Category Archives: Meditations

May 11, 2022

Morning Meditation on a Psalm

By Jason and Kimberly

Kidner commenting on this verse…

Psalm 103:3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

For all the similarity of these two phrases, there is a difference between God’s handling of iniquity and of diseases, which was made plain in David’s own case when he repented of his sin with Bathsheba. Forgiveness was immediate; but healing was denied, in spite of seven days of prayer and fasting (2 Sam. I2:I3-23). ***If relationship with God is paramount, this makes good sense, for sin destroys it, while suffering may deepen it (Heb. 5:8; I2:11). Yet awe wait for … the redemption of our bodies’ (Rom. 8:23), and enjoy already many foretastes of it.

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February 1, 2022

Morning Meditation

By Jason and Kimberly

Exodus 3:12

[12] He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

The sign that God has sent Moses will not be revealed until after the people of Israel have been brought out of Egypt. Trust and obey. Trust Me first, then I will affirm with a sign.

The battle to trust and not fear is a common battle to all. I believe God is trustworthy even when I don’t know how it’s going to work out and why He would send such weak people to do such difficult tasks. Oh wait…because it’s for His glory and not man’s.

I often send these out via text message to some of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Below is a response from one of them.

“It’s a strange form of trust. What if you were climbing a mountain and I passed you down a rope and told you to trust your weight to it, but was also clear that by that I did not mean that the rope would certainly not break (it might) but only that even if it did break, as you fell to the depths, you would have the sudden feeling that this was alright, and perhaps better than making it to the top anyhow? God promises that if we trust him all will go well, but by that he does not mean that it will go as we wish. He means it will go as he wishes and that we will come to believe that to be best for us, however it may differ with our own wishes. We know the Israelites wished to stay in Egypt. They said so. But God gave them what they did not want because they trusted him.”

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January 25, 2022

Morning Meditation

By Jason and Kimberly

Genesis 47:4

[4] They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to *sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”

One might think that Jacob had not been sojourning previous to arriving in Egypt. Yet, he had been living in the the land of Canaan that God had promised to give the descendants of Abraham.

Yet, when Pharaoh asked him how old he was, he replied: Genesis 47:9

[9] And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.”

He described his entire life as “the years of my sojourning.” Maybe this means nothing or maybe he was looking beyond this life and this land. Maybe he had his eye on Beth-el!

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January 20, 2022

Morning Meditations

By Jason and Kimberly

Genesis 41:51

[51] Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”

If we could keep in mind that on that Day, God will make us forget all our hardships then we might live differently in this foreign land. We are just sojourning here.

Let us be fruitful now in the land of affliction: Genesis 41:52

[52] The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Help me remember because I easily forget.

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November 4, 2021

I Have a Problem with Pilate’ Sign

By Jason and Kimberly

The charge for which Jesus died was insurrection and sedition. To claim that one rules as King over what Caesar had already laid hold of resulted in capital punishment. But, as we know, the chief priests’ real charge was blasphemy for which the law demanded that one to be stoned. But there was no law for claiming to be a king. Therefore, if they were to carry out their plan to kill Jesus, they needed the Romans to do it because at that time they were a slave state and had no authority to carry out their desires.

So, the charge needed to change for that to happen. Jesus most certainly was the Promised Messiah/King of the Jews. But Pilate doesn’t hear theological categories but political categories. Therefore, Pilate’s sign reflects the charge for which Jesus died: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

But I have a problem with the sign. I don’t have a problem with its content. I believe it to be the truth. But rather it lacking my sin for which Jesus did not refuse and for which he willingly died and all of which he was innocent of committing. He died for his enemies like me that his strips might heal my sinful soul.

What about you? Do you have some additions to make to Jesus’ sign?

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October 19, 2021

Jesus before Pilate

By Jason and Kimberly
See the source image

In the news today, the Roman Times documents the events that unfolded over the weekend. Officials brought a man before the governor but did not give the governor any formal charges. The governor was expected to trust the judgment of the officials that this man was indeed doing evil or they would not have delivered him over to him.

The governor questioned the accused man trying to find out what he had been charged with. He didn’t find out anything and publicly stated to the the officials that he found no guilt in him. The governor offered to release the prisoner but the officials said no. Release to us a man we knew to be guilty.

