Love each other

S- So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34(NLT)

O- Jesus' death on the cross gives us assurance of the Father's love for us.  In Christ we see that God's love always moves us to action.  

A-  In Christ's resurrection, we find life.  The calling we receive is to lay down our lives for one another.  To love others just as Christ has loved us is to be his follower.

P- Lord, thank you for the love you displayed by giving your life for us.  There is so much that is still broken and hurting in this world, but your death and resurrection brings eternal hope.  In the remembrances of this week, we see that you have overcome the grave.  Grant us the wisdom and the courage to love others with the same selfless love that led you to the cross.

Love, Life and Light

Scripture: 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:1-5 

Observation:  
John's gospel sets the stage for the greatest event in history by emphasizing God's love in action.  The creator of the universe puts on skin and comes to live as a human being. Real life, is in Christ. Christ is the embodiment of the the love of God. God moved into the neighborhood and became one of us.  

Application: 
This is not just theological truth. It causes me to live differently. God's love always moves into action.He calls us to do the same. If we claim that Christ's love is in us and we don't help our brothers and sisters in need, we are deceived.

Prayer: 
Lord, help me to see the needs of those around me today and give me the courage to act in accordance with your Spirit.  Help me share your love, life and light with the people I encounter today.

The Lord Will Lead Me

Scripture

From Numbers 9-16, 33-35

9:23 At the LORD’s command they encamped, and at the LORD’s command they set out. They obeyed the LORD’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.  Numbers 9:23
35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,“Rise up, LORD!    May your enemies be scattered;
may your foes flee before you.”  36 Whenever it came to rest, he said,“Return, LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.”

Ch. 11:1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused.

Ch  13 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”31 But the men who  -  gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”

14:17 “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”

Observations

This passage begins with the Lord giving Moses instructions for the Israelites to celebrate the Passover every year at the appointed time when on their Journey.  And the Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded.  However, it didn’t take long for the people to begin grumbling about what they were eating, etc.  Moses would intercede for the people and God would forgive.  But when the people doubted God’s presence among them, God took action that was permanent.  He allowed them to wander for 40 years and only their offspring would cross the Jordan into the Land Flowing with Milk and Honey. Once that generation was gone, he allowed their ancestors to cross the Jordan.

Application

God is with me and will lead me through all of life’s journey! It is essential that I listen, obey and follow without grumbling as he knows what is the best for me.

Prayer

Father God, Thank you for showing how you love your people and providing for them in all situations. Lord, guide me, give me a willing heart to follow you. Teach me to trust and obey you through all my life. In Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.

By Amy Mouton
Director of Upward Sports Ministry at Foundry

A Few Things That Stood Out to Me in Exodus

Scripture

"Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.” Ex. 25:2, NLT

“So I can live among them.” Ex. 25:8, NLT

“There will also be an almond bud beneath each pair of branches where the six branches extend from the center stem.³⁶ The almond buds and branches must all be of one piece with the center stem, and they must be hammered from pure gold.” Ex. 25:35-36, NLT 

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Ex. 33:14, NIV

Observation-notes about the reading

There is so much detail in the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle! Each piece that is part of this big plan has a special design that God created himself and shared with Moses. He trusted Moses to build and oversee the making of these important pieces. (Why is this so important?)

It took many skilled workers in many types of work to build the tabernacle. Embroiderers, woodworkers, blacksmiths, cloth makers…people who cut down trees, made fabric, carved wood, organized the details, controlled the quality, made lamps, pressed olives, …the list goes on.

In the making of the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, and the Priests’ clothing God is always commanding the finest pieces be used.

Application-how it applies to me, to my life

I love the detail and art in these passages. The details remind me that God is concerned with the details of my life. The little things do matter. The little things build upon one another to become the big things. My day to day decisions make up who I am and how others see me. What may seem little turns out to be big. There isn’t any “small” thing I do that won’t affect me.

That means that the little things I do that aren’t right—when I sin—affect me as well. But that is the GOOD NEWS of Jesus! God forgives me of all my sin because Jesus took my place and defeated sin and death. It all comes back to that.

Prayer

God, thank you for knowing me. Thank you for knowing the little pieces of my life as well as the big pieces. How could I ever thank you enough?! Help me to be obedient in everything and to seek to know you better every day. Thank you for your love, forgiveness, and thankfulness.

 

You can see an illustration of the tabernacle here: http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/10/24/what-does-the-tabernacle-symbolize/

P.S. Be sure to check out chapters 33 and 34—there’s some great stuff in there, too!

