Category: Monday Thursday

Damaged: MT e78

While traveling I often see those trucks that are transporting cars.  You may have seen these trailers where the cars are stacked 2 high.

Sometimes the cars are brand new.  They still have some of the protective plastic on sides or top of the car.

There are moments where the cars are wrecked.  The truck will be transporting 5 or 8 wrecked vehicles.

What can be noticed about these cars is they still resemble a car.  Even though they are damaged in some fashion they have windows, doors, engines and seats.  One can still make out that this is a car.

One of the pieces of theology is how the sin of Adam affected humanity.  This unfolds in many directions in Scripture.

The first notable unfolding is comparing the creation of Adam, who was made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). This changes after the sin in the Garden and Adam and Eve are removed from the presence of God. 

When Adam and Eve had a child, this child was made in the image of Adam (Genesis 5:3).  This is a notable change.

Much like the cars which are wrecked still resemble, in various ways, the image of a vehicle, man, though fallen in Adam, resembles the image and likeness of God. Yet, we are damaged and wrecked.

In this state we are called unrighteous. It is in this state of unrighteousness that we can “suppress the truth.” Because, what can be known about God is plain.” However, fallen man suppresses this truth.

What Christ came to do is reverse the curse of sin through Adam.  From the presence of God, Jesus comes to make restoration possible.

This theme will return for our Monday edition. 

S.D.G.

References: Genesis 1:27; 5:3, Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 15

Light in the Darkness: MT e77

As a youth I can recall visiting some caves in Western Kentucky.  They were called Mammoth Caves and it was quite an experience. 

One of the things that stood out was on a couple hour guided tour, about half-way through the guide had stopped the group and, like the previous stops, was pointing here and there and giving facts about whatever the here and there was.

Then the guide prepared us.  He instructed us that in a few minutes the lights were going to be shut off for a few moments so we could experience how dark it was in the cave.  There was plenty warning so people did not freak out when the lights went off.

Then the lights went out.  It was the blackest of darkness I had ever experienced.  I raised my hand up to my face and I could not even see it. If it weren’t attached to my arm, I would not even known it was there.

2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Scripture also tells us, that God is light and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.  But not in our hearts.  The darkness in us surpasses the darkness in that cave.

For those who are in Christ, this is how you came to faith.  The darkness in your heart was overcome by the light of Jesus.  Literally like night and day.

It is a gift when God said, “Let there be light,” and sure enough the light of Christ filled us.

We understood our need of him.  We wanted him.  More than anything we wanted Christ because he was light and he is the light and the life of mankind.

For those outside of Christ it is my desire that these words cause the light to appear in your darkness.  There is absolutely nothing brighter, more life giving than the light of Jesus.

S.D.G.   

Light Shining in & on Darkness: MT e76

For those who have been to a Jewelry store, have you ever noticed the lighting.  These stores are fully and perfectly lit. 

Often every case of jewelry has its own light.  The area where the salesperson can walk, there are lights there too.

If you have bought any piece of jewelry, you can attest to what I am about to say.  When they bring out the piece that has caught your eye, they don’t just hand it to you.  They bring over a black fabric cloth or a small black board covered in black fabric.

Then they put that piece of jewelry on that black background and those lights will cause that thing to shine beautifully.  That black background and the lights make a stunning pieces of jewelry look even more radiant.

Jesus is described by the writer of Hebrews, as radiant.  “He is the radiance of the glory of God.” (Hebrews 1:3)

This Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory, came and as John said, he was the “light shining in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4)

Jesus is life and that life is the light of mankind.  His life shines.  It shines through darkness.

I want you to see Jesus in this “light” (no pun intended there).  Just as the pieces of jewelry are placed on dark backgrounds to highlight their beauty, Jesus’ beauty and power radiates, sparkles and shines in this dark world.

His perfection, righteousness, love and essence radiates for us to see. It is amazing.

S.D.G.

Groundhog’s Day: MT e75

Happy Groundhog Day! 

There was a movie, titled “Groundhog’s Day” that was released in 1993.  The plot of the film involved a Pittsburg, PA weatherman and his crew that went to Punxsutawney,  PA to cover Punxsutawney Phil the Groundhog. 

I was one of those lighthearted news coverage pieces that went a bit wonky.  A snowstorm closed some highways out of the small town and the crew had to stay the night.

