Daily Light - June 15, 2010

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"...our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

Daniel 3:17-18

Most of us know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego very well. These three Hebrew young men were taken captive into the kingdom of Babylon. We know that they were good-looking, intelligent, and very wise. We would say that of all the Hebrew children these were the cream of the crop. Yet, they were captives in a foreign land. They were given important positions within the government as advisers to the king and all of the leadership of his kingdom. They were thousands of miles from home. They seemingly had no one to answer to but their pagan captives. However, they knew that they would answer to a much high power than King Nebuchadnezzar. The day came in which they were tested, because they were commanded to bow before a false god. Of course, they refused, and were threatened with certain death. It is the faith of their reply that I would like to focus on.

They had complete faith that God would deliver them out of Nebuchadnezzar's hand. These captives stood face to face with the king and boldly told him that there was a true God and that His power was greater than the king's. They also believed without any doubt that their God was more powerful than the elements of earth itself. It requires astounding faith to believe that you will walk out of a fiery furnace. That is not normal. Yet, they stood face to face with the king and told him that their God could do and would do the impossible. The Bible teaches us that faith believes what we cannot physically see but what we can spiritually see. They knew the power of God and trusted that it would save them in their time of distress. And, of course, you know the end of the story; they were saved. God Himself came down to keep them company in the midst of the furnace. Praise God that He is always with us in the fire.

However, we also need to focus on the words of verse 18. Three little words that could have changed the whole dynamic of this story: But if not. What if this story would have ended differently? What if God would have allowed them to die in that furnace? Would God be any less powerful? The three Hebrews children didn't think so. They told the king that their faith was steadfast no matter what happened. If God would have chosen to allow them to die that day, they were willing to pay that price. God's love and His power were not on trial here. What God sovereignly decides to do is not for us to decide; it is only for us to accept. We speak often of looking for and desiring miraculous deliverance. While it is good to pray for such things, we must also understand that God is God whether we are delivered or whether we are allowed to walk through the fire. Never surrender your faith on the altar of personal convenience! Pour out your heart to God and ask Him your request, but leave the decision to His will and His alone.

May your faith in God be steadfast today!

Daily Light - June 14, 2010

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"[I] remember my affliction, the wormwood and the gall.

My soul still remembers and sinks within me.

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope."

Lamentations 3:19-21

The more famous verses of Lamentations 3 are found following this passage in verses 22-23. They are often quoted to give us encouragement and to remind us of how good God is. However, we once again have to return to the context of the passage. As a reminder, verses 22-23 say, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." If you read those wonderful passages of Scripture, surely you would believe that the preceding verses spoke of some sort of victory that God had brought in the author's life. There had to be a battle in which the children of Israel prevailed that prompted such a writing. Perhaps we would think that Jeremiah had experienced some personal triumph through the help of the Lord and now he is expressing his praise and adoration to God for the victorious moment. However, in context that is not true at all. To read the entire chapter is almost painful. He writes of pain, darkness, death, and broken bones. He expresses how in his most difficult moments he felt abandoned by every one including God. This man who had served his God faithfully and continually has suffered every affliction imaginable, yet when he knelt in prayer it seemed that God was silent. Jeremiah was hated by all around him. They had turned his message from God into hate speech, and many just wanted to see him dead. This is the context of his words above. He is reflecting on all that he has experienced. The hurt and the torment seem as fresh at this moment as they ever have. His heart is not simply broken but crushed by what he has endured. Yet, it is in this state that he says "I have hope!" How can you have hope at a moment of such despair? When every one around you wants to see you dead, how do you stay encouraged?

Jeremiah knew the nature of God. He knew that God was ever present. He knew without any doubt that God was merciful. The fact that Jeremiah or any of the children of Israel had been spared and not consumed was proof of God's mercy. He knew as we learn from the Apostle John that God's very nature is love and compassion. The same God that looked on the multitudes with compassion because they were scattered without a shepherd was the same God with whom Jeremiah dealt. He knew that God's compassion was limitless. He knew that every day God would be faithful. As the faithfulness of the rising of the sun, so much more was the faithfulness of Almighty God. Discouragement only becomes defeat when we refuse to acknowledge the presence of God in our circumstances.

May you find glory in the ashes today!

Daily Light - June 13, 2010

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"This is the day the Lord has made; we WILL REJOICE and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24

