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Deeper Devotions......how do you recapture the fire?

I've been very frustrated with my devotions lately (or lack thereof).  I have grown very lazy and apathetic towards my Bible reading.  You know what I mean, right?  You've been there before, no?  You read your "passage" for the day.....and thats about it.  You forget everything you read in mere moments.  (more on this in a few moments)

This past weekend I had the privilige of attending the Blossom Conference for Church Planters and wives.  What an awesome time.  It was a great time to connect with my wife and get refreshed and renewed.  The speaker was Bob Roberts, Jr. who is the Pastor of Northwood Church in Texas.  He is an amazing speaker.  

Anyway.....there was a small time of Q&A with Bob.  So I asked him the question that always bothers me.  I asked, "How do you handle discouragement?".   His response was quite simple...."I journal".   He even said... "I can't imagine not journaling anymore".  He said that journaling allowed him to take a deeper look at his life and be honest before God.  

So...the main thing I took away from the conference was that I needed to journal.  Not a diary....but a journal.  A more indepth look at my life through the eyes of scripture.  A time where I can read the Bible and take the time to apply it to my life more intentionally.  

So I started tonight.  I am reading in Galatians and started to write some basic questions.  Not sure if this will help you....but it helped me already tonight. Here is the outline that I wrote down in summary.

1.  What passage did I read?

2.  What is the basic summary (in a couple of sentences)

3.  What verse was I going to ponder on? 

4.  What is God showing me through this passage?

5.  What am I going to pray as a result of reading this? (a short prayer written out as the thoughts come to my head...I just write it out)

6.  What actions steps are needed as a result of reading this?

I'm curious as to who journals out there?  Anybody?  What is the best way for you to keep the fire in your time with God?  Any other suggestions?  There are a lot of great notebooks out there.  I just downloaded the "Moleskin" app for my iPad to help me.  I love it.

Can't wait for tomorrow.......

Which Jesus do you follow? Baby Jesus? Bearded Jesus? Teenage Jesus?

Watch this first.....

 

One of my favorite songs is "My Jesus" by Todd Agnew.  A phenomenal song which will make you examine how you view Jesus.   Todd begins the song with a very important question.  He says, "Which Jesus do you follow?".  

Now you may ask....Dan isn't there only one Jesus?  Yes, you are correct.  There is only one.  However, isn't it amazing how many people interpret Jesus differently?  

Some people have such a wrong perception of Jesus that it warps there entire view of life and faith.  For many, Jesus is a "white, middle class, Republican who opposes Obamacare".  To others...."Jesus is a liberal who will do anything to advance the agenda of the political left."  

For many, Jesus is a poster child for welfare, health, wealth and happiness.  For others Jesus was just a good teacher...but not God.  

Jesus is also used as an expletive when somebody needs to be blamed.  To others...Jesus is just a good luck charm when then need something to go their way.  There is no better way to illustrate in a "comedic" but sad way... how this happens.  Watch this. :)

 

So let me ask you....which Jesus do you follow?  How has your political, socio-economic, denominational, childhood, views have impacted on how you view Jesus?

I know what you are saying right now.  "Dan, I get my view of Jesus from the Bible."  

Awesome.  But do you really?  How can so many people say that and be wrong?  How can you read the Bible with an unbiased view?  We are so sinful, that we must be very, very, very careful, that we are not reading things into the text that are just not there.  If you are not careful...you can leave your Bible reading with a warped view of Jesus and life.

I think Todd Agnew is right.  If Jesus were physically walking the earth today we would not be impressed.  Jesus would probably not be welcome in most of our churches.  We would not want to b

e around the people that He would around.  We probably wouldn't even darken the door of some places Jesus would hang out. We would not be impressed because the images and views of Jesus, are so warped by our worldview, that it's hard to see it clearly.  I'm sure that some would even debate Jesus on doctrine.  Guarantee it.  So sad....but so true.  Heaven is going to be so awesome.  Can't wait to see the real Jesus. :)

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2-3

Think on this.  Which Jesus do you follow?  