The weatherman was the main character. He woke would wake up the next morning and the next unnumbered mornings to the same day.  He kept reliving the same day.

It was a classic film in that it is funny and original in its writing.  And here we are, groundhog’s day. 

There were some theological themes in that film, and I wanted to pick just one and highlight it.  The one I have chosen is sanctification.

A progression towards perfection.

The weatherman, As the main character, at one point figures out that the cycle was not going to stop and eventually he begins an everyday effort of improvement. 

He picks up how to play piano.  He begins to save people from harm.  He spends everyday trying to improve himself.

Where he fails, the next day he tries to not fail.  It is a progression towards perfection.

This is a picture. life for the believer.  1 Peter 1:15 “Be Holy, as I am holy.”

The tense of that verb is saying two things: 1-Be holy now, 2 – But each new day is a continual action of renewing holiness.  From one degree of holiness to another.

This does not mean an attitude of “holier than thou” but rather an approach of“holy because God is holy.” It is about Jesus.

We work towards, just like weatherman Phil, perfection every day.  Because we are in Jesus,  we are HOLY.  Period.  But in our flesh, we work towards what we already are in Jesus.

As always it is SDG

No Greater: MT e74

Psalm 14 says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God!’”

That is how it is spoken in our English translations.  And there is nothing wrong with that translation.

However, it may be better said, “The fool says in his heart, ‘No God!” 

Both say the same thing in different ways. Yet the second one, “No, God!” is more similar to like, no, potatoes.  As if we are sitting around a dinner table and the various plates are being passed around and we do not want potatoes.  So we say, “No, potatoes.”

So combine this thought with Psalm 19, “The heavens declare the glory of God. Day to day and night after night nature pours out speech. That there is no where that this speech is not heard, it goes through all the earth.”

The fool can look around and in their heart say, NO, God.  I do not want any of that.

This is the rebellion.  At one time, 100% of us were in this camp. 

As Psalm 14 continues, “The Lord looks down from heaven on mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.  None.  They have all turned aside.  No one does good, not even one.”

What a bleak picture.  This is the rebellion. 

Yet there is one, none from the children of man, who obeys.  Psalm 14:7 “Oh, that salvation would come out of Zion!” It has and it does. 

Those in rebellion are restored.  In this we rejoice.  We rejoice in the name of Jesus.  It is a name that never grows old. 

SDG

The Greatness of Jesus: MT e73

In the days of Jesus and before, those who were of the noble class had many luxuries.  Things have not changed, even today, those who have money experience a different life than those who have less money.

Those who were wealthy, this included kings and queens, had servants who would carry their sandals (shoes).  It was a job saved for the lowest servant.  This was the lowest job one could have.

In Matthew 3 you have John the Baptizer preaching in the desert.  He was preparing people for the arrival of Jesus.  He was spreading the news about the Messiah and this was a part of his message:

“There is coming one after me who is mightier than I.  I am not even worthy to carry his sandals.” Mt 3:11

John was essentially saying that Jesus was truly great. No one greater. That Jesus was so great, I am not good enough to carry his sandals.  The lowest entry level job of a slave.

John had a high regard for Jesus. Placed a high value upon him. 

Through life and through time humanity has placed a high value on some people.  We want their autographs or maybe we spend hours in a line to buy tickets to see them in a show.

For the believer, as you grow in your faith, Jesus becomes more precious to you.  Please do not take this to the extreme, it is more than ok for us to enjoy the talents of talented people and see their performances.

But an amazing thing happens to the believer as they grow in their faith – the things of the world begin to take less importance.  We truly begin to agree with John – I can’t carry your sandals Jesus, I am not even worthy of that.

But yet, there He is, this Jesus, our elder brother. Loving us and saving us.

What is your view of Jesus?  SDG

Rooted: MT e 72

Many years ago as a very young man I had one potted plant.  It was given to me and it went through the move each August to college and then May back to wherever I was working. What made this plant memorable is how hearty it was.

It was a very strong plant even surviving a 25 foot drop during a very windy summer rain storm. As I was picking up that plant and getting it back in order the reason it was such a healthy plant was obvious.   The soil was rich and the plant had rooted itself deeply in that soil.

