does. Then Jesus says to her, “Daughter, take courage, your faith has made you well!” (Emphasis mine) Was it the touching of the garment that healed her? I don’t think so. Was it Peter’s shadow that healed those people? Not a chance. “Your Faith has made you well!!”
Faith is a funny thing, it make us take action in ways that seem totally illogical and idiotic to our intellect. There is no room for common sense when faith takes over. Faith is trusting that the LORD is in control, letting that knowledge fill you up and then resting in that hope and knowledge.
So what things in your life are holding you back from taking the leap? Where are you lacking faith? I’m not talking about your faith in Christ, but I am talking about those areas of your life that you haven’t given to God. Those areas where you still think you have control. The areas you’re holding back, not trusting God or letting Him in. Finances, sickness, whatever it is give it up to God. Stop denying Him the chance to show you His mercy and Bless You. Give it up, have faith.
Remember what happened to Dr. Jones. He believed, took that relaxing breath, made the leap and walked all the way to the other side. I know you’ll end up there too.
One more story and then I promise I’m done. I read an article some time ago about a preacher who was doing a weekend seminar out west. He wrote about a women who came up to him looking like she hadn’t slept in weeks mostly because she hadn’t. Her daughter was very sick and she stayed up day and night praying for her. She was asking this preacher to pray with her. He asked her why she was doing this to herself. She told him she wanted to have the faith for her to be healed. She thought if she stopped praying that would show a lack of faith and her daughter would die. He said to her, you of little faith, in the name of Jesus go home and sleep. God has heard your prayers now have faith that he will do it. God home and go to bed. The next day she awoke to a phone call from her completely healed daughter.
Faith trusts in God that He is in control and rests in that hope and knowledge.
May you have Great Faith!
Faith is such a funny thing. If you remember back to the movie after Indi reads and realizes what he must do, he clutches his heart. Takes one last relaxing breath, sticks out his leg and takes the first step. That, my brothers and sisters, is faith. You see nothing but a bottomless pit, yet know that you must take a step, trusting and believing that you will land on an invisible path in front of you. Faith trusts and rests in the belief and hope that you will not fail.
This concept is all over the Bible believe it or not. Peter climbed out of a boat and walked on a surface that had never held him before. Abraham left his home, Hosea married a prostitute and David rejected Saul’s armor. Faith is a running theme in the Bible but there is one story that sticks out to me.
In the book of Acts the apostles were doing many signs and wonders. The people were amazed but feared them a little. Verse 15 of chapter 5 tells us that people were even bringing out the sick so that Peter’s shadow would pass over them and they would be healed. Now hold on just a minute. I understand that perhaps the people were afraid of the apostles because of what they were doing, but where does this shadow business come from? That’s a good question, I’m glad you asked it. This was actually a pagan healing practice. People would lay the sick outside and a pagan “witchdoctor” or “magician” would walk by and his shadow would supposedly heal the sick.
So now the question is why would these Jews (because remember they are in Jerusalem) be doing this pagan practice. I think the answer is because of faith. Think now, was it really Peter’s shadow doing the healing or was it the Holy Spirit using Peter’s shadow as the vessel which this gift was being given? These people believed that only if they could come into contact with some part of Peter they could be healed. That doesn’t say that Peter and the apostles approved or condoned this practice. They opposed a magical view to spiritual power. But verse 16 indicates that it was working, people were being healed by a simple shadow.
It’s like that story in the Gospels when the women touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. In Matthew 9:21 she says, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” So she does. Then Jesus says to her, “Daughter, take courage, your faith has made you well!” (Emphasis mine) Was it the touching of the garment that healed her? I don’t think so. Was it Peter’s shadow that healed those people? Not a chance. “Your Faith has made you well!!”
Faith is a funny thing, it make us take action in ways that seem totally illogical and idiotic to our intellect. There is no room for common sense when faith takes over. Faith is trusting that the LORD is in control, letting that knowledge fill you up and then resting in that hope and knowledge.
So what things in your life are holding you back from taking the leap? Where are you lacking faith? I’m not talking about your faith in Christ, but I am talking about those areas of your life that you haven’t given to God. Those areas where you still think you have control. The areas you’re holding back, not trusting God or letting Him in. Finances, sickness, whatever it is give it up to God. Stop denying Him the chance to show you His mercy and Bless You. Give it up, have faith.
Remember what happened to Dr. Jones. He believed, took that relaxing breath, made the leap and walked all the way to the other side. I know you’ll end up there too.
