Another New Beginning

In this year of “New Beginnings,” we have examined numerous examples of individuals who demonstrated incredible trust in God. During the month of February we took a “Fresh Look at Relationships” in the Bible and learned some practical application for developing healthy relationships. More recently during the month of March, we have been inspired to develop personal vision by “The Dream” of one faithful individual in the Bible named Joseph and how God worked in a powerful way in his life to accomplish that dream!

As we begin the month of April, we are going to refocus as a church on the identity and purpose of Jesus Christ as he is described in the Gospel of Mark. As Mark begins his eye witness account of Jesus’ life, he focuses the reader on “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1 NIV)

During this month leading up to Easter Sunday, we are going to begin a new message series entitled, “The King and The Cross.” Throughout this series of messages, we are going to acknowledge the identity of Jesus as the long awaited Messiah and the one and only Son of God. We are also going to celebrate the good news of what Jesus accomplished for each and every one of us while he was on the earth.

Are you ready for some good news? Do you know someone else who could use a little good news? If so then make plans to attend this Sunday, April 3rd and invite others to join us!

Refusing to Relinquish the Dream

Throughout the month of March, we have been examining the faith of one of the great dreamers of the Bible … Joseph (the great grandson of Abraham). Joseph did not give up on his dream for the future and neither should we! He continued to wait for the LORD through 13 tough years of his life and in the waiting Joseph learned a greater dependence upon the LORD. Although Isaiah wrote the following words much later, they apply to Joseph’s enduring trust in the LORD:

Doyou not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth; Does not become weary or tired; His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary; And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired; And vigorous young men stumble badly; Yet those who wait for the LORD; Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles; They will run and not get tired; They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-31 NASB

Throughout the Joseph’s story we see him waiting for the LORD to fulfill his dreams. And throughout the story, we see the LORD actively at work providing opportunities at just the right time not just for Joseph’s life, but for the greater good of what God is seeking to accomplish for His people and in the world at large. You see it wasn’t just a coincidence that at just the right time when his brothers were ready to kill him in his homeland that a band of slave traders traveling to Egypt would be walking by … and it wasn’t a coincidence that Joseph just happened to be sold as a slave in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s captain of the guard, … and it wasn’t a coincidence that he happened to be falsely accused by Potiphar’s lustful wife, … and it wasn’t a coincidence that he just happened to be in prison at the same time that Pharaoh’s cup bearer would be in prison and then have a dream that Joseph could interpret … and it wasn’t just a coincidence that the cup bearer would forget about Joseph until two years later when Pharaoh himself had a bizarre dream (actually two bizarre dreams) and then he would say … hey there is a guy in prison named, Joseph can interpret dreams and I just now remembered him!!

Remember … “A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous!” I believe by faith, the LORD is continually at work in our world in a miraculous way, even when we don’t recognize his handiwork and when we simply say … “oh that was a coincidence!”

Are you waiting for the LORD to act in your life and to fulfill the dreams that He has for your life?

Lessons from a Humble Man

In my personal Bible reading, I am presently reading through the fourth book of the Bible entitled Numbers. Numbers (which has always captured my interest as a former math teacher) is a book written by Moses describing various details including the list of names and the numbers of individuals in the various tribes of Israel, as they wander in the wilderness prior to entering the promise land. The reader of this book is reminded of the dangers of unbelief, grumbling against God, and sinful behavior.

While reading the book, I am also amazed and challenged by the humility of Moses, who had been called by God to lead Israel. Moses is described as the following: “(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth)” Numbers 12:3 NIV. Upon reading this challenge, I desired in my heart to have that same level of humility and yet wondered if that ambitious thought disqualified me from consideration. It appears that Moses didn’t simply seek to be humble, but that he truly was humble before the LORD and the calling that he had received.

As I continue to read through Numbers, I am challenged by Moses humility demonstrated in a number of practical ways. Moses consistently seeks honor for the LORD and yet not for himself. Although often questioned by those who oppose his leadership, he responds consistently with an absence of resentment or competition. He also is eager to forgive others who have wronged him, repeatedly interceding for them seeking God’s forgiveness as well.

These lessons from a truly humble man have reminded me that at the very core of our worship of God is the call to be humble. Approximately 700 years later, the prophet Micah echoed this same theme to God’s people describing God’s calling to each or our lives with these words: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NIV

Are you walking humbly with your God?

Remembering the Poor

One of the common themes throughout the Bible is the importance of remembering the poor. We see that teaching emphasized by Jesus and his earliest followers and yet we actually see this teaching throughout the Bible.

When the LORD revealed instructions to Moses (approximately 1,000 years before Christ), we find the following commands from God: “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:9-10 NLT).

It appears that worshippers of God are called to always remember and make provisions for those in need. During the month of March, we are going to be encouraging everyone who worships at Southwest Church to pick up a “yellow bag” from our Faith in Action Team and fill it up with non-perishable items from “the edges” of our personal food pantries, so that we can help provide for a local food pantry (Springboro Community Assistance Center) that serves those in need of Springboro. Springboro Community Assistance Center is presently serving food to 300 people a month.

Can you help fill up a “yellow bag” for those in need and return it on April 3rd?

What does it mean to be Holy? (Life Lessons from Leviticus)

This year, I am following a particular Bible Reading plan* which includes daily readings from both the Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT). This morning, my readings from two different books of the Bible really complemented each other in an amazing way!

My reading from the book of Leviticus (OT) explained in great detail some of the Jewish Laws concerning remaining ceremonially clean or holy in God’s sight. According to my study Bible notes the book of Leviticus mentions “holiness … more times (152) than in any other book of the Bible.” In fact, the following verses serve as the theme of the entire book: "For I am the LORD your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. … For I, the LORD, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy”“ (Leviticus 11:44-45).

As I was pondering the challenge to live a holy live, I also reflected on my reading from the Gospel of Mark (NT). Mark described Jesus challenge to the religious people of his day, who went to great lengths to be outwardly clean (ceremonially washing hands, cups, pitchers, and kettles) and yet had forgotten the importance of being clean on the inside. Jesus said, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you” (Mark 7:20-23).

Just as the Israelites were called to live a holy life as their response to being delivered by Egyptian slavery, followers of Christ are called to live a holy life in response to being delivered from sin and guilt by Jesus Christ. This is a holiness that is not based on our outward actions or traditions, but on the focus of our hearts being cleansed by Jesus. Now that is a holy challenge!

* See this particular Bible Reading plan at www.heartlight.org/devotionals/reading_plans/otandnt.pdf.