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24 BSF Matthew Week 24, Day 3

My Daily Journal

The tipping point. Like when water is cooling and it reaches 32F/0C. Everything changes. Like when the maximum weight a bridge can carry is exceeded. Everything changes. So it will be.

As christians living in a fallen world, we see a study decline around us. Today the gospel, the good news, is still being preached. Today missionaries are reaching out to people across the world and here at home who have never had the opportunity to truly hear and understand the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ. But while that is going on, we also see an increasing moral decline. We see blatant sin becoming not only the norm but something people celebrate and endorse. We see a slow slide.

But Jesus explains it will only be a slow slide to a point, and then it will tip. There will be a tipping point, an abomination that causes desolation. A time when the last vestige of hope for a better existence on this world is extinguished.

The bible is filled with “do not fears.” Over an over again in both new and old testaments believers are told “do not be afraid.” But when that event occurs that tips the boat, Jesus tells all those still in Judea to get out, don’t look back, don’t return. As in the days of Lot, but this time instead of a redeeming storm on a sinful city, the storm is one of increased sin and dread.

New and expectant mothers always hope for a better life for their children, but in those days, that hope is gone.

But even within this time of dread, God has not given up or relinquished control. And as bad as things will get, the time will be cut short by the triumphant return of the promised one. There will be no mistaking the real deal, no need to seek Him out in a room or in the wilderness. When Christ comes again every one know.

My Answers:

6.
a.
‘the abomination that causes desolation,’spoken of through the prophet Daniel

b.
flee to the mountains, do not return

c.
Daniel, Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11

7.
a.
How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!

b.
Because they will be cut short for the sake of the elect

23 BSF Matthew Week 23, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

There is a very simple axiom. Right thinking leads to right living, while wrong thinking leads to wrong living. Athletes recognize this. Nutritionists, psychologists, sociologists, scientists, business executives, all recognize this.

The question is “where does right thinking come from?”

If I wanted to learn to be a brain surgeon, I would not turn to my co-leader (an engineer) to teach me, and if I did, you would not want to be my patient. He is a wonderful and knowledgeable man, who is great with his hands and very careful and methodical. In other words, he has the characteristics of a brain surgeon, but he doesn’t have the specific knowledge and experience.

Jesus pointed out the same thing in the Sadduccees. They learned from each other, like someone reading every self-help book ever written. It wasn’t that all of their education was wrong, but they did not know the scriptures or the power of God. They were so focused on the messiness of human life, that they plugged in to their own interpretations which were built on taking that messiness down a “logical path”. Their roots were in legalism built to try to organize messiness, but at heart, it was just that, organized messiness. In that process, they had unplugged from the scriptures and the power of God and veered off into the weeds.

There is only one source for Right Thinking and Right Living and that is to open the text of the creator and turn to the experience of the only man to have ever lived a perfect life, Jesus.

My Answers:

3.
a.
The people lived under the protection and economy of Rome, but wanted to be exempt from taxes

b.
taxation, equality, sovereignty of other nations

c.
earthly authority, submission, taxes, governance to Caesar, To God: heart, soul, mind, strength

4.
a.
They did not know the Scriptures or the power of God

b.
People do what is right in their own eyes, trusting their wisdom/judgment and that of others

5.
a.
God is the God of the living – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived

b.
The dead will rise and live like the angels in heaven

22 BSF Matthew Week 22, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

People often misunderstand the term “Fear of God.” I don’t think this means a fear of punishment, viewing God as someone to cower from or to avoid so as not to anger him. Instead, I think it means fear of disappointing.

I grew up in my father’s home town. When I went someone, anywhere, the odds were very high that someone there knew my dad and knew I was his son. My actions, and my mis-deeds, reflected not only on me but on him. I did not fear so much his anger or punishment, but that I would dishonor or disappoint him by my callous behavior.

I think having that same type of fear of God is important and that it reflect love and honor and respect for our Heavenly Father. But that is not whom the spiritual leaders in the temple feared. When Jesus challenged them about John the Baptist, there was nothing in their thought process about God or truth. It was all about fear of men.

Whom you fear reflects whom you honor and respect.

