Pastor Bob DuPar
March 22, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Numbers 33:40-35:34; Luke 5:12-28; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 11:23.

Observation

I love the story of the leper:

“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” What faith! Notice the leper does not say, “Lord, if You can,” but, “Lord, if you are willing.” And what a beautiful response Jesus gives: “I am willing! Be clean!” Jesus gives the man his life back and a chance to live in community rather than isolation and loneliness. What a window into the heart of God: “I am willing!”

Jesus’ interaction with the paralytic and the Pharisees later in Luke 5 is another great proof text for the deity of Jesus. The Pharisees were right. Only God could/can forgive sins. Jesus, not just by healing the man, but also by forgiving the man’s sins, demonstrated that He was and is in fact God.

Many times this passage (and others like it) is used to argue that sickness, and disabilities are always a direct result of sin. Yet, Jesus corrected this misguided way of thinking in John 9:1-3 when He and His disciples encountered a blind man:

“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

Psalm 65:3 really struck a chord in me,

“When we were overwhelmed by sins, You forgave our transgressions.”

This verse made me think of Romans 5:6,

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”


Application

The overwhelming application that I received from today’s reading was that God “is willing,” am I? Am I willing to change? Am I willing to be healed? Am I willing to take the steps necessary to see God act? Do I truly believe in His power to do all things?

Prayer

“God, thank You not just for Your willingness to heal and to save, but also for Your passionate desire to do these things. May I be just as desirous for the changes You want for my life.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 21, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Numbers 32:1-33:39; Luke 4:31-5:11; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 11:22.

Observation

I know the story of Simon’s mother-in-law is recorded more than once in the gospels, and I’ve commented on it before, but I’m always impressed that she served the minute she was healed. What a heart!

I’m most moved in today’s reading by Simon’s words to Jesus: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5) And, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Then, the fact that Jesus uses this experience to inform Simon that he’s going to fish for men from now on.

Application

I love how Jesus takes the ordinary everyday things of our lives and draws lessons from them. Jesus builds on our knowledge in one area and then asks us to apply that knowledge to a different situation or challenge. I’m anxious to see what God has for me.

Prayer

“God, help me to be ready for life lessons You send my way. May I have the same attitude and spirit Peter had, ‘Because You say so Lord.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 20, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Numbers 30:1-31:54; Luke 4:1-30; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 11:20-21.

Observation

Luke 4:1-2 wins the understatement of the year award. Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, eating nothing, and at the end of this time He was hungry. I guess so!

Satan’s temptation to Jesus in Luke 4:5-8 of offering Him the splendor of all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would worship him seems to me to be an offer which he stills extends to people today. There is nothing wrong with wealth as long as a person acknowledges that it’s all God’s. But, I truly believe that there are some individuals in this world who possess extreme wealth as a result of selling-out to satan. It’s a very real option – not just an empty offer on the part of satan.

I love it when Jesus reads from Isaiah and then sits down and says, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)

Application

Jesus battles each of Satan’s three temptations by quoting Scripture. Knowing Scripture and using it in spiritual warfare is powerful! I often underestimate the power and practicality of God’s Word.

Prayer

“Jesus, thank You for the model You left for us – a model of dependence upon Your Father and one which showcased the importance of Scripture. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your great humility in taking on flesh.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 19, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Numbers 28:16-29:40; Luke 3:23-38; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 11:18-19.

Observation

All I can say about the OT reading today is that offering sacrifices sounded like a full-time job! I am so thankful once again for Christ’s once-and-for-all perfect sacrifice for my sins. I can’t even imagine trying to faithfully fulfill and carry out these daily sacrificial ordinances.

As for the Luke passage – genealogies are tough! But, I have to say that I heard a sermon at Hume Lake once in which the teacher spoke on what all the individual names in a particular genealogy meant and showed us how the names, the meaning of the names and the order of the names told a story – hidden to readers of English unfamiliar to the ancient languages. Makes me want to probe the text deeper; but, not tonight!

Suffice it to say that I love the way the genealogy begins and ends:

“He (Jesus) was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph… Adam, the son of God!” (Luke 3:23, 38) I don’t recall any other passage in Scripture which refers to Adam (or Eve) as the son/daughter of God. It’s an obvious truth, but it sounds so personal and royal. And, just think, “We are God’s sons and daughters through Christ! We’ve been added into the genealogy!”

I was struck the most by verse 1 of Psalm 62: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.” Too many times I seek rest and refreshment in things other than God. What a reminder of where true rest and renewal comes from:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Application

I certainly need to daily go to God for rest and refreshment. I can so easily forget that He has designed me to be dependent on Him so that I will come to Him and not rely upon my own resources or those of the world. For me, this involves taking more time to be quiet before the Lord – not one more thing to do, but rather quiet, unhurried time in His presence.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for desiring to meet with me. Thank you for the opportunity to rest in Your presence – to find renewed strength and joy and peace in You. I love you. Thank You for the privilege of being Your son.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 16, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14.

Observation

What beautiful words at the beginning of Balaam’s oracle:

“The oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened.”

I feel like these words describe our privilege as believers every time we approach God through His Word. What a wonderful pairing in our reading today with the words of Simeon, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people…” (Luke 2:30) I was intrigued by the words: “Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel…” (Luke 225) And, I found that the word “consolation” is a variation of the Greek word used of the Holy Spirit – “Comforter.” Pretty neat when you think about the fact that Jesus was/is Immanuel “God with us.”

Application

What an awesome privilege to have the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit, dwelling inside of us – not just “resting” upon us like the OT, but indwelling. So that every time we go to God’s Word, the Spirit illuminates and helps our eyes to “see clearly,” our ears to “hear the words of God,” and our minds to be filled with “the knowledge of the Most High.”

What Simeon longed to see, waited patiently to behold, now lives inside of each one of us who knows Jesus as Savior and Lord!

Prayer

“God, thank You for choosing to make Your abode in sinful flesh. Thank You for deciding to live in our midst. What a privilege to have You daily open our eyes, transform our mind and heart, and open our ears to the true knowledge of who You are.”