Written Just for Us

  

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,

correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be

thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

II Timothy 2:16-17 (NIV)

 

            When my son was small, I ordered a book for him that quickly became his favorite. The reason? His name was in it. It was a book that you custom ordered and the company placed your child’s name on almost every page.

 

            Imagine the delight of a child who reads “Eddie is the best ball player ever!” or “I like to play at Eddie’s house.” And you are Eddie.

 

            The day it arrived in the mail, I read the book to him a couple of times. But that was not enough. He begged me to read it to him over and over and over. By the time his father came home that evening, I had the book completely memorized.

 

            When he heard the truck pull in, my son ran to the door, book in hand. “Daddy, daddy, look!” he yelled. “This is MY book and it has MY name in it everywhere! It’s about me, Daddy, and it’s written just for ME!”

 

            The comparison between my son’s book and the Bible is amazing. The Scripture from II Timothy 2:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 

            The Bible was written just for us! Each page has something for every person to read and learn. For example, do you feel unloved? God says in Jeremiah 31:3 that He loves us with an “everlasting love.”

 

            Do you wonder what the future holds for you? He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has a special plan for each of us. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to lean on God because He is wise and will direct our present and our future.

 

            Are there days when you are discouraged and feel alone and frightened? Just stop for a moment and read God’s encouragement to us in Deuteronomy 31:8.

 

            The Bible was written for all of us – not just for men but not women; for the tall but not the short; for the wealthy but not the poor; for the introvert but not the extrovert. It was written so that every single one of us could know the depth of love and mercy our Father has for us. It is personal and tailor-made for all of us because He knows us better than anyone.

 

            Sure we see names like “David” and “Joshua” and we read about “Peter” and “Rahab.” But don’t you see? That’s US! That’s all of us. We are all, at times, afraid. We struggle with wanting to do the right thing but failing. We deny God’s nudging when He calls our names. Just like they did.

 

            The Bible: a book of guidance and direction, encouragement and love. A Book written just for us.

 

            Father, thank you for your words of love, hope and mercy to us, your children. Help me to know you better through your Word.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like the Bible was written only for people who lived a long time ago?
• Why do you feel the Bible does not apply to your life today in whatever situation you may be facing?

 

Apply

• Read the Scriptures in Power but replace every “you” in the sentences with your name.
• Read each Scripture again. Does God’s Word feel more personable and intimate to you now?

 

Power

• II Timothy 2:16-17 (NIV) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
• Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.’”
• Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giving Your . . . Some . . . for the Team

  “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” 

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

 

The town that I live in made some incredible football history a few years ago. The season ended with a win at the state championships - the first time our high school football team had ever gone all the way to the state level and won!  

This was not the result of half-hearted working out at weights early in the mornings or learning part of the plays at each practice nor was it because of luck. Rather, several young men heard the words of their coaches loud and clear: “We will lead you where you need to go but you have to give your ALL in everything you do off the field as well as on the field.”

And because they listened and obeyed, the young men gave everything they had to become the best football team that they could possibly be . . . they gave their all.

Have you ever noticed in God’s Word that He demands your all? In Jeremiah 29:13, He says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart.” Proverbs 3:5 reads “Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart . . . ” (My emphasis on the ALL). Why is that? Simply put, He refuses to compete for your love. And He shouldn’t have to. His death on the cross for each of us proves that He should be first in our lives.

  But wait! What if His words to us were a little different? In Matthew 11:28 (NIV), Jesus says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” What if, instead, Jesus said “Come to me, a few of you who are weary.”  What if Jesus really didn’t mean it in Mark 10:27 when He spoke these words: “all things are possible with God.” but really meant to say “SOME things are possible with God.”

But He didn’t. He spoke Truth in all He said. If you are going to follow Him and allow Him to direct your life, you have to empty your heart of anything that does not glorify Him or focus on His love for you.

What is in your heart that is crowding God out? Let’s see: a career, hours searching on the internet, exercising, a hobby. Or what about fear, anger, worry, or pride?  Let’s be clear: ANYTHING that pushes God to the back of your heart will prevent you from finding Him at the front of your life. Ask Jesus to show you what is keeping you from seeking Him with ALL your heart and throw it out. You will meet Him face to face when you give your all. 

 

Lord, please search my heart today and show me what you find there that does not honor you. Forgive me for giving you “some” of my life. I give my all to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

  R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Do you ever feel like you have to “make room” for the Lord in your schedule because you have so much going on?

• What do you give your 100% all to in your life as your main priority?

 Apply

• During your prayer time, ask the Lord to clearly show you what you are storing in your heart that is crowding out His voice.

• Make a list of everything that comes to mind and, one by one, hold each thing up to Him and allow Him to remove anything pushing Him off the throne of your heart.

 Power 

• Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

•  Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

• Psalm 51:10 (NIV) “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

 

Who Is Really on the Throne?

 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV)

         When my daughter began teaching school, she wanted more than anything for each of her students to know how precious they were to her so she had her dad build a throne to place in her classroom – and not just any throne. This one was huge, with a high ornate back, padded arms, and a soft maroon pillow to sit on. When one of her first-grade students did something especially kind or funny or read more books than assigned or simply was polite, that student was selected to sit on the throne.

