Have you ever seen the spirit of the destoyer? Jermiah 47-52

Jeremiah 51:1-2 (NASBStr)

 Thus says the Lord:

“Behold, I am going to arouse against Babylon

And against the inhabitants of Leb- kamai

 The spirit of a destroyer.

 “I will dispatch foreigners to Babylon that they may winnow her

And may devastate her land;

For on every side they will be opposed to her

In the day of her calamity.

"The spirit of a destroyer!"   Jeremiah tells us that God will send this spirit against Babylon.   God does this type of thing.  See 1Ch 5:26; Hag 1:14. The Hebrew underlying this phrase is translated “aroused … the hostility of” in 2Ch 21:16. destroyer.  If we asked the common Joe on the street about this they would not list in the top ten things they think about God.   We think of God as the God of Peace; of Love; of Light: of Mercy;   And, He is all these things.  But, God has used the wicked Babylonians as a tool to punish the Israelites because of their sin.   But, now the tool is to be disposed.   God will use a destroying tool to accomplish His plan.  He used that tool in Judas to open the door for the anger and wickedness of men to crucify His Son.   He allowed a destroying spirit to separate Paul and Barnabas.  He allowed a destroying spirit in the story of Job.   God allows these things to accomplish his great plan.  We spend most of our time fighting the spirit of the destroyer.  We seldom see God's hand on the throttle of such a tool.   Yet, He is at the control.  The key here is that HE is at the control, not, us.  When God is at the control of the spirit of the destroyer there is grace.   When we are at the control their is unchecked anger and even, perhaps, wrath.   God's love, peace and mercy balances His wrath in perfect harmony and when He employs the spirit of the destroyer there is a plan.  

Have you ever driven through a barricade on purpose? Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1:15 (NASBStr)

My son, do not walk in the way with them.

 Keep your feet from their path,

When we travel down the expressway on the way to work we often see new signs warning us where we should be careful and telling us to avoid certain places.   They are currently working on the off-ramp of a busy road nearby and they have actually barricaded the ramp to tell us to NOT go down that way.   Imagine if, while driving near that ramp, someone just drove right through the barricade.   People would stop, shake their head and say, "What a fool."   Police would be dispatched to arrest the driver and the ambulance would roll out to make sure nothing was physically wrong.  We simply are not supposed to go through road blocks.  Yet, spiritually, God is warning us in the above proverb to not go down the path of those who have violence, greed and selfish motives on their path.   This proverb is our barricade.   Just as God put an angel with a flaming sword to protect the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were turned out (Gen. 3:24), so too, He gives us the Sword of the Spirit to warn us to avoid the wrong path in life.   Yet, despite this warning, men and women every day go down that path.  They follow those given to violence, greed