T+3

God has it going on at camp! But do please pray for clearer weather. The temperatures are GREAT but it's a little soggy! PRAY!

T-0: Camp Begins

Well, today marks the beginning of Camp Tsungani 2008. I’m already at the camp with a handful of people and we’ve already distributed all the supplies and materials around the camp. At 11:00 today the staff arrives and staff training begins. Tomorrow at 11:00 the campers arrive and camp begins in earnest.

In my devotional journey leading up to this day, I’ve come to understand several personality traits, behaviors and beliefs of the various characters I studied. Caleb exemplifies encouragement; Nehemiah exemplifies faithfulness; Daniel exemplifies self-control and Mary exemplifies obedience. Each of these people help me to understand a single facet of my relationship to God. Their example points me in the right direction and encourages me to allow these same traits to be developed in myself.

As important as that is, what is really critical for my understanding is that the stories of each of these people help me to better understand the true nature of Christ. Christ embodied and perfected the characteristics of encouragement, faithfulness, self-control, obedience and thousands more. To understand these four people is to see a reflection of the totality of Christ. To practice encouragement, faithfulness, self-control and obedience is to move me one step closer to the full realization of my rebirth in Christ.

I’m sure that in the coming days, there will be ample opportunities to chip away at the walls of my heart and to reveal these characteristics of Christ in me.

With that, I lay aside my computer for the coming week. I have no intention of posting my daily devotional musings while at camp and I ask that you be in prayer for this camp.

Warm Regards,
Carl 'Chief Running Water' Schultz

T-3: Christ in All the Scriptures

Examining the faith of Daniel, I look to see Jesus.

In the story of Daniel, we find many virtues and characteristics that are worthy of our emulation. More importantly, we see a reflection of the coming king. Consider these observations…

Daniel was a foreigner in a strange land. Captured by the Babylonians and removed from Judah, he grew and matured in Babylon. Jesus was a foreigner in a strange land. Captured by his love for the Father and by his love for mankind, he stepped down from the heavens and grew and matured on Earth.

Daniel was given a new name, Belteshazzar which loosely translated means ‘protect his life.’ The earthly name of the Messiah was Jesus; I can’t say or write his heavenly name. He was called many things many of which I’m sure were not very nice. But no matter what he was called, he is Immanuel, the Christ, Lord of lords and King of kings, Prince of Peace, Savior, Redeemer, Son of God, Son of man, Jesus.

At the time of his capture and indoctrination, Daniel was only a boy. In a time of great struggle and confusion, he was of an age where his opinions would be discounted and dismissed. When we first catch a glimpse of the maturing Messiah, he is but a boy (same as Daniel) and is found talking with the priests in the temple.

Daniel was tempted to eat the king’s food and to drink the king’s wine; earthly success awaited him. Jesus was tempted to use his power to turn stones into bread, to test God for protection and to worship Lucifer in exchange for worldly power and earthly success.

Though tempted, Daniel remained resolute. Though tempted, Jesus remained resolute. They both honored and glorified God with their decisions.

As a result of his steadfastness, Daniel was blessed. He grew and prospered in the service of the Babylonian kings because of his faith and by the provisions of God. By his example we see the rewards of faithfulness, obedience and purity. Jesus too grew in wisdom and stature and was blessed. By his example we see the bright and sparkly jewels of faithfulness, obedience and purity.

Warm Regards,
Carl

T-6: Christ in All the Scriptures

I turn now to look at Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1-20) to see where I see Christ in this scripture.

Nehemiah was; compassionate, prayerful, practical and faithful. Christ IS all these things and more!

When Nehemiah heard the plight of the ‘remnant’ still in Jerusalem, though the walls had been breached and the city ruined, his heart was deeply moved. I can IMAGINE that Christ felt the same way about the remnant of people still on the earth. Though they had been separated from God by sin, though they had turned to idols and all manner of hypocrisy, Christ loved them, loves them still.

When Nehemiah was questioned by the king for an explanation of his ‘long face’ Nehemiah ‘breathed a prayer to the God of heaven’ and then answered. Christ was a man of prayer. Throughout the stories of his life, Christ may be seen going to the garden (alone or with others) to talk with God. Christ prayed, taught on prayer and lived on prayer. In the wilderness, Christ literally survived on the word of God by prayer.

Nehemiah went to Jerusalem, observed and analyzed before taking action. Christ came, observed, experienced and analyzed for 30 years before revealing himself. Having experienced all that man experienced, he completed the plan.

Nehemiah was not dissuaded by naysayers, nor was he distracted from his task. Christ was not discouraged by the naysayers and in fact, seemed to draw encouragement from their constant opposition. Though tempted by man and Satan to abandon his post, Christ defined faithful.

Nehemiah knew that God would see him through the reconstruction of the wall. Christ Jesus knew that God would see him through the reconciliation of mankind.

Nehemiah set aside his life that he might rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in compliance with God’s will. Christ set aside his life that he might be the instrument of God’s will in our lives.

