1 Kings_19

Scripture

1 Kings 19:11-12

¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Observation

The story of Elijah continues.  “How he was driven into banishment by the malice of Jezebel his sworn enemy (v. 1-3), how he was met, in his banishment, by the favour of God, his covenant-friend. How God fed him (v 4-8).  How he conversed with him, and manifested himself to him (v. 9, v 11-13), heard his complaint (v 10-14), directed him what to do (v 15-17) and encouraged him (v 18).  How his hands were strengthened, at his return out of banishment, by joining of Elisha with him (v 19-21).” [Excerpt from Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Whole Bible – www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/1-kings/19.html}

Understanding

What struck me about these verses is that 1) even when Elijah was banished in the earthly world, God met him with favor and 2) God doesn’t come always come in the ways that we think, hope or expect.  Big, powerful actions came – wind tearing mountains apart and shattering rocks, an earthquake, a fire…but God came in a whisper. 

That brings to mind two things…the first, I was recently encouraged that, while God doesn’t always move the way we think He will, OUR [only] part is obedience.  If God calls us, we respond in obedience.  That obedience may not bring the result we expect or want…but God’s movements are not always explicit, they’re not always obvious.  It may just be a seed being planted, or perhaps watered, for a crop that we will never personally see.  And the second thing is our homework from yesterday – to look for God in the ordinary.  His fingerprints are EVERYwhere.

Life Application

God, may I be bold in my obedience and consciously aware of your presence.  May I walk, speak, trust, move in a way that brings honor to you.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Rei

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Luke 2:21-40

SCRIPTURE

Luke 2:21-40 (NIV) ²¹  On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. ²²  When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), ²⁴  and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." ²⁵  Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. ²⁷  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸  Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ²⁹  "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. ³⁰  For my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹  which you have prepared in the sight of all people, ³²  a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." ³³  The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴  Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵  so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." ³⁶  There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷  and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸  Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. ³⁹  When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰  And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.  

 

OBSERVATION

After Jesus’ birth, His parents followed Jewish customs. These included circumcision on the eighth day, the dedication to the Lord of a firstborn child, and Mary’s purification.   While performing these common customs, Joseph and Mary are surprised at church. God loves taking the ordinary and seemingly mundane moments of obedience and turning them into extraordinary moments.  

 

UNDERSTANDING

Joseph and Mary show up at the Temple to do what is required—the customs of the day—and they are met by two very excited old timers! First Simeon, then Anna prophesy over Joseph and Mary and their baby, and start declaring the news to anyone who will listen that this baby is God’s salvation. This is the ONE.  In the midst of something ordinary, the extraordinary happens.   This would be like you showing up at church today, and suddenly, God speaks to you or heals you or changes you!

 

Or this would be like you doing your daily time with God— PB&J (prayer, Bible reading and journaling) and God shows up in an extraordinary way.  

 

LIFE APPLICATION

The same is to be expected of us today.  On any given Sunday when you do what you are supposed to do – show up to worship and connect with God’s people – God invades and turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.  I wonder how many times we may have missed out because we didn’t want to do the necessary requirements?

Or how about PB&J?  Those moments of obedience and commitment to relationship that become extraordinary because God invades our ordinary activities.

 

Be ready for God to surprise you…He loves doing it! 

2 Corinthians_1

Scripture:  2 Corinthians 1:7  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Observation-What does it say?  When Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth, they were experiencing a deal of turmoil within the group.  Which is the reason for his sharp tone denouncing their behavior.  While he was attempting to return to the city of Corinth, to which he suffered many hardships during the journey, both physically and internally, he was anxious to find out their status and how the first letter was received.  In the opening to this letter, Paul praises God for his goodness during these recent trials.  “His suffering has had two wholly good side-effects: the experience of God’s comfort in it all; a new ability to help comfort those in similar circumstances.” (Zondervan Handbook to the Bible, p.706)

Understanding-What does it mean?   My buddy Jon came up with the quote for the back of my cross-country team shirt for my junior year.  “Suffering is fun!”  The saying was accompanied by a picture of a stick figure man in the process of losing his lunch.  One of the things about kids who run long distance, they have a bit of a warped sense of humor.  It may be because we spent our free time doing the thing that for other sports is a punishment.  It may be because it was often hard find a restroom in those hours of activity.  Either way, as a runner I came to appreciate the fact that to find meaning in my running, to see improvements, there was a certain amount of suffering that had to be endured.

Life is full of all sorts of suffering.  Without some sort of meaning, the suffering can be too much to endure.  Our careers can be seen as useless unless we have meaning in them, a noble purpose that makes the suffering worth it.  Without a family to provide for, or an enduring mark on society, the work we do will feel as though it falls on emptiness.

In the Christian life, we are clearly warned of the suffering we will endure for the sake of God’s name.  Time and time again through the words of those who suffered in the stories of the Bible, we hear of God comforting those who suffer for him.  We see Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego surviving fire.  Daniel finding comfort in the lions den.  Jonah praising God in the belly of a great fish.  And here in the book of Corinthians, we see Paul telling us of the great comfort he has had in suffering.  When we draw close to Him, God will comfort us.

John G. Patton was a missionary to an island of cannibals.  During his time he suffered great violence and threats on his life.  Of this suffering he wrote, “Life in such circumstances led me to cling very near to the Lord Jesus; I knew not, for one brief hour, when or how attack might be made; and yet, with my trembling hand clasped in the hand once nailed on Calvary, and now swaying the scepter of the universe, calmness and peace and resignation abode in my soul.”

Life Application  Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.  For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.  Praise the Lord. Psalm 117

Jesus teach me to worship, even when life seems impossible.  Help me to endure the suffering here on earth, knowing that you will bring me comfort.  My purpose here is to bring you glory, and I find comfort in that.  

 

-Tyler Galloway