Friday, January 05, 2007

December 07

Learning to Live!


They are not just idle words for you--they are your life.

Deuteronomy 32:47a (NIV)


Many historians consider Moses a genius, and they‘re right. There is no doubt he was one of ancient history’s greatest leaders, but we sometimes forget that he was an incredible teacher as well.

Moses, it seems, understood the fact people learn in different ways--some by hearing, some by seeing and others by doing. Moses had the added motivation of trying to penetrate some pretty thick skulls! Moses knew his people, the understood the challenges they would face, and he perceived their ultimate rebellion (Deut 31:15+). Still, he did everything he could to teach the truth and to clearly depict the God's way to life. He had the commandments read to them repeatedly (Deut 31:9-13), he personally “sang” to them (Deut 32) and he made sure they learned his song and sang it for themselves (Deut 31:19). He even had them erect memorial stones and directed them to write God’s word on them--further helping the learning process.

Amazing. His teaching seemed to touch all the senses. He crafted a huge graphic, a moving picture with an incredible stereo surround sound as they entered the Promised Land. Representatives from half the tribes standing on Mount Gerizim pronouncing God’s blessings for the obedient, with representatives of the other tribes standing on Mount Ebal pronouncing God’s curses on disobedience, and everyone else marching through the valley between singing Moses’ song.

Over time the people eventually did rebell, a sad reminder to us: learn anyway you can, but also, learn to apply the truth … apply the truth and live!


Lord God, help us to learn. Teach us to live. Amen.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

December 06

Everything


… whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.


Matthew 16: 25b NAS



Today my son heads back to college. Like much of life, this has an edge to it, a sort of bitter sweetness. It is a good thing but hard to experience. I sent this note with my son:


Dear Drew,

In this morning’s devotion, I read again the old familiar saying ‘Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.’

Simple, powerful words. Good words for the beginning of a new year, and yes, good words for the beginning of a new term.

My prayers are with you everyday—that you will seek God everyday, that you will grow strong in every sense, and yet, depend on Him for everything and that in everything, your life will shine.

Love,

Dad


Father, guide my son in everyway. Amen.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

December 05


As You Go, Make Disciples


You, then, are to go and make disciples….

Matthew 28:19a, J.B. Phillips Translation


Danny’s childhood hero was his Uncle John—a jungle explorer it would seem, and to many, a man’s man. Danny’s eyes would bulge at the sight of the huge tiger pelts his uncle lugged home on his occasional visits. Uncle John hauled other prizes back to the States for Danny and his family to marvel over—a fourteen-foot snake skin one of the most memorable. These visits—the stories, the jungle treasures—would impact little, blond-headed Danny for years to come.

In young Danny’s eyes, John was an adventurer. In reality, John Newman was a serious-minded missionary to a remote people group in the mountains of Vietnam. John spent years getting to know this mountain tribe—living with them, working beside them, and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. By the time he was forced to leave in 1975, over 22,000 of these people had given their lives to Christ, but even more important, John left behind a self-sufficient, thriving body of believers. Recent reports indicate over 58,000 now follow Christ— testimony to John Newman’s twenty years of tireless work with this remote people group. But that’s not the end of the story. You see, John’s service inspired and motivated Danny to dedicate his life in a similar way.

Today, Danny Martin is the International Director for the Mission to Unreached Peoples, an outreach that oversees 170 full-time missionaries in over 20 countries. So one wonders, while John reached thousands for Christ in one harvest field, how many others has he impacted by influencing a little blond-headed kid?

Influencing others for Jesus Christ and His kingdom is what our Lord’s Great Commission is all about. While we may not influence thousands for Christ in remote jungle mountains, we can impact the people we see and meet every day. It means following Jesus’ example and loving them. It means trusting Him that they might find new life in Him. That’s all God asks of us.

So … who is in your sphere of influence? Why not pray for them today?


Father, open my eyes, help me to see the great need people all around me have for you. Open my heart that I may serve you and so touch the lives of others. Amen.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

December 04


Helping When We Can


If I, then, as your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.


John 13:14-15 (KJV)


It was a cold December morning and Julie Visconti was running late. She was having “one of those days,” and as she hurried to get to her new position, life threw her a curve.

On her way to work her cell phone chirped its familiar greeting as she maneuvered through the slow, heavy traffic. It was Justin! Finally, her oldest son, an Army Airborne soldier, was back from Iraq! She came to life. She hadn't seen her son in two and a half years, and finally, after a year-long deployment, his air assault unit had returned. Exciting news … until he continued.

“Mom, I want you to hold your breath ... I just got word … they’re sending me back.”

As she arrived for work, Julie's emotions were all over the place. She had so wanted to see her son and to see him home safe. She was devastated. She had to talk to someone, so she called Jennine, a loving sister in Christ and a good friend. Jennine heard Julie’s cry for help.

While Julie dealt with the double whammy of her demanding nursing job and the shocking news from her son, Jennine got busy. She took the one cell phone number Julie had given her and turned it into gold—contacting a network of love and support.

Church friends, ministry mates, and long ago acquaintances all rallied together. When Julie ended her shift some seven hours later, Jennine informed her that Julie and her younger son had plane tickets to the east coast and would spend a week with Justin before he redeployed.

It was a great week back East, and to Julie it seemed a miracle, but to her spiritual family, it was a pleasure—their chance to follow the example of Christ. Their joy to serve the needs of another.

You and I can serve too. Each and every day, we have opportunity. And today, right now, we can pray for Justin and for another safe return—to the arms of his loving family.


Father, more and more, help us catch this vision of Christ: stepping in and helping when we can. Amen.