Once again, this is no ordinary day. This is the Lord's Day. It is with great reverence that we set aside this day to worship our mighty God and say to Him that He is first above all things. Of course, He should be first each and every day, but this is the day that we recognize this corporately with the body of Christ. I hope that you will take advantage of this obligation and opportunity.
Let us consider what we should be doing on this day. The context of this passage tells us prophetically of the rejection of Christ. This rejection of the Cornerstone led to His eventual crucifixion. On the cruel cross of man the Savior of the world gave His life for sin. He bought the redemption of His children. He came to His own, but they did not receive Him. However, those who received Him and believed on Him became His eternal children. No wonder the psalmist speaks of how marvelous this is. For a child of hell to be transformed into one of God's own children truly is marvelous. For this reason it is clear that on this holy day we WILL REJOICE. Notice there is no doubt about our rejoicing. It is not that there is simply a possibility of rejoicing. How powerless the psalm would sound if it read that we might rejoice! The psalm is an expression of the heart. Because of what the Savior did for us, we WILL REJOICE. Jesus told those who criticized the rejoicing crowd at His triumphal entry that if the people did not rejoice the rocks would cry out in their place. While all of creation can express praise, God created us with a soul that feels joy and a mouth to express it. The mouth WILL REJOICE because of the joy that is in our hearts. Do not allow anything or anyone to hinder you from rejoicing in Christ your Savior. Make Him your focus as you gather with brothers and sisters in worship. Pour out your heart to a holy God that longs to hear your praise!
May you gather today with those that WILL REJOICE with you!

Daily Light - June 11, 2010

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things." Romans 14:1

"I am right, and everybody else is wrong!" Have you ever met someone with that attitude? Chances are that if you have been in church for any length of time you have. This attitude almost seems infectious within the body of Christ. When I was in college, I remember there were several periodicals published by different people and groups. It seemed that the main purpose of these papers and magazines was to correct the others. Most of the things that they were trying to "correct" were issues that were really not that important. They were spending thousands of dollars on ink and paper over things that didn't matter.
It is so easy to get caught up in this war of words. Why? The simple answer is pride. We never want to admit that we are wrong. Even more, our pride has convinced us that every one should think, believe, and act like we do on every issue. However, wasn't it God that made each of us differently? God doesn't have "cookie-cutter" creations. He gave me my own mind and allowed me to experience things personally that others have not experienced. He has allowed me to have preferences that have shaped who I am and who I am able to reach. Christ is more concerned about what we think of Him than He is about what others think of us. That is a good statement even if I said it myself. If we were to begin living our lives each day with the thought of what does Christ think of our lives, it would revolutionize the body of Christ. Please understand that the fundamental doctrines of God and salvation are non-negotiable. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. What I am speaking of has to do with personal issues that are based on preference and not Scripture.
There was once a time that John returned to Jesus and boasted that they had rebuked a man that was casting out devils but was not part of their group. It seems obvious in the context that John felt that he was doing the right thing. This man wasn't part of his tight-knit circle, so surely he couldn't be doing right. Jesus gave them some advice that we all need to remember: "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side." My prayer is that God's people will unify under the banner of Jesus Christ. Truthfully, it is not just my prayer. It was Jesus' prayer for us as well. Take some time to read John 17.
May you learn to live in perfect peace with your brothers and sisters in Christ!

Daily Light - June 10, 2010

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" Psalm 119:165

Some verses in the Bible are greatly misunderstood. People take the words out of context and fit them into their own frame of mind. This is one of those verses. I have actually heard people say that Christians should never get upset or offended by anything, and they used this verse to back it up. My desire today is simply to encourage you to read the Bible in the context that it is given. Don't make the Bible say what you want it to say. Let it speak for itself. Let's take this verse for example.
First, the misconception that those who follow God should never get offended is way off base. There are plenty of things that should offend a Christian. Shouldn't you be offended by sinful behavior? I often get quite upset with our media. I try to find a wholesome program to watch with my children, and in the middle of the show a commercial comes on that is vulgar and blatantly sinful. When that happens, I am offended. I have been out in public with my family, and suddenly an individual begins to use crude and vile language. I am offended that my children had to hear that coming from their mouths. I read an article in a magazine where a man was mocking Jesus Christ and those who followed Him. I was deeply offended. Because I was offended, does that mean that I violated the above Scripture? Of course not, because that is not what is being taught in the context of this passage. A Christian should be offended by sin. I should take offense to the fact that someone would violate the innocence of my children with their open sin.
Second, so what does this passage mean? Well, read the context of the verse as well as the surrounding material. This passage is found in Psalm 119 where every verse except for a handful talks about the law of God. The psalmist is emphasizing the importance of God's law in our lives. He talks about how we need to understand it and embrace it. With that whole context in mind, we then read our passage for today. If I embrace the Word of God and choose to let it apply to my life, then I am not going to be fighting against it but will find peace in it. Therefore, if I am at peace with God and His Word, I will not be offended by its message. There are many that see the Bible as a narrow-minded book, because they have not learned to love the Author. When you come to know the Author of the book, you will understand and even embrace what He is teaching. God's Word is not offensive to someone who loves God. Let the Word speak to your heart and your conscience and not just your intellect.
I write this today, because I am convinced that the church needs a revival of deep Bible study. We need to dive into the Word of God and learn its great truths to make us stronger in Christ. We can only do this though if we are studying it in the context of what was intended.
May the Word speak to the deepest part of your heart today!

