Hope Church, Port Perry

judgment day

Norman Sennema — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:23:44 +0000

SCRIPTURE: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:

PRAYER:
Lord,

May 19 — Proverbs 8:22-36

Norman Sennema — Mon, 19 May 2008 05:49:23 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 8:22-36

OBSERVATION:

APPLICATION:

PRAYER:

May 18 — Proverbs 8:12-21

Norman Sennema — Sun, 18 May 2008 05:48:47 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 8:12-21

OBSERVATION:

APPLICATION:

PRAYER:

May 17 — Proverbs 8:1-11

Norman Sennema — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:45:00 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 8:1-11
“Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud…”
OBSERVATION:
Wisdom is more than knowledge, it is common sense for living. A wise person is not just a knowledgeable person, but a person who understands and applies truth to life. These words suggest that wisdom is available to everyone, to anyone with listening ears. On life’s paths and at the city gates, wisdom is constantly calling us, urging us to pay attention. Like Aesop’s fables, the stories and stuff of life need to be interpreted. We need to discern life-lessons from what we see, hear and experience. Just reading the newspaper will give us information, but by reflecting or meditating on that information, we can glean important life-lessons. We are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of others, we can learn from their mistakes. Wisdom is the voice of God imprinted on created matter, written into the very order of creation. Its loud enough for everyone to hear, if they pay attention.
APPLICATION:
The voice of God is speaking to me too, am I listening? It is not enough just to read the Bible each day and say that I did it, I need to pay careful attention to what the Lord is saying to me in what I read, as well as in what I experience. Wherever I am, whatever I do, the Lord is calling to me. It is worth my while to pay attention, to take notes, to memorize and repeat what I learn. I should choose instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. I believe that Jesus is the voice of God in the flesh, calling to me on life’s paths and at the city gates, calling me to choose and follow Him. He wants to help me, to make me wise and successful in God’s eyes. Being a follower of Jesus is just paying attention to wisdom (truth), its the common sense thing to do.
PRAYER:
Lord, I can think of a few areas in my life where I ought to stop and think, and apply wisdom. Help me not to motor along ignorant and foolish, until I crash. Help me to listen and learn and live like You. Amen.

May 16 — Luke 9:57-62

Norman Sennema — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:44:00 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:57-62
“Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
OBSERVATION:
Jesus was more concerned about fulfilling His mission than about finding a comfortable place to stay. Not even family obligations could get in the way of fulfilling His mission. Those who allow ‘things’ to distract them are not really ready for service in the Kingdom of God. All of this sheds light on what it means to follow Jesus. We are surrendering control of our own lives, goals and commitments to Jesus, and enlisting in His mission. We are signing up for service, and as in the military, so with the community of Jesus-followers, it involves risk, sacrifice and change. We are missionaries. Our primary identity is not ‘saved’ but ‘sent’. The ‘saved’ part is a footnote to the ‘sent’ part, not the other way around. Its not primarily about our comfort, but our commission. This is how Jesus did it, and this is how we are to do it. “‘As the Father has sent me’, he said, ‘so I send you!’”
APPLICATION:
Very appropriate as we are in the middle of the house-buying process. Very distracted, very unsettled, and my focus is not on my primary task, namely to share the message of Jesus, but on finding a comfortable place. Maybe I should be asking, ‘where can we live where we can meet the most people, and best share the message with others?’ Would that change our focus? Or ‘where can we live that is the simplest, most modest, so that we can free up time and resources for ministry?’ Maybe I should be praying, ‘Lord, where do You want me to move, in order to follow You in Your work?’ It is not primarily about my comfort, but my commission…
PRAYER:
Lord, how easily I get distracted. And how quickly I can find excuses for it. Forgive me and help me. And Lord… where do You want me to move, in order to follow You in Your work? Amen.

May 15 — Luke 9:46-56

Norman Sennema — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:42:53 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:46-56
“Then he said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.’”

OBSERVATION:
Ouch, three scenes where the disciples reveal their true character: who was the greatest, rejecting those who do not ‘belong’, and sending fire from heaven against those who reject Jesus. Here we see how much Jesus had to endure, all the while zeroing in on the ultimate crisis of the cross in Jerusalem. Jesus sets up a young child as an example of the ‘little people’ that Jesus came for. We need to be like little children (the least), and we need to graciously welcome the little children, if we want to receive Jesus. Following Jesus is not about position, prestige, power or popularity, it is about being humble, gracious, generous, compassionate, loving, merciful, etc.

APPLICATION:
I sense the Lord challenging me to join Him in His determination to humbly offer myself for the sake of others, and to stop vying for comfort, position, or public acclaim. I sense the Lord urging me to look around at the ‘little people’ in my life, and to see myself below them as their servants, not above them as their superiors. I am struck by the fact that the disciples did not get it, and wonder whether its also the case that I (we) do not get Jesus, that I am (we are) missing the point.

PRAYER:
Lord, there are times when I am looking for honour, when I excluding others, and when I am being critical of those who reject You (and me). Lord, humble me like a little child, and help me to care for them as little children. Amen.

