January 29 - My Enemies’ Enemy

 Read today’s texts first: Exodus23 & 24; Psalms 14; Acts 5

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

God opposes those who oppose us -
He is our enemies’ enemy!

Growing up as a skinny kid, I was street smart enough to know that it pays to make the biggest guy in school your close buddy.  I avoided a lot of fights in junior high because Bob Best (that was really his name) had my back.  Moses and the rest of Israel had the promise of a protector too.  God sent His angel, bearing His name, ahead of them into the Promised Land.  If they stayed with him, God promised he “will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you” (23:22).  While Israel often suffered from an inferiority complex before going into battle, their enemies were far more intimidated because of Israel’s growing reputation for divine intervention.  Who’s going to stand up to God and win?

David, the Psalmist agrees: Will evil doers never learn… there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous (14:4-5).  I love it when I see a theme emerge from all three passages, because Acts 5 illustrates the promise given to both Moses and David.  The Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court, at least 70 men in total, could not seem to keep these disciples down.  After just locking them up in the slammer, they were shocked to hear some guy interrupt their meeting with the news that the men they put in jail were back at the temple again preaching.  The disciples could have had their own series of Prison Break episodes (if Fox television had been around then).  Keeping these disciples from preaching is like bopping gophers at Chuck E Cheese – they just keep popping up somewhere else!  Gamaliel said it best:  if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find your selves fighting against God (5:39).

“Lord, may we stand strong in the face of opposition, knowing that if God is for us, who can be against us.  Sometimes, because of my fear of persecution, I keep quiet when I should be bold.  I ask that You would work into my life the same conviction that gripped Your disciples: we must obey God rather than men (5:29).”

January 28 Being With Jesus

 Read today’s texts first: Exodus 21 & 22; Psalms 12; Acts 4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

So often we ask Jesus to be with us
but it is better to pray that we will be with Him!

So often we reflect on how Jesus is with us.  It is comforting to know that He will never leave us or forsake us.  But how often do we consider the importance of being with Jesus?  Now I understand logic: if Jesus is with us, then by extension, we are with Jesus.  However, as in every relationship, being with someone physically does not guarantee you are “with” them on every other level.  To illustrate, I have on rare occasions gone shopping with my wife – I was there, but my heart and mind were focused on other less mind-numbing interests, like the hockey game playing in the window of the TV store.

What we read of Peter and John in Acts 4 is that even their enemies realized “these men had been with Jesus” (13).  They had not only walked and talked with Jesus, they had absorbed His heart of compassion and His faith to do something about it.  The religious rulers who were trying unsuccessfully to restrain them from preaching, knew this was not just a religion they were dealing with here.  These were men in relationship with the living God, and there was no stopping them.  When faced with opposition they didn’t shrink back – they just prayed for more boldness to keep on keeping up with Jesus.  If they thought they were shaken up by their imprisonment, they had a whole lot more shakin’ going on when God answered their prayer!

We need that level of intensity in our walk with Jesus in our day.  It’s not enough to invite God’s presence into our daily activities.  We need to find out what Jesus wants to do today and where He’s going to be at work, and then determine to join Him in those exploits.  It’s going to require a whole new level of boldness to go where Jesus goes.  “Lord, I ask for that same boldness - shake up my world so this walk of faith is no longer just about You being with me, but about me keeping up with You.”

January 27 - Discipleship Through Delegation

Read today’s texts first: Exodus 17-20; Acts 3

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
Proper delegation can turn whiners into winners.

Several years ago, on this very same day, close to 100 Foursquare pastors across Canada linked up through a conference call for the big announcement:  Barry Buzza, my brother, had been unanimously approved as the next president of the Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada.  One of the reasons Barry was selected was his proven track record for raising up other leaders and delegating authority within Northside Church.  The secret to Northside’s growth has been the hundreds of volunteer leaders who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the pastors to widen the influence of the church throughout the tri-cities.

One of Barry’s favourite texts in teaching others about leadership is Exodus 18.  This is the moment Moses learns about sharing the leadership load from his father-in-law, an unwashed Midianite of all people.  Leading up to this moment, we read of the constant complaining of the Israelites.  Like the bleating of helpless sheep they cried out to their shepherd Moses: “we’re hungry”, “we’re thirsty”, “why have you led us to the wilderness to die – weren’t there enough graves in Egypt?” (I love Jewish sarcasm!)  But Moses was partly to blame for this dysfunctional group.  Delegating responsibility and distributing authority can turn whiners into winners.  Jethro knew that if Moses kept making all the decisions, he would wear out himself and the people (18:18).  He had to learn how to teach, show, and appoint (18:20-21 – a sermon outline for another time) in order to empower his people and prepare them for the battles ahead.

