Luke 23-7.9.21
SCRIPTURE
Luke 23:13-14
Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.
OBSERVATION-What does it say?
As Luke begins to close out the story of Jesus’ life, we enter the earthly side of the climax of His triumph over sin. Somewhat like the final battle scene in a movie, Jesus faces the earthly opposition to his battle over our sin. We see him facing trumped up charges, including tax evasion and leading a type of coup against the Roman government. The greatest charge against him was that of blasphemy, which was a capital crime in the Jewish law. But, as he stood trial, there was no fault found in the charges against him. He became, as John later wrote, the propitiation and the physical atonement for our sins and he did it willingly.
UNDERSTANDING-What does it mean?
Recently my friend told me a story about a crash he had on his dirt bike, while he was riding with a friend who struggles with his faith in Jesus. While they were riding on a little used road, with a lot of wash crossings, my friend lost control in the sand of one of the washes and fell off the bike. When he came to, his friend was helping him get up, but he was struggling with his memory and cognitive functions. As they were trying to figure out how to get my friend and his motorcycle back to the van they arrived in, a Ranger from the Bureau of Land Management pulled up alongside them. She was patrolling one small area of her nearly three million acres of land. When my friend’s friend asked why she was there, she told them she woke up and felt something urge her to go to that area. My friend, who is an above average rider, still doesn’t know why he crashed. He only suspects that God was using him to reach his friend.
In a much more important way, Jesus was used by God, even though he was innocent. He was used to bring us to a relationship with God, a little like my friend was used to make God’s miraculous attributes apparent to someone who needed to see them. God often uses incidents and people that seem to be a mistake to make the biggest impact. As we learned in Psalm 118:22, Jesus was the stone that was rejected by the builders, but he is the stone that our faith was founded on.
LIFE APPLICATION
Jesus, help me to accept the times I feel like I have been wronged, knowing that it might be you using me to reach someone for you. Help me to accept the pain I feel here on earth, knowing you are always after my good in the end.
-Tyler Galloway
Exodus 36-7.8.21
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 36:1
"So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”
OBSERVATION - What does it say?
God used skillful workers to accomplish His plans to construct the sanctuary. The words skill, skilled person, skilled worker, and ability are used 8 times in this chapter.
UNDERSTANDING - What does it mean?
Although it was ultimately God who empowered His people to accomplish His plans and purposes, He also created people with a unique set of skills, passions, desires, gifts and talents. These skills and abilities helped them to accomplish the work that He had called them to.
LIFE APPLICATION
Use your gifts, talents, and skills in order to further the Kingdom of God!
Although it is ultimately God who empowers us through His Spirit to accomplish His mission, He has also created us with a unique set of skills, passions, desires, gifts and talents that help us do the work that He has called us to do.
We all have something to offer when it comes to furthering the Kingdom of Christ. Whether it is a heart for teaching, leading, children, families, music, creative arts, marriage, multimedia, organizing, building and maintenance, there is always an area of service that we have been uniquely created for.
Dear Jesus, thank you for the way you have created us all uniquely for service. Thank you for the differing gifts, talents, and skills that are present within our family at DSC. I pray that we would live our lives purposely for You as we discover how You have shaped us for our individual callings to further Your Kingdom. In your name we pray, Amen.
-Pastor Levi Thompson
Exodus 35-7.7.21
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 35:5
From what you have, take an offering for the Lord.
OBSERVATION - What does it say?
After receiving all the instructions, Moses assembled all the Israelites. It was time to get to work! They had the plans and the next step was gathering the materials and workers needed. So, God spoke through Moses that day commanding all the Israelites who were willing to offer what they had to help complete the project, whether material or skills. No one was demanded to offer something he didn’t have, but rather to offer to God “from what you have.”
UNDERSTANDING - What does it mean?
God had blessed his people with materials and skills to fulfill the great task he had given them. Exodus 12:35-36 tells us that God moved on the hearts of the Egyptians to give them all kinds of articles of gold, silver and clothing as they were leaving Egypt. Then God supernaturally gave them skills in all kinds of areas, particularly Bezalel and Oholiab who would teach others these skills. I’m sure the light bulb went on for many of them as Moses spoke that God had given them these things for this very project. What struck me is that God specified for the people to offer from what they had. He had given them resources and skills, and now they learn the reason why: those resources and skills were needed to accomplish God’s work. I’m reminded of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. The man entrusted different amounts to each of his servants while he was gone. When he came back, regardless of how many talents each had, he judged them based on what they did with them. Did they produce something with what they were given? What we learn is that it doesn’t matter how much you have, but what you do with what you have. God gives his people skills and resources with the desire that they would offer them back to God and use them to accomplish his plans.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today, I feel moved to offer back to God what he has given me!
What skills has God given me? What resources has God given me? How can I offer those things back to God to accomplish his plans?
God, thank you for all that you’ve blessed us with! We recognize that all the skills you’ve given us, the resources you’ve given us, the passions and desires you’ve given us, all point to your plans for our lives. May we not be selfish, but willingly offer back to you all these things to help build up your church and fulfill the mission you’ve given us. Amen.
-Pastor Levi Thompson