One more story and then I promise I’m done. I read an article some time ago about a preacher who was doing a weekend seminar out west. He wrote about a women who came up to him looking like she hadn’t slept in weeks mostly because she hadn’t. Her daughter was very sick and she stayed up day and night praying for her. She was asking this preacher to pray with her. He asked her why she was doing this to herself. She told him she wanted to have the faith for her to be healed. She thought if she stopped praying that would show a lack of faith and her daughter would die. He said to her, you of little faith, in the name of Jesus go home and sleep. God has heard your prayers now have faith that he will do it. God home and go to bed. The next day she awoke to a phone call from her completely healed daughter.
Faith trusts in God that He is in control and rests in that hope and knowledge.
May you have Great Faith!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Being a Wise Guy
Well this time I’d really done it, maybe you can relate. Have you ever had one of those “Put your foot in your mouth moments?” Last year I was with my family up at my grandfather’s cabin. Sunday evening just before dinner some of us were outside having a conversation about an event that was rapidly approaching. We were all giving our opinions on the matter, especially me, and eventually the conversation turned into a little bit of an argument. After dinner I recounted the scenario to my wife and in her kind, gentle way she eloquently told me how foolish that was. Of course it took some time for me to realize the same and later that evening I had to make an apology.
See during the time I was thinking about the whole situation, the LORD brought a verse to my head. Proverbs 21:23, which say “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from trouble.” To be honest I really crave wisdom. I want to be one of those guys whom people ask advice from. Consult on all matters. I want to be that old wise man that uses words to solve people’s problems like he was playing a game of chess. Giving them sound advice and wisdom, kind of like Mr. Miyagi or Professor Dumbledore. But that kind of wisdom only comes from God. And God’s wisdom says it’s best to keep your mouth shut. Honestly think about it, if we spent less time talking and more time thinking and listening how much hassle would we save ourselves? Guarding the mouth makes you look smarter because you’re not letting something stupid come out every other minute. I wasn’t sorry for what I had said, I was sorry that I said it. I should have been that wise guy I desire to be and not said anything because it wasn’t my place or business.
Now we come to the big question. How many times in your day can you relate to my story? I think this is one of the biggest things we believers struggle with; slander, gossip, harsh words, course joking. Paul says in Ephesians 4 and 5,
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.”
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander be put from you along with all malice.”
“and there must be no filthiness and silly talk or course jesting, which are not fitting, but rather give thanks.”
Call it divine whatever, Paul knew we would struggle with this. We love a juicy piece of gossip, a dirty joke..........but we shouldn’t. Our mouths are for edifying and building up each other. We were given speech for worship and praising. Not for what we use it for
Proverbs 21:23 “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from trouble.”
See during the time I was thinking about the whole situation, the LORD brought a verse to my head. Proverbs 21:23, which say “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from trouble.” To be honest I really crave wisdom. I want to be one of those guys whom people ask advice from. Consult on all matters. I want to be that old wise man that uses words to solve people’s problems like he was playing a game of chess. Giving them sound advice and wisdom, kind of like Mr. Miyagi or Professor Dumbledore. But that kind of wisdom only comes from God. And God’s wisdom says it’s best to keep your mouth shut. Honestly think about it, if we spent less time talking and more time thinking and listening how much hassle would we save ourselves? Guarding the mouth makes you look smarter because you’re not letting something stupid come out every other minute. I wasn’t sorry for what I had said, I was sorry that I said it. I should have been that wise guy I desire to be and not said anything because it wasn’t my place or business.
Now we come to the big question. How many times in your day can you relate to my story? I think this is one of the biggest things we believers struggle with; slander, gossip, harsh words, course joking. Paul says in Ephesians 4 and 5,
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.”
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander be put from you along with all malice.”
“and there must be no filthiness and silly talk or course jesting, which are not fitting, but rather give thanks.”
Call it divine whatever, Paul knew we would struggle with this. We love a juicy piece of gossip, a dirty joke..........but we shouldn’t. Our mouths are for edifying and building up each other. We were given speech for worship and praising. Not for what we use it for
Proverbs 21:23 “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from trouble.”
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
My cup overflows
I'm sure we all know the 23rd Psalm.
"The LORD is my shepherd I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
If not in church you've had to have heard it at a funeral or something. It's kinda like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song; we all know at least one line. Well if you are in my generation you know at least one line of that song. But I think you get my point. It's very familiar. However as familiar as it is I don't think we really grasp what David is saying here.
He writes and references several customs and aspects of a job that don't exist anymore. I don't want to bore you with all of them so I'm only going to focus on one. Three little words in v.5. My cup overflows.
When you read through this do you know what that means. In the whole of verse 5 David is talking about God being a gracious host and providing everything that he needs but those three little words take it to the next level.
