Pastor Bob DuPar
February 7, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Exodus 26:1-27:21; Matthew 25:1-30; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 8:1-11.

Observation

A few things struck me in today’s reading. In Matthew 25:5 I had forgotten that it says that “all the virgins became drowsy and fell asleep.” The difference was that the wise virgins were prepared ahead of time by bring extra oil. Jesus does not condemn the foolish virgins for falling asleep but for not being prepared.

In the parable of the talents, it says that the owner called his servants and entrusted his property to them “each according to his ability.” I had forgotten that phrasing as well. Jesus knows what we are capable of and does not expect anything more. But, He also doesn’t expect anything less. And, He doesn’t want to hear excuses which place the blame on imagined faults in His character rather than taking personal responsibility for our own laziness, fear or lack of trust.


Application

I need to be fruitful with what God has given to me, knowing that His gifts of entrustment have already taken into account my gifting and abilities.

I want to be ready for the Lord’s return. Now is the time to make preparation.

Prayer

“Lord, help me to be faithful with the things and the people You have entrusted to my care. Help me to live every day as if You died yesterday, rose today and are coming back tomorrow!”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 6, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Exodus 23:14-25:40; Matthew 24:29-51; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 7:24-27.

Observation

Today was the most difficult day for me so far in the reading. There were a lot of confusing references/verses.

In Exodus 23:20-21 when God refers to His “angel,” I believe that this is a preincarnate appearance of Jesus – especially since He says, “My Name is in him.” “Name” is capitalized and it means God’s attributes are in him.

What an amazing experience to be on a mountain top with God! Moses and Aaron and the 70 elders saw God and ate and drank with Him. And then, Moses was called individually by God further up the mountain, into a cloud, where he met with God for 40 days and 40 nights! Wow!

It’s confusing in Matthew 24:34 when Jesus says,

“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.”

What Jesus meant was the generation of people living in that future day will see the completion of all the events. Jesus was not referring to the generation listening to Him then, for He had already said the kingdom had been taken from that group (21:43). That first-century generation would experience God’s judgment. But the generation that will be living at the time these signs begin to take place will live through that period and will see Jesus’ coming.

Also, in Matthew 24:36 when Jesus said,

“No one knows about that day or hour (referring to the 2nd coming), not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father,” He was referring to the Son (Himself) in His earthly, human, self-imposed limitations state (Philippians 2). For, Jesus is divine and omniscient, and He knows all things.


Application

I need to start anticipating and enjoying my times with God with a greater realization that I am in His presence. I envy Moses’ experience with God. And yet, God promises each one of us as believers the same thing. He’s not only with us, He lives in us! O that I would act like it!

Prayer

“Lord, I desire to spend more time in Your presence – more time listening, less time talking. Help me to crave this time, to guard it, and to come away changed.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 5, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

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

Observation

If you are going to defend yourself against a thief, do it before sunrise – especially if you kill him! Wow! I never noticed that verse before.

And, the first verse (that I’m aware of) in Scripture regarding peer pressure:

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. …Do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.” Exodus 23:2

Matthew 24:12 sounds like the times in which we now live:

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” That really hits me. It doesn’t say, “the love of some,” but rather, “the love of most!” That’s dishearten-ing.

Matthew 24:22 sounds like a mid-tribulation reference to me:

“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”

Finally, Psalm 29:11 is beautiful:

“The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.”

Application

I don’t want to follow the crowd. I don’t want to do things simply because it’s the popular or accepted thing to do. God, please help me to stand strong for justice and for truth.

I am interested by the connection between an increase in wickedness and people’s love growing cold. This makes sense. Lord, please guard me against sin and keep my love pure and genuine.

Prayer

“Lord, I long for the strength and peace that only You can give. Continue to fill me with Yourself so that I might have an abundance to pour into the lives of others.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 4, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

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

Observation

All I can say is that I am glad that we do not still live by the letter of the Law. But, I must admit that I liked two of the Laws:

“Anyone who attacks his father or his mother must be put to death.”

And, I think that “verbally” should fall under the definition of “attack” as well. And,

“Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.”

Jesus’ words to the Pharisees are strong and convicting:

“Woe to you, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”

And later,

“You have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced these without neglecting the former.”

And what heart-breaking words in Matthew 23:37,

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” Wow!

Application

I sincerely hope that I don’t keep people from the Kingdom because of my actions or hypocrisy. What a wake-up call to live a life of integrity and purity!

I also need to be fully obedient with respect to all of God’s commands while not neglecting justice, mercy and faithfulness in the process.

Prayer

“Lord, I echo David’s prayer in Psalm 28:9, ‘Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be our shepherd and carry us forever!’ That’s the only appropriate response I can think of to a God who ‘longs to gather His children together.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 3, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Exodus 17:8-19:15; Matthew 22:34-23:12; Psalm 27:7-14; Proverbs 6:27-35.

Observation

What a picture of teamwork and victory in the image of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ hands so that Joshua and the Israelites could win the battle against the Amalekites.

Jethro was certainly a wise father-in-law and had a wealth of wisdom and good advice. What a great strategy of delegation he passed on to Moses. Yet, the strategy also involved teaching: “Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.” Good delegation depends upon good instruction and teaching. And, what great criteria for the leaders: “capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.”

What a funny scene in the NT when the Pharisees find out that Jesus put the Sadducees in their place, they choose their best expert in the Law to go head-to-head with the Lord. And, what a predictable and hilarious outcome: “No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask Him any more questions!”

The Pharisees were the worst kind of leaders who tied up “heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, while they themselves were not willing to lift a finger to move them.” This is precisely why Jesus said, “Do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”

Application

I need to realize that my effectiveness as a leader hinges upon the team that I train. Team ministry is definitely most effective seeing how God created us to be interdependent. And, the victory and success is even sweeter when it is owned by a team rather than by one person.

God, please help me to practice and live what I preach. Keep me from weighing people down with burdens and expectations which even I am not willing to live up to.

Prayer

“God, humility has been a constant theme today between our lesson on John the Baptist and your words in Matthew about the greatest being your servant and the proud being humbled and the humble being exalted. Please help me to live humbly before You and others, trusting that You see my needs and will provide exactly what I need.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 2, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Exodus 15:19-17:7; Matthew 22:1-33; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 6:20-26.

Observation

Moses hit the nail on the head when he told the people that their complaint was not ultimately against him and the leaders but against God, “You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” If we understood this principle/reality I think we would complain a whole lot less!

I’m always fascinated by the parable of the king and the wedding banquet. Who wouldn’t respond and come to a king’s banquet? So, the story says that the servants “went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” Those who were improperly clothed were the ones who refused to dress themselves in the king’s righteousness. The offer and invitation is extended to everyone but it is not without responsibility.

Jesus’ charge against the Sadducees is right on target: “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” The Sadducees were asking a question relating to the resurrection and they did not even believe in a resurrection!

I love Psalm 27:4,

“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”

Application

I need to realize and understand that all of my complaining and grumbling from time to time is ultimately against God who has sovereign power over my situation and life circumstances.

I want to hide God’s Word in my heart and life that I might not be in error or deceived by sin.

I don’t think I look forward to gazing upon God’s beauty or living with Him in His house as much as I should.

Prayer

“God, Proverbs says that Your commands are a lamp, Your teaching a light, and the corrections of Your discipline are the way to life. Help me to live a life of obedience. Guard me and guide me according to Your Word.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
February 1, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Exodus 13:17-15:18; Matthew 21:23-46; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 6:16-19.

Observation

What an amazing experience to be led & protected by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. And, what a terrifying sight to see the Egyptians coming after you in full force. But, despite all of his faults, Moses gets it right this time when he says,

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. …The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

What a powerful east wind to open the sea and dry the land! It must have been an eerie experience with the darkness and the wind howling and the enemy close behind as well as huge walls of water on either side.

The last thing that grabs me from Exodus is the closing comment recorded in 14:30-31,

“That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians,.. And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”

Sadly, what the text leaves out is: “For a day!” How often God does something amazing in our life and we trust Him for a day. Our hope and confidence in His sovereign power is renewed – for a day!

The following NT passages jumped out at me:

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” Matthew 21:31

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” Matthew 21:43

Three things in Proverbs convicted me (things which the text says that the Lord hates and are detestable to Him):

“A lying tongue; feet that are quick to rush into evil; and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”

Application

May I trust the Lord everyday and not just in times of blessing or success. I need to stand firm and be still more to witness God’s victory. Too often my eyes are focused on the problem, the trial, the crisis – and not upon the Lord who is my deliverance.

May my response to God’s Word be repentance and belief. Also, I need to ask myself more often, “Am I producing the fruit of the kingdom or the fruit of the flesh?”

Prayer

“God, May I not be quick to run toward evil, may I not spread dissension or lies, and may I allow Your Word to transform me – daily.”