May 14 — Luke 9:37-45

Norman Sennema — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:15:42 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:37-45
“Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.” (Luke 9:43)
OBSERVATION:
Two things strike me in this story. The first is the gripping awe that came over those who saw this dramatic event. I have become desensitized to Jesus casting out demons. But if I picture this as my son screaming, in convulsions, foaming at the mouth, hitting and injuring himself, then I get the sense of miracle when the boy is healed. The other thing is the disappointment and frustration that Jesus experiences with His disciples, and the people in general. The people – and even His disciples – just didn’t get Who He was or why He came (v.45). His words seem harsh, ‘You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?’ Was this impatience in the perfect Son of God, or legitimate frustration? We need to keep in mind that Jesus has been teaching for a while, and has already performed many amazing miracles, but they still didn’t know what He meant.
APPLICATION:
As I read this, I sense that I myself have lost my sense of Who Jesus is and why He came. I am not gripped by awe when I think of Him, of what He did. Does Jesus have this same frustration with me because His significance is hidden from me? I have a tamed messiah, one Who distantly meets my need for forgiveness and eternal life, but Whose significance and majesty are lost on me now. I need to pray with my imagination, and think about what it must have been like, of His glory being revealed in amazing, majestic and small ways. I need to fall on my knees again and exclaim, ‘how great You are!’
PRAYER:
Lord, forgive me for not paying attention to Your greatness, for not understanding and appreciating Who You are and what You have done for me. Open my eyes Lord, help me worship You! Amen.

May 13 — Luke 9:28-36

Norman Sennema — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:14:37 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:28-36
“Then a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.’ When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.” (Luke 9:35-36)
OBSERVATION:
It is not clear why Jesus only takes Peter, James and John. But this is a terrifying experience. They get a glimpse of Jesus divine glory, His earthly robe is pulled back for a brief moment, and they are speechless and terrified. In the midst of this scene, God speaks. To all people, all religions, all philosophies, God declares that He stands behind Jesus. If we want to find our way through this life, we need to listen to Jesus. He may not appear to be much, and His message may seem foolish, but its God’s way, the only way. The way of self-denial for the sake of others (as seen in Jesus emptying Himself of His glory to save us) is the way of God, of life, of hope, of the world as God made it to be (i.e. the kingdom of God).
APPLICATION:
If the way of Jesus is God’s way, then I need to accept it, and I need to tell others about it. God is saying to me too, ‘listen to Him’. If I do not follow what Jesus says and does, I am going against the flow of the universe, against life and God and even against myself as I was designed to be. The sinful life is the backwards life, not the Jesus life. One day we will see the glory of God’s way, but for now it is veiled to our sinful, selfish eyes. We’re asleep while all this is going on. I need to let this message sink in, because I feel like I am asleep to this. Do I really believe that the way of Jesus is the most glorious, the most important way… the only way? If I did, it would change my life more! More self-denial, more sacrifice for others, less thinking about my reputation and my comfort. It would be more obvious and radical if I (we) actually listened to and imitated the way of Jesus.
PRAYER:
Lord, please lead me beyond thinking about radically following You to start doing it. Thank You for this glimpse of Your glory, and the glory of Your way. Convince me please that this is also the best way for me… I’m still holding back. Amen.

May 12 — Luke 9:18-27

Norman Sennema — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:14:24 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:18-27
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)
OBSERVATION:
Jesus makes it clear here that following Him is not easy. It may sound glamorous to be the messiah (with cozy administrative posts for his followers), but that is not the case. Jesus will suffer and die, but He will come back to life again. And His followers must also choose between the “good life” now or later. If the problem of sin is a selfish heart, then the solution – and the cross – is to turn away from selfish living. But that is hard. Our sinful nature does what it can to take care of itself, looking out for #1. But the way of Jesus, the way of the kingdom, is the way of selfless love and service of God and others. Ironically, this is how we ultimately save and serve ourselves best. Its one of the many kingdom paradoxes.
APPLICATION:
It does not take long for me to see the selfish ways that are still in me. For me to follow Jesus means that I am choosing to surrender myself, my goals and desires and person comfort for His sake. Its not about me. This is one of the things that I sense is missing from christianity as its come to be understood, and as I live it myself. A crossless christianity, at least the part about us carrying it. We’re glad Jesus did, because its nice to be forgiven and guaranteed heaven. But ths is NOT what following Jesus involves. This is what I got to learn if I want to be a Jesus follower.
PRAYER:
Lord, You were very clear about what it meant to follow You. We are the ones who make it fuzzy. Please help me go beyond reading these words, help me to start today in living them. Amen.

May 11 — Luke 9:10-17

Norman Sennema — Sun, 11 May 2008 05:34:10 +0000

SCRIPTURE: Luke 9:10-17
“Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them….They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers! (Luke 10:16-17)
OBSERVATION:
The disciples have witnessed – and been a part of – amazing miracles. Could they have imagined this next one, multiplying food for thousands? This story is a good example of how good takes our little contributions (whether loaves and fish, or our weak speaking skills, or our abilities, or our small offerings) and multiplies them for His purpose. The disciples did not have the “spiritual gift” of feeding multitudes, they just had 5 loaves and 2 fish. I may not have the gift of hospitality, but I do have a home and food to offer. When what little we have is offered to the Lord, with a prayer of thanks (like Jesus did), then He will multiply it for His purpose. He will do beyond what we could imagine, impacting and blessing people beyond our ability. When we offer our limited selves to Him, we will be amazed at how He takes our little pebble and creates a big splash, with ripples that will stretch beyond our reach.
APPLICATION:
What do I have to offer? I can mention what I think my “gifts” are, but beyond that what do I have. If I have a mouth, if I have hands, if I have a house, a car, food and drink, if I have time, a mind, an education — all of these things can be useful in the Lord’s hands. Instead of complaining how little or small my gift is, maybe I should look up to the Lord and bless these resources, and then trust that He can use and multiply them as He sees fit. Its not up to me to feed the multitudes, its just up to me to be available with what I am, with what I have. He will feed the multitudes. The advantage of looking at things this way is that it takes the burden of success off of me, as well as the burden of insufficiency (what difference can I make?). I just have to be willing and available. “Here I am, Lord, send me!”
PRAYER:
Lord, as I look ahead to beginning a new work in Ajax, I am at times nervous about the needs and expectations that await me. Remind me that it is not my job to feed the multitudes, but simply to be willing and available, and to offer what I have to You, trusting that You will make the difference. Amen.