Pastor Bob DuPar
March 29, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-39; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4.

Observation

Deuteronomy 11:16 describes the daily struggle we all face,

“Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.”

We live in an enticing culture and the gods that we worship are more subtle and inconspicuous than golden calves and Asherah poles – but just as deceptive and destructive.

I was struck by a few details in the story of the Gerasene demoniac which I don’t recall noticing in previous readings. First: “For a long time this man had not worn clothes…” (Luke 8:27) And, second, the mention that “the demons had driven him into a solitary place.” (8:29) The severity of his possession is obvious from his power to break free from chains and bonds. This guy was possessed by a lot of demons! He says his name is “Legion” for as he continues “we are many!” Talk about multiple personalities! It’s worth noting that a legion was a regiment of the Roman army, varying in number between three thousand and six thousand men. How painfully ironic that though outwardly he had the power to break free from any form of bondage, yet inwardly he had absolutely no power over the satanic bondage which tormented him and drove him to isolation. This last point screams out to me because I believe passionately after 20 years of ministry and counseling that driving people to isolation is one of Satan’ primary tactics in spiritual warfare.

Application

The things which entice also enslave! God is a jealous God and does not tolerate worship of anyone or anything other than Himself. I need to be on guard against the attack of the enemy. I need to be careful what I allow in my life and in my home.

Prayer

“God, would you protect me from people and things that have the power to lure me away from You. Would you give me the wisdom to stay away from people and places which would increase my vulnerability and opportunity to sin. Thank You that ‘greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 28, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22; Luke 8:4-21; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 12:2-3.

Observation

Today is the first time in my journaling that God has brought conviction and challenge through just two verses (rather than many). Deuteronomy 10:12-13 stood out from everything else:

“And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”

What a powerful reminder of what is important. And, how practical: “I am giving you (this) today for your own good!” Oh that we would see God’s commands as for our own good rather than restrictive rules designed to take away our happiness.

Application

My main takeaway from today is that as I try and make God’s Word real in my life, as I attempt to put it into practice, I can add another “reason to obey” to my list of motivating factors: “For my own good!”

Prayer

“God, may I trust that Your love for me always encompasses what is best for me as well. Thank you for Your guidance, Your loving direction. May I not doubt or second-guess Your perfect plan.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 27, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20; Luke 7:36-8:3; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 12:1.

Observation

Deuteronomy 8:19 really stood out to me,

“If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.”

Whether this is God’s punishment or the natural consequence of walking away from God – it doesn’t sound pretty!

When Jesus says, “He who has been forgiven little loves little,” (Luke 7:47) it made me think that no one has been forgiven little. Sometimes our perception might be that we’ve been forgiven little; but, this is never the case. So, it follows that the more we understand how much we’ve been forgiven, the greater our desire and capacity to love.

Finally, I thought it was neat that Luke mentioned the women who helped to support the ministry out of their own means. (8:3)

Application

I walk away from God too often not counting the cost and consequence. I would like to grow in love and in my understanding of forgiveness.

Prayer

“God, may I never think I have things all figured out and in so doing abandon my pursuit of You and my desire to know You deeper.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 26, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25; Luke 7:11-35; Psalm 68:19-35; Proverbs 11:29-31.

Observation

I was struck in the OT reading today by the fact that sometimes God brings us places and provides things for us that we did not work for, or build, or earn – we are just the recipients of someone else’s labor. Ultimately, we are the beneficiaries of God’s goodness and blessing. And, once again we see God’s warning in the text,

“Then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” (Deut. 6:12)

I am moved by the incident in Luke of the widow from Nain that Jesus’ “heart went out to her.” It’s interesting that Jesus touched the coffin since that was seen as totally unclean and strictly prohibited. I love His defiance of tradition and His power over death. Jesus wasn’t worried about becoming defiled, His heart was to heal and restore.

I like Jesus’ words to John the Baptist in Luke 7:22. I’ve always felt like these words would make a great ministry report: “So, tell us Pastor Bob, how your last month of ministry has gone?” “Well, I’ve given sight to the blind, helped the lame to walk, cured those with leprosy, helped the deaf to hear, I’ve raised a few dead people back to life and I’ve preached the good news to the poor. I’d say, all-in-all, it’s been a pretty routine month!”

Luke’s description of the Pharisees in 7:30 distills the essence of their blindness and problems:

“The Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves…”

Finally, what a gem is hidden in the middle of our Proverbs passage today:

“He who wins souls is wise!”

How can I add to that?

Application

Often I forget to thank God for the blessings I enjoy – even just to acknowledge that the blessings come from Him in the first place and not me. I would like to follow Jesus’ example of not just feeling compassion or pity, but of also being moved to action.

Prayer

“God, may I not reject Your purpose for me – or even miss it from ignorance. Help me to win souls for You. That’s why I’m in the ministry. Please bless me (and others) with great success.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 25, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 4:1-49; Luke 6:39-7:10; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 11:28.

Observation

Moses’ words in Deut 4:9 are a great reminder of the importance of transferring our faith, especially within our own family:

“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.”

This passage reminds me of Psalm 78:3-7,

“That which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.”

There’s a legacy worth leaving!

When the centurion’s friends came to Jesus and pleaded with Him, I expected Jesus to jump all over what they said:

“This man deserves to have You do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” (Luke 7:4-5)
But, it becomes obvious that the second group of friends which the centurion sends do a better job representing him. These friends reveal the true humility of the centurion:

“Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.” (Luke 7:6-7)

And so, Jesus praises the man for his great faith and grants his request.

Application

I don’t know of anything more important than passing on our faith to future generations, starting with our own children. If I don’t do anything else well – I want to get this right! I want to model the kind of faith described in our passage today – a faith that believes that God can do anything.

Prayer

“God, help me as I attempt to live-out my relationship with You. May it be something my children and others want for themselves. May I be faithful to pass the baton and not drop the ball.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 24, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29; Luke 6:12-38; Psalm 67:1-7; Proverbs 11:27.

Observation

I’m sure Israel hated every minute of the 40 year wandering, but the passage today says that they didn’t lack for anything along the way:

“For the Lord your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing.”
Deuteronomy 2:7

What a testimony of God’s providence despite our sin.

I’m always challenged by the words in Luke 6:27-31:

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”

I sometimes have a hard time finding that line between humility and standing my ground.

Finally, I love Proverbs 11:27:

“He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.”

That’s about as practical as it gets!

Application

I need to grow in humility and service to others. I need to look for more opportunities to selflessly minister to others.

Prayer

“God, help me to seek the good in everything because even though everything is not good, You are always up to something good.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 23, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46; Luke 5:29-6:11; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 11:24-26.

Observation

The story of Israel’s disobedience against the Amorites is sure a lesson in timing – a lesson to follow-through in obedience and faith when God tells us, not when we feel like it. When we do things on our terms and according to our timetable, and then suffer the consequences, God is not sympathetic. Deuteronomy 1:45 is a powerful reminder of this:

“You came back and wept before the Lord, but He paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you.”

I am always blown away by the heartlessness of the Pharisees with regard to the man with the withered hand. Jesus heals the man and the Pharisees become furious because the healing takes place on the Sabbath. They cannot see the greater good. What a tragedy; and, what a lack of compassion.

I really liked Proverbs 11:24-25,

“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

Application

I need to do things in God’s timing and not mine. Last ditch efforts, unless guided by the Spirit, are not the same as responding in obedience from the outset.

I would like to grow in generosity, trusting God to supply my need.

Prayer

“God, help me to follow You impulsively, immediately, and wholeheartedly. Thank You for Your Word and the conviction, encouragement and strength it brings.”