Today in the Word for July 1-5
Today in The Word
Monday July 1, 2019
Have you ever invited friends over for a meal and they didn’t bother to show? Welcome to the word with Pastor David. In Luke 14:16-24 Jesus tells a story:
“…A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
…Then the owner of the house…ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame…compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.””
God is inviting us to the greatest party ever. He has been preparing for our arrival. He is inviting you and I to come to the party. Are we so engrossed in other things that we can’t be bothered to answer his invitation? If we are, the door to his party will eventually close. Does anything matter more than answering God’s invitation?
And that’s the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday July 2, 2019
How good are you at managing delays? Welcome to the Word with Pastor David. Jesus tells the story of some foolish wedding guests in Matthew 25:1-5:
“…ten virgins took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom…The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming…”
In those days, it was not certain when the wedding would start, and these foolish girls did not prepare for the delay. While scrambling to find more oil, they miss the bridegroom coming and miss out on the wedding celebration altogether. The door was shut (v 10).
The girls wanted to be in the wedding, but they did not consider the long haul. Delays are a part of life. Is it any surprise that delays are part of our spiritual life as well? No one knows when Jesus is returning. If we impatiently think that God will tidy up all our concerns in short order, we are probably in for disappointment. Likely, we will get distracted and miss out on what God has planned for us. As Christians, we must plan for the long haul. That would be the wise thing to do.
And that’s the Word from David Baker of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday July 3, 2019
How good are you at managing difficulty and delays? Welcome to the Word with Pastor David. Jesus tells the story of different soils in Matthew 13:20-21. One type of soil is described:
“The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”
In our spiritual life, like in farming, shallow roots lead to plants that cannot withstand the heat and length of summer. We start well, but we do not do well in the long haul. We run away from relationship with God when things get hot.
If we want to persevere in our spiritual growth, we have got to put down deeper roots in God. Christianity is not a sprint. It is a marathon. We need to plan for the long haul. If we hope to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God, we cannot just grow up, we have also got to grow down.
And that’s the Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly. No adult Bible study tonight as we are at Family Camp this week.
Today in the Word
Thursday July 4, 2019
Welcome to the Word with Pastor David on July 4th! This is the day we celebrate our independence as a nation. We recall those that fought to secure our freedom. It took great bravery to stand against tyranny and make a different nation, and ultimately a different world. The Bible records an even greater action of war against tyranny by Jesus in Revelation 19:11-16:
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns…He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations…He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe…he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
Jesus the warrior will end the tyranny of Satan and bring freedom to all humankind. And that freedom will be permanent. It will last longer and be more complete than the freedoms of we enjoy in America. Enjoy the 4th! It is a day to remember how battles were fought for freedom. But do not forget that an ultimate battle will be waged by Jesus for our ultimate freedom.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday July 5, 2019
How does it feel when a door closes right in your face? Welcome to the Word with Pastor David. Over the last several days we have read about stories Jesus told about closed doors. If we want to keep from having the door of heaven closed on us, we would do well to learn from his stories.
Jesus told in Luke 13 the story of some people who announced to Jesus that they had heard him preach and attended parties that he was at. But Jesus told them the door had shut. They imagined a relationship with the doorkeeper that they did not have.
Jesus in Matthew 24 told the story of the door of the ark closing on the corrupt people of Noah’s day. Jesus explained that those people wrongly believed they could ‘do whatever’ and there would be no Day of Reckoning.
Jesus told In Luke 14 the story of people invited to a banquet that were too preoccupied with other things to bother to answer the host’s invitation. They were closed off from his banquet. Others were invited who would respond.
And Jesus told in Matthew 25 the story of 5 foolish maidens who missed out on the wedding feast because they were not prepared for the long haul. The door was shut.
We need to take Jesus’ advice so as to not have the door shut in our face.
And that’s the Word. You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:45 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.