Week 3 - Christ Gave Up His Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
My Daily Portion:
Monday: Genesis 29-30, Psalms 15, Matthew 23.
Tuesday: Genesis 31-32, Psalms 16, Matthew 24.
Wednesday: Genesis 33-34, Psalms 17, Matthew 25.
Thursday: Genesis 35-36, Psalms 18, Matthew 26.
Friday: Genesis 37-38, Psalms 19, Matthew 27.
Saturday: Genesis 39-40, Psalms 20, Matthew 28.
Sunday: Genesis 41-42, Psalms 21, Mark 1.
Matthew 26:14 Then Judas.... went to the leading priests and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him 30 pieces of silver.
When I thought on this verse for awhile an old song began to play in my head. My dad used to sing it many years ago. I don't remember all the words, but it says this, "Thirty pieces of silver, was the price they paid. Thirty pieces of silver - just the price of a slave." The writers of this old Gospel song knew the significance of those thirty pieces of silver. Judas was given a sum of money for the betrayal of Jesus, and that amount was the same amount that could have bought a slave in those days.
A quick look at Philippians 2 verse 7 says, "Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." Jesus took the whole slave treatment serious! He was literally treated as a slave from His humble birth when there was no room for Him at the Inn, to His betrayal and the thirty pieces of silver for which He was valued at.
The thirty pieces of silver was all a part of the Divine Plan, as this number was even mentioned in the book of Zechariah 11:12-13, years earlier. So, when it happened that Judas was given this amount of money to do his dirty deed, it was already planned by God and was all coming to pass as the prophet had foretold.
One of the most incredible and powerful documents as a Canadian, is our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is a part of our Canadian Constitution, and as such, is the highest law in our nation. That Charter is so important to most of us, yet we probably never take the time to think of it's great value to us. Our charter is filled with the rights granted to all citizens of our great country, including the right to life and liberty, the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, equality for men and women alike, and a right to have a voice in the democratic process.
After growing up here in Canada, I can't even imagine the horrors of dictatorships, tyrants, communism, fascism, and many other 'isms.' Can you even imagine leaving it all behind and willingly subjecting yourself to a place where all freedoms are taken from you? Not only that, but to a place where most couldn't recognize you or your previous status (ie. God and Creator of the Universe), and you were instead beaten and then forced to carry your own cross, while naked, then slowly tortured and treated like the worst criminal as if you deserved death?
Jesus, our lovely and wonderful Jesus, did this for us! He left all of His rights and privileges as God, and came to the earth, to be mistreated, unrecognized, and unrealized by most. However, there were some who did! Some did believe Him when he talked of His home country, Heaven! Some did call Him "Lord!" Some did look past the slave - and could actually see the Son of God! Those ones eventually gave their own lives, literally, for the One who gave Himself first, for them! His value to them, was much more than thirty pieces of silver, but instead, he was worth everything!
When I think of all He gave up, I am amazed once again at His love for me! He must have thought it was worth it! He must have thought you and I were worth it, and because of that, I give Him my complete everything. Why? Because He's worth it! I thank God today, that He gave up HIs rights, so I could have Him!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Week 2 - Jump Into the TV!
My Daily Portion:
Monday: Genesis 16-17, Psalms 8, Matthew 13.
Tuesday: Genesis 18-19, Psalms 9, Matthew 14-15.
Wednesday: Genesis 20-21, Psalms 10, Matthew 16-17.
Thursday: Genesis 22-23, Psalms 11, Matthew 18.
Friday: Genesis 24, Psalms 12, Matthew 19-20.
Saturday: Genesis 25-26, Psalms 13, Matthew 21.
Sunday: Genesis 27-28, Psalms 14, Matthew 22.
Psalm 1:2b ... and in His law he meditates day and night.
One of the delights I presently enjoy, is watching my youngest daughter grow. As a 3 year old she truly experiences her television shows. She gets so engaged in a movie that she often wants to "jump into" the TV and interact with the characters she feels are her friends. Her emotions get very involved and she believes that she is living the story herself, in the moment. Like the rest of us watching a good show, she can shut out the world and be in another reality.
Meditation is something like that. Meditation on the Word of God is not purely 'emptying' oneself, but it is more of an 'entering into' - into another reality. There are many ways to do this, but all are centered around Christ. One of the simplest ways is to look at the Word of God and seek to "jump into" the story and allow God to speak to us as if we had really been there. Sound strange? Believers through the ages practised this form of meditation. Listen to this....