 

By Jessica Stephenson
Director of Student Ministries, Fry Rd Campus

 

Good Is the Enemy of Great

Scripture

Exodus 18:17-18 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself."

 

Observation

Moses’ father-in-law has come for a visit to hear all about what the Lord had been doing for the Israelites, and observed as Moses served as the sole judge for all of the people, from morning till evening- day after day. This could be a good thing, except it’s estimated that around 1 to 2.5 million Israelites had escaped Egypt. He was serving as judge of all of the people’s disputes, major and minor, when there were greater things that he needed to be doing. Because he had hundreds of problems before him on a daily basis, he was not able to step back and look at some of the great things that he was needing to do. 

 

Application

I wonder if I have the same problem. I wonder if I’ve filled my calendar and to-do list with so many good things, that I could be missing out on some of the great things. Working hard at my career, taking care of my home, and making sure that I have taken care of all of my responsibilities are all good things, and necessary things. But as I’m faced with those problems to solve and responsibilities to take care of, could it be possible that I’m losing sight of some of the great things that I should be a part of as well? I have access to a God who loves me and brings me peace and fulfillment every moment of every day, wouldn’t it be great to make sure I spend some time with him? I have people in my life who need my presence, encouragement, and prayer- wouldn’t it be great for me to really invest something there? There’s nothing wrong with the good, until it gets in the way of the great.

 

Prayer

Lord, I’m starting now on one of the great things- just spending time with you. Thank you for always being there with me, no matter what. As you’ve been there for me, help me to be there for the people in my life. Give me the courage to keep the good things in my life in check, so that I am able to invest in the great things. Amen.

 

- Jeff Hawkins

Have you heard?

Have you ever listened to the Bible being read aloud? I just tried it and I’m hooked. Last week, I listened to the gospel of Mark and was struck by Mark’s straight-talkin’-just-the-facts-Ma’am style. When I read to myself, that just doesn’t come across. Maybe because I think in my own voice when I’m doing the reading. Maybe because I stop to “piddle” with the text, looking up words in Greek or comparing different translations. Hearing an actual human voice marching through Jesus’ ministry - the miracles, the parables, the challenges and the victories - changed my perspective. The gospel became more of a whole and Mark's personality became real to me.

Now I’m on to Exodus. (I actually felt sorry for Pharaoh today. All those plagues coming and he still doesn’t get it.) I love the poetry of the Exodus story, the repetition, the grand language of Yahweh and the quavering voice of Moses. I love knowing that for innumerable generations this history was handed down orally; countless others have heard these very words spoken aloud, just as I’m now hearing them. Not parsed into tiny bits and pieces for close examination, but as part of God’s sweeping story.

In a few days, I’ll go back and parse to my heart’s content. I’ll happily follow any rabbit trails that occur to me and be the wiser for it. But right now I have some listening to do.

Want to try it? There are several Bible apps that have audio Bibles included. Try YouVersion or Blue Letter Bible. You can also check out CD’s at the Harris County Library System.

The LORD will Provide

S - Genesis 21:14 "So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” 

O - Abraham's faith is tested when God asks him to sacrifice his son, Isaac.  It is difficult for us to image God asking such.  Is this a cruel trick by God?  It seems inconsistent with the nature of the God of love we read of throughout scripture.  The practice of child sacrifice was quite common in the ancient world.  In an agrarian society, dependant upon crops and family, fertility was crucial.  Many of the other religions of Abraham's day believed that sacrifice of crops or even of their children was a way to obtain the gods' favor.  We know that one of Abraham's greatest trials in life was with fertility.  So, this test teaches us that... 

• God meets Abraham on his terms; but God clarifies His true nature when He interrupts Abraham before He follows through with the sacrifice.

• God's provision of the ram was a foreshadowing of Christ's offering for us on the cross.

• God tests Abraham's reliance on His provision.

• Abraham becomes the father of our faith because of his trust and reliance on God's provision.

A -  The big idea of this passage is that God will always provide for those who trust him.  God may ask us to do things that seem too difficult or that stretch us beyond what makes sense to us.  By trusting in God, we will find His faithfulness never fails.  Today, I choose to cling to God and His provision instead of the material things that only provide a false sense of security.

P - "Lord, let me be faithful to whatever you call me to do today.  Give me courage to trust you even when things don't make sense or I don't have all the answers.  Remind me that I can't ever make life good enough on my own, but I can trust you to provide and I can choose to be content in all situations because I know you are bigger than my circumstances."