Trying to Pay for Wrong

Trying to Pay for Wrong

Genesis 20: ¹⁴ Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. ¹⁵ And Abimelech said, “See, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” ¹⁶ Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this vindicates you before all who are with you and before everybody.” Thus she was rebuked.

 

¹⁷ So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children; ¹⁸ for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

 

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Havilah was a place that had gold and precious or rare stones on it. Adam and Eve could visit this place to see something different, but they may have thought nothing more than “wow, this is beautiful.” But when Satan caused them to fall, humans were taken out of the Garden of Eden. When the flood happened, the Garden was washed away. But precious stones remained and were scattered all over the earth.

 

People may have searched for these unique stones and metals because of their rarity. Abimelech had silver, a slightly more common metal, and he offered it to Abraham as a way of trade. He knew he had done something wrong, so he gave animals, people and silver.

 

My Observations:

• Silver was mentioned for the second time here, where the first mention was with Abraham.
• Currency seemed to have gotten started and trading people, animals and precious stones had become the norm.
• Abimelech thought he could pay for his wrong through his vast supply of people, animals, land, and precious stones.

 

Sarah remained untouched, but may have been in captivity for over a year. Living in the king’s house, she may have been treated well, but was not with Abraham. During that time, no woman in Gerar could have a child because of Sarah. GOD made all the women barren.  Abraham may have regularly tried to convince Abimelech to let Sarah go, but he may have refused.

 

But after a while he begged Abraham to take Sarah back. He paid, what he thought was, a heavy price for her to Abraham. A thousand pieces of silver for Sarah and only thirty was offered for JESUS.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the conversation between Abimelech and Sarah?
• Have you ever done something wrong and thought you could pay GOD off by giving to a church or by sinning less?
• Have you considered that GOD owns everything you own and JESUS paid for your sins with HIS life?

Alive and Well

Alive and Well

James 2: ²⁵ It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road.

 

²⁶ So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.

 

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Feeling shamed from the weekend of drinking and carousing, I did not want to be around church people. I felt they would be judgmental and try to tell me more about what I was doing than the hidden things they were doing.

 

• I did not want to be a hypocrite.
• I was ashamed of my sins and simply wanted peace.
• I tried to stay away from “perfect” people because I felt there was no help for me.

 

James used a shocking example of faith. He mentioned the prostitute Rahab was put right with GOD through her actions. He did not focus on her sin, rather on her faith in risking everything to hide the spies of Israel to help them escape. He concludes his warning by stating faith requires actions.

 

My Observations:

• Sin may make me want to stay away from GOD, BUT JESUS forgave me of all of my sins.
• Shame may try to stop me from doing what GOD wants me to do, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT brings me comfort that I am redeemed.
• Doubt may place uncertainty in my path, BUT THE FATHER gives me a firm foundation that keeps me sure that HE loves me.

 

Let’s face it, sin can be a barrier to doing what GOD wants me to do. I mean, when I get caught up in sin, I feel ashamed and start making up excuses for not serving GOD’s people. Blame arises and false statements about GOD’s love pop in my mind. BUT GOD brings me comfort.

 

In the middle of my sin, CHRIST died for me. Not after I stopped sinning, in the “middle.” JESUS was watching me and you sin and died for us anyway. HE didn’t wait for us to try to clean ourselves up or to become perfect. HE saw my imperfections and said “I love you.” HE then said “Go” I am glad GOD is the ultimate forgiver.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer used the label “prostitute” instead of simply mentioning her name?
• Have you ever went through periods of trying not to sin and thought more highly of yourself?
• Have you ever wanted to run away from GOD because of a certain sin?
• Will you seek GOD’s kingdom, knowing HE loves you no matter what today?

Effective Forever

 

Effective Forever

Hebrews 10: ¹¹ Every Jewish priest performs his services every day and offers the same sacrifices many times; but these sacrifices can never take away sins. ¹² Christ, however, offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever, and then he sat down at the right side of God. ¹³ There he now waits until God puts his enemies as a footstool under his feet. ¹⁴ With one sacrifice, then, he has made perfect forever those who are purified from sin.

 

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Rummaging through my parents garage, I found the perfect piece of wood to “repair” the seat of my car that would no longer stay upright. I figured I could shove this piece of wood in-between the upper and lower parts of the seat to keep the passenger from falling backwards. It worked! That is, until I hit a bump.

