sharing his passion

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12354 Exodus 4.   The ESV Study Bible explains: “The three signs indicate the extent of the Lord’s power and prefigure the realms of the plagues to come: creatures of the earth (staff to a serpent), people (Moses’ hand becoming leprous), and the elements of nature (water to blood).”  Each of these signs also reveal a motif of harm and violence.  God is serious about redeeming his people from bondage. He is going to make an omelet, and intends to break some eggs.  The LORD had not been indifferent during those long years when his people were oppressed by another.  He is angry even at Moses for failing to be 100% committed to their deliverance.  He expects his servants to share his passion.

LORD, give us a passion for your people – to see them free from Satan’s kingdom.

Posted in commitment, deliverance, leadership, ministry, redemption | Tagged | 1 Comment

God left him to himself

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC11911 2 Chronicles 32.  The chronicler has a unique perspective on why Hezekiah made the mistake of showing the Babylonian envoys his treasures. He says that “God left him to himself in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart” (31). 

LORD, help us to seek your will in every decision we make.  We do not want to presume that we are smart enough to make decisions that honor you.

Posted in humility, prayer, submission, trust | Tagged | Leave a comment

preparing for the mission

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC11882 Exodus 2:23-3:22.  All the while Israel was groaning because of their slavery and crying out to God, the LORD was preparing Moses for the task of leading them out of Egypt.  The LORD taught Moses by having him raise a son, and by having him keep Jethro’s flock in the Midian desert.  After Moses had gained sufficient maturity, God revealed himself to him in the burning bush.  The LORD set forth the path, and revealed the obstacles there would be in it. Moses was not ready to lead until he had developed the wisdom, fear of God, and passion for the mission.

LORD, prepare us for what you want to do, and grant us patience to endure the preparation.

Posted in leadership, ministry, patience, plan of God, preparation, trust | Tagged , | 1 Comment

strange deliverance

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12257 Exodus 1:22-2:22.  This story begins with a birth, and ends with a birth.  Moses is born with a death sentence on his head. He is delivered by means of God’s sovereignty and the intervention of several women.  Pharaoh had commanded the murder of all the sons born among the Israelite, but it was daughters – including his own – that thwarted his plan.  Pharaoh never saw that coming. After Moses flees to Midian, he too has a son. Gershom’s name indicates something about Moses himself.  As God’s chosen deliverer, he must be a Hebrew, but he would come from a strange land.  As Messiah, Christ had to be one  of us – fully human –yet he would come from God’s heaven.

LORD, may we truly come to appreciate the way you have brought deliverance to us.

Posted in deliverance, Jesus Christ, plan of God | Tagged , | 1 Comment

the gospel on trial

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12256 Acts 25:1-26:32.  During his two years in prison at Caesarea, Paul had opportunity to defend his actions against the accusations of his Jewish antagonists.  In doing so, Paul makes it clear that the gospel message he has preached is really what is on trial.  He outlines that gospel message this way. God calls upon all people to repent (26:20), to surrender to his will for their sanctification (26:18), to obey his word by proving their faith with works (26:20). God promises present forgiveness (26:18), and a future resurrection to eternal life (25:19; 26:6-8, 23). That is the hope which Paul proclaimed.

LORD, give us the courage to proclaim your gospel, and the understanding to proclaim the whole gospel.

Posted in courage, eternal life, forgiveness, hope, repentance, resurrection, witness | Tagged , | Leave a comment

our tears in his bottle

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12255 Psalm 56.  David did not glide through life without challenges and troubles.  He had numerous enemies, and his life was in danger constantly.  He comforted himself not in the idea that God was going to help him overcome his problems — but on the fact that God would bring justice in his time.  He spoke of the LORD having a bottle in which he was preserving David’s tears, a book in which he was keeping count of his tossings (on his bed). I cannot promise you victory over your troubles in this life. I can promise you that God will make it all up to you at the resurrection. Trust him.

LORD, help us to trust in your eventual and inevitable justice.

Posted in confidence, courage, future, patience, perseverance, relationship with God, trust | Tagged | Leave a comment

his geographical will

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12260 Acts 21:17-23:11.  My Bible records the words of Jesus in red letters.  Reading through this text, it becomes quite clear that Paul goes where he goes because Jesus prompts him to do so. Jesus told him to go to Damascus (22:10); to get out of Jerusalem (18); to go and minister among the Gentiles (21); and that he would testify in Rome (23:11).  Our Master requires of his servants that they no only obey him in regard to what they should do, but also where they should go.  Perhaps the LORD has been prompting you to leave your comfort zone and go somewhere that might be a bit less comfortable. Make haste and go. You will never find personal peace until you surrender to the Lord’s geographical will.

LORD, give us the courage to go or stay at your prompting. May we surrender to your geographical will.

Posted in commitment, faithfulness, ministry, obedience, submission, witness | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

enough is enough

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12249 2 Chronicles 28.  The Chronicler mentions three prominent leaders of the tribe of Ephraim who had the courage to stand up against the army of Israel.  The horrible king Ahaz had sent his army against his own kinsmen of Judah. They had ravaged the kingdom to the south and were bringing 200,000 of their distant relatives to Israel as slaves. But these three men stood up and said that enough is enough. They said “You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us guilt against the LORD in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”  The army backed down, and the captives were returned.

LORD, give us the courage to stand against the mighty who sin, so that we do not share their guilt.

Posted in compassion, courage, integrity | Tagged | Leave a comment

unfinished business

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12245 Acts 20:17-21:16.  One of the down sides to apostolic ministry is that you are always starting things that someone else will have to finish. Loving the church leaders as he did, it would have been tempting to respond to their pleas by agreeing to stay on at Ephesus or Caesarea, or some place like that. He could have been assured of a successful ministry among people who loved him and had his best interest at heart. He could even have convinced himself that their needs required his prolonged ministry, for he knew that there were going to be problems in the churches after he departed (20:29-30).  But he had unfinished business that was drawing him to Jerusalem.  The different drummer to whom he marched forced him ever onward, in spite of the danger and uncertainty.

LORD, give us the courage to follow you, even if it means leaving a sure thing to face the unknown.

Posted in commitment, faithfulness, ministry, missions, trust | Tagged , | 2 Comments

too big for his breeches

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12223 2 Chronicles 26.  Uzziah was a great man and a good king, because “he was marvelously helped, till he was strong” (15).  Then he got too big for his breeches. He usurped the right of the temple priests, and went into the sanctuary to burn incense. When 81 courageous priests withstood him, he became angry, and leprosy broke out on his forehead. He was excluded from the house of the LORD for the rest of his life. Even the greatest among us must learn to live with limitations. They are a gift from God to keep us humbly dependent upon him and each other.

LORD, grant us wisdom to live within the limits you set for our lives.

Posted in discernment, humility, leadership, ministry, obedience, self-control, submission, witness | Tagged | 1 Comment