I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jeremiah 24:7 NIV)
Passages like these bring up the doubt and fear in my heart. Does God really love all people? Does he really allow all people to have a chance to know and follow him. Or does he turn hearts toward him or away?
He says his love is evidenced most in the Cross which was for all people the whole world. That he loved us while we were sinners. Is that love for all or only those who will come to know him?
God I want to understand your love better. Please show me your heart of love and who you love.
Amen
Friday, November 30, 2012
Hope for Israel: a savior to come The Lord
"The days are coming," declares the Lord,
"when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The Lord Our Righteous Savior. (Jeremiah 23:5, 6 NIV)
The depth of Judah and Jerusalem's sin is a strong manifestation of the true sinfulness in all of our hearts. They are all running after the desires of their hearts. The kings on David's throne are corrupt and leading people astray. The leaders, prophets and priests are all leading people into sin and injustice.. And God is bringing his punishments and wrath.
Yet there is hope. There will be a remnant of Judah. And there will be a righteous king for Israel. There Jesus Christ our Lord the King of righteousness our savior is revealed.
Thank you Lord for your saving grace. Keep us in your paths.
Amen
"when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The Lord Our Righteous Savior. (Jeremiah 23:5, 6 NIV)
The depth of Judah and Jerusalem's sin is a strong manifestation of the true sinfulness in all of our hearts. They are all running after the desires of their hearts. The kings on David's throne are corrupt and leading people astray. The leaders, prophets and priests are all leading people into sin and injustice.. And God is bringing his punishments and wrath.
Yet there is hope. There will be a remnant of Judah. And there will be a righteous king for Israel. There Jesus Christ our Lord the King of righteousness our savior is revealed.
Thank you Lord for your saving grace. Keep us in your paths.
Amen
Thursday, November 29, 2012
At the potters hand
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, "Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
(Jeremiah 18:1-10 NIV)
God is the potter. We are the clay. God is at work shaping us. Like in Romans God created all people for a purpose. Some for common purposes and some for glorious eternal purposes. For those who follow God we are choosing to let our lives be molded in his hands.
Like Israel Gods people sometimes God needs to reform and reshape us. We become twisted from Gods intent. But what we mean for evil God uses for God.
I love that lesson from Genesis and the story of Joseph
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:18-21 NIV)
Our circumstances and life are bigger than we can imagine. Somehow God is at work as our sovereign Lord working things in his plans for his good purposes in his great love for us.
Being molded is not always what I want. I pray that I would humble myself. I pray that you would use me as you choose for your glory and purposes.
Amen
(Jeremiah 18:1-10 NIV)
God is the potter. We are the clay. God is at work shaping us. Like in Romans God created all people for a purpose. Some for common purposes and some for glorious eternal purposes. For those who follow God we are choosing to let our lives be molded in his hands.
Like Israel Gods people sometimes God needs to reform and reshape us. We become twisted from Gods intent. But what we mean for evil God uses for God.
I love that lesson from Genesis and the story of Joseph
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:18-21 NIV)
Our circumstances and life are bigger than we can imagine. Somehow God is at work as our sovereign Lord working things in his plans for his good purposes in his great love for us.
Being molded is not always what I want. I pray that I would humble myself. I pray that you would use me as you choose for your glory and purposes.
Amen
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The Sabbath: of great importance to God
This is what the Lord said to me: "Go and stand at the Gate of the People, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; stand also at all the other gates of Jerusalem. Say to them, 'Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah and all people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem who come through these gates. This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors. Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline. But if you are careful to obey me, declares the Lord, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it, then kings who sit on David's throne will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever. People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the Lord. But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.'"
(Jeremiah 17:19-27 NIV)
Knowing what is to come as described in Nehemiah, we can know that the gates of Jerusalem are burned. The sabbath day is very important to God. He desperately asks his people in Judah and Jerusalem to honor the sabbath. It is so important to God that he promises abundance or destruction of Jerusalem on their obedience to the sabbath. God is willing to allow and even more bring about the destruction of the city of God his glory and even the temple. God must hold our faithfulness of great value if he is willing to sacrifice his city and his temple for us.
Yet the sabbath is more of a memory than a reality even to Christians. In my home church the sabbath is rarely talked about. In my time in college in InterVarsity the sabbath was not mentioned. I would regularly do most of my homework on Sunday. Sure I would go to church in the morning. And that is about all I would give God on his holy day of rest to remember him. I know the New Testament says we are no longer required to follow sabbaths or feasts. But the point is sabbath is not an obligation but a gift from God for our good. It is a day of rest and a day to remember God. A day to stop and see the bigger picture.
Yet we are so driven in America and Japan and other places that we just work, work, work until vacation and then back to the grinding stone. Yes we should be productive and hard working. Being a farmer was perhaps harder than our lives. But it is so healthy and vital I think to take rest and sabbath.
For me on staff with InterVarsity taking a sabbath has been crucial. But I have recently been willing to modify and move my sabbath in order to accomplish more. Again I am trusting in myself and not God. It is complicated because I work doing ministry for a living. I mean the priests continued to serve in the temple on sabbaths so what does sabbath look like for me and pastors and college ministers?
God I pray for your guidance and discernment in my life and in your church. Please teach me to honor your sabbath. I thank you for the gift sabbath because i know it is for my good.
Amen
(Jeremiah 17:19-27 NIV)
Knowing what is to come as described in Nehemiah, we can know that the gates of Jerusalem are burned. The sabbath day is very important to God. He desperately asks his people in Judah and Jerusalem to honor the sabbath. It is so important to God that he promises abundance or destruction of Jerusalem on their obedience to the sabbath. God is willing to allow and even more bring about the destruction of the city of God his glory and even the temple. God must hold our faithfulness of great value if he is willing to sacrifice his city and his temple for us.
Yet the sabbath is more of a memory than a reality even to Christians. In my home church the sabbath is rarely talked about. In my time in college in InterVarsity the sabbath was not mentioned. I would regularly do most of my homework on Sunday. Sure I would go to church in the morning. And that is about all I would give God on his holy day of rest to remember him. I know the New Testament says we are no longer required to follow sabbaths or feasts. But the point is sabbath is not an obligation but a gift from God for our good. It is a day of rest and a day to remember God. A day to stop and see the bigger picture.
Yet we are so driven in America and Japan and other places that we just work, work, work until vacation and then back to the grinding stone. Yes we should be productive and hard working. Being a farmer was perhaps harder than our lives. But it is so healthy and vital I think to take rest and sabbath.
For me on staff with InterVarsity taking a sabbath has been crucial. But I have recently been willing to modify and move my sabbath in order to accomplish more. Again I am trusting in myself and not God. It is complicated because I work doing ministry for a living. I mean the priests continued to serve in the temple on sabbaths so what does sabbath look like for me and pastors and college ministers?
God I pray for your guidance and discernment in my life and in your church. Please teach me to honor your sabbath. I thank you for the gift sabbath because i know it is for my good.
Amen
Trust in The Lord alone not man
This is what the Lord says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives. "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve." Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust
because they have forsaken the Lord,
the spring of living water.
(Jeremiah 17:5-10, 13 NIV)
I am not quite sure what it means toe trust in man. Maybe it means to trust in our own abilities as people or as organizations. Sometimes I get caught up in Gods work but try to do it without being truly dependent and inviting God to be at work. I trust in giving more time, my own skills, our structures or plans. But I spend little time praying. When things go wrong I try to do more or do things better. But sometimes God has to humble me and remind me that he is our only hope. That I can't save a single person. In Christ is salvation. Bible study and evangelism are only effective if they meet Christ.
So I hold to the truth: God you are our only hope. Through Christ alone is salvation.
And in you alone I want to trust God. In my own heart and life and in my ministry I want us to put our hope in God alone.
My heart is deceitful especially in regards to relationships so please God examine my heart and help me to listen to you and trust you.
Amen
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives. "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve." Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust
because they have forsaken the Lord,
the spring of living water.
(Jeremiah 17:5-10, 13 NIV)
I am not quite sure what it means toe trust in man. Maybe it means to trust in our own abilities as people or as organizations. Sometimes I get caught up in Gods work but try to do it without being truly dependent and inviting God to be at work. I trust in giving more time, my own skills, our structures or plans. But I spend little time praying. When things go wrong I try to do more or do things better. But sometimes God has to humble me and remind me that he is our only hope. That I can't save a single person. In Christ is salvation. Bible study and evangelism are only effective if they meet Christ.
So I hold to the truth: God you are our only hope. Through Christ alone is salvation.
And in you alone I want to trust God. In my own heart and life and in my ministry I want us to put our hope in God alone.
My heart is deceitful especially in regards to relationships so please God examine my heart and help me to listen to you and trust you.
Amen
Monday, November 26, 2012
Leadership of Jeremiah in a ministry without fruit
God calls Jeremiah and instructs him to speak against his people: and so Jeremiah speaks:
Hear and pay attention,
do not be arrogant,
for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God
before he brings the darkness,
before your feet stumble
on the darkening hills.
You hope for light,
but he will turn it to utter darkness
and change it to deep gloom. If you do not listen,
I will weep in secret
because of your pride;
my eyes will weep bitterly,
overflowing with tears,
because the Lord's flock will be taken captive. And if you ask yourself,
"Why has this happened to me?"—
it is because of your many sins
that your skirts have been torn off
and your body mistreated.
(Jeremiah 13:15-17, 22 NIV)
What a hard calling: to speak against your own people. To point out their sin. But also to promise destruction of his people and even being turned over to other wicked nations.
That is Jeremiah's calling and ministry. There is no promise from God that his people would repent. There is no promise that anyone would respond to Jeremiah. So Jeremiah is called to this fruitless ministry. And yet he is being faithful to do exactly what God called him to do. That sounds like a hard job and a hard ministry to trust God in.
God thank you for my calling in leadership. I pray that you would use me as you choose. I thank you for the joy and fruit you bring through my ministry. But I pray I would trust and have my identity in you and your calling, not in success. I also pray I would not be satisfied with things less than you call me too.
God I want to serve you, glorify you, bring your kingdom and help people to know and follow you. Please guide me and my ministry with InterVarsity at CU.
Amen
Hear and pay attention,
do not be arrogant,
for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God
before he brings the darkness,
before your feet stumble
on the darkening hills.
You hope for light,
but he will turn it to utter darkness
and change it to deep gloom. If you do not listen,
I will weep in secret
because of your pride;
my eyes will weep bitterly,
overflowing with tears,
because the Lord's flock will be taken captive. And if you ask yourself,
"Why has this happened to me?"—
it is because of your many sins
that your skirts have been torn off
and your body mistreated.
(Jeremiah 13:15-17, 22 NIV)
What a hard calling: to speak against your own people. To point out their sin. But also to promise destruction of his people and even being turned over to other wicked nations.
That is Jeremiah's calling and ministry. There is no promise from God that his people would repent. There is no promise that anyone would respond to Jeremiah. So Jeremiah is called to this fruitless ministry. And yet he is being faithful to do exactly what God called him to do. That sounds like a hard job and a hard ministry to trust God in.
God thank you for my calling in leadership. I pray that you would use me as you choose. I thank you for the joy and fruit you bring through my ministry. But I pray I would trust and have my identity in you and your calling, not in success. I also pray I would not be satisfied with things less than you call me too.
God I want to serve you, glorify you, bring your kingdom and help people to know and follow you. Please guide me and my ministry with InterVarsity at CU.
Amen
Why does God allow evil and wicked people to live and hurt others?
You are always righteous, Lord,
when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.
God replies to Jeremiah
Your relatives, members of your own family—
even they have betrayed you;
they have raised a loud cry against you.
Do not trust them,
though they speak well of you.
"I will forsake my house,
abandon my inheritance;
I will give the one I love
into the hands of her enemies. (Jeremiah 12:1, 2, 6, 7 NIV)
It almost seems like God points back and says why do the wicked live, look around Jeremiah and tell me why you and your relatives and your people are wicked. I have loved them, I have been their God, I have given them this land, I have walked with them, I gave you my law. God cries out I love Israel my people, but they have rejected me and turned to evil. And so though my heart breaks I must reject them.
God so loves his people that he restrains from bringing his wrath on the wicked. He sends them warnings and rebuke and prophets to try to help them turn from sin. But in the end they would not turn and became worse so finally he brings destruction. I don't understand how their is justice in that God. How can you love both the leader and the oppressed in Israel and yet allow the leader to lead the common people and poor into sin. God how can you allow the leader to sin against the people and bring poverty and hunger and war to them?
God says I love my people. I love the leaders. I love the common people and the poor who are powerless.
God you and your plans do not make sense to me. But I believe you love me. And I believe you love others even if sometimes I doubt it. But often I focus on the material worldly blessings that some have instead of the eternal hoe that God offers to all people.
God I ask that you show me the greatness and breadth of you love. If you would please reveal how you can love all people and allow wickedness and allow people to not know you.
Amen
when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.
God replies to Jeremiah
Your relatives, members of your own family—
even they have betrayed you;
they have raised a loud cry against you.
Do not trust them,
though they speak well of you.
"I will forsake my house,
abandon my inheritance;
I will give the one I love
into the hands of her enemies. (Jeremiah 12:1, 2, 6, 7 NIV)
It almost seems like God points back and says why do the wicked live, look around Jeremiah and tell me why you and your relatives and your people are wicked. I have loved them, I have been their God, I have given them this land, I have walked with them, I gave you my law. God cries out I love Israel my people, but they have rejected me and turned to evil. And so though my heart breaks I must reject them.
God so loves his people that he restrains from bringing his wrath on the wicked. He sends them warnings and rebuke and prophets to try to help them turn from sin. But in the end they would not turn and became worse so finally he brings destruction. I don't understand how their is justice in that God. How can you love both the leader and the oppressed in Israel and yet allow the leader to lead the common people and poor into sin. God how can you allow the leader to sin against the people and bring poverty and hunger and war to them?
God says I love my people. I love the leaders. I love the common people and the poor who are powerless.
God you and your plans do not make sense to me. But I believe you love me. And I believe you love others even if sometimes I doubt it. But often I focus on the material worldly blessings that some have instead of the eternal hoe that God offers to all people.
God I ask that you show me the greatness and breadth of you love. If you would please reveal how you can love all people and allow wickedness and allow people to not know you.
Amen
God and children: salvation and love?
I think one question we hold before you God is what about the children?
What happens to children who die in non Christian countries? What happens to children who die in war, sickness, poverty, hunger, and even pregnancy before birth.They are innocent right?
I believe God knows each of us before we are born or even conceived:
God says of Jeremiah:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV)
And even before we took form in conception and pregnancy God says of us as he said to David:
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
(Psalm 139:15, 16 NIV)
Yet there are children in Israel and Jerusalem, Sodom and Gomorra that God likely died when the cities were destroyed and or exiled.
God how did you love those children?
