Category: Journal Reflection

These are my journal entries after reflecting and meditating on my Bible reading.

No Compromise

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When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Daniel 6:10 (ESV)

There is a lot to think and meditate on in this moment from Daniel 6. As I was reading through the story in Daniel 4-6, I was encouraged by the faithfulness and steadfastness of Daniel in these times of extreme pressure and hardship. In these three chapters, there were three different kings and they each continually forgot about Daniel. Each time he was brought before one of the kings he had to “prove” himself over again to the new king. There was extreme danger in this, yet the consistent theme of the story is that Daniel is the one constant. He was at his core, just a humble and faithful servant of the Most High God. His outward character shined as a bright light in the darkness of these kingly courts and was fueled by his steadfast practice of seeking the presence of the Lord on a consistent and intentional basis.

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Temptation Help

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Hebrews 2:18 (ESV)

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

“There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” As I was reading this passage from Hebrews 2, I was reminded of this quote from Richard Sibbes in his book, “The Bruised Reed.” I often find myself practically believing that there is more sin in me than there is mercy in Christ. I don’t actually believe this in my heart and mind, but I do notice myself living as through I must clean myself up and prepare myself in order to ask Jesus for forgiveness and receive his mercy. It’s not enough that my straying from temptation into sin brings guilt and shame, but I then add to my misery by denying the gentle, loving Savior to bring mercy, grace, and reconciliation to my desperate heart in its moment of extreme need. The author of Hebrews challenges his readers to remember their Savior. To remember Jesus in the moments of trials and temptations. Why? Because only Jesus is able to help those who are being tempted.

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Relational Faith

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Philemon 13–14 (ESV)

I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, [14] but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.

I love this sincere honesty that comes from Paul as he writes to Philemon. He has a desire to have Onesimus stay with him as a faithful servant because not only is Onesimus helpful and faithful to him, but there is a heart connection with him. Paul sees his usefulness during this imprisonment on both a physical and heart level. There is some emotional connection there. So even though he desires to keep Onesimus with him to help in his time of need, he knows that the proper action is to send him back to Philemon, who Onesimus is a bondservant. Even though Paul can justify this action in his mind and to others, he doesn’t want to compel Philemon to be backed into a corner where he doesn’t really have any option but to do as Paul requires. Paul takes the position of not compelling Philemon to do as he asked, but to appeal to Philemon to give freely toward the need Paul has during his imprisonment.

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Uncertainty of Riches

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As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

1 Timothy 6:17 (ESV)

Haughty has always been a word that I think I know what it means, but I never truly take the time to confirm my thoughts. The Greek word used here is ὑψηλοφρονεῖν (hypsēlophronein), which literally means “to think high things of oneself” or “to be high‑minded.” This haughtiness Paul is speaking of is a pride rooted in the financial wealth and riches that seemingly provide a person with security and self-sufficiency. It is the haughty attitude of thinking too highly of oneself and looking down upon others with less material wealth or opportunity. This haughtiness not only affects the outward relationships of a person, but it infects their spiritual relationship with God. It is a short trip from a haughty attitude to an attitude of self-righteousness and self-sufficiency that leads to setting ones hope on the false security of riches and wealth. Meaning, we place our hope in the gifts we have received instead of the gift-giver “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

I must admit that initially I tend dismiss this section of 1 Timothy as I mistakenly assume that those “rich in this present age” does not apply to me. This false assumption is a continuing problem for me in my life as I typically think of wealth in comparison to others in my circle of influence or even in comparison to my own country and other wealthy countries. You see, I am already starting from a point of haughtiness in my heart.

As I look again at this verse, I am struck by the last phrase, “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” You see, there is a material wealth and richness that truly is a cause for haughtiness. Yet, there is also the fact that God has richly blessed each and every one of us with everything to enjoy. As I look out the window in my study I am gazing at the beauty of nature and the world around me. There are an abundance of trees and a small creek, all teeming with a multitude of birds and wildlife. This is part of the rich provision that the Lord has provided for my (and our) enjoyment.

As with all of life, the problem in my heart centers on my own pride and selfishness. I want to define, and I allow the world to define for me, what the meaning of riches actually means. There is a reason that companies spend billions of dollars every year to advertise and market their products. Our modern culture is hyper focused on the pursuit of haughtiness. I saw a social media post the other day that was truly amazed by the fact that the daughter of a rich athlete was seen using an iPhone that was two models behind. The commenter was amazed by her humility to be seen without the latest and greatest model phone. I say that to not shame this person, but to remember that this same thought is in my heart each and every moment of every day. I want these things as well. Whether it is living well beyond my means financially or just complaining about those who do. My heart yearns to bring down those who seemingly have more than me and look down upon those who have less.

The way of Christ is to live a life that is simply content with the riches of God’s kindness toward me. Whether it be in poverty or luxury, the abundant love of Jesus for me is the far superior riches that are available to me. It is in the riches of God that I will find enjoyment and contentment. There is breath in my lungs because he richly loves me and cares for me. There is no room for haughtiness for each person in this world is special and unique to our great and amazing God. He loves each of us and desires to have an intimate caring relationship. So, we set our hope on the perfect Savior and not on the fleeting wealth of this world. My hope rests secure in the security of knowing that the eternal Son of God has paid the full price for my sin and now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for me every moment of every day. It is there that my heart can find rest and peace and comfort and fulfillment and joy!

Put Away and Incline

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He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” (ESV)

Joshua 24:23

At the end of Joshua’s life and ministry he is recounting to the people of Israel all the goodness and kindness that the Lord God bestowed upon them by fulfilling each and every promise that he had made to them through the years. This recounting of the faithfulness of their loving God was given with a call to serve the Lord. The people with one voice committed to serving the Lord alone, but Joshua was hesitant to allow them to make this commitment. He even tells them that they are unable to serve the Lord! Yet, the people are adamant that they will serve the Lord. So Joshua gives them this command in verse 23, “Then put away the foreign Gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” Our God is a holy God and his call upon our lives is to live a life of holiness. And Joshua is absolutely correct. In our own strength, we are unable to serve the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But there is One in whose strength we can serve the Lord. It is only in our Holy Savior that we can ever hope to serve our Lord in holiness.

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Weak and Fearful

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January 03, 2026 Saturday

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

I have been spending a lot of time this past week reading, studying, and meditating on Joshua 1 as I prepare to teach a lesson about the key themes found in that chapter. As I have been thinking throughout the week, I keep coming back to verse 9. It puzzled me for a while as to why this verse kept pricking me at various times throughout the day. I don’t feel particularly fearful or frightened. In the normal course of my day, I feel as though everything is going fairly well without many worries. Of course there are troubles as there always will be, but my mind was really coasting along without any apparent worries. Unlike Joshua, I am not embarking on a critical mission, leading millions of people into battle for their long-promised land of inheritance. I am not facing the loss of my leader, mentor, and friend. I am just a normal guy, leading a normal life. Yet, this verse spoken as an encouragement to Joshua in his time of trial is here today calling me to examine myself. To look past the surface level of complacency and deal with the fears and doubts that darken the corners of my heart. A call to understand that just as the Lord was with Joshua wherever he went, so too is Jesus with me at every moment and every step. So I too need to be strong and courageous and confront the areas of disobedience and apathy present in my heart.

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Creator and Heir

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December 04, 2025 Thursday

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV)

The incarnation of Jesus is the signifying moment of history being ushered into “these last days.” This is the final epoch of revelation from God being displayed and culminated in the life and death of Jesus Christ, the very Son of God. Whereas he previously spoke and revealed himself through a cloud of mystery, prophecy, signs, and wonders, he has now sent his Son to walk among us. In so doing, the Son of God has truly shown us the Father. For if you have seen and know the Son, then you have seen and know the Father. The incarnation brought the spoken word of God to life. Life in our reality and understanding. This same Jesus, who has come into our life and world to show us the Father, is the same one through whom the world itself was created and to whom the world and all creation are his inheritance. The eternal word of God came into our world and has both manifested and spoken the final Word of God.

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Grace of Affliction

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We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

2 Corinthians 8:1–2 (ESV)

Paul wants the Corinthian believers to know about the grace of God in a tangible way, so he gives testimony to the pouring out of God’s grace among the churches of Macedonia. He wants the church of Corinth to know about this grace of God by giving a tangible, real life example that they can readily identify and connect with on a personal level. There are a few shocking details in this example that caused me to stop and reflect about the work of God’s grace in my own life. First, there was a severe test of affliction. Second, there was both an abundance of joy and extreme poverty. This all led to the point that Paul wants the Corinthians church to grasp. In this test of affliction, their joy and poverty overflowed into a wealth of generosity. What I want to reflect on is the seeming inconsistency of this equation (God’s grace > Severe affliction > Abundance of joy in Extreme poverty > Wealth of generosity). It defies the logic of my 21st century mind.

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Effective Confirmation

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for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV)

What I find fascinating about the Apostle Paul is that his view of this life and the world around us is oftentimes counterintuitive to how I view life as I journey through my time in this world. In this verse from 1 Corinthians 16:9, Paul changes his established plans and commitments because the Lord had opened a door for effective ministry, and he was seeing the visible fruits increasing and multiplying. This time of ministry was so effective that he understood that he needed to drop all other plans to focus on where the Spirit was moving at the moment. This I understand. What is challenging to me is that the proof of the Spirit’s work and the effectiveness of the ministry were confirmed by the presence of adversaries. Paul was excited about the adversaries. The presence of those speaking out and working against this ministry work confirmed to Paul that the work of the Holy Spirit was truly being poured out, and he could not leave during this critical moment.

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Scum and Refuse

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We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

1 Corinthians 4:13 (ESV)

The heavenly mindset of Paul is always a helpful barometer to examine my heart and soul. Paul encourages me to not just focus on the surface level appearance of presentation but to dig deeper and examine the cracks and crevices that are open within my heart. This passage from 1 Corinthians 4 is a good example of this. Paul is challenging the thinking and mindset of the Corinthian believers to move away from their pride, arrogance, and sense of entitlement in which they had grown accustomed. Their hearts were puffed up and filled with boasting over the blessings from God that they had been freely given. Paul is calling them back to a mindset of weakness and humility. He is calling them to be counter-cultural in their thinking. They are wanting to be seen as rich and wise in the eyes of the world, when they should be as “the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.”

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