The End - Gen. 49-50 & Matt. 13b

Wow, the end of the first book already! It hasn't even been a month and 50 chapters have zoomed by already...

I love the book of Genesis. So many interesting stories. From Creation, to the Fall of humanity, to the destruction of almost everything, to a chosen family through whom God would bless the world. Now that's a story!

Now we are about to head into Exodus. God's deliverance of the Israelites from the slavery they got into in the midst of the great Famine. Ya know, I don't think I ever realized that it was Joseph who put those people into slavery in the first place... But I'm looking forward to Exodus too, it's n interesting book as well. It's reassuring to see God hear His people's cry for help and His power as He takes on pharaoh and the Egyptians.

As for the New Testament, we will continue our way through the gosepl of Matthew. Today Jesus continued talk about the Kingdom of Heaven - one of the most discussed topics in the gospels and least talked about in our churches. May we come to understand and see the meaning and power of God's Kingdom here on earth and the part we play in it. His kingdom is here and now, we are simply blind to it.....kind of like the movie Matrix.

Which world will you choose...? Do you think ignorance is bliss or do you want to know the real deal and be part of it?

Dirt People - Gen. 46-48 & Matt. 13:1-30

Sorry I missed yesterday...we've been a little sick... And although I don't have much of a voice, I can still type - so I'm back!

Well, today's OT reading brings somewhat of a finale to Joseph and his father Jacob's saga. Joseph finally reveals his true identity to his brothers and has them and his father move to Goshen, in Egypt where there is fertile land. Jacob gets to live there for 17 years before he says his final words and blesses Joseph's sons. And wouldn't you know it old Jacob still has some tricks up his sleeve as he crosses his arms and gives a "backwards" blessing to Joseph's sons blessing the younger over the older (sound familiar?).

But what I want to focus on today is Matthew 13. This is where we find Jesus' parable of the four soils. It's a story we've heard over and over, but so important and telling in our own lives and the lives around us. Jesus explains that someone spreading seed spreads it all over - on a walking path, on some rocky soil, among thorns, and on good soil. We are to understand that the seed spread is symbolic of the good news of Jesus being shared and the response of the soil is symbolic of people's different responses to that good news.

One thing that's interesting is that the seed is spread all over! If you know anything about farming, this is not how you do it. This would be a waste of seed. But it works differently with the kingdom of God. We are to spread the good news of Jesus everywhere and let God take care of the harvest.

But most important is for us to note the types of soil and the comparisons Jesus gives in his explanation of this story to his disciples:

-Walking path = people who don't understand the message
-Rocky soil = people who recieve the message but then give up when tough times come
-Thorny soil = people who worry too much about life or are too focused on money
-good soil = people who receive the message and spread their seed elsewhere

I wonder....which soil are you?

No Rules, Just Right - Gen. 41-42 & Matt. 12:1-23

No Rules, Just Right - that's the slogan for Outback Steakhouse, but it might make a better slogan for Jesus' teaching in the New Testament. Throughout Jesus' life people misunderstood Him. That was primarily because they were Jewish and knew the Old Testament (the law) very well. But Jesus came and turned their worlds upside down because they had become more focused on the rules than the heart behind those laws.

We see this fleshed out often in Jesus' ministry and often it is with the rule-focused sect called the Pharisees. In Matthew chapter 12 we are given one such incident. As Jesus and His disciples walked through the fields on the Sabbath, His disciples began to pluck the heads of wheat and eat them (which the Pharisees saw as working on the Sabbath). So the Pharisees speak up to Jesus saying, "Look your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting wheat on the Sabbath." First off, Jesus responds by quoting Scripture to these know-it-alls proving that He knew the law very well thank you. Then He takes the conversation to a whole new (and outrageous) level by saying, "I tell you, there is one here who is greater than the Temple!"

Not only does Jesus use Scripture to defend His disciples, but He proclaims His authority as Lord of the Sabbath and throws that in their faces. And He goes on to teach them saying, "But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices."

God wants us to have pure hearts. Hearts after Jesus' heart. That is the point of Scripture, that is the point of church, and that is the point of spiritual disciplines. God wants to develop character within us so that we may become like Him. Whatever God has given you in your life - your job, your classes, your family, your friends, your personality - He wants you to live in that world (your world) and use those things to develop yourself into His image. He is ready and willing to help us, but we must decide to begin that journey. That is what it means to follow Christ.

I hope you will seek this path for your life and talk with me about it as we travel the road together.

"May the Lord be with you" - Gen. 39-40 & Matt. 11

May the Lord be with you...

...and also with you.

This is a common greeting and response for many churches. Unfortunately it isn't too common in the Baptist world. But Genesis 39 reminded me of it. Genesis 39 tells about Joseph and his continual trials. He has already been sold into slavery by his brothers and now we see him seduced by his master's wife who yelled "rape" after he ran away from her advances. Then he is thrown in jail. And after correctly interpreting dreams for two of Pharaoh's men, he is simply forgotten and left in jail.

But all throughout this chapter we see a certain phrase repeated, "The Lord was with Joseph." We see it in verses 2, 3, 21, $ 23. Things went wrong often throughout Joseph's life, but the Lord was with him and He continued to bless and use him throughout his life.

As we spend time with God and recognize that we can and must do so in the midst of whatever takes up most of our time (work, school, family) we will begin to understand what it means to "take His yoke upon us" as Jesus says in Matthew 11. You see, living for Jesus isn't a piece of cake, it takes work, but this path is such that it will make your life peaceful. Again, not to say that you will never have problems or stress, you will! But in the midst of those trials if the Lord is with you, you will have a peace in your mind and heart that transcends the circumstances. In Matthew 11 Jesus says, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

So abiding in Jesus still requires work (carrying a yoke) but Jesus' yoke guides us into straight paths. His guidance is gentle and in His guidance we will find rest in the place of restlessness and the burdens we carry in life will be replaced with His burden, which is light. Soooo,

May the Lord be with you...

Sheep Among Wolves - Gen. 36-38 & Matt. 10

In Matthew 10:16 Jesus tells the disciples that He is sending them out as sheep among wolves. He warns them that they WILL be treated badly (just as He was). Jesus also says in Matt. 10:34 that He didn't come to bring peace, but rather a sword. That is, He has come offering true life if we give our complete allegiance to Him, but He demands that nothing else come before Him. So a relationship with Him may bring a sword to your relationships in life. Jesus says that we must love Him more than our fathers and mothers, our husbands and wives, our children, our friends, etc. If we are putting anything before Him we must cut it out of our lives.

We see the sheep among wolves scenario in today's OT reading. Joseph, the youngest and most loved by his father is hated by his brothers. So much so that they consider killing him, but then decide to at least profit from him by selling him into slavery. Can you imagine your family treating you like that?!

But take heart if you are currently suffering in this world, because GOD IS IN CONTROL. Just as the Father was with Jesus bringing Him back to life from death into a new and glorious life with the Father, God watches over us as well. Jesus forewarned us that we will face persecution, but He also said He would always be with us. God was in control in Joseph's life as well. He allowed him to become one of the top leaders in Egypt, saving the whole country (including his brothers) from drought and starvation.

Trust and know that God is at work in the same way in your life. Remember that God is above and outside and within our world seeing things from the larger perspective while we are simply in "the fishbowl of life" and all we can see is what's going on around us. If you remain faithful and in touch with God He will help you to consider life from His perspective and He will give you the power and love and grace to carry on.

DON'T GIVE UP!