March 19 - Shoes Off

  Read today’s texts first: Joshua 3-6; 1 Corinthians 4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

While Nike is telling me to put on their shoes and
“just do it,” I’m taking my shoes off and saying
I can only do it with God’s help!

I grew up playing in the ravine behind our house. No matter where mom was in the house, when I came in through the back door she could somehow hear me, and I could clearly hear her: “shoes off!” Mom worked hard to keep our home clean and she didn’t want any of her six kids trailing the grime of the dirty world outside inside, on to her spotless linoleum!

Joshua heard the same thing from God, just like his mentor Moses did (5:15; Exodus 3:5). God’s command had the same intent as my mom’s, sort of. This is holy ground - take your shoes off! Don’t bring the grimy sin of this world into My presence! That’s why Jesus taught us to confess our sins when we pray (Matthew 6:12) so that those contaminants can be removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

But for Joshua, taking off his sandals was more than just removing the sin of his past; it was a symbol of his humility and dependence on God moving forward. God promised to give Joshua the land everywhere he placed the sole of his foot (1:3). But He was now saying (clearly the Commander in this story was a Christophany, Jesus Himself), if you expect to take this promised land, you will have do it My way or no way.

When we face impossible circumstances, when there are walled fortresses in front of us that need to come crashing down, we can’t lace up our old boots and expect to kick down those walls ourselves. God often leads us into situations we can’t overcome in our own strength. He wants us to strip away our pride and humbly acknowledge our desperate need for His help (1 Cor. 4). “Lord, I do that today. While Nike is telling me to put on their shoes and “just do it,” I’m taking my shoes off and saying I can only do it with Your help. With Joshua, I fall at Your feet and ask, what does my Lord say to His servant (5:14).”

 

March 18 - The Scarlet Cord

Read today’s texts first: Joshua 1,2; Psalms 37; 1 Corinthians 3

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The scarlet cord of Calvary keeps our “house”
and the foundation beneath it strong
even when the world collapses around us. 

I still remember the flannel graph of a scarlet rope hanging down the wall. I don’t remember how my Sunday School teacher explained what a prostitute was, but I will never forget how kind God was in saving Rahab and her entire family. It began that day, but my appreciation for the red thread woven masterfully through the entire Bible has grown every day since!

As we begin reading through Joshua and the destruction of the pagan nations occupying the promised land, we could see God as merciless. But this incredible opening story of Rahab should give us a better perspective of God’s amazing grace.

First, notice that news travels fast, even before facebook. These nations were already aware of the God of Israel, and they were terrified (2:9-11). They could have been spared had they asked for mercy, like Rahab, but they were too proud and corrupt. Ironically, it was a prostitute, someone likely with a low sense of self-worth, who was humble enough to turn to God for help. Paul talks about people like Rahab, like us, when he says that God has chosen the foolish and weak to shame the so-called “wise” and “strong” (1 Cor. 1:27). Remarkably, Rahab was not only welcomed among God’s chosen people (6:25), but she was included in the very lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5)! But there is another bloodline that is the most remarkable part of this story.

The scarlet cord bringing salvation to Rahab and her family is such a clear symbol of the red thread that weaves its way through the entire Bible. It is the bloodline of sacrifice that points us to the Lamb of God, whose blood poured down the cross of Calvary to save all of us who would receive Him as our Saviour and accept Him as our Lord.

“Thank You Lord that You cared enough for Rahab to keep her house and the wall beneath it standing while the rest of the walls came tumbling down. You’ve done the same for me and my family because of Jesus and the scarlet cord of Calvary!”

March 17 - The Mind of Christ

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 32-34; 1 Corinthians 2

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

St. Patty said it best: All that I am, I have received from God…Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me. 

Today is Kaitlyn’s birthday. It’s easy to remember, mostly because my oldest granddaughter is so special to me, but also because it’s St. Patrick’s Day. His legacy, combined with an obvious theme from our readings today, give me great hope for Katie's future.

Katie is the brightest, most precocious child I’ve ever known (her mom, my daughter Carissa, was close)! I remember when she was 7 and I was helping her make bracelets for her brother and little sister. I remember asking her some basic questions about her technique, you know, to make her feel smart. She must have suspected the questions were too patronizing because she stopped, squinted at me and asked, quite sarcastically, “how old are you?” I guess she thought I should know the answers without asking her. Her teachers at school must have had fun!

