Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Passing the torch

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Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Click on this link to read the passage. You may select your preferred version of the Bible after the link opens.

When you hear the expression “passing the torch,” what comes to mind? The Olympics? Our schools’ track teams have relay races in which a baton is passed instead of a torch, but the idea is the same. One runner carries it for the first part of the race, then passes it to the next runner who carries it through the next part of the race, and so on until the race is over. Passing the baton can be tricky, and the ability to pass it smoothly without dropping it can be the difference between winning and losing the race.

The expression is also used to describe passing along knowledge, whether it is the knowledge and understanding of running a business from a retiring senior director to his younger replacement, or in a school setting of passing knowledge from teachers to students. The younger generation needs training and knowledge to become the leaders of tomorrow.

But there is no place more important than our own homes for passing the torch of our faith in God and in Jesus, God’s Son. The scripture for today’s lesson, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, was first spoken by Moses to the people after he gave them the Ten Commandments. Moses reminded the people that God was the only true God and that we should love him with all our hearts and with all our strength and all our minds. He then commanded the people to keep God’s commands in our hearts, and to impress them on our children. Moses said to talk to your children at home and while walking (driving in today’s world) along the road, at bedtime, and in the morning.

Moses didn’t say to send them to someone else to teach them. This is not to imply that Sunday school is wrong, but to emphasize that the primary responsibility lies with the parents who have the opportunity to model Christianity in action. Children learn to apply their faith at home. They see the examples their parents model for them. They sense intuitively whether their parents faith is genuine or not, and children’s personal commitment levels generally reflect what they have seen at home.

How often do you share your faith with your children? Do they hear you pray? Do they see you read your Bible on a regular basis? Did you share with them how you trusted Jesus to help you through a struggle today? Did you point out a Bluebird, Sparrow, or Cardinal, and remind them how God takes care of them in the same way he will take care of us? Do they hear you confessing your sins to God? Have you shared with them the importance of accepting Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and his free gift of salvation? What a tragedy when children don’t catch that baton or torch – a tragedy that has eternal consequences.

Father God, increase our faith and our courage that we may openly share our faith with our children and with others around us. We see so many in our world today that obviously don’t know you as Savior and Lord. Don’t let us drop the baton. Help us pass the torch of your love and compassion to the generations of today and tomorrow.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God

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Psalm 46:10 Click on this link to read the passage. You may select your preferred version of the Bible after the link opens.

This has been a difficult weekend for me. I have felt both misunderstood and abused through a very touchy situation I am not free to explain on this public blog. But my heart has ached and grieved for someone unable to defend herself. I spent much of the day Saturday in tears as I struggled to know what I could do.

But Sunday morning was a totally different story. I sing in my church choir, and this morning’s anthem was “Be Still.” As we did our warm-up and final practice before the service, this anthem was already calming my spirit reminding me that God was here to share my pain.

The words washed over me as we sang Be sill and know that I am God… I am with you…  I will comfort you when you come to me in your hour of need… I will wipe your tears… I felt this anthem was hand picked for me and my troubled weekend. I sensed God’s presence to dry my tears and to ease my mind. My child, be still and know that I will give you rest. It wasn’t necessary for me to struggle, I only needed to keep my eyes on Jesus instead of my problems. I am present in your pain and I always will remain your comforter and friend. God doesn’t promise that I won’t feel pain, but he does promise to go with me through it and to give me his peace. Peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you…

It wasn’t only the anthem that ministered to me this morning. One of the hymns was “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” and another was “Be Still My Soul.” My spirit soared as the words and music comforted and affirmed me as his beloved child.

The scripture for the sermon was Matthew 6:24-34. We were fed from God’s word reminding us not to worry, but to trust God to meet our needs.

I began to feel sorry for people who don’t know God, who have no clue to how to tap into his peace. They only know how to lash out and in turn they continue to feel worse as their anger and guilt build up higher and higher.

Thank you God for your love, and for meeting me at my point of need. I feel your arms around me and know you care. That means everything to me. Keep me mindful of my need to keep my mind on you and not on my troubles. And help me remember to pray for those who struggle, even those who persecute me. Their pain must surely be greater than mine as they face troubles without you.

This link is to another anthem similar to the one we sang this morning. Perhaps it will minster to you as well.

Luke 12:24 Trust God to meet your needs

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Luke 12:24 Click on this link to read the passage. You may select your preferred version of the Bible after the link opens.

From the time I landed my first job following graduation from college I wanted the security of owning my own home. I looked and dreamed, but being single and under financial strain from college loans, there was nothing I could do about my dream. I have later owned homes, but had to let them go due to divorce and again to move to another town. The home I now own is very small according to American standards, and I find myself thinking If I could only have a bigger house I could be more organized and efficient. Then I hear Ravi Zacharias on the radio talking about a family of eight living in a one-room house in India and realize how blessed I am to have a warm house with plumbing, heat and air-conditioning. My cupboards are full. I don’t go hungry.