 

• My solution was temporary.
• My solution worked under certain conditions.
• My solution was not really a solution.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, spoke about the futility of the services of the priests. They would perform sacrifices that were symbolic and could never truly remove sins. People depended on this ritual with their lives, but it was ineffective.

 

My Observations:

• What JESUS did was effective forever.
• JESUS repaired the relationship between humans and GOD forever.
• GOD will one day put the enemy of sin under JESUS feet where it will do me no harm forever.

 

Satan’s pride of trying to be GOD caused major problems. I mean, he tried to tempt the first humans, Adam and Eve, into sinning. He enraged the Living GOD to the point where the earth was cursed and humans would struggle through life. BUT JESUS volunteered to do something about it.

 

HE sacrificed HIMSELF as the permanent solution. Sin no longer has the same effect of ripping me away from GOD forever. JESUS made it so I could be forgiven for my sins and to have a perfect loving relationship with HIM forever. I am glad JESUS’ solution was powerful enough to save me forever.

 

Challenge

• Can you sense the futility from the writer?
• Have you tried to please GOD by following the rules harder?
• Do you think GOD is harsh, mean and stubborn?
• Will you ask GOD to renew your mind and look at HIM in a different, caring and loving way today?

Something to Strive For

 

Something to Strive For

1 Timothy 6: ¹¹ But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. ¹² Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses. 

 

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Not fitting got old. I wanted to try what ”everyone else” was doing. I tried dating a lot, seeking the best grades, wealth and pleasure. All of these came up empty. I wanted to be noticed, so I made stuff up to look more exciting.  “Why can’t I be like ‘that’ person? I said with jealousy!.

 

• I wanted to be someone else.
• I got tired of being measured and coming up as average or worse.
• I considered how people became successful and I wanted to do “anything” to do so, even if it meant being immoral.

 

Paul gives Timothy another word of encouragement. He provides Timothy with a list of great behaviors that model what JESUS stands for. He urges Timothy to keep going with his faith because he professed it publicly and people would expect him to follow GOD without wavering.

 

My Observations

• I may not have it all together, but GOD gives me something to strive for.
• I may not be perfect, BUT GOD shows me what I can try to become.
• I may want to give up, or fall down, BUT GOD gives me a foundation to always come back to.

 

Sin stinks! I mean, because of my sin nature, I may think less of GOD and more of self. I may seek what I want, when I want it without regard to what GOD wants. BUT GOD understands.

 

HE picks me up and says “You can do this.” He showed me HIS righteousness, Godliness, faithfulness, love, everlasting endurance and premium gentleness. When I compare myself to HIM I think, “impossible.” BUT HE only says “strive” for it. Even when I get it wrong, HE is pleased because I am trying. I am glad GOD is pleased firmly with my attempts.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer stress striving for?
• Have you ever wanted something and worked hard to get it?
• Will you strive for a life that is pleasing to GOD by serving others and learning about HIM today?

People Pleasing

People Pleasing

2 Thessalonians 3: ¹³ But you, friends, must not become tired of doing good. ¹⁴ It may be that some there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of them and have nothing to do with them, so that they will be ashamed. ¹⁵ But do not treat them as enemies; instead, warn them as believers.

 

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“I am bored” I complained. I was on my first job out of college and wanted some action and excitement. Instead, all I was doing was supporting the first project I was on. No phone calls would come in, so I had nothing to do. Meanwhile other support roles were suggested to me that I quickly shot down. After a while, the suggestions stopped, but other people were assigned to new projects. “Hey, what about me?” I thought.

 

• I wanted to be pleased.
• I had specific hopes in mind that were not being met.
• I was not willing to be pleased by the suggestions made.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy gave advice to keep those who believe in CHRIST from getting tired of serving and “doing good.” They knew that some people would keep accepting service and never serve or lift a finger to help grow GOD’s kingdom. Their suggestion was to leave those who were leading “lazy lives” alone until willingness to help  came into play.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to be willing toserve people and not get tired of doing so.
• GOD wants me to open my eyes to when I am being served and be thankful.
• If I am trying to please people, I will get tired and disappointed, BUT GOD wants me to pace myself and not try to please everyone.

 

People pleasing is dangerous. I mean, I may be doing it for the wrong reasons or I may never see the results “I” want to see. BUT GOD sees the situation differently. HE wants me to serve people and not grow weary. But how?