Yet as Jeremiah is revealing this society was so corrupt there was not even one righteous person. The only righteous people in Sodom: Lot and his family were saved, yet a family that ends up with the father drunken and daughters having sex with their drunken father to have sons sound like some messed up people and yet they were considered righteous and worth saving.
Children in a society that corrupt and evil can't grow up innocent in a society like that with parents like that. God I want to know more what you say and feel about children and their salvation and righteousness.
But I want more. God what hope is there in you for children?
This is how dear Jesus held children:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
(Matthew 18:1-5 NIV)
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:13, 14 NIV)
That sounds like a God who loves children dearly. More than we can imagine.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to children.
Yet these children didn't not know who Jesus was. They were not baptized. They did not proclaim Jesus as savior. They may have died shortly after seeing Jesus. And yet Jesus was not worried about any of that. He was confident in saying the kingdom belongs to children and those with hearts like children. Jesus seems to act as if there were more to the faith story than this life. That children would choose Jesus eternally and that the kingdom of heaven is for them.
I hope that all children would go to heaven. If any of this is not from you God and only heresy or misunderstanding then I ask you God to reveal your truth to me and others and change our hearts to align with your heart for children and for God and our eternal home in heaven.
Amen
What happens to children who die in non Christian countries? What happens to children who die in war, sickness, poverty, hunger, and even pregnancy before birth.They are innocent right?
I believe God knows each of us before we are born or even conceived:
God says of Jeremiah:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV)
And even before we took form in conception and pregnancy God says of us as he said to David:
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
(Psalm 139:15, 16 NIV)
Yet there are children in Israel and Jerusalem, Sodom and Gomorra that God likely died when the cities were destroyed and or exiled.
God how did you love those children?
Yet as Jeremiah is revealing this society was so corrupt there was not even one righteous person. The only righteous people in Sodom: Lot and his family were saved, yet a family that ends up with the father drunken and daughters having sex with their drunken father to have sons sound like some messed up people and yet they were considered righteous and worth saving.
Children in a society that corrupt and evil can't grow up innocent in a society like that with parents like that. God I want to know more what you say and feel about children and their salvation and righteousness.
But I want more. God what hope is there in you for children?
This is how dear Jesus held children:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
(Matthew 18:1-5 NIV)
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:13, 14 NIV)
That sounds like a God who loves children dearly. More than we can imagine.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to children.
Yet these children didn't not know who Jesus was. They were not baptized. They did not proclaim Jesus as savior. They may have died shortly after seeing Jesus. And yet Jesus was not worried about any of that. He was confident in saying the kingdom belongs to children and those with hearts like children. Jesus seems to act as if there were more to the faith story than this life. That children would choose Jesus eternally and that the kingdom of heaven is for them.
I hope that all children would go to heaven. If any of this is not from you God and only heresy or misunderstanding then I ask you God to reveal your truth to me and others and change our hearts to align with your heart for children and for God and our eternal home in heaven.
Amen
The wrath of God
From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, "Obey me." But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.'" Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. (Jeremiah 11:7, 8, 11 NIV)
I will not disagree with those who say it is hard to read the Old Testament sometimes ( though Gods wrath is unleashed in the New Testament also) God seems angry and jealous.
Yet I imagine that if their society truly was as bad as it is described then it is better to be destroyed and sent to exile than live in Israel. It is better for the poor and widow to be dead or in exile than live under corrupt rulers who do not hold to justice. It is better for the children of Israel to grow up in captivity even as orphans than to be raised by sexually immoral, child sacrificing( to Baal and other man made Gods) and unjust jewish fathers and mothers in the land of Israel.
It is hard to imagine a society that bad, that corrupt. But then sometimes under the trend of the world: divorce, power, corruption, sex, and drugs and I think maybe it is not that far off.
God says
"Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem,
look around and consider,
search through her squares.
If you can find but one person
who deals honestly and seeks the truth,
I will forgive this city.
(Jeremiah 5:1 NIV)
There is not one person who is just and honest and holding to the truth in this whole city. God doesn't even mention that they have to be strong believers in him. If there were even one person who is close to righteous then God would forgive the city and turn his wrath.
That sounds like a city that needs to be destroyed to be humbled. To be destroyed in order to save even a few people.
God I don't understand you or your plans or your wrath. But God I thank you for your words in Jeremiah and what you are teaching me and bringing good to me even by the hardship and exile of Israel as they turned from you and we're utterly evil and unjust.
I hope in you and your goodness.
That you save us from our sin and death and your wrath.
Thank you Jesus for your justice and mercy.
Amen
I will not disagree with those who say it is hard to read the Old Testament sometimes ( though Gods wrath is unleashed in the New Testament also) God seems angry and jealous.
Yet I imagine that if their society truly was as bad as it is described then it is better to be destroyed and sent to exile than live in Israel. It is better for the poor and widow to be dead or in exile than live under corrupt rulers who do not hold to justice. It is better for the children of Israel to grow up in captivity even as orphans than to be raised by sexually immoral, child sacrificing( to Baal and other man made Gods) and unjust jewish fathers and mothers in the land of Israel.
It is hard to imagine a society that bad, that corrupt. But then sometimes under the trend of the world: divorce, power, corruption, sex, and drugs and I think maybe it is not that far off.
God says
"Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem,
look around and consider,
search through her squares.
If you can find but one person
who deals honestly and seeks the truth,
I will forgive this city.
(Jeremiah 5:1 NIV)
There is not one person who is just and honest and holding to the truth in this whole city. God doesn't even mention that they have to be strong believers in him. If there were even one person who is close to righteous then God would forgive the city and turn his wrath.
That sounds like a city that needs to be destroyed to be humbled. To be destroyed in order to save even a few people.
God I don't understand you or your plans or your wrath. But God I thank you for your words in Jeremiah and what you are teaching me and bringing good to me even by the hardship and exile of Israel as they turned from you and we're utterly evil and unjust.
I hope in you and your goodness.
That you save us from our sin and death and your wrath.
Thank you Jesus for your justice and mercy.
Amen
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Faith: of great and lasting worth
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:6-9 NIV)
To Christians who truly know suffering for their faith and the gospel Peter writes to the faithful in exile:
Why does God allow heir suffering?
The refining and genuine endurance of their faith.
Faith is of greater value than gold, than wealth, than success, than jobs, than relationships. All else will fade and come to an end but our faith is eternal and lasting.
For by faith we receive that great gift of God: salvation and life eternal. Which is held in heaven but we taste even now in the world if we live by Christ.
God I pray that you would increase my faith even by testing and hardship. For I hold many things of great value which will not last. But I want to focus on faith. Thank you for your blessings. I pray that you would strengthen me to rely on you alone and hope only in you and our home with you in heaven.
Amen
(1 Peter 1:6-9 NIV)
To Christians who truly know suffering for their faith and the gospel Peter writes to the faithful in exile:
Why does God allow heir suffering?
The refining and genuine endurance of their faith.
Faith is of greater value than gold, than wealth, than success, than jobs, than relationships. All else will fade and come to an end but our faith is eternal and lasting.
For by faith we receive that great gift of God: salvation and life eternal. Which is held in heaven but we taste even now in the world if we live by Christ.
God I pray that you would increase my faith even by testing and hardship. For I hold many things of great value which will not last. But I want to focus on faith. Thank you for your blessings. I pray that you would strengthen me to rely on you alone and hope only in you and our home with you in heaven.
