Staying green

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Samuel 19-21; Psalm 92

TO CHEW ON: "Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing (green)." Psalm 92:13-14.


As I was cleaning tables after the last Alpha session of the season, one of the leaders came up to me and began talking about the testimonies of the people who had attended. “Even women your age were telling how they came to the Lord,” he said. My thought was: I wonder how old he thinks I am!

In our culture which so values youth, beauty and vitality, aging is not something we eagerly await. Retirement – maybe, if we are weary of work. More free time, a slower pace, the excuse to migrate south, and the seniors’ discounts may awaken some sense of anticipation. But generally we dread growing old.

It’s hard to avoid the physical realities – graying hair, lines and wrinkles, aches and pains. The social facts are even more sobering. We’re shunted off to a siding at work. More and more of our friends die. We realize we’re no longer the generation that’s pushing society’s limits but rather the one that longs to hold onto tradition. How did that happen?!

The comforting thing is that God still values us in old age. Here are some things the Bible says about aging:

• Gray hair is a crown of glory (Proverbs 16:31; 20:29)

• God promises to carry us, bear us, and deliver us “even to your old age.” (Isaiah 46:4)

• The way we act and conduct ourselves can give our lives dignity and impact. (Titus 2:2-3).

• Best of all, the Bible is full of promises about God providing seniors with vigor, life and vitality Our lives can be renewed (Psalm 103:5).  We can continue to have God’s guidance, strength and productivity (Isaiah 58:11). We can remain fruitful (Psalm 1:1-3) no matter what the season or the conditions (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

I find this comforting – exciting even. I’m not about to be put in the compost bin. I can still look forward to useful, productive years. May it be so!

PRAYER: Lord, I claim Your promise of greenness and fruitfulness for all my days. Amen.

PSALM TO PRAY: Psalm 92

MORE: Chris Tomlin sings “All the Way My Savior Leads Me”




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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Abide

TODAY'S SPECIAL: John 15:1-17

TO CHEW ON: "'Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me.'" John 15:4

The word "abide" occurs nine times in the span of eight verses of today's reading (John 15:4-10) all in red-letters in my Bible, i.e. the teachings of Jesus as John recalls them. When Jesus repeats a word that many times, we do well to take notice.

The English word "abide" means: 1] to remain, continue, stay; 2] to have one's abode, dwell, reside; 3] to continue in a particular condition.

The Greek word transliterated abide (meno) means to remain, abide: 1] in reference to a place, to sojourn, tarry; 2] to continue to be present; 3] to be held, kept, continually; 4] in reference to a station or condition, to remain as one, not become another or different.

Keeping these definitions in mind, let's burrow down a bit into what Jesus tells us about abiding.

1. It goes both ways. We abide in Jesus and He abides in us - John 15:4.

2. Abiding in Him is the only way we can bear fruit (He uses the metaphor of the branch connected to the vine) - John 15:4,5. The fruit we bear out of this abiding brings glory to God - John 15:8.

3. If we don't abide in Him—aren't connected to Him in a branch-vine way—we'll wither and find ourselves "'...cast out...'" - John 15:6.

4. Abiding in Him changes us at a very foundational level—a thought level ("'…My words abide in you…'")—that leads to right praying and answered prayer - John 15:7.

5. This abode is a home of love - John 15:9.

6. This love leads to our obedience - John 15:10.

John talks about abiding in his letters as well. References there add even more depth to our understanding of what it means to abide:

7. When we abide in Jesus, He is our example of how to live - 1 John 2:6.

8. Our abiding in Him helps us to face the future with confidence, including looking forward, without shame, to His return - 1 John 2:28.

9. Abiding in Him equals not sinning - 1 John 3:6. I read this as not that we will never sin, but that we aren't cavalier about sin, we don't live in sin, it isn't our lifestyle.