If a Roman citizen had read this news article on Monday, following these events, and found out that their governor executed this man with no formal charges against him and he himself found no guilt in him, what would he had thought about that?

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January 6, 2017

A Picture of Strength 

By Jason and Kimberly

In my recent post Grace Overflowing we looked at some ways to evaluate where our identity stands. In this post I would like to consider a connection I saw this morning in Acts 3. 

I quoted from the first pastoral letter to Timothy where it says, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service” – 1 Timothy 1:12. As I make my way through the Bible this year I noticed in Acts 3 this beautiful picture of what it looks like for strength to be given. Here’s the text then one observation.  The whole chapter could be quoted here but we will narrow it to see our focus:

6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. – Acts 3:6-8 

This lame beggar is a picture of our life before encountering Christ. This man had no strength in his legs. He could not walk…from birth I might add. The strength Paul gave thanks for in serving the Lord is made visible in this lame beggar. 

Let us see ourselves in this picture of strength given. Let us leap for joy and praise God that he has given us strength in Christ…in the gospel. See his glory and rejoice. 

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January 17, 2015

Thinking About The Speeches of Job

By Jason and Kimberly

This is an excerpt from my introduction to the Elihu speeches. I have been wrestling with this text for weeks. Here are some things I think I have learned.

I have been thinking and praying each week trying to figure out what these texts mean. As I pondered over the big picture yesterday, I thought again how hard the speeches were to understand. Much of the difficulty comes from the fact that the speeches were written in Hebrew poetry, but not completely. The other main reason for struggle is that people are complicated, especially when we are hurting. Job’s pain and suffering cause confusion because these things cloud his mind with darkness. He oscillates between hope and despair. We can’t remember our own discourse with people much less all that they say. Our memories fail us no matter how young and smart we may think we are. We begin our argument and find that we lack adequate resources to debate so many words. From chapter 3 to the end of 32 we have about 12,000 words exchanged. The human element is obvious. It’s not a matter of whether the writer of Job can write for us words that are comprehensible. Rather, he seems to let stand the difficulties of conversations among men. I say all of this because I want to understand what Job says. I want to understand so that I can make clear to you what Job is saying. It’s hard to apply God’s word if we don’t know what it’s saying. Yet, I think that is a point in Job (the difficulty of the speeches). Understanding this helps me. I hope it helps you. I asked this question of the text because I realized the YHWH speeches are not so hard to understand. They are written in Hebrew poetry too. So, I conclude that God is far more clear than man. And we are to see a contrast between the speeches of men and the speeches of God. I’m looking forward to walking through those next week!

Job 23:10 “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” May this be so of us!

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December 15, 2014

Here Comes Santa Claus

By Jason and Kimberly

A Guest Post from my daughter Lydia Snider:

The radio was on and we were cleaning up the house. We turned it to a Christmas station and the song Here Comes Santa Claus was just coming on. We worked and listened and when it came to the part where it says, “Peace on earth will come to all if we just follow the light, so lets give thanks to the Lord above that Santa Claus comes tonight.” We started laughing at the way they had mixed Santa Claus and God; two things that really don’t go together.

But the mixture of these two things didn’t start in the last verse. In the very first verse, in the same line, we hear, “Hang your stockings and say your prayers cause Santa Claus comes tonight!” After listening to the song, you begin to wonder if kids are going to pray to God or Santa (the latter most likely). The Santa Claus story is almost more appealing for kids, isn’t it? Santa brings presents every year, presents that, by the time next Christmas rolls around, have long since been forgotten. Santa will love me whether I’m rich or poor (verse 3). And I don’t mean to say that gifts aren’t good and memorable, they are! But let’s talk about a better gift.

God sent us a gift greater than any Santa could bring: He sent His Son as a baby to be born in a lonely manger in a little town called Bethlehem. It’s sad that such a great God could even be compared to Santa Claus. God sent a gift that would never grow old or be forgotten, a gift that is there for us every morning (not just Christmas morning).

And so to finish, lets remember: 1) Giving gifts is a great thing to do. 2) It’s not loving or kind to say that Santa is coming because he has never come, he’s not coming this year, and he never will come. 3) The story of Saint Nicholas is a wonderful story. He was a person who cared more about others than himself. The way the world has taken this story and turned it into a lie is sad. 4) “Let’s give thanks to the Lord above because he sent his Son to us!”