Alexander Whyte (1836-1921) - "the truly Christian imagination never lets Jesus out of her sight.....You open up your New Testament......And, by your imagination, that moment you are one of Christ's disciples on the spot, and are at His feet. With your imagination anointed with holy oil, you again open your New Testament. At one time, you are the publican: at another time, you are the prodigal...at another time, you are Mary Magdalene: at another time, Peter in the porch...Till your whole New Testament is all over autobiographic of you."
Isn't that fascinating? Why would this be beneficial to any Christian? Well, one simple answer is this. The Bible says in the Book of James, that Gods law is like looking at our face in a mirror. When I get up in the morning, I look at the mirror so I can take care of a few things that need to get fixed before going anywhere! When I enter into meditation as if "jumping into" a Bible passage or story, I often recognize the potential in me to be any one of those characters! At times I feel as though I am the hero and other times just as much a villain.
I remember the first time I watched the "Passion of The Christ", by Mel Gibson. I was in a church with other ministry leaders gathered for an initial previewing of the film. At first, I identified myself as one of Jesus true disciples. Of course, I was one of the 'good guys'. For a moment, I could see myself as Mary, the mother of Jesus and I felt like I knew some of her suffering, as if a sword had pierced my very soul. I thought of myself as Pilate's wife who was troubled in her dreams because of Jesus and who urged her husband to leave Jesus alone. Then things somehow shifted and I found myself literally sobbing when I suddenly saw myself as one of Jesus betrayers and even His frenzied torturer, a Roman soldier, with a whip and a hammer in my own hand. Then, for a brief moment, I felt the loneliness and grief of the suffering Jesus, my beautiful Jesus. I was left at the end of the film, looking at myself, realizing the great debt I had been forgiven, and wanting more than ever to answer the call which was ringing in my ears. I felt the Lord Jesus, Himself was saying to me, "Whom shall I send?" Everything in me was shouting the reply, "Here I am, Lord. Send me!"
God intends for His Word to involve us and impact us in this way. It may be an historical book, yet it is as if it takes place right now, today! This book is alive and filled with the Jesus who is alive and speaking to us today. When you read, make sure you take some time to enter into it's reality and see what is being spoken to your heart. Let it be, as Alexander Whyte said, "an autobiographic of you."
NOTE: Quotation from THE CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE, by Richard J. Foster, Harper Collins Publishers, 1978, 1988, 1998.
My Daily Portion:
Monday: Genesis 16-17, Psalms 8, Matthew 13.
Tuesday: Genesis 18-19, Psalms 9, Matthew 14-15.
Wednesday: Genesis 20-21, Psalms 10, Matthew 16-17.
Thursday: Genesis 22-23, Psalms 11, Matthew 18.
Friday: Genesis 24, Psalms 12, Matthew 19-20.
Saturday: Genesis 25-26, Psalms 13, Matthew 21.
Sunday: Genesis 27-28, Psalms 14, Matthew 22.
Psalm 1:2b ... and in His law he meditates day and night.
One of the delights I presently enjoy, is watching my youngest daughter grow. As a 3 year old she truly experiences her television shows. She gets so engaged in a movie that she often wants to "jump into" the TV and interact with the characters she feels are her friends. Her emotions get very involved and she believes that she is living the story herself, in the moment. Like the rest of us watching a good show, she can shut out the world and be in another reality.
Meditation is something like that. Meditation on the Word of God is not purely 'emptying' oneself, but it is more of an 'entering into' - into another reality. There are many ways to do this, but all are centered around Christ. One of the simplest ways is to look at the Word of God and seek to "jump into" the story and allow God to speak to us as if we had really been there. Sound strange? Believers through the ages practised this form of meditation. Listen to this....
Alexander Whyte (1836-1921) - "the truly Christian imagination never lets Jesus out of her sight.....You open up your New Testament......And, by your imagination, that moment you are one of Christ's disciples on the spot, and are at His feet. With your imagination anointed with holy oil, you again open your New Testament. At one time, you are the publican: at another time, you are the prodigal...at another time, you are Mary Magdalene: at another time, Peter in the porch...Till your whole New Testament is all over autobiographic of you."