Jesus had done just that in only three and a half years of public ministry: teaching spiritual principles, demonstrating kingdom authority, and appointing representatives to carry on the work.  You can see how successful He was in our Acts reading, as Peter and John, acting on behalf of the name they had denied days earlier, healed a crippled beggar at the temple gate.  Jesus could accomplish so much more through His disciples and their ever-expanding circles of influence than He could as one man.

“Lord so often I am tempted to hoard the ministry, saying with Moses, these people come to me to seek God’s will (18:15).  If You can release kingdom responsibility and authority to me, then surely I can release others.  This is my prayer for me and for all our leaders in Foursquare Canada as we continue to fulfill the Great Commission - discipleship through delegation.”

January 26 - God’s Got Your Back

 Read today’s texts first: Exodus 14-16; Acts 2

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

God not only leads the way, He’s also got our backs! 

As someone who has followed God for over half a century, I get the concept that He is always blazing the trail ahead.  I really don’t fear the future because He’s already there ahead of me, well in control of anything I’m going to face.  But in combat, a soldier is most vulnerable from behind.  No wonder Satan’s favourite attack is from the rear, reminding us of the traumas or failures from our past.

While rereading the story of the exodus, I noticed that God had their back covered.  When they arrived at the Red Sea, the angel and the cloud of God’s presence dropped from their lead position to rear guard.  Remarkably, the cloud provided light to the Israelites in front and darkness to the approaching Egyptians behind (14:19-20).  This bought time for the Israelites to cross through to the other side.  It also provided some space between them and Pharoah’s army, isolating them in the sea when the waters rolled back.

The symbolism of the exodus is powerful: God delivers us from the bondage of our sin (Egypt), through water baptism (the Red Sea), sanctification (the wilderness), baptism of the Spirit (the Jordan), into a life of overcoming (the Promised Land).  Israel’s biggest problem on this journey is the same one we face: the temptation to return to our past and our sin.  It is reassuring to know that God not only delivers us from bondage, He watches our back to keep the past from overtaking us.  We see this illustrated in the Acts reading as it describes an anointed Peter boldly standing up on the day of Pentecost, radically different from the man who a few days earlier had denied even meeting Jesus.

“Lord, I’m thankful that You not only lead the way, You’ve also got my back, where I’m most vulnerable.  I often allow my mind to get mired down in past failures but Your deliverance is complete.  The enemies from my past have been swallowed up in Your victory.  I will sing unto the Lord for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and rider fell into the sea! (15:1).

January 25 - First Place

 Read today’s texts first: Exodus 12 & 13; Psalms 21; Acts 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The secret to winning in life is to give first place to God.
“When you lose your life for my sake, you find it!” JESUS

I love to be first, which shows up far too often when I play tennis. My reading this morning, though, was about God’s need to be first.  To commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites were to dedicate their firstborn, including livestock, to God from that moment on (13:12).  This was to become their simple secret to success.  When they come up against the self-absorbed heathen nations waiting for them, these God-honouring Hebrews would prevail.  Conversely, when they put themselves first, they would become as impotent as everyone else around them.

In the Exodus reading today God’s people, the Israelites, begin their sojourn to the Promised Land. Coincidentally, our New Testament passage in Acts marks the beginning of the same kind of journey for God’s people, the church.  Both groups are about to experience unimaginable conflicts and the only way they will prevail in the end is through God’s power.  And the only way they have access to His resources is by putting Him first in everything they do.  Both groups begin with prayer and consecration, and once they receive their directives from God they move out.

I’ve read ahead before so I know what’s coming.  When God’s people remember this simple rule for success, they succeed (makes sense!).  When they don’t, they don’t (makes sense again)!  “Lord, may I learn from the past stories of Your people to put You first.  It feels good to be first, but it feels even better to put You first and to give You all the glory for the wins ahead!”

January 24 - Got Anything to Eat?

