Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Obey the Lord

June 1, 2014 Background Scripture: Haggai 1:1 – 11 Lesson Passage: Haggai 1:1 – 11 Obedience is a word that is used many times in the homes of God-fearing people. First, children are taught to obey their parents from infancy. Secondly, children are taught to respect and honor adults. Thirdly, children are taught to be kind and courteous towards other children. Then fourthly, children are taught to reverence, pray to, and obey God. I know we start with God when we are talking about adults but there is a very good reason the training often follows a different sequence for children. Children identify with people first and they have to be taught how to have right relationships with others. In fact, it is of the utmost importance that children learn the proper behavior towards their father or the “father figure” in their lives. It is the father-child relationship that forms the basis for a child’s first concept of what God is like. Christian men who would be leaders in the church are required to first be leaders in their homes (1 Timothy 3:5). Certainly this makes it easier to teach obedience to God knowing that the foundation for it should have been established in the home. In our lesson today, God rebukes Israel for being negligent in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. The work on the temple’s foundation had begun 18 years prior to the prophecy of Haggai. However, because of local opposition from some Samaritans and other neighbors, the work ended immediately after the foundation was completed two years after it was started. The Jews in Jerusalem had neglected the temple construction for sixteen years but they had not neglected to rebuild their own houses during that same time. Although there was local opposition, God had made the way plain for them by moving on the hearts of the kings of Persia who endorsed and decreed that the work on the temple should be done. Again it should be noted that the local opposition did not deter the Jews from finishing their own houses. It was to that attitude that the word of God responded. They were indifferent to the house of God but responsive to their own housing needs and desires. For this, God would withhold blessings from them, curse the work of their hands that it would not be fruitful, and frustrate their personal plans. God sent Haggai to prophesy to Israel and tell them that their misfortune was not a coincidence. When Israel questioned what was happening to them, the prophet’s answer was: “Consider your ways.” It was not coincidental but rather God’s hand working against them. God was not destroying them. Physically, that would have been very easy for God to do. Instead, God was working against them to cause them to reflect on their disposition towards Him and change their behavior. Zerubbabel had led 50,000 Jews out of captivity back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. They had not worked on completing that project for the last 16 years and they were going on with their lives as though it didn’t matter. It mattered to God and now it needed to matter to the Jews. They were not sent back to Jerusalem to restore their personal houses but to restore the house of God. Today’s lesson was a reminder for them to obey the Lord. Robert C. Hudson May 27, 2014

Monday, May 19, 2014

The Greatest Commandment

May 25, 2014 Background Scripture: Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:1 – 9; Mark 12:28 – 34 Lesson Passage: Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4 – 9; Mark 12:28 – 34 Sometimes when we are having our internal theological debates among Christians, there are people on the outside who have much more pressing questions. Of course the situation with some on the outside is that they have questions but they refuse to accept our answers. I listened attentively as a person who was a professed Christian struggled to the point of frustration trying to give “church” answers to a non-Christian who had questions but yet was very opinionated about “church” answers. The questions were good questions with known biblical answers. What is the bible? What does the word bible mean? Did man write the bible? Since the bible is written using metaphors and it contains contradictions, why should I believe anything that’s written in it? One lesson to be appreciated from the conversation is that all questions are not in search of answers. Such was the case in our lesson today. Jesus was asked a question by a teacher of the Law who was not seeking information concerning the question but rather publically testing Jesus to see if he truly understood the doctrine of the Old Testament or the Jewish Torah specifically. Jesus’ answer to a question of Jewish theology caught the attention of a nearby scribe who obviously saw himself as an expert in the Holy Scriptures. The scribe did not give Jesus a make believe scenario to see how he would apply scripture to the situation. The scribe asked a direct question and the answer to the question is perhaps the cornerstone of Jewish theology and faith. Which is the first commandment of all? Put another way, if all of the commandments were prioritized in order of importance, which commandment would be first on the list? Being that there are over 600 commandments identified in the Old Testament, only a person well-versed in Jewish theology could properly answer the question. Jesus went a step further. Jesus named the first and the second commandments in sequential order and declared that the rest are subservient to these. Without doubt, there is no commandment greater than to love God with all of one’s being. God is preeminent and nothing comes before Him. Until a person can seek God first, above all else, there is no eternal salvation possible. To even be given the privilege to seek God for salvation speaks to the character of God. Just knowing this also represents the greatest challenge to evangelism. Seeking God requires faith. If a person does not believe that he or she is a sinner in need of the grace and mercy of God, there is little incentive on their part to change their disposition towards divine judgment and eternal life. When a person comes to a state where he can give an accurate assessment of himself spiritually, then the word of God can provide the guidance that is needed to accept God’s saving grace. Access to spiritual awareness is only given through the grace of God. Some people believe that treating others fairly is the ultimate goal of all religions. It is easy to see why they will equate their spirituality with how they treat others. This way of thinking leaves no need or room for an all-powerful God to guide them and save them from their sins. When God is left out of a person’s thinking, that person will always be confused and lost. So the commandment to love God puts everything else into proper perspective and this is the greatest commandment of all. Robert C. Hudson May 15, 2014

Monday, May 12, 2014

Jesus’ Teaching on the Law

May 18, 2014 Background Scripture: Exodus 20; Isaiah 29:13, 14; Matthew 5:17 – 48; 15:1 – 20; Romans 3:31 Lesson Passage: Matthew 15:1 – 11, 15 – 20 The Law is an expression of God’s righteousness. It is through the Law that we come to understand the meaning of true holiness. God does not leave man to grope hopelessly in the dark trying to discover Him or to learn about His ways and expectations of us. God gave the Law to be a schoolmaster to bring Israel to the Anointed One (Christ). Then, Israel was supposed to be an example for all people of the world so that no one would be without excuse before God. The Law defines right and wrong, good and bad, and holy and unholy. One of the gravest errors man commits is not so much in keeping or not keeping of the Law. But there is a grave error when man takes it upon himself to amend the Law of God. Man will oftentimes make up his own rules to govern his religious affairs and dare to call it spiritual. When following the laws established by men become the preferred practice, this behavior is then described by Jesus as following the traditions of men. Sadly, it is easier for established religions, in general, and local churches, more specifically, to follow their own rules than to simply adhere to God’s prescribed way of living. Jesus made it clear in his teachings that God’s analysis of the innermost person is what determines God’s disposition towards that person. God does not examine actions but rather motive. God does not evaluate effort but rather intent. In the passage from Isaiah, God referred to those who adhered to their own laws but refused to change inwardly as “this people”. It is worth noting that God does not refer to them in this instance as “My people”. The difference between the two expressions centers on honor. To honor God verbally and then live as we choose is disrespectful to Him. True honor will allow our hearts to line up with our words. Afterwards, our actions should be governed by our words. Eventually, we do live out what’s in our hearts and not what we have said. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for placing more emphasis on outward behavior than on inward change that aligns with God’s word. Jesus’ disciples told him that his remarks had offended the Pharisees. Jesus’ response to this is worth considering. Jesus made it clear that all leaders of religious groups are not approved of God. Those who are not will eventually be uprooted by God. Jesus warned his disciples about people who judged them based on rules handed down through the generations but are not relevant to what God has provided in the Law. Too often we think we know and understand the Law that God gave through Moses. When we reach this point of arrogance, we are then likely to start amending the Law of God as though we know how to make it better than what God has given. When men believe strongly in their own rules versus God’s rules, then the rules of men will began to dominate our teaching and God’s Law will be treated as though it is not effective on its own. God’s Law is perfect and it is to be accepted as such and embraced by all who will by faith be drawn to God through faith in Jesus Christ. Robert C. Hudson May 9, 2014

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Jesus’ Mission on Earth

May 11, 2014 Background Scripture: Leviticus 25:8 – 55; Isaiah 61; Luke 4:14 – 21 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 61:1 – 3; Luke 4:14 – 21 Jesus was born in flesh here on the earth for a purpose. Jesus clearly set forth his agenda for his earthly ministry. He was not here by accident nor was he haphazardly moving through life. The Spirit of God was upon him and he was anointed by the same Spirit for the work of ministry. Jesus was reared as a child in Nazareth of Galilee. He was taught to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath day. It was there where they studied the Holy Scriptures which foretold his coming and ministry. As a man, Jesus went to the synagogue one Sabbath day and read aloud from the prophet Isaiah from the place that detailed his ministry. He had been sent by God to God’s covenant people, Israel. Jesus was given a five-fold ministry on earth. First, he was to preach the gospel to the poor. The poorest in Israel had been marginalized by society as those who did not matter. The rich could enjoy a lavish lifestyle and look forward to an expected future. The poor were not being encouraged and told of the good things God had in store for them who love Him. Jesus’ ministry changed that and made the poor a priority. They were at the top of the list to receive good news from God. Although they had been pushed to the back, now they would be first in line. Secondly, Jesus would bring healing to those whose hearts had been broken. Many had become so discouraged that they no longer expected anything good out of life. They existed in perpetual depression. Jesus’ ministry would change that and restore hope and the joy of salvation for them. Thirdly, some in society had become prisoners to the devil’s devices. Demon possession had bound many and some had become a threat to society and a danger to themselves. Others even spent their lives living among the tombs. Jesus opened prison doors and set many of them free. No longer would they remain bound by demonic forces but they would be free to praise God and follow Him. Once they were naked and forsaken as crazy but with freedom they were then clothed and in their right minds. Some were born into their affliction. Even this would be for the glory of God. They would recover their sight and become living testimonies. Their parents would not be able to explain to others the miracle that God would work in their lives through Jesus. While their sight was restored, others who could see would become spiritually blind because of the hardness of their hearts. Many were emotionally and psychologically bruised. Jesus came to set at liberty those who were bruised. Jesus clearly came to fulfill prophecy. Jesus was sent into the world by God to live in complete submission to the will of the Father. He was sent to seek and save the lost sheep of Israel. Some, such as Zaccheus, were shunned because of their chosen career path. Jesus restored them because they were of the seed of Abraham. Jesus was sent by God to serve those he was sent to and not to be served by them during his earthly pilgrimage. Finally, Jesus’ mission on earth was to give his life as a ransom for many. He suffered the punishment mankind deserved for our disobedience to God. He died and poured out his blood to pay the penalty for our sins. Accepting this by faith makes us right with God. To all who look for his return, we know that Jesus said it best moments before he died. Jesus said: It is finished. Today, we say: Mission accomplished! Robert C. Hudson May 3, 2014