Frank's Bible Blog

Psalm 53-- Is the World Suffering from Selective Hearing?

If you are a parent it probably has happened to you. You tell your child to do something and he or she ignores you. You say it louder and are still met with silence and inaction. Finally, you scream to them before storming into their room.

Once there, you are met with an "I didn't hear you."

Now sometimes that "I didn't hear you" is because the TV was too loud or the iPod was cranked up in their ears. Sometimes it is "selective" hearing--they hear what they want to hear, and it usually isn't you!

There are many people like that when it comes to God. They either are so self-absorbed that they don't notice God, they are so distracted that they can't hear or see Him working around them, or they have selective hearing and choose to ignore Him.

They also often live and operate in fear when there is no cause for fear (v5). This is most evident with those who do what we may consider irrational superstitions.

Some cultures, for example, believe that you have to "swing" away your sin. Each Spring the adults go to a playground-like setting. They stand on a swing, making it go back and forth, in fear that if they don't they will face God's wrath. They will put on their best clothes--guys in suits, women in nice dresses--and swing away!

In Psalm 53 David paints a picture of these outsiders. He uses words similar to those in Psalm 14 to reiterate the sinful and fallen nature of man. "The fool says in his heart, 'there is no God'"(v1).

Some scholars say that Hebrew words for "there is no God" is not a denial of the existence of God, but rather a denial of the providence of the Deity. In other words, whether God really exists or not doesn't matter because the person denies God's right to control, direct or intervene in his or her life. They live for themselves with no thought of God. "There is none who does good, not even one" (v3). They are going their own way and without God's grace will continue to drift through life and eternity separated from the Almighty.

While it is easy for believers to sit back and say "I'm glad I'm not like them," God would have us respond differently. He longs to have a personal relationship with everyone.

How do you break through and reach a person like that? Romans 10:13-15 says "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" It goes on to say, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."

It is up to us to lovingly enter into the "noise" of their "room" and share God's word. Not screaming like the frustrated parent, but as a loving friend who, like them, was once lost in life but now desires to show them the way forward.

Will you be that friend and help the world with its selective hearing problem?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 45-- Carry It or Watch Others Carry It: The Choice is Yours

It has marked the beginning of every Olympic Games since 1928.

The Olympic Torch lights a large cauldron during the opening ceremonies and the cauldron stays lit until the end of the games.  Since 1936, the flame that ignites the cauldron originates in Greece and then is carried by relay to the Olympic stadium. Typically hundreds, even thousands, of people participate in the carrying and passing of the torch as it makes it way around the world before finally lighting the cauldron.

There are those individuals who get to be part of history--the passing of the flame to the next runner--and then there are the rest of us who just watch.

When I think of the Olympic Torch relay, I can't help but think of the Torch relay all of us are to take part in as followers of Christ.

In Psalm 45 we are prophetically introduced to Christ. We are told about His majesty, righteousness and might. We are given a sneak peak into His everlasting kingdom. Then the chapter concludes by saying "I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever."

Just like the flame of the Olympic Torch is passed from one runner to the next, the Name of Jesus will be praised, exalted, and passed on from one generation to the next. But unlike the Olympic torch, which eventually is extinguished, the Name of Jesus will be remembered for eternity.

Think about that for a moment.

Since the resurrection of Christ different people have joined the relay to pass along Christ to the next generation. They have been part of an unbroken chain prophesied here in Psalms 45. Now, there were those in every generation who embraced Christ, but who failed to pass Him along to the next generation. They watched as others did, but they did not have that legacy for themselves.

They watched while others made history.

The question comes to us today: Will we watch or will we make history? Will we sit on the sofa while others in our generation proclaim the life-changing message of Jesus? Will we rest on the bench while our peers pass the torch to another generation? Or will we rise to the occasion and take our place in history by handing the Flame to those who will carry it the next leg?

Will we go into eternity knowing that we helped carry the Name, or will we go into eternity knowing we missed the opportunity to make a difference in our generation?

The choice is ours!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 41-- Nightmares Disappear in the Presence of Father

It was late at night when the faint knock came to my bedroom door. It was my son and he had had a bad dream. He had climbed out of the top of his bunk bed and journeyed down the stairs to my bedroom.

 

You see, he needed to be in the presence of his father.

 

I opened the door and we made our way to the living room, where he sat on my lap and told me about his nightmare. I held him, prayed over him, and then he promptly went back to sleep.

 

All was well.

 

When he spent time in his father's presence, he gained emotional strength. When he spent time in his father's presence, he was able to forget what had troubled him. When he spent time in his father's presence, he was able to move on with life.

 

In Psalm 41 David reminds us of several things, the greatest of which is the importance of being in God's presence. David tells us of the blessings that come when we give consideration to those who are poor, weak, and in despair (vv1-3).

 

He then goes on to ask for God's mercy and healing for sin he had committed, which apparently also affected his health (vv4-8). In the midst of his personal struggles, he felt abandoned and despised both by his enemies and those close to him (vv5-9), prompting him to cry out to God.

 

The turning point for David came when he realized that God, his Father, was pleased with him (v11) and that God would uphold him.

 

"Set me in your presence forever" is how David worded it (v12). When he realized he was in the presence of Father, he knew everything would be alright.

 

Friend, when you and I spend time in Father's presence we will have compassion for those who are struggling in this world. When we spend time in Father's presence we will become acutely aware of our sin and seek to repent of it. When we spend time in Father's presence we have a sense of security and belonging that rises above life's circumstances.

 

Maybe today it's time to climb out of life's "bunk bed" and make your way into Father’s presence.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 37--Lower Your Blood Pressure

It was my first time out of the house alone with our new baby. I had a doctor's appointment and had to take her with me. As soon as I sat down in the waiting room I realized I had forgotten something very important--food. I was a brand new dad and the thought that the child would need to eat again before I got home totally slipped my mind. Well, no sooner did I get seated when my daughter started to cry, and cry and cry. I tried everything I could think of to calm her down but nothing worked. I just knew everyone was staring at me and thinking what a lousy dad I was. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I am ushered into the exam room. The nurse took my blood pressure and was shocked at the reading. My normally low blood pressure was through the roof! I had let all the commotion get to me. I was stressed big time! Today my baby is a teenager and I look back at that incident and laugh. I just needed to calm down! Well, that is the word from the Lord to all of us in Psalm 37--just calm down! Don't worry and fret (v1,8). God has everything under control (v24). Whether it is people treating you badly (v1, 14), disastrous times (v19), personal failure (v24), or struggles to make ends meet (v25), God is there for you. But what must we do to stay calm in difficult times? There are eight things. Trust in the Lord (v3). Feed on His presence (v3). Delight in what delights Him (v4). Commit your plans to the Lord (v5). Be still and wait on Him (vv7, 34). Don't get angry (v8). Stay humble (v11). Do good (v27, 30, 31). This a great prescription for dealing with the ups and downs of life!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 16-- "Stay Close, Children!"

The warning signs were abundant as we began walking around the national park--"Stay on the Path." There were numerous hazards if one wondered off the path and no further warnings or protections were available. If you stayed on the path, you would enjoy some of the most incredible beauty of God's creation. But if you strayed, the results could be absolutely devastating. My children were small, so I made sure I had a firm grasp on them and kept them close to my side. In Psalm 16, David is pictured as walking through life just like my children walked that path with me--right at the side of their father. Twice he refers to being next to God (vv8,11) and he says that, "I have set the Lord always before me" (v8). He stayed by God's side and stayed where he could see Him at all times. Because David had put such trust in God (v1) and maintained complete dependency on Him (v2), David experience some wonderful benefits. He received multiple blessings (vv5,6), had guidance for his life (vv7, 11), enjoyed gladness and hope (v9), and had the assurance of eternal pleasures (v11). He also knew that just as Christ would conquer death (v10), God would not leave him in the grave. We too can experience these same benefits as we put our trust in the Lord, and as we walk intimately with Him along life's path. Yes, there are unbelievable dangers in life, but when we hold God's hand and keep our eyes fixed on Him, we have nothing to fear. There is safety in the presence of Father.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Psalm 3--The Ultimate Sleep Aid

