My Daily Pause

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  • How to Hear God Speak

    We have probably all noticed that people tend to hear only what they expect to hear. (Often it is only what they want to hear, but that is a post for another day.) God spoke in John 12:29 and some of the crowd only heard thunder, others heard his words.

    God expects us to make an effort to hear him
    God expects us to make an effort to hear him

    There is no mention of it in the passage, but I suspect that the people that didn’t believe in Jesus (John 12:37) were the same ones that didn’t understand the words when God spoke. Jesus had been demonstrating his power for months, and still, many were satisfied with their unbelief. Based on Johns quote from Isaiah, (John 12:40) God will let an unbeliever continue like that, further hardening their heart. Why not? Just like the Pharisees:

    • They literalize spiritual messages
    • They close the Bible and their eyes without study
    • They scorn others that are diligent

    Serving God is a lot of work. Not the least of which is keeping our heart open to his word.

    Daily Bible reading for November 20

    Psalm 111
    2 Kings 19
    Isaiah 9:1-7
    John 12:20-50

  • Consider the Source

    The opinion of the masses can change at a whim. In John 12, the crowd turns into an unbelieving throng rather than the joyful group that welcomed him into Jerusalem. This shows us that there is no safety in numbers – we each need to make our own decisions based on evidence, not what is popular.

    "Give us Barabbas" Illustrations from volume 9 of The Bible and its Story Taught by One Thousand Picture Lessons, edited by Charles F. Horne and Julius A. Bewer, published in 1910.
    “Give us Barabbas”
    Illustrations from volume 9 of The Bible and its Story Taught by One Thousand Picture Lessons, edited by Charles F. Horne and Julius A. Bewer, published in 1910.

    The Jews were eventually able to get the people to go along with them on the decision to free Barabbas and then crucifying Jesus. We repeat that event every time we follow the crowd into some false teaching …

    or participate in socially acceptable sin …

    or support some sinful cause disguised as “good” …

    It doesn’t matter if it is what you heard at church, from friends or a news show, everything you hear needs to be checked out. Rather than blindly following, let’s get better at being properly informed –

    especially where God’s word is concerned.

    Daily Bible reading for November 19

    Psalm 110
    2 Kings 18
    Isaiah 7-8
    John 11:55-12:19

  • Generous, Fair and Confident

    helpinghands

    The Lord hates both these things:
    dishonest weights and dishonest measures. – Proverbs 20:10 NCV

    The Lord hates dishonest weights,
    and dishonest scales do not please him. – Proverbs 20:23 NCV

    Christians are supposed to operate under an assumption that the Lord will take care of us. That means we aren’t to worry about the basics of life (Matthew 6:25-34) and we are to be generous, fair and confident. Here is how it works:

    … give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. – Luke 6:38 ESV

    Generous, fair and confident in the Lord. How does increasing any of these change your life?

  • The Trappings of Sin

    My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin,
    do not follow them.file1191276012482

    They will say, “Come with us.” …

    It is useless to spread out a net
    right where the birds can see it.

    But sinners will fall into their own traps;
    they will only catch themselves!

    All greedy people end up this way;
    greed kills selfish people. – Proverbs 1:10-11a, 17-19 NCV

    Contrast the birds’ ability to avoid an obvious trap with someone that enters willingly into sinful adventures – The easy score … The fast buck … “One upping” someone…

    History is littered with the failure of those who thought they could avoid falling into their own trap. We see it all the time with our politicians and those who try to influence them.

    So many think they are finding freedom by turning away from God’s word. No more obeying commands designed by the Creator in our best interest! No more subjections to God’s will! Just the “freedom” to do what I want!

    The Proverb writer shows us the opposite is true. Freedom is found outside the trappings of sin. Those who are in Christ find the kind of freedom that lasts. (Galatians 5) For the ultimate example of avoiding temptation, read about Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11.

    Daily Bible reading for November 14

    Psalm 105
    2 Kings 14:1-22
    Isaiah 1
    John 8

  • Angry at the Truth

    By the time frame of John 7, the Jews are really starting to get angry with Jesus. Jesus is teaching with authority and they know he didn’t learn it from them.

    Jesus ask them in John 7:19 why they seek to kill him when they are not even keeping the Law of Moses. This is a great question, and it is similar to one that we can ask fellow Christians right now.

    Why do others get angry with us when we teach something right out of the Bible? Especially when what we read there is different from what they “think?” Jesus said in John 7:17 that if someone really wants to do God’s will, then he will know what that will is.

    What are the reasons for not knowing God’s will?

    • I’m busy
    • I’m sick
    • I don’t understand it
    • It’s difficult
    • I’m always tired
    • I’m working
    • My parents didn’t believe that

    Rather than investigate what God says, many allow themselves to be “taught.”  So many excuses are offered to avoid the bother of searching for themselves.

    Anger is a natural reaction when one is told he is wrong. If we follow Jesus example, we still have to keep teaching all of God’s word, not just the parts that are convenient to others.

    Daily Bible reading for November 13

    Psalm 104
    2 Kings 13
    Malachi 3:13-4:6
    John 7

  • What Are They For So Many?

    As Jesus was preparing to feed the 5000, the disciples acted just like most people we know. They were convinced there was nothing they could do about the crowd and therefore didn’t do what they were told. (John 6:1-15) They resisted at every point:

    Jesus feeding a crowd with 5 loaves of bread and two fish - Early 1600's - Bernardo Strozzi
    Jesus feeding a crowd with 5 loaves of bread and two fish – Early 1600’s – Bernardo Strozzi

    “There is not enough money”

    “Send them away”

    “What is five loaves to so many?”

    One thing jumps out of the text for me: Nothing wonderful happened until the disciples quit making excuses and got to work organizing the people.

    It is human nature to avoid difficulty. That fear is what keeps you from stepping into traffic. That fear is also what keeps you from doing great things.

    In this event, we not only see Jesus performing an extraordinary miracle, but we see the Master Teacher at work, training the disciples for the difficult life ahead of them. Sometimes obedience still has to happen even when there is no clarity in the outcome.

    Spreading the Gospel is a little like that for us isn’t it? Convincing the world that the Lord has the “bread of life” is difficult beyond our abilities.

    But …

    If we would only guide them to him …
    be an example of faith …
    and prepare them for the great things to come …

    He will take care of the rest!

    I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. – 1 Corinthians 3:6

    Daily Bible reading for November 11

    Psalm 102
    2 Kings 11
    Malachi 2:10-17
    John 6:1-21