Matthew 18:3

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Matthew 19:14 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Oswald  Chambers has an enlightening insight on these verses -- Become as little children with openhearted, unprejudiced minds in relation to God... He goes on to say, the most serious minded Christian is the one who has just become a Christian; the mature saint is just like a young child, absolutely simple and joyful and gay. Read the sermon on the Mount -- Do not worry about your life. The Christianity of Jesus Christ refuses to be careworn. Our Lord is indicating that we have to be carefully careless about everything saving our relationship to Him. Fuss is always a sign of fever. A great many people mistake perspiration in service for inspiration in devotion. The characteristic of a man who has come to God is that you cannot get him to take anyone seriously but God." (from The Place of Help by Oswald Chambers)

My hope, prayer, and heart's desire, Lord, is to be like a child, expectant, full of wonder, free from self-consciousness, trusting. Help me to trust in you like I trusted my dad when I was a little kid. He always took care of me, got me what I needed, solved problems, and protected me. How much more can you, and will you, do for me, Abba, Father, Daddy, God? Amen.

When I was a little kid I didn't try to figure out how to live, I just lived. Mom and Dad took care of everything. Who knew you could go back to that? Simply trust in God...like a child...with the absolute most perfect mom and dad. He's both, you know!

Get Your Own Straw

Reading Exodus today -- Chapters 5 and 6. Pharoah is ticked. These darn Israelites apparently have too much time on their hands if they want to go off and pay homage to their God. Let's remedy that. Require the same quota of bricks daily, but don't give them any straw. Apparently they have time to get their own straw.

I can't stand injustice. I can't stand misunderstandings. Yet both are prevalent in my life, in yours, in our world. I assumed my hyper sensitivity toward injustice, my distain for those who treat other unjustly was a good, maybe even godly, trait. But here's what Oswald Chambers has to say about it:

Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it.

And then this: Much that we call the trial of our faith is the inevitable result of being alive.

Speaking of justice and injustice. How many times must we forgive someone who sins against us? Seven times? No, 70 times 7...in other words there is no end to the number of times we should forgive. 

In Matthew 18 you can read the the story of the unforgiving servant. Though his own great debt had been forgiven, he was not willing to forgive a much smaller debt from someone else. It did not go well for that man when his master found out that he did not pay it forward. He was thrown back in prison.

The story concludes with Jesus' words, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”



Psalm 15

Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever. (Psalm 15:1-5 NLT)

Old Versus New

Previously when I read through the Bible in a year, I always read straight through, Genesis to Revelation. And I'm not gonna lie, theNew Testament is easier. There is some horrific stuff in the Old Testament, hard to get through. Most likely because the story of redemption isn't a pretty one. First off anything that needs redeemed is in a bad place to begin with. And, I suppose, every redeemer has to do some self-sacrificing in order to accomplish his or her mission. Think of an antiquer restoring a valuable piece, or an architect renovating an old house, or a construction worker shoring up a dilapidated barn. How much harder to redeem a fallen, falling apart, sinful person. Let's face it, the human race (my people and yours) are scoundrels -- not totally our fault. God gave us this self-centered heart and then (what was He thinking?) He gave us free will. The picture in the Old Testament is clear, people don't choose well and even the best of them do some terrible bad things. King David for example.

All that to say, I'm glad to be following a reading program that mixes Old readings and New, Psalms and Proverbs added in. Today, I finished Genesis, continued in Matthew, read Psalm 14 and Proverbs 4:20-24. Good words from Proverbs to meditate on today, "...give attention to (God's) words...keep them in your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to their flesh."

Oswald Chambers Daily Devotional Bible

Today is the last day of January. I began these daily devotions one week into January 2012, so I'm a week behind...but...who cares? I will be absolutely jubilant if I read through the entire Bible by the end of next January. That's something I haven't done for quite a while. It's time. For added incentive I've got a girlfriend working along side me...maybe two girlfriends. Just today my friend, Lisa, asked if she could get in on it. Sure, the more the merrier! The better to be held accountable, too.

We're up to Genesis 48, Matthew 15, Psalm 13 and Proverbs 4.

Today's bit of inspiration from the great Oswald Chambers is Great is Your Faith  from Matthew 15:22-28. It starts out, "Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense..." I'm intrigued. Must go read.

For Operation Christmas Child, 'tis the Season

Merry Christmas!

Give gifts to children who need and appreciate them. Give the gift of love.

The department stores are putting out their holiday displays. I don't mind. It's a wonderful season. I like to think of it as pre-advent. Let's get ready, to get ready, for the coming of the babe who will bring salvation. I love the Christmas story. It brings tears to my eyes when I think what it would have been like for his earthly mother and father. The conception, the birth, the miraculous signs and wonders.

Of course Christmas is just a celebration remembering what Jesus has already done for us. He came, he walked and talked, lived and breathed, he died and rose again -- that we might have eternal life. And make no mistake, He came to save the world, not to condemn it. That's the message we should share more often than we do. God so loved the world...

Think on that for these next couple of months while the lights are blinking, the music is playing, and the jolly fat gift giver is handing out presents. Grab onto the gift God gave and live ever after.

Psalm 90:17

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
   establish the work of our hands for us—
   yes, establish the work of our hands.