Amen
Jeremiah 10: Idols
Hear what the Lord says to you, people of Israel. This is what the Lord says:
"Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the heavens,
though the nations are terrified by them. For the practices of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good." "Tell them this: 'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.'" He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these,
for he is the Maker of all things,
including Israel, the people of his inheritance—
the Lord Almighty is his name. (Jeremiah 10:1-5, 11, 16 NIV)
We may not often make idols of wood , stones and precious metals but we continue to make idols that do not last eternally. And yet we bow down and worship them and turn from The Lord Almighty.
Some idols I see are:
Contentment and Security
Being a good person:
New Age all faiths lead to heaven
In today's day and age the church seems to rail against materialism and I agree it is sinful and idol worship. But that is not the only idol be I think at the heart of it is really a desperate fear and desire for security and contentment.
Some specific idols in my life are:
Relationships
My own ministry
Community
God I want to destroy those idols and live into the healthy component of those things you have us for good: marriage, sharing the gospel as an elder, community centered on Christ and his mission.
God I want to worship you alone. I want to give you my love, my time, my hopes, my fears, my energy, my everything.
Please change my heart.
Amen
"Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the heavens,
though the nations are terrified by them. For the practices of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good." "Tell them this: 'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.'" He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these,
for he is the Maker of all things,
including Israel, the people of his inheritance—
the Lord Almighty is his name. (Jeremiah 10:1-5, 11, 16 NIV)
We may not often make idols of wood , stones and precious metals but we continue to make idols that do not last eternally. And yet we bow down and worship them and turn from The Lord Almighty.
Some idols I see are:
Contentment and Security
Being a good person:
New Age all faiths lead to heaven
In today's day and age the church seems to rail against materialism and I agree it is sinful and idol worship. But that is not the only idol be I think at the heart of it is really a desperate fear and desire for security and contentment.
Some specific idols in my life are:
Relationships
My own ministry
Community
God I want to destroy those idols and live into the healthy component of those things you have us for good: marriage, sharing the gospel as an elder, community centered on Christ and his mission.
God I want to worship you alone. I want to give you my love, my time, my hopes, my fears, my energy, my everything.
Please change my heart.
Amen
Psalm 75: Asaph rejoices in Gods authority to judge
We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;
people tell of your wonderful deeds. You say, "I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge with equity. As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob, who says, "I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up."
(Psalm 75:1, 2, 9, 10 NIV)
I have a hard time understanding psalms like this where Asaph or others are thankful for Gods wrath and judgement on the wicked. I am afraid of Gods wrath on other people. I trust in Christ for my redemption that in Christ we face no condemnation. But for the world, my friends and family who I am not sure know Christ I am afraid.
What if I get to heaven and they aren't there. What if I could have done more to help them remember and follow Christ? Will their lack of faith limit Gods glory. Will he have failed.
To help me understand I like what C.S. Lewis wrote in the Great Divorce:
A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.
C. S. Lewis
Darkness cannot limit light. That eternally light wind and Gods salvation and glory is not limited by those who choose death without God.
But if God truly loves every person does he fail when they reject him and his salvation?
No, but it hurts him greatly I think. Yet he already know who will choose him and who will reject him. Is he diminished by this rejection? No perhaps he is magnified even more for so great a love.
God perhaps I can't truly understand the need for your judgement and wrath. I have been blessed beyond measure. I have never wanted for anything. My family has overall been healthy and whole. I have not really faced the cruelty of others. I have not fully experienced the pain of sin, the hurt of others. I have felt the extreme pain of sins I commit and the harm to others even for sins that many in the world would consider minor.
God I trust you and your goodness and love and the necessity of your wrath and judgement. I trust your plan for the world and for people to come to know you.
Lord thank you for the blessed life I have. But I know you promise us suffering in life and for following your name and preaching it. I pray you would strengthen me to speak boldly and to face hardship and persecution with confidence and trust in you alone God. I pray that I would never turn away from you but I would come to know you and trust you more my whole life and into eternity.
Amen
we praise you, for your Name is near;
people tell of your wonderful deeds. You say, "I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge with equity. As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob, who says, "I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up."
(Psalm 75:1, 2, 9, 10 NIV)
I have a hard time understanding psalms like this where Asaph or others are thankful for Gods wrath and judgement on the wicked. I am afraid of Gods wrath on other people. I trust in Christ for my redemption that in Christ we face no condemnation. But for the world, my friends and family who I am not sure know Christ I am afraid.
What if I get to heaven and they aren't there. What if I could have done more to help them remember and follow Christ? Will their lack of faith limit Gods glory. Will he have failed.
To help me understand I like what C.S. Lewis wrote in the Great Divorce:
A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.
C. S. Lewis
Darkness cannot limit light. That eternally light wind and Gods salvation and glory is not limited by those who choose death without God.
But if God truly loves every person does he fail when they reject him and his salvation?
No, but it hurts him greatly I think. Yet he already know who will choose him and who will reject him. Is he diminished by this rejection? No perhaps he is magnified even more for so great a love.
God perhaps I can't truly understand the need for your judgement and wrath. I have been blessed beyond measure. I have never wanted for anything. My family has overall been healthy and whole. I have not really faced the cruelty of others. I have not fully experienced the pain of sin, the hurt of others. I have felt the extreme pain of sins I commit and the harm to others even for sins that many in the world would consider minor.
God I trust you and your goodness and love and the necessity of your wrath and judgement. I trust your plan for the world and for people to come to know you.
Lord thank you for the blessed life I have. But I know you promise us suffering in life and for following your name and preaching it. I pray you would strengthen me to speak boldly and to face hardship and persecution with confidence and trust in you alone God. I pray that I would never turn away from you but I would come to know you and trust you more my whole life and into eternity.
Amen
Friday, November 23, 2012
The cry of a good leader for his people
"See, I will send venomous snakes among you,
vipers that cannot be charmed,
and they will bite you,"
declares the Lord. You who are my Comforter in sorrow,
my heart is faint within me. Listen to the cry of my people
from a land far away:
"Is the Lord not in Zion?
Is her King no longer there?"
"Why have they aroused my anger with their images,
with their worthless foreign idols?" Since my people are crushed, I am crushed;
I mourn, and horror grips me. (Jeremiah 8:17-19, 21 NIV)
Jeremiah loves his people.
So does God also love these his people.
Yet God is rebuking Israel even unto death and exile.
The call of leadership is joy and sorrow. For we care for the flock.
We risk our hearts to love and care for them. Yet they can choose on their own. And we may make mistakes or sin as a leader over them.
God help me and others you gave spiritual authority to be good shepherds of your people. God increase my heart for my people: Intervarsity and those college students not in it. Especially those at CU now not in IV.
Amen
vipers that cannot be charmed,
and they will bite you,"
declares the Lord. You who are my Comforter in sorrow,
my heart is faint within me. Listen to the cry of my people
from a land far away:
"Is the Lord not in Zion?
Is her King no longer there?"
"Why have they aroused my anger with their images,
with their worthless foreign idols?" Since my people are crushed, I am crushed;
I mourn, and horror grips me. (Jeremiah 8:17-19, 21 NIV)
Jeremiah loves his people.
So does God also love these his people.
Yet God is rebuking Israel even unto death and exile.
The call of leadership is joy and sorrow. For we care for the flock.
We risk our hearts to love and care for them. Yet they can choose on their own. And we may make mistakes or sin as a leader over them.
God help me and others you gave spiritual authority to be good shepherds of your people. God increase my heart for my people: Intervarsity and those college students not in it. Especially those at CU now not in IV.
