Time Spent: 15 mins
Main Idea: We are not of the world
What I learned about God: Jesus is not of this world
Summary: This is a short 4 verses in the book of John but such a small amount of Scripture can mean so much. Jesus is speaking about how He comes to the world speaking upon the new life that God has planned for us through Jesus and how we may be the ones to enjoy our lives rather than having to struggle and sacrifice for atonement of our own sins. It then explains how when Jesus spoke of these things, people rejected it because it was so foreign of an understanding to them that they couldn't comprehend what Jesus was saying, but then Jesus explains how it is possible since it is impossible for them to completely understand because Jesus is not a part of the world as they are not a part of Him. Jesus then explains how we must comfort them but not taking them out of their world, but instead we must protect them from all temptations and lifestyles of this world. He then reiterates how in following what Jesus has brought for us, we will not be of the world just as Jesus is not part of the world.
Application: Going through college has to be one of the hardest things to do with being a Christian. Being open to all these new types of beliefs and having fun, it truly has been a struggle. Even though I go to a community college, I still feel the struggle of having to deny my fleshly desires in order to keep my heart in God. As I grow stronger as a believer and having more opportunities, I begin to see the separation that is becoming in between my friends that party and the friends that go to church. This verse just reminded me of that gap that I see visible in my own life, but then as God shows us through the passage, we must be the ones to bring them over that gap in order for them to be away from the evil one and his temptations and to be more on the side in which Jesus is and how we is not a part of the world as we follow to choose Him. The good news of Jesus is what I must not be afraid to go up to people and introduce them to Jesus so that they can be led away from the evil one and how I can truly open myself up to others. I feel this is a developing skill in which it will greatly help me though missions and in my life with Christ.
Money Owed: 9 dollars
-Andrew Park
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Proverbs 14:26-27 Strength and Life in Fear
4/29/10
Time Spent 5:15 PM
Main Idea: Godliness protects one's soul by standing as both a fortress and a fountain
What I Learned about God: The fear of the Lord brings life to men.
Summary: The normal association with the emotion "fear" is not one that brings prosperity. However, the fear of the Lord seems to bring just that; both bringing a firm, immovable foundation and being a fountain of life. The fear of the Lord in verse 26 gives not only a strong confidence to the person, but imparts it upon his children. This is a reminder that one's personal godliness is not only for his benefit. In this sense, when we fear the Lord it brings us to the point which we are able to protect us from attacks from the fool. Also, the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, bringing life to people and instructing them to "move away from the snares of death". We see that the fear of the Lord is both a fortress and a fountain, because the enemy will not only attack, but attract. Understanding the way to deal with these attacks is through the fear of the Lord.
Application: Temptation comes in very discreet forms, which probably in my life looks more like attraction labeled in this verse. I recognize that in order for me to deal with those sins it is to put my understanding on what the fear of the Lord is. When I understand that I can find my full support in God's knowledge, then it would turn me away from temptation. The knowledge that God will make me as a fountain is an awesome analogy. John Piper states that God is interested in making a fountain, not a factory because the raw materials, the work, and the labor are all going to stem from the free-flowing work of God. This shows that as I remain in the fear of God, then I will immediately be a life-giving person by association and meditation. When I do QTs, I must always look at the wisdom in which God is trying to impart within the verse so that I may be a fountain for men
Time Spent 5:15 PM
Main Idea: Godliness protects one's soul by standing as both a fortress and a fountain
What I Learned about God: The fear of the Lord brings life to men.
Summary: The normal association with the emotion "fear" is not one that brings prosperity. However, the fear of the Lord seems to bring just that; both bringing a firm, immovable foundation and being a fountain of life. The fear of the Lord in verse 26 gives not only a strong confidence to the person, but imparts it upon his children. This is a reminder that one's personal godliness is not only for his benefit. In this sense, when we fear the Lord it brings us to the point which we are able to protect us from attacks from the fool. Also, the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, bringing life to people and instructing them to "move away from the snares of death". We see that the fear of the Lord is both a fortress and a fountain, because the enemy will not only attack, but attract. Understanding the way to deal with these attacks is through the fear of the Lord.
Application: Temptation comes in very discreet forms, which probably in my life looks more like attraction labeled in this verse. I recognize that in order for me to deal with those sins it is to put my understanding on what the fear of the Lord is. When I understand that I can find my full support in God's knowledge, then it would turn me away from temptation. The knowledge that God will make me as a fountain is an awesome analogy. John Piper states that God is interested in making a fountain, not a factory because the raw materials, the work, and the labor are all going to stem from the free-flowing work of God. This shows that as I remain in the fear of God, then I will immediately be a life-giving person by association and meditation. When I do QTs, I must always look at the wisdom in which God is trying to impart within the verse so that I may be a fountain for men
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Proverbs 13:7-8 Blessings of the Less
4/28/10
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: Sometimes having less can be beneficial than having more.
What I Learned about God: God's perfect plan makes even having less a blessing in one's life.
Summary: The verse reads;
" 7 a One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
b another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
but a poor man c hears no threat."
This seems a very contrary idea to our western understanding of hoarding wealth; to have less is to have more. The way in which the Proverbs lays it out is stating that having less is not such a bad thing. Wealth is a lot more complicated than one thinks; that having more of it will not guarantee a better life. From this verse, it seems to be the opposite. The poor person contrasted in the verse is better off because of his modesty (v.7) and in having less enemies (v.8). The poor person is not a target for ransom nor does he have to pretend to be someone he's not. The advantages of being poor should be counted as wisdom for the reader of this Proverb.
Application: Do I really believe having less is more? Having less money, less grades, less privileges, less friends, less homework, etc. Well, aside from having less homework, which would be a God-send, it seems as though having "less of something" is counter-cultural to what we're taught throughout grade school. In a free-market society, the spoils of the economy are up for grabs and it's up to you to seize it before anyone else does. This has filtered into the way that I think about church, whether it be the size of the ministry or also comparing the relative fruitfulness of other ministries. I must remember the parable of the talents, where God had given the workers unequal talents yet lavished the same praise upon the ones that doubled his talents with "well done my good and faithful servant!" God is characteristically one who makes lemonade when life gives lemons; thus I must adopt a mindset in which I can be happy with less. To do this, I must control the envy I have against other church ministries or at school while also understanding that God is my full portion.
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: Sometimes having less can be beneficial than having more.
What I Learned about God: God's perfect plan makes even having less a blessing in one's life.
Summary: The verse reads;
" 7 a One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
b another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
but a poor man c hears no threat."
This seems a very contrary idea to our western understanding of hoarding wealth; to have less is to have more. The way in which the Proverbs lays it out is stating that having less is not such a bad thing. Wealth is a lot more complicated than one thinks; that having more of it will not guarantee a better life. From this verse, it seems to be the opposite. The poor person contrasted in the verse is better off because of his modesty (v.7) and in having less enemies (v.8). The poor person is not a target for ransom nor does he have to pretend to be someone he's not. The advantages of being poor should be counted as wisdom for the reader of this Proverb.
Application: Do I really believe having less is more? Having less money, less grades, less privileges, less friends, less homework, etc. Well, aside from having less homework, which would be a God-send, it seems as though having "less of something" is counter-cultural to what we're taught throughout grade school. In a free-market society, the spoils of the economy are up for grabs and it's up to you to seize it before anyone else does. This has filtered into the way that I think about church, whether it be the size of the ministry or also comparing the relative fruitfulness of other ministries. I must remember the parable of the talents, where God had given the workers unequal talents yet lavished the same praise upon the ones that doubled his talents with "well done my good and faithful servant!" God is characteristically one who makes lemonade when life gives lemons; thus I must adopt a mindset in which I can be happy with less. To do this, I must control the envy I have against other church ministries or at school while also understanding that God is my full portion.
4/28/10: Romans 10:8-17
Time: 20 mins
Main Idea: We are here not by accident but because God's plan is unfolding in front of us
What I learned about God: God knows all things and plans each and every move we make
Summary: This passage starts with the definition of how to become saved in which it is followed by how it leads to us having to spread the name of God to everyone. It then goes to a quote from the book of Isaiah and how God speaks of how beautiful the feet of those who spread His name are. It then leads it all up to God in that He is planned each and every person to hear the Word and be moved by it so that they will proclaim of His love and awesome works.
Application: This kind of reminds me of how when I was in choir, going on trips over to Uganda, Peru, and Rwanda seemed so pointless because I wasn't doing any mission work, rather we were being pampered. God shows me through this passage that I was there for a reason but because I didn't know why I was there, God had already a plan for me. Even though I was doing nothing to interact with the natives that didn't know God, God used me in a way in which I'm still not sure of today. He used my fellow choir members and me to preach the word of God through our music. It also goes to say that each and every step we make after being saved is chosen by Him and each and every person I met in those countries were picked individually by God to meet us and just being able to hear the Word has drastically changed their lives. Even though I don't know why or what I am doing, I have faith in which I know God is working through me and He has planned each and every person I meet in these countries. He will then bless me with every opportunity I receive in order to share His love.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
Main Idea: We are here not by accident but because God's plan is unfolding in front of us
What I learned about God: God knows all things and plans each and every move we make
Summary: This passage starts with the definition of how to become saved in which it is followed by how it leads to us having to spread the name of God to everyone. It then goes to a quote from the book of Isaiah and how God speaks of how beautiful the feet of those who spread His name are. It then leads it all up to God in that He is planned each and every person to hear the Word and be moved by it so that they will proclaim of His love and awesome works.
Application: This kind of reminds me of how when I was in choir, going on trips over to Uganda, Peru, and Rwanda seemed so pointless because I wasn't doing any mission work, rather we were being pampered. God shows me through this passage that I was there for a reason but because I didn't know why I was there, God had already a plan for me. Even though I was doing nothing to interact with the natives that didn't know God, God used me in a way in which I'm still not sure of today. He used my fellow choir members and me to preach the word of God through our music. It also goes to say that each and every step we make after being saved is chosen by Him and each and every person I met in those countries were picked individually by God to meet us and just being able to hear the Word has drastically changed their lives. Even though I don't know why or what I am doing, I have faith in which I know God is working through me and He has planned each and every person I meet in these countries. He will then bless me with every opportunity I receive in order to share His love.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Proverbs 12:25 A Good Word for the Anxious
4/27/10
Time Spent: 20 min
Main Idea: The cure for anxiety is a good word.
What I Learned about God: God's Word has within it creative power but also the power to live in the present.
Summary: In this short adage, it talks about two positions: anxiety and gladness. Anxiety has the result of weighing someone down; however the "good word" spoken to a man will make him glad. Not only is it a sin to have anxiety in your heart, relating to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and Paul's exhortation to not be anxious about anything, but it also has affects on the way a person lives his life. Anxiety "weighs down" in the sense where it leaves a man stuck and stranded because his worries envelope him.
What is the cure for anxiety? It is the good word. It is not just "buck up" or "try harder", but it is the news of God's Word that brings life for all men. Understanding this stems from the idea that it was God's Word that created the universe. Also, it is God's Words that are to shape and formulate a believer's identity. Jesus knew the power of the Word as He prayed that believers would be "sanctified by the truth" (Jo. 17:17). The Word of God reminds us that God is greater than our anxieties; causing a gladness that we do not bear the burden alone and also for His providence that this is no burden that will overcome us.
Application: This hits at the sermon I preached for AWANA. When I preached this for Sparky/T&T, I was shocked to see how many of these kids had worry in their lives. I realized that worrying isn't just confined to adults and college-aged students, but that it's relative to everyone in life. The reason why is not in the degree or complexities of problems, but that we're all self-sufficient inside. We think we handle problems alone. We think about all that we can do and live like practical atheists. This reminded me of my own self-sufficiency, how I have worry in my life regarding school and also church. Membership at NET and AWANA isn't growing, the church is continuing to have problems, I'm not doing great in school this semester, I have no idea how I'm going to get to Japan after I graduate, etc. These are all worries even though they are under the "banner" of Christ's work. Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones said that "we need to talk to ourselves and not let ourselves talk to us", and I think we deal with anxiety in this very way. We share the Bible to ourselves through Scripture memorization and prayer instead of being guided by our problems and thoughts. I will speak Phil. 4:5-6 when I have worries come throughout my day.
Time Spent: 20 min
Main Idea: The cure for anxiety is a good word.
What I Learned about God: God's Word has within it creative power but also the power to live in the present.
Summary: In this short adage, it talks about two positions: anxiety and gladness. Anxiety has the result of weighing someone down; however the "good word" spoken to a man will make him glad. Not only is it a sin to have anxiety in your heart, relating to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and Paul's exhortation to not be anxious about anything, but it also has affects on the way a person lives his life. Anxiety "weighs down" in the sense where it leaves a man stuck and stranded because his worries envelope him.
What is the cure for anxiety? It is the good word. It is not just "buck up" or "try harder", but it is the news of God's Word that brings life for all men. Understanding this stems from the idea that it was God's Word that created the universe. Also, it is God's Words that are to shape and formulate a believer's identity. Jesus knew the power of the Word as He prayed that believers would be "sanctified by the truth" (Jo. 17:17). The Word of God reminds us that God is greater than our anxieties; causing a gladness that we do not bear the burden alone and also for His providence that this is no burden that will overcome us.
Application: This hits at the sermon I preached for AWANA. When I preached this for Sparky/T&T, I was shocked to see how many of these kids had worry in their lives. I realized that worrying isn't just confined to adults and college-aged students, but that it's relative to everyone in life. The reason why is not in the degree or complexities of problems, but that we're all self-sufficient inside. We think we handle problems alone. We think about all that we can do and live like practical atheists. This reminded me of my own self-sufficiency, how I have worry in my life regarding school and also church. Membership at NET and AWANA isn't growing, the church is continuing to have problems, I'm not doing great in school this semester, I have no idea how I'm going to get to Japan after I graduate, etc. These are all worries even though they are under the "banner" of Christ's work. Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones said that "we need to talk to ourselves and not let ourselves talk to us", and I think we deal with anxiety in this very way. We share the Bible to ourselves through Scripture memorization and prayer instead of being guided by our problems and thoughts. I will speak Phil. 4:5-6 when I have worries come throughout my day.
4/27/10: Acts 10:34-48
Main Idea: Holy Spirit among Gentiles
What I learned about God: God is "blind"\
Summary: This is after Peter's vision of the food on the carpet. Peter finally understands that God is not a God of only the Jews but also for the Gentiles. Peter then goes out and preaches to a group of people that included the Jews and the Gentiles. It was just Peter speaking of the Gospel but when people heard the story, the Holy Spirit fell on all the people and all the believers that were there to witness the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit were all amazed. This showed them that God was not a God of one race but the God of the world. Peter than explains to everyone, how if any man is a God fearing man and will accept Jesus as their savior from sins, then they have no right to deny them, and so Peter baptized each and everyone that the Holy Spirit fell upon.
Application: This applies to my life in the same exact way but in a more racial way. I see people who live out on the streets and they are the lazy ones who don't work and cannot provide for themselves. Being brought up to think like that, most of my life I did think like that because in my own sense, I felt that I was superior to those people, but can i really judge them without knowing them. This is truly a misconception in the Asian community because we feel in a pride based culture, that since we have a stable job and a stable source of income, that we are better than the people who don't have a stable income line or a steady job. This is when we as Christians must break out of this mold of being an Asian or any type of thinking that involves discrimination. We must take that opportunity to use our actions to be louder than words in that when we help those people instead of bickering and lecturing those people, we become more Jesus-like rather than become more like the Pharisees. We must use this opportunity to see them as an equal brother or sister of Christ in which they can see God's love through us.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
What I learned about God: God is "blind"\
Summary: This is after Peter's vision of the food on the carpet. Peter finally understands that God is not a God of only the Jews but also for the Gentiles. Peter then goes out and preaches to a group of people that included the Jews and the Gentiles. It was just Peter speaking of the Gospel but when people heard the story, the Holy Spirit fell on all the people and all the believers that were there to witness the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit were all amazed. This showed them that God was not a God of one race but the God of the world. Peter than explains to everyone, how if any man is a God fearing man and will accept Jesus as their savior from sins, then they have no right to deny them, and so Peter baptized each and everyone that the Holy Spirit fell upon.
Application: This applies to my life in the same exact way but in a more racial way. I see people who live out on the streets and they are the lazy ones who don't work and cannot provide for themselves. Being brought up to think like that, most of my life I did think like that because in my own sense, I felt that I was superior to those people, but can i really judge them without knowing them. This is truly a misconception in the Asian community because we feel in a pride based culture, that since we have a stable job and a stable source of income, that we are better than the people who don't have a stable income line or a steady job. This is when we as Christians must break out of this mold of being an Asian or any type of thinking that involves discrimination. We must take that opportunity to use our actions to be louder than words in that when we help those people instead of bickering and lecturing those people, we become more Jesus-like rather than become more like the Pharisees. We must use this opportunity to see them as an equal brother or sister of Christ in which they can see God's love through us.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
Monday, April 26, 2010
Proverbs 12:16-23 I Pity the Fool
4/26/10
Time Spent: 22 min
Main Idea: The way of the fool is contrasted with the way of the prudent.