 Read today’s texts first: Exodus 9-11; Luke 24

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Eating together breaks down the social and cultural barriers – it’s the incarnation at its fullest expression 

In the middle of the thrill of victory (the resurrection of Jesus – Luke 24) and the agony of defeat (the routing of the Egyptians – Exodus 9-11), I noticed something trivial by comparison but remarkable in its own way.  Jesus liked food.  I was first alerted to this little- talked-about fact by Gayle Erwin, the portly author of the book Jesus Style.  Gayle, perhaps looking to justify his own rotund body-type, hypothesized that Jesus may have been rather robust Himself, certainly not the skinny, almost emaciated man we see portrayed so often in renaissance paintings.

The evidence for his theory is seen in the Luke 24 passage.  The disciples walked the full seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus with Jesus talking to them the whole time, but it wasn’t until they sat down to eat that they recognized Him.  As He was passing them the Mozza bread (30) everything suddenly becomes familiar: “that’s Him!”  When He shows up to the whole group of disciples back in Jerusalem, one of the first things He says (no doubt to remind them of Who they’re talking to) is, “got anything to eat?” (41). From the John account, when He appears to them on the beach of Galilee, He invites them to “come and have breakfast” (21:12).  John writes that no one had to ask Who He was – they knew it was the Lord!

Obviously Jesus and His disciples enjoyed their meals together.  In fact, Jesus was a popular party guest wherever He went.  If there were appetizers, He was there!  The Pharisees referred to Him as a “friend of sinners” – we should have such a reputation!  We need to learn what God our Creator already knows – people like to eat.  The Alpha program got it right when they set up for evangelism around the dinner table.  Gayle Erwin has decided to start his own church movement built around an eating ministry called “Calorie Chapel!”

While this topic is intended to be light-hearted, there’s truth in it.  The gospel, and those who embrace it, need to be where people live.  Eating together breaks down the social and cultural barriers – it’s the incarnation at its fullest expression.  When we sit down to eat with our family, friends, neighbours, and coworkers, they may just recognize Jesus too!  “Lord, may I continue to practice what You modeled for me on earth and earn Your reputation as a friend of sinners.”

January 23 - Here Comes the Judge

 Read today’s texts first: Exodus 6-8; Luke 23

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

We deserve God’s judgment and He deserves our fear, but Jesus took our judgment and replaced
our fear with His love!

In assuring Moses of His continuing presence, the Lord keeps repeating that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  But He says something surprising in 6:2:  His name [Yahweh] was not fully made known to them.  Moses was going to learn something about God as Judge and Deliverer that no one had seen to that point.  As we read about the incredibly frightening and destructive plagues that ravaged Egypt, we gain new insight into the kind of God we serve.  He is worthy of our respect, and yes, down-right fear!

Now fast forward to Christ’s crucifixion in Luke 23.  What He endures is even worse than the plagues of Egypt.  It is an assault on His body of unimaginable pain.  It’s also an assault on His dignity as He is stripped and hung as a public spectacle, mocked by the very people He had come to help.  Worse yet, it is an assault on His Spirit, separating Him from His Father for the first time.  All of this happened as punishment for sins He never committed.  This is God executing His wrath, His judgment, on Himself, for us.  This is part of His name and His character that even Moses didn’t get to see – His mercy.

“Lord, I deserve Your judgment and You deserve my fear.  But because of Jesus, who took on Himself my judgment, all fear is gone.  His perfect love has removed all my fear!  I no longer face Your judgment, but Your reward.”

January 22 - Crunch Time

 Read today’s texts first: Exodus 3-5; Luke 22

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

God prefers helplessness to pride – He can exalt the humble, but there’s no help or hope for the proud. 

I like to think I’m ready for the big pressure situations.  I enjoy playing tennis with a better player to see how well I can keep my focus.  Sometimes, just an “I-can-do-it” attitude provides enough of an advantage to get me back in the game.  Both of today’s readings cover life-and-death decisions: Moses being asked to follow God back to Egypt (where he’s wanted for murder), and Christ’s disciples deciding if they want to follow Him to the cross. 

It’s easy to laugh at their pathetic excuses, and say “that would never happen to me!” (Peter said the same thing).  I certainly talk a good game, but I have no idea how I would react if my life was on the line.  I’ve been reading the Bible League’s devotional guide with stories from the persecuted church - they are literally laying down their lives for the gospel.  Have I been too spoiled by Canadian freedom and prosperity to be willing to join them?