My Answers:

5.
a.
show us your qualifications, license, certification, authority – Union card, who died and made you the messiah?

b.
Every day Jesus taught in the temple – teachers of the law and the leaders were trying to kill him

6.
a.
They decided to not believe John the Baptist, the prophets, the prophecies of scriptures

b.
seeing don’t see, hearing don’t hear, hear don’t understand, see, not perceive, calloused heart, blind

7.
a.
Gentiles, tax collectors, prostitutes – others that were considered blatant sinners

b.
The jews, particularly the teachers of the law and pharisees

8.
a.
Said no, but did: Same, drugs, prostitution, open sin. Said yes, but no: Church going hypocrites

b.
I was the later, but now am the says yes and does

20 BSF Matthew Week 20, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

What does a christian look like? When we think about it, our immediate thoughts turn to outward appearances and probably someone who looks a lot like us.

But Jesus looks at the heart. A Christ-Follower is someone who has given their heart over to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

A christian may be male or female. A christian may be married or single. If someone is single, they don’t have to marry to be a christian nor does marrying make them more of a christian. God is in control. Being married is a gift. But being single is also a gift. They are different gifts, but one is not better than the other (OK, the Apostle Paul had a bias for being single, but you understand my point). Both are gifts. The key is to use the gift for the glory of God.

The same is true of age. A christian may be young or old. There is no minimum age for asking Jesus into your life. Young christians (I’m talking age not maturity of faith) are amazing examples of unconditional love, both giving and receiving. I am very proud to call these children, brothers and sisters in Christ.

My Answers:

8.
a.
Intimacy is a part of marriage. Some can’t. Some choose to forgo it for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can should accept it

b.
He saw a life of celibacy as a gift from God. But for those who don’t have this gift to remain celibate/chaste, they should marry and for those who marry they should live as a married couple, sharing in intimacy with each other.

9.
a.
1 john 2:15-17… for all that is in the world, lust of flesh, eyes, pride of life, is not of the Father. Rom 12:2, Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

b.
By demonstrating the love I have for my wife and model the respect and appreciation I have for her in ways that others can see

10.
a.
For Him to pray for them and for Him to place his hands on them

b.
They may have felt He had more important matters to attend. They were operating as gatekeepers, only allowing through those “worthy” of an appointment

c.
Failure to acknowledge them as faithful followers, brothers and sisters. Failure to address them at their level. Failure to pray for them and bless them. Failure to be humble.

d.
Be on their level and welcome them. Encourage them. Not talk down to them. Show them the love of Christ – take time for them!

20 BSF Matthew Week 20, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

The pharisees asked this question of Jesus to “test him”, i.e., to trap him.

Basically there were two camps, one that believed you could divorce for “any reason” and another that believed you could only divorce for “some reasons.” Either option He chose, alienated one of the camps.

But, I believe, the question itself is the trap. Let me put it another way.

This is the same as saying:

“Jesus, we have this beautiful, priceless and irreplaceable crystal vase. Is it better to break it by throwing it to the ground or is it better to break it by smashing it with a hammer?” Jesus, (with great tact), informs them they are num-nuts and what they should be focused on is protecting the vase so it does not get broken.

All of this focus on divorce misses the point entirely. Take care. Treat a marriage as what it is: something precious and valuable and irreplaceable. Something ordained by God.

But what about those with a broken vase? What about those who have divorce in their past? God meets us where we are. He doesn’t say to the lost sheep, find your way back to the flock and then we’ll talk. He goes and finds the sheep where it is, while it is still lost. In 1 Cor 6 Paul explained that some of the members of the church had been thieves, greedy, sexually immoral, drunkards… but you were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. Jesus didn’t say get your life in order first and then come to me. He said come to me and I will help transform your life.

My Answers:

6.
a.
He continued ch 18 theme of forgiveness: shouldn’t divorce. If divorce for any reason other than sexual immorality then any other relationship is adultery

b.
Any relationship after marriage is adultery (except in the death of a spouse)

c.
do not separate. If spouse is an unbeliever stay together, but if they decide to leave, let them go.

7.
a.
The man who hates and divorces his wife does violence to the one he should protect. He does not look on with favor or plea

b.
It is true – to teach a nation that was focused on itself

c.
Christ is the model. Love as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy. Husband and wife=1 body. care for spouse as you would your own body.

d.
The love He had for us, cleansing us in the water through the word, to prepare us to be holy and blameless

e.
God meets us where we are now, 1 Cor 6:8-11, thieve, greedy, sexually immoral, drunkards….that is what some of you were but you were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; Matt 18:12, lost sheep=rejoice

19 BSF Matthew Week 19, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I worry about being taken advantage of. We live in a world full of warnings to “keep up your guard.” We are told to be careful, diligent, cautious. “There is a sucker born every minute.” Don’t be a patsy, an easy-mark.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Peter’s question is not unreasonable. There have to limits, right? There have to be boundaries. If someone wrongs us, they have to pay. How many times must I offer forgiveness to someone who repeatedly transgresses against me.

I’m guilty of this mindset. But it is a mindset of limited resources and God is a God of Unlimited Grace and Provision. Jesus helps put this in perspective. We are focused on the equivalent of 100 silver coins. We seek justice for a transgression of 100 silver coins. But God is dealing at the level of 10,000 bags of gold.

Since we don’t deal much in actual silver and gold, I looked it up.

A US Silver Dollar (1878-1935) is worth about $15.50 in silver. So 100 silver coins would be worth $1,550.

During the gold rush, a bag of gold held approximately 25 pounds. Assuming bags have traditionally been about the same size, a bag of gold at current market value would be worth a little over US $500,000. So, the forgiveness of the King was to the tune of US$5,062,000,000. $5 Billion Dollars.

In God’s economy, the things we worry about someone taking advantage of us over would get lost in rounding. If I spent more time and effort protecting my heart and my eyes and those I love, that would be a far wiser eternal investment than protecting worldly possessions.

My only appropriate response should be one of thanks to God and modeling the grace and mercy that He has shown me. When we pray for God to forgive our sins as we forgive others, the forgiveness we show others is the measure we are asking Him to use on us.

My Answers:

12.
a.
how many times must I forgive my brother = maximum number of time I can ask for forgiveness. If 7, then…

b.
Law of Lamech or Lamech’s curse was a distortion by Lamech for a rule of vengence. Jesus turned these words into a rule of forgiveness instead.

13
a.
Sins of others to me are miniscule compared to forgiveness I have received. 10,000 bags of gold vs. 100 silver coins

b.
Lord’s prayer, forgive us our sins as we forgive others

c.
As I forgive and seek to truly hear others and simply listen, I find myself in a better place, one where I feel more forgiven

d.
Thank you for being God. Thank you for being the almighty and being patient with me. Thank you for being the shepherd to come and hunt me down when I repeatedly go astray.

17 BSF Matthew Week 17, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

This may be hard. It may not be what you or I want to hear, but the fact of the matter is: What I want doesn’t really matter.

It didn’t matter when Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the garden. It didn’t matter when Satan tempted Peter.

Being a Christ-Follower means that I follow Christ. I don’t give Him my advice on how He should do things, like I somehow have a better plan than He does. He leads, I follow. That’s the deal.

It isn’t that Christ doesn’t care about what we want and the desires of our heart. He wants those things for us. He wants us to bring them to Him and lay them at His feet. But He also wants/expects us to trust Him, not argue with Him.

There are huge blessings in that trust. As Jesus points out when we follow and trust in Him, we see Him in His full glory. We experience His full power. We don’t even have to wait until after the grave to begin living in the Kingdom, it starts now… today.

My Answers:

10.
a.
He argues with Jesus (just like the saducees) telling Him He is wrong. Jesus says get behind me.

b.
Because of love – he did not want Him to die.

c.
When I don’t like the message that God has for me. When I am unsure or uncomfortable with my own ability, but not relying on Him

d.
Satan

11.
a.
Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross so that sin is dead in us and we live in righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed

b.
denial of earthly things – we will suffer on earth but see the glory of God first hand

c.
It is a choice. We can choose to milk everything we can out of the meager minutes we have in this life or we can set that aside and focus on an everlasting life with Him.

d.
Whoever loses their life for Jesus and the gospel will save it. To see the kingdom of God

e
What do I put above God? What am I not willing to lay down? By definition, that thing I put above the Lord.

12.
Some look to the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple as the rise of the new world order and the rise of Christianity. I think this refers to the vision of Stephen to see Christ standing at the altar of God and John seeing heaven in Revelation.

BSF Matthew, Week 15, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I would not necessarily count the gift of hospitality as one of my spiritual gifts. I know there are people who have this gift. Like Martha, of Mary and Martha fame. There are people at our church (and in BSF) who’s first thought seems to be to always put the needs of others before their own needs. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not calloused to the needs of others or against having gatherings, but the organization aspect of it is not one of my gifts. Just like the disciples.

When faced with between 5,000 and 20,000 people in a remote area, their first thought was not one of hospitality, it was how do we move this along and get these people out of here. But Jesus’ words were clear, “You give them something to eat.” (Matt 14:16).

The lesson was one of obedience over comfort and natural inclinations. Jesus didn’t ask them. Jesus didn’t tell them to form a committee. Jesus didn’t seek out the people of the crowd who had the most to redistribute it. Jesus didn’t chastise the people for being unprepared, He responded as one in charge should respond. He gave clear and explicit direction. 1. You give them something to eat, 2. Bring what you have to me. 3. He directed them into groups.

And, what happened? The same thing that always happens when we serve others in obedience to Jesus. What we end up with is always more than what we began with. When we care for others in Jesus name, the care we receive back is always greater. When we love others in Jesus name, the same is true.

Don’t miss the fact that there were 12 disciples and 12 baskets left over, each completely full.

While I understand the role of spiritual gifts, I think this miracle demonstrates it is never our own gifts we should rely upon, but the gift of Jesus Christ. Our calling is to be obedient to Him, to submit to His organization, to follow His commands, to do the work He gives me to do, to trust fully in Him, not my needs, wants, comfort-level, weariness or hunger. Obedience comes first.

My Answers:

7.
a.
John the Baptist had been murdered by Herod. Herod wanted to see Jesus.

b.
He had compassion on them. He had them fed

8.
a.
They were practical. They were in a remote place with 5000 people, it was late, they were hungry. “not my problem”

b.
Jesus taught them the economies of Heaven. Which begin and end with reliance on Jesus. They do not need to go away – you feed them. Bring them to me. They all ate and were satisfied.

9.
a.
bring them to me. Give thanks to heaven. Begin with what you have and serve others with it. All are satisfied and the remaining is more than what you start with.

b.
Compassion, power, miracle maker, take care of physical needs so that spiritual needs can be met

c.
When I’m at then end of my resources it reminds me to rely on Jesus to keep and protect and nourish me in a way I can’t do for myself

d.
By feeding them. By being compassionate. By trusting in God to magnify what I hold into enough.

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)

09.5 BSF Matthew Week 9, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Pop-Quiz Time for the Apostles.

Let’s review.

They heard the sermon on the mount where Jesus told them not to worry.

They heard Him teach them how to pray. They also heard the promise that God will answer those prayers.

They heard Him speak with authority, above that of any one in the temple.

They heard Him speak of coming to fulfill prophecy.

They saw His authority over all forms of infirmities and His ability to heal.

They heard Him say to leave your old life behind, don’t rely on what you used to know and do but follow Him first and only.

So, here comes the pop-quiz. Where should you test a bunch of fishermen? How about, on a boat?!?

How should the test be conducted? How about a storm? Something along the lines of, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat…” (see Matthew 7:25) What, oh what, would a wise man do???

What did they do? Pray or panic? They panicked. Oh, you of little faith. C- grade at best! (get it? “below “c” level”…sorry, bad storm on the sea pun!)

I don’t mean to be hard on the apostles. How often do we do the same thing? How often do I? I hear the words, I understand them and I want to apply them, but when storms come up, I go blank, I rely on myself, I show my “little faith.”

But, like the apostles, Jesus saves me. And, let’s be clear, this must have been a major storm… these were guys who made their living on the water… they knew a deadly storm. But, Jesus tells us we don’t need to fear even the deadly storms.

We don’t even need to fear the demon possessed.

I thought it interesting that the demons are aware of their ultimate outcome. “Did you come to torture us before the appointed time?” They know what is ahead. They know who is in control and who is the judge, the administrator of justice.

But how often do we fail the test, too? Do we put worry about livelihood over faith in eternal life? Do we put profit concerns over prophecy fulfilled. What is eternal life and salvation worth? 2000 pigs? I would hope so.

Finally, when we are called to follow Jesus, we are also appointed a place for that calling. The demon possessed man wanted to get out of town. He wanted to start anew. But Jesus had a special mission field for him and it was in his own backyard. This may have been the hardest mission field imaginable – but he obeyed. What an amazing transformation. From living in the tombs of the dead to being the one inviting others to eternal life!

My Answers:

12.
a.
Jesus was sleeping, he got up and rebuked the storm

b.
Authority over nature

c.
They had heard Him call Himself Lord, they had seen others put their faith in Him – would he then die in a storm? Did they trust the power of the storm over the power of God

d.
Heart issues – Ezek 36:26

13.
a.
lived in the tombs – so violent that no one could pass that way

b.
The demons identified Jesus for whom He is, the Son of God. They identified that there was an appointed time at which the demons would be tortured

c.
Asked to come with Jesus but Jeses did not let him and told him to stay and witness

d.
To leave – they loved their livelihood more than their lives. Swines over Salvation. Profit over Prophecy Fulfilled.

e.
“keep faith under wraps – it may offend someone and lose a sale” We don’t want our faith to interfere with our livelihood