Apparently a lot of people are having trouble sleeping. At least, that is the impression I get from all of the ads I hear about sleep pills. Often there are medical reasons why people can't get to sleep, but many times people can't sleep because they are worrying. They are distressed and lie awake at night thinking about how bad things are going. David in Psalm 3 could relate. Life was pretty stressful at the time he wrote this psalm. You see, his own son had kicked him off the throne of Israel, and David was literally fleeing for his life. "Lord, how they have increased who trouble me," David exclaimed in verse 1 as more and more people turned against him. Israel's once beloved son had been rejected by none other than his own flesh and blood. What would happen to him? What would happen to the rest of his family--his other children? Would they be put to death by their brother? Would David ever regain control? How would he survive? What about all the people who worked for him--who would sustain them? There was a lot that weighed heavily on David as he went to sleep those nights, but notice what happened. "I lay down and slept; I awoke for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people..." (vv5-6). What was David's sleep aid? It was turning over his situation to the Lord and trusting in Him fully. That worked well for David--I bet it will do the same for us!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 50--Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Have you thought about your legacy? Have you thought about the impact you will have even after you are gone? Most people never think about their legacy until it is too late to do anything about it. It is unfortunate that many people squander much of their lives when they could be living in such a way that glorifies God and impacts the next generation. In Genesis 50 we are told about the end of two men's lives--two men who made a difference in their world. Two men who left a lasting legacy. They were Jacob and his son Joseph. Jacob had moved his entire family and all they had to Egypt, at the request of his son Joseph who had become second in charge of the country. Verse 3 tells us that when Jacob died the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days. Jacob's body was moved to his homeland of Canaan for burial and it was accompanied by "chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering," (v9). On the way to bury him the group stopped and mourned for seven more days, causing the people there to proclaim "this is a deep mourning of the Egyptians" (v11). Jacob wasn't an Egyptian, but because of his influence and the influential life of Joseph, even the Egyptians were impacted. Jacob lived 147 years. His son Joseph's life was characterized by forgiveness and perspective, which we see again right after his father's death. His brothers, fearful that Joseph would seek revenge for the way they had mistreated him, begged his forgiveness (vv17-18). Joseph had already forgiven them because he realized "you meant evil against me; but God meant if for good...in order to save many people" (v20). Joseph died at 110 (v22) having saved not only his family from destruction but countless others as well. "One day," he told his family just before his death, "God will take you back to our homeland, the land of Canaan. And when you do, take my bones with you." Joseph's life impacted their past, their present, and even their future. Jacob and Joseph--what a beautiful legacy and what a great example they are to all of us. Pause for a moment and think about your own legacy. What kind of a legacy will you leave?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 49-- Same Parent, Different Children

We have several friends who have large families of eight or more children. It is fascinating listening to them describe the differences of each child. Even though they try to be consistent in how they parent, the children still react to things differently. They each make their own decisions. As with all children, as they become adults they think for themselves and make their choices. Sometimes those choices are good, sometimes they are not. Jacob had 12 sons, all very different. And although Jacob loved God and worshiped Him with his life, his sons did not always make the right decisions. He certainly taught them the things of the Lord, but not all of them made choices that were honoring to God. When we think of Jacob, we usually don't think of him as a prophet, but he was. Genesis 49 is a fascinating passage where Jacob blesses his 12 sons and foretells their future. Five of the 12 predictions especially stand out, and they give us insights into the differences of these children. Jacob said his firstborn, Reuben, was "unstable as water" and "shall not excel" (v4). Reuben had an illicit relationship with one of Jacob's concubines. More than 40 years later his act was still a stain on the family. Instability characterized Reuben's life and it ruined him. Simeon and Levi were called "instruments of cruelty" by Jacob as he noted their fierce anger which led to them slaughtering an entire town of people (vv5-7). How crushing it must have been for these two men to hear their father, on his death bed, say in effect that he did not want to be associated with them. Judah, on the other hand, is predicted to be the fore-father of Christ (v10). Jacob eventually turns to Joseph and gives a beautiful summary of Joseph's life. "The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob" (vv23-24), which is a reference to the hatred he had received from his brothers. Joseph was made strong and became a "fruitful bough" (v22) because of his walk with God. There are a lot of principles that we can learn from this passage, but notice two principles for parents. First, we need to teach our children how to make good choices and to stick with them. Second, we need to be sure that they see the Mighty God through our lives. While there is no guarantee that our children will always make the right decision, we can be at peace knowing that we did all we could as parents to set them up for true success in life.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 48-- Imagining Your Children's Future

There have been many times when I have "day dreamed" about what the future might hold for my children when they become adults. I've thought about their future careers and the spouses and children they will one day have. I imagine what the future might be based on what I see in them today. But we need to be careful about the assumptions we make about people's futures, especially our children's. In Genesis 48, Joseph brings his two sons to visit their grandfather Jacob just prior to Jacob's death. Jacob not only blesses his grandsons, but prophetically describes their future (vv19-20). The problem, as Joseph saw it, was that Jacob placed his right hand on the younger child and pronounced a greater blessing on him. "Surely he is mistaken," Joseph thought, "the oldest son will be the greatest." But Jacob knew exactly what he was doing--and history shows that he was right. Like Joseph, sometimes we think we have it figured out. We think as parents we know what will become of our children when they are adults. We don't. God gives different gifts and abilities to each. Some go farther and accomplish more than others. While we can't assume what will happen in the future, we can lay a solid foundation in the present. That is what Jacob did as he recounted God's promises and told of His faithfulness (vv3-4, 15-16). Jacob had walked with God a long, long time. Now it was time to pass that heritage on to his grandchildren and their generation. Their ultimate future would not be in Egypt, but it would be as part of Jacob's "tribes" who eventually came to enjoy God's promised land (vv5-7). Jacob was a prophet--we're not! While we can dream about what the future might hold for our children and grandchildren, there are solid, practical things we can do right now to prepare them for it. Those certainly include laying a strong spiritual foundation. Nothing wrong with dreaming about the future, but let's also act in the present.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 37-- The Story Behind the Story