At least Moses, for all his lame excuses, finally said yes.  What a difference between this 80 year-old shepherd and the brash 40 year-old who tried to deliver his people in his own strength.  I think God prefers our helplessness to pride – He can exalt the humble, but there’s nothing He can do with a proud man (except knock him down a notch or two!).

“Lord, I often face my own version of crunch time.  My life may not be on the line, but my integrity often is.  Fortunately the promise You gave to Moses and Your disciples applies to me.  You are with me.  Your name ‘I Am’ means You are present tense: the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Peter and Rob!”

January 21 - Isn’t it Ironic?

 Read today’s texts first: Exodus 1& 2; Psalms 88; Luke 21

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Moses, Joshua and Caleb did more for God in their
80s than the 7 decades before - ironic, isn’t it?

Alanis Morissette’s song “Isn’t It Ironic?” should have included a verse on the life of Moses:

• Pharoah tries to stop the Israelites from rallying against him by having all the baby boys killed.    Meanwhile, his daughter rescues the one baby who would grow up to do just that!
• The name “Moses,” which in Egyptian means “is born,”  has the same root as the Pharoah at that time, Ahmose, and the ones to follow, Thutmose and Ramses.
• The Hebrew derivative of his name means “drew him out”, which refers to his rescue from the Nile.  The irony is that he was saved out of the water by Pharoah’s daughter, but later he would lead Pharoah’s armies to their death by going back into the water, the Red Sea.
• The woman Pharoah’s daughter chose to nurse Moses and take care of him through his early childhood was none other than Moses’s real mother, and she got paid by Pharoah to raise him!
• When Moses was at an age to actually help his people (around 40), he killed an Egyptian who was beating up a fellow Hebrew.  This led to him being ostracized by both the Egyptians and the Hebrews.  The one who was destined to lead the Israelites out of Egypt no longer had influence with either group.
• He wound up living another 40 years in obscurity in a foreign land (Midian), an ignominious shepherd.  This is God’s idea of a training program for future leaders?

Of course the ironies will continue as the story unfolds.  Moses will realize his destiny, but not in the way anyone could have predicted, except God of course!  Luke 21, with its incredibly detailed prophecies of the last days, reminds me about how trustworthy Jesus is when it comes to the future.  His thoughts and His plans are so far beyond our comprehension.  Like a jigsaw puzzle, we get these random pieces of the puzzle and occasional glimpses of the box cover.   But we really have no idea how our life is going to take shape until years later when the clusters of pieces start meshing together.

“Lord, some people think I’m getting too old - I know I did at times - but now I feel like I’m just hitting my stride.  Thank You that the pieces of my life are starting to make sense.  The picture that’s forming is entirely different than anyone expected, except You.  Ironic, isn’t it?”

January 20 - Mark My Words

 Read today’s texts first: Genesis 49 & 50; Psalms 8; Luke 20

MAXIMize YOUR DAY 

Let your words be true, and few!

 

So often in these devotions we notice the power of speech, both God’s and man’s.  Our reading in Psalm 8 reminds us of our place of authority over all other creatures on planet earth (6-8).  One of the characteristics we inherited from the God who created us in His image is the capacity for communication through words.  Because of our position of authority in the created order, these words can carry significant weight.  And as one whose ministries involve a lot of talking, I can see how easy it is to become careless with my words.

Jesus was so deliberate with His words, especially toward the end of His time when His enemies were looking for every chance to trip Him up.  In Luke 20, they tried on three separate occasions to get Him to say something inflammatory so they could have Him arrested.  They questioned the source of His authority, His opinion on paying taxes, and His views on eschatology.  I’m sure they had planned these questions for days and were convinced they were perfect – He was bound to incriminate Himself.  But Jesus had this uncanny ability to sift through words and uncover the thought behind them.  In each case He turned the question around and quickly stymied his interrogators - “and no one dared to ask Him any more questions” (30). (I wish I could have done that with my kids and my students sometimes!).

The last chapters of Genesis contain the “blessing of Jacob.”  I was amazed in checking out how each of his prophecies played out through the lives of his children and their descendants.  This simple prayer previews the history yet to unfold in the four remaining books of the Pentateuch and much of the twelve Historical Books to follow!