 

HE wants me to serve those who I was made for and pray for those I am not. I can only reach certain people, and I need to have faith that GOD will send someone who is made for those I cannot reach. I have to pace myself so I do not become tired and trust GOD that HE has a plan to reach those I cannot. I am glad GOD made each of us unique to reach people.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the people were becoming tired of doing good?
• Have you ever wanted your way and tried to be “good” for a while and still did not get your way?
• Have you ever served people who did not seem like they appreciated your service and demanded more and more?
• Will you pace yourself and let go of those who cannot be pleased and serve people for GOD versus serving for your own motives today?

What Matters

What Matters

Galatians 5: ² Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, it means that Christ is of no use to you at all. ³ Once more I warn any man who allows himself to be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the whole Law. ⁴ Those of you who try to be put right with God by obeying the Law have cut yourselves off from Christ. You are outside God's grace. ⁵ As for us, our hope is that God will put us right with him; and this is what we wait for by the power of God's Spirit working through our faith. ⁶ For when we are in union with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor the lack of it makes any difference at all; what matters is faith that works through love.

 

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One more thing went wrong that day. “LORD, what!?” was my frustrated cry. “Aren’t I doing enough? I’m trying to live right and it seems like those who easily do wrong are getting ahead in life!”  When I calmed down, the situation remained the same but I could quiet down to listen to GOD.

 

• I thought I could live right to make everything go “”my” way.
• I was doing “good” for me versus serving GOD.
• I wanted something from the “deal” with GOD instead of simply living as HE wants.

 

Paul urges the Gentiles not to half-follow the Law by picking and choosing certain parts in efforts to feel closer to GOD. He warns everyone that by trying to depend on the Law to measure how “good” one can be brings judgment of the whole Law rather than freedom.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to see that HIS grace is what saved me.
• GOD wants me to recognize that there is nothing in me that is worthy of HIS grace.
• GOD wants me to accept HIS wonderful gift, which is HIS only SON.

 

When things go wrong, the HOLY SPIRIT is there to pick me up. I mean, because I believe that JESUS died to save me eternally, HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me and anyone else who believes. Comfort, guidance, discernment and peace is what is given to all who believe.

 

Unfortunately there is a war inside me that tries to take over the situation, causing me to doubt GOD’s true love. I think “I” have to do something rather than simply having faith in HIS ways. I am glad JESUS forgives me for those weak moments and restores my faith in HIM.

 

Challenge

• What do you think was going on with this group of people?
• What does it mean to be “put right” with GOD?
• Will you seek unity with CHRIST through faith versus trying to be “good” enough to please GOD who is already pleased with you?

So They Say

So They Say

1 Corinthians 10: ²³ “We are allowed to do anything,” so they say. That is true, but not everything is good. “We are allowed to do anything”—but not everything is helpful. ²⁴ None of you should be looking out for your own interests, but for the interests of others.

 

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“It’s alright to drink” people convinced me as they cited numerous reasons. I cautiously bought in. One night on a business trip, we went out drinking, We drank 18 pitchers of beer between 3 people. I was driving and somehow we made it back to the hotel in one piece.

 

Many messages were at the front desk for us. The 9-1-1 emergency system that we programmed was down and we had to go into work immediately. I was not in a good position to work or drive and I was putting people in danger.

 

• There have been many times when I allowed myself to do anything.
• There have been many times when I bought into things without knowing limits.
• There have been many times when I did not assess if “this” thing was good for me or not.

 

Paul seems to be addressing “fitting in.” “They say” implies there was an argument placed in front of those who were trying to live a life for CHRIST, but did not know how. He agrees, “We are allowed to do anything – but not everything is helpful.”

 

• GOD says to me “I have forgiven you for all your sins.”
• GOD says to me “I have remove your sin from you as far as the east is from the west.”
• GOD says to me “I will wipe away your tears.”

 

JESUS gives me some amazing promises I can truly rely on with no catch. I mean, HE doesn’t say “I forgive you”, then blasts me with “But you didn’t follow the rules that one time on Tuesday at 12:34 PM.” HE truly forgives me. HE then gives me the HOLY SPIRIT, who cannot stand any sin I do, and places HIM inside me to comfort me, instead of judging me.

 

Now, I have a choice. I can feed the HOLY SPIRIT inside me, or I can feed the lust inside me. Both are there and are fighting with each other. I can also choose to limit myself or maybe even do without. The HOLY SPIRIT also says to me “forgive” when my flesh wants to hold onto past hurts. I am not good at limits or forgiveness, BUT GOD shows me the way, little by little.