It Happens.......

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

The Word of God is alive.  How awesome is that?  The very words spoken by the Creator of the Universe are available to the world today.  Many of us, have several copies in our home and in different translations.   I can access God's Word not only from the hard copies that I have at home....but also digitally.   I can access it from my iPhone, iPad, & MacBook (yes I know I am an Apple fanboy).  I can hear it on my radio in my car or I can hear it on T.V.  (although most TV preachers make me want to barf).

God's Word is everywhere.  How many Christians take it for granted?  With the Bible so readily available, how hungry do I get to read it?  How much do I long for it?  Can I go a day without it?  Is the bible just another book?  Have I grown apathetic with it?  May I burn with passion for God's word, as my dear brothers & sisters around the world in underground churches.  May I hunger, as the believers, whose only scripture to read is the scripture that they have memorized. They have no Bible because it is illegal.  

When I read it does it move me?  Acorrding to this verse in Hebrews the Bible reads us more than we read it.  It is searching deep within us and bringing our spirit in tune with His Spirit.  It is digging deep within my soul and it is my greatest judge.  It knows me.  It searches me.  When I read it do I see myself in the stories?  This, in my opinion, is the best way to read God's Word.

The greatest truth for us to know in the Bible.....is not that "it happened" but that "it happens".  I need to see myself as Adam & Eve when they sinned.  That happens to me everyday.  I need to see myself as a young shepherd boy whose faith was enough to bring down a giant. I lack faith everyday.  I need to see myself as Joseph and his brothers.  Unforgiveness, Pain, Rejection....it happens. I need to insert myself in the story ofthe prophet who ran away from God and got swallowed by a big fish.  I have issues.  Apathy, doubt, indifference to suffering......it happens.  I need to see myself as the little boy who gave Jesus his lunch.  God believes in me when no one else does.  It happens.  I need to see myself as the thief who hung on the cross.....it happens.  I can go on and on.  I hope you see my point.

It is not enough to know the characters, events and stories of the Bible.  What is a wealth of Bible knowledge going to do for you?  Read the message.  Heed the message.  Don't read the bible for knowledge.  It is not a textbook.  Read it for what it is....the Living, Breathing, Inspired, Flawless, Soul Searching, Poetic message from the God who loves me.  Make it happen.

 

How does one "walk with God"?

 

Genesis 6:22-24 (NIV)

²² And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. ²³Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. ²⁴ Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

During my Bible reading the other day; I came across this verse which I have read countless times.   It is about a man named Enoch...who lived a long, long time ago.  Enoch, is the great-grandfather to Noah, and a father to the oldest man to ever live, Methuselah.   What makes Enoch so special is that the text says "Enoch walked with God".  

So I want to ask you.....What does it mean to walk with God?  The normal translation of this verse is that you must do three things to walk with God.  (Read your Bible, Pray, Go to Church)  Which all sounds good.  But the problem is that in Enoch's day...only 2 of 3 existed.   There was no Bible and there was no church.  So without giving me the typical answers....what does it mean to walk with God?   Now obviously these are things that will help our walk with God...but are they by themselves a "walk with God".  How did Enoch walk with God? 

We all know Names are important in the Bible, right?   Well let the meaning of Enoch's name help you with your understanding of this.  Enoch's name means "dedicated".  

What can we learn from Enoch...?  Not much description is given.....let me know what you think.  