“Lord, may I become more deliberate with my words, in terms of my prayers, my teaching, and my blessings.  As I experienced the power of my own father’s last words to me from his hospital bed, may I be as thoughtful in the words I speak over others, especially my children and grandchildren.”

January 19 - God’s Non-Union Shop

 Read today’s texts first:  Genesis 47 & 48; Psalms 10; Luke 19

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

• The reward for faithfulness - little, more, then much!
• Rewards are for service, not seniority.

I’ve never been a fan of employee unions, especially since watching our local Teamsters drive Langis Foods (my place of employment for 9 years) into bankruptcy.  I never understood why advancement was awarded solely on the basis of seniority – a concept that tends to undermine employee initiative and productivity.

Fortunately God’s kingdom promotes both of those values, with no regard for status or seniority.  At first, when reading about Jacob switching hands to give Joseph’s younger son Ephraim the first-born blessing over Manasseh, I thought, “typical Jacob.”  He was the younger brother who preferred the younger sister, Rachel, and favored his younger sons, Joseph and Benjamin.  But it also seems to be our Lord’s M.O. (modus operandi), often choosing leaders who were the least in lowly families (ie. Gideon and David).  Being the “baby” of the family (at my advanced age now, I still hear that term from my older brothers), I like the fact that birth order is not a factor in God’s family.

Status doesn’t seem to matter either.  Jesus often hung out with those on the fringes of society, like Zacchaeus in the Luke reading. Talent, wealth, popularity, looks, even height – none of the criteria the world uses to select leaders seem important to the Head of the Church.

  The parable that follows illustrates that God gives responsibility on the basis of initiative and productivity.  It’s that recurring theme that if you are faithful in a few things you get to be ruler over many things – little, more, then much!

“I’m thankful Lord that You don’t judge me for those things over which I have no control – birth order, looks, intelligence, or lack thereof.  But You do look at my heart, my zeal for You and the things You care about.  Protect me from a mentality that expects a reward for seniority instead of service.”

January 18 - Souled Out

 Read today’s texts first: Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Our life is like  a jigsaw puzzle and only God
gets to see the big picture on the box lid!

The story of Joseph is one of the best screenplays of all time, and it’s true! (Esther’s story is a close second).  The twists and turns, agony and joy, frustration and fulfillment, with a dream underneath that eventually comes true – it’s a ready-made Hollywood blockbuster.  What we might not notice in the Hollywood or Broadway version though, is the importance of obedience to God’s Word. 

Much of what happened in Joseph’s life was not his choice – his brothers’ betrayal, slavery, Potiphar’s wife, prison.  But in those moments of decisions available to Joseph, he made pivotal choices.  Had he not noticed how depressed the cupbearer and baker, his fellow prisoners, were on that one particular morning, and had he not offered to interpret their dreams, the story we read today may never have happened.  Had he not adjusted his attitude and continued to serve, regardless of how miserable and undeserved his circumstances were, nothing would have changed.

Luke 18 gives the principle behind Joseph’s story: “sell everything you have” (22).  Jesus requires nothing less than sold-out obedience to His will, because He alone knows the plan.  Like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, we only receive disconnected fragments of His plan.  Many years can pass before we know how they were meant to fit together.

“Lord, thank You for being faithful in showing me the way even when I wasn’t faithful in following Your directions. As I get older, I can see the big picture coming together!  Help me to continue down this path of obedience until every dream You’ve given me comes true!”

January 17 - Forgive and Remember

 Read today’s texts first: Genesis 42 & 43; Psalms 5; Luke 17

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Some say we should forgive and forget,
but God says to forgive and remember
with a brand new outlook – His!

We often hear that the highest virtue is to forgive and forget.  The truth is we seldom do forget injustices and just saying it is not going to erase the painful memories.  It is better to completely change your outlook and remember the “good” that has come out of the unavoidable “bad.”

We know that sometimes bad things happen to good people.  We know it from experience, not just because we read the book.  I have learned so much by following the story of Bethany Hamilton, who recently came in second on The Amazing Race.  At age 13, when she was a surfing champion beating women twice her age, she was attacked by a tiger shark, losing her left arm in the exchange.  Her faith throughout the ordeal has been remarkable.  She is often quoted as saying, “this is God’s plan and I’m going to go with it”.  Go with it she has: to every talk show on TV, to countless magazines, to many nations with World vision, talking to other children and adults with and without disabilities about her hope in Christ.  A recent book on her life and the movie “Soul Surfer” takes that message even further.  Losing an arm has extended her reach to help so many more people than she could ever have before the accident.