Amen
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Trust not in worship or buildings for faith
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.' "For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever. "Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'—only to go on doing all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord. Go now to my place that was in Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at first, and see what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel. And now, because you have done all these things, declares the Lord, and when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer, therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, and in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I cast out all your kinsmen, all the offspring of Ephraim. (Jeremiah 7:1-15 ESV)
This verse reminds me of Jesus saying below:
Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.' (Jeremiah 7:4 ESV)
Jesus says
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)
I ask this question of myself and my faith as well as to the church and Christian body of Christ:
Are we doing the will of the Father?
Or are we trusting in church buildings?
Are we trusting in our good deeds?
Are we chasing after other Gods and then turning to The Lord without true repentance?
For God will not care for any of that.
He will destroy our churches and our false idols.
And our salvation is in Christ alone: that we have faith in him and that we live in him by the Spirit truly being Gods sons and daughters.
For we can live with God if we truly do.
But if we pretend and still live in the world by the ways of the world we cannot also live with God.
We have to choose.
Each day:
To live truly by Christ
Or to live in death in the world.
And far too often I have to admit I choose death over life. I choose my sinful desires over God and life eternal. I choose passing pleasure over the lasting and true Love of Christ.
God I confess my sin.
I want to follow you all the days of my life from now into eternity.
I ask forgiveness
I ask your help to reveal my sin, my idols, my false hope in salvation from anything not Christ.
Come Holy Spirit to refine my heart and my life.
I long to know you now and forever more Lord
Amen
This verse reminds me of Jesus saying below:
Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.' (Jeremiah 7:4 ESV)
Jesus says
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)
I ask this question of myself and my faith as well as to the church and Christian body of Christ:
Are we doing the will of the Father?
Or are we trusting in church buildings?
Are we trusting in our good deeds?
Are we chasing after other Gods and then turning to The Lord without true repentance?
For God will not care for any of that.
He will destroy our churches and our false idols.
And our salvation is in Christ alone: that we have faith in him and that we live in him by the Spirit truly being Gods sons and daughters.
For we can live with God if we truly do.
But if we pretend and still live in the world by the ways of the world we cannot also live with God.
We have to choose.
Each day:
To live truly by Christ
Or to live in death in the world.
And far too often I have to admit I choose death over life. I choose my sinful desires over God and life eternal. I choose passing pleasure over the lasting and true Love of Christ.
God I confess my sin.
I want to follow you all the days of my life from now into eternity.
I ask forgiveness
I ask your help to reveal my sin, my idols, my false hope in salvation from anything not Christ.
Come Holy Spirit to refine my heart and my life.
I long to know you now and forever more Lord
Amen
Israel: Example of refinement by God
For thus says the Lord of hosts:
"Cut down her trees;
cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city that must be punished;
there is nothing but oppression within her.
To whom shall I speak and give warning,
that they may hear?
Behold, their ears are uncircumcised,
they cannot listen;
behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn;
they take no pleasure in it.
Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord;
I am weary of holding it in.
"Pour it out upon the children in the street,
and upon the gatherings of young men, also;
both husband and wife shall be taken,
the elderly and the very aged.
"For from the least to the greatest of them,
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
and from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
I set watchmen over you, saying,
'Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!'
But they said, 'We will not pay attention.'
Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people,
the fruit of their devices,
because they have not paid attention to my words;
and as for my law, they have rejected it.
Therefore thus says the Lord:
'Behold, I will lay before this people
stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble;
fathers and sons together,
neighbor and friend shall perish.'"
The bellows blow fiercely;
the lead is consumed by the fire;
in vain the refining goes on,
for the wicked are not removed. (Jeremiah 6:6, 10, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 29 ESV)
God loves his people Israel. He guides them in right paths, he gave then the law. He gave them leaders, priests and prophets.
Yet they turned away.
He turned them back.
They turned again.
He gave them prophets to warn them.
Yet their whole culture turned from God against what is right. They turned to other Gods.
God was patient. But he was at work to refine his people. He was not angry without cause. He was righteous in his anger. For his people were living without him. They did not experience the fullness of life in him. Even worse they brought injustice and harm on others: the poor and widow. On their children.
And so God was at work to refine his people.
We often read the Old Testament and see only wrath. But God cares more about the world and people than we know. He would not allow this injustice anymore. He was at work to save his people. He was at work to bring the people to walk in right ways. To follow his law and him. To live abundantly in him. To take care of he poor and oppressed. To love and love justice. He was willing to do what it takes to save his people:
God brought destruction and exile unto his people. He would not spare them but turned them over to destruction by other nations and by their own sin. But not eternally. He is willing to bring this pain on his people and himself. He destroyed them in anger but not to end them, rather that they would turn again and live.
God continually refined his people.
And so I believe God is still at work refining his people. In Christ I am redeemed. But God is still at work refining me.
I am still trying to understand this concept: for God is willing to sacrifice in order to refine and save his people. For example: in ministry, God calls imperfect people who may miss opportunities or even turn people from faith. And yet God is willing to call us and refine us in leadership as his ministers to the gospel, and bring about fruit in us and in the future. And yet God I believes love the people who turned away because of me as a minister just as much as the ones I help come to know Jesus later.
In Israel: he is willing to bring about he destruction of his people and city Jerusalem. He was willing to allow the whole generation to die in the wilderness in order to save his people. God cares so much for each individual that he allows other individuals and peoples to suffer because of one person. Seems contradictory, but God is bigger than the world and our circumstances.
I don't know how to reconcile your love for all people and allowing our sin and even our imperfect church/ministry to affect others.
Even though I don't understand I trust you Lord.
I hold to these promises you gave us:
You love us even while sinners
You redeem us through Jesus
You call us who follow you to make disciples of all nations
Thank you Lord.
Thank you for loving me
Hank you for calling me to be a minister to your gospel
Humble me to learn and grow.
I am sorry for my stubborn and sinful heart.
Thank you for your mercy and Love.
Thank you Lord that you love me enough to die for me and still continue to work for your good in me.
Amen
"Cut down her trees;
cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city that must be punished;
there is nothing but oppression within her.
To whom shall I speak and give warning,
that they may hear?
Behold, their ears are uncircumcised,
they cannot listen;
behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn;
they take no pleasure in it.
Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord;
I am weary of holding it in.
"Pour it out upon the children in the street,
and upon the gatherings of young men, also;
both husband and wife shall be taken,
the elderly and the very aged.
"For from the least to the greatest of them,
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
and from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
I set watchmen over you, saying,
'Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!'
But they said, 'We will not pay attention.'
Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people,
the fruit of their devices,
because they have not paid attention to my words;
and as for my law, they have rejected it.
Therefore thus says the Lord:
'Behold, I will lay before this people
stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble;
fathers and sons together,
neighbor and friend shall perish.'"
The bellows blow fiercely;
the lead is consumed by the fire;
in vain the refining goes on,
for the wicked are not removed. (Jeremiah 6:6, 10, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21, 29 ESV)
God loves his people Israel. He guides them in right paths, he gave then the law. He gave them leaders, priests and prophets.
Yet they turned away.
He turned them back.
They turned again.
He gave them prophets to warn them.
Yet their whole culture turned from God against what is right. They turned to other Gods.
God was patient. But he was at work to refine his people. He was not angry without cause. He was righteous in his anger. For his people were living without him. They did not experience the fullness of life in him. Even worse they brought injustice and harm on others: the poor and widow. On their children.
And so God was at work to refine his people.