 

• Do you feel free to do anything, but may be doing some harmful things?
• Do you know you are forgiven, yet are blatantly still doing some habits that may not be pleasing to GOD?
• Will you run every thought past GOD so the HOLY SPIRIT will guide you in your actions so the interests of others can be for HIM today?

Kitchen Inventory

Kitchen Inventory

1 Corinthians 5: ⁶ It is not right for you to be proud! You know the saying, “A little bit of yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise.” ⁷ You must remove the old yeast of sin so that you will be entirely pure. Then you will be like a new batch of dough without any yeast, as indeed I know you actually are. For our Passover Festival is ready, now that Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. ⁸ Let us celebrate our Passover, then, not with bread having the old yeast of sin and wickedness, but with the bread that has no yeast, the bread of purity and truth.

 

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After making s delicious recipe, I stored the seldom used ingredients for another use. Everyone enjoyed the food and I felt a sense of delight that it came out as planned. Months later, I tried to recreate the recipe only to fail miserably. The ingredients had expired and the meal was just not the same.

 

• There have been many times when I gained a strength as an ingredient.
• There have been many times when I was “proud” of the strength and thought I had arrived.
• There have been many times when the strength turned into a weakness because pride caused it to expire.

 

Paul addresses not only sexual sin, but just plain old sin. He tried to explain that no one should ever become “proud” of their own accomplishments relating sin. Just a little sin can ruin the entire body.

 

• GOD wants me to take an inventory daily of my sin.
• GOD wants me to know JESUS forgave all my sin.
• GOD wants me to recognize I can still fall into sin even though I believe in JESUS.

 

“I will never do that again” has been said many times by me. I mean, when I am foolishly bargaining with GOD, I may quickly throw that statement out to “change GOD’s mind” and stop the trial. BUT GOD does not change, I do.

 

HE wants me to recognize when I am on a destructive path and get off the path. Old habits need to change and be replaced with new. But even that has danger as I may become proud of getting rid of an old habit. HE wants me to take an inventory daily and thank HIM for HIS forgiveness. I am glad HIS grace is sufficient.

 

• Have you rid yourself of a certain sin and are proud of it?
• Do you think you have arrived?
• Will you take inventory of your sins daily and allow GOD’s forgiveness to rule so you can point to the true forgiver and release yourself of trying to be perfect today?

Edge Dwellers

Edge Dwellers

1 Corinthians 4: ⁸ Do you already have everything you need? Are you already rich? Have you become kings, even though we are not? Well, I wish you really were kings, so that we could be kings together with you. ⁹ For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings. ¹⁰ For Christ's sake we are fools; but you are wise in union with Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! We are despised, but you are honored! ¹¹ To this very moment we go hungry and thirsty; we are clothed in rags; we are beaten; we wander from place to place; ¹² we wear ourselves out with hard work. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; ¹³ when we are insulted, we answer back with kind words. We are no more than this world's garbage; we are the scum of the earth to this very moment!

 

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“What is the maximum amount of money I can make and still be pleasing to GOD?” I thought greedily to myself. No one had the answer. From my perspective, some greedy leaders would say, “There is no limit.”

 

Another perspective would be “You have to manufacture a perception of humbleness, but still own a house and a car and subscription entertainment with not too many channels.” Still another would say “You must give up everything and live outside, eating only off the land.”

 

• There have been many times when I have struggled over my relationship with CHRIST.
• There have been many times when I wondered if I could test my limits with GOD.
• There have been many times when I desired to do things “my” way without thought of what GOD wanted.

 

Paul gives some difficult words to live by. As an apostle, he explains that life was very, very hard. His only purpose was to spread the Good News of JESUS. Apostles were poor, despised by church leaders, clothed in rags, beaten, homeless and often exploited by the rich to do hard labor just to eat. But apostles did this for the LORD.

 

• GOD wants me to stop trying to figure out the maximum greed I can have and simply be led by the HOLY SPIRIT.
• GOD wants me to stop trying to figure out the maximum amount of hidden sin I can have and simply be led by HIS Word.
• GOD wants me to stop trying to think about “my” position in heaven and simply praise JESUS for saving me.

 

Comparing myself to others is dangerous. I mean, one rich person who says words that make a lot of people mad may get me thinking he or she is destined for hell. On the other hand a homeless person may be viewed as an addict or a prostitute and cast out or looked down upon. BUT GOD wants me to be different.

