For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom...

1 Corinthians 1

I often believe I am right...and I rest my righteousness often on my own powers of reason.  This is fool hearty as indicated by the prophet Jeremiah:

This is what the LORD says:  “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom (Jeremiah 9:23)

Paul admonishes the church of Corinth for such boasting:

8 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

   “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
   the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

 ²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

I need to throw myself at Christ's feet for my sinfulness, which very much includes my own boasting in my powers of reason and my pride believing I know when I DON'T...more so if I DO know it is only through the grace of God for His great purpose.

My Prayer: Lord, Your wisdom is great and it abounds - through Your word and Your spirit.  I KNOW I don't know but I act many times as if I do and I am deeply sorry for this boastful nature.  Please forgive me Lord and rid me of this arrogance.  Purify and refine me Lord.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Acts 28

Paul is now in the hands of Roman guard, having been turned over to them by the Jews in Jerusalem - just as he had expected as communicated by God himself to Paul.

Yet throughout his captivity, there is grace and compassion towards his captors.  For example, Paul prays for Agrippa to have the grace of Christ:

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

²⁹ Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:28-29)

It continues as Paul is taken to Rome and he deals gently with his captors, even encouraging them in the face of shipwreck:

³³ Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. ³⁴ Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” ³⁵ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. ³⁶ They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. (Acts 27:33-36)

 After the shipwreck you can see that some of the Roman soldiers and centurions began to see Paul as someone "special":

⁴² The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.  But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan.  (Acts 27:42-43)

Finally, Paul is seen as "God".  As the survivors gathered on shore and built a fire:

³ Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ⁶ The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. 

Obviously Paul is not God, but clearly those who witnessed this and got to know Paul saw him as someone special.  I strive to be seen as someone "special" in the same way as Paul is seen:

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 5:14-16)

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are light, You are truth, and You are the Way.  As You say, 'no one comes to the father but through me'.  There is no God like you.  Although I know this Lord, I many times acts as if I worship other gods and I desperately seek your forgiveness.  I need You Lord.  I need You to purify me and to strengthen me for Your mission.  Help me be the light you intend me to be.

It is more blessed to give than to receive...

Acts 20

Again I am compelled to cease my selfishness and to focus on others.

Paul writes:

³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have given more than I can even imagine - You gave of course Your life - for me!  But it did not stop there because You continue to work in my life.  Yet I continue to sin and disappoint - for which I seek Your forgiveness.  I am selfish Lord - please rid me of this and help me give.  Help me focus on You Lord and help me be more like You.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me...

Acts 20

²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. 

 This is very piercing scripture for me as it reveals my own selfishness.  Essentially, I consider my life MY own.  When my life is ONLY through the grace of God.  Moreover, I believe that Jesus is my savior and have pledged to follow Him.  And to follow Him is to deny oneself.

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

 

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²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that Your grace for me abounds - in my life already and forever more.  How great You are for Your love and grace, not only for me but for all of Your children.  I continue to be broken and selfish every day and for this I remain deeply in need of You and Your grace.  Please forgive me for my selfishness about my job and career desires.  Help me focus my eyes on You - solely on You.

[T]hey invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Acts 18

I am currently participating in BSF, I feel a great value in the effort there which I am using to supplement my own reading and study of the bible.  I believe reading of God's word serves two key purposes:

1. To know God's word and to understand its meaning in an absolute (keeping in much scripture can be interpreted in many ways) sense
2. To apply God's word by trying to understand how God is speaking to you through the context of your current life experiences and life situation.

In Acts 18, I see validation that #1 above is critical.

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

  

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

Here I see that for #1 to be implemented in your own life, you need to share your understanding with your Christian brothers and sisters - to validate your understanding.

My Prayer: Lord, Your word is truth and it is light - and how awesome it is that you provide this to Your children.  Thank You for not only the gift of Your life but Your death on the cross, Your resurrection (Holy Spirit) and Your word.  Forgive me for not fully obeying Your commands as they are written and for any misinterpretation of Your words - for example, I know that I have twisted Your teachings to meet my own ends.  Forgive me please Lord Jesus for this.  Help me more fully know Your word, obey Your word and to more fully allow You into my life so that You can take over my life.

God's Provision and Protection Is Not License to Stop Your Efforts

2 Thessalonians 3

Many people to whom Paul writes in Thessalonica have used the anticipation of the second coming of Christ as justification to stop working and to stop doing good as commanded by Christ.  Yet Paul is firm and implores believers to keep up doing both:

⁶ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 

 ¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. ¹² Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. ¹³ And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 

More broadly I see this as two commands:

1. We must not use waiting for God to act as a justification to not work - in any circumstance.

2. The definition of work also includes doing good.

My Prayer: Lord, I know that my time on earth will end in glory either by rising to be in Heaven with You or when You return to bring home all your children.  Either way, I know Your love is great - that You would love us so much that You would forgive and protect us despite our brokenness.  How great You are!!  Forgive me for MY laziness Lord and help me continue to focus my eyes on You and Your commands to work and to produce good works.  Purify and refine me Lord Jesus and make me more like You.

3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3

³ But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

 Yesterday, my entry was on how evil and Satan are not only both real but a real threat.  Today, I am encouraged by Paul in that the Lord Jesus Christ, and ONLY through the Lord Jesus Christ am I to receive protection from evil and the evil one.

My Prayer: I know that You Lord are faithful in that You have delivered me trials many times in my life and You have protected me as well.  It is ONLY through You that I have been delivered and protected and for this of course I am thankful.  Yet I need to place more faith in You because I know there are either times when my faith lacks or there are parts of my life when I don't fully turn my life over to You.  Please, please forgive me Lord.  Help me fully turn my life over to You and have this faith that will ALWAYS "strengthen and protect[me] from the evil one.