Since all her students were extraordinary to her, she said it was easy to find something special about each one so that they all got a turn sitting on the “Throne of the Room” at least once during the school year. I can only imagine the delight of each first-grade student at being selected to sit on the throne because of something that he or she did.

  As much as I love my daughter’s way of honoring her students, I cannot help thinking about another throne: the throne of my heart. And, honestly, I don’t believe that anyone has to select me to sit there – because I do that all by myself. I sit on the throne of my heart when I am selfish, prideful, or more concerned with me and mine than with you and yours.

  I plant my will right on that maroon pillow when I get my ugly on and do not care how you are feeling or whether or not my words and actions will hurt you. I call myself king when I feel the need to always be in control and have the last word instead of allowing Jesus to have it all.

  Jesus should be the only King on my heart’s throne. Period. I need to step down with my wants and desires – in other words, my SELF – and invite Jesus to sit there instead. There is room for only one. One King. One will. One focus. And it should not be me.

  One died for me. Only one. One came out of the grave three days later. Only one. One today sits on the throne in heaven. Only one. And that One, that King, should be the only one to sit on the throne of my heart. Only Jesus.

  Where are you sitting today, my friends? Have you settled in on the throne of your heart and refused to allow Jesus in? Please take a moment to examine who is in charge of your life and if it is not Jesus, decide today to make a big change on the “Throne of the Room” in your heart.

 

Father, for the times that I try to put myself on the throne instead of Jesus, forgive me. Help me to clean out my heart to make room for you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Do you ever feel that things in your life push in and crowd out Jesus from your heart?

• Why do you think you have allowed some of those replacements for Jesus on the throne of your heart?

Apply

• Journal a list of all the things in your life that battle to take control of your heart’s throne as king.

• Beside each one write a Scripture that encourages you to give Jesus the only throne seat of your life.

 Power

• Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV) “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

• Matthew 6:24 (NIV) “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

• Psalm 84:1-2 (NIV) “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul years, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

 

I Really Want to Know

 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

  I learned a great lesson from a foreign exchange student at our high school several years ago. Franco was staying with my son’s best friend and family so my son got to know him, too. The three boys were in my office after school one day and I couldn’t help but listen to the conversation.

 “You Americans,” Franco said, shaking his head and smiling. “I don’t get you. I see you in the hall and I ask how you are and you say “fine” to me. You always say “fine” even when you are not “fine” at all.” The boys shrugged: “That’s just the way everybody is here,” they replied.

But Franco continued “In Italy when someone asks how you are, you tell them the truth. But not here. When you ask me how I am, I want to tell you the truth. But you only want me to say that I am fine.” Then he asked a pointed question: “So why do you ask how I am doing if you really don’t want to know?”

What a great question, not only for them but for us as well. Why are we content with a simple one-word generic answer to such an important question? There are probably several reasons. First, I think we are a society of people who are always in a hurry. Hurry to the store. Hurry to shop. Hurry home. Always on the run with a list of twenty things to do . . . in a hurry. A quick, noncommittal answer like “fine” suits us just (forgive me) fine.

But I also think there is a deeper, more concerning answer. If I ask you how you are doing and you honestly share with me, you are forcing me out of my comfort zone and face to face with your heartache or health issues, or tough situations. And that in turn begs for a response from me. So I long for that one-word short answer to my question: fine. I have acknowledged you. I have been friendly. I can move on and not focus on the tough issues. And everything is (sigh) fine once again.

In Galatians 6:2, Paul explains exactly why it is important to truly listen to each other.  When we ask how someone is and take the time to look them in the eye and listen, we are showing them that not only are THEY important but what they are facing is important to us as Christians and to Jesus.

And – hold on – but that in turn places us in the position of helping them. Maybe we can offer to mow a lawn or babysit. Maybe their need is deeper than that. Perhaps they are battling spiritually and need someone to agree to pray over them. Maybe a temptation is so strong that an accountability partner is desperately needed. That is how we carry each other’s burdens as sisters in Christ. That is how we fulfill the law of Christ to love one another.

I would like to say that I always stop and take the time to find out how people are doing rather than have an “I’m fine, you’re fine” kind of conversation and hurry on my way. I still fail miserably from time to time. But that is when Franco’s question “Why do you ask how I am doing if you really don’t want to know?” is repeated in my heart and I just have to ask “How are you doing? I really want to know.”

Father, help me to never be content with a “fine” answer when I see someone hurting and in need of your love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever asked someone how they were doing and were relieved when they simply answered “fine” and went on their way?

• If so, why did you not want to take the time to see how they were really doing?

 Apply

• The next time you are shopping, mentally keep track of the number of times you either asked or answered “fine” when speaking to other people.

• Ask the Lord to speak to your heart if any of those people need to have someone help carry their burden by stopping to listen. Then obey.

Power 

• Galatians 6:2 (NIV) “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

• Matthew 18:33 (NIV) “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”

• Proverbs 14:13 (NIV) “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.”