Luke 12:24 leads us to consider how God provides for the ravens even though they have no barns or storehouses. He provides for the birds of the air, and he will provide for our needs. If we have unmet wants, it may be because God has a bigger plan and needs to reshape us to prepare us for the work he has planned for our lives.

I lift my eyes to God and reaffirm my trust in him. He is the one who created me. He knows me through and through. How many times he has come to the rescue to supply not only my needs, but little petty wants in surprising ways – just to remind me he loves me.

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 36:7 NIV)

Father God, I thank you that you never leave or forsake me. Your love is beyond measure.  I can count on you to take care of me. Help me to rest in that knowledge and to keep my eyes and heart focused on you that I may bask in your love.

© 2011 by Janice D. Green

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

 

When Did Jesus Know…?

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When did Jesus realize that he was the Messiah, the Son of God?

The Bible doesn’t say, but I can’t help but wonder. When a baby is born he/she don’t know anything but the sound of his/her mother’s voice. If Jesus was fully human and fully God, I think there had to be a time when he didn’t know that he was God.

Did you ever wake up and realize you had been dreaming but you couldn’t quite remember what it was you were dreaming about? Maybe it was like that for baby Jesus. Before Jesus was born, he had lived in heaven with God. But as a baby, like a forgotten dream, he probably couldn’t remember heaven.

Sometimes people forget who they are after a bad knock on the head. When this happens it is called amnesia. I think Jesus allowed himself to have amnesia when he was born. Many times when people get amnesia they gradually begin to remember again, a little at a time.

The Bible tells us Jesus never sinned. The God-part of Jesus had to be so strong that he had a special gift for wanting to do the right thing all the time. That isn’t necessarily true for you and me. We struggle with our own selfish wants that get in the way of what is right for others around us.

We also read in the Bible that when Jesus was twelve years old he went to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph and a lot of other friends and relatives.(Luke 2:41-52) When it was time to go home, the people started back to Nazareth where they lived. After Mary and Joseph had traveled for three days, they realized that Jesus wasn’t with them, and they and went back to look for him.

They found Jesus in the Temple talking with the teachers. When Mary asked him why he had treated his parents like this, he answered, “Didn’t you know I must be about my Father’s business?” Jesus must have been well on his way to understanding who he was.

It isn’t important that we know exactly when Jesus understood he was the Messiah, but thinking about it may be help us to realize what he gave up to leave the glory of heaven and live on earth as a man. It took a lot of love to do that, and even more so to die for us on a cross so our sins could be forgiven and we could become the adopted sons and daughters of God.

Thank you Jesus for leaving your home in heaven to live with us on earth. Thank you for dying for me and for coming to live in my heart. I love you Jesus.

© 2011 by Janice D. Green

Hebrews 3:7-9 Do not harden your hearts

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Hebrews 3:7-9 Click on this link to read the passage. You may select your preferred version of the Bible after the link opens.

My heart aches over the lack of belief in God that has become rampant in our nation today. Sadly, all it takes to keep some from believing is to hear another laugh at those who believe. It isn’t hard to find the statistics to show this waning belief, even from within our most evangelical Christian churches.

It’s a slippery slope. I’ve been on the edge in my weaker moments as well. How hoakey to think some “god” would come to earth to die for our sins as if that would really change things. Intellectuals have the greatest problems with disbelief because they resolve to fully understand and prove anything to believe it.

Intelligence, or the lack of it is only one of many traits of the human mind. Wisdom requires a depth of spirit, an ability to recognize one’s own shortcomings in understanding, and the willingness to admit that there is intelligence beyond what man is capable of understanding.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hardness of heart – lack of faith – however you say it, God does not see it as a frivolous matter.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV) This verse is precious to me, a very powerful promise by God Himself. He can be found, but there is a prerequisite: one must sincerely want to find him. As long as our hearts are hardened by a will to believe only what we can get our finite minds around, and a will to hold the reigns of our lives without assistance from the One who created us, we are immune from discovering the Almighty All-Powerful God.

To be honest, I pride myself in my intelligence. I’ve seen my scores as well as the results of certain accomplishments of mine. But intelligence pales in importance to depth in a relationship with Jesus. As I have participated in the Daily Audio Bible program through the year, I am continually impressed with the joy and freedom that comes through knowing God and dwelling in his Word. How my heart aches for those whose hearts refuse to “taste and see that the Lord is Good.” (Psalm 34:8)

Father God, Almighty, may I never forget it was you who made me. May I always seek you with all my heart so that I may abide in your presence and love. Walk with me through every scary moment I must face in my life. And help me walk in such a way that others may see you at work in my life and will soften their hearts to see you as well.

© 2010 by Janice D. Green

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.