Isn't that fascinating? Why would this be beneficial to any Christian? Well, one simple answer is this. The Bible says in the Book of James, that Gods law is like looking at our face in a mirror. When I get up in the morning, I look at the mirror so I can take care of a few things that need to get fixed before going anywhere! When I enter into meditation as if "jumping into" a Bible passage or story, I often recognize the potential in me to be any one of those characters! At times I feel as though I am the hero and other times just as much a villain.
I remember the first time I watched the "Passion of The Christ", by Mel Gibson. I was in a church with other ministry leaders gathered for an initial previewing of the film. At first, I identified myself as one of Jesus true disciples. Of course, I was one of the 'good guys'. For a moment, I could see myself as Mary, the mother of Jesus and I felt like I knew some of her suffering, as if a sword had pierced my very soul. I thought of myself as Pilate's wife who was troubled in her dreams because of Jesus and who urged her husband to leave Jesus alone. Then things somehow shifted and I found myself literally sobbing when I suddenly saw myself as one of Jesus betrayers and even His frenzied torturer, a Roman soldier, with a whip and a hammer in my own hand. Then, for a brief moment, I felt the loneliness and grief of the suffering Jesus, my beautiful Jesus. I was left at the end of the film, looking at myself, realizing the great debt I had been forgiven, and wanting more than ever to answer the call which was ringing in my ears. I felt the Lord Jesus, Himself was saying to me, "Whom shall I send?" Everything in me was shouting the reply, "Here I am, Lord. Send me!"
God intends for His Word to involve us and impact us in this way. It may be an historical book, yet it is as if it takes place right now, today! This book is alive and filled with the Jesus who is alive and speaking to us today. When you read, make sure you take some time to enter into it's reality and see what is being spoken to your heart. Let it be, as Alexander Whyte said, "an autobiographic of you."
NOTE: Quotation from THE CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE, by Richard J. Foster, Harper Collins Publishers, 1978, 1988, 1998.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Welcome to My Blog
Here it is already September, and life is getting back into routine. I love the feeling of starting a new year at the same time as the kids are going back to school. In many ways, September is as much a New Year as January 1st. As we head into this year, 2009/2010, I am excited at the the prospect of uncovering all the things God has hidden away for us in His Word. As a prospector searches for gold, I feel that we as God's people ought to look at God's Word as a gold mine waiting for someone to discover and unearth all of it's goodness. The real treasure to be found is in the Person of Jesus Christ. He is our Portion. He is our Reward.
If you are like me, and enjoy setting new goals, and look at new seasons as a whole new prospect, why don't you follow along with me in this passionate pursuit of Jesus, by reading through the Bible in one year, as well as reading Psalms and Proverbs twice during that time? I know it's a discipline, and takes hard work and resolve, but we can do it! I believe that there is a Reward for us every time we approach the Word of God, seeking to understand Him and His ways.
You are welcome to join me starting September 14, 2009 in a whole new beginning - reading through the Bible in one year. I will be posting (weekly on Mondays), the Scripture readings for each day of the week, called "My Portion." Also, I will post a blog at least once a week in "My Notebook," which will be contain discoveries I am making along the way. I think you will find these little notes inspiring and useful in your own pursuit of the God who makes Himself known to those who look for Him.
If you are like me, and enjoy setting new goals, and look at new seasons as a whole new prospect, why don't you follow along with me in this passionate pursuit of Jesus, by reading through the Bible in one year, as well as reading Psalms and Proverbs twice during that time? I know it's a discipline, and takes hard work and resolve, but we can do it! I believe that there is a Reward for us every time we approach the Word of God, seeking to understand Him and His ways.
You are welcome to join me starting September 14, 2009 in a whole new beginning - reading through the Bible in one year. I will be posting (weekly on Mondays), the Scripture readings for each day of the week, called "My Portion." Also, I will post a blog at least once a week in "My Notebook," which will be contain discoveries I am making along the way. I think you will find these little notes inspiring and useful in your own pursuit of the God who makes Himself known to those who look for Him.
Week 1 - Who's that lady?
Week 1/52
My Daily Portion:
Monday: Genesis 1-2, Psalms 1, Matthew 1-2.
Tuesday: Genesis 3-4, Psalms 2, Matthew 3-4.
Wednesday: Genesis 5-7, Psalms 3, Matthew 5.