Merry Christmas ~Lydia

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December 13, 2014

A Malignant Melody

By Jason and Kimberly

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

He’s making a list
And checking it twice;
He’s gonna find out
Who’s naughty or nice (Sinatra sings “naughty AND nice” to increase the vagueness?)
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

This song is always in the mix of Christmas songs that we hear this time of the year. Many of them, even this one, I don’t run to the radio or CD player or whatever media from which it comes and turn it off. I see it as a teachable moment. Guarding my kids (and myself) from such things is not the answer. Nor is the answer letting them figure it out on their own. Assuming this has no effect on us is dangerous.

So, what is so malignant about this melody? You have to admit it’s catchy. Fun. Helpful to parents that cannot otherwise get their children to obey them any other time of the year. Who knows what shopping would be like if the parents could not remind the kids about the premise of this song– “You’re not getting anything if you are naughty.” So, is Christmas about giving a gift or a wage? Are we to earn a gift? No. And that is why this melody is malignant (among other things).

I’m assuming the first three lines of the song are phrases used by Santa Claus (and parents) to remind them to straighten up because Santa Claus is coming. I don’t like the equating of crying and pouting. They are not the same. As a parent, crying is allowed and encouraged. There is nothing wrong with crying. It’s needed and good oftentimes. Pouting is different. Pouting is trying to persuade where crying is a response to pain of some sort. Pouting is fake; crying is not.

I don’t think I have to persuade any readers of this post that Santa Claus is not coming. However, the close similarities of what we Christians often talk about is the fact that Jesus Christ is coming again. If you hold off until He comes to “straighten up” it is too late. It is absurd that Santa or Jesus are okay with kids being “nice” only in the month of December (or at least the day before Christmas for the unruly kids). How much is enough to earn the gift? Is a gift leverage? Are the days leading up to Christmas threats? Nice isn’t it?

This is just a side note: how can Santa see and know if you are awake and asleep and have to “find out if you are naughty or/and nice”? Just saying. It seems he should know that too. While we are here, I also cringe that Santa is given such attributes. Only the Triune God has such attributes and to ascribe them to another is troubling and fatal.

“So be good for goodness sake” is another spin or twist of this Christmas story. I thought we were to be good so we would have presents under the tree. I’m not being “good” for nothing. “If I am going to be good it’s going to cost you mom.” What reason do parents give five seconds after the “gift” is opened and the receiver hates it; it is not gift he asked for and throws it aside as rubbish? Being good for goodness sake will not work here or ever. That would be like saying I go to work everyday just to work; not a paycheck. I intentionally do not say thank you to my boss for my wages. They are not a gift. I earned them. Grace and job must be kept separate on this level and together on other levels. This leads to the issue.

One problem with this whole scenario is the meaning of gift. A gift is undeserved. Of course, you are welcome to celebrate Christmas however you so choose but you might want to change the vocabulary. Start calling the presents wages or earnings. That will help them not confuse things. Gifts are gifts. How one responses to a “gift” is a reflection of your love for the giver or your love of the gift. Is it really loving to give a gift only if the kid has met some undefined, ever-changing standard? No. It’s not.

The fact is no one is good. No one. If we get what we have earned that would be eternal punishment. If we receive the gift of salvation that is mercy. And that mercy comes from Someone. When God chooses to love someone for no reason that is grace. Of course, the grace that saves is the grace that transforms. This is the perfect season to describe this. Many have Christmas trees in their homes. We hang ornaments on the tree. Some even look like fruit. You could even hang a real apple on the tree and you should think it odd if someone thought that a Frazier Fur produced an apple. Everybody knows that it can’t do that. Only a real apple tree can produce an apple.

Only a grace-given, mercy-receiving, justified sinner can produce righteousness…fruit. If it comes for external show, it is not true fruit. Granted, it is hard to tell the difference sometimes. Nevertheless, we should be fruit inspectors.

Dear friend, every breath you take today is a gift. A GIFT! Gifts come from Someone and that Someone deserves thanks. How you celebrate Christmas boils down to who you love. Your perspective is different when you understand who you are and who God is. Your ideas of Christmas change when you understand the meaning of gift and love of the giver. We should be eager to give gifts this Christmas season because we have been loved and love; not for goodness sake.

~Jason

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