10.  Abiding includes believing the doctrine Jesus taught about His connection to God - 2 John 1:9.

I love the peace, contentment, loyalty, and perseverance the word abide conveys. When we abide in Christ we're stable, rooted, not looking to move to another spiritual home. Not only that, but as we live with the sap of our creator God flowing through us, our prayers are answered and we bear fruit!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to realize, day to day, this abiding connection with You in love, obedience, answered prayer, and fruitfulness. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Repentance lifestyle

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TODAY'S SPECIAL: Luke 13:1-9

TO CHEW ON: " '… unless you repent you will all likewise perish.' " Luke 13:3,5


"Did you hear about the crane that toppled onto a New York street, killing a man driving by in his car?" This might have been the "news" that people brought to Jesus a few weeks ago if he were walking the earth now.

For the people of Jesus' day the subtext of these bad news reports (one that people brought to Jesus, one  that He recalled himself—and which still fill the airwaves today) was the unuttered question: "What terrible sin did the people in these incidents commit that caused them to come to such an end?" My Bible's study notes call this thinking "Retribution Theology." It is a view of God that attributes individual suffering to individual sin.

Jesus quickly steered his bad news-bringers away from the victims and their fates to consider their own precarious position: " '…unless you repent you will all likewise perish.' " It's like He's saying to them—you too are on the road to a bad end if you don't do one thing— REPENT.

[Repent - matanoeo is to make a decision that results in a change of mind, which in turn leads to a change of purpose and action. - Dick Mills, "Word Wealth," New Spirit-Filled Life Bible p. 1293.]

In a sidebar article on Repentance, Jack Hayford says:

"The first call of the kingdom is to repentance. The implications of biblical repentance are: 1] renunciation and reversal; 2] submission and teachability; 3] continual shapeability."  

He goes on to say, there is no birth into the kingdom without renouncing sin and turning from sin to Christ (Acts 3:19). There is no growth in the kingdom without obedience (James 1:21-25). There is no fruit in the kingdom without an acceptance of the Holy Spirit's correction and guidance (Ephesians 4:30). - Jack Hayford, "Repentance," New Spirit-Filled Life Bible p. 1293.

The simple but life-changing act of repentance is still our first move in assuring our salvation and the lifestyle needed for our growth and fruitfulness:

 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord," Acts 3:19.

"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" - James 1:21-22.

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" - Ephesians 4:30.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for making a way to You available through repentance. As Your follower, please help me to live in the daily repentance of obedience and Spirit-intimacy. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus the BRANCH

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TODAY'S SPECIAL: Zechariah 3:1-10

TO CHEW ON: "'For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.'" Zechariah 3:8

As the writer of my Bible's introductory notes on Zechariah promises, we find pictures of Messiah (Jesus) in this book. In our reading today He is called "BRANCH."

Other prophetic references to Messiah by this name show us that as the Branch:

• He would be a descendant or branch of Jesse (King David's father) - Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 25:5; 33:15. (Following this lineage and going back even father than Jesse is the source of the "Jesse Tree" commemorations we often see and take part in during Advent.)

• He is "beautiful and glorious" - Isaiah 4:2.

• He is a fair king and a righteous judge - Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15.

• His rule brings peace and cooperation to and between the civil and religious realms (He is called both King and Priest) - Zechariah 6:12,13.

This picture of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Messianic Branch prophecy is interesting, but does it have any useful application to our lives? I think it does.

A branch is a living part of nature. As a healthy appendage of a tree, shrub or vine it grows, leafs out, forms buds that open into flowers and bear fruit.

When Jesus is referred to as the branch, we are reminded of our connection to Him. Paul talks of that in Romans 11 where he refers to Israel as an olive tree. Some branches have been broken off because of their unbelief and other branches (Gentile ones) were grafted in. Indeed, the branches of ethnic Israel are also able to be reattached (Romans 11:11-24). In other words, regardless of our nationality, we can be attached to Jesus the Branch.

Branch imagery also reminds us of the fruitfulness that comes as a result of our union with Jesus. There is a beautiful description of it in John 15. There as we, secondary branches, stay attached to Jesus the main branch ("true vine") we bear fruit, are guaranteed answered prayers, and glorify the Father (John 15:1-8).

How wonderful to be a part of this family tree!

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for the beautiful picture of Jesus as the main Branch and me attached to Him. May the sap flow freely between us today. Amen.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.