Pastor Bob DuPar
May 10, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

1 Samuel 8:1-9:27; John 6:22-42; Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 14:34-35.

Observation

How sad that even though Samuel followed God passionately his whole life, his sons “did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.” (1 Sam. 8:3) 1 Samuel 9:6 says that Samuel was “a man of God, highly respected, and everything he says comes true.” How tragic that these godly traits were not passed on to his sons. God consoled Samuel: “It is not you they (Israel) have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.” (8:7)

Israel wanted to be like the other nations (root of their problem), “with a king to lead” them and go before them and fight their battles – not realizing and acknowledging that God was this King who had fought and won their battles for them all along. (8:19-20)

We remember all of the bad things about Saul, but we/I forget that “Saul was an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites.” (9:2) How humorous in 1 Samuel 9:3-27 that Saul goes looking for lost donkeys and finds a crown/throne. God works in mysterious ways!

I love John 6:28-29,

“Then the people asked Him (Jesus), ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

Psalm 106:43 has to be one of the saddest verses in all of Scripture (at least part of any top 10 list!):

“Many times He (God) delivered them (Israel), but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.”

Application

It’s only by the grace of God that our children follow our godly example. All of our desire and prayers can’t make them accept and own for themselves what they don’t ultimately want.

We know we’re headed for trouble when we start desiring the things that those around us have over and against what God wants for us.

We never know when God will choose to bless us; and, He is not limited to things visible.

Prayer

“God, help me to trust You at all times. May my heart not be bent on rebellion and sin. May I not seek my own rewards but rather trust in You to bless me as You see fit, and in Your perfect timing.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 9, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

1 Samuel 5:1-7:17; John 6:1-21; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 14:32-33.

Observation

The story (1 Sam. 5) of the Philistine’s god Dagon falling on his face before the ark of the Lord is hilarious. They send the ark from city to city trying to escape God’s wrath, all the while wondering if the punishment they’re experiencing is truly coming from the God of Israel. You would think that the Philistines would start to have questions about the power of their supposed god if every morning they wake up and it’s lying broken on the ground before the ark of the Lord.

It’s interesting that in John 6:14 when Jesus feeds the crowds, they believe that He is the promised Messiah who has come into the world. These people are so impressed with Jesus that they are ready to make Him king. Whether it was the miracle or the fact that He cared for their needs, they believed.

Application

I’m convinced that if we Christians served more and talked less, others might come to faith in Christ much faster.

Prayer

“God, help me to love others as You would if You were here. Help me to realize that You desire to touch others through me.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 8, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

1 Samuel 2:22-4:22; John 5:24-47; Psalm 106:1-12; Proverbs 14:30-31.

Observation

Our OT reading today was a sharp contrast between the godlessness of Eli’s sons Hophni & Phinehas and the godliness of Samuel. God asks Eli in 1 Samuel 2:29, “Why do you honor your sons more than me?” That’s a convicting question for each one of us, as each of us has at one time or another honored someone or something more than God.

It’s interesting in 1 Sam. 2:32 that God makes it clear that He will still bring good to Israel, but Eli and his descendants will pay the price for their sin.

Oh that we all might have a responsive heart like Samuel to say, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” This spirit of obedience led to blessing. 1 Sam. 3:19 says that “the Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and He (God) let none of his words fall to the ground. And, two verses later: “the Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word.” How awesome!

How dumb it was to take the Ark of the Covenant into battle against the Philistines like it was some good luck charm that would blot out their sinfulness (the real cause of their defeat). 2 Sam. 4:10-11 records devastating loss: 30,000 soldiers were slaughtered, the ark of God was captured and Hophni & Phineas died. Later, Eli and Phineas’ pregnant wife would join them in death. God’s prophetic words were being fulfilled.

I love John 5:26, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.” Jesus condemned the Pharisees a few verses later in 5:39-40 for studying the Scriptures and yet missing the whole point of the Scriptures: to draw us/lead us to God that we might experience this life!

Finally, Proverbs 14:31 is especially powerful:

“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

Application

I desire to make God my top priority, the One I show honor and preference above all else. I pray that I will continually have a responsive and sensitive heart like Samuel to hear God’s voice and act upon it.

Prayer

“God, help me to live in Your life. May I not just go through the motions and miss the heart of that personal, powerful relationship with You. Finally Lord, please give me opportunities to be kind to the needy and the wisdom to know how best to help them.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 7, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

1 Samuel 1:1-2:21; John 5:1-23; Psalm 105:37-45; Proverbs 14:28-29.

Observation

1 Samuel 1:6 reminded me how terrible it is when we allow an area in which God has blessed us to be used as a means of hurting others who perhaps have not been blessed in the same way or to the same degree.

1 Samuel 1:27-28 is such a sweet story of surrender as Hannah presents Samuel to the Lord to be a servant of God his whole life. Hannah gave the object of her prayers, her dreams, her very life, back to God – not knowing that God would reward her for fulfilling her promise by blessing her later with 5 more children. So often I make empty promises to God; and, this was not an easy promise to keep. But, Hannah was a woman of her word and she did not take her vow lightly.

Jesus’ words in John 5:14 have been abused by many a preacher and teacher. Jesus was not saying that all physical infirmities are the result of sin (see John 9:2-3). But, apparently this man’s condition was the result of sin because Jesus specifically says in John 5:14, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning…”

John 5:18 is interesting because it shows us that the Jews understood the claim to be God’s Son to be a claim to equality with God. Perfection & deity can only beget perfection and deity. Sometimes when we look for proof texts on the deity of Christ we overlook this, not realizing what this meant in that culture.

John 5:19 speaks not to the impotence of Jesus apart from God’s power working through Him, but rather to the fact that Jesus did not act or heal or do anything that was contrary to or out of step with the character and actions of God the Father.

Finally, John 5:22 is timely after this last week’s sermon (5-4-08) about how God the Father is not some angry, unfair judge – since Jesus Himself is the one who will do all the judging (Matthew 25:31-46). God’s “entrusting all judgment to the Son” merely reflects another specific aspect of the roles of the Godhead.

Application

I need to take my promises to God more seriously. Today’s reading has inspired me to look closer at the book of Revelation to see if it speaks of “God” judging since we know Jesus will do this. This would be one more neat angle of arguing/providing evidence for the deity of Jesus.

Prayer

“God, thank You for Your Word. It never gets old! Thank You that I have the privilege of feeding upon it each day. Thank You for what You teach me.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 6, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Ruth 2:1-4:22; John 4:43-54; Psalm 105:16-36; Proverbs 14:26-27.

Observation

As I read about Boaz’ kindness to Ruth and how God sovereignly placed him in Ruth’s life to take care of her and Naomi, I thought about the fact that God has placed a “Boaz” in each one of our lives.

I was amazed all over again about the ancestry of King David (and Christ for that matter). Perez was born to Tamar after she dressed like a harlot to seduce Judah. And, Obed was born to the widow Naomi after Boaz became Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer though others dropped the ball. Twice in the biblical record of this lineage there was the very real potential of the family line/name dying out. But, God was bigger than all of this.

I love how the text (John 4:50) says that the father with the dying son “took Jesus at his word and departed.” What faith. Later, he and his whole family came to salvation as they realized that the son was healed at the exact moment that Jesus said to the father, “You may go. Your son will live!”

Finally, Proverbs 14:26 speaks of the best kind of legacy a man can leave his family:

“He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.”

Application

Trust in God. When things make sense and when they don’t. When the solution is visible and when it’s a mystery. Fear the Lord and trust Him in and for all things.
Prayer

“God, thank You for Your faithfulness. I am so grateful that You are not limited to my perception of Your abilities.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 5, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22; John 4:4-42; Psalm 105:1-15; Proverbs 14:25.

Observation

That was some dance recorded in Judges 21:23. Go to a dance, come home with a wife! The words of Judges 21:25 sum up the situation: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.”

The story of Ruth and Naomi is a beautiful one: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) Ruth & Naomi quite possibly had the best mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship ever!

I love Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman in John 4:10, “If you knew the gift of God (Jesus) and who it is who asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” I am amazed how much prophecy about Christ/the Messiah this gentile woman knew. And, how wonderful that so many people came to salvation through her testimony.

Application

How often we do as we see fit, ignoring God’s authority and reign over our lives. I would love to get to a place of spiritual maturity where I could say what Jesus said in John 4:34, and truly mean it, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” Finally, I pray that many would come to salvation through my testimony and the testimonies of those at CBC. The real question is, “Are we sharing the Good News with anyone?” This is the first step of evangelism – simple, yet foundational.

Prayer

“God, please give me opportunities daily to share my faith with someone who does not know You.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
May 4, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Judges 19:1-20:48; John 3:22-4:3; Psalm 104:24-35; Proverbs 14:22-24.

Observation

The story of the Levite and his concubine is one of those stories that if you heard it in another context you would not believe that it’s actually in the Bible. I can’t even comprehend the wickedness that would lead to such brutality and abuse.

John the Baptist’s attitude in John 3 is so commendable. His humility in the words “He must become greater; I must become less” is so rare among leaders today. And, I love his words in 3:34 when he says, “God gives the Spirit without limit.” What a neat thought! What a great opportunity to experience the joy of God’s Spirit working through us and using us in ways that we never imagined or thought possible.

Finally, Proverbs 14:23 was interesting: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

Application

I want to continually grow in the area of humility. I want to share in the joy of others’ accomplishments and successes for the Kingdom, understanding that we are all a team. God’s Kingdom is bigger than individual personalities, egos and petty pride.

Prayer

“God, continually give me Your heart, Your mind, Your wisdom to minister in a way that pleases You and lifts up and edifies others.”