The Notes are Good

13.4 BSF Matthew Week 13, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

How do you get a callous?

You don’t get callouses on your hands from laziness or avoiding use. You don’t get callouses on your hands from wearing well-fitting protective gloves. You get callouses from friction, wear, pressure and irritation.

They didn’t get a calloused heart because they refused to give their heart to Jesus. They had a calloused heart because they had already given their heart, many different times, over and over again to things that did not fit and they only caused friction, pressure and irritation in their life.

This is as true today. A calloused heart today doesn’t start with a rejection of God. Normally, it starts with joining of your heart to the wrong things: idols such as self, money, fame, power. It isn’t that people aren’t asking and seeking, it is that they are too quick (impatient/disobedient) and give their heart promiscuously to every and anything that promises (lies) to provide peace, contentment and fulfillment. They are busy calling evil good and good evil, they lose the ability to discern light from darkness. As the country song put it, “looking for love in all the wrong places.”

When I renewed the license for my car I received a sticker and it provided instructions to apply on a clean, dry surface. The problem was not that Jesus did not offer them a permit, a nametag, a license for a mansion in heaven. The problem was that they no longer had any clean surfaces left on their heart and they refused, out of their callousness, to yoke themselves to Jesus and allow Him to work with them to clean even one small area of their hard heart.

The Word of God is powerful. If Jesus had not elected to cloak his message in parables, the power of the truth would have been too powerful and even the most calloused hearted would have bent to their knees. You can only stand so close to the fire and continue to deny the heat. But Jesus did not desire to brute force them into believing. God has always given man free will to accept a gift that makes no sense to reject, but that is the true message of real love.

My Answers:

9.
a.
Though seeing they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand

b.
Many, who were not His disciples, had come for entertainment but did not repent, change or follow Him

c.
16. but blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

d.
Many prophets and righteous people longed to see/hear what they/I see/hear

10.
whoever has, given more; does not, taken – careful: with measure you use it measured to you

11.
a.
this people’s heart has become calloused, Is 5:20, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness

b.
Try to make their evil acceptable and called good, even though it is still evil

13.3 BSF Matthew Week 13, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Thinking and praying about the question regarding “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” set me back on my heels today (no praying pun intended).

I realized that while there are worries and elements of seeking “more” that related to desires I have for security and to be able to provide better/more for my family, there was also a strong element within it for the desire to be more generous. I realized that part of the reason I wanted to receive more was to be able to give more. And, while, on first blush that may not sound like a bad thing, I realized that I wanted to give more without it impacting my way of life.

As I read and study the bible, I realize I have that backward. Being obedient and faithful in small things leads to being able to be the same with more. But, shouldn’t we take the first step in the water out of faith, not only after God has parted the water?

I think the net message to me was that God doesn’t want more monetary generosity from me. He wants more of me. If my idea is to give more without giving more of me, my weeds and thorns grow in direct proportion to the crops. My field is in no better shape and I am no closer to God. But if I give more of myself each day to God, then then confidence in Him is returned which kills the weeds and thorns in the field of my life.

My Answers:

7.
Through lies – spreading confusing messages and mistruths, spreading a philosophy of self-indulgence

8.
a.
What is enough? self imposed pressure to “succeed/provide”. The desire to be more generous without it impacting my life.

b.
Where is my heart? (Matt 6:21)
Who am I turning to? (Prov 3:5-6)

c.
My heart is good soil, prepared well by the work of the Holy Spirit, but I’ve allowed the enemy to plan many weeds and thorns which interfere with the production of fruit

13.2 BSF Matthew Week 13, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I got caught up in Matthew 13:23 today. “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

There are three responses we are called to make:

Hear
Understand
Produce

But responses to what? This took me back to Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Ask
Seek
Knock

I thought it was interesting how these parallel each other. When we ask, our required response is to hear. When we seek, our required action is to understand and when we knock on the door and it is open, our job is not done – we are called to produce fruit.

But how often are we like the religious leaders of this time. They asked lots of questions. Every week of our study we see then asking more challenging questions, but they did not hear – they already made up their mind. In the same way, we cry out to God for direction, for a sign, for His intervention in our lives, but then we don’t read the book He gave us and we fight His calling if it doesn’t match our wants and desires.

The religious leaders sought wisdom, they sought approval from God by obeying His laws (and additional ones), they sought a Messiah, but when all of this was in their face, they didn’t understand. Their mind and hearts were closed off. How often do we do the same – asking God to answer a prayer, but only in a specific way that suits our thinking about what is best?

Finally, the shepherds of the time were more interested in beating their flocks into submission than in producing fruit. When the door is open to help bring someone closer to the Lord, do we step through and do the hard work required?

My Answers:

3.
a.
Earthly story with a heavenly meaning

b.
Yes, Matt 11:25 – Jesus praised God “because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

c.
The word of God (Luke) The good news of salvation, the origin of faith

4.
These phrases are in Luke only:
were coming to Jesus from town after town,
His disciples asked him
The knowledge of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.”
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

5.
a.
He, Jesus, is the farmer (or more appropriately, the seed company – the producer of the seed)

b.
path; hears does not understand (devil snatches away); rocky ground: hears, receives w/joy, no root, at trouble fall away; thorns: hears, worry and wickedness choke it; good soil: hears, understnd, produce

6.
14: If you love me, keep my commands (love/obedience)
15: I am the voice; you are the branches, remain in me, bear fruit (God’s strength)
5: Peter & apostles, “we must obey God rather than human beings” (obedience)
2: work out salvation w/fear/trembling, God who works in you: His good purposes (by God/for God)

12.5 BSF Matthew Week 12, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Now we are getting somewhere. The pharisees and religious leaders recognize that Jesus has super-natural power. Literally. Natural power is power related to nature, to the physical world. But they have taken a huge step forward and proclaimed that Jesus has power that is greater than that. It is from out-of-the world, super-natural, it is from the spirit world.

There are only two possible sources for the power: heaven or hell. Having acknowledged that Jesus was more than man, they then had to decide from where He and His power originates.

They chose wrong. All of scripture, every prophecy, every law, every sacrifice, every word that they studied and taught every day pointed to and was being fulfilled in this man Jesus. While they had dedicated their life to this teaching – they wanted more. They weren’t satisfied with the relationship God had provided, they wanted something else. They wanted to commit adultery against the scripture.

Jesus spoke to them very clearly. He said the only sign they would receive was one from scripture. He said, you have correctly deduced the situation – heaven or hell. But, since hell and the devil makes no sense and can be eliminated, then you must acknowledge Jesus is from Heaven. To not do so is to choose hell themselves.

Do you acknowledge that Jesus was more than a man? If so, He is super-natural and every sign, every word, every prophecy tells which uniform he wears: a white robe dipped in blood and emblazoned with the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

My Answers:

11.
a.
His power and authority over demons

b.
Prince of this world (John 12:31) will be driven out also John 14:30. Baal-zebub 2 Kings 1 Philistine god, Satan, the adversary, devil (James 4:7), the god of this age (2 Cor 4:). This house is the earth

12.
The H/S teaches and convicts me of my sin. If I had rejected the H/S fully, then I would not face such warning or conviction, but instead I would appoint myself as judge and judge my sin to be right and acceptable

13.
I use too few words that proclaim the glory of Christ. I miss opportunities to have serious engagement by joking.

14.
a.
Every sign and prophecy of the old testament pointed to Christ and was being fulfilled, in their presence, by Him. But they wanted something outside of all of those teachings, some other sign

b.
The sign of Jonah. Jesus’ death and resurrection

c.
We are not to be empty shells. The goal of salvation is not to empty us of evil and impurity but to fill us with the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

15.
In love and giving to brothers and sisters in Christ. In coming alongside missionaries and pastors and teachers. By walking that road myself and with my family

12.4 BSF Matthew Week 4, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Whats and whys are related but not the same. Our bodies are always working. Our heart is pumping. Our muscles are flexing. We breath and think.

The bible tells us that we were designed to rest. That doesn’t mean sleep or leisure. This story is aligned with the call to all who are weary to find rest in Christ. We are called to work Christ and we are called to rest in Him.

This is something we need and it is something that brings honor to Jesus. That’s the what.

But it also means more than just showing up for the rest day. If you are invited to a family gathering and your job is to bring the mashed potatoes, you don’t show up with a bag of potatoes from the store and, in the middle of the party, begin peeling them.

Too often we think of Sunday as our day with God. Or, even more commonly, our hour with Him at church. But Jesus calls us to far more. He says to walk with Him every day. Work with Him in His harvest fields. Be yoked with Him in preparation throughout the week. Then, when our day of rest comes, we are spending it in joy and peace with Him.

The pharisees were like too many of us. They got mad at their neighbor for mowing their yard on Sunday, but didn’t find the time during the week to spend with that neighbor to share the good news. They judged others for working on Sunday, but didn’t lay up extra provisions to invite those working with Jesus every day to break bread with them.

A day of rest is not a sacrifice or a burden. It is not giving up something or doing without. It is taking on a higher relationship. It is showing up fully prepared to a really great family gathering with our heavenly family. Caring for and healing those family members who need help is not work for the Lord, it is joyful and honoring to Him.

My Answers:

9.
a.
Yes, they violated the letter of the law. They did not take time to prepare to do no work on the Sabbath and thus were picking grain on that day.

b.
Putting your judgment of these men above David? Above the temple priests? Something greater than the temple is here. If understood “mercy not sacrifice” then would not have condemned. The Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath.

c.
It was not distracting or reducing the giving of glory to God by healing this man.

10.
Jesus came to save, not to fight. There is no need for Him to fight an earthly battle when He is victorious over death

12.3 BSF Matthew Week 12, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I slipped in the garage the other day. I didn’t fall, but, the floor was dusty and my shoes were not giving me the traction I needed for the work I was doing. I had been out in the yard previously and when I looked at the soles of my shoes they had become caked in dirt, with the grooves filled in so the surface lacked texture.

That is how our heart and soul can become in the muck of this world. We can become calloused. We can become caked over. We can see the word of the gospel but it does not have traction in our lives.

Jesus tells us to achieve true rest first requires real work. We have to re-cut the furrows, the grooves, in the field of our life. We have to dig out the weeds and stones and replace them with living seeds. We have to prepare our heart to receive peace and rest.

But Jesus also tells us that this work is not for us to do alone. He calls us to yoke to Him. To ask Him to work along side of us and, when we do, we will find rest in Him.

My Answers:

6.
a.
Chorizin/Bethsaida to Tyre/Sidon (they would have been in sackcloth and ashes, more bearable for them than you; Capernaum to Hades. If miracles in you in Sodom, it would have remained, more bearable for Sodom @ Judgment

b.
They witnessed the promised one. They saw first hand the miracles. And, they still chose to turn away from Jesus.

c.
We have the full bible. We have the full record of Jesus’ saving act, the old and new testaments

7.
Revelation of God is only through God, not to be “deduced” by the logic of man. While we have free will, that does not usurp God’s control and His desire to show Himself only through Jesus, His son.

8.
a. all who are weary and burdened
b. I will give you rest
c. take my yoke upon you and learn from me
d. To be co-yoked with Christ is to be the apprentice with the master, doing His work with Him. Through this we find rest.

12.2 BSF Matthew Week 12, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Are you sure? Everything around us screams that there must be a higher power. Every pagan deity, every “spiritualistic” movement is an attempt by men to put a face or name to this being that we inherently understand exists.

But is Jesus Christ the One?

Asking this question is not a lack of faith, it is an understanding that we cannot rely on our own intellect and senses. John knew. John had been present when the voice of God spoke from heaven. John had been the one who proclaimed Him as the Lamb of God.

Asking for confirmation from Jesus is simply asking Him for clarification and direction in our lives. When we find ourselves on a path or in a place in life we don’t understand or didn’t foresee, seeking confirmation of the Light of the World is the only way to not be lost.

Jesus could have said, “yes”. But many men could have (and have) lied and claimed themselves to be something they are not. Jesus could have said “my actions speak for me”. But many have tried to claim such things with a “holy lifestyle”. Instead, Jesus pointed John back to the scriptures. He used the prophecies that John knew well as comfort to him that Jesus was and is the Lord.

Where do you find confirmation and comfort? Who do you ask for clarity and direction? What can we learn from John in taking our questions and needs directly to Christ?

My Answers:

3.
a.
He was expecting a different approach and personality. He was expecting a conqueror

b.
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the good news is proclaimed to the poor

c.
Prayer for peace and letting go of stress and worry – brought me the story of Habakkuk

4.
(29) deaf will hear, blind will see, humble will rejoice, the needy will rejoice
(33) eyes of blind opened, deaf unstopped, lame leap like a deer, mute shout, water gush/streams desert
(61) Lord high and exalted seated on a throne, angels singing praises

5.
All prophets of all time have pointed to the coming of Jesus, the messiah. John was the last, the one who culminated the prophecy by seeing and proclaiming the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God

11.05 BSF Matthew Week 11, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I was listening to a story on the radio this week about a pastor who was in hot water with the church because he intentionally disobeyed specific church doctrine by performing a same-sex marriage ceremony between his son and another man through his office in the church.

His justification was to quote Matthew 22:39b, “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

His interpretation, and the one that is commonly used of that verse, is that it means we all just need to get along and let everyone have their own way and believe whatever they want to believe. Compromise. Coexist.

Jesus did state the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. And, we are, undoubtedly, called to demonstrate that love. But, if a person is in grave and eternal danger, it is not love to encourage them to stay on that path. If a sheep has gone astray, the shepherd does not simply encourage them to have a good journey and support them in their self-professed sheep freedom. The good shepherd tries to rescue them.

Matthew 10:34 states it clearly in Jesus’ own words, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Ephesians 6:17 calls the sword, “the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.”

I believe in a God of love and compassion. I believe in eternal peace with Him. I also believe in the truth that there is something called sin and whether we want our acts to be considered sin or not is not up to us, it is up to the word of God.

I am not stating this to judge or to be judgmental. But I think that cafeteria christians, who pick and choose which verses they like as if the bible were a buffet line, are like false teachers and shepherds who are not caring for their sheep.

The love for Jesus and His Word and His Spirit and His Truth must come above all other love. Above love for neighbor. Above love for mother and father. Above love for self. The truth is divisive. You must pick a side. Do you chose truth or compromise? Do you choose to follow the one true God, or just coexist?

Hebrews 4:12 states it well: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

My Answers:

11.
a.
Acknowledge Him before others. Love Christ above all (family, peace) Take up cross and follow Him.

b.
Be a prophet so those who welcome me will be blessed. Be a righteous person so those who receive me will receive the reward or righteousness

12.
a.
Christ came for truth not compromise. People with free choice will choose and some will choose unwisely. Those who do, those of this world (sin and death) will hate those not of this world (light and life), but never more than they hate Jesus

b.
The church is twisted by those who seek to use Jesus words for their agenda not His. They pick and choose the message they want, ignoring truth to justify their sin

13.
Understand the cost – do not begin if cannot commit all – Jesus requires all. You cannot continue your old life and old ways and be a new life and follower of Christ – that is a lie

14.
welcomes you, welcomes me, welcomes the own who sent me. Do unto the least is the path to truly give unto God.

11.04 BSF Matthew Week 11, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal

My wife has enrolled this semester in a college class. She is taking it to develop her own skills so that she, in turn, can help coach and develop those skills in our children. I love and admire not only her passion for learning, but also her willingness and diligence to serve our family.

At this point, her class is well into the semester. There are a few students who are working very hard in the class. They show up every class period. They complete the assignments with their best efforts. They do the homework, ask questions, stay after for extra work and coaching. There are also others who are not. These students skip class repeatedly or show up late or leave early. They habitually turn in assignments late or not at all and spend their class time distracted and doing other things.

Given the cost of the college course, this at first amazed my wife. Then she learned that some of the students were on grant programs so they did not have to pay for the class.

I’m not raising this as a commentary about grants or welfare programs. But, simply, the recognition that when you have paid a significant cost you are dedicated and invested in the journey.

Jesus tells us that there will be costs that we will have to pay to follow Him. Let’s be clear, Jesus is God and with a word, He could remove all of those costs. It is not because He does not have the power.

Jesus wants more than our hands or voice. He wants our hearts. He doesn’t want a worker who runs away at the first sign of danger, He wants shepherds who follow in His image.

Think of the most powerful testimonies you have heard. They don’t come from believers with perfect, care-free lives. They come from believers who have experienced pain and hardship. They come from people who have survived events that they could not possibly survive by their own strength.

Acts 5:41: “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”

My Answers:

8.
a.
handed over, flogged, witness to gentiles, arrest, brother betray brother to death, father child, hated because of Me.
Acts 12:1-2 James martyred, Acts 7 Stephen martyred

b.
After resurrection and ascension

c.
Even unto the second coming, there will still be Jews (God’s chosen people) who do not truly know and/or have heard the good news of Jesus Christ

9.
a.
handed over, flogged, witness to gentiles, arrest, brother betray brother to death, father child, hated because of Me

b.
Internationally, everywhere – families torn apart when members deny the power of the Lord

c.
Even those who persecute the church are not beyond the reach of the Spirit of God (Saul/Paul martyrdom of Stephen)

10.
a.
26. nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 28. kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Nothing outside of Father’s care. Hairs of head are all numbered!

b.
all revealed on judgment day, life hidden in death but revealed in resurrection, light to the house not hidden, more to say that you can now bear to hear

c.
life is only hidden in death, not over – looking forward to reunion with loved ones in Christ who have died.

11.03 BSF Matthew Week 11, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

In Matt 10:16, Jesus is telling those He is calling into the mission field, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

What does it mean to be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves?

Shrewd means having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute. It is awareness, perspective.

A snake has an amazing ability to perceive, particularly using their tongue. When a snake flicks out its tongue it is catching chemical particles. Very similar, but even more sensitive to the way we smell things. When they draw back in their tongue, these particles are processed through the Jacobson’s organ to give the animal incredible awareness to their environment. Because their tongue is forked, it even has the ability to overlay direction onto this perception providing the equivalent of a 3-D image of the minute smells and chemical properties around them.

Jesus tells His followers to be aware, to take in information about those around them, to see things from their perspective and listen and relate to them at that level.

Paul personified this in 1 Cor 9:20-22: To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

But Jesus also admonishes His followers to not become soiled in this endeavor. It is one thing to be able to see and understand the sin and fallen nature of those we are to help bring to Christ, but it is another to sin along side them. Touch them, heal them, help them. See their perspective and be aware of the opportunities, but stay innocent and pure.

Jesus also called us to shake off the dust. This is hard. I don’t think I’m alone in my fault of reliving failures over and over again. It think it is this fear, the fear of carrying this baggage around with us for years, that keeps some of us from being more bold with the spreading of the gospel. In other words, it isn’t the fear of being rejected, it is the fear of having to live with that rejection and relive it over and over again in our mind. But Jesus has a simple answer for this. Shake it off. It isn’t your dirt. It isn’t your fault. It doesn’t have anything to do with me or you. There are no “what if’s” to carry around. Those we talk with have the same free will that we do. If they decide to accept the gift then they are our brothers and sisters. If they decide not to, then that is their choice and their decision. It is their dirt – shake it off.

My Answers:

5.
a.
to the lost sheep of Israel, not to the Gentiles or any town of the Samaritans

b.
Jhn: We worship what we know, salvation is from the Jews
Matt:Go, make disciples of all nationsActs:power… Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the Earth
Rom:Not ashamed… 1st Jew then Gentile – does not show favoritism

6.
a.
Proclaim Kingdom of Heaven has come near, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse leprosy, drive out demons, do not take payment, no provisions, if not welcome, walk away

b.
Freely you have received, freely give

c.
challenged by family to be more generous, pray more, teach more, evangelize, love, lead, heal

d.
all believers, all who accept the call, all who accept the power

7.
a.
be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves

b.
It is not about me, ever. It is all and only about Him. I am only using His power and authority, not mine. I am a witness, held accountable for my witness, not sales with a quota