She will need that sharp mind, and the mind of Jesus who lives inside of her, as she faces a very challenging future. It’s not easy navigating through life, especially today, when there are so many fools out there trying to convince us there is no God (Psalm 14:1). But Moses reassures us: their rock is not our Rock; our enemies are by themselves (32:31). It was God’s presence that distinguished Israel from the heathen nations; it was God’s guidance that led them to victory against overwhelming odds. Paul said that even Satan and his minions, with their elaborate plans against us, are clueless. If they knew what was going on they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (2:6-8). Big mistake – their Waterloo!

St. Patrick, born Maewyn Succat, discovered he had the mind of Christ (2:16). Maewyn lived a normal childhood as the son of a wealthy landowner and magistrate in Britain. But tragically, at 16, he was captured during a raid on his village and then sold into slavery in Ireland. After six years Maewyn escaped to France and became a priest, adopting the name Patrick.  During his training, Patrick heard God calling him to go preach the gospel to Irish pagans. He went back to Ireland where he had been abused as a slave, established monasteries across the country, set up schools and churches, and converted many over 30 years of ministry. He died on March 17, the day we commemorate as St. Patrick's Day.

This quotation from St. Patrick is my prayer and God’s promise for me and for Kaitlyn: I am certain in my heart that “all that I am,” I have received from God…Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.

March 16 - My Heart in my Mouth

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 30,31; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY 

God’s law should continually flow from our hearts
to our mouths, from the inside out. 

Have you heard the expression, my heart was in my mouth? It simply means I was feeling very emotional or passionate about something or someone. It is the way we are supposed to love and obey God, with all of our heart and soul (30:2,6,10). If the law is applied from the outside in, then it can degenerate into heartless legalism. Can you say “Pharisee”? But it was always God’s intent to write His law in our hearts, even before Jesus made it possible for the Spirit of the Law-giver to live in us. And, according to all our readings today, His law should continually flow from our hearts to our mouths, from the inside out (30:14; Ps. 40:8-10; 1Cor. 1:5).

Jesus explained how we speak out of the overflow of our hearts (Luke 6:45). We can see and hear how true that is in the conversations of the newly-in-love. As the former president of Pacific Life “Bridal” College, I sat through countless pre-marriage sessions with couples who couldn’t stop talking about how much they loved each other. My job was to warn them of the day when that might not be the case, and to teach them how to continually fan the flames of romance.

In our OT reading, God is doing the same thing with His bride. He is essentially saying, you love me now when you need me to get you into the land of promise. However, when you start to prosper, you will forget me, mark My words. You will become enamored with other gods and your conversations will be about them, not Me (29:9-29; 30:15-20; 31:16-18). But He assures them and us, The Word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so you can do it! (30:14).

“Lord, I am loving this time we have every day to let Your Word fill my heart. Hopefully, it will overflow through my mouth (and from my blog) to encourage others!”

March 15 - Live Long and Prosper

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 28,29; Galatians 6

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

To “live long and prosper” has more to do with the life
to come , where “one man has gone before!” 

Again, the tension we see between our OT and NT readings helps us develop a balanced perspective. Those who think we will always be healthy and wealthy if we believe and confess God’s Word (the prosperity movement) love the promises of Deuteronomy (28:1-14): The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity (11).

If you believe that, you are right, to a point. If we do things God’s way we will always be better off. First of all, God is the Creator so He knows how things work. Most of what He asks us to do is common sense. If we are honest, hard-working employees, we will likely stay working and maintain a steady income. If we live good, clean, moral lives we will avoid self-destructive addictions. If we love our families we will take care of them and teach them well, and they will likely grow up to be successful like us. On top of these natural consequences is the supernatural God factor. God will look out for us when things are beyond our control.

However, how do we explain the hardship Jesus endured. Prosperity teachers will say Jesus went through all of those things so we wouldn’t have to. Okay, what about Paul, or for that matter, the rest of the apostles and persecuted believers of the New Testament churches? Did you notice Paul’s comment about his big handwritten letters at the end of his epistle (6:11)? Did you also pick up on the illness he had when he first preached in Galatia (4:12-15)? He said that the Galatians felt so sorry for him that they would have been willing to give their eyes to him.