"What good could ever come out of this?" Have you ever made that statement? Have you ever thought those words? We know intellectually that God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, but do we really believe it? What if we don't see that good for 5, 10 or even 20 years? Then what? Consider the story of a father named Jacob as told to us in Genesis 37. Imagine that you are him sitting home one day when your sons come into the room carrying a coat soaked in blood. You immediately recognize the coat because it was one you had specially made for your 11th son--the pride and joy of your life. When your sons tell you they found it out in the wilderness your heart sinks. There is no doubt in your mind--your beloved son Joseph met a violent death by wild animal (v33). Your mind begins to play out a variety of what-if scenarios like "What if I hadn't sent Joseph out alone to check up on his brothers?" Then Joseph's 17 years of life flash before you. You think about all the things you wished you would have done different--like not chastising him when he naively shared his dreams with you (v10). You cry and mourn like never before. No one can comfort you (v33) and you determine that you will grieve until the day you die. Now we know the full story, as we have the rest of Genesis, but Jacob didn't at the time. He didn't know that Joseph actually was alive. He didn't know that his own sons had sold their brother into slavery. He didn't know that Joseph would distinguish himself first in Potiphar's household and then in an Egyptian prison. He didn't know that Joseph would interpret dreams and literally save the lives of countless numbers of people--including his own. He didn't know that his son would become the second most powerful person in the world's strongest nation. Jacob didn't know any of that for 20 years. There was a back-story to which Jacob was oblivious. Yet God was constantly at work even though Jacob didn't realize it. Now Jacob couldn't get back those 20 years of grieving caused by the sin of his sons. He was, however, able to go forward in peace and realize that things did work together for good, not just for his family but for scores of families living in that part of the world. Friend, whatever you are going through today, know this: there is a back-story and God is at work. It may be a long time before you realize it, but if you love Him and are called according to His purpose, you can bank on the truth that this will, some how, some way, work together for good.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 34-- Kids Gone Wild

There are some kids who you just know are going to get into major trouble as they get older. As someone outside the family, you look at how they are being parented and how they act when they are young, and you can predict problems. Now we know that some kids rebel and make bad decisions even with good parenting. As a parent, I ultimately cannot make choices for my children when they are grown, but I can do everything in my power while they are young to teach them how to make good choices. In Genesis 34 we see some bad choices made by some young people, and we see that the parents are at least partially to blame. Dinah, Jacob's daughter by wife Leah, decides to go "into town" and hang out with the pagan girls of the region. Some scholars think she wasn't more than 14 years old when this happened. She catches the eye of Shechem, the son of a prince, who was use to getting everything he wanted. He "violated her" (v2) and then decided he wanted to marry her. Like he probably had done a hundred times before, he went to his father demanding to have his way--in this case to have Dinah for a wife (vv8,18-19). So the father dutifully obliges his son and goes to work out an arrangement with Jacob (vv8-9). It didn't matter that his son had disgraced Dinah and Jacob's family. What little Shechem wanted, little Shechem got! Now when Dinah's brothers heard what had happened they "were grieved and very angry" (v7). That is an understatement! They went on to devise and execute a plan that incapacitated all of the men of Shechem's city. They then went in and killed all of the men and took their wives and children captive, along with all of their possessions. What was Jacob's response when he saw this? Was there moral outrage for needlessly destroying so many lives? No. His response was "You...have made me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land...and since I am few in number they will gather themselves against me and kill me" (v30). As you consider this passage, ask yourself "If the parents had parented differently, could this whole tragedy been avoided?" Should Dinah been allowed to hang out with that crowd? Should the world have revolved around Shechem and he get anything he wanted? Should Dinah's brothers have learned the moral ramifications of their decisions and not just the practical ones? Poor parenting does not excuse what these kids did, nor does it justify any of their actions. But could better parenting have led to a different outcome? This is something to consider for all of us who are parents.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 29-- When Years Seem Like Mere Days

It reads like a great romance novel. "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her" (Genesis 29:20). That is romantic--but it also gives us a great principle for living. Hardships go much easier when their is a goal--a prize--for which to strive. A goal gives hope. This chapter describes Jacob's search for a wife (vv1-10), his love at first sight when he sees Rachel (v11), and their eventual marriage (v28). But it wasn't all storybook. To have Rachel, her father required Jacob to labor for him for seven years which, as we saw in verse 20, Jacob did with ease. Then the father does the bait and switch, substituting his older (an apparently much less attractive) daughter for Rachel on their wedding day (vv23-26). Imagine Jacob's shock the next morning when he finds out that the woman he worked seven years to marry wasn't the one he actually married! He could have Rachel, the father said, but Jacob would have to work another seven years. Jacob did his "time" putting in 14 years to get the love of his life. That is a long time and certainly was not part of his original plan. Now think about this: when things take a wrong turn in life and we end up facing something we didn't expect, it is easy to get swallowed up in self-pity. It is easy to want to quit. Things didn't go the way we planned so let's throw in the towel. But if we will set our eyes on something beyond the immediate, then we will have hope. What goals do you have in your life? What special thing do you have to look forward to? Everyone needs something. It doesn't have to be extravagant, just something that will encourage you and motivate you to press on. Marriages need this as well. We need something special that we are looking forward to doing together. Maybe it is an annual vacation, a weekend getaway, or just a relaxing day walking in the park, but we need something that we periodically plan for that will help us to look beyond the immediate.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 28-- The Desperate Tale of Two Brothers

Emotionally hurt with his world crashed down around him, we find Esau in Genesis 28 desperate to recover his father's favor. Earlier he exchanged his birthright for some stew, then he lost his father's blessing. It seemed that his brother Jacob got everything that should have been his. So when Jacob goes off to find a wife who wasn't from the area, Esau decides he needs to do that as well. He already had two wives from Canaan (much to his parents displeasure) but thinks that if he finds one from his extended family it will bring him back into his father's graces (vv8-9). While Esau (a grown man) is desperately trying to recover from his emotional pain, his brother has his first real encounter with God. Jacob had grown up hearing about God. He knew many things about God. But he didn't know God for himself. Then along a roadside as he journeyed to find a wife, God spoke to him (vv10-15). This was a turning point in Jacob's life. Jacob vows that if God would be faithful to him, Jacob would serve the Lord and put Him first (vv20-21), even in his possessions (v22). Jacob had caused a lot of grief, he was a conniver and a liar. But something started to change in his life as he met God on that dusty road. His focus started shifting from himself to the Lord and others. He went on to become a great man of God whose 12 sons would become the 12 tribes of Israel and the Jewish nation. Where are you at in your life today? Are you like Esau, desperate to recover from your emotional pain? Desperate to find someone who will love and accept you? Or maybe you are like Jacob prior to this chapter. You know all about God but haven't made a personal commitment to Him. Maybe you have done some terrible things, caused a lot of grief, lied to a lot of people. Whether it is the emotional pain of an Esau or the guilt of a Jacob, Jesus Christ is waiting to forgive you, heal your emotional scars, and lead you into an abundant life. If you have never done so, today ask God to forgive your sin, acknowledge that Christ's death, burial and resurrection is sufficient to pay for your sin, and commit your life to the Lord right now. God will make you into a new creation and give you a purpose and peace that you have never known before.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 27--The Collapsing Family

Every so often it seems that there is a tragic story of a mine that has collapsed with workers trapped inside. Sometimes the workers survive, but too often we hear of lives that are lost. They are in the mine where they have been many times before, but on that tragic day something happens to weaken the mine's supports and it collapses on the workers. Far more frequent than mines collapsing are families collapsing. The supports give way and the world comes crashing down on many families. Tragically, some families disintegrate. In other cases, they survive. They are hurt, dirty, scared--but they continue. Such was the case in Genesis 27 with Isaac, Rebekah and their two children, Esau and Jacob. Notice some things that caused the "mine" to weaken and eventually collapse. We see that Rebekah elevated her child above her husband (vv5-10). She conspired to trick her husband in order to benefit her favored son, Jacob, and secure Isaac's blessing for him instead of Esau. She also directly lied to her husband (v46). In addition, she underestimated the pain that she caused Esau (v44). She assumed Esau would get over this in "a few days," but he didn't. We also notice that Jacob wasn't concerned with what was right or wrong, only with getting caught (vv11-12). Then we see Esau becoming desperate (v34) and rather than turn to God, he turns to rage (v41). He would harbor this intense anger and bitterness for a long time. As we look back on their lives, we see that Isaac and Rebekah did what many couples do today. They lost themselves in their children. Not only that, but they each had their own favorite child on whom they focused. I have seen this many times--after many years a couple ends their marriage because they no longer have an emotional connection to each other. Everything centered on the children and when the children leave home they have nothing in common. Don't live just for your children! The best gift you can give to your children is the example of a strong marriage. Put your priority on your spouse and then together seek to raise, guide, and nurture your children to realize their full potential in Christ. Do that and everyone will be better off.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 26-- When Good Work Ethic Causes Trouble

Have you ever had a job where your co-workers were jealous because you did so much better than them? Maybe you always went the extra mile but they did the least amount necessary. One person I know started a new job where he did service calls for a company. Under the union contract, employees were supposed to complete five calls per shift. This guy found that he could usually complete more than that in a typical day. It didn't take long, however, before he started getting heat from his co-workers. If he could do more in a day, then they would be expected to do more--and they didn't like that. It seems that there always are people around us trying to pull us down because our getting ahead makes them look bad. Such was the case for Isaac in Genesis 26. There was a famine in the area, so Isaac relocated his family to Gerar, the same place where his father had spent time. He worked hard and God richly blessed his efforts (vv12-13). Soon he became so prosperous that everyone around him was jealous. They tried to make life difficult for him (v15) and eventually kicked him out of the area. Isaac sought peace with those around him, even giving up wells that rightfully were his in order to avoid strained relations (vv18-22). He had plenty and was able to dig more wells. There are some things worth fighting for, but to Isaac, this wasn't one of them. He did his "thing" and didn't get deterred by those who were jealous of him. Now, before we leave this chapter, there are two negatives that we need to notice. First is that Isaac lied about Rebekah being his wife when they arrived in Gerar. Rather than being honest and trusting God to take care of him, he tried to devise a plan to protect himself. As we saw in the last chapter, he was looking out for his own interests and not that of others. Nor was he thinking about long-term ramifications. The second negative is that son Esau marries not one but two pagan women, causing Isaac and Rebekah great grief (vv34-35). Esau is another example of being self-focused, and he is the product of a dysfunctional family (see chapter 25). So here is the take away from this chapter: do what is right in both your business and family affairs, and leave the outcome to God. Some people give great attention to their work but let their family suffer. Others are lazy and have a poor work ethic. Don't let either be true of you.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 25-- Are You the Next Reality TV Show?

It could have been a reality TV show. We'll call it "Isaac's Family." It is the true story that begins to unfold in Genesis 25 as Isaac and Rebekah start their family. It took them 20 years before they could have children, but once twins Esau and Jacob were born I doubt there was ever a dull moment. There were some interesting family dynamics that we notice as we open the window and look in on this family. First, these kids were "fighting" before they even came out of the womb (v22) with each destined by God to father a nation or people group. They may have been twins, but these boys were dramatically different. They looked different (v25), had different interests (v27), different personalities, and they approached life differently. Jacob was a thinker--he planned, thought things through, and even schemed. Esau lived for the moment. He was rugged, tough, and self-focused. The first sign of trouble we see is that Isaac and Rebekah played favorites (v28) with Isaac loving Esau and Rebekah loving Jacob. Then we see how short-sited Esau was because he was willing to throw away his future--his birthright--for some stew. Jacob is far from innocent as he took advantage of his brother. This was a pretty dysfunctional family (it gets worse as the story goes on!). What was the bottom line that caused all of this? Each family member looked only at his or her own interests  and not the interests of the whole family. They also didn't consider the long-term ramifications of their decisions and the impact those decisions would have on others. The more members of your family there are who look only to their own interests, the more dysfunctional your family will be. It is that simple! Don't become fodder for a reality show--consider others before yourself.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Genesis 19-- When Dirt Doesn't Bother You Anymore

Dirty Jobs is a television show about some of the dirtiest jobs in America. The show's host spends a day on a "dirty" job doing exactly what the workers do. One day it's cleaning up dung at an alligator farm, the next it's cleaning out the inside of a garbage truck, then it's on to scrubbing the inside of a city's sewer. There also was the show where he had to catch snakes and cause them to regurgitate their last meal. The host often finds himself waist deep in various "stuff" in his attempt to show what it would be like to do that particular job. At first you wonder how anyone could do these jobs, but for the people who do them, it is no big deal. After a while the workers get use to it. It doesn't seem dirty to them. Genesis 19 is a study of how a good person can get caught up in the "dirt" of this world to the point where the dirt no longer bothers him. In this chapter, God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. Before He does, however, He mercifully allows Lot and his family to escape. The fact that Lot was even living in these cities is a testimony to how desensitized he had gotten to the "dirt" around him. These cities were so incredibly wicked that God had to destroy them. Just the little bit we learn about these places here in this chapter is enough to make us cringe. Yet Lot, who is from a godly family, was right in the midst of them sitting at the gate (v1). Typically, people who "sat at the gate" were either political leaders of the city or businessmen. Lot knew the kind of people who lived in that city, which is why he feared for the safety of the visiting "men" (angels actually) who had come to warn him of the city's demise. When he told his sons-in-laws that they needed to get out with him, they laughed at him, which says a lot about the kind of people they were. Lot was reluctant to leave. His wife's heart was there. His daughters were very depraved in their thinking and later in the chapter did an unimaginable thing with their father. This family, under Lot's leadership, had gotten waist deep in filth--and it ended up costing them greatly. Lot lost his wife, his dignity, his influence and his wealth. It all started when Lot set his gaze towards Sodom. Before long he was engulfed by its dirt. Don't let this happen to you! Don't set your gaze towards the wickedness of this world or move towards its filth.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

1 Corinthians 15-- Meaningful Life Work

We were standing in line waiting to order lunch at an amusement park cafe. There was a woman in front of us trying to juggle two small children and wondering aloud what had happened to her husband and third child. I'm sure she was also wondering how she was going to hang on to the two very active children and manage to get everyone's tray of food. Finally, she spotted her husband outside the cafe. "Will you save my spot in line," she pleaded. "Sure," I replied. A few moments later she returned, this time without the kids (she had turned them over to the dad) and visibly less frazzled. There was an older couple in front of her that also saw the whole thing and comment that they had once been in her shoes. "It is all worth it," the elderly man said, "they grow up so quick, but it is all worth it."

Sometimes when we are juggling life, trying to serve God, and just hoping to make it through the day, we wonder if it all is worth it. Like the elderly man's encouragement to that young mom, the Apostle Paul encourages each of us in 1 Corinthians 15. He says "Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (v58). How can you and I have the assurance that it is all worth it? We know our labor is not in vain when it is centered on the gospel, which Paul defines as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (vv3-4).We know that our labor is not in vain when we have the hope of the resurrection (vv12-49). We know our labor will be worth it when we one day see Christ reigning over all things (vv20-28). It will all be worth it when death is defeated once and for all (vv50-57) and we receive new glorified bodies (vv39-45). But don't get side tracked--the wrong kind of associates can derail you from a life of purpose (vv33-34). So, no matter how discouraged you may be today, remember, "it's all worth it" when your life is centered on Christ.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 13-- The World's Most Misunderstood Word

It is the subject of fairy tales and fast-moving music videos. Scores of books have been written about it and it is the basis for many Hollywood productions. People laugh about it, cry about it, and even get angry over it. It unites as well as divides. It is amazing how something can be the focus of so much attention yet have so little known about what it really is. It is love. The Bible has much to say about love because it is fundamental to life. It is the fundamental reason Jesus died. It should be the fundamental reason why we live. It should permeate our attitude, actions and approach to all that we undertake. I Corinthians 13 has probably the clearest explanation of what true love--God's love (agape)--is all about. While the chapter lists several attributes of genuine love, you can sum it all up into two things. Love focuses on other people (vv4-5) and love embraces the positive (vv6-7). In addition to defining love, this chapter is a eye-opener to the stunning reality that we can do many good things in the name of Christ but not do it with love (vv1-3). No matter what it is, if we do it without love, it has no lasting benefit to us. Genuine love must be the driving force behind everything that we do and think.

Let me challenge you today to take the 1 Cor. 13 love test. Ask the question "why" for everything thing that do you over the next week. Why are you teaching that Sunday School class? Why do you tithe? Why do you work? Why do you make the family's meals? Why do you take the kids to soccer practice? Why do you attend church? If you cannot honestly answer that you are doing it out of love then it is time to refocus your life. Focus on the positive things in life and in others. Focus on the specialness of the people you are serving. Focus on the person and nature of God and on how much He has already done for you. Then, what used to be "tasks" that interrupted your day are transformed into expressions of love that bring fullness and meaning to your day. If we will embrace this concept, it will absolutely revolutionize our lives and the lives of those we touch.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

John 5-- Just Like Their Parents

Children usually reveal a lot about their parents. We often can see strong resemblances of a parent’s appearance in his or her children. In addition, mannerisms, personalities, and even a child’s voice can closely resemble their parent. We may have never met the parents but we have a good idea about them because we know the son or daughter. In John 5, Jesus told a group that the way to see God the Father is to see Him as the Son. In fact, Jesus said, the only way to know the Father is to know Him. “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me as eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life,” said Jesus (vv23-24). The group He was speaking to diligently searched the Scriptures trying to discover eternal life, but when the answer to their search—Christ—was before them, they wouldn’t believe (vv39-40). How many people today are searching for truth, searching for eternal life, even searching for God, yet they refuse to place their faith in Jesus? They are going through philosophical exercises but won’t accept truth when they see it. If we want to see the Father and experience His truth, then we need to take a closer look at the Son.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Thessalonians 3-- Making a Difference in a Life

"Dad, you're the best!" That's the phrase I love to hear my son say the most. From my daughter it's "You rock!" When you hear words like these it means you are doing something right. We know that we have an impact on our children, but what about other people? Have you stopped to think about the impact that you can have on others, even if you are separated by a great distance? Notice in 1 Thessalonians 3 how the Apostle Paul impacted the Thessalonians. First, he kept in touch with them (vv1-6). Long before email, faxes and even telephones, Paul found a way to continue his relationship with these dear brothers and sisters--he sent an emissary to them and he wrote them. Second, he showed concern for them and the difficult situation they were in because of their faith (v5). Finally, and most importantly, he prayed for them. Paul's prayer is a good one for us to use as we pray to make a difference in another life. He prayed that God would direct their relationship (v11), that God would increase their capacity to love (v12), and that their hearts would be established blameless and holy (v13). Whose life are you trying to make a difference in today?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Thessalonians 2-- Leadership Lessons

Leadership is, and has been, a hot topic for several years now. It seems that the number of leadership books on store shelves increases daily. And for good reason--leadership is important. No, leadership is critical. It has been said that "everything rises and falls with leadership." This is true in business, church, organizations, and even the home. 1 Thessalonians 2 gives us some great insights into leadership as Paul recounts how he and his team worked with the Thessalonians. Although he was only with them a very short time, Paul had a profound impact on the Thessalonians. Notice what he did. First, he spoke the truth with clarity and boldness, and without any pretentiousness (vv2-5). He then sat aside any rights or demands that he could have made as an apostle (v6) and instead approached them with humility and care (v7). He selflessly poured himself out in love (v8). Paul had a strong work ethic and did not ask anyone to do anything that he was not willing to do himself. Rather, he rolled up his sleeves and worked tirelessly (vv9-10). He exhorted the Thessalonians to realize their full potential in Christ (vv11-12). He prayed for them and thanked God for them (vv13-16). Finally, he did his best to keep in touch and continue to mentor them (vv17-20). The way Paul led with truth, humility, love, commitment, encouragement, prayer, and communication is a great example for all of us, whether we lead a large multinational corporation, local church, youth sports team, or just our own family.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Luke 23-- Power Play

Many people become consumed with power. Sometimes at work a person gets a position of power and wants to "lord it over" others. They focus on themselves and use their power just because they can. Christ, on the other hand, demonstrated what it was like to have ultimate power but purposely limit it for the benefit of others. That was the situation in Luke 23 when Jesus was tried and then executed on a cross outside of Jerusalem. He had the power to silence the false accusations of those who wanted Him dead, but He chose not to use it. He had the power to avoid the humiliating taunts of the soldiers, but He ignored them. He had the power to stop the processional to the execution site, but He pressed on anyway. He had the power to come down from the cross, but He chose to stay. Finally, He had the power to forgive--which He chose (v34). Just because you have power as a boss, parent, business person, etc. doesn't mean that you always have to use it. Sometimes, like Christ, we must put aside what we can do in order to benefit others. And, like Christ, there is a power that we should always choose to use--the power to forgive.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Luke 17-- Remember Your Manners

We teach our children at a young age to say "thank you" when someone does something nice for them. Unfortunately, some kids grow up and exchange their manners for an entitlement mentality. In Luke 17, Jesus healed 10 men suffering from leprosy yet only one bothered to say "thank you." Earlier in the chapter, Jesus discussed forgiveness and faith--both of which require a good amount of humility. Later, Jesus described events surrounding the coming of the kingdom of God (vv20-37) and said those alive at the time and "in the field should not go back for anything. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it" (vv31-33). If the world revolves around us, we will end up very disappointed and short-change ourselves. If, however, we can lose our lives by humbly walking before God and others, then we will truly find it. We won't need any reminders to say "thank you" because we will truly be appreciative. We will remember our manners all on our own.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Luke 2-- Try Being That Parent

There's a reality TV show about a family with eight children--one set of twins and a set of sextuplets. Watching the parents trying to manage a house full of young children like that is quite interesting (they do an amazing job, by the way). But imagine what it would have been like to have been the earthly parents to the Son of God. Luke 2 gives us an overview of Jesus' first 12 years. Imagine what it would have been like to be Mary or Joseph in that stable the night Jesus was born. You just finish giving birth when a troupe of shepherds show up telling a crazy story about seeing the sky filled with angels (vv13-18). Then you go to the temple to dedicate your child, like every good Jewish parent did at that time. Next thing you know an elderly man whom you have never seen before walks up, takes your child in his arms and says "I'm ready to die now--I have seen the Savior" (vv28-32). If that wasn't strange enough, a widow woman excitedly comes over and starts praising God for your son and telling everyone around about him (vv36-38). Then there is the incident when he was 12 where he is back at the temple, this time confounding the religious leaders with his questions and answers. No, none of us will ever know what it is like to parent the Christ, but we can create a godly environment where our children grow up like Christ increasing "in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men" (v52).

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.