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Read: Leviticus 9:7-10:20, Mark 4:26-5:20, Psalm 37:30-40, Proverbs 10:6-7

But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” (Mark 5:19)

Relate: Either someone in the community was awfully rich or this herd of pigs that just drowned was a community affair. In today’s market, a herd of  two thousand pigs is going to run between $300,000-$400,000. Can you imagine a four hundred thousand dollar investment and watching it run right off a cliff? If I owned my house and watched it, with everything inside it, including the car in the garage, go up in flames. And if I knew that I didn’t have any insurance on any of it… I’d probably get about a fourth or a fifth of the way to what that must be like.

So crazy Joe comes into town. He’s dressed and… not so crazy anymore. He comes right to the town square, and everybody gathers around to watch what’s about to happen. Everybody loves a freak show and crazy Joe’s been local entertainment for years. Just so long as you don’t get close. Him coming right into town… well, everybody loves a train wreck too. Crazy Joe says, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news.” After he tells his story I’m going to be thinking, “That’s great for you but perhaps you could go back to being crazy and I could get my pigs back?”

Relate: This demon possessed man was the first person who was told to go and tell rather than come and follow. He was the very first missionary. His past disqualifies him. His knowledge of who Jesus is and what He teaches is also very limited. “Who is he? I don’t know, some guy who heals people and kills pigs. There’s a bunch of other guys who follow him around but apparently I can’t be one of them.”

My past disqualifies me from being a missionary. I’m a failure. I’ve let Him and nearly everyone I know down time and time again. There are plenty of other people without the scarred history and the skeletal closets that I have to deal with who would be far better candidates to serve God. My education disqualifies me. I’m not smart enough, sharp enough, a good enough speaker. I get tongue tied when I have to think on my feet. I just don’t know enough. Hogwash. Literally. Two thousand pigs running into a lake hogwash. If Jesus can chose a formerly insane man with almost no knowledge of who He is, and send the guy into a hostile environment as the very first missionary, He can use anyone. He can use me. He can use you.

Respond: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”660″ height=”440″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgO1JbaNt94″ id=”0″]

God, so often I look at myself and see an underqualified failure. I know You want to use me but the two questions that always pop up are why and how. I don’t know why You would chose me to reach my friends, my family, and my world but You did. Help me to be equal to the task. I don’t know how the little I can say will have any effect. Speak through me. If You can use anyone… use me.

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Read: Leviticus 1:1-3:17, Mark 1:29-2:12, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 9:13-18

No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with yeast. (Leviticus 1:11)

Relate: Compartmentalization. That’s a big word for a small idea. I mean small as in, I break my life into small chunks. Also different. For each of those small chunks I am different. I am diligent at work, but I’m lazy when I get home. I am compassionate around some people. I’m crass around others. When I am at work, at home, at the park, around kids, talking on he phone, I tend to be different. I tend to compartmentalize. For the most part, that is a good thing. The way I talk to a three year old should not be the same way I talk to a professor. Someone that needs a hug shouldn’t be treated the same way as someone who needs a kick in the pants. The ability to compartmentalize is a good thing.

But some things cannot be compartmentalized. My Christianity cannot be compartmentalized. This is something I hear people expecting of politicians all the time. They want the Senator to leave his faith at home and not bring it into his vote. Some students wish they could compartmentalize better. Unfortunately their Saturday night clubbing ends up spilling over into their Sunday morning hangover. That leads into another thing that cannot be compartmentalized… sin.

React: If I let sin into any one area of my life, it is going to spread like a cancer. It is going to spread like yeast through dough. If my life was a house with many rooms, it would be nice if I could keep all the dirt locked in the basement. Unfortunately every time I go down there I’ll be tracking it around when I leave. The more often I go down, the more it will keep appearing unwanted in other places. Yeast is used to represent sin in many places in the Bible and God will not accept any sacrifice made with yeast for that reason. Yeast infects. It spreads. If I want to invite God into my life, into my house, I have to be willing to let Him clean out the whole thing. I cannot be content to lock up the basement and hope He will be satisfied with the rest. A partial sacrifice is no sacrifice.

Respond: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”660″ height=”440″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KGxJmDcn5c” id=”0″]

God, take all of me. Don’t let me try to lock up or hide any rooms of my heart from You. Infect every pore of my being. Spread through my life, my words, my actions, my thoughts so that there is no more room for sin. As hard as I might try I can never clean out the yeast of my life on my own. The only hope I have is to let You take over more and more of my life so that is no room left for it to hide. Help me to not compartmentalize You any more. Please come. 

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Read: Exodus 37:1-38:31, Matthew 28:1-20, Psalm 34:11-22, Proverbs 9:9-10

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.  (Psalm 34:18)

– – – – –

This is for me. This is for you. This is for the lonely, the tired, the alone, the single. This is for the “where are all the godly men and I’m not spending another dime on Christian Mingle.”

This is for the girl who huddles in the corner late at night hoping daddy won’t come home drunk and horny… again. This is for the child whose parents sold her to a con man who promised them she would get an education. Now she walks dusty streets trading her body for a few rupees. This is for the boy who is afraid, with good reason to go visit his uncle’s house. This is for the lapsed Catholic who wonders why that priest is not in jail… or at least defrocked.

This is for the abused. For the one who has been told all their life they are no good and now believe it. This is for the girl, the boy, whose heart has been stolen by that one who will never give them the time of day. This is for the ugly. For the shy. This is for the one who hated school because everyone there hated them.

This is for the girl who thinks she can find attention and affirmation by exposing herself to the eyes of strangers. Or perhaps it is the only way she knows to pay for college. This is for the man who has spent so long chained to the late night screen of his computer that he no longer knows how to interact with a real woman face to face. This is for the man who is still chained.

This is for the career man who has spent their life climbing the ladder and now wonders if they have waited too long to focus on what matters most. Now they wonder if they are destined to be alone. This is for the woman who sits at home waiting if that career man will ever come home tonight. The food on the table has long ago gone cold.

This is for all those who are sick and tired of all the hoopla surrounding this day. This is for those who mock but inside are jealous of their married friends. This is for those who watch as everyone around has a Valentine but know that it will never, will it ever be their turn? This is for me. This for you.

There is a man.

He was raised, lived, and died single. Alone. He knows.

He is engaged to a faithless bride. Time and time again he woes her back but time and time again she cheats on Him. He wonders night after night if she will have time for him while His bread grows cold. He knows.

He was mocked. He was beaten. He was spat on and abused. He carried a heavy burden down a lonely road. Though he did not deserve it he willingly took the stripes so that He would know the abuse, the torment you have suffered.

Finally, He was raised up and exposed. Naked. And the whole world looked on while His shame was exposed. He knows the torment of that late night. He has walked that dusty street. He has felt an unrequited love. He who knew no sin became sin. He knows.

And finally, he died of a broken heart.

But he did not stay dead. He took everything hell could throw at Him but it was not enough. He kicked down those gates and now He is coming for You, He is coming for me. He is willing to restore our crushed spirit. He sees the pieces of your broken heart and is willing to put them back together. Will you give them to Him?

[videoembed type=”youtube” width=”720″ height=”480″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5RB6LJ4Bk4″ id=”0″]

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Read: Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 8:33-36

Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. (Exodus 33:15)

Relate: He’s the rich man and she’s the girl around the corner. Perhaps she’s the socialite daughter and he’s the lowly waiter. Somehow, impossibly, they come together to make the match made in heaven. Never was a couple more made for each other. Then the complications arise and they go their separate ways. (Cue the music “I Will Always Love You”) He’s at the airport and she’s sitting at home looking out the window. She’s driving down the highway and he’s sitting at the beach sadly skipping rocks. The romantic flashbacks lead to the moment of decision. Last call is made and he doesn’t get on the plane. She looks up to see him coming into the driveway with a rose between his teeth. Another rock he didn’t throw skips across the water. He turns to see her smile as a beautiful sunset sets the romantic backdrop. They begin to dance. (Cue “I’ve had the Time of My Life)

I’ve just given you the plot to every chic flick ever made. There’s the romance, the complication, the threatened leave, and the return. The Ten Commandments and God’s leading His people to freedom was the romance. Israel’s faithlessness, especially in choosing to worship Yahweh in their own way (the golden calf), is the complication. God tells Moses to go on up to the Promised Land. He’ll provide the way but God’s presence won’t go up with them. Moses’ response is the return. “If You don’t go with us, we’re not moving.” Then Moses see’s God’s glory. Cue the credits, we have a blockbuster.

React: There is truth in a chic flick. The reason the trope works so well is because it exposes an eternal truth. God has provided a way for me to be with Him. But my dreams, my actions, my sin… it complicates things. Ultimately, if it is to be a happy ending, I must lay those things aside and come back to Him. What’s the point of accomplishing my dreams if He isn’t a part of them? Where’s the fun of having fun if it drives me from Him? You know what to call a heaven where God’s presence cannot be found? Hell.

So what are the true priorities in my life? What am I aiming for? What direction am I headed? Where’s my focus? Is it on Him. Is God my destination, my goal, my priority? Am I can He’s first with my words and my mind but does He really take that place in my heart and my actions? If not then it is time to root myself in this place and not leave until I can once again see His glory. Nothing else I might have to do today is worth going from this place without Him.

Respond: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvdqkrn1sMg” id=”0″]

God, I am desperate for Your presence. I don’t want to go through the rest of my day, or my week, or my life, if You are not a part of it. You are all that matters. Be with me as I learn to walk closer and closer to You.

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Read: Exodus 29:1-30:10, Matthew 26:14-46, Psalm 31:19-24, Proverbs 8:14-26

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying,“Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26)

Relate: Luther is famous for being the first Protestant reformer. Another man born just weeks after him was doing the same thing in Switzerland as Luther was in Germany. Both Luther and Zwingli had a large and growing number of followers and the two met together in a small town for what became known as the Marburg Colloquy. Although in most areas they were in agreement, there was one that both considered extremely important where they could not come together.

“Hoc est corpus meum”. Luther wrote this in the chalk on the table and both men went around and around on what “est”, on what “is” meant. Luther said it was literal. Jesus was saying this is my body. When we take communion we are literally partaking in the body and blood of Christ. Zwingli said the is was figurative. Just like when Jesus said “I am the vine” He did not literally mean he was an actual grapevine. The two could not find common ground and so end up going their separate ways and thus the precedent was set for division within the Protestant church.

React: My initial reaction is to think, “Seriously? Is it that big of a deal that you couldn’t find unity on such a small point?” Well yes, actually, it is that big of a deal. And no, it is not a small point. What both these giants in the faith realized is that remembering the Lord’s death through communion is no small matter and no matter which side you come down on, taking communion is of huge importance. Today it might be viewed as a tradition we do regularly or maybe its a nice breakup of the normal church routine, but Paul said that such flippant attitude was causing some in the early church to get sick and die. How seriously am I remembering God’s command to remember His death until He returns?

Respond: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1fExxLCfI0″ id=”0″]

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Read: Exodus 28:1-43, Matthew 25:31-26:13, Psalm 31:9-18, Proverbs 8:12-13

In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chest piece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord. (Exodus 28:29)

Relate: I’m flipping over to the AP news wire to see what has been happening in the past hour…

39 minutes ago, French Troops are battling Islamist Insurgents in Mali and have retaken a key airport.

37 minutes ago, Hundreds watch an accused with burned alive in Papua New Guinea.

11 minutes ago, 7.0 earthquake strikes Solomon Islands. 13 dead dozens missing.

51 minutes ago, 9 dead in shootings at a polio clinic in Nigeria.

13 minutes ago, Protesters fight army in Egypt as tensions rise after the death of opposition leader.

Within the past hour more than 150 children are murdered by abortion doctors here in the US.

Relate: Aaron is to carry the names of Israel over his heart as a reminder that he stands between them and God as an intercessor. His primary responsibilities as a priest is to bring them to God and to bring God to them. As a Christian, I am a part of a holy priesthood. Whose names do I carry over my heart. I picked 5 stories at random from the past hour. Insurrection, unrest, murder, tragedy, false religion… I could pick five new stories an hour from now and another five the hour after that. This world desperately needs God and I find myself focused on the narrow confines of the easy environment around me. Just as the threat of blizzard make me want to stay inside so does knowledge of the tragedy in our world make me want to stay here. But I have a responsibility to go out. I have work to do. We have a responsibility before God to go out. We can do that through our prayer. We can do that through our giving. We can do that through stepping out that door and going. How many of us have been shirking our God given responsibility? God, forgive me.

Response: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEdGWk-FhdI” id=”0″]

God, please expand my horizons. Help me to have a greater vision and a stronger passion for those You love. Help me to be obedient to Your calling. Make me an intercessor in prayer and deed. As I come before You, help me to carry Your world on my heart.

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Read: Exodus 26:1-27:21, Matthew 25:1-30, Psalm 31:1-8, Proverbs 8:1-11

Set up this Tabernacle according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain. (Exodus 26:30)

Relate: Fine linen, goat hair, ram skin, goat skin, frame, support, gilding. This is the order God shows Moses how to build the tabernacle. It’s pretty much the opposite order I would notice it. First thing I would see would be the outer curtain and all the gold. Then I would notice its structure and finally, only after I have entered in, would I notice the thing that God began with.

We tend to work from the outside in. First change your appearance, then lets deal with your behavior. Now that we’ve got those squared away lets deal with your mind. Once you look good, act good, and think right, then we’ll start digging into the heart. God, in building the Tabernacle started with the inside then worked out. God, when building us does the very same thing.

React: It is easy to change my appearance. I already did it at least once today. Showered, shaved, changed and I’m a new man. Give me 20 minutes on Halloween and I can be anything you want. A little harder is to try and change my behavior. I really have to work at it, but it can be done. With effort and self discipline, over time I can start acting like a fine upstanding citizen. (But what’s the fun in that?) Almost impossible is trying to get me to change my mind. Over long periods of time it does happen. Through a single argument, debate, or piece of information… not a chance. The thing that is impossible, though is changing my heart. Only God can do that. Good thing that is exactly what He does and that is how He works.

Respond: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-afZJ9_TIM” id=”0″]

God, I give You my heart. Do with it as You will. Change and mold me as You know best. I want to be a tabernacle for Your dwelling. So often I look at myself and at others from the wrong direction. Help me to see how You see and respond the way You responded. Don’t let me get caught up with behavior and appearance issues, let me guard and shelter my heart and the hearts of those You have placed in my life.

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Read: Exodus 21:22-23:13, Matthew 24:1-28, Psalm 29:1-11, Proverbs 7:6-23

You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. (Exodus 23:2)

Relate: There’s a hierarchy to high school locker room politics. I was somewhere just below the middle. I was respected, but not admired. I was athletic but not muscular. I was a leader, but not in the locker room dynamic. There was another Christian who stood fairly high up. He was a linebacker on the football team. There was also the poor kid on the bottom who was being harassed by the locker room king. I wanted to help but didn’t. Actually, I was praying that the other Christian in there would stand up. He didn’t. He looked uncomfortable but he was laughing right along with everybody else. Just like me.

React: Did you ever have an unpopular boss or coworker? Ever have someone who just doesn’t understand the break room dynamics and ends up being the brunt of everyone else’s jokes? Do you stand up to them or just go along with everybody else? This scripture is sitting right in the middle of two sections titled “Social Responsibility” and “A Call for Justice”. The fact is, going along with the crowd is a form of social injustice. It isn’t the type that perpetuates the slave trade or throws people in concentration camps. It’s just the mentality that allows those that do to get away with it. It is also the mentality that allows the victim to snap and become the next news flash shooting. These things don’t just happen in schools or workplaces, it happened just yesterday in a nursing home. Peer pressure, locker room politics, is something each of us have to stand against everywhere, every day.

Respond: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”660″ height=”440″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5AkNqLuVgY” id=”0″]

God, give me your eyes so I can see the hurt and the need of those around me. Give me Your courage to stand against injustice both big and small. I am Your representative. Help me to extend Your courage into the break rooms and the locker rooms of my life.

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Read: Exodus 19:16-21:21, Matthew 23:13-39, Psalm 28:1-9, Proverbs 7:1-5

Then God gave the people all these instructions: (Exodus 20:1)

Relate: Spiritual checklist time. Its a 10 question survey and I’m going to see how well I’ve been doing at following God’s instructions. Feel free to do it along with me.

1) “You must not have any other god before me.” At first blush I’m going OK. But I have to ask, when trouble pops up, where is my hope and reliance. More than that, on what am I spending most of my time and money. As much as my intellect says God is first and only, my hope and my worship say otherwise. I’m 0-1

2) “You must not bow down to them or serve any images” As fun as it would be to go off on this one the day after every single person worshiped at the altar of the flat screen to pay homage to the Super Bowl I won’t. I’m going to give myself this one. 1-2

3) “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” I… yah. 1-3

4) “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” I tend to extremes. I went a two and a half month stretch without a day off. I’ve also gone weeks on end when I’m not working even when I am at work. There is no balance. 1-4

5) “Honor your father and mother.” Two words: Teen years. 1-5

6) “You must not murder.” I got this one… but no. Jesus said if I have anger without just cause then I’m guilty of murder in my heart. 1-6

7) “You must not commit adultery.” Again Jesus said if I have lusted I’m guilty of this one. Jesus wasn’t just perfect, he had to go and raise the bar on the rest of us. (And did I just break #3… again?) 1-7

8) “You must not steal.” 1-8 (No story necessary)

9) “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.” I’ve never told a lie. (cough, cough) 1-9

10) “You must not be jealous of your neighbors stuff.” 1-10. Did I pass? What’s the curve?

React: Lets be honest. I fell, and I continue to fall short. Not just a little. I’m so short its ugly. Even worse, a passing grade on this test in 100. I’m one for ten and that one is actually debatable. God has set a standard of righteousness that I cannot possibly meet. The fact is, when I think of myself I’m a good person. When I compare myself with others, I’m doing quite well. But most of us usually are in our own eyes. Even Hitler and Stalin probably felt that they were pretty good guys. But the fact is, my righteousness puts me a lot closer to Hitler on the scale than it does to Jesus. That is why I am glad that God gave me His righteousness when He carried my sin to the cross. My sin is so ugly, but His grace is so amazing.

Respond: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDDlxmsciqY” id=”0″]

God, I thank You for Your grace. I’m humbled. I am so undeserving, but You died. For me. There are no words that can show my gratitude. Take my life instead.

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Read: Exodus 5:22-7:25, Matthew 18:21-19:12, Psalm 23:1-6, Proverbs 5:22-23

But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. (Exodus 7:3-4)

Relate: So God tells Moses to go to Egypt to bring the Israelites out. Then He tells Pharaoh not to let them go. Ever wonder about that? Doesn’t it seem like God is intentionally making it difficult for Moses and the Hebrews to do what He commanded them to do? Does that seem fair? Others might have their opinions as to why God chose to act this way, but to get to mine we have to look at what the ten plagues were and what gods the Egyptians worshiped: 

1) Water to Blood – Khnum was the guardian of the Nile River and Hapi was the spirit of the Nile and sender of the annual Nile floods.

2) Frogs – Heqt is always shown as a frog was the goddess of birth (frogs even went onto Pharaohs bed 8:3).

3) Lice came up from the dust of the ground – Geb was the god of the earth.

4) Flies (in Hebrew it is literally swarms) – Amon-Ra has the head of a scarab which is a dung beetle that always moves in swarms.

5) Livestock – Apis is a god with the head of a bull and the Egyptians even worshiped a literal bull with this name. Hathor has the head of a cow and was the goddess of cattle.

6) Boils – Imhotep was god of medicine and Seraphis was the god of healing.

7) Hail – Nut was the goddess of the sky and Isis was the protector of the crops and goddess of fertility.

8) Locusts – Seth was the god of grain and Thermuthis the goddess of the harvest.

9) Darkness – Ptah was the creater of the sun and moon and Atum the sun god.

10) Firstborn – Isis and Heqt got a second beat down, and Selket was guardian of life.

React: Our God is awesome. He is powerful. Right from the start the Israelites were taught that fact. So were the Egyptians. When God brought them out, He didn’t sneak them out the back door. He didn’t trick Pharaoh into letting them go. No, it was a beat down of the gods. He kicked down the front door, trampled on the gods the Egyptians served, and paid back in spades the injustice the Egyptians had inflicted on Israel. That is the God I serve. He doesn’t just want me to hold on until he returns. We’re to go on the offensive. The gates of hell cannot stand against us. They cannot stand. So why aren’t we storming them down?

Respond: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej5Wr43JYHE” id=”0″]

God, help me never to forget how great You are. You have called me to live in freedom. You have called me to walk in victory. Help me to walk with the power You have given me in the direction You are calling me. You are an awesome God.

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