Joseph had a similar experience.  Forgiveness is so much easier when you realize God can redeem any situation.  He remembered the real reason why his brothers sold him into slavery: “it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you” (45:6).  The fulfillment of the dream God had given him earlier had to take him through a deep well, slavery, and a stint in prison.  But in the end, God’s plan came together.

If we have given our lives to God, we can trust Him with every circumstance.  Even if someone wrongs us 7 times a day (Luke 17:4) we can still forgive and remember.  “Lord, when I suffer what I may think is an injustice by You or by those around me, help me to remember that this is Your plan and I’m going to go with it!”

January 16 - When God’s Your Boss

 Read today’s texts first: Genesis 39-41; Luke 16

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Doing every job for the “King of Kings”
redefines our work ethic!

The parable of the Unjust Steward in Luke 16 concludes with the memorable “no one can serve two masters.” The choice is God or mammon (13).  Most people choose the latter, settling for careers based on income. In contrast, as an instructor at a Bible college, I was always amazed to hear from students about their dream of being a pastor, in spite of the financial compensation, or lack thereof.

Joseph should be their inspiration.  Despite his undeserved misfortunes, Joseph decided he would serve God regardless.  Whether he was technically working for Potipher, the chief jailer, or Pharoah himself, he was really working for God.  Each of Joseph’s employers recognized that he was much more than your average union worker (39:3,21;41:40,41).  Working for the King of Kings redefines the term “work ethic.”  Because of their trust in Joseph, he was given carte blanche, with no need for their close supervision (39:6,23; 41:42,43).

The most telling evidence of Joseph’s allegiance to his God was his response to Potipher’s wife.  In a day when sex was even more casual than our day, Joseph refused her advances.  He started his defense by talking about the trust of her husband, his boss, but ended with this question: “how can I do this great evil and sin against God?”  He knew that he was ultimately accountable to one person only – his God.  When we serve God alone, we will be a just steward, worthy of anyone’s trust.

“Lord, I want to grow so close to You this year that my first allegiance is always to You. Whatever I do and whoever I work for, may I remember that You are always my boss!”

January 15 - A Tale of Two Sons

 Read today’s texts first: Genesis 37 & 38; Luke 15

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Growing up in our Father’s house
is far better than a prodigal’s party!

Growing up as the good kid (some would call me a “goody-goody”), I’ve always felt sorry for the other good kids who seem to lack the experiences, the “testimony”, and the limelight that the prodigals get.  Today’s readings juxtapose Joseph and Judah in Genesis with the parable of the prodigal and his brother in Luke.

Joseph is the good kid, but he’s sold by his brothers into slavery while his brother Judah plays the prodigal.  He leaves his family, marries a Canaanite, and later sleeps with his daughter-in-law.  The last indiscretion is excusable though, because he thought she was just a prostitute.  Really? And this guy becomes the founding father for the tribe that would carry the lineage of the Messiah?

Fast forward to the story of the prodigal and we see the same scenario.  The father is fussing over the kid who made bad choices, and blew his inheritance on wine, women, and song.  Now he’s back and it’s party time, complete with new clothes, an expensive ring, and a barbeque with his friends!  No wonder the good brother is feeling left out.  He’s the one who stayed faithful to the father, continued to help out around the house, maintained an honourable reputation, and no one threw him a party.

I love the response of the father to his “good” son’s complaints: my child, you have always been with me and all that is mine is yours (15:31). Sometimes I forget the blessing of having been close to both my earthly father and my heavenly Father all of my life.  Just before my Dad transitioned to heaven, I had the opportunity for a heart-to-heart talk with him at his hospital bedside. Sensing this would be our last conversation, he told me how much he loved me and how proud he was of me.  While he didn’t say that often during our life together, I always knew it.  I wanted to make him proud because he was the best father I could ever hope to have. 

“The same is true with You, Lord.  I know You love me and are proud of me (though I can think of so many reasons You shouldn’t be).  I may not have the testimony of a prodigal with the dramatic before-and-after story, but I wouldn’t trade what I’ve had growing up in Your house for anything this world has to offer.”

January 14 - Ouch!!

 Read today’s texts first: Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY 

A strategic retreat is stepping back into His arms and then moving forward with His protection!