Daily Light - June 9, 2010

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

We live in a world where it seems that every one and every thing is moving rapidly all of the time. There is always somewhere to go and something to do. Most of us get up each day with our normal routine ahead of us. We are rushing to get the kids off to school. We are in a hurry so that we will not be late for work - again! There is the to-do list that needs to be made out. Some of us have to write that list down, because there is no way that we will remember every thing. Along with all that we need to do during the day, there are also concerns that are pressing on our minds. We worry about personal finances or health issues. The list goes on and on. Unfortunately for many, this stress grows so great that it affects their relationships. It causes a cloud of anxiety to hover over our lives. The worst part is we know that tomorrow will not be any different! Are you discouraged yet?
While this may sound discouraging, living this life is much tougher than it sounds. We all know that. In this small passage of Scripture God gives us the answer to our everyday stress. Some of us read that verse and say, "I don't have time to be still. Do you want to see my to-do list?" While being still is an important part of the verse that is not all the Scripture says. We need to be still for a reason. Many times when we get still it is either to sleep or totally waste time. Do you ever need to just sit down and shut your brain off? All of us do from time to time, but that is not even what this Scripture is teaching. We need to purposely find time to shut everything else out of our lives and sit alone with God. In the stillness and quiet of that moment we need to acknowledge that He and He alone is the Lord of our lives. If we are not careful, all of our anxieties, issues, and schedules can become our Lord. This is why God gave Moses the command, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Only He deserves the place of God in our lives. This time of stillness and quiet is something that you will have to do on purpose. You are not going to accidentally find a few moments to do so. Make it a part of your every day schedule. Don't let anything rob you of your time with the Creator of the universe!
When I awoke this morning, I went into our spare bed room and sat still. While in there I began to listen to the birds singing outside the window. My mind jumped to Togo, Africa. As if I was there again, I remember stepping out on the porch where we were staying and hearing the quiet noises of birds in the trees and animals off in the distance. As I jogged around the "neighborhood", I saw mothers cooking for their little children and the little children staring at the strange, tall, white man running up and down the street. It was amazing, because I realized that in the quietness of that African village the same God that I served at home was God there as well!
May you be still and know without any doubt that He is God today!

Daily Light - June 8, 2010

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"...that I may KNOW Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." Philippians 3:10

"And we KNOW that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

What do you think about the old saying, "It is not WHAT you know but WHO you know that really matters"? Maybe you have found this to be true at some point in your life. Many times it is said and implied with a negative connotation. Individuals with incredible knowledge in their profession have been overlooked because a less qualified person was friends with the ones doing the hiring. An athlete may not get to play as many minutes during a game because another person on the team is a favorite of the coach. There are many negative scenarios that we could discuss, but let's turn it around and see the positive one from Scripture.
One of the privileges that I have as a minister of the Gospel is the responsibility and opportunity to study the Word so much. I truly am in awe each week as I prepare for lessons and messages and find the richness of the Bible to be overwhelming time and time again. As I prepared for a message last Wednesday evening, a particular principle in the Word seemed to leap off the pages directly into my heart and mind. It has stuck with me, and each day for the past week I have meditated upon it. We as a church are studying through the Secrets to the Abundant Christian Life from John 15. This past week the message was entitled "The Secret to Loving Is Knowing". Jesus told His disciples that the world would hate them because the world hated Him. One of the reasons, if not the main reason, the world hates Jesus is because they do not know the Father (John 15:21). As I studied this, related Scriptures began to flow through my mind. For instance, Jesus told His disciples in John 14 that if they believed in God they should believe Him. You cannot believe in the Father and not believe in the Son. They are one and the same. Many in our world want to say that they believe in God, but do not accept Jesus as Lord. That mentality is incompatible with Scripture and the will of God. You cannot separate the two.
However, the thought that has stuck with me this week is from relating the two Scriptures above. Paul's great desire was to know God. It was not to know simply that He existed, or that He was all He said He was. Paul wanted to personally experience Him, walk with Him, talk to Him, and live as He would have him live. Paul desired an intimate relationship with Jesus. How much do you desire to intimately know Christ? How great is your desire to experience a knowledge of Christ like never before? Realize that if you enter into this intimate relationship there are the joys of knowing the power of His resurrection and also experiencing the fellowship of His sufferings. It is this first step that we must take.
In my study I then focused on the word KNOW in the passage, and the Holy Spirit brought to my mind that famous passage of Romans 8. During great trials we have spoken out loud these words. We have used them to help comfort and to help understand. We have tried to draw a conclusion from the passage that everything is going to be all right. May I get you to look at this passage with the other related to it? How do we KNOW that all things are going to work together for good? What is it that gives us such assurance? I have come to the conclusion that only as we KNOW Christ more intimately will we have the understanding to KNOW that all things are working together for His good and His glory. You will never be able to figure out why certain things happen in your life. You will never have an answer to your every question of "Why?" in your life. However, if you get to KNOW Christ more, you will be able to KNOW that He is going to bring all the circumstances of life together so that He will show Himself strong in your life. So obviously, what matters is not WHAT you KNOW but WHO you KNOW!
May you know Him today like never before!