 

HE wants me to praise HIM in plenty or in sparse times. Sometimes I am the helper and sometimes I need help. HE wants me to stay away from dwelling on the edge of the things that can draw me away from serving HIM with all my heart. I still fall into the deep, blinding holes of worldly thinking. I am grateful GOD pursues me and raises me out of these holes constantly.

 

• Are you questioning your relationship with GOD?
• Are you trying to manipulate GOD by your show or humbleness?
• Do you think your riches have not made you blind?
• Will you relax your worries and simply be in union with JESUS today?

Worn Out

 

Worn Out

Romans 9: ³⁰ So we say that the Gentiles, who were not trying to put themselves right with God, were put right with him through faith; ³¹ while God's people, who were seeking a law that would put them right with God, did not find it. ³² And why not? Because they did not depend on faith but on what they did. And so they stumbled over the “stumbling stone” ³³ that the scripture speaks of:

 

“Look, I place in Zion a stone
    that will make people stumble,
    a rock that will make them fall.
But whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”

 

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Desiring to move up, I applied for position after position. I did not get each them. I decided that my problem was possibly my work ethic. One day, I stayed at work overnight. I worked for 36 straight hours trying to help the company keep a contract that was slipping away. The company did not get the contract and I still did not get promoted.

 

• There have been times when I worked very hard and got nothing.
• There have been times when I depended on my strength and could not make it happen.
• There have been times when I tried to do everything right, but it was not enough.

 

Paul writes about something very peculiar. He mentions that the Gentiles, who were not even trying, were put right with GOD though faith. Meanwhile, the people GOD chose to be born through decided JESUS was not enough and they wanted people to focus on the law, wearing themselves out. They stumbled over the ROCK.

 

• GOD wants me to have total faith in HIM.
• GOD wants me to watch HIM work things out.
• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS who is the cornerstone that makes people stumble.

 

Belief in JESUS is all that is needed. It seems so simple. In fact, it seems too simple. “What’s the catch?” I ask. I mean, don’t I have to try hard to win GOD’s love? No! GOD loved me so much that HE gave HIS one and only SON to die in my place and when I believed in HIS resurrection, I will no longer perish but have everlasting life.

 

Trying to win GOD over by showing up to weekly gatherings and giving some money and following the rules diminishes what GOD did. HE saved the world! HE said, “It is finished” meaning, there is nothing more to do.

 

The harder I try, the more I don’t rely. HE simply wants me to believe and be so excited that I will tell others and they will believe. HE is the one who controls all circumstances. I place my trust in JESUS and I have never been disappointed.

 

• Are you worn out?
• Do you feel you need to try harder to win GOD’s love?
• Are you looking at your circumstance, thinking GOD must not love you?
• Will you place your faith in JESUS and keep trusting that HE is the one who loves you will not disappoint you.

Driven Achievement

Luke 18: ¹⁸ A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

¹⁹ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”’

²¹ ‘All these I have kept since I was a boy,’ he said.

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“How do I become successful?” I asked a mentor, thinking he would impart some great words of wisdom. “Be early to every meeting” were the only words given to me. “What? This is a lesson on punctuality!?” I skeptically tried the suggestion and I found out he was right.

• There were times when I wanted to succeed.
• There were times when I wanted to get ahead.
• There were times when I desired to climb to the top.

JESUS is met by a rich man who may have been driven by achievements. The rich man used flattering words to put people at ease and called JESUS “good.” JESUS quickly sees through the flattery and says “Good is reserved only for GOD.” This confuses the achievement driven person.

• GOD says to me “I AM GOD alone.”
• GOD says to me “Your righteousness is like soiled diapers.”
• GOD says to me “Humble yourself. The first will be last and the last shall be first.”

GOD is a relationship, not an achievement. HE wants me to want to do the things HE says, not muscle through a set of rules that are sometime quite impossible to keep. GOD knows I need HIM and HE has given me grace beyond measure.

HE also knows that if I base our relationship on how “good” I think I am, I will set HIM up for failure. I can never be good enough to demand GOD to bow down to my desires. HE simply wants to know me and have me seek HIM as my GOD. I am glad I do not have to achieve HIM. HE is always with me.

• Do you look at GOD like HE wants you to “achieve” HIM?
• Are you exhausted thinking HE doesn’t love you because of some sin you recently did?
• Can you stop thinking of GOD negatively and simply have a loving relationship with HIM?