שָׁלֹם

Carl

T-9: Christ in All the Scriptures

Going back to the beginning of my study series (Numbers 13:17-33) looking for Jesus in all the scriptures, here’s a few points to ponder;

The passage in Numbers begins with an act of obedience. Moses was told by God to send the spies and so he sent. While I don’t fully understand how it all came about, God essentially told Jesus to come down to Earth on a mission. Jesus in what can only be characterized as the supreme act of obedience to God, descended.

The spies from Numbers were told to explore, to examine and to analyze the land into which they were sent. Jesus came to experience the human condition so he did the whole thing; he was born, he grew, he rejoiced, he suffered, he laughed, he cried, he knew fullness and he knew emptiness. He died. Along the way, he never stopped examining and analyzing the human condition.

The spies went. Jesus came.

The spies gave reports as to the wonders of the Promised Land. Jesus reported and taught on the matter of the Promised Land of God’s Kingdom.

The spies reported on the riches within the Promised Land. Jesus spoke and taught of the true riches of God’s Kingdom.

Caleb spoke with courage and faith of God’s ability to bring the Israelites to victory over their opponents. In him there was no doubt. Jesus spoke with courage, faith and knowledge of God’s ability to bring a sinful people into a state of reconciliation with God. Jesus spoke of God’s ability to overcome sin and the penalty of death. In Him there was no doubt.

The spies saw the fortified cities of the inhabitants of the Promised Land. Jesus saw the hardened hearts and the entrenched sin of a lost people.

The spies saw giants in the land and were discouraged. Jesus saw the giants in the land, the religious leaders of the day and was indignant.

I love it when God opens my eyes to the treasures before me! I had never noticed Jesus in the middle of that story before. Yet there He is, patiently waiting for me, my friend. How good to see Him!


Regards,
Carl

T-11: Backward Glances

A few weeks ago, I was standing at a podium delivering a lesson and I looked down to see a small plaque affixed to the surface of the podium. In large, bold letters it declared “Exalt Christ.” That little exhortation stuck with me and I’ve been dwelling on it for a little while now.

You see, I take my charge very seriously; that is the charge in 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. [1]

When I consider how I may ‘correctly handle(s) the word of truth’ I come to the convergence of the exhortation to ‘Exalt Christ’ and the call to preach the word. I decided to study how Jesus handled the word of truth and that led me to today’s verse. Consider… Luke 24:27 (NIV)
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
[2]
Christ sets the standard for all our behavior, beliefs and endeavors. Christ himself ALWAYS correctly handled the word of truth and I can do no better than to follow His example. And as revealed in this passage, we see that Christ exalted himself through the interpretation of scripture.

As a preface I offer that it is clear that Jesus knew the scripture. We could debate whether he had an unfair advantage over us in that respect but that would be to no good end. As we, as I endeavor to follow in His footsteps I must therefore immerse myself in the word of God that I may be totally filled with His word; so that I will know, with the same degree of certainty as Christ, the truth that is presented therein. Only then will I be able to ‘rightly divide the word of truth’ in my frail efforts to exalt Christ.

Tomorrow, I shall revisit the stories of Caleb, Nehemiah, Daniel and of Mary. In so doing I will seek to reveal Christ in each of those examples, to rightly handle the word of truth and to exalt Christ. But today, today I will live as one who loves Christ and I will pray that my life, my very breath, will exalt Christ.

שָׁלֹם

Carl

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

[2] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

T-14: Obedient Acceptance

Having demonstrated to Mary that God was able to conceive his Son within her, having shown that her assumptions of what could and could not be done do not apply to God, Mary accepts her charge with dignity and grace.

Consider our text today;
Luke 1:38 (NIV)
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
[1]

As illustrated by her reply, Mary knew who she was. There was no misconception on her part as to her primary role. She simply observes that “I am the Lord’s servant.” The concept of servanthood meant that her understanding was not required nor was her approval. As a servant, when the master speaks, the matter is concluded. So it was in this exchange. The master (God) had spoken through his messenger Gabriel and as a servant, Mary knew that no amount of argument, debate or discussion would change that. Instead she embraces her servanthood and reassures herself of this by her statement.

Further, Mary being a girl that seeks God’s will, reveals her acceptance of her assignment when she ‘prays’ “May it be to me as you have said.” What a positive attitude and statement of faith. No argument, no lamentation, no sense of resolution but rather a forceful statement of her desire that God’s will be done in her life. It is more than a statement of desire like “I hope it does happen” or a fatalistic acceptance like “Whatever you want.” Her reply was much more positive and reveals her absolute expectation that the prophesy would be fulfilled.

Finally, having fulfilled his task by delivering the message, the angel Gabriel departs.

From her example, I see how I am to receive revelations from God; with grace, amazement, awe and most of all obedient acceptance. By faith, my acceptance must be expectant otherwise, my prayers are prayed in vain. Further, knowing what God has planned for my life I must embrace the opportunities whether my plans are in concert with His or not. “May it be to me as God has planned.”

Warm Regards,
Carl 'Chief Running Water' Schultz
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.