Missing the Obvious

We can get so wrapped up in the details of life that we miss the most obvious things!  I just took Spikey, our new dog, out for a long walk.  I was up early since I had crashed early the night before.   As soon as Spikey sees his leash he goes bonkers!  He jumps about 3-4  feet off the ground in pure excitement of looking at the outside world.  At 6:30 AM on a Saturday morning there is only ever one place I'm ever at.....in bed!   This early I woke up and went outside and the first thing I saw was the most AWESOME sunrise!  The sun was still very orange as it was rising and it made the nearby clouds illuminate with such brilliance.  As I continued down the road with Spikey in tow....I noticed some owls that were perched on their protected sites in the empy lots.  Pretty cool.  I then paid attention to birds that were singing and thought about how God cares for every single one of them.    I'm usually not a big fan of long walks or jogging or whatever.   But as I started to focus on the beautiful simple things of the walk...i began to forget how much I hated walking.  As a matter of fact I quite enjoyed it.    The sunrise, birds, Spikey, owls and the eager dog that wanted to make friends with Spikey were all intriguing.  

I then had a wierd thought.....if I woke up earlier I could enjoy this everyday.  The morning is a beatiful time.  However....next Saturday morning I will probably me still sound asleep in my bed...missing the most obvious.

To close....check out this video of this lady from the TV Show "Deal or No Deal" missing the most obvious!  It is quite funny!

From Death to Life - John 1:1-5

 

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.

 ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

This is such a fantastic passage of scripture.  Today during our gathering at Fusion Church we looked at and discussed this passage.   We spoke on the Deity of Jesus and looked at how we are confident that Jesus is who He said He was.  The first three verses speak about the awesomeness of who and what Jesus is.  We see that Jesus is not only God but He is also the Creator of all.  Nothing was made without Jesus speaking all things into existence. 

Jesus is the author of Life.  John writes in verse 4 that specifically that "In Him" was life.  Out of God comes the very essence and purpose of life.  This reminds me of the Creation account in Genesis where it says that "God breathed into Adam the breath of life".  Within all of us is found this very breath.   Actually what is more amazing is that in the original language the very word for "breath" is the same word for "spirit".  Same word.  Inside of you God has given you life with the very air you breath, and this life comes from God.  

Everything was fine for all of 2 chapters in the Bible.  Did you ever think about that?  Of all the chapters there are in the Bible it only took 2 chapters for somebody to blow it.  Chapter 3 begins the reason for the very reason that Jesus had to die.  As we all know Adam & Eve fell when they disobeyed God and passed on their sinful nature to the rest of us.  God told them that if they disobeyed his one command that they will die.  And sure enough they did.  Not only did they die physically...but they also died spiritually.  They had once enjoyed such fellowship with God in the Garden...but once they sinned that ended immediately.  Death overtook them...

Those who once were full of LIFE...now were dead.  Their children were born spiritually dead.  Cain & Abel did not have the fellowship that their parents enjoyed with God.  The Earth was cursed as well as it had been corrupted with sin.  It was as if Adam & Eve had ignored Doctor Emmit Brown and had messed with the "Space Time Continuum". Something had to change.  Life had to be restored to the Universe and to mankind.  This is where Jesus comes in.

Jesus came to a Lost, Dark and Evil world.  This was a world that was very far apart from God and a planet that was filled with spiritual zombies.  Zombies are "living dead beings".  People without the LIFE that Jesus gives are exactly that.  We who were "spiritually dead" without any purpose need the Life that had been given to Adam and Eve.  The groanings of the Universe could be heard and God wasn't going to ignore it.  Jesus came and brought Life.  He not only redeemed us through the Cross but he also showed us how to live.   The ways of Jesus and the death of Jesus give us Life.

Jesus came to bring restoration to the universe. 

 ¹⁹For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

 He came to bring life to man so that he could be united with God the Father once again.  John tells us that "in Him was LIFE".  This Life is the light of man.  It is a light that shines in the darkness.   It is a life that overcomes evil.  It is the life that created all things and it is the Life that brings us back in fellowship to God.  We who were dead have now been brought back to LIFE.

It is amazing how this was accomplished isn't it?  Man was created with this LIFE from God.  Man disobeys God and sins and then begins to die and lose that LIFE.  Jesus then comes.....He lives.....He dies....and then He LIVES!   It is because He lives that we also live.

Ephesians 2:4-6

because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,