Asides

January 13
Leave a comment
Uncategorized Aside

“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 16:25, NIV)

Without a trustworthy guide, we are left alone to decide how to navigate the many crossroads of this life. Yet, we are not alone if we choose to obey the word of God.  If we remain faithful to His word, we have life. 

Yes, there are many, many roads that one may choose, but only one leads to life. All others lead — eventually — to our death. 

Today’s proverb reminds us to choose carefully. Be wary of intuition alone. Be wary of advice from persons who have not been there.  Be wary of advice from persons who “have no skin in the game.” 

Thanks to our God, we have the Holy Spirit to guide our spirit.  Thanks to our God, we have One who has been tempted in all ways, as we are, yet without sin.  (Please see Hebrews 4:15) Thanks to our God, He has our vouched for us with His own holy name.

Our Father is alone worthy of our total allegiance.  He will not lead us astray.  – Luther

Tagged , , ,
January 11
Leave a comment
Uncategorized Aside

“‘Here comes that dreamer!’,  they said to each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’” (Genesis 37:19-20, NIV)

The maltreatment of Joseph began with the evil plans of his brothers.

Joseph’s brothers resented Joseph on many levels: He was their father’s favorite son (and Joseph made no secret that he knew that his father’s favor rested on him); and Joseph made much of his dreams, in which he seemed always to be the hero. The good news here is that God works on many levels, too.  Joseph’s circumstances were used by God to fit Joseph for God’s work; he used the brothers’ guilt to provoke confession and true repentance; and throughout, God was glorified for His love and His mercy.

Like Joseph, we do not know where life will take us; but we should never doubt that God is at work in our circumstances — however hopeless from our perspective — to transform us into the image of Christ; to bless others; and to glorify God. If we are convinced of this, though we may fall down, we shall not stay down!  – Luther

Tagged , , , ,
January 10
Leave a comment
Uncategorized Aside

“I know the greatness of the LORD — that our Lord is greater than any other god. The LORD does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.” (Psalm 135:5-7, NLT)

More than forty years ago, J. B. Phillips wrote a book (which is still in print, by the way) titled, “Your God is Too Small.” The title alone provokes the question: How big is your God?

The psalmist, as we see in today’s selection, had a big God.  There is a direct relationship between the size of our problems and the size of our God. As I heard related several years ago in a sermon by Austin, Texas pastor Gerald Mann: “Big God, small problems.  Small God, big problems.”

Having a God that cannot be bossed, because He is all-powerful; that cannot be bought, because he has infinite resources; is a comfort, a joy, and an arsenal for whatever problems life presents!  – Luther

Tagged , , , ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →