Jason M Bachman

Luke 18:7 (NLT) – … so don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night?

Anytime we do not receive an answer to the prayers we pray, we must be diligent to examine the inner workings of our motives in prayer.  First of all, are we asking in belief?  Do we really believe that God is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do?  If that question is answered with doubt or hesitation, we can be certain that our unbelief will get us nowhere.  Second, are we operating in humility towards God in our prayers?  Without realizing it, sometimes our humanity begins to manifest an undercurrent of pride that swells with every “unanswered” prayer.  “But God, you said that you would answer our prayers!  Why aren’t you answering mine?” or, “God, I’ve claimed every promise that you said you would answer, why aren’t you coming through for me?”  While these reactions and thoughts are very natural to our thinking, they can also be very dangerous to our well-being.  Bitterness can set in and begin choking out belief, replacing it with the decay of doubt.

The best solution to our unanswered prayers is to believe that God can and desires to answer them.  The next thing is to operate in humility when we pray so that we can give God room to answer when He sees fit and how He sees fit.  His ways are better than ours; it’s only to our advantage to learn them.

Reflections

 Context of scripture verse – Luke 18:1-14

­­Consider:

• Read the context of the verses

Challenge:

•  Is there a sensitive spot in your life that hurts when you pray about it?  Has there been an area of unanswered prayer in your life?

Apply:

• Take a closer look at your prayers and honestly ask yourself if God is trying to help you learn something through the painful experience.  Keep in mind that the love of God may be trying to accomplish something inside of you through this tough season.

Note to Self: (reflections, challenges, reminders)

Hey

 Titus 2:14 (NLT) – He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing what is right.

The character of a person absolutely redeemed by God mirrors the character of God Himself.  In Day 1, we talked about the love of God and how He made the way for us to become the children of God.  Jesus didn’t just commit Himself to the shame of the cross for us to inherit titles only; He did it so that we might be inwardly transformed to become totally committed to doing what is right.

Zeal is a characteristic of someone who has been redeemed by the work of the Cross.  For as much zeal that God placed in redeeming humanity, that same zeal can reside in each person that has been saved and forgiven of sin.  The work of the Cross is so much deeper than simply a monument of forgiven sin.  No sir, the work of the Cross goes deeper into my very being to conduct a symphony of transformation so that I become unrecognizable from the inside-out.

Apathy has no place to live in the heart of someone that has been gripped by the grace of God.  There is no other alternative but to be consumed with doing what is right, for the glory of God.  As we continue to reflect the likeness of Christ, we will be devoted to mirroring Christ’s compassion, His character and ultimately, His actions.  None of this will be done through obligation or religious duty as some would force upon others.  All of our actions spring from the character residing inside of us.  If we have shaky character, shaky actions will follow, if our character is like Christ’s, we can be sure that we will look more and more like Him every single day.

Reflections

 Context of scripture verse – Titus 2:11-15

­­Consider:

• Read the context of the verses

Challenge:

• Are there some areas in your life that could use zeal?

Apply:

• Take note of your behavior or attitude towards Christ’s work in you.  If your feelings towards doing good for others is cold or lacking, ask God to help make His redeeming work alive and meaningful to you. (Don’t rule out the possibility of needed to confess sin that could be separating you from Him).

Note to Self: (reflections, challenges, reminders)

Hebrews 5:2 (NLT) – And because he is human, he is able to deal gently with the people, though they are ignorant and wayward. For he is subject to the same weaknesses they have.

Jesus walked many miles in humanity’s shoes.  He is fully God, fully man, and fully comprehends the challenges to be human.  Consider the patience and compassion that Christ must have in dealing with people.  Consider the patience and compassion that you exhibit when dealing with people.  Is it the same or radically different?

I like the fact that even though Jesus knows everything about us wandering people, He still treats us with gentleness and compassion.  Apparently, He has a very clear perspective of who we are and accurate expectations of what we do.  He knows us better than we know ourselves, knows the number of hairs on our head and still exhibits gentleness and compassion in dealing with us.

So, I wonder what excuse we have when we deal harshly with other people that fail to meet our expectations, deliberately wound us and fail to understand us.  The fact is that we’re guilty of the same judgments we place on others.  The cycle we get in is destructive and only leads to ruin, not resolution.  Good thing that Jesus took care of this for us by releasing us from the impossible expectation of fulfilling the law so we could live in His grace.  If that has been done for us, why don’t we try releasing others from our impossible expectations and allowing them to live in grace?

Reflections

 Context of scripture verse – Hebrews 4:12 – 5:2

­­Consider:

• Read the context of the verses

Challenge:

• Inventory your inner life, and determine if there are people that are “causing you stress”.   

Apply:

•  With that list, ask God to give you a perspective into their lives that you might not have considered while only looking through yours.  What may they be going through?  What areas may you need to forgive and release?  Practice releasing people from your expectations and watch your stress begin to dissolve. 

Note to Self: (reflections, challenges, reminders)

Mark 15:43 (NIV) – Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

o you need an outbreak of boldness in your life?  Joseph of Arimathea did not delay or procrastinate in dealing with a difficult and painful issue.  Joseph was the definition of boldness used in this passage: “not to dread or shun through fear”. 

While Joseph was actually a member of the Sanhedrin, it is doubtful that he agreed with that group and their demands upon Pilate.  As the scripture indicates, deep in Joseph’s heart, he truly believed for the real Kingdom of God.  Because of his strong belief, he was able to face the reality of the situation without procrastinating and without fear.

I wonder if Joseph had a similar faith like Abraham did when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Abraham obeyed God because he knew that if necessary, God could raise the dead and keep His promise intact to Abraham.  God does keep His promises, all He asks us to do is to keep our faith and operate in boldness.

You may be facing something unpleasant in your life, your character or your circumstances. If so, lean on the example of Joseph and approach your situation with boldness, trusting in the ability of God’s ability to raise the dead.  This verse wasn’t the end of the story for Joseph, reading on through the scriptures, Jesus wrote the end of the story by coming alive from the grave.  Just remember that if you need something raised in your life, procrastinating won’t help.  Be willing to deal with it boldly and trust in God to work it all out.

Reflections

Context of scripture verse – Mark 15:1-47

­­Consider:

• Read the context of the verses

Challenge:

• Take an inventory of the areas in your life in which procrastination is a problem.  Write these areas down.

Apply:

• Because Joseph believed in what Jesus said about the Kingdom, he was able to address the issue with boldness. Are there areas in your life that are not fully engaged in trusting God?  Are there areas that you don’t trust Him to take care of?  Write those areas down and pray that God will help you trust Him and by an act of faith, commit those areas to God and allow Him to “write your story”.  

Note to Self: (reflections, challenges, reminders)

Isaiah 59:20 (NLT) – “The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins.”

Dictionary.com defines redeemer as:

1. -A person who redeems
2. -Jesus Christ

I’d say they got it pretty well right.  Other words used for redeem include, “to buy back,” “to pay off,” “to exchange,” “to convert,” “to fulfill,” “to make up for,” “to obtain the release of,” and perhaps the best definition, “to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for a sinner.”  Incredible.

Once again, God shows His amazing love for us by proclaiming what His role will be in reclaiming a lost creation.  To think that  God would leave the highest of highs and come to the lowest of lows in order to bring salvation to a people who still have the choice to refuse it, is almost beyond comprehension.  Looking at the early verses in Isaiah 59 indicate that there wasn’t much hope of those people turning over a new leaf.  The crazy thing is, humanity hasn’t changed much in 2700 years since this passage was written.  Even crazier is the fact that God hasn’t changed at all in His relentless desire to bring His creation home.  He’s willing to sell everything to reclaim a lost treasure.  He’s willing to go after the one person who everyone else has forgotten.  He’s even willing to redeem those who deliberately reject Him.

It is not our redeeming qualities that redeem us, it is our Redeemer.  He who paid it all, all to Him I owe.

Reflections

Context of scripture verse – Isaiah 59: 1-21

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Consider:

• Read the context of the verses

Challenge:

•  Why did God have to make this promise about a redeemer coming to Jerusalem?

Apply:

•  Consider the meaning of “redeemer” and think of the things that God has redeemed you from which once kept you separated from Him.  You may wish to write a list of “redeemed” qualities and as you grow in your relationship with God, you may see the list lengthen as a continual reminder of His goodness. 

Note to Self: (reflections, challenges, reminders)

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

he person writing this statement was writing it from prison.  Prison is not the environment that I’d expect such a happy proclamation to come from.  The apostle Paul knew what hardships were and yet he could still pen these statements as an encouragement to the many saints reading his writings.  I wonder if we would be able to write down such positive statements as that in the midst of a storm, prison or difficult circumstance.

In the following verse, Paul indicates the secret his ability to write such positive things in the midst of negative situations.  His secret, (which is not really a secret), is the peace of God that comes with no possible explanation.  Peace.  Not peace that a man gives but Divine peace that arrives on the wings of His Spirit, unannounced but definitely invited through prayer.  Prayer and peace really cannot exist without the other.  If peace is not present, prayer quite possibly is absent as well.  If prayer is present, you can be assured that peace will arrive not long after.

Praying is the communication link with God, the Author of peace.  Because Paul was willing to cultivate and nourish his prayer life (communication avenues) with the Father, in the midst of a prison, he was able to experience the peace of God that put his mind to rest.  I’m fully convinced that Paul was able to sleep at night knowing that his life was fully protected in the hands of God.  Maybe sleep has been eluding you as of late. If you’ve been worrying yourself awake, try praying about your situation and just see if the peace of God will make a bed of rest for you.  That way, you can write about the peace of God in the middle of your chaos.

Reflections

Context of scripture verse – Philippians 4:4-7

­­Consider:

• Read the context of the verses

Challenge:

•  Take note of how many times you get sidetracked by worrying about something.  Actually write it down for one week.

Apply:

•  Post Philippians 4:6 somewhere visible to you every day.  Before leaving the house in the morning or going to sleep at night, literally speak (out-loud) this verse.  When you begin to worry, automatically talk to God about it instead of dwelling on it.

Note to Self: (reflections, challenges, reminders)

I Samuel 21:10 (NIV) – That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.

Unjustly accused, unfairly treated, and mercilessly singled out for destruction.  Is that any sort of treatment for a future king?  How could the journey from a sheepherder to giant killer to enemy destroyer and anointed heir to the throne take such a drastic, traumatic turn for the worse?  Wasn’t David on the fast-track to influential leadership?

To the first and third questions, the answers are yes and yes.  But, it all depends on whose perspective is answering those questions.  To our human perspective, that treatment is not acceptable and yes being on the track of leadership shouldn’t require such a “deviation” from the course.  However, in God’s perspective, another set of thoughts begin to emerge.  In God’s perspective the structure of our character matters.  The way David was being built internally was crucial to his future leadership of the kingdom.

Do you realize that when God works in our character, our personalities and our perspectives, He uses other people to accomplish that task within us?  How else do we get some of the rough edges sanded off?  Maybe there is someone in your life who is bothering you to the point of….not very nice thoughts.  Could it be that God is trying to accomplish something in your life that could benefit your character development?  Instead of looking at your difficulties through the lens of your own perspective, think about what God’s perspective might be and it could possibly make all the difference in your world.

Reflections

Context of scripture verse – I Samuel 18 – 21:10

­­Consider:

• Read the context of the verses

Challenge:

•  How did David respond in the situations in which he was treated unfairly?

Apply:

•  Before re-attacking (reacting) someone who has unjustly or unfairly treated you, stop and consider what God may be trying to show you in this moment.  Even if you are in the right, God may still be trying to establish something deep inside your character.  Pray that God will help you develop His character inside of you.

Note to Self: (reflections, challenges, reminders)

Hello

Exodus 2:6 (NIV) – And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

 What if compassion is an ingredient that helps activate a destiny?  An act of compassion is what follows a softened heart towards the troubles of humanity.  One who has pity, spares or decides to do something about an evil, possesses the likeness of Jesus in their lives.

Moses, in his infancy, was completely helpless, adrift on the river Nile.  Pharaoh’s daughter happened upon him, saw his plight, and made a decision to spare him even though she knew the edict of her father.  In direct defiance to an unjust ruling, she saved a future savior of an enslaved people.  Because of compassion a destiny was saved and given an opportunity to fulfill its eternal assignment.

I can imagine that the daughter of Pharaoh dealt with some significant inconveniences because of her actions.  She now had a person in her care that needed raising, attention and effort.  Not to mention the potential disapproval she may have faced from a father bent on protecting his rule.

Not every act of compassion will be comparable to this story.  Every act of compassion, however, is comparable to what can happen in the life of the one receiving compassion.  Perhaps, they will have hope for one more day and that one more day will lead into one more week and will lead into eventual positive change that will lead into life transformation that breaks free from the familiar bondage.  What if compassion is the ingredient that helps shape a destiny?

Reflections

 Context of scripture verse – Exodus 1:8-2:10

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Consider:

• Read the context of the story

Challenge:

• Take note of the way the God helps the afflicted and suffering.  Are there areas in your heart that need to be more like Jesus when thinking and acting with compassion?

Apply:

•  Look to your community and begin finding areas that need compassion.  Begin building relationships with people who are doing the work of social justice.

Note to Self: (reflections, challenges, reminders)

Daniel 3:17-18 (NIV) – If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

The young men speaking to the king in the aforementioned verse had the opportunity to just let sleeping dogs lie, to leave well enough alone and conform to the image of their culture.  I mean, everyone else was doing what the king had asked the entire nation to do.  It wasn’t that hard, when the music started playing, simply lower yourself (bow) to the statue (golden image) and submit (worship) the replica of the king.

I admire the courage of these three young men to stand up to a powerful king in order to do what they knew to be right.  The worship of God Almighty was where their allegiance laid, not in the phony, shiny, man-made image of…a man.

Their courage had consequences though. Because of their answer to an enraging king, the sentence of being thrown into a furnace of fire was quickly enforced.  Something amazing happened though; the fire did not touch them but burned off their bondages.  They found themselves in the Presence of another person…one like the Son of God.  The king who had just thrown them in was now calling them out and making proclamations of national allegiance to God.

The next time you face something that demands courage in doing the right thing, think about the fact that because of a stand taken by three young men, God was able to rescue and turn the hearts of a ruler.  Perhaps, if you stand in courage, the Son of God will show up in a way unexpected, unannounced, yet in power to save.

Reflections

Context of scripture verse – Daniel 3: 1-30

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Consider:

• Read the context of the story

Challenge:

• Are there areas in your life that need courage like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s? 

Apply:

•  Read 2 Timothy 1:7 and note they type of mind that God gives us.  Pray that God will help you to be brave in His power.

Note to Self: (reflections, challenges, reminders)