I suspect Paul had some type of eye disease that made it difficult for him to write (that’s why he had other people transcribe his letters). There’s good support that this was a chronic condition, and may have been what Paul called his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Whether it was or not, we can’t categorize Paul’s life as healthy and wealthy (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Stonings, beatings, shipwrecks, snake bite, illness, prison, and, oh yeah, martyrdom - none of those things seem prosperous.

Paul does confirm the promises of Deuteronomy, though - we will reap what we sow, but if we sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit we will reap eternal life (6:7-9). That’s what it really means to live long and prosper (take note Trekkies)!  “Thank You Lord that Your promises of prosperity are true to those who trust and obey, if not completely in this world then most certainly in the world to come (where one Man has gone before!).”

March 14 - Loopholes or Whole Hearts

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The law tries to conform us from the outside in,
but God’s Spirit transforms us from the inside out! 

As the OT laws become more specific, from taking care of your ox to protecting your privates in a fight (25:4,11,12), we can see the inadequacy of external laws. We may chuckle at some of them because society has changed so much, but in reality man’s attempts at writing laws are far more detailed.

The Rabbis expanded on God’s simple sabbath rules in the Mishnah, with its 39 major categories and hundreds of subcategories, from tying certain knots to writing adjoining letters. While in Jerusalem on Shabbat, I was fascinated (and a little frustrated) watching the hotel elevators automatically stop on every floor so we wouldn’t violate any work rules by pushing a button.

The western world has its own share of overly specific laws. In Normal, Oklahoma, it is illegal to antagonize a dog by making funny faces (seems “normal” to me). In Memphis, Tennessee, they still have a law in the books that forbids women from driving unless a man drives another vehicle in front with a red flag to warn other motorists!

Lawyers make a living studying hundreds of law books looking for loopholes. It’s human nature. I caught my granddaughter with a juice box in the family room after just explaining that eating is confined to the dining room. Her response – “I wasn’t eating; I was drinking!” I need to write my own Mishnah!

Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us God’s perspective on the law. We need the law to show us how corrupt our sinful nature really is. But after Jesus fulfilled the demands of the law for us, it is now possible for the Law-giver to live in our hearts. Our sinful nature is transformed by His nature. His divine attributes, the fruit of the Spirit, begin to guide our actions in every situation (5:22-25), exceeding what the law demands (Matthew 5-7). The law tries to conform us from the outside in, but God’s Spirit transforms us from the inside out!

“Lord, thank You that I no longer live for myself, looking for loopholes to excuse my sin. I can live for You, loving You and others with my whole heart.”

March 13 - From Slaves to Sons

 Read today’s texts first: Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

As slaves we should know the Law, but as sons
we can know the Father - the Spirit of the Law. 

You’ll notice that the New Hope reading plan is more chronological (in order of their historical timeline) than sequential (in the order the books appear in the canon). However, the combinations of the OT and NT readings may also be related by theme. For example, reading Paul’s gospel-centered perspective on the law (Galatians) while wading through the most detailed sections of Jewish law (Deuteronomy) may be more than a just a happy coincidence.

Some wonder how much of the OT law applies today. The ones with timeless application are obvious. For example, the Ten Commandments fit our day as well as the day they were written. But some of the laws we’ve been reading lately relate to camp cleanliness, slavery, multiple marriages, farming, dated construction techniques, etc. They have no specific application to our life today in a developed nation. Relax, you are not sinning if you don’t leave your house carrying a shovel when you have to relieve yourself (23:12-14). Toilets and indoor plumbing have rendered that law unnecessary. Yet, the intent of protecting ourselves from disease still applies.

Paul helps to shape our perspective with his Spirit-inspired common sense approach to the law. When we were slaves to sin, the law was helpful in guiding us toward the promise of a Saviour. But when Jesus came and finally fulfilled the law, His followers were adopted - from slaves to sons, with the Spirit of the Father now resident within them (4:1-7). “Lord, thank You for redeeming me as a slave and adopting me as Your son. You guide me every day, not by the letter of the law but by the Spirit of the law who lives inside me (Romans 7:6)!”