Just when you’ve got the Bible neatly arranged into a tidy bundle of wholesome stories with edifying morals, reality hits you between the eyes, or in this case, between the legs!  After our nice lesson yesterday on the power of agreement drawn from Jacob’s experiences, we learn about broken agreements and treachery today from Jacob’s sons.  Just because Jacob had changed from a deceiver to one who speaks for God, doesn’t mean his family had.  Jacob’s earlier track record of deceit seems like child’s play compared to his sons.

Upset by a Canaanite’s rape of their sister, Dinah, they struck an “agreement” of intermarriage conditional on the men of the city being circumcised (hence the “ouch” title – remember, no anesthesia or sanitized scalpels).  While they were recovering from their surgery, Jacob’s sons attacked.  It was like a shooting gallery with really slow moving targets!  When Jacob heard about this, he knew they had to get out of Dodge quickly, while they could still outrun the men that were left.

What always surprises me is how God can step in to redeem such an impossible situation.  God told Jacob to move his family back to Bethel, “the house of God,” where he had hidden earlier when he was running from Esau.  Here he was, running for his life again, feeling like a failure as a father, when God delivers His most powerful promise yet.  He reminds Jacob that he is now Israel, “one who strives with God and prevails.”  He will prevail and so will his family, with a promised legacy of future generations and nations still to come.

So often we get caught up in our own failures or the failures of our children and think that all hope is gone.  It’s at that moment we must retreat to the house of God, the place of His presence and promise, to regain our perspective.  “Lord, thank You for Your Word.  When reality hits hard and my only response is “ouch!” I can always run to You.  It’s a strategic retreat because one step back into Your arms will propel me much further ahead than I could ever go on my own.”

January 13 - Monumental Agreements

 Read today’s texts first: Genesis 31-33; Luke 13

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Build lasting memories with “stone memorials.”

God loves it when we can actually agree with each other.  His promised presence in Matthew 18 (where two or three have gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst) is actually in the context of agreement, people resolving their conflicts (18:15-22).  No wonder He intervened between Jacob and his feuding father-in-law.  Laman obeyed God, who spoke to him through a dream telling him not to exacerbate the situation with thoughtless words.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).  Instead Laban and Jacob carefully chose their words to make a covenant, and then marked that agreement with a monument of stones (Genesis 31:44-52).

The same thing happened again a few days later between Jacob and Esau (33:20).  God was on hand, first through an angelic visit at Mahanaim (32:1-2), then personally in a late-night wrestling match with Jacob (32:24-32).  That was the moment that Jacob’s name and character were changed forever, from Jacob to Israel, from one who wrestles with men (a supplanter) to one who strives with God.  The story so clearly illustrates that the way to overcome conflict is through prayer and obedience to God, not through arguing with each other. What struck me in rereading these accounts was the importance of the stone memorials and altars.

Often when great leaders experienced a breakthrough with God or with each other they would erect some kind of permanent monument to remember those covenants.  There is such value in creating and preserving memorials - on corporate, family, and personal levels. Stone pillars may not always be practical, but we can at least plaster our walls with meaningful Scriptures, framed marriage licenses, baby dedication certificates, baptism certificates, and photos of special days. Examples in our family include framed photo montages of our children with lyrics from the songs Jan and I wrote and sang over them at their church dedication. The constant reminder of that moment helped guide our decisions in raising our children from that day forward.

“Lord, my prayer today is a song: We will remember, we will remember, we will remember the works of Your hands. We will stop and give You praise for great is Your faithfulness! In this new year, in those special moments of clarity and unity, remind me to set up memorials so I will never forget how faithful You have been to me and my family!”

January 12 - What Goes Around...

 Read today’s texts first: Genesis 29 & 30; Luke 12

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The laws of sowing and reaping always apply, if not in our life then likely in the lives of those who follow our example. 

Jacob, the Deceiver, often had the medicine he dispensed to others forced down his own throat!  After his outright lies to his Dad to receive his elder brother’s blessing, it’s not surprising to see Laban pulling the switcheroo on his wedding night.  Notice the justice: brotherly rivalry meets up with more of the same with the two sisters.  Also, a mother’s favoritism, Rebekah and Jacob, shows up with Rachel and Joseph – RJ²!  Jacob spends many years reaping what he sowed.

The Luke reading also connects to this law of sowing and reaping.  The chapter begins with a warning about the Pharisee’s hypocrisy and the promise that every hidden sin will be exposed.  The teachings that follow all reinforce the importance of pursuing the things of God over greed, materialism, and worldly distractions.

It’s amazing how God allows imperfect humans to carry out His Divine will.  In fact, He often uses their mistakes to make it happen.  Still the laws of sowing and reaping apply.  There are always consequences to our wrong choices, if not in our life then in the lives of those who follow our example.

“Lord, I’ve seen You redeem my mistakes and still bring about Your purposes through my life.  While I’m grateful for Your grace that works through my imperfections, change my heart to be more obedient and cooperative with Your will to begin with.”

January 11 - Watch Your Mouth

 Read today’s texts first: Genesis 27 & 28; Psalms 4; Luke 11

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

If you put no thought into your words neither will your listeners.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)

There are so many surprising events in today’s Genesis accounts that I found it hard to focus on one theme.  How is it that Isaac couldn’t recognize the difference between the voices of his twins?  They were obviously not identical as the hair/no hair scenario tell us.  And yes, Isaac was almost blind, but he wasn’t deaf.  Someone did not spend enough time with his kids, and it’s not like he had a lot of them.  But what is more surprising is the power of his blessing.  If in fact he hadn’t had as much interaction with his children when they were growing up, how could one speech make such a significant difference?  For Jacob, it changed the rest of his life.

In the Luke account we again see the power of anointed words: in the teachings of Jesus, the effectiveness of persistent prayer, and the results of Jonah’s preaching in Nineveh. Sometimes we waste our words because we fail to appreciate their potency.  Proverbs 18:21 says that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”  It should make us realize how important it is to look for God-appointed and God-anointed times to speak directive words in situations when we’re given authority.

“Lord, will You please help me to see those moments before they pass.  My hindsight is usually so much better than my foresight, and I often think about what I should have said long after it’s too late.  This year I would like to watch my mouth and offer timely, life-giving words.”

January 10 - Leaving a Legacy

Read today’s tex ts first: Genesis 25-26, Psalms 6; Luke 10

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

You disciple others even when they’re not looking.
Because of “free will,” wayward children & deserting disciples are still possible for the best of fathers and leaders.

Abraham died a wealthy man, but his real legacy, at least as far as God was concerned, was in his family.  Isaac was the child of promise.  He was born 25 years after the first promise, so Abraham had a lot of time for doubt.  For the most part, though, Abe continued to believe the promise, and that’s why he is known as the Father of our faith.  Having a child at 100 years of age, with Sarah pushing 90, was a miracle, even in that day when average life spans were much longer than today.  But we forget that the miracles for Abe kept coming, having 6 more kids with his second wife, Keturah (25:1,2) after he turned 137.  Then there were the concubines (v. 6), although we don’t know how many or the number of children Abe had with them.

What I noticed this time was what Abe passed on to his kids.  He was a godly father and Isaac reflected that heritage.  One shortcoming, though, was a common insecurity about their good-looking wives, both resorting to the “she’s my sister” line when in Philistine territory.  At least in Abe’s case it was half true – Sarah was his half-sister.  Rebekah was only Isaac’s cousin, so lies seem to stretch when they’re passed down.  Isaac’s dad likely never told him about his tactic with Abimilech (he tried it twice), but it’s remarkable that Isaac stepped into the footprints he left behind.  I think this is proof that you disciple your children and others who follow you even when they’re not looking.  Our spiritual strengths and weaknesses seem to show up in those who follow behind us.

Having said that, I also noticed the element of free will.  While Calvinists like to cite the story of Jacob and Esau as ultimate proof of their understanding of predestination, it’s clear to me that God’s foreknowledge anticipated their choices.  Jacob had a heart for the things of God and chose to pursue Him and His purpose with passion.  Esau just didn’t care, and if selling his birthright wasn’t enough, marrying heathen wives (26:34) says it all.  Isaac was a good man and a good father with an apathetic if not rebellious son.  Even Jesus, in selecting His disciples, had to deal with the power of free will. Wayward children and deserting disciples are still possible for the best of fathers and leaders.

“Lord, may I live my life with such integrity that whether my children (or students or parishioners) are watching or not, they can still follow my example.  Remind me of the importance of absolute obedience and the ripple effect of disobedience when I’m all alone and facing temptation.”