[Satan] will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie

2 Thessalonians 2

⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.

 This is a reminder to me that Satan is not only real but a real threat.  The threat is everywhere and we must be awake and sober as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:6

⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

Moreover, we have encouragement in our God through faith and love:

[L]et us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. (verse 8)

My Prayer: Lord, I know that You love me and You have blessed me and protected me.  You are a great God.  Yet I know there are many areas of my life where I am weak and I know I am a work in progress - that You are not done with me yet.  So I ask that You forgive me for my weakness and I also ask that You continue Your work in me.  Take me, purify me and refine me so that my faith and love in You will serve as Paul writes to be a "breastplate, and [my] hope of salvation as a helmet".

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up

1 Thessalonians 5

I know that one of the key areas where I can use refinement is coaching and encouragement.  I am a critical person - of myself and of others.  Paul's admonishment to the church in Thessalonica strikes me to the heart:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.

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¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

  

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

 The urging to be patient with everyone is certainly expressed throughout the Bible.  Yet it continues to be a lesson with which I struggle.

My Prayer: Christ Jesus, Lord of Lords, You are patient with me as you have blessed me even though I am not patient.  I know this is just one measure of Your great love for me.  You are a great and loving God and the only God for me.  Please forgive me for my impatience and my anger.  Purify me of these sins and transform my heart and my life so that I can be sanctified and be holy.  I want to be more like You so that I can more fully serve and glorify You.

We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 2

We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

This is as simple a way as I can think possible for us to understand our role as God's children.  We are to learn truth, and to live truth, which also includes speaking truth.  Truth is of course, the Way or Jesus Christ and his teachings as espoused in the Bible.

This is of course will very likely put us in harms way - potentially physical harm depending on the circumstances but most likely emotional harm.  Paul tell us later in 1 Thessalonians 3 that "For you know quite well that we are destined for them [trials]."

The questions then become
- am I learning truth (in my heart)
- am I living a life of truth
- am I speaking truth

On all of these counts there is of course room for growth but in particular I feel God is calling me to more fully live (act) and speak truth. 

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 22:-25

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am humbled by Your perfect life and even more so that You love me and that You bless me.  I am so undeserving particularly in light of my own laziness, disobedience, and arrogance.  I think that I am actually pleasing You when I am not.  Forgive me for this and help me more fully give me life away to You.

Your faith in God has become known everywhere

1 Thessalonians 1

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ⁷ And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia— your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

I am - in fits and starts - working towards a greater role in my church assisting with an effort to focus on spiritual formation.  I have often moved towards greater service in this way - in fits and starts.  I KNOW I feel led, yet the fits and starts come from Satan and I am beginning to realize this  I seek the faith in God as demonstrated by those to whom Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians.

My Prayer : Lord, I know You are a great God because You have loved and blessed me even though I sin and I disappoint you.  This is grace beyond reason.  I love you Lord and I badly need You.  Please forgive me for my sin - of laziness and lack of effort and faith, and also of service.   Help me truly focus my eyes on You and to fully put my faith in You by listening to You and then following You.

For in him we live and move and have our being

Acts 17

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.

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²² Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 

As I read this I am struck by similarities with today's world - in that it is also filled with other Gods.  I am not immune to this as I often seek idols in my work, money, status, etc.  The question for me is whether I am able to not only put aside these idols and fully seek Christ AND whether I am as Paul does publicly proclaim the Good News and engage others to bring them to Christ?

²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’  As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

My Prayer: Lord, I know that You created the heavens and earth and everything in between and I also know that You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  I am not worthy of such love yet You love me just the same.  Please forgive me for seeking other idols whether they be money, stuff, status, etc.  Help me fully love You and fully give my life away to You. 

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority

Hebrews 13

¹⁷ Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. 

The question for me is how this applies to our Christian leaders and our lay leaders.  Clearly this applies to our Christian leaders because they are appointed to watch over us as a shepherd watches over his sheep.  At the time, we ARE to submit to authority of our lay leaders - for example our workplace leaders and our elected civil leaders.  The only key difference being we should not submit if we ourselves are asked to openly sin.  Our first loyalty and authority to whom we should submit is Jesus Christ himself and his words which are explicitly provided in scripture.

While I often do find it challenging to submit to the authority of my Christian leaders, my greatest challenge lies with submission to lay leaders, particularly in the workplace.

I must not only obey verse 17 but also scripture that commands us to love and serve ALL:

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 8-11)

My Prayer: Lord, Your example of love is the gold standard of which I must follow. Your love as demonstrated in the bible and for me personally is clear and for this I am grateful and humbled because I am broken and feel undeserving of such grace and love.  Forgive me for my lack of effort, love and trust as I have not fully given my life away to you.  Help me do this Lord.

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters

Hebrews 13

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. ² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ³ Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.  (verses 1-3)

Verse 2 and 3 help clarify what is expected from us. Hospitality, compassion, and service are key hallmarks of love as defined by the author here and by Jesus.

What is key for me is take emphasis off myself...and only then can I begin to truly love both Jesus and ALL his children.

³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

My Prayer: Lord, YOU are love!  One need not go any further for the ultimate benchmark of love and even then YOUR love is without limits and beyond our imagination!  How great is Your love and especially that You love me given how broken and disobedient I am.  Please forgive me for my laziness and my lack of trust in You for all matters.  Purify me Lord and transform both my heart and my life - rid me of my sin and help me truly deny myself and fully devote myself to You.