Thursday: Genesis 8-9, Psalms 4, Matthew 6-7.
Friday: Genesis 10-11, Psalms 5, Matthew 8-9.
Saturday: Genesis 12-13, Psalms 6, Matthew 10-11.
Sunday: Genesis 14-15, Psalms 7, Matthew 12.
Psalms Chapter 1:2 But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
I recently spent some time with some old friends. Actually, they were not just old friends, but our pastor and his wife from a number of years ago. Over twenty years ago, I saw this lovely lady making it her priority to memorize the Scriptures in large portions. Every morning she would spend a chunk of time learning new verses and reviewing previously memorized ones. She had a strategy for this and was very disciplined.
It had been years since seeing her last, and when I recently saw her again I asked her how her memorization was going. To my delight she had now memorized certain chapters of Psalms, and some from the Gospels, Romans, many others. She had memorized the entire books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1 John, and was now working on the book of Hebrews!
I was captivated by her speech. She was not the same lady who used to be quiet and shy. Still gentle and soft-spoken, and not looking for centre stage, I now saw a woman full of passion! She had passion for people, passion for prayer, and passion for the prophetic! I was thrilled at the results of her life. She was to be admired in every way, as I could see how the Word of God had literally shaped who she had now become. She had delighted in Gods law all these years, and it had not become old or dry to her. She was living with purpose and was putting into action the Word of God.
I love seeing the fruit of people who have immersed themselves in the Good Word of God. The Bible says in Psalms 1 verse 3, that these people who delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it, are like trees planted by streams of living water. They are always bearing fruit, no matter what the season of life happens to be, and whatever they do, they are prospering. Isaiah 55: 11 says the same thing - that Gods Word always produces fruit and that it will accomplish all that God wants it to, and that it will prosper everywhere God sends it!
Do you get the connection? Producing fruit and prospering are both connected to God’s Word! Make it your aim, your goal, this year, to put your delight in the Law of the Lord, and to meditate day and night on it. Get focused on the Word of God and see how you, too, will be constantly bearing fruit and prospering in all you do.
My Daily Portion:
Monday: Genesis 1-2, Psalms 1, Matthew 1-2.
Tuesday: Genesis 3-4, Psalms 2, Matthew 3-4.
Wednesday: Genesis 5-7, Psalms 3, Matthew 5.
Thursday: Genesis 8-9, Psalms 4, Matthew 6-7.
Friday: Genesis 10-11, Psalms 5, Matthew 8-9.
Saturday: Genesis 12-13, Psalms 6, Matthew 10-11.
Sunday: Genesis 14-15, Psalms 7, Matthew 12.
Psalms Chapter 1:2 But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
I recently spent some time with some old friends. Actually, they were not just old friends, but our pastor and his wife from a number of years ago. Over twenty years ago, I saw this lovely lady making it her priority to memorize the Scriptures in large portions. Every morning she would spend a chunk of time learning new verses and reviewing previously memorized ones. She had a strategy for this and was very disciplined.
It had been years since seeing her last, and when I recently saw her again I asked her how her memorization was going. To my delight she had now memorized certain chapters of Psalms, and some from the Gospels, Romans, many others. She had memorized the entire books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1 John, and was now working on the book of Hebrews!
I was captivated by her speech. She was not the same lady who used to be quiet and shy. Still gentle and soft-spoken, and not looking for centre stage, I now saw a woman full of passion! She had passion for people, passion for prayer, and passion for the prophetic! I was thrilled at the results of her life. She was to be admired in every way, as I could see how the Word of God had literally shaped who she had now become. She had delighted in Gods law all these years, and it had not become old or dry to her. She was living with purpose and was putting into action the Word of God.
I love seeing the fruit of people who have immersed themselves in the Good Word of God. The Bible says in Psalms 1 verse 3, that these people who delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it, are like trees planted by streams of living water. They are always bearing fruit, no matter what the season of life happens to be, and whatever they do, they are prospering. Isaiah 55: 11 says the same thing - that Gods Word always produces fruit and that it will accomplish all that God wants it to, and that it will prosper everywhere God sends it!
Do you get the connection? Producing fruit and prospering are both connected to God’s Word! Make it your aim, your goal, this year, to put your delight in the Law of the Lord, and to meditate day and night on it. Get focused on the Word of God and see how you, too, will be constantly bearing fruit and prospering in all you do.
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