What I Learned about God: A person's love for God is told through the individual's use of words in his life.
Summary: The way of the fool and the way of the prudent are characterized against each other. The way that they act against each other is seen through the choice of words that they use. The Proverbs state that the way of the fool is reactive: showing that he cannot take criticism or a joke very well. However, the way of wisdom shows that the prudent is the one who can ignore such things, while storing up righteousness within his heart. Verses 17 and 20 state that a man's heart is stored within his words, and thus the words that are spoken to him and the words spoken against him will be determining factor as to what is really characteristic of the man.
Application: I do not think I am a particularly wise guy. I have trouble listening to advice and also react at a joke. Sometimes, even when the Spirit prompts me to not say anything, the thoughts that come into my mind are no good. I realize that there is something wrong within my soul and in my dealings with people. I need to learn the way of wisdom in reacting and dealing with people. I can start doing that through spending more time in prayer. Somehow, all of my applications are about prayer and I don't think that's by coincidence. I realize that a lot of my problems would be solved if I had just devoted more time in prayer. To do this, I am going to pray everyday for 5 min a day at least when I wake up.
Amount Owed: $4 : (
Time Spent: 22 min
Main Idea: The way of the fool is contrasted with the way of the prudent.
What I Learned about God: A person's love for God is told through the individual's use of words in his life.
Summary: The way of the fool and the way of the prudent are characterized against each other. The way that they act against each other is seen through the choice of words that they use. The Proverbs state that the way of the fool is reactive: showing that he cannot take criticism or a joke very well. However, the way of wisdom shows that the prudent is the one who can ignore such things, while storing up righteousness within his heart. Verses 17 and 20 state that a man's heart is stored within his words, and thus the words that are spoken to him and the words spoken against him will be determining factor as to what is really characteristic of the man.
Application: I do not think I am a particularly wise guy. I have trouble listening to advice and also react at a joke. Sometimes, even when the Spirit prompts me to not say anything, the thoughts that come into my mind are no good. I realize that there is something wrong within my soul and in my dealings with people. I need to learn the way of wisdom in reacting and dealing with people. I can start doing that through spending more time in prayer. Somehow, all of my applications are about prayer and I don't think that's by coincidence. I realize that a lot of my problems would be solved if I had just devoted more time in prayer. To do this, I am going to pray everyday for 5 min a day at least when I wake up.
Amount Owed: $4 : (
4/26/10: John 20:19-29
Main Idea: What is faith?!
What I learned about God: God is surely alive and real
Summary: This is when Jesus resurrects after the crucifixion and then He appears to the scared disciples. The disciples, so afraid of the Jews, had locked themselves in the room so that no one could find them but Jesus appears to them and everyone in the room believes and sees that Jesus is the true God. Everyone but Thomas was in that room when that happened and when he had heard that Jesus is alive and had appeared to the other disciples, he could not believe it unless he saw it upon himself to touch the wounds of Jesus due from the cross. Jesus then appears to Thomas and shows his the scars and wounds due from the cross and immediately Thomas begins to believe but Jesus says Blessed are the ones who did not see and yet have believed.
Application: This was a passage that truly just reminded me of what faith is. Faith is being able to trust in something that you cannot see with your own two eyes. It is being able to know that we have to have faith in others. Even though the world tells us its impossible for a certain person to be a certain way, we must have faith in God because through Him we can do all things. In my own life, I feel that I must have faith in the people who are shunned from the world. In this I feel that when people put faith into me to do something, most people feel that I am an irresponsible person but when I pull through, I feel that the person that had faith in me can truly just see God's glory. In this I must see that everyone in the world that I meet, I must have faith in them to glorify God through my actions because Jesus had faith in all that he met whether it was a adulteress named Mary Magdalene to the Centurion who showed great faith. He had faith in all those people and as so we as Christians must do the same.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
What I learned about God: God is surely alive and real
Summary: This is when Jesus resurrects after the crucifixion and then He appears to the scared disciples. The disciples, so afraid of the Jews, had locked themselves in the room so that no one could find them but Jesus appears to them and everyone in the room believes and sees that Jesus is the true God. Everyone but Thomas was in that room when that happened and when he had heard that Jesus is alive and had appeared to the other disciples, he could not believe it unless he saw it upon himself to touch the wounds of Jesus due from the cross. Jesus then appears to Thomas and shows his the scars and wounds due from the cross and immediately Thomas begins to believe but Jesus says Blessed are the ones who did not see and yet have believed.
Application: This was a passage that truly just reminded me of what faith is. Faith is being able to trust in something that you cannot see with your own two eyes. It is being able to know that we have to have faith in others. Even though the world tells us its impossible for a certain person to be a certain way, we must have faith in God because through Him we can do all things. In my own life, I feel that I must have faith in the people who are shunned from the world. In this I feel that when people put faith into me to do something, most people feel that I am an irresponsible person but when I pull through, I feel that the person that had faith in me can truly just see God's glory. In this I must see that everyone in the world that I meet, I must have faith in them to glorify God through my actions because Jesus had faith in all that he met whether it was a adulteress named Mary Magdalene to the Centurion who showed great faith. He had faith in all those people and as so we as Christians must do the same.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
Sunday, April 25, 2010
4/25/10: Isaiah 49:5-13
Main Idea: We are the leading steps of the future
What I learned about God: God rewards all who work for His name
Summary: In this chapter, Isaiah is explaining what God is telling him. This being written centuries before Jesus, it shows that the Great Commission is not given by Jesus but it was always a part of the agenda that God had for all of the Israelites. It then goes on to explain how though all these things, God will provide and reward us with much through His covenant and how we will be perfectly prepared for in Heaven.
Application: This is definitely just a wake up call and a reminder of what we must do as Christians. Even though this was centuries before Jesus, God had the Great Commission already planned out for the Israelites carry out. It was always for us to follow, but through disobedience, we have to be constantly reminded by God to do all these things but we as the ones who has received grace from God, we must remind ourselves to carry out the Great Commission and just remember that God will provide for us when we seek Him first.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
What I learned about God: God rewards all who work for His name
Summary: In this chapter, Isaiah is explaining what God is telling him. This being written centuries before Jesus, it shows that the Great Commission is not given by Jesus but it was always a part of the agenda that God had for all of the Israelites. It then goes on to explain how though all these things, God will provide and reward us with much through His covenant and how we will be perfectly prepared for in Heaven.
Application: This is definitely just a wake up call and a reminder of what we must do as Christians. Even though this was centuries before Jesus, God had the Great Commission already planned out for the Israelites carry out. It was always for us to follow, but through disobedience, we have to be constantly reminded by God to do all these things but we as the ones who has received grace from God, we must remind ourselves to carry out the Great Commission and just remember that God will provide for us when we seek Him first.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
Saturday, April 24, 2010
4/24/10: Ephesians 6:10-24
Main Idea: The Full Armor of God
What I Learned about God: God prepares us for battle against all odds
Summary: This is Paul's letter to the church of Ephesus and and before he concludes his letter, he mentions the armor of God. He lists each of the letters that we may understand each part of our faith is incorporated in protecting us from all forces of evil. He then explains how we are not fighting a physical battle against Satan, but it is a spiritual battle that is fought in heavenly places. Paul therefore explains how we can strengthen our armor of God through prayer and supplication in which we must stay alert in our lives and we must persevere against all odds. Paul then asks for the Ephesians prayers so that he may have the Holy Spirit speak through him and then Paul ends in a final greetings.
Application: Always having been infatuated with war and the spiritual battle above, I love reading Ephesians because it seems that God is suiting us (as Christians) to battle Satan, but now that I took the time to sit down and read this passage carefully, God does not prepare us for a physical battle against Satan, but instead it is a Spiritual battle in Heaven that is taking place each and every moment of our lives. To strengthen ourselves physically, men and women go to the gym and workout their muscles, but to be spiritually strong, we must persevere and be in prayer and supplication. We must never forget that once we are comfortable, we are abiding to the world and being comfortable in sin, and so we must persevere through all this and become more obedient and diligent in prayer and supplication of His Word.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
What I Learned about God: God prepares us for battle against all odds
Summary: This is Paul's letter to the church of Ephesus and and before he concludes his letter, he mentions the armor of God. He lists each of the letters that we may understand each part of our faith is incorporated in protecting us from all forces of evil. He then explains how we are not fighting a physical battle against Satan, but it is a spiritual battle that is fought in heavenly places. Paul therefore explains how we can strengthen our armor of God through prayer and supplication in which we must stay alert in our lives and we must persevere against all odds. Paul then asks for the Ephesians prayers so that he may have the Holy Spirit speak through him and then Paul ends in a final greetings.
Application: Always having been infatuated with war and the spiritual battle above, I love reading Ephesians because it seems that God is suiting us (as Christians) to battle Satan, but now that I took the time to sit down and read this passage carefully, God does not prepare us for a physical battle against Satan, but instead it is a Spiritual battle in Heaven that is taking place each and every moment of our lives. To strengthen ourselves physically, men and women go to the gym and workout their muscles, but to be spiritually strong, we must persevere and be in prayer and supplication. We must never forget that once we are comfortable, we are abiding to the world and being comfortable in sin, and so we must persevere through all this and become more obedient and diligent in prayer and supplication of His Word.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
Friday, April 23, 2010
4/23/10: 2 Peter 1:4-15
Main Idea: We must be fruitful for God
What I Learned About God: God has given us a gift in which we must give unto others
Summary: In 2 Peter, he is showing the churches through this letter that God has given us a gift. This gift in which we escape this world of sin so that we can be a part of eternal life with Jesus. With each attribute that we must learn to use, we must also compliment it with things like love, steadfastness, and self-control. If we have these qualities, we then exemplify the Word of God in our lives, but if we don't incorporate these qualities, we are ineffective in sharing God's Word with others. If we do not remember His love and sacrifice we become nearsighted and forget of what Jesus has pulled us from. Peter just reminds the church that through practice of these qualitites, we can never fail and we will be gladly accepted into the kingdom of Heaven. Peter affirms these facts in which he says that we should all be reminded of these things frequently so that we will never forget this lesson in our life.
Application: In my life, I have been always tempted to go drinking and party and disregard my moral and spiritual values. Knowing these sins, I still fall into temptation and have committed sexual immorality and debauchery all with the title of being a "good church boy". Having been deemed that nickname, I have always been offended by that because as they themselves attend church every Sunday, I am pointed out because of my practice of my values that I learn in church. When I do fall, it does so much more damage on their view of a "good church person" because my actions do not reflect what I learn and then they deem me a hypocrite because I go to church and I go to parties. After seeing this passage and reading it, I noticed just how much more actions do speak louder than words in my life. Especially being deemed the "good church boy" my nickname carries the supposed reflection of who I am representing which is God. My life being a representation of God should be so much more than what I am doing right now because without Him we would never have the chance of eternal life. We must always remember His sacrifice and from what we came from.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
What I Learned About God: God has given us a gift in which we must give unto others
Summary: In 2 Peter, he is showing the churches through this letter that God has given us a gift. This gift in which we escape this world of sin so that we can be a part of eternal life with Jesus. With each attribute that we must learn to use, we must also compliment it with things like love, steadfastness, and self-control. If we have these qualities, we then exemplify the Word of God in our lives, but if we don't incorporate these qualities, we are ineffective in sharing God's Word with others. If we do not remember His love and sacrifice we become nearsighted and forget of what Jesus has pulled us from. Peter just reminds the church that through practice of these qualitites, we can never fail and we will be gladly accepted into the kingdom of Heaven. Peter affirms these facts in which he says that we should all be reminded of these things frequently so that we will never forget this lesson in our life.
Application: In my life, I have been always tempted to go drinking and party and disregard my moral and spiritual values. Knowing these sins, I still fall into temptation and have committed sexual immorality and debauchery all with the title of being a "good church boy". Having been deemed that nickname, I have always been offended by that because as they themselves attend church every Sunday, I am pointed out because of my practice of my values that I learn in church. When I do fall, it does so much more damage on their view of a "good church person" because my actions do not reflect what I learn and then they deem me a hypocrite because I go to church and I go to parties. After seeing this passage and reading it, I noticed just how much more actions do speak louder than words in my life. Especially being deemed the "good church boy" my nickname carries the supposed reflection of who I am representing which is God. My life being a representation of God should be so much more than what I am doing right now because without Him we would never have the chance of eternal life. We must always remember His sacrifice and from what we came from.
Money Owed: 8 dollars
-Andrew Park
Proverbs 11:12 The Belittlers Beliefs
4/23/10
Time Spent: 13 min
Main Idea: Those that belittle people are ones which will meet God's judgment and should remain silent instead.
What I learned about God: Judgment upon people should be left for God alone. People should not belittle anyone because that's a case of judgment upon them.
Summary: Verses 9-12 in its context is talking about harmful speech that will bring down a brother. The folly of the fool is in his mouth; slandering and belittling the people around him. However, there are consequences for these sins, which will lead him to destruction. There should be no air of boasting as well, seeing as the man who belittles considers a certain arrogance over the man they belittle. No one stands in that place and thus should not come to judgment upon each other.
Application: To belittle someone has been a common thing that I've done to poke fun at people. I realize that any sort is not just harmful for the person, but harmful to me. I did not know that I was exuding judgment and folly upon myself for a light joke like this. However, this verse makes it crystal clear that these are not the ways of God, but rather are the ways of the fool. I must remember to watch my mouth even when it's joking around with friends or with church people.
Time Spent: 13 min
Main Idea: Those that belittle people are ones which will meet God's judgment and should remain silent instead.
What I learned about God: Judgment upon people should be left for God alone. People should not belittle anyone because that's a case of judgment upon them.
Summary: Verses 9-12 in its context is talking about harmful speech that will bring down a brother. The folly of the fool is in his mouth; slandering and belittling the people around him. However, there are consequences for these sins, which will lead him to destruction. There should be no air of boasting as well, seeing as the man who belittles considers a certain arrogance over the man they belittle. No one stands in that place and thus should not come to judgment upon each other.
Application: To belittle someone has been a common thing that I've done to poke fun at people. I realize that any sort is not just harmful for the person, but harmful to me. I did not know that I was exuding judgment and folly upon myself for a light joke like this. However, this verse makes it crystal clear that these are not the ways of God, but rather are the ways of the fool. I must remember to watch my mouth even when it's joking around with friends or with church people.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
4/22/10 Colossians 3:12-17
Main Idea: Be pure in all that you do
Summary: This passage basically speaks about how we must have a pure heart in everything we do in order to please God. We must use love in all that we have in working for God. We must have our body as pure and holy spirits in which we must praise God in all that we do.
Application: This was a short passage in which it was a quick read but i felt so relieved and also rebuked at this passage. This is showing me in which I struggle to please myself in what I do in service with God. I feel whenever I serve in church, I need to be rewarded but in truth I must be humbled and do it with a full heart in order to please God.
-Andrew Park
Proverbs 10:6-32 the story of life from the mouth that's mute
4/22/10
Time Spent: 25 min
Main Idea: The speech of a person and their visible testimony will be the determinant of whether he is wise or a fool.
What I learned about God: James brings up the following contradiction; how can one praise God with the same that he curses his brother? God knows the power of the tongue and will hold it against you if you use it in an unworthy manner.
Summary: One should never neglect the power of words. This passage in Proverbs show a correlation between words and lifestyle. The mouth used in this passage to denote a man's desire or for speech. Thus, the one that fails in doing this is walking the path of the fool. These are clear indicators of the doom in which God will bring; either for their judgment or for their praise. Understanding the blessings of the wise; who restrains his lips (v.19), feed others with his wisdom (v.21), and will bring forth wisdom (v.31). However, the errors of the fool will use words leading up to sins (v.19), will die because of "word malnutrition (v.21), and will eventually find its ruin for their errant tongue use (v.31). These are to provide cogent warnings towards the people to not err in using words; but to remember the weight that words have.
Application: After preaching my first sermon for school, I got a lot of praise but some criticism to go along with it. One of the major complaints was my choice of language that was used. I thought it was "academic", but the professor wanted me to use conversational language because that's what communicates better. This made me a little annoyed because I hate being pigeon-holed into a specific time of pragmatic process in which I am the one which has to change; not the people. However, after giving thought about it, I should make my language clear so that everyone has a chance to hear God's Word for what it is. I realized that language is the key communicator for understanding and meditating upon God's Word. Faith comes by hearing, and so how can one gain faith when the message doesn't come out as clear as the speaker had planned? This is the key in making a good message.
I have failed in manuscripting my sermons as of late, which has lead to me either reading off of my notes or just speaking to the congregation off the top of my head. I realize I need to spend a little less time in study and more time in preparation for this week's sermon.
Time Spent: 25 min
Main Idea: The speech of a person and their visible testimony will be the determinant of whether he is wise or a fool.
What I learned about God: James brings up the following contradiction; how can one praise God with the same that he curses his brother? God knows the power of the tongue and will hold it against you if you use it in an unworthy manner.
Summary: One should never neglect the power of words. This passage in Proverbs show a correlation between words and lifestyle. The mouth used in this passage to denote a man's desire or for speech. Thus, the one that fails in doing this is walking the path of the fool. These are clear indicators of the doom in which God will bring; either for their judgment or for their praise. Understanding the blessings of the wise; who restrains his lips (v.19), feed others with his wisdom (v.21), and will bring forth wisdom (v.31). However, the errors of the fool will use words leading up to sins (v.19), will die because of "word malnutrition (v.21), and will eventually find its ruin for their errant tongue use (v.31). These are to provide cogent warnings towards the people to not err in using words; but to remember the weight that words have.
Application: After preaching my first sermon for school, I got a lot of praise but some criticism to go along with it. One of the major complaints was my choice of language that was used. I thought it was "academic", but the professor wanted me to use conversational language because that's what communicates better. This made me a little annoyed because I hate being pigeon-holed into a specific time of pragmatic process in which I am the one which has to change; not the people. However, after giving thought about it, I should make my language clear so that everyone has a chance to hear God's Word for what it is. I realized that language is the key communicator for understanding and meditating upon God's Word. Faith comes by hearing, and so how can one gain faith when the message doesn't come out as clear as the speaker had planned? This is the key in making a good message.
I have failed in manuscripting my sermons as of late, which has lead to me either reading off of my notes or just speaking to the congregation off the top of my head. I realize I need to spend a little less time in study and more time in preparation for this week's sermon.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Proverbs 9 The Two Ladies
4/21/10
Time Spent: 18 min
Main Idea: The lady of folly and the lady of wisdom are compared and contrasted with one another.
What I learn about God: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Summary: The father's instruction to his son ends with the comparison of these two ladies. There is a woman of wisdom (Prov. 9:1-12) compared to that to the wisdom of folly (vv. 13-18). This section does well to summarize the lengthy proverbs of the father. Pursue wisdom rather than folly. They are always pitted against each other. Wisdom will make the slow wise and the patient strengthened as folly will lead the person to destruction. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; an idea that was stated in 1:7 is used to close out this book. The writer is showing throughout his pleadings with his son that this is the central, internalized idea which will grant his son wisdom.
Application: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom talks about a reverent fear one has before the Lord. A man that fears the Lord is the one who obeys the woman of wisdom. How does that look like in my life? Fear of the Lord is found in the daily decisions one makes in life. If I understood the nature of God in every decision, would I really act out or get upset against people? Would I continue to do school work for myself? Would I be too busy not to pray? One of the ways that I lack the "fear of the Lord" is in my dedication to prayer. I need to pray and ask for God's help in my ministry and I do not appeal to prayer as much as I need to as a pastor. Therefore, I will try to pray for 5 min in the morning to start off my day on the right track.
Time Spent: 18 min
Main Idea: The lady of folly and the lady of wisdom are compared and contrasted with one another.
What I learn about God: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Summary: The father's instruction to his son ends with the comparison of these two ladies. There is a woman of wisdom (Prov. 9:1-12) compared to that to the wisdom of folly (vv. 13-18). This section does well to summarize the lengthy proverbs of the father. Pursue wisdom rather than folly. They are always pitted against each other. Wisdom will make the slow wise and the patient strengthened as folly will lead the person to destruction. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; an idea that was stated in 1:7 is used to close out this book. The writer is showing throughout his pleadings with his son that this is the central, internalized idea which will grant his son wisdom.
Application: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom talks about a reverent fear one has before the Lord. A man that fears the Lord is the one who obeys the woman of wisdom. How does that look like in my life? Fear of the Lord is found in the daily decisions one makes in life. If I understood the nature of God in every decision, would I really act out or get upset against people? Would I continue to do school work for myself? Would I be too busy not to pray? One of the ways that I lack the "fear of the Lord" is in my dedication to prayer. I need to pray and ask for God's help in my ministry and I do not appeal to prayer as much as I need to as a pastor. Therefore, I will try to pray for 5 min in the morning to start off my day on the right track.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Proverbs 8:22-31 Wisdom's Role in Creation
4/20/10
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: Wisdom was there even amongst the work of God during the creation of the world.
What I learned about God: Understanding that the agent of creation was through the Son, Jesus Christ (Col. 1:17-19; Rev. 3:14) we note that it is the wisdom of God, Jesus Christ that is fully described in these verses.
Summary: Wisdom personified as calling towards the children of man is seen here from the very foundation of the earth. Wisdom is the one that is crying and calling out, asking that people listen to her rather than the banter of the adulteress. Now, wisdom seeks to share some of her characteristics with the people; sharing that it has stems even from the dawn of creation. It is the LORD who possessed wisdom at work and wisdom was immersed throughout the work of God's creation. Surely when we look at who this person of wisdom is, Paul sheds some light that it is Jesus Christ (Col. 1:17). he was the agent responsible for the creation of the world and he is the one that is attributed as wisdom personified. Thus Proverbs is showcasing the display not of God's judgment, but the power and wisdom of His Son. He is the one worthy of the praise and glory, who was from the beginning and will endure until the end.
Application: Understanding that Christ is God's wisdom from the very beginning has implications to my life. For example, if Christ is God's wisdom, then we need to understand that his life is the one which is the "right life" to live. I have the tendency to not like the appeal of Jesus's life, which was marked with a nomadic movement and travel which does not beset me. The motives and ways in which he dealth with people also shine as examples to my sinful face of all the times I dare not engage or talk to people who had offended me. Recognizing that Jesus is God's wisdom places this whole book of Proverbs in perspective: that wisdom does not come from doing the words that are listed here but pointing to the wisdom that was there before creation; Jesus Christ. Today as I close this very long day, I want to pray that God fills me with wisdom, which is filling me with more of Christ in my life. Making his characteristics and actions as my own. This is what I wanted when I study Proverbs, to make Christ more apparent in my life.
Amount Owed: $2
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: Wisdom was there even amongst the work of God during the creation of the world.
What I learned about God: Understanding that the agent of creation was through the Son, Jesus Christ (Col. 1:17-19; Rev. 3:14) we note that it is the wisdom of God, Jesus Christ that is fully described in these verses.
Summary: Wisdom personified as calling towards the children of man is seen here from the very foundation of the earth. Wisdom is the one that is crying and calling out, asking that people listen to her rather than the banter of the adulteress. Now, wisdom seeks to share some of her characteristics with the people; sharing that it has stems even from the dawn of creation. It is the LORD who possessed wisdom at work and wisdom was immersed throughout the work of God's creation. Surely when we look at who this person of wisdom is, Paul sheds some light that it is Jesus Christ (Col. 1:17). he was the agent responsible for the creation of the world and he is the one that is attributed as wisdom personified. Thus Proverbs is showcasing the display not of God's judgment, but the power and wisdom of His Son. He is the one worthy of the praise and glory, who was from the beginning and will endure until the end.
Application: Understanding that Christ is God's wisdom from the very beginning has implications to my life. For example, if Christ is God's wisdom, then we need to understand that his life is the one which is the "right life" to live. I have the tendency to not like the appeal of Jesus's life, which was marked with a nomadic movement and travel which does not beset me. The motives and ways in which he dealth with people also shine as examples to my sinful face of all the times I dare not engage or talk to people who had offended me. Recognizing that Jesus is God's wisdom places this whole book of Proverbs in perspective: that wisdom does not come from doing the words that are listed here but pointing to the wisdom that was there before creation; Jesus Christ. Today as I close this very long day, I want to pray that God fills me with wisdom, which is filling me with more of Christ in my life. Making his characteristics and actions as my own. This is what I wanted when I study Proverbs, to make Christ more apparent in my life.
Amount Owed: $2
4/20/10: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Main Idea: Flee Sexual Immorality
What I learned about God: God made us to worship Him and nothing else
Summary: This is Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth and this is talking about how everything in creation all has one purpose. The first example of how food and the stomach are made for each other. The stomach is made so that food is digested and food was made so that the stomach would nourish the body. He then comes to the example in how our bodies were made so that we use our bodies to worship God. He then goes onto the fact that we cannot commit sexual immorality because it is not the duty of the body. When we commit sexual immorality, we give to God through our bodies. Paul quotes Jesus in that when two fleshes combine, they become one and how they will never separate. Paul explains that we must flee sexual immorality and become one with the Spirit so that we may use our bodies for worship Him. We worship Him with our bodies because our bodies themselves are also temples for the Holy Spirit. He then concludes with how it is not our bodies to use in our own ways because Jesus paid the price for us to use our bodies, so in return we must glorify Him through our bodies.
Application: This being a touchy subject in the church, sexual immorality is one of the sins that can only grow and continue to hurt more people. Jesus, having died on the cross and paying the price of these bodies with His blood, it wouldn't be right if we did whatever we liked. Having being born as a human, we are naturally sinners, and now as saints we are persuaded in this world to see that following what you want to do is okay. We must reject all things that do not give glory to God and we must just follow Him. In my own life, I have been struggling with it either being cursing, or being obnoxious or even to the sensitive subject of pornography. Being a man, mine and all other man's sexual temptations must run the deepest because we are so weak and how we must deal wiht this is through prayer and memory verses and just strong accountability. I feel through KCM and other ways of being more accountable has just been such a blessing in that they keep me accountable and when ever I feel that I am being tempted, I can also talk to my small group leader and other brothers and that we may be able to pray for it together. I must just remember that in whatever I do, my body was paid through Jesus' sacrifice and His blood and so that I may not through away my body and combine it with a prostitute, but instead I must join the Spirit and just allow Him to rule my heart throughout my life no matter how hard the road is.
Money Owed: 7 dollars
-Andrew Park
What I learned about God: God made us to worship Him and nothing else
Summary: This is Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth and this is talking about how everything in creation all has one purpose. The first example of how food and the stomach are made for each other. The stomach is made so that food is digested and food was made so that the stomach would nourish the body. He then comes to the example in how our bodies were made so that we use our bodies to worship God. He then goes onto the fact that we cannot commit sexual immorality because it is not the duty of the body. When we commit sexual immorality, we give to God through our bodies. Paul quotes Jesus in that when two fleshes combine, they become one and how they will never separate. Paul explains that we must flee sexual immorality and become one with the Spirit so that we may use our bodies for worship Him. We worship Him with our bodies because our bodies themselves are also temples for the Holy Spirit. He then concludes with how it is not our bodies to use in our own ways because Jesus paid the price for us to use our bodies, so in return we must glorify Him through our bodies.
Application: This being a touchy subject in the church, sexual immorality is one of the sins that can only grow and continue to hurt more people. Jesus, having died on the cross and paying the price of these bodies with His blood, it wouldn't be right if we did whatever we liked. Having being born as a human, we are naturally sinners, and now as saints we are persuaded in this world to see that following what you want to do is okay. We must reject all things that do not give glory to God and we must just follow Him. In my own life, I have been struggling with it either being cursing, or being obnoxious or even to the sensitive subject of pornography. Being a man, mine and all other man's sexual temptations must run the deepest because we are so weak and how we must deal wiht this is through prayer and memory verses and just strong accountability. I feel through KCM and other ways of being more accountable has just been such a blessing in that they keep me accountable and when ever I feel that I am being tempted, I can also talk to my small group leader and other brothers and that we may be able to pray for it together. I must just remember that in whatever I do, my body was paid through Jesus' sacrifice and His blood and so that I may not through away my body and combine it with a prostitute, but instead I must join the Spirit and just allow Him to rule my heart throughout my life no matter how hard the road is.
Money Owed: 7 dollars
-Andrew Park
Monday, April 19, 2010
4/19/10: Phillipians 2:12-18
Main Idea: Be Lights of the world
What I learned about God: God gives allows us to glorify Him
Summary: This is Paul's letter to the church in Philippi and this is just a part of the letter that tells the Philippians to just do everything without grumbling and being questioning. It says in the beginning of this passage that God gives us the will to do good. God shows us that if we don't bicker and question the actions in which we do, we will be blameless and innocent children of God compared to the rest of the world. We would be the lights of the dark world in which we live in.
Application: It's funny how Pastor Charlie and I were just talking about how annoying this blog is becoming on top of all the school work and fricking midterms coming up on top of what I have to do for mission training. This goes to show that I am ridiculously stressed and yet I still do these things. In my small group today at UCLA KCM, we went over this chapter of Philippians and how Paul is reiterating that we must be the lights of the world in that we are seen more through our actions than our words. As a big guy, most people can see me do things regardless of it being me praising God or me complaining about having to move tables or do homework. I shouldn't be the one who is known for complaining more about what he does than actually doing it, but be known for doing things with a pure heart. I feel that through this devotion, God has truly just taught me a true lesson in humility. I feel through all my pride, I think that I don't have to do these petty things but in reality if God came down from Heaven to die for our sins, the least I can do are petty odd jobs without complaining. I should be doing these errands with a full heart so that I may be glorifying God through all the things that I do. I need to be a better and brighter light in the world.
Money Owed: 7 dollars
-Andrew Park
What I learned about God: God gives allows us to glorify Him
Summary: This is Paul's letter to the church in Philippi and this is just a part of the letter that tells the Philippians to just do everything without grumbling and being questioning. It says in the beginning of this passage that God gives us the will to do good. God shows us that if we don't bicker and question the actions in which we do, we will be blameless and innocent children of God compared to the rest of the world. We would be the lights of the dark world in which we live in.
Application: It's funny how Pastor Charlie and I were just talking about how annoying this blog is becoming on top of all the school work and fricking midterms coming up on top of what I have to do for mission training. This goes to show that I am ridiculously stressed and yet I still do these things. In my small group today at UCLA KCM, we went over this chapter of Philippians and how Paul is reiterating that we must be the lights of the world in that we are seen more through our actions than our words. As a big guy, most people can see me do things regardless of it being me praising God or me complaining about having to move tables or do homework. I shouldn't be the one who is known for complaining more about what he does than actually doing it, but be known for doing things with a pure heart. I feel that through this devotion, God has truly just taught me a true lesson in humility. I feel through all my pride, I think that I don't have to do these petty things but in reality if God came down from Heaven to die for our sins, the least I can do are petty odd jobs without complaining. I should be doing these errands with a full heart so that I may be glorifying God through all the things that I do. I need to be a better and brighter light in the world.
Money Owed: 7 dollars
-Andrew Park
Proverbs 7:1-27 the wayward ways of the prostitute
4/19/10
Time Spent: 23 min
Main Idea: The adulteress in her persuasion and her appeal must be denied through hearing the call of wisdom.
What I learned about God: One can only heed one voice: whether it be the way of God or the ways of this world. God is the wise father and we are the adulterers in this passage.
Summary: This wise father had a lengthy discourse upon the ways of sexual purity in the first 7 chapters of Proverbs. He has 4 different lectures highlighting something significant about sexual immorality (cf. 2:16-19; 5:1-23; 6:20-33; 7:1-27). This is the tying end to what was begun in 2:16-19, focusing on the gripping nature of the adulteress. The father first urges the son to listen to his teachings and meditate on the constantly. Next, he begins to share what not to listen to; the alluring message of the adulteress. She is defined as brash, loud, and wayward (v.11). The father's wise instructions will be squelched through the brashness of the wayward woman if one is not careful. Like the previous addresses, the father reminds the son to protect himself against the smooth tongue of the woman (2:16; 5:2-3; 6:24; 7:5). The father ends with the appeal that the unfaithful woman will bring destruction as a stag is lead to a trap (v. 22) and thus is to be avoided at all cost since her end is destruction.
Application: In all of its figurative language; wisdom and adultery are both personified as women who are calling out for attention. To the spiritual gullible and inept, the calling of the adulteress seems more alluring to the one of wisdom. Maybe that is why the father sets his appeal to his son 4 times in the span of 7 chapters. This is a serious idea! When I think about what I am influenced by, I cannot help but partition the hours of my day into facebooking, television watching, and gaming. Now, some of those things are not inherently evil in themselves, but I do think that they could lead me to "waywardness" talked about in these verses. Wisdom, found in God's word and sought in prayer, are not the highlights of my day and I do not dwell upon those. Instead after a long day of studying, I cannot wait to divulge in one of the three mentioned things above. Thus, I want to make sure before I indulge into those three things that I spend at least 30 min in the Word wrestling and meditation on the way of wisdom in which God wants to bring in my life. Soli deo gloria
Amount Owed: $2
Time Spent: 23 min
Main Idea: The adulteress in her persuasion and her appeal must be denied through hearing the call of wisdom.
What I learned about God: One can only heed one voice: whether it be the way of God or the ways of this world. God is the wise father and we are the adulterers in this passage.
Summary: This wise father had a lengthy discourse upon the ways of sexual purity in the first 7 chapters of Proverbs. He has 4 different lectures highlighting something significant about sexual immorality (cf. 2:16-19; 5:1-23; 6:20-33; 7:1-27). This is the tying end to what was begun in 2:16-19, focusing on the gripping nature of the adulteress. The father first urges the son to listen to his teachings and meditate on the constantly. Next, he begins to share what not to listen to; the alluring message of the adulteress. She is defined as brash, loud, and wayward (v.11). The father's wise instructions will be squelched through the brashness of the wayward woman if one is not careful. Like the previous addresses, the father reminds the son to protect himself against the smooth tongue of the woman (2:16; 5:2-3; 6:24; 7:5). The father ends with the appeal that the unfaithful woman will bring destruction as a stag is lead to a trap (v. 22) and thus is to be avoided at all cost since her end is destruction.
Application: In all of its figurative language; wisdom and adultery are both personified as women who are calling out for attention. To the spiritual gullible and inept, the calling of the adulteress seems more alluring to the one of wisdom. Maybe that is why the father sets his appeal to his son 4 times in the span of 7 chapters. This is a serious idea! When I think about what I am influenced by, I cannot help but partition the hours of my day into facebooking, television watching, and gaming. Now, some of those things are not inherently evil in themselves, but I do think that they could lead me to "waywardness" talked about in these verses. Wisdom, found in God's word and sought in prayer, are not the highlights of my day and I do not dwell upon those. Instead after a long day of studying, I cannot wait to divulge in one of the three mentioned things above. Thus, I want to make sure before I indulge into those three things that I spend at least 30 min in the Word wrestling and meditation on the way of wisdom in which God wants to bring in my life. Soli deo gloria
Amount Owed: $2
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Proverbs 6:16-19 The Lord's Anger
4/17/10
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: God's thorough but non-exhaustive list towards personal sins; revealing his hatred of them
What I Learn about God: Part of being holy is hating sin. God can be both a loving and holy God which will lead to Him bearing righteous anger against things that go against His nature.
Summary: Changes the numerical value from six to seven is a way which God is sharing that the list although it may be specific, is not exhaustive. God shares what are the things that he detests summarized by; sins of attitude (17a), one of thought (18a), two of speech (17b, 19a), two of action (17b, 18b), and one of influence (19b). These makeup the things to which the Lord finds an abomination. A parallel is found through this verse and that of vv. 12-14 with repeated vocabulary, showing that the worthless person is the same one which characterizes this person.
Application: The sin that I struggle most with from this list is "haughty eyes". Comparing gifts, ministries, and other things have sidetracked me way too much in my life. Tim Keller notes that envy is one of the most deplorable sins because other sins usually leave the person with some sort of sick satisfaction and joy. However, that is not true with envy. Envy robs all sense of joy as somehow the thing in which God gave you is not enough compared to another. I find that getting over this hump on envy realizes that I have not been fully satisfied in what the Lord had provided me. I am sure I would not envy another person when I can say like the Psalmist, the Lord is my portion forever. I will resolve to memorize Psalm 16:5, "The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot." and meditate on it when I have bouts with envy.
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: God's thorough but non-exhaustive list towards personal sins; revealing his hatred of them
What I Learn about God: Part of being holy is hating sin. God can be both a loving and holy God which will lead to Him bearing righteous anger against things that go against His nature.
Summary: Changes the numerical value from six to seven is a way which God is sharing that the list although it may be specific, is not exhaustive. God shares what are the things that he detests summarized by; sins of attitude (17a), one of thought (18a), two of speech (17b, 19a), two of action (17b, 18b), and one of influence (19b). These makeup the things to which the Lord finds an abomination. A parallel is found through this verse and that of vv. 12-14 with repeated vocabulary, showing that the worthless person is the same one which characterizes this person.
Application: The sin that I struggle most with from this list is "haughty eyes". Comparing gifts, ministries, and other things have sidetracked me way too much in my life. Tim Keller notes that envy is one of the most deplorable sins because other sins usually leave the person with some sort of sick satisfaction and joy. However, that is not true with envy. Envy robs all sense of joy as somehow the thing in which God gave you is not enough compared to another. I find that getting over this hump on envy realizes that I have not been fully satisfied in what the Lord had provided me. I am sure I would not envy another person when I can say like the Psalmist, the Lord is my portion forever. I will resolve to memorize Psalm 16:5, "The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot." and meditate on it when I have bouts with envy.
Psalms 96:1-13
Main Idea: Worshiping God's Awesomeness
What I Learned about God: God is truly the one and only God who is different from all others.
Summary: This is a Psalm that is all about how we must praise God because He is truly the Lord of all and how we must show others who God is and what He can do at any time. We as the people that adore God, we must go and spread the word of His great and awesomeness.
Application: We must see and recognize who God is. God is the being that has no beginning or end. We must recognize these things in that He is so awesome and powerful in that we have no other choice but to worship Him because He is the God of all. God truly just deserves all worship because He is just so unmeasurable in His power or His love for us. We have to spread His name because the love we receive from Him is just so powerful and abundant that we cannot contain His name like a lamp under a cover, we must be the ones to put the lamp on top of a hook so that all can see.
Money Owed: 5 dollars
-Andrew Park
What I Learned about God: God is truly the one and only God who is different from all others.
Summary: This is a Psalm that is all about how we must praise God because He is truly the Lord of all and how we must show others who God is and what He can do at any time. We as the people that adore God, we must go and spread the word of His great and awesomeness.
Application: We must see and recognize who God is. God is the being that has no beginning or end. We must recognize these things in that He is so awesome and powerful in that we have no other choice but to worship Him because He is the God of all. God truly just deserves all worship because He is just so unmeasurable in His power or His love for us. We have to spread His name because the love we receive from Him is just so powerful and abundant that we cannot contain His name like a lamp under a cover, we must be the ones to put the lamp on top of a hook so that all can see.
Money Owed: 5 dollars
-Andrew Park
Friday, April 16, 2010
Proverbs 6:6-11 the Sluggard
4/16/10
Time Spent: 18 min
Main Idea: There is no room for slothful behavior when it comes to being wise in the Lord.
What I learn about God: Diligence first found in the Lord is to be exercised in worship and reverence towards Him.
Summary: The sluggard is a fun character found throughout the Proverbs. He has animal-like laziness (26:14), preposterous excuses (26:13; 22:13), and his final helpless estate. Some of the other things that define him are; not beginning things (6:9), not finish things (12:27), and not face things (22:13). Because of these things, the sluggard finds that his life is restless (13:4). A man of non-diligence is a man that does not enjoy anything, yet is too lazy to make something out of his life. One can learn from the ant, who prepares their food and gathers in harvest without any sort of chief (6:6-8). These contrasts the laziness of the sluggard, who will feel the restlessness of life because of his inability to achieve anything.
Application: Jesus said "come and I will give you rest...my yoke is unburdensome". Now, this seems to contrasts the restlessness from the sluggard. Does not working and trust=>rest? Obviously this is a nuance that needs to be dealt with. Pharisees were not sluggards, they meticulously obeyed every law, yet were restless. They did not enter God's rest because they trusted in their own works to obtain the rest of God. However, it is only through Jesus that they would achieve it. The sluggard cannot achieve rest because of the exact opposite motive of the Pharisee; it is because they are apathetic and lazy. Not finishing things is a huge problem for me; whether it be books or assignments. It is hard to find time to finish my pleasure reading, which I seriously need to keep my sanity in reading my other books. Although I don't feel like a sluggard with all the work I'm doing, one must remember that busyness does not always lead to further godliness. I must remember that things that I start must be finished. Thus, I will try and finish Spiritual Depression by Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones by the end of the month. Soli deo gloria.
Time Spent: 18 min
Main Idea: There is no room for slothful behavior when it comes to being wise in the Lord.
What I learn about God: Diligence first found in the Lord is to be exercised in worship and reverence towards Him.
Summary: The sluggard is a fun character found throughout the Proverbs. He has animal-like laziness (26:14), preposterous excuses (26:13; 22:13), and his final helpless estate. Some of the other things that define him are; not beginning things (6:9), not finish things (12:27), and not face things (22:13). Because of these things, the sluggard finds that his life is restless (13:4). A man of non-diligence is a man that does not enjoy anything, yet is too lazy to make something out of his life. One can learn from the ant, who prepares their food and gathers in harvest without any sort of chief (6:6-8). These contrasts the laziness of the sluggard, who will feel the restlessness of life because of his inability to achieve anything.
Application: Jesus said "come and I will give you rest...my yoke is unburdensome". Now, this seems to contrasts the restlessness from the sluggard. Does not working and trust=>rest? Obviously this is a nuance that needs to be dealt with. Pharisees were not sluggards, they meticulously obeyed every law, yet were restless. They did not enter God's rest because they trusted in their own works to obtain the rest of God. However, it is only through Jesus that they would achieve it. The sluggard cannot achieve rest because of the exact opposite motive of the Pharisee; it is because they are apathetic and lazy. Not finishing things is a huge problem for me; whether it be books or assignments. It is hard to find time to finish my pleasure reading, which I seriously need to keep my sanity in reading my other books. Although I don't feel like a sluggard with all the work I'm doing, one must remember that busyness does not always lead to further godliness. I must remember that things that I start must be finished. Thus, I will try and finish Spiritual Depression by Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones by the end of the month. Soli deo gloria.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Proverbs 5:1-23 Looking at women with wise-eyed views
4/15/10
Time Spent: 25 min
Main Idea: The dreary consequences of sexual immorality is contrasted to the glory found in a wise, God-honoring marriage.
What I learned about God: God is the omniscient, knowing the ways and paths of a man even in the innermost regions of his soul.
Summary: This Proverb is broken up into three sections: the allure of the adulteress (vv. 1-6), the price of infidelity (vv. 7-14), and comparison between faithful marriage against an ungodly one (vv. 15-23). The idea of marriage is a huge issue back in these times: it was in a way the power of the family. People married namely for the financial and social support of a family instead of our western idea of love. Although the idealisms in marriage may differ, the catch of sexual immorality was still the same. People were not satisfied in their relationship, both men and women, which caused them to go beyond the confines God placed on marriage in seeking other partners. The father in this chapter is warning the pitfalls of following into the immoral woman's speech which is "dripping with honey". He states even to go as far as to say to keep clear of people like her (v. 8). The practice of sharing the Good News to all people was far from the father's mind; he's saying get the heck out of there! Another thing to note is that the cause of sexual sin seems to be none other then a "lack of discipline" (vv. 12, 23). It was not blaming the passion of the moment, but was a series of failed hedges a person failed to practice in one's life. Godly marriage is a delight in emotionally (v. 18) and physically (v. 19). The adulteress cannot offer those same blessings.
Application: The battle we have in falling into sexual temptation can be summed up through these words: lack of discipline. This Proverb conveys this specific truth, that we fall in our ways because we do not place proper hedges or control in our lives when dealing with the opposite sex. This can be drawn as far as images from TV, internet, or movies; or can even be seen in having an unguarded attitude at church. One of my biggest areas when temptation comes up is in the Monday morning. I'm exhausted after a full-day of ministry, which sometimes loses my restraint upon what I think or dwell on. I blamed it on my tiredness, but the true issue is discipline. How I spent that day or think about even after church on Sunday will have immediate impact upon what I think about the next day. I want to resolve on Sunday to finish homework after church after Teacher's Appreciation and finishing the day off with QT and prayer.
Time Spent: 25 min
Main Idea: The dreary consequences of sexual immorality is contrasted to the glory found in a wise, God-honoring marriage.
What I learned about God: God is the omniscient, knowing the ways and paths of a man even in the innermost regions of his soul.
Summary: This Proverb is broken up into three sections: the allure of the adulteress (vv. 1-6), the price of infidelity (vv. 7-14), and comparison between faithful marriage against an ungodly one (vv. 15-23). The idea of marriage is a huge issue back in these times: it was in a way the power of the family. People married namely for the financial and social support of a family instead of our western idea of love. Although the idealisms in marriage may differ, the catch of sexual immorality was still the same. People were not satisfied in their relationship, both men and women, which caused them to go beyond the confines God placed on marriage in seeking other partners. The father in this chapter is warning the pitfalls of following into the immoral woman's speech which is "dripping with honey". He states even to go as far as to say to keep clear of people like her (v. 8). The practice of sharing the Good News to all people was far from the father's mind; he's saying get the heck out of there! Another thing to note is that the cause of sexual sin seems to be none other then a "lack of discipline" (vv. 12, 23). It was not blaming the passion of the moment, but was a series of failed hedges a person failed to practice in one's life. Godly marriage is a delight in emotionally (v. 18) and physically (v. 19). The adulteress cannot offer those same blessings.
Application: The battle we have in falling into sexual temptation can be summed up through these words: lack of discipline. This Proverb conveys this specific truth, that we fall in our ways because we do not place proper hedges or control in our lives when dealing with the opposite sex. This can be drawn as far as images from TV, internet, or movies; or can even be seen in having an unguarded attitude at church. One of my biggest areas when temptation comes up is in the Monday morning. I'm exhausted after a full-day of ministry, which sometimes loses my restraint upon what I think or dwell on. I blamed it on my tiredness, but the true issue is discipline. How I spent that day or think about even after church on Sunday will have immediate impact upon what I think about the next day. I want to resolve on Sunday to finish homework after church after Teacher's Appreciation and finishing the day off with QT and prayer.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Genesis 12:1-8
Time:
Main Idea: Trust in Him Always
What I learned about God: God has the perfect plan for everyone
Summary: This is a passage in which Abraham is called by God to pick up everything he had owned in his life and move to Canaan, in which he followed God's words. Abraham took him, his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot and all of his possessions. Abraham went and saw this land full of Canaanites and then as God promised that land for his children, he believed God's truth as true and then he built an altar for God in the middle of the land.
Application: Abraham was a guy full of faith. He followed God and whatever He had told Abraham to do. When someone tells me to get up from a seat I am comfortably on, I say no and refuse but when Abraham decided to move him and his whole family to join God, that is tremendous faith in God's word being the truth. Abraham is a man who never forgot the meaning of God's words. Over 2000 years ahve passed since then but we must also remember how God's word, no matter how against it we may be, it is the truth and we must listen. God gives us advice that will seem beneficial or burdening at times, but what we must do as Christians is to listen to God's voice and just know that He will provide for us.
Money owed: 3 dollars
-Andrew Park
Main Idea: Trust in Him Always
What I learned about God: God has the perfect plan for everyone
Summary: This is a passage in which Abraham is called by God to pick up everything he had owned in his life and move to Canaan, in which he followed God's words. Abraham took him, his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot and all of his possessions. Abraham went and saw this land full of Canaanites and then as God promised that land for his children, he believed God's truth as true and then he built an altar for God in the middle of the land.
Application: Abraham was a guy full of faith. He followed God and whatever He had told Abraham to do. When someone tells me to get up from a seat I am comfortably on, I say no and refuse but when Abraham decided to move him and his whole family to join God, that is tremendous faith in God's word being the truth. Abraham is a man who never forgot the meaning of God's words. Over 2000 years ahve passed since then but we must also remember how God's word, no matter how against it we may be, it is the truth and we must listen. God gives us advice that will seem beneficial or burdening at times, but what we must do as Christians is to listen to God's voice and just know that He will provide for us.
Money owed: 3 dollars
-Andrew Park
Proverbs 4:20-27 Your wisdom physical (sans the coughing)
4/14/10
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: The father urges the son to concentrate with all of his being (heart, mouth, eyes, feet) in order to be devoted to wisdom.
What I Learned about God: God demands a complete transformation from our sinful nature to the new self in Christ.
Summary: This passage talks about the seeking of wisdom in relation to various body parts. The heart (v.23), the inner beings of the person must be kept with all vigilance for from it is the "outflow of life". The characteristic of the "true life" we were meant to live in God is through the upkeep we have in our heart. The father then moves onto the mouth (v.24), that the son would guard against crooked and flippant speech. Next is the eyes (v.25),that one would have tunnel-vision in seeking wisdom; making sure that all decisions are under the ultimate umbrella of wisdom. Finally, it is the feet (v.27), which makes vision turn into practical action. All of these must be taken into careful consideration if one desires to be wise. Daily we need a spiritual physical from the Lord in order that we would be wise in the eyes of God.
Application: Loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength is a reflection that God demands our total worship. Understanding this truth, all areas of our lives and our beings are to be rendered unto Him in worship. Where I fail in doing this is in the "feet". Examining the way I spend my day, I could see that it fails to live up to the lofty visions I have for the Lord. I spend it in frivolous activities because I need a "break" from school and reading. However, these do nothing for the goal and desire that I have to be an instrument of impact for the Lord here and in Japan. The result of my time wasting involves two evils set before me: facebook and youtube. Thus, I will make it a habit to check facebook once a day at night and youtube so I could go somewhere with the visions God has given me. Maybe I can start on my sermon earlier or I could finish a book I was meaning to finish. In any case, I need to take practical steps in going towards the vision which God has called me towards. Soli deo gloria
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: The father urges the son to concentrate with all of his being (heart, mouth, eyes, feet) in order to be devoted to wisdom.
What I Learned about God: God demands a complete transformation from our sinful nature to the new self in Christ.
Summary: This passage talks about the seeking of wisdom in relation to various body parts. The heart (v.23), the inner beings of the person must be kept with all vigilance for from it is the "outflow of life". The characteristic of the "true life" we were meant to live in God is through the upkeep we have in our heart. The father then moves onto the mouth (v.24), that the son would guard against crooked and flippant speech. Next is the eyes (v.25),that one would have tunnel-vision in seeking wisdom; making sure that all decisions are under the ultimate umbrella of wisdom. Finally, it is the feet (v.27), which makes vision turn into practical action. All of these must be taken into careful consideration if one desires to be wise. Daily we need a spiritual physical from the Lord in order that we would be wise in the eyes of God.
Application: Loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength is a reflection that God demands our total worship. Understanding this truth, all areas of our lives and our beings are to be rendered unto Him in worship. Where I fail in doing this is in the "feet". Examining the way I spend my day, I could see that it fails to live up to the lofty visions I have for the Lord. I spend it in frivolous activities because I need a "break" from school and reading. However, these do nothing for the goal and desire that I have to be an instrument of impact for the Lord here and in Japan. The result of my time wasting involves two evils set before me: facebook and youtube. Thus, I will make it a habit to check facebook once a day at night and youtube so I could go somewhere with the visions God has given me. Maybe I can start on my sermon earlier or I could finish a book I was meaning to finish. In any case, I need to take practical steps in going towards the vision which God has called me towards. Soli deo gloria
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Proverbs 4:1-9, the Beginning of Wisdom? Get Wisdom.
4/13/10
Time: 35 min
Main Idea: The tradition of the father passed down to the son is to seek wisdom and insight.
What I learned about God: Wisdom can only be a garland and a crown to the unrighteous if Christ is the source of a believer's wisdom. "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption." 1 Cor. 1:30
Summary: The father shares with the son the wisdom of seeking wisdom (redundant much?). This seems to be conveyed in the idea of his repetition of the principle of seeking wisdom (vv. 5, 7) and also in the fact that he reiterates the promises of seeking this wisdom in verse 9 (cf. 1:9; 3:22). Repetition is the biblical author conveying a main idea and stressing importance in the writings. This is not just a moot point, but the father stresses the seeking of wisdom into his son's life.
Verse 7 shares that under the umbrella of fearing the Lord, the beginning of wisdom is seeking wisdom. This seems like a cyclical argument, but in layman's terms it is saying this: "Do you want wisdom? Come and get it". Spiritual laziness and laxness was seen even in those days and must be something sought after. There was no retreat or revival to spiritually jump start the young lass, but it was the continual seeking of wisdom that would impress upon him the fear of the Lord. A "garland" was a wreath worn on the head as an ornament for festive occasions. In this example, the works of wisdom are to be worn on the head not as a burden, but as a beautiful ornament. The use of "garlands" gets pushed even further when Luke accounts in Acts 14:13 the people bringing garlands to Paul and Barnabas when they thought they were gods, to which Paul and Barnabas tear their garments and stop the madness at once. Paul and Barnabas knew that it was not theirs to wear the garland of grace, but to remember the only one who was the personification of the wisdom of God: Christ.
Application: Everyone at school would love to wear the garland of wisdom. Being academic and trying my best are certainly veiled attempts to "get ahead of the pack" even in seminary. I know I suffer from the temptation to study for study sake. I will write off my achievements and share that I only strive for good grades because I want to pursue higher education later on. While somewhat true, even that is not a good reason to robe myself in this garland and receive the praise which should be due to Christ, my true garland. A reflection of my grades should not be equated to the amount I have studied or how great of an intellect I am, but in all things I want to share that my wisdom is from Christ; the personification of God's wisdom. By applying this, I will continue to pray before every test and assignment to place my mindset not upon myself or my grades or how others see me, but rather Christ would receive the garland because He is my wisdom. Soli deo gloria.
Time: 35 min
Main Idea: The tradition of the father passed down to the son is to seek wisdom and insight.
What I learned about God: Wisdom can only be a garland and a crown to the unrighteous if Christ is the source of a believer's wisdom. "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption." 1 Cor. 1:30
Summary: The father shares with the son the wisdom of seeking wisdom (redundant much?). This seems to be conveyed in the idea of his repetition of the principle of seeking wisdom (vv. 5, 7) and also in the fact that he reiterates the promises of seeking this wisdom in verse 9 (cf. 1:9; 3:22). Repetition is the biblical author conveying a main idea and stressing importance in the writings. This is not just a moot point, but the father stresses the seeking of wisdom into his son's life.
Verse 7 shares that under the umbrella of fearing the Lord, the beginning of wisdom is seeking wisdom. This seems like a cyclical argument, but in layman's terms it is saying this: "Do you want wisdom? Come and get it". Spiritual laziness and laxness was seen even in those days and must be something sought after. There was no retreat or revival to spiritually jump start the young lass, but it was the continual seeking of wisdom that would impress upon him the fear of the Lord. A "garland" was a wreath worn on the head as an ornament for festive occasions. In this example, the works of wisdom are to be worn on the head not as a burden, but as a beautiful ornament. The use of "garlands" gets pushed even further when Luke accounts in Acts 14:13 the people bringing garlands to Paul and Barnabas when they thought they were gods, to which Paul and Barnabas tear their garments and stop the madness at once. Paul and Barnabas knew that it was not theirs to wear the garland of grace, but to remember the only one who was the personification of the wisdom of God: Christ.
Application: Everyone at school would love to wear the garland of wisdom. Being academic and trying my best are certainly veiled attempts to "get ahead of the pack" even in seminary. I know I suffer from the temptation to study for study sake. I will write off my achievements and share that I only strive for good grades because I want to pursue higher education later on. While somewhat true, even that is not a good reason to robe myself in this garland and receive the praise which should be due to Christ, my true garland. A reflection of my grades should not be equated to the amount I have studied or how great of an intellect I am, but in all things I want to share that my wisdom is from Christ; the personification of God's wisdom. By applying this, I will continue to pray before every test and assignment to place my mindset not upon myself or my grades or how others see me, but rather Christ would receive the garland because He is my wisdom. Soli deo gloria.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Proverbs 3:21-27 Wisdom=Walking with God
4/12/10
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: Living a life of wisdom is equated to living life by walking with God
What I Learned about God: He is the source and giver of wisdom
Summary: Chapter 3 issues the promises one gain from seeking a life of wisdom. This latter part of the Proverb focuses on the serenity gained in one's life through the practice of quiet integrity. These verses share with the reader that it is God alone that keeps their feet from stumbling (27). This marks the fact that the blessings found in these verses, such as; life, protection, and goods are all a result of the fact that God's blessings is upon you. The walk with God will lead towards wisdom.
Application: As I began my study through Proverbs, I wanted to write down "nuggets of truth" that would apply directly to my life. However, this fails to the main point of Proverbs: that it is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom. In applying these principles, I must never lose track that my applications must be God-centered and God-driven if they are to become more than just "wise words". The blessings for following is not in following the principles, but rather it is following and walking with God. For my application, I will remember that my application must be God-centered!
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: Living a life of wisdom is equated to living life by walking with God
What I Learned about God: He is the source and giver of wisdom
Summary: Chapter 3 issues the promises one gain from seeking a life of wisdom. This latter part of the Proverb focuses on the serenity gained in one's life through the practice of quiet integrity. These verses share with the reader that it is God alone that keeps their feet from stumbling (27). This marks the fact that the blessings found in these verses, such as; life, protection, and goods are all a result of the fact that God's blessings is upon you. The walk with God will lead towards wisdom.
Application: As I began my study through Proverbs, I wanted to write down "nuggets of truth" that would apply directly to my life. However, this fails to the main point of Proverbs: that it is the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom. In applying these principles, I must never lose track that my applications must be God-centered and God-driven if they are to become more than just "wise words". The blessings for following is not in following the principles, but rather it is following and walking with God. For my application, I will remember that my application must be God-centered!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Phillipians 4:10-20
Time:
Main Idea: God's Provision
What I Learned About God: God gives back in great amounts
Summary: This is a passage that is famous for including the beloved verse of Philippians 4:13. This is a time when at the end of the letter to the Philippians, Paul is thanking them for the support that he had received from them throughout his whole mission trip. He briefly explains his whole mission journey and how he was blessed by the Philippians all the way from the beginning and how they were the only ones to truly comfort him in his time of need when he was in jail all alone. Paul then explains of their great sacrifice in which they have made in supporting Paul with his journey and how that through all of that self sacrifice, God will repay them with every need that they have accordingly by Jesus Christ.
Application: Going on missions this summer, I see the importance of support for missions during the time of missions and how it will truly affect the missionary. This also is shows me how even just giving your time for activities in awana or teaching in your church can just be so tiring but if we just do it with a heart set on serving the Lord, He will with no doubt reward us so much more according to Jesus. This has just been such a wake up call because starting tomorrow I will be driving 2 and a half hours to palm springs with SMC KCCC and how I was so against going out there because of the drive. I just noticed that the list is predominately filled with new comers and if me driving just 2 and a half hours for their salvation to be found, God will have not only blessed me but also given me the blessing of helping another friend to the family of Christ. I have learned to do things with a heart set on serving God because in the end, He has truly given us the gift of life and He will also be please with us.
Money Owed: 3 dollars
-Andrew Park
Main Idea: God's Provision
What I Learned About God: God gives back in great amounts
Summary: This is a passage that is famous for including the beloved verse of Philippians 4:13. This is a time when at the end of the letter to the Philippians, Paul is thanking them for the support that he had received from them throughout his whole mission trip. He briefly explains his whole mission journey and how he was blessed by the Philippians all the way from the beginning and how they were the only ones to truly comfort him in his time of need when he was in jail all alone. Paul then explains of their great sacrifice in which they have made in supporting Paul with his journey and how that through all of that self sacrifice, God will repay them with every need that they have accordingly by Jesus Christ.
Application: Going on missions this summer, I see the importance of support for missions during the time of missions and how it will truly affect the missionary. This also is shows me how even just giving your time for activities in awana or teaching in your church can just be so tiring but if we just do it with a heart set on serving the Lord, He will with no doubt reward us so much more according to Jesus. This has just been such a wake up call because starting tomorrow I will be driving 2 and a half hours to palm springs with SMC KCCC and how I was so against going out there because of the drive. I just noticed that the list is predominately filled with new comers and if me driving just 2 and a half hours for their salvation to be found, God will have not only blessed me but also given me the blessing of helping another friend to the family of Christ. I have learned to do things with a heart set on serving God because in the end, He has truly given us the gift of life and He will also be please with us.
Money Owed: 3 dollars
-Andrew Park
Proverbs 3:5-6 Making a straight path
4/11/10
Time Spent:
Main Idea: The one that clings to wisdom will continue to see his/her morality become more mature as the days goes by
What I learn about God: Person belief in the knowledge of God and reliance upon Him, will make a person's path straight.
Summary: This Proverb deals with the idea of growing in morality. It does not come from any gusto or measure that is welled up in a person, but rather is through the reliance and trust in God. Morally "straight" talks about a progression in growth, namely in morality here. This is continuing the idea that wisdom is not just a theoretical notion, but that it is one when seeked and received, will change the course of a man's life. God's wisdom becomes a means of making a believer more like Him.
Application: Kicking the habit of sin is a struggle for life on earth. Somehow, I think churches and teachers are failing to understand that to deal with the "sin" is to just deal with the matter on a surface level. What one truly needs to work on is the heart and the mind. 5 steps to do this or 3 levels of blah blah have done good to no one; it is only through the change of the heart is one able to grow in his morality. I have several bouts with sin, especially on Monday morning and I thought maybe it's linked to the idea that I don't do QT on Sundays. I'm exhausted and tired and since I don't do it, I think to myself, "Charlie, if you only did QT this never would've happened". It is foolish of me to rely on an exterior source to determine my level of morality, since it is only through the trusting and reliance of my heart to the Lordthat will really fix the issue. Tomorrow I plan on spending some time in prayer and ask God what the heart motive is for my sin. Soli deo gloria
Time Spent:
Main Idea: The one that clings to wisdom will continue to see his/her morality become more mature as the days goes by
What I learn about God: Person belief in the knowledge of God and reliance upon Him, will make a person's path straight.
Summary: This Proverb deals with the idea of growing in morality. It does not come from any gusto or measure that is welled up in a person, but rather is through the reliance and trust in God. Morally "straight" talks about a progression in growth, namely in morality here. This is continuing the idea that wisdom is not just a theoretical notion, but that it is one when seeked and received, will change the course of a man's life. God's wisdom becomes a means of making a believer more like Him.
Application: Kicking the habit of sin is a struggle for life on earth. Somehow, I think churches and teachers are failing to understand that to deal with the "sin" is to just deal with the matter on a surface level. What one truly needs to work on is the heart and the mind. 5 steps to do this or 3 levels of blah blah have done good to no one; it is only through the change of the heart is one able to grow in his morality. I have several bouts with sin, especially on Monday morning and I thought maybe it's linked to the idea that I don't do QT on Sundays. I'm exhausted and tired and since I don't do it, I think to myself, "Charlie, if you only did QT this never would've happened". It is foolish of me to rely on an exterior source to determine my level of morality, since it is only through the trusting and reliance of my heart to the Lordthat will really fix the issue. Tomorrow I plan on spending some time in prayer and ask God what the heart motive is for my sin. Soli deo gloria
Saturday, April 10, 2010
4/10/10
Luke 12:22-31
Time Spent:
Main Idea: Stop worrying fool!, just know He knows what you need
What I Learned about God: God provides to all the deserving
Summary: In Luke's version of the Gospel, Jesus is speaking about how we should not be anxious for our lives, food or clothes. Jesus ridicules us with an example of how God provides for ravens and grass of a field and yet we are the ones that still doubt that God will provide for us when He provides for the things He has given us to rule over. He compares us to the nations of the world and how they are the type of people that would chase after these things but we are the ones who should not be like the rest of the world and chase after those material possessions, but instead we must first seek the Kingdom and all will be provided for us.
Application: Jesus is always next to us. He is always the one to pick us up when we are falling and He is the one that clothes us when we are cold, and yet we still forget that God will take care of us when we follow His name. People of this world worry about the physical materials of the world such as food and clothing and electronics and music, but God said to not to worry of those things because when we serve God, He provides us with all that we need, no matter what the circumstances are, God can truly make it possible to work in any situation of life. We as Christians must never forget that He is right there supporting us with everything that we will ever need in our spiritual walk with Him.
Money owed: 3 dollars
-Andrew Park
Time Spent:
Main Idea: Stop worrying fool!, just know He knows what you need
What I Learned about God: God provides to all the deserving
Summary: In Luke's version of the Gospel, Jesus is speaking about how we should not be anxious for our lives, food or clothes. Jesus ridicules us with an example of how God provides for ravens and grass of a field and yet we are the ones that still doubt that God will provide for us when He provides for the things He has given us to rule over. He compares us to the nations of the world and how they are the type of people that would chase after these things but we are the ones who should not be like the rest of the world and chase after those material possessions, but instead we must first seek the Kingdom and all will be provided for us.
Application: Jesus is always next to us. He is always the one to pick us up when we are falling and He is the one that clothes us when we are cold, and yet we still forget that God will take care of us when we follow His name. People of this world worry about the physical materials of the world such as food and clothing and electronics and music, but God said to not to worry of those things because when we serve God, He provides us with all that we need, no matter what the circumstances are, God can truly make it possible to work in any situation of life. We as Christians must never forget that He is right there supporting us with everything that we will ever need in our spiritual walk with Him.
Money owed: 3 dollars
-Andrew Park
Proverbs 2:10-22 Spiritual Noonchi
4/10/10
Time Spent:
Main Idea: Wisdom from God will make the speech of evil men and women seem alien to you
What I learned about God: The wisdom which emanates from God will differentiate itself from the world.
Summary: The person that is able to store up God's wisdom in his/her heart will gain various blessings from doing so. This proverb states that they will be shielded by God (7b), wisdom will come into their heart (10), will have greater discernment (11), and have a greater level of understanding (11). All of these for the person that is seeking out the wisdom which God provides. The ways which this wisdom guards a person is through the discernment of the schemes of evil men and women. The wise person is able to understand and notice both of their schemes in a way in which they can compare it to the revealed wisdom of God and know that the decrees or sayings of evil people are foolish.
Application: We talk about having "noonchi" for people; being able to read the situation or people. I always thought this was a good thing to have in mafia, but a bad thing because it can be somewhat judgmental on a person without giving him or her the benefit of the doubt. However, if one has the wisdom that comes from the Lord, they can discern the plots of the evil men and women. Now more than ever I see the need for leaders to really soak in the wisdom of God through prayer and through the Word, because there are plenty of people even in the church that can fall prey to foolishness. Heck, even I will fall prey to this very same thing too. That's why we must spend the time seeking the Lord in prayer and asking for His wisdom to reign. To apply this QT, I want to pray for wisdom with my leaders and directors every meeting that we have together; because we must understand our ministry will not work unless it's lead by God's wisdom.
Time Spent:
Main Idea: Wisdom from God will make the speech of evil men and women seem alien to you
What I learned about God: The wisdom which emanates from God will differentiate itself from the world.
Summary: The person that is able to store up God's wisdom in his/her heart will gain various blessings from doing so. This proverb states that they will be shielded by God (7b), wisdom will come into their heart (10), will have greater discernment (11), and have a greater level of understanding (11). All of these for the person that is seeking out the wisdom which God provides. The ways which this wisdom guards a person is through the discernment of the schemes of evil men and women. The wise person is able to understand and notice both of their schemes in a way in which they can compare it to the revealed wisdom of God and know that the decrees or sayings of evil people are foolish.
Application: We talk about having "noonchi" for people; being able to read the situation or people. I always thought this was a good thing to have in mafia, but a bad thing because it can be somewhat judgmental on a person without giving him or her the benefit of the doubt. However, if one has the wisdom that comes from the Lord, they can discern the plots of the evil men and women. Now more than ever I see the need for leaders to really soak in the wisdom of God through prayer and through the Word, because there are plenty of people even in the church that can fall prey to foolishness. Heck, even I will fall prey to this very same thing too. That's why we must spend the time seeking the Lord in prayer and asking for His wisdom to reign. To apply this QT, I want to pray for wisdom with my leaders and directors every meeting that we have together; because we must understand our ministry will not work unless it's lead by God's wisdom.
Friday, April 9, 2010
2 Corinthians 5-15
4/9/10
What I learned about God: God has truly blessed us all
Main Idea: Cheerful Givers
Summary: Giving is a true act of worshiping God. God truly just explains how just through the act of giving just brings just a great impact upon who you give to. In verse 10 it truly shows how if you give seeds to a sower, it will multiply into a harvest of righteousness. In this actions speak louder than words in that when people see your act of righteousness, people will see the love of God through us.
Application: What I must do as a follower of God is that I must never have a hardened heart to anyone and I must be willing to give my brothers and sisters whatever they need in order to show them God's love. Through this act of kindness, God will show others His love through all of our actions.
Money owed: 3 dollars
-Andrew Park
What I learned about God: God has truly blessed us all
Main Idea: Cheerful Givers
Summary: Giving is a true act of worshiping God. God truly just explains how just through the act of giving just brings just a great impact upon who you give to. In verse 10 it truly shows how if you give seeds to a sower, it will multiply into a harvest of righteousness. In this actions speak louder than words in that when people see your act of righteousness, people will see the love of God through us.
Application: What I must do as a follower of God is that I must never have a hardened heart to anyone and I must be willing to give my brothers and sisters whatever they need in order to show them God's love. Through this act of kindness, God will show others His love through all of our actions.
Money owed: 3 dollars
-Andrew Park
Proverbs 1:21 Standing still will move you backwards
4/9/10
Time Spent:
Main Idea: Those who do not actively seek wisdom are fools
What I learned about God: God does not show compassion upon the ignorant and desires all to know the full counsel of His Word
Summary: The way of wisdom is to fear the Lord, which is the beginning of knowledge (7). This proverb then is broken down into 3 parts; the way of wisdom (8-9), the way of folly (10=19), and the plea of wisdom (20-33). All of these parts fit into the bigger umbrella concept that the way of wisdom is the beginning of knowledge in the Lord, which will place the person that applies these principles will thus lead to a reverent fear of the Lord. The section I looked at falls under wisdom's plea. Wisdom has made herself readily accessible to all that delight in her, yet there are very few takers upon it. Even the ones that have not openly chosen to seek it are left condemned in this proverb as it states in verse 32 that the complacency of fools destroys them. God does not want anyone to be "complacent" in their search of wisdom but must continuously seek the Lord's counsel.
Application: In ministry, I am left with some situations where I wish I didn't need to make such hard decisions. It always leaves me feeling that I am lacking in wisdom and discernment when I am not able to respond to the needs of the people or the ministry. Thus, I have begun a study on Proverbs for the next 31 days to actively seek out and pray for God's wisdom to be imparted upon my life. I must remember to be wary of the danger of microwavable QTs, where just because I am reading less that I am spending less time with the Lord. Instead, I want to really dig down deep and understand beyond the surface level of what the wisdom from Proverbs states. For that, I bought a commentary recommended by one of my professors and will also do my best to read the Proverbs once when I awake and once when I am about to sleep. I must not be complacent in my search, but actively seek the cry of wisdom in my life.
Time Spent:
Main Idea: Those who do not actively seek wisdom are fools
What I learned about God: God does not show compassion upon the ignorant and desires all to know the full counsel of His Word
Summary: The way of wisdom is to fear the Lord, which is the beginning of knowledge (7). This proverb then is broken down into 3 parts; the way of wisdom (8-9), the way of folly (10=19), and the plea of wisdom (20-33). All of these parts fit into the bigger umbrella concept that the way of wisdom is the beginning of knowledge in the Lord, which will place the person that applies these principles will thus lead to a reverent fear of the Lord. The section I looked at falls under wisdom's plea. Wisdom has made herself readily accessible to all that delight in her, yet there are very few takers upon it. Even the ones that have not openly chosen to seek it are left condemned in this proverb as it states in verse 32 that the complacency of fools destroys them. God does not want anyone to be "complacent" in their search of wisdom but must continuously seek the Lord's counsel.
Application: In ministry, I am left with some situations where I wish I didn't need to make such hard decisions. It always leaves me feeling that I am lacking in wisdom and discernment when I am not able to respond to the needs of the people or the ministry. Thus, I have begun a study on Proverbs for the next 31 days to actively seek out and pray for God's wisdom to be imparted upon my life. I must remember to be wary of the danger of microwavable QTs, where just because I am reading less that I am spending less time with the Lord. Instead, I want to really dig down deep and understand beyond the surface level of what the wisdom from Proverbs states. For that, I bought a commentary recommended by one of my professors and will also do my best to read the Proverbs once when I awake and once when I am about to sleep. I must not be complacent in my search, but actively seek the cry of wisdom in my life.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Genesis 50:19-20 What you have meant for evil, God has meant for good
4/8/10
Time Spent: 20 min
Main Idea: Joseph reassures his brothers that he will not act out in vengeance against them for their evil because it was God that lead him here.
What this tells me about God: Because all things work for good for those who love Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:28), we know that we have an infinitely omniscient and infinitely compassionate God.
Summary: In lieu of their father Jacob's death, the brothers were in fear that Joseph might seek vengeance against them. They twist their father's words to protect themselves against Joseph. However, this has an inverse affect on Joseph as he begins to weep at the very notion of this. Joseph exclaims that he is not in the seat of God where he would bring charges against his brothers and also sees God's greater purpose and plan in the midst of his suffering. What they had meant for evil, God had meant for good.
Application: We can never have enough or too much control in our lives. I must remember that the events, whether they be good or bad, happen as a result of God's good pleasure in my life. Some events I may not be able to explain right away, but there has to be some deep-seeded purpose in the manner of my suffering or circumstance that will one day reveal itself. Joseph was able to see the heavenly view, that God had used Joseph for this major task and I hope too for all the things that I'm experiencing will one day be like that as well. I have sure confidence that it will, knowing Rom. 8:28 applies to me and that it is a promise made by God for everything to work out for good! To apply this truth, I will not only pray for the "what" of hardships but the "why"'s of it as well; understanding that hardships have a place and significance must be taken account to experience the same type of forgiveness Joseph was able to give onto his brothers.
Time Spent: 20 min
Main Idea: Joseph reassures his brothers that he will not act out in vengeance against them for their evil because it was God that lead him here.
What this tells me about God: Because all things work for good for those who love Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:28), we know that we have an infinitely omniscient and infinitely compassionate God.
Summary: In lieu of their father Jacob's death, the brothers were in fear that Joseph might seek vengeance against them. They twist their father's words to protect themselves against Joseph. However, this has an inverse affect on Joseph as he begins to weep at the very notion of this. Joseph exclaims that he is not in the seat of God where he would bring charges against his brothers and also sees God's greater purpose and plan in the midst of his suffering. What they had meant for evil, God had meant for good.
Application: We can never have enough or too much control in our lives. I must remember that the events, whether they be good or bad, happen as a result of God's good pleasure in my life. Some events I may not be able to explain right away, but there has to be some deep-seeded purpose in the manner of my suffering or circumstance that will one day reveal itself. Joseph was able to see the heavenly view, that God had used Joseph for this major task and I hope too for all the things that I'm experiencing will one day be like that as well. I have sure confidence that it will, knowing Rom. 8:28 applies to me and that it is a promise made by God for everything to work out for good! To apply this truth, I will not only pray for the "what" of hardships but the "why"'s of it as well; understanding that hardships have a place and significance must be taken account to experience the same type of forgiveness Joseph was able to give onto his brothers.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
4/7/10
Matthew 6:24-34
Time:
Main Idea: We must be obedient in God and trust that He will provide
What I Learned About God: God truly provides
Summary: The passage starts with a verse that explains how we cannot serve two masters in which we will end up hating one and loving the other. God uses the most universal idea of loving money instead of God. The passage then continues to speak about how we are anxious when we choose to serve God. It just shows how God understands that we have certain needs but it also explains how we as Christians must not be the same as Gentiles in that they are the ones that worry about how they look or where they are going to stay for the night. The examples in which the passage states is how God takes care of animals and flowers and yet we are worried if God will take care of us when we as humans are set higher compared to those things in life. The passage says and explains how we must not be as the Gentiles and we must just go on with our lives knowing that God will take care of us. The passage ends on the note that if we seek first the kingdom of God, everything that we will ever need will be brought unto us.
Application: This passage started with one of my favorite verses of the Bible because it just simply puts my life into perspective. As the youngest and only son in my family, I am spoiled rotten in all that I have in life. As a business major I go after the job that pays me the most but I see this verse in my head and must remember that God is the one that provides me with all this. I must never forget that but also how He will always take care of me when I am in need. God shows me this passage for this past month, I have been struggling in all the work I have right before my spring break. It seems how I am unable to do all these things but God truly provides for me in everything that I do. We as Christians must not be worldly and worry about where we will eat our next meal or when we are going to get a new car, but we must remember that God provides for us no matter what. God sees when we are doing something in His name, and He will provide for us no matter what we do because we first seek His Kingdom. God definitely works in miraculous ways in which we must never forget. I must never forget to seek first the kingdom and that God will always provide for me.
amount owed: 2 dollars
-Andrew Park
Time:
Main Idea: We must be obedient in God and trust that He will provide
What I Learned About God: God truly provides
Summary: The passage starts with a verse that explains how we cannot serve two masters in which we will end up hating one and loving the other. God uses the most universal idea of loving money instead of God. The passage then continues to speak about how we are anxious when we choose to serve God. It just shows how God understands that we have certain needs but it also explains how we as Christians must not be the same as Gentiles in that they are the ones that worry about how they look or where they are going to stay for the night. The examples in which the passage states is how God takes care of animals and flowers and yet we are worried if God will take care of us when we as humans are set higher compared to those things in life. The passage says and explains how we must not be as the Gentiles and we must just go on with our lives knowing that God will take care of us. The passage ends on the note that if we seek first the kingdom of God, everything that we will ever need will be brought unto us.
Application: This passage started with one of my favorite verses of the Bible because it just simply puts my life into perspective. As the youngest and only son in my family, I am spoiled rotten in all that I have in life. As a business major I go after the job that pays me the most but I see this verse in my head and must remember that God is the one that provides me with all this. I must never forget that but also how He will always take care of me when I am in need. God shows me this passage for this past month, I have been struggling in all the work I have right before my spring break. It seems how I am unable to do all these things but God truly provides for me in everything that I do. We as Christians must not be worldly and worry about where we will eat our next meal or when we are going to get a new car, but we must remember that God provides for us no matter what. God sees when we are doing something in His name, and He will provide for us no matter what we do because we first seek His Kingdom. God definitely works in miraculous ways in which we must never forget. I must never forget to seek first the kingdom and that God will always provide for me.
amount owed: 2 dollars
-Andrew Park
Genesis 41:38 The Influence of the Spirit
4/7/10
Time: 30 min
Main Idea: Pharaoh saw the influence of Joseph because the Spirit of God indwelt him
What this tells me about God: The man who honors God will give God all the glory because He is the sole provider of strength and wisdom.
Summary: Joseph has had a hard life; the Bible recounts that he was 30 years of age by the time that he came to power. His early childhood was met with slavery, tests, and time in prison. However, all of those events had led to the culmination of the interpretation of Pharaoh's dream, which predicts that Egypt will go through 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine. Many people had tried to interpret Pharaoh's dream but failed to understand it. Joseph comes and interprets it and gives Pharaoh advice on how to manage Egypt during the 14 years. This pleased Pharaoh to exclaim, "can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" (v. 38) Joseph then ascended to higher leadership, right behind Pharaoh.
Application: A true underdog story, Joseph comes from slavery to imprisonment to rise to the second seat of power behind Pharaoh. I noticed how Pharaoh does not praise Joseph in his wisdom, his business savvy, or his intellect, but rather praises him because there is the power of the Spirit of God (v.38). So many times we cling to Christian leaders because they're funny, good leaders, strong, etc., but when was the last time we exclaimed, "he has the Spirit of God"?
There are two ways for me to apply this: firstly, I must become a man like Joseph in whom the Spirit's power can be seen. This involves like my last post putting on Christ daily in my life (Col. 3). Secondly, I need to understand that the praise received in ministry should never be attributed to the speaker, the leaders, or towards its members; but rather is the Spirit of God working amidst the ministry. God will use people to accomplish phenomenal things, but whether that should be attributed to their innovation or ability rather than God's grace and filling should be no contest. Success in my ministry and the ministries I follow are all attributed because of the Spirit of God working inside the person or in the ministry. Soli deo Gloria.
Time: 30 min
Main Idea: Pharaoh saw the influence of Joseph because the Spirit of God indwelt him
What this tells me about God: The man who honors God will give God all the glory because He is the sole provider of strength and wisdom.
Summary: Joseph has had a hard life; the Bible recounts that he was 30 years of age by the time that he came to power. His early childhood was met with slavery, tests, and time in prison. However, all of those events had led to the culmination of the interpretation of Pharaoh's dream, which predicts that Egypt will go through 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine. Many people had tried to interpret Pharaoh's dream but failed to understand it. Joseph comes and interprets it and gives Pharaoh advice on how to manage Egypt during the 14 years. This pleased Pharaoh to exclaim, "can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" (v. 38) Joseph then ascended to higher leadership, right behind Pharaoh.
Application: A true underdog story, Joseph comes from slavery to imprisonment to rise to the second seat of power behind Pharaoh. I noticed how Pharaoh does not praise Joseph in his wisdom, his business savvy, or his intellect, but rather praises him because there is the power of the Spirit of God (v.38). So many times we cling to Christian leaders because they're funny, good leaders, strong, etc., but when was the last time we exclaimed, "he has the Spirit of God"?
There are two ways for me to apply this: firstly, I must become a man like Joseph in whom the Spirit's power can be seen. This involves like my last post putting on Christ daily in my life (Col. 3). Secondly, I need to understand that the praise received in ministry should never be attributed to the speaker, the leaders, or towards its members; but rather is the Spirit of God working amidst the ministry. God will use people to accomplish phenomenal things, but whether that should be attributed to their innovation or ability rather than God's grace and filling should be no contest. Success in my ministry and the ministries I follow are all attributed because of the Spirit of God working inside the person or in the ministry. Soli deo Gloria.
Matthew 7:24-34 The Idolatry of Worry
4/7/10
Time:
Main Idea: Instead of worrying, trust God and put Him first. Then He will meet your needs.
What I Learned About God: 1. God knows your needs 2. God must be served and sought alone 3. God provides for your needs
Summary: Jesus explains the traits of a disciple. The loyalties of a disciple cannot be divided. You cannot serve two masters. You can only really have one master: either God is your master, or He is not; you are either serving Him, or you are serving something else. There is no middle-ground in this. Jesus frames this principle by addressing a very specific problem: worry. Specifically, Jesus addresses the problem of worry as idolatry - in essence, serving your worries and anxieties rather than serving God. Verse 24 ends with a very clear distinction: "You cannot serve God and money." Although it is money that is explicitly stated, the following verses explain what that money was used for. Money back then, much like today, went towards food, drink, and clothes. These were real needs and real issues that the disciples faced in their lives (perhaps not so much the clothing) and worry for these things seem reasonable enough. Jesus, however, tells his disciples not to worry. Easier said than done, surely - that is, until you know who God is. Jesus proceeds to describe the incredible provisions of the Father. It is He who feeds the birds abundantly; it is He who clothes the lilies so richly. And Jesus adds comfort, making a point to show how much more precious people are to God than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field are. If He takes care of these things, Jesus makes the striking point that surely the Father will provide all the more for the needs of the creatures made in his own image. God knows what you need. But these needs are secondary. They are never the main thing; God is. Jesus says: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (33; emphasis added). When God is the main thing, he will handle all your needs. Thus, excessive worry is unnecessary and detrimental. Now, we return to verse 24. When you serve your worries and try to accrue money for the sake of meeting your needs, God is in the periphery. In actuality, Jesus tells us how it should be: everything else is in the periphery with God as the focus. There is a lesson in this: we must trust God and have faith that He provides for our needs. In this way, we can serve Him alone without distraction from worry.
Application: Sometimes, I worry about the future, both immediate and not so immediate. Whichever way, I don't see a lot of money coming my way. One thing that I think about is how I'm going to pay off school. I don't consider 'not worrying' to mean 'blissful ignorance', but in faithfulness to God and in serving God, I know there will be a way. If anything, I take 'not worrying' to be synonymous with trust. God will meet my needs. Knowing who God is really is a comforting thing. I don't have to worry about selling my soul to become rich because money really is not the ultimate thing. I just have to trust God as I serve him.
Malachi 3:8-12
4/6/10
Time: 20 mins
Main Idea: Giving it fully to God
What I Learned about God: God does not take only a part of what he deserves, but God takes all that is His and he rewards those who willfully give unto Him
Summary: In Malachi, this passage is about robbing God can be of just holding back the full tithe that was rightfully God's property rather than our offering. God is showing us that since he is the God who made the whole universe, He just pleases it watching it grow but it also watching it becoming into a man or woman. He also sees the riches we have the world all belong to Him, so when He asks for it, it is all truly the Lord of Lords
Application: I can apply this unto my life in that I must never give God without a full and pure heart in which I can not only give my services unto Him. After following His orders, God will present to me many riches in Heaven. It also shows that if you don't have a full and pure heart in giving tithe to God, it is like you condemning yourself within Hell for not being able to use your pure and holy heart to bring praise to God.
Amount Owed: 2 dollars
-Andrew Park
Time: 20 mins
Main Idea: Giving it fully to God
What I Learned about God: God does not take only a part of what he deserves, but God takes all that is His and he rewards those who willfully give unto Him
Summary: In Malachi, this passage is about robbing God can be of just holding back the full tithe that was rightfully God's property rather than our offering. God is showing us that since he is the God who made the whole universe, He just pleases it watching it grow but it also watching it becoming into a man or woman. He also sees the riches we have the world all belong to Him, so when He asks for it, it is all truly the Lord of Lords
Application: I can apply this unto my life in that I must never give God without a full and pure heart in which I can not only give my services unto Him. After following His orders, God will present to me many riches in Heaven. It also shows that if you don't have a full and pure heart in giving tithe to God, it is like you condemning yourself within Hell for not being able to use your pure and holy heart to bring praise to God.
Amount Owed: 2 dollars
-Andrew Park
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Genesis 37:18-31 The Sinfulness of Self
4/6/10
Time Spent: 35 min
Main Idea: Reuben's "protection" of his younger brother Joseph not because of his care for him but rather to protect himself.
What I learned about God: Self-less righteousness is the only one that God desires; which was the picture of His Son (Mark 10:45)
Summary: As Joseph approached his brothers in the fields, they made their desires clear to kill him. Being a good older brother, Reuben steps in and says that they should not take his life, but rather throw him into a pit so that Reuben could retrieve him later (v. 22-24). While Reuben goes away, the other brothers decide to sell Joseph into a caravan of Ishmaelites as a slave. Reuben returns and instead of mourning the loss of his brother Joseph, he exclaims to the others "where shall I go?" (v. 30). The text does not seem to point at Reuben's great sense of loss, but rather that his actions from the very beginning were to protect his own self.
Application: There use to be a phrase for auditor's called CYA, which meant "cover your behind (euphemism)" that was used to make sure that we protect the best interest of ourselves and our company. It does not matter if the government or our clients took the blame; as long as we had maintained the dignity of our established accounting firm, nothing else had mattered. Does this type of thinking seep into the church? HECK YES!
I have noble motives of doing ministry and doing what's right, but when something goes awry I always try to point to something else to put the blame on; whether it be a person or an object, I feel I shouldn't have to take the blame for it. However, that exposes the heart of the problem does it not? That if we are so quickly to take the praise without the blame, we are in it for ourselves. The noble motive does not appear to be for God but rather for the furthering of ourselves and our kingdom. This is definitely a struggle I have when I preach sermons, that when I do a "good one" I like to take credit but when I deliver a real stinker, I'll point to circumstances or "business" which prevented me from delivering the one God truly wanted me to deliver.
What may help this process is if I spent more time in prayer for my ministry and sermon. I usually start sermon prep on Thursdays and begin praying for it then, but why not start right away? I should start praying for ideas, for my own holiness, and for my group from the very start of the week.
Time Spent: 35 min
Main Idea: Reuben's "protection" of his younger brother Joseph not because of his care for him but rather to protect himself.
What I learned about God: Self-less righteousness is the only one that God desires; which was the picture of His Son (Mark 10:45)
Summary: As Joseph approached his brothers in the fields, they made their desires clear to kill him. Being a good older brother, Reuben steps in and says that they should not take his life, but rather throw him into a pit so that Reuben could retrieve him later (v. 22-24). While Reuben goes away, the other brothers decide to sell Joseph into a caravan of Ishmaelites as a slave. Reuben returns and instead of mourning the loss of his brother Joseph, he exclaims to the others "where shall I go?" (v. 30). The text does not seem to point at Reuben's great sense of loss, but rather that his actions from the very beginning were to protect his own self.
Application: There use to be a phrase for auditor's called CYA, which meant "cover your behind (euphemism)" that was used to make sure that we protect the best interest of ourselves and our company. It does not matter if the government or our clients took the blame; as long as we had maintained the dignity of our established accounting firm, nothing else had mattered. Does this type of thinking seep into the church? HECK YES!
I have noble motives of doing ministry and doing what's right, but when something goes awry I always try to point to something else to put the blame on; whether it be a person or an object, I feel I shouldn't have to take the blame for it. However, that exposes the heart of the problem does it not? That if we are so quickly to take the praise without the blame, we are in it for ourselves. The noble motive does not appear to be for God but rather for the furthering of ourselves and our kingdom. This is definitely a struggle I have when I preach sermons, that when I do a "good one" I like to take credit but when I deliver a real stinker, I'll point to circumstances or "business" which prevented me from delivering the one God truly wanted me to deliver.
What may help this process is if I spent more time in prayer for my ministry and sermon. I usually start sermon prep on Thursdays and begin praying for it then, but why not start right away? I should start praying for ideas, for my own holiness, and for my group from the very start of the week.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Genesis 35:9-15 I will give you a new name
Time Spent:
Main Idea: God gives Jacob a new name based upon His grace and mercy
What I learned about God: God redefines our lives through giving us a new identity in Christ
Summary: Jacob has had a turbulent life thus far in Genesis; he flees from his homeland, serves 20 years under Laban, has marital trauma with his wives, deceives his father-in-law, wrestles with God, and meets up with the person who hated him most, Esau his brother. Now after going through these ordeals, God had decided well that Jacob would be given a new name to Israel. His name went from meaning "deceiver" to "He strives with God". The significance of names in the OT was to 1.) show dominion over the thing you name (like Adam in the garden) 2.) sharing a portion of someone's personality in the meaning of the name. Jacob was transformed to one that strives after God not by the good things that he had done, but rather because of the promises that God had made to Abraham (vv.10-11). The new identity came as a result of God's faithfulness to His promises!
Application: God has changed my identity through the faithful work of Jesus Christ. Paul talks about this "new identity" in Col. 3:12-17 from Scripture. Our identity matches the characteristics that Jesus has. Thus, we must put to death our earthly, sinful nature and "put on" Christ in our lives.
Now, putting on Christ is not just having a propensity to do right, but is one that sets their minds and their hearts on Jesus Christ. I have noticed the "delay" in doing my QTs have prevented me from "putting on" Christ for the day. It is true that you do not need to do QTs in the morning, but it's difficult to apply your QTs when you do it so late in the day. Thus, I am resolved to start my QTs as EARLY AS POSSIBLE so I can apply them as the day goes on : ). Put on the new identity of Jesus by learning and applying what He said!
Main Idea: God gives Jacob a new name based upon His grace and mercy
What I learned about God: God redefines our lives through giving us a new identity in Christ
Summary: Jacob has had a turbulent life thus far in Genesis; he flees from his homeland, serves 20 years under Laban, has marital trauma with his wives, deceives his father-in-law, wrestles with God, and meets up with the person who hated him most, Esau his brother. Now after going through these ordeals, God had decided well that Jacob would be given a new name to Israel. His name went from meaning "deceiver" to "He strives with God". The significance of names in the OT was to 1.) show dominion over the thing you name (like Adam in the garden) 2.) sharing a portion of someone's personality in the meaning of the name. Jacob was transformed to one that strives after God not by the good things that he had done, but rather because of the promises that God had made to Abraham (vv.10-11). The new identity came as a result of God's faithfulness to His promises!
Application: God has changed my identity through the faithful work of Jesus Christ. Paul talks about this "new identity" in Col. 3:12-17 from Scripture. Our identity matches the characteristics that Jesus has. Thus, we must put to death our earthly, sinful nature and "put on" Christ in our lives.
Now, putting on Christ is not just having a propensity to do right, but is one that sets their minds and their hearts on Jesus Christ. I have noticed the "delay" in doing my QTs have prevented me from "putting on" Christ for the day. It is true that you do not need to do QTs in the morning, but it's difficult to apply your QTs when you do it so late in the day. Thus, I am resolved to start my QTs as EARLY AS POSSIBLE so I can apply them as the day goes on : ). Put on the new identity of Jesus by learning and applying what He said!
Deuteronomy 15: 7-11
4/5/10
Time: 20 mins
Main Idea: Be there for the people who need you
What this tells me about God: God wants us to take care of our brothers when they are in need
Summary: This section of passage refers to the Sabbatical Year in which it instructs the Israelites to give unto a brother who is in need. It gives the example of having a brother that is poor within your own land. It specifically instructs us not to give with a heart that is in grudging, but to give with a full heart because God will repay you in all the hard work that you undertake for Him. It also shows the punishment of not giving to a needy brother in that we will be guilty of sin when we do not help him. We must give unto our brother willingly and never with a hardened heart against them.
Application: I feel God is not telling us to go to every homeless person in Los Angeles and give them money to fulfill their desires but instead help the ones that are in need for spiritual relief. It seems that God introduces me to people in which I meet in Christian clubs and ministries, but I don't have a strong desire in which I want to help each and every person I meet with their Christian walk. I have met new believers and also non-believers and i try to help them on their Christian walk, but i feel that every time I do that, I turn my back upon the people that need help in their current Christian lives. I feel God is truly just telling me to not look upon only the ones that are new in their Christian walk, but also the ones that are also struggling in their current walk with God.
-Andrew Park
Time: 20 mins
Main Idea: Be there for the people who need you
What this tells me about God: God wants us to take care of our brothers when they are in need
Summary: This section of passage refers to the Sabbatical Year in which it instructs the Israelites to give unto a brother who is in need. It gives the example of having a brother that is poor within your own land. It specifically instructs us not to give with a heart that is in grudging, but to give with a full heart because God will repay you in all the hard work that you undertake for Him. It also shows the punishment of not giving to a needy brother in that we will be guilty of sin when we do not help him. We must give unto our brother willingly and never with a hardened heart against them.
Application: I feel God is not telling us to go to every homeless person in Los Angeles and give them money to fulfill their desires but instead help the ones that are in need for spiritual relief. It seems that God introduces me to people in which I meet in Christian clubs and ministries, but I don't have a strong desire in which I want to help each and every person I meet with their Christian walk. I have met new believers and also non-believers and i try to help them on their Christian walk, but i feel that every time I do that, I turn my back upon the people that need help in their current Christian lives. I feel God is truly just telling me to not look upon only the ones that are new in their Christian walk, but also the ones that are also struggling in their current walk with God.
-Andrew Park
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Descending and Ascending Angels
Genesis 28:10-22 4/3/10
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: Jacob's vision sees the link between heaven and earth through a ladder, which we understand is Christ
What this tells me about God: It is through Jesus alone that we have access to God.
Summary: As Jacob was fleeing from his brother Esau, he rests his head on a rock and gets a vision from the Lord. In it, he sees angels ascending and descending onto the earth like a sort of spiritual-escalator. This is called Jacob's ladder and it is a source of much comfort to Jacob. Right there in his dream, God reiterates the promise that He made with Abraham to him. Jacob finds much comfort in this and builds a pillar in worship to God. Later on we know this theme develops and it is no longer a "ladder" that the angels ascend and descend from, but rather it is Christ. Jesus states to Nathaniel "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending ON THE SON OF MAN" Jo. 1:51. Hallelujah! The access to God is through Jesus Christ alone!
Application: Mike told me that, "all roads lead to God. But only one road leads to God as Father". The only access to God is through His Son. Easter Sunday is a day where we pronounce the greatness of our Lord Jesus and I must remember how it remains distinct. There are plenty of "ladders" that are made to seemingly to get to God or even become God: moralism, success, hedonism, etc. But truly the only one that can save, that can forgive, and can love unconditionally is the Son Jesus Christ. My application for this text is to pray 10 minutes before I sleep about the amazing offer Jesus has made to this world. Somehow, as I prepare my easter message/worship, I don't seem to be "struck" by this concept. God is tugging at my heart that the best way to "prepare" for Easter is to be "awe-struck" by the amazing offer of grace through the Son. The one which we may ascend to God, only through the death and resurrection of His Son.
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: Jacob's vision sees the link between heaven and earth through a ladder, which we understand is Christ
What this tells me about God: It is through Jesus alone that we have access to God.
Summary: As Jacob was fleeing from his brother Esau, he rests his head on a rock and gets a vision from the Lord. In it, he sees angels ascending and descending onto the earth like a sort of spiritual-escalator. This is called Jacob's ladder and it is a source of much comfort to Jacob. Right there in his dream, God reiterates the promise that He made with Abraham to him. Jacob finds much comfort in this and builds a pillar in worship to God. Later on we know this theme develops and it is no longer a "ladder" that the angels ascend and descend from, but rather it is Christ. Jesus states to Nathaniel "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending ON THE SON OF MAN" Jo. 1:51. Hallelujah! The access to God is through Jesus Christ alone!
Application: Mike told me that, "all roads lead to God. But only one road leads to God as Father". The only access to God is through His Son. Easter Sunday is a day where we pronounce the greatness of our Lord Jesus and I must remember how it remains distinct. There are plenty of "ladders" that are made to seemingly to get to God or even become God: moralism, success, hedonism, etc. But truly the only one that can save, that can forgive, and can love unconditionally is the Son Jesus Christ. My application for this text is to pray 10 minutes before I sleep about the amazing offer Jesus has made to this world. Somehow, as I prepare my easter message/worship, I don't seem to be "struck" by this concept. God is tugging at my heart that the best way to "prepare" for Easter is to be "awe-struck" by the amazing offer of grace through the Son. The one which we may ascend to God, only through the death and resurrection of His Son.
Romans 9:14-24
4/2/10: It's God's Choice, Not Ours
Time: 20 mins
Main Idea: God is the only Creator and we have no say in anything!
What I Learned about God: God is the only one who can criticize, we as imperfect people can never question the Creator
Summary: This is when Paul is speaking to the Romans and how he is speaking of how God is never wrong. He gives a question of how if God was making an imperfect man, than God himself the Creator is wrong and therefore imperfect Himself. This is wrong in that God is the Creator and how God is unable to make mistakes but as the Creator, Him making differences if all part of His plan. Paul gives the example of how if God were to show wrath and mercy, they are both made from the same creator and how if he had only created one instead of the other, than they wouldn't be able to compliment each other and therefore is essential to have both even though they are the opposite and therefore the flawed creation. The last verse is the most powerful in that, God did not only make Jews to be Christians, but also the Gentiles to be Christian.
Application: God therefore has made all things in His image, but God shows in each and every creation, there is a purpose behind everything. All the trust within my body must be put onto God and i must not judge a creation of God by just the appearance, but also see it as the reason for each and every creation that God has made. I must never be quick to judge, but I must be the one to appreciate all of God's creations, no matter what.
-Andrew Park
Time: 20 mins
Main Idea: God is the only Creator and we have no say in anything!
What I Learned about God: God is the only one who can criticize, we as imperfect people can never question the Creator
Summary: This is when Paul is speaking to the Romans and how he is speaking of how God is never wrong. He gives a question of how if God was making an imperfect man, than God himself the Creator is wrong and therefore imperfect Himself. This is wrong in that God is the Creator and how God is unable to make mistakes but as the Creator, Him making differences if all part of His plan. Paul gives the example of how if God were to show wrath and mercy, they are both made from the same creator and how if he had only created one instead of the other, than they wouldn't be able to compliment each other and therefore is essential to have both even though they are the opposite and therefore the flawed creation. The last verse is the most powerful in that, God did not only make Jews to be Christians, but also the Gentiles to be Christian.
Application: God therefore has made all things in His image, but God shows in each and every creation, there is a purpose behind everything. All the trust within my body must be put onto God and i must not judge a creation of God by just the appearance, but also see it as the reason for each and every creation that God has made. I must never be quick to judge, but I must be the one to appreciate all of God's creations, no matter what.
-Andrew Park
Galatians 2:19-21
4/1/10: Galatians 2:19-21
I feel like a fool for not updating my devotions. On Thursday night, I went to KCM meeting and then afterwards i had fellowship with my brothers and then we had a joint QT.
Time: 60 mins
Main Idea: The New Law vs. The Old Law
What I learned about God: God is a caring and all knowing being that has a reason to correlate any of His actions, even when we don't understand.
Summary: Paul is speaking of how Jesus' sacrifice changes the meaning of the Law for humans. Paul speaks of how he died through the law to the law. There are two different laws being discussed here in that the first law that you die to is the law of humans and how if we break a commandment or law, then we are condemned to hell. Therefore Paul, as a sinner, has died to the law, but the 2nd law is of the sacrifice of Jesus and how when Paul dies to the law, he dies to the salvation through Jesus' sacrifice for us upon the cross. Paul therefore dies to the law of humans in order to be pure to be in the new law of Jesus, that is salvation. The verse continues to reiterate the fact of God's unconditional love is so great that He sent His one and only son to die upon the cross for us. It then clearly explains how if Heaven were reachable through the first law, then Jesus' sacrifice for us would have been without purpose.
Application: In each and every step of my life, things have been coming out of nowhere in that random things happen to me and I feel that God truly tests me at times, but also God is also blessing me with each and every moment of my life as a gift. I have started to notice the present things in my life usually have a greater meaning within the future, whether it is just forgetting my wallet in the car or just being early for a sunday school service. I might see it as random or sometimes even a burden for my life, but eventually God provides with all this planning to provide me with what I need in order for me to praise Him. Through this passage, i have re-amped my love of God and the great unconditional love He has given me upon the cross and how even the crucifixion would not make sense to me if i were there compared to the meaning and planning God had behind that action. I must learn to trust God everyday and every moment in my life because even though I don't know what is going on in my life, God will provide a reason for everything in the future.
-God Provides, Andrew Park
I feel like a fool for not updating my devotions. On Thursday night, I went to KCM meeting and then afterwards i had fellowship with my brothers and then we had a joint QT.
Time: 60 mins
Main Idea: The New Law vs. The Old Law
What I learned about God: God is a caring and all knowing being that has a reason to correlate any of His actions, even when we don't understand.
Summary: Paul is speaking of how Jesus' sacrifice changes the meaning of the Law for humans. Paul speaks of how he died through the law to the law. There are two different laws being discussed here in that the first law that you die to is the law of humans and how if we break a commandment or law, then we are condemned to hell. Therefore Paul, as a sinner, has died to the law, but the 2nd law is of the sacrifice of Jesus and how when Paul dies to the law, he dies to the salvation through Jesus' sacrifice for us upon the cross. Paul therefore dies to the law of humans in order to be pure to be in the new law of Jesus, that is salvation. The verse continues to reiterate the fact of God's unconditional love is so great that He sent His one and only son to die upon the cross for us. It then clearly explains how if Heaven were reachable through the first law, then Jesus' sacrifice for us would have been without purpose.
Application: In each and every step of my life, things have been coming out of nowhere in that random things happen to me and I feel that God truly tests me at times, but also God is also blessing me with each and every moment of my life as a gift. I have started to notice the present things in my life usually have a greater meaning within the future, whether it is just forgetting my wallet in the car or just being early for a sunday school service. I might see it as random or sometimes even a burden for my life, but eventually God provides with all this planning to provide me with what I need in order for me to praise Him. Through this passage, i have re-amped my love of God and the great unconditional love He has given me upon the cross and how even the crucifixion would not make sense to me if i were there compared to the meaning and planning God had behind that action. I must learn to trust God everyday and every moment in my life because even though I don't know what is going on in my life, God will provide a reason for everything in the future.
-God Provides, Andrew Park
Friday, April 2, 2010
God Will Provide the Lamb
4/2/10 Gen. 22:8, 13
Time Spent: 25 minutes
Main Idea: God does indeed provide the lamb!
What I learned about God: He is faithful in His providence
Summary: A small nuance of this story notes that when Isaac asks his father Abraham where is the burnt offering, Abraham responds "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering". This becomes significant because in v. 13 it is not a lamb that was provided, but a ram. We surely know that on this very day on Good Friday, God did indeed provide for Himself the lamb: Jesus Christ. Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac, the seed of the promise; but withheld and sacrificed His own Son, Jesus Christ. Surely on this mount it was provided! Soli deo gloria!
Application: I watched "Clash of the Titans" yesterday and one of the lines noted Zeus saying, "I wanted people to worship and love me again, but not at the expense of my son", to which I gaffed. What this story fails to realize is that grace would be cheap if it cost you nothing. If you try to give your girlfriend a gift that did not cost you anything or take anytime or consideration, she would probably feel belittled and angered at your attempt to be romantic. Thus, we know that our God loves us dearly because He gives us a COSTLY grace in His son; giving Him up so that we may have life in Him. Diestrich Bonhoffer notes this ideal as costly grace and compares it to people that state, "A God that sends people to hell cannot be a loving God. Surely everyone must be saved!" Bonhoffer notes that he has a more loving God than that universalist, because the God that just accepts EVERYBODY does it at no cost to Himself. Surely the true God exemplifies sacrificial love in command and deed: through the sending of His very own son.
How do I apply this text? Number 1, tell friends not to watch "Clash of the Titans". Number 2, through this QT, I shared the Gospel to myself and will sing a couple songs on my guitar, meditating on the cross. Today is a Good Friday : ).
Time Spent: 25 minutes
Main Idea: God does indeed provide the lamb!
What I learned about God: He is faithful in His providence
Summary: A small nuance of this story notes that when Isaac asks his father Abraham where is the burnt offering, Abraham responds "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering". This becomes significant because in v. 13 it is not a lamb that was provided, but a ram. We surely know that on this very day on Good Friday, God did indeed provide for Himself the lamb: Jesus Christ. Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac, the seed of the promise; but withheld and sacrificed His own Son, Jesus Christ. Surely on this mount it was provided! Soli deo gloria!
Application: I watched "Clash of the Titans" yesterday and one of the lines noted Zeus saying, "I wanted people to worship and love me again, but not at the expense of my son", to which I gaffed. What this story fails to realize is that grace would be cheap if it cost you nothing. If you try to give your girlfriend a gift that did not cost you anything or take anytime or consideration, she would probably feel belittled and angered at your attempt to be romantic. Thus, we know that our God loves us dearly because He gives us a COSTLY grace in His son; giving Him up so that we may have life in Him. Diestrich Bonhoffer notes this ideal as costly grace and compares it to people that state, "A God that sends people to hell cannot be a loving God. Surely everyone must be saved!" Bonhoffer notes that he has a more loving God than that universalist, because the God that just accepts EVERYBODY does it at no cost to Himself. Surely the true God exemplifies sacrificial love in command and deed: through the sending of His very own son.
How do I apply this text? Number 1, tell friends not to watch "Clash of the Titans". Number 2, through this QT, I shared the Gospel to myself and will sing a couple songs on my guitar, meditating on the cross. Today is a Good Friday : ).
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Genesis 20:1-7 May the Lord Keep You
Quiet Time 4/1/10
Time Spent: 40 min
Main Idea: It is the LORD that keeps you from sin
What I Learned about God: God not only wants us to stay away from sin, He is the one who is keeping us from sin
Summary: Abraham, to protect his own hide, decides to lie about his relationship with Sarah as he ventures into the country of Negeb, where Abimelech is king. This is not the first time he lies about his marriage with Sarah as he does the same exact thing in Egypt (Gen. 12). Abimelech tries and takes Sarah for his harem but on that night, God comes to him in a vision, stating that he and his household shall perish if he sleeps with her. Abimelech is shocked at this and pleads ignorance in the situation that was brought upon through the lying teeth of Abraham. God responds by acknowledging Abimelech's innocence and goes on to state that it was God himself who had kept Abimelech from sinning against Him! It was God "keeping" Abimelech that caused him to not sin against Him.
Application: The Psalms are filled with the prayers of God's people for God to "keep" Him. The Jewish word for "keep" has connotations of keeping one from defeat, calamity in life. This is a major theological theme: that God has the grace to keep us from sinning. What this means for my life is to pray the prayers of the Psalms who asked God morning and night to "keep" them. I recognize that I am in a position which a blot on my record has a greater affect upon the people I minister to and my testimony as an ambassador for Jesus. Thus, I should always be sober minded, disciplining my body through prayer and Scripture but above all asking the Lord to keep me from sinning. What great news that it is the Lord that not only saves us but keeps us from falling. It is not in myself that I can overcome sin, but it is through the God that keeps me from sinning!
To apply this, I will ask God to "keep me" saved, faithful, disciplined, gracious, and loving EVERYDAY when I wake up.
"The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore"-Ps. 121:7-8
Time Spent: 40 min
Main Idea: It is the LORD that keeps you from sin
What I Learned about God: God not only wants us to stay away from sin, He is the one who is keeping us from sin
Summary: Abraham, to protect his own hide, decides to lie about his relationship with Sarah as he ventures into the country of Negeb, where Abimelech is king. This is not the first time he lies about his marriage with Sarah as he does the same exact thing in Egypt (Gen. 12). Abimelech tries and takes Sarah for his harem but on that night, God comes to him in a vision, stating that he and his household shall perish if he sleeps with her. Abimelech is shocked at this and pleads ignorance in the situation that was brought upon through the lying teeth of Abraham. God responds by acknowledging Abimelech's innocence and goes on to state that it was God himself who had kept Abimelech from sinning against Him! It was God "keeping" Abimelech that caused him to not sin against Him.
Application: The Psalms are filled with the prayers of God's people for God to "keep" Him. The Jewish word for "keep" has connotations of keeping one from defeat, calamity in life. This is a major theological theme: that God has the grace to keep us from sinning. What this means for my life is to pray the prayers of the Psalms who asked God morning and night to "keep" them. I recognize that I am in a position which a blot on my record has a greater affect upon the people I minister to and my testimony as an ambassador for Jesus. Thus, I should always be sober minded, disciplining my body through prayer and Scripture but above all asking the Lord to keep me from sinning. What great news that it is the Lord that not only saves us but keeps us from falling. It is not in myself that I can overcome sin, but it is through the God that keeps me from sinning!
To apply this, I will ask God to "keep me" saved, faithful, disciplined, gracious, and loving EVERYDAY when I wake up.
"The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore"-Ps. 121:7-8
Genesis 22:1-18 The Sacrifice of Isaac
Quiet Time 3/31/10
Time Spent: 35 minutes
Main Idea: God is testing Abraham to see if he is able to give up Isaac as a sacrifice to Him.
What I learned about God: God is a being in which He tests us, but when we overcome these tests, He will truly bless us for enduring.
Summary: In the book of Genesis, Abraham is confronted by God as He asks Abraham to do something that would be unimaginable for anyone that was not a God-fearing man. God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt sacrifice unto God. Abraham, being the obedient man that he was, he followed God's orders and it took 3 days to approach the mountain in which God told him to go and sacrifice Isaac. Abraham walked up with Isaac and prepared the altar. As Abraham was about to fully commit Isaac's life as a sacrifice to God, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him and stopped him from sacrificing Isaac. God saw this faith that Abraham had within that he provided a proper offering and promised Abraham offspring as many as the stars in the sky and how they will all possess their enemy's gates.
Application: Abraham was not afraid of following God's command at all because Abraham knew that God had a greater plan in all that He had commanded, even though it was to command the death of his own son. Abraham was faithful to God and followed His every command without hesitating. This reminds me of when I feel that God tests me to do something better in that i am so comfortable in the life that i have but lately this week has been extremely tough. I don't know whether it is the devil hindering me from my mission training and my school work but I have also noticed the difference of God testing me compared to being tempted in that through God's tests I might be blessed through Him in ways that I can never imagine. As this week has drained me, through all the late nights, i have not failed to complete my daily devotion no matter what that it takes me to finish it. I will make it a promise to God that I will do my daily devotion everyday before I sleep for the night. It does kill me inside at school each and everyday to be staying up until 4 am for school and mission work, I feel through this, God is testing my determination and my long prayed for topic of diligence and it is just surfacing upon my actions. I will finish every devotion for the rest of mission training. In each and every moment that I may be suffering, that is just another moment i become closer to God.
-Andrew Park
Time Spent: 35 minutes
Main Idea: God is testing Abraham to see if he is able to give up Isaac as a sacrifice to Him.
What I learned about God: God is a being in which He tests us, but when we overcome these tests, He will truly bless us for enduring.
Summary: In the book of Genesis, Abraham is confronted by God as He asks Abraham to do something that would be unimaginable for anyone that was not a God-fearing man. God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt sacrifice unto God. Abraham, being the obedient man that he was, he followed God's orders and it took 3 days to approach the mountain in which God told him to go and sacrifice Isaac. Abraham walked up with Isaac and prepared the altar. As Abraham was about to fully commit Isaac's life as a sacrifice to God, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him and stopped him from sacrificing Isaac. God saw this faith that Abraham had within that he provided a proper offering and promised Abraham offspring as many as the stars in the sky and how they will all possess their enemy's gates.
Application: Abraham was not afraid of following God's command at all because Abraham knew that God had a greater plan in all that He had commanded, even though it was to command the death of his own son. Abraham was faithful to God and followed His every command without hesitating. This reminds me of when I feel that God tests me to do something better in that i am so comfortable in the life that i have but lately this week has been extremely tough. I don't know whether it is the devil hindering me from my mission training and my school work but I have also noticed the difference of God testing me compared to being tempted in that through God's tests I might be blessed through Him in ways that I can never imagine. As this week has drained me, through all the late nights, i have not failed to complete my daily devotion no matter what that it takes me to finish it. I will make it a promise to God that I will do my daily devotion everyday before I sleep for the night. It does kill me inside at school each and everyday to be staying up until 4 am for school and mission work, I feel through this, God is testing my determination and my long prayed for topic of diligence and it is just surfacing upon my actions. I will finish every devotion for the rest of mission training. In each and every moment that I may be suffering, that is just another moment i become closer to God.
-Andrew Park
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