Returning to Psalm 1 the writer is comparing the person who is righteous and the person who is wicked. The righteous will not walk with the wicked, stand with sinners or sit with those who ridicule.

It then says the righteous will delight in God’s word and meditate on it daily and nightly. That person is like a tree planted by the waters that yields fruit in its season.

My plant was no tree but it was so very strong.  It had very rich soil to sustain it and it was deeply rooted in that soil.

This is the visual the writer of Psalm 1 is making here. Being close to Jesus is not just an outward activity (with whom we walk, stand and sit) it is also an inward thing.

Day and night are opportunities for this person growing in Jesus to spend loving His word. This is the way to get rooted in Christ.  Deeply rooted for those moments the winds of life may knock you down.

Where are your roots? 

SDG

Grief: MT e71

Monday:

Psalm 6 has been one of those passages that off and on through the years has gotten my attention.  The descriptions there are so vivid of one who is grieving.

The source of the suffering is an unrelenting enemy. 

The grief so severe that the writer, as he is praying to God says, I am weary, moaning, I flood my bed with tears, my eyes waste away because of grief. He feels so much grief that it feels as if he has died.

“How can I praise you if I am in the grave?”  Valid point.

Have you ever felt this or at least something similar?

The Psalm resolves with this: “Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.  The Lord has heard my plea and accepts my prayer . . .my enemies shall be put to shame.”

Now, take this and think of Jesus on the cross. He said several things among which was, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Sound similar to our Psalm?

In this moment, when Jesus said this, he was abandoned.  Because Jesus became sin, the Father turned His back.  He was abandoned to the grave.

Jesus did not receive the same resolve as the writer of Psalm 6.  Why?  Jesus was our substitute and received what we deserved.

Know this, from Psalm 6, our Father cares. 

Are you grieving now?  Have you grieved before?  You are not alone.

Jesus experienced being abandoned so we did not have to.

S.D.G.

Guard Your Heart: MT e70

In our last time together, we were looking at Psalm 1 and how the people, places and things around us can impact us. 

The phrase, “Guard your heart” was used and this will get our attention today.

Several things can come to mind when the word guard is mentioned. 

One is related to sports.  When playing defense, a person is responsible for guarding an area or even a person. 

Another is like a security detail where one is guarding a business or a house.

In each of these, the desire is to make sure something does not happen.  Gaurding in sports the effort is to keep the opposing team from scoring.  In security, the effort is to keep thieves or unwanted vandals.

The key thought is to prevent something.

Proverbs 4 says to “Guard your heart with all diligence for from it flows the spring of life.”

This reinforces Psalm 1 from our last time.  Walking not in the advice of the wicked or standing in the way of sinners or sitting with those who ridicule IS a one way to guard your heart.

By avoiding situations, people or entertainment where is a method of guarding. 

We guard the things that mean much to us.  In the life of following Christ, purity and righteousness mean much.

Guard it as if your life depends on it. Pray that our Lord may send His Spirit to keep you from harm. 

As always S.D.G.   

Broken and Healed: MT e68

If a cultural or political issue has two opposing sides, the motive to win the argument is the same for both.  The motive is to avoid utter ruin of civilization.

Both sides are convinced if their position lost, it would be the utter ruin of civilization. 

There came a point in my life where I realized that there was one moment in history where civilization was totally ruined.  It died.  It was in the fall of Adam.

The result is struggle between husband and wife.  It was the source of Cain killing able.  Most importantly and most devastating was the fact that man was in full rebellion against God.

This is utter ruin. 

Coming across Isaiah 32 we find a city in a similar situation.  Cities were locations of safety.  These were places of strength.

Not the city in Isaiah 32, it is desolate and forsaken.  The watchtower, the sign of defense, is overtaken with weeds.

The picture here is the utter ruin of humanity. 

Yet in (32:15) we see a complete change.  That which was desolate and abandoned is now fruitful and growing.  Why?  Because the Spirit had been poured from on high.

I say this to those who are in and those who want nothing to do with Christ: the only safety from devastation is God’s Spirit.

I am calling you to that place.  Not because I have mastered life but my life has been mastered. 

The only way life can be restored is life filled with the Spirit of Christ.  Faith comes . . .faith comes by hearing this.  Jesus redeems from utter ruin and saves to the uttermost.

SDG