We often read the Old Testament and see only wrath. But God cares more about the world and people than we know. He would not allow this injustice anymore. He was at work to save his people. He was at work to bring the people to walk in right ways. To follow his law and him. To live abundantly in him. To take care of he poor and oppressed. To love and love justice. He was willing to do what it takes to save his people:
God brought destruction and exile unto his people. He would not spare them but turned them over to destruction by other nations and by their own sin. But not eternally. He is willing to bring this pain on his people and himself. He destroyed them in anger but not to end them, rather that they would turn again and live.
God continually refined his people.
And so I believe God is still at work refining his people. In Christ I am redeemed. But God is still at work refining me.
I am still trying to understand this concept: for God is willing to sacrifice in order to refine and save his people. For example: in ministry, God calls imperfect people who may miss opportunities or even turn people from faith. And yet God is willing to call us and refine us in leadership as his ministers to the gospel, and bring about fruit in us and in the future. And yet God I believes love the people who turned away because of me as a minister just as much as the ones I help come to know Jesus later.
In Israel: he is willing to bring about he destruction of his people and city Jerusalem. He was willing to allow the whole generation to die in the wilderness in order to save his people. God cares so much for each individual that he allows other individuals and peoples to suffer because of one person. Seems contradictory, but God is bigger than the world and our circumstances.
I don't know how to reconcile your love for all people and allowing our sin and even our imperfect church/ministry to affect others.
Even though I don't understand I trust you Lord.
I hold to these promises you gave us:
You love us even while sinners
You redeem us through Jesus
You call us who follow you to make disciples of all nations
Thank you Lord.
Thank you for loving me
Hank you for calling me to be a minister to your gospel
Humble me to learn and grow.
I am sorry for my stubborn and sinful heart.
Thank you for your mercy and Love.
Thank you Lord that you love me enough to die for me and still continue to work for your good in me.
Amen
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Jeremiah 2: Turning from God
"My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Have you not brought this on yourselves
by forsaking the Lord your God
when he led you in the way? Now why go to Egypt
to drink water from the Nile?
And why go to Assyria
to drink water from the Euphrates?
Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
and have no awe of me,"
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty. "Long ago you broke off your yoke
and tore off your bonds;
you said, 'I will not serve you!'
Indeed, on every high hill
and under every spreading tree
you lay down as a prostitute. "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravenous lion. Why do you go about so much,
changing your ways?
You will be disappointed by Egypt
as you were by Assyria.
(Jeremiah 2:13, 17-20, 30, 36 NIV)
There are so many ways small and big we turn from our God our creator and our savior.
We turn from the true God to worthless worldly idols and temporary things that will not truly satisfy. We often look for what we need and life in things that will disappoint. But God gives us in abundance by following his word.
Our own decisions and sin will bring the terrible consequences that result. God rebukes us through these consequences and other ways. If only we would listen.
Sometimes we must feel the pain of our choices before we can truly feel the desperate need for God and realize in our hearts he is our only hope.
Lord please help me to listen. For I am stubborn. I am unwise. I seek life in things that do not satisfy. But I also now I need you and you are my only hope. In you and your word their is abundant life. Remind me of this day after day.
Amen
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Have you not brought this on yourselves
by forsaking the Lord your God
when he led you in the way? Now why go to Egypt
to drink water from the Nile?
And why go to Assyria
to drink water from the Euphrates?
Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
and have no awe of me,"
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty. "Long ago you broke off your yoke
and tore off your bonds;
you said, 'I will not serve you!'
Indeed, on every high hill
and under every spreading tree
you lay down as a prostitute. "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravenous lion. Why do you go about so much,
changing your ways?
You will be disappointed by Egypt
as you were by Assyria.
(Jeremiah 2:13, 17-20, 30, 36 NIV)
There are so many ways small and big we turn from our God our creator and our savior.
We turn from the true God to worthless worldly idols and temporary things that will not truly satisfy. We often look for what we need and life in things that will disappoint. But God gives us in abundance by following his word.
Our own decisions and sin will bring the terrible consequences that result. God rebukes us through these consequences and other ways. If only we would listen.
Sometimes we must feel the pain of our choices before we can truly feel the desperate need for God and realize in our hearts he is our only hope.
Lord please help me to listen. For I am stubborn. I am unwise. I seek life in things that do not satisfy. But I also now I need you and you are my only hope. In you and your word their is abundant life. Remind me of this day after day.
Amen
Jeremiah: Gods calling and spiritual authority
The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." "Alas, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
(Jeremiah 1:1-10 NIV)
Ryan my InterVarsity staff repeatedly hammered this into me and others in relation to leadership in the kingdom. Spiritual leadership comes from God alone. It is not based on skill. We can't say yes or no. God may call us to lead in ways we are unprepared. Jeremiah like many people and even the church answers looks at his age and experience and gifting. Jeremiah says it can't be me. We think it can't be, when someone is called to leadership or to become a pastor who is not as gifted. But God is the one who gives spiritual authority and calls.
God responds to Jeremiah: I am calling and you must go for I have work for you to do. Do not shrink from the calling and from your weaknesses. God says Trust me for I will be with you .I will give you words to speak though you are not gifted that way.
And like Jeremiah I pray that I would continue and lead others to say yes your majesty. For when God calls I pray we would answer and go!
Lord I am not worthy of my leadership or life as a staff or college minister for InterVarsity. But God thank you for calling me and for using me desire my weaknesses. I want to trust you more. I pray your kingdom would come. Use me Lord as you choose.
Amen
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." "Alas, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
(Jeremiah 1:1-10 NIV)
Ryan my InterVarsity staff repeatedly hammered this into me and others in relation to leadership in the kingdom. Spiritual leadership comes from God alone. It is not based on skill. We can't say yes or no. God may call us to lead in ways we are unprepared. Jeremiah like many people and even the church answers looks at his age and experience and gifting. Jeremiah says it can't be me. We think it can't be, when someone is called to leadership or to become a pastor who is not as gifted. But God is the one who gives spiritual authority and calls.
God responds to Jeremiah: I am calling and you must go for I have work for you to do. Do not shrink from the calling and from your weaknesses. God says Trust me for I will be with you .I will give you words to speak though you are not gifted that way.
And like Jeremiah I pray that I would continue and lead others to say yes your majesty. For when God calls I pray we would answer and go!
Lord I am not worthy of my leadership or life as a staff or college minister for InterVarsity. But God thank you for calling me and for using me desire my weaknesses. I want to trust you more. I pray your kingdom would come. Use me Lord as you choose.
Amen
Monday, November 19, 2012
Questions for God Isaiah and me too
Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways
and harden our hearts so we do not revere you?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes that are your inheritance. (Isaiah 63:17 NIV)
I ask the same question: why God do you allow some to turn from you and reject you. Why do you allow the sin of some to keep others from justice or even knowing you? God you are bigger. But I ask that you reveal some piece of your plan for us who doubt and those who do not know you to understand and turn to you in your goodness. But Lord I will remain faithful without understanding completely.
Amen
and harden our hearts so we do not revere you?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes that are your inheritance. (Isaiah 63:17 NIV)
I ask the same question: why God do you allow some to turn from you and reject you. Why do you allow the sin of some to keep others from justice or even knowing you? God you are bigger. But I ask that you reveal some piece of your plan for us who doubt and those who do not know you to understand and turn to you in your goodness. But Lord I will remain faithful without understanding completely.
Amen
The Cross: Gods wrath and Love meet
Who is this coming from Edom,
from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson?
Who is this, robed in splendor,
striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
"It is I, proclaiming victory,
mighty to save." Why are your garments red,
like those of one treading the winepress? "I have trodden the winepress alone;
from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled them in my anger
and trod them down in my wrath;
their blood spattered my garments,
and I stained all my clothing. It was for me the day of vengeance;
the year for me to redeem had come. I looked, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm achieved salvation for me,
and my own wrath sustained me. I trampled the nations in my anger;
in my wrath I made them drunk
and poured their blood on the ground." (Isaiah 63:1-6 NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
(Romans 5:8-11 NIV)
Both of these passages paint such an amazing picture of the wrath of God coming to bring judgement for sin and yet salvation from God by his son Jesus. For the Son of God himself worked out our salvation on the cross. Jesus bore the wrath of God as his Father unleashed the punishment on him his Son. And in that moment in death the ultimate price Gods wrath and love met. 3 days later the greater of the two revealed itself victorious God's Love as God raised Jesus to new and eternal life!
Thank You Jesus!
Lord continue to help us understand the reality of your wrath and your love. Help us to understand and live through the cross.
Amen
from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson?
Who is this, robed in splendor,
striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
"It is I, proclaiming victory,
mighty to save." Why are your garments red,
like those of one treading the winepress? "I have trodden the winepress alone;
from the nations no one was with me.
I trampled them in my anger
and trod them down in my wrath;
their blood spattered my garments,
and I stained all my clothing. It was for me the day of vengeance;
the year for me to redeem had come. I looked, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that no one gave support;
so my own arm achieved salvation for me,
and my own wrath sustained me. I trampled the nations in my anger;
in my wrath I made them drunk
and poured their blood on the ground." (Isaiah 63:1-6 NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
(Romans 5:8-11 NIV)
Both of these passages paint such an amazing picture of the wrath of God coming to bring judgement for sin and yet salvation from God by his son Jesus. For the Son of God himself worked out our salvation on the cross. Jesus bore the wrath of God as his Father unleashed the punishment on him his Son. And in that moment in death the ultimate price Gods wrath and love met. 3 days later the greater of the two revealed itself victorious God's Love as God raised Jesus to new and eternal life!
Thank You Jesus!
Lord continue to help us understand the reality of your wrath and your love. Help us to understand and live through the cross.
Amen
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Picture of Heaven: Isaiah and Revelation
"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow will end. Then all your people will be righteous
and they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted,
the work of my hands,
for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand,
the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the Lord;
in its time I will do this swiftly." (Isaiah 60:1-3, 20-22 NIV)
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll." (Revelation 22:3, 5, 7 NIV)
Heaven is something mostly unknown to us. Yet both Isaiah in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New Testament paint this picture of a city of gods people where their light comes from God alone. God is the source of light and warmth and hope.
God help us to long for you and our eternal home in heaven not the things of this world which come and go. Lord thank you for this picture of heaven unified in message to us from your word the bible. Lord help us to have faith in you alone.
Amen
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow will end. Then all your people will be righteous
and they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot I have planted,
the work of my hands,
for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand,
the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the Lord;
in its time I will do this swiftly." (Isaiah 60:1-3, 20-22 NIV)
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll." (Revelation 22:3, 5, 7 NIV)
Heaven is something mostly unknown to us. Yet both Isaiah in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New Testament paint this picture of a city of gods people where their light comes from God alone. God is the source of light and warmth and hope.
God help us to long for you and our eternal home in heaven not the things of this world which come and go. Lord thank you for this picture of heaven unified in message to us from your word the bible. Lord help us to have faith in you alone.
Amen
Isaiah 59: Our sin separates us without Jesus
Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.
For your hands are defiled with blood
and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies;
your tongue mutters wickedness.
No one enters suit justly;
no one goes to law honestly;
they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies,
they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
Truth is lacking,
and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
"And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," declares the Lord.
"And as for me, this is my covenant with them," says the Lord: "My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring," says the Lord, "from this time forth and forevermore."
(Isaiah 59:1-4, 15, 16, 20, 21 ESV)
God send your Spirit to convict me of my sin. Please Lord reveal the truth of the wrath and death that result from sin. How we fail to seek justice and separate ourselves from you God. But I love you lord for you did not let us stay far off but sent Jesus your son our redeemer to bridge the chasm and being us near. You forgive us and love is.
Thank you Lord Jesus for your amazing gift for me a sinner and for the world full of those who are also sinners and need a savior.
Amen
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.
For your hands are defiled with blood
and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies;
your tongue mutters wickedness.
No one enters suit justly;
no one goes to law honestly;
they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies,
they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
Truth is lacking,
and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
"And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," declares the Lord.
"And as for me, this is my covenant with them," says the Lord: "My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring," says the Lord, "from this time forth and forevermore."
(Isaiah 59:1-4, 15, 16, 20, 21 ESV)
God send your Spirit to convict me of my sin. Please Lord reveal the truth of the wrath and death that result from sin. How we fail to seek justice and separate ourselves from you God. But I love you lord for you did not let us stay far off but sent Jesus your son our redeemer to bridge the chasm and being us near. You forgive us and love is.
Thank you Lord Jesus for your amazing gift for me a sinner and for the world full of those who are also sinners and need a savior.
Amen
Friday, November 16, 2012
Psalm 73 wicked vs pure hearted
Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
And they say, "How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.
I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
(Psalm 73:1-3, 11-13, 16, 17, 22, 25-28 ESV)
I think many of us ask this question: why do evil people have seemingly good things and sometimes good people have bad things?
For Asaph the author of this psalm this reality seems unclear and unfair until he enters the temple and sanctuary of God and remembers the eternal perspective.
But in language Jesus uses he came not to make dead people alive. Truly we are all dead to sin and all the riches of this world are meaningless because they are held by dead people. But Jesus came that we would have abundant life!
God please reveal to us part of your plan and the eternal view of earth and people. Please remind me that my only hope is you and in eternity and now all I need is you. God my flesh my fail but you never will. My ministry may fail but Lord you never will. Lord America may fail but you never will. Lord I want to trust in you alone.
Amen
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
And they say, "How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
All in vain have I kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.
I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
(Psalm 73:1-3, 11-13, 16, 17, 22, 25-28 ESV)
I think many of us ask this question: why do evil people have seemingly good things and sometimes good people have bad things?
For Asaph the author of this psalm this reality seems unclear and unfair until he enters the temple and sanctuary of God and remembers the eternal perspective.
But in language Jesus uses he came not to make dead people alive. Truly we are all dead to sin and all the riches of this world are meaningless because they are held by dead people. But Jesus came that we would have abundant life!
God please reveal to us part of your plan and the eternal view of earth and people. Please remind me that my only hope is you and in eternity and now all I need is you. God my flesh my fail but you never will. My ministry may fail but Lord you never will. Lord America may fail but you never will. Lord I want to trust in you alone.
Amen
Monday, November 12, 2012
Isaiah 48: God withheld his wrath
You have neither heard nor understood;
from of old your ears have not been open.
Well do I know how treacherous you are;
you were called a rebel from birth. For my own name's sake I delay my wrath;
for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,
so as not to destroy you completely. See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed?
I will not yield my glory to another. "Listen to me, Jacob,
Israel, whom I have called:
I am he;
I am the first and I am the last.
(Isaiah 48:8-12 NIV)
God withheld his wrath. For Israel and for the nations. For his salvation was yet to come. God corrects and rebukes harshly but out of Love that his people would still come to him. All of this is for his glory. God is the one who called Israel to be his holy people and today he is calling you and me: as his sons and daughters the church his missionaries because of Christ.
Thank you Lord for withholding your wrath.
Thank you Lord for refining me. It hurts but you are making me into the man and minister of your gospel you have planned.
You are calling me. You are calling us now Lord!
Amen
from of old your ears have not been open.
Well do I know how treacherous you are;
you were called a rebel from birth. For my own name's sake I delay my wrath;
for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,
so as not to destroy you completely. See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed?
I will not yield my glory to another. "Listen to me, Jacob,
Israel, whom I have called:
I am he;
I am the first and I am the last.
(Isaiah 48:8-12 NIV)
God withheld his wrath. For Israel and for the nations. For his salvation was yet to come. God corrects and rebukes harshly but out of Love that his people would still come to him. All of this is for his glory. God is the one who called Israel to be his holy people and today he is calling you and me: as his sons and daughters the church his missionaries because of Christ.
Thank you Lord for withholding your wrath.
Thank you Lord for refining me. It hurts but you are making me into the man and minister of your gospel you have planned.
You are calling me. You are calling us now Lord!
Amen
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
God Loves me (and you): So come to him
My repentance before God led me to this sweet reminder:
Even if my ministry were to fail entirely.
God would still Love me.
Because I believe in Jesus that he lived, died and rose
again.
I gave this to God because I have recognized my sin of
seeking righteousness in the success of my ministry outside of Christ’s
righteousness.
My heart says:
But I don’t
deserve to be loved.
God said back to me:
No you don’t,
but I love you anyways
. . .
and I forgive you and receive you as my son adopted into my family and inheritor of my glory and eternal life
. . .
because of my Son Jesus
Have Peace my son
Ephesians 1: As Christians we need more and more of God
Sometimes in my life and faith I wish God's work in me was finished here and now. I wish that I lived righteously and holy every day. Sometimes I don't even see how Christians are much different than moral people of other faiths or who don't have a faith.
But we all (Christian and not) need Jesus and the truth of Gospel every day.
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right handin the heavenly realms
Even these people who are faithful believers in Jesus still need more of God! Paul cries out for more of the Spirit to follow God more deeply. They need to know more of the hope of Jesus as his family: glorious inheritance and great power in Jesus for us now.
It is not easy.
But I want to continue to trust in you Jesus.
I want to rely on you more and more.
Please help me Lord.
Amen
But we all (Christian and not) need Jesus and the truth of Gospel every day.
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right handin the heavenly realms
Even these people who are faithful believers in Jesus still need more of God! Paul cries out for more of the Spirit to follow God more deeply. They need to know more of the hope of Jesus as his family: glorious inheritance and great power in Jesus for us now.
It is not easy.
But I want to continue to trust in you Jesus.
I want to rely on you more and more.
Please help me Lord.
Amen
Monday, November 5, 2012
Isaiah 42: Jesus promised
"Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets. This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it: "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
you islands, and all who live in them. (Isaiah 42:1, 2, 5-7, 10 NIV)
Wow I read this promise and see it as if it was written after Jesus came about what he did. God fulfilled his promise more than Israel could have expected.
I wonder if the prisoner is humans in the prison of their sin and flesh. I have always read it literally but maybe God just gave me a new understanding.
Thank you Jesus
Let us sing this new song of Christ Jesus the Lord
To his praise and glory forever!
Amen
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets. This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it: "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
you islands, and all who live in them. (Isaiah 42:1, 2, 5-7, 10 NIV)
Wow I read this promise and see it as if it was written after Jesus came about what he did. God fulfilled his promise more than Israel could have expected.
I wonder if the prisoner is humans in the prison of their sin and flesh. I have always read it literally but maybe God just gave me a new understanding.
Thank you Jesus
Let us sing this new song of Christ Jesus the Lord
To his praise and glory forever!
Amen
Isaiah 41: we are Small but God loves us
Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you," declares the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:14 NIV)
This verse reminds me of my smallness and Gods bigness. I am but a fleeting mist in the grandeur and eternity of God. For all of Israel is little in Gods scale. I get so self centered and selfish. I see the world through my eyes and my perspective. But truly my life is short and my significance very minimal.
But what is more important is that despite my smallness God the mighty creator and king knows me and will help me and you! For that is the character of God: redeemer and a god of humility evidenced in Jesus humility to life and death taking on our form and our sin.
Thank you Lord, I want to rejoice and glorify you!
I am but a small worm and my life is short.
But God you are king
You Lord care for us
You God humble yourself to help us yourself.
Thank you lord
Amen
little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you," declares the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:14 NIV)
This verse reminds me of my smallness and Gods bigness. I am but a fleeting mist in the grandeur and eternity of God. For all of Israel is little in Gods scale. I get so self centered and selfish. I see the world through my eyes and my perspective. But truly my life is short and my significance very minimal.
But what is more important is that despite my smallness God the mighty creator and king knows me and will help me and you! For that is the character of God: redeemer and a god of humility evidenced in Jesus humility to life and death taking on our form and our sin.
Thank you Lord, I want to rejoice and glorify you!
I am but a small worm and my life is short.
But God you are king
You Lord care for us
You God humble yourself to help us yourself.
Thank you lord
Amen
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Isaiah 40: promise fulfilled in Jesus. Gods grandeur
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins. A voice of one calling:
"In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing. Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God"? Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom. but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 16, 17, 21-23, 27, 28, 31 NIV)
Isaiah 40 is such a beautiful pictur of the sovereignty of God and yet the love prophecied in Jesus that this text foretells.
All the earth and people are nothing before God but fleeting whispers and yet he knows us and loves us enough to strengthen us and die for us to bring us into eternal life in him!
Thank you Lord.
Please increase my understanding of your greatness and sovereignty and humble me both by my smallness and your great love for mud who are unworthy.
Amen
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins. A voice of one calling:
"In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing. Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God"? Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom. but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 16, 17, 21-23, 27, 28, 31 NIV)
Isaiah 40 is such a beautiful pictur of the sovereignty of God and yet the love prophecied in Jesus that this text foretells.
All the earth and people are nothing before God but fleeting whispers and yet he knows us and loves us enough to strengthen us and die for us to bring us into eternal life in him!
Thank you Lord.
Please increase my understanding of your greatness and sovereignty and humble me both by my smallness and your great love for mud who are unworthy.
Amen
Isaiah 39: Old testament confusing but . . .
At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. "The word of the Lord you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "There will be peace and security in my lifetime."
(Isaiah 39:1, 2, 6, 8 NIV)
I have been getting lost in reading Isaiah so I prayed for guidance. God showed me how the actions of the king of Judah hezekiah foretold in agreement with the prophecy of all the wealth of Judah and even Gods people being carried off to Babylon.
And yet even then Hezekiah cares only that it wouldn't happen in his lifetime all this trouble. He doesn't love his people or nation truly. God has graciously allowed a corrupt Judah and line of David to endure giving love to many generations and yet holding each person and generation also accountable for their sun.
Thank you God for your plans and redemption even though you sometimes youse pain and hardship. Help us to trust you and see your bigger picture.
Amen
(Isaiah 39:1, 2, 6, 8 NIV)
I have been getting lost in reading Isaiah so I prayed for guidance. God showed me how the actions of the king of Judah hezekiah foretold in agreement with the prophecy of all the wealth of Judah and even Gods people being carried off to Babylon.
And yet even then Hezekiah cares only that it wouldn't happen in his lifetime all this trouble. He doesn't love his people or nation truly. God has graciously allowed a corrupt Judah and line of David to endure giving love to many generations and yet holding each person and generation also accountable for their sun.
Thank you God for your plans and redemption even though you sometimes youse pain and hardship. Help us to trust you and see your bigger picture.
Amen
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