See in those days people welcomed guests into their homes regularly. Now a days we don't even like to answer the door when someone approaches our house for something. We pretend like we are not home or can't hear the bell or knock outside. Back then however it was a complete disgrace not to invite a guest into your house and give them certain things. Because of the enviroment in which they lived, you would provide your guest with oil to put on their head, it acted like deodorant. In addition you would give them something to drink. Two cups would be set out for you and your guest along with a jug of whatever you were drinking; most likely wine. As long as you wanted your guest to stay you would keep refilling his or her cup but when you felt it was time for them to leave you stopped filling it up. When the cup was empty the guest would know it was time for them to leave.
I like that a lot better than what we do now. We are so worried about offending our friends that we try and give them subtle hints like yawning or saying something that alludes to wanted them to leave, I think this system works a lot better.
There was one other thing you could do and that is what David is talking about here. Three little words; My cup overflows. If you welcomed a guest into your home and you wanted to let them know that they could stay as long as they desired, the first time you filled their cup you would let it overflow. That was the symbol that they are welcome to stay indefinitly.
That is God's approach to us. This is David's most personal Psalm and when you read it you can make it personal as well. God has invited you into his house, prepared a table before you and filled your cup to overflowing; letting you know you are welcome to stay forever.
A few years ago Readers Digest did a survey asking people the three sentences they wanted to hear someone say to them. The results were as follows:
1. I love you!
2. I forgive you!
3. Dinner is ready!
Now the first two anyone could have guessed, but Dinner is ready? That seems completely out of place doesn't it? Not really. I believe it ties into the first two. We all want to be loved and forgiven but we also want to be included. Some of the best times a group of people could have is around the dinner table. It's all about fellowship, we yearn for it.
Through Jesus Christ, God has invied us to come and BE at his table but more than that we are invited to stay forever. God overflows your cup telling you, you are welcome to, as David says in verse 6, dwell in the house of the LORD forever!
God desires relationship with you more than you will ever know, this side of heaven. So BE with Him. Spend some time today just being with God. Talking to Him, worshiping Him, reading His word, whatever you have to do, do it.
Dwell with God and know that your cup is overflowing.
"The LORD is my shepherd I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
If not in church you've had to have heard it at a funeral or something. It's kinda like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song; we all know at least one line. Well if you are in my generation you know at least one line of that song. But I think you get my point. It's very familiar. However as familiar as it is I don't think we really grasp what David is saying here.
He writes and references several customs and aspects of a job that don't exist anymore. I don't want to bore you with all of them so I'm only going to focus on one. Three little words in v.5. My cup overflows.
When you read through this do you know what that means. In the whole of verse 5 David is talking about God being a gracious host and providing everything that he needs but those three little words take it to the next level.
See in those days people welcomed guests into their homes regularly. Now a days we don't even like to answer the door when someone approaches our house for something. We pretend like we are not home or can't hear the bell or knock outside. Back then however it was a complete disgrace not to invite a guest into your house and give them certain things. Because of the enviroment in which they lived, you would provide your guest with oil to put on their head, it acted like deodorant. In addition you would give them something to drink. Two cups would be set out for you and your guest along with a jug of whatever you were drinking; most likely wine. As long as you wanted your guest to stay you would keep refilling his or her cup but when you felt it was time for them to leave you stopped filling it up. When the cup was empty the guest would know it was time for them to leave.
I like that a lot better than what we do now. We are so worried about offending our friends that we try and give them subtle hints like yawning or saying something that alludes to wanted them to leave, I think this system works a lot better.
There was one other thing you could do and that is what David is talking about here. Three little words; My cup overflows. If you welcomed a guest into your home and you wanted to let them know that they could stay as long as they desired, the first time you filled their cup you would let it overflow. That was the symbol that they are welcome to stay indefinitly.
That is God's approach to us. This is David's most personal Psalm and when you read it you can make it personal as well. God has invited you into his house, prepared a table before you and filled your cup to overflowing; letting you know you are welcome to stay forever.
A few years ago Readers Digest did a survey asking people the three sentences they wanted to hear someone say to them. The results were as follows:
1. I love you!
2. I forgive you!
3. Dinner is ready!
Now the first two anyone could have guessed, but Dinner is ready? That seems completely out of place doesn't it? Not really. I believe it ties into the first two. We all want to be loved and forgiven but we also want to be included. Some of the best times a group of people could have is around the dinner table. It's all about fellowship, we yearn for it.
Through Jesus Christ, God has invied us to come and BE at his table but more than that we are invited to stay forever. God overflows your cup telling you, you are welcome to, as David says in verse 6, dwell in the house of the LORD forever!
God desires relationship with you more than you will ever know, this side of heaven. So BE with Him. Spend some time today just being with God. Talking to Him, worshiping Him, reading His word, whatever you have to do, do it.
Dwell with God and know that your cup is overflowing.
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