20-20 Blog

Scripture Focus:

Jeremiah 9:23–24 Thus says the LORD:

“ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,” says the LORD.

Observation:

Our opinion of people usually centers around what they’ve accomplished in life, or how much of life’s goods they have.

God has a different yardstick. He says: “Let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight.”

Application:

Are God’s priorities—lovingkindness (loving my neighbor and the stranger), proper judgment (justice), and righteousness (following God’s commandments)—my priorities? Then, and only then, will I be able to glory in the fact that I know God!

Prayer:

Father God, may your priorities be my priorities today!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scripture Focus:

Jeremiah 2:13 “ For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Observation:

The people of God are so fickle. We’re always looking for greener pastures, something better, when we have the best right in front of our noses. God is like a fountain of living water to us, freely given. Why try to dig out our own broken cisterns?

Application:

Take advantage of the living water God so freely gives you. Be refreshed by it, and don’t start to look around for something you can dig up on your own.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for the living water you are to me—life giving, refreshing, and freely given!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scripture Focus:

John 8:16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.
John 8:29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.

Observation:

There was a solidarity between Jesus and his Father. When Jesus made a judgement on something, he was not alone in his judgement. He was in agreement with his Father. When Jesus was doing things here on earth, the Father was with him.

Did that mean Jesus had an easy life? Hardly! But he was so sure of the fact that God was with him, that he could go forward without fear and do the things God called him to do.

Application:

I must not forget that God is with me, too. It doesn’t mean my life will be easy and trouble free, but it does mean that I can go forward with confidence, knowing that God will order my steps and keep me from falling.

Prayer:

Father God, I’m so grateful for your presence in my life! To think that you are with me right now. Amazing!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scripture Focus:

John 7:18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

Observation:

Jesus always sought to glorify God. He rightfully could have pointed to himself as part of the 3-in-1 Godhead, but he always pointed back to his Father, and gave Him the glory.

Application:

If Jesus glorified God through his words and deeds, how much more I should, who can do nothing apart from Him!

Prayer:

Father God, all creation points back to you. There’s no place for me to edge in and try to get a piece of the glory! Help me to bask in the fact that YOU are glorified through my actions and words!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scripture Focus:

John 5:19–20 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

John 5: 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

Observation:

Jesus is God. In John 10:30 he said, “I and my father are one.” The leaders of the day understood exactly what he was saying and wanted to kill him because he equated himself with God.

Yet in John 5 he said, “I can of Myself do nothing.” And “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

If Jesus was totally depended upon God, how much more should I depend upon God?

Application:

The trick for me is knowing for certain what God wants. In some cases it’s pretty clear. In other cases, I’m not sure. Jesus says he looks to see what the Father is doing and follows suit. Oh, for eyes that could see what the Father is doing, so I could join him!

The ultimate question, though, is this: If I could see, would I follow? I hope the answer is yes. Jesus said, “I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me.” If I truly am seeking God’s will over my own, God will invite me to be part of his work in the world.

Prayer:

Father God, what are you at work doing around me today? May I join you in moving your work forward?

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 60:16 You shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

Observation:

I’ve noticed that Isaiah uses the word Redeemer a number of times in his book. Today it particularly jumped out at me. When something or someone is redeemed, it means it was lost or somehow off track from it’s original purpose, but is now restored.

God is in the business of redeeming me when I get off track. He gives me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy in place of mourning, and the garment of praise to replace a spirit of heaviness.

The ultimate redemption, of course took place on the cross, where Jesus performed his greatest act of redemption, allowing me back into the family of God, the place I truly belong.

Application:

I have received the ultimate redemption from my sins, and I’m part of the family of God. Will I let God redeem other areas of my life as well? Where things have gotten out of wack (work overtaking life and degenerating into workaholism, for example) will I let God bring redemption?

Prayer:

Father God, may it be so! I’m ready for the beauty, joy, and praise that comes as a result of your redemption!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scripture Focus:

Psalm 103:1–5
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Isaiah 58:6–7 “ Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Observation:

These verses recount the good things God has done for me, chief of which is the forgiveness of my sin, but also a life of such blessing I feel like I’ve won the lottery! You can’t read these verses without wanting to cry out, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!”

On the other hand, God asks us to share from our blessing with others who are less fortunate. This is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. Over and over God tells us to help the poor.

Application:

Have a thankful heart. Remember to bless the Lord and thank him for all he’s done for you. I’ve been so grateful lately for the blessings of a place to live, with food to eat—even air conditioning—and a family where there’s peace and love.

We’re having a sermon series about the poor at church. One in six people on this earth live in abject poverty. We must do more than we’ve done to help those in need while at the same time give thanks every day for the tangible and non tangible blessings God has given us.

Prayer:

Thank you, God, for all the many blessings you have given me. Give me a heart that is glad to share what you’ve given me with others in need!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
And great shall be the peace of your children.

Observation:

Today’s Bible reading was so rich it was hard to choose a single passage to focus on, but this verse caught my attention. Is it not the wish of every Christian parent that their children follow the Lord and live a live of peace?

This is only one of many promises in this chapter. Here’s what the last verse says:
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the LORD.

Application:

I don’t need to worry about my children—pray for them, yes, but worry about them, no. God promises he will teach my children. This is my heritage as one of the servants of the Lord. Okay. I can stop trying to mother them now that they are adults. God will do a much better job anyway!

Prayer:

Thank you, Father, for the children you have given me. Thank you for teaching them what they need to know and helping them walk in peace.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 46:3–4 Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Observation:

Whether I’ve acknowledged it or not, or have been aware of it, God has carried me from birth and he will carry me and deliver me even to my old age. That signifies a continuum from birth to death, which means that he’s carrying me right now.

This is comforting, indeed. I’m dealing with aging parents, so it’s nice to know that this applies to them. I realize that someday, in the not too distant future, I will be in their shoes. However, it’s just as important for me know that God is carrying me right now.

Application:

Never doubt the love God has for you. From the time you were born, God was there, loving you, carrying you, and he will be there for you through old age. In fact ( O, you who worry about getting your first gray hairs!) let your gray hair remind you that God is carrying you!

Prayer:

Father God, I feel so loved by you! What a blessed promise it is to know you will be there for me to the end of my life.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 43:18–19 “ Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

Observation:

God is so talented. (Now that’s an understatement!) He loves to do the unexpected, the thing that is impossible. His power is so immense, and his desire is to act on behalf of his people, if they will honor him.

I remember singing these words as a child in Las Americas:
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness.
All I have to do is follow.
Strength for today, is mine all the way, and all I need for tomorrow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness.
All I have to do is follow!

Application:

When I face a wilderness or a desert, may I look to the one who makes a road in the wilderness and a river in the desert!

Prayer:

Father God, I need your strength today. I need to do the impossible, so I’m trusting in you to see me through.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites