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Quote From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

August 18
Behind the Scenes

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 89:38-45 | Esther 1:1-3:15 | 1 Cor. 11:17-34 | Proverbs 21:19-20

Today’s Scripture Focus: Esther 1-3

She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. [17] Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. (Esther 2:16-17 NIV)

While the book of Esther never mentions the name of God, his working is seen throughout the book. While he may not be “front and center,” he is clearly working behind the scenes.

Unfortunately there are too many people like Haman. Their love for sin and hatred for God translates into hatred for God’s people. Human history is evidence that Haman is not alone. There are always some whose twisted hearts would seek to lash out at God and his people.

But we are also reminded that God is at work thwarting the work of the enemy. He has Godly men like Mordecai who are willing to stand up to the evil without compromise. He has Godly women like Esther who are willing to risk it all for the sake of what is right and good.

Yes, there is an enemy who seeks to steal, kill and destroy. But God is at work behind the scenes using people like you and me to accomplish his purposes. He has placed us where we are “for such a time as this.” We may live in a land of compromise, but we do not have to compromise. God will use us “in such a time as this” as we stand strong with a willingness to risk it all for the sake of the Gospel.

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

Aug 15
All Things to All People

Today’s Scripture Readings:Psalms 88:8-18 | Nehemiah 9:22-10:39 | I Cor. 9:19-10:13 | Proverbs 21:13

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13

1 Cor. 9:20-22 (NIV) [20] To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. [21] To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

The gospel is a message for all people of all languages and cultures. God’s message of love must be communicated to each of those cultures in a way that they can really understand it. Paul, like any good missionary, understood this principle. He went out of his way to communicate the gospel to each group in ways they would be able to better understand it. He became all things to all people so that by all possible means he might save some.

We must be careful not to put stumbling blocks in the way to understanding the message. We often use language that doesn’t communicate clearly. Even more often we use methods that just aren’t relevant to the audience we seek to reach. Sometimes our methods betray the message and we miscommunicate the gospel.

The gospel should be communicated differently in Mali, Africa than in Manila, Philippines. Different means will be necessary in Lima, Peru than Lima, Ohio. We must seek to understand our target audience if we are going to relate the message to them in a way that really communicates the gospel. The more we can communicate in the “heart language” of the people (their music, their stories, their language, their culture), the better they will understand.

We have a message for all ages, for all peoples, for all languages and cultures. Let us seek to understand those we are communicating with, so we can better relate the gospel to them in ways that best communicate the truth.

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

August 13
Building Up or Tearing Down

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 87:1-7 | Nehemiah 5:14 — 7:6 | 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 | Proverbs 21:8-10

Today’s Scripture Focus: Nehemiah 5:14- 7:60

“I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you? Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.” (Nehemiah 6:3-4 NIV)

Tearing down is simple. Building up is an art. Anyone can criticize; it takes no great skill to see the problems. It takes a real leader not to be distracted by the words that tear down; to keep to the task despite criticism.

The world is filled with critics (so is the church–when will realize that there is no “gift of criticism” listed in scripture?). They are good at seeing the obvious, and get stuck on the problem rather than trying to be part of the solution. Nehemiah had his critics. They kept harassing him with their complaints.

Anyone in a leadership role must learn to deal with criticism. Nehemiah was in the midst of this leadership lesson. I love his response to the criticism: “I am carrying out a great project and I can’t come down.” He refused to be distracted by the criticism of Tobiah and Sanballat.

Tobiah and Sanballat had evidently gone to the school of Telemarketing, and kept pestering Nehemiah again and again. Nehemiah remained devoted to the task and undeterred from his vision of rebuilding the walls. He would not stop building just because a few words were aimed his way to tear him down.

When the criticism became almost unbearable, he took it to the Lord. “But I prayed, ‘now strengthen my hands” (6:10). When the criticism seems too much to bear, take it to the Lord and ask him to fill you with his strength to stick to the task he has called you to do.