"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
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
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
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