Sweeter than Honey

Posted by admin on Jan 30, 2012 in Contemplations, Featured, Scripture Notes | 0 comments

“What does he know that I don’t?”

David, the writer of Psalm 119, says, “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.” (Psalm 119:103) Granted, there are some nice things in the Bible, but really, “sweeter than honey?”

Here’s what David understands that we often miss when we read the Scriptures.  ALL of the Bible is good news.

• Good news that God made the world a beautiful place and will return to make it new again.
• Good news that God made a way for Adam and Eve and has made a way for us.
• Good news that God is always faithful to His people no matter how long they wander in the desert or how far they go.
• Good news that His commands lead to life, and life abundantly.
• Good news that Jesus is the true light of the world, and has come to shine in us and through us to drive back the darkness in our world.

When you understand good news like that, it is very sweet indeed.

Wineskins

Posted by admin on Jan 25, 2012 in Contemplations, Featured, Scripture Notes | 0 comments

Which is better, old or new?

“Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” -Matthew 9:17

How easy it is in our “newer-is-better” consumer culture to discard the old in favor of the new…but Jesus doesn’t do that.  Jesus finds value in both the seasoned and the start-up, the trendy and the traditional.

Don’t be so quick to embrace the shine of the present that you miss the substance of the past, and don’t let the comfort of the familiar keep you from the fresh wine of a brand new day.

Need

Posted by admin on Jan 23, 2012 in Contemplations, Featured, Scripture Notes | 0 comments

If you think you have it all together, it’s doubtful Jesus has much for you…

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mat 9:10-13

Those who think they have it all together are usually the ones who look down on those who don’t.  Yet, just as God the Father “opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6), Jesus -God the Son- says He comes “not to call the ‘righteous’, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13b, quotes added).

For those who think they have no need of grace, there will be no grace to be found.  For those who know their poverty of spirit, the abundant riches of the grace of Jesus will be poured out on them, to as a great a degree as they are willing to ask for and receive.

The “poor in spirit” are blessed indeed. (Matthew 5:3)

Hidden Treasure

Posted by admin on Nov 17, 2011 in Contemplations, Scripture Notes | 0 comments

“Biblical genealogies are so boring!”

Heard that before? Thought that before? So have I. Then the other day a friend of mine showed me this chart of the translation/meanings of several of the Hebrew names in the genealogy of Genesis 5.

Pretty cool, I must admit.

God’s Words

Posted by admin on Oct 8, 2011 in Contemplations, Scripture Notes | 0 comments

Ever feel like you just don’t have the words you need?

For He [Jesus] is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives Him the Spirit without limit.” -John the Baptist (John 3:34)
If we seek to speak the words of God, whether in preaching, counsel or testimony, we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. He is the giver of both the words to be spoken and the “breath” to speak them: the bringer of all we need.

How encouraging, then, this promise of Jesus: “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” (Luke 11:13)

Don’t have the right words? Just ask! Not sure you can make that speech or have that conversation? Just ask! Ask in faith and watch the Holy Spirit do IN you and THROUGH you exactly what needs to be done…

Again, see what Jesus promises: “…don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” (Luke 12:11b-12)

Relax, God’s got it covered.

Old Wine, New Wine

Posted by admin on Oct 8, 2011 in Contemplations, Scripture Notes | 0 comments

New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.” - Jesus (Luke 5:38-39)

This is why we plant new churches, start new ministries, birth new movements.

There is great value in the old wine, and it should be treasured and respected. However, new wine is what is needed now, for this time, because without it, there will be no more “wine” at all after the old is gone.

Let us not think badly of those who prefer the “old wine” to the new, for Jesus said they would. Let us instead invite them to partner with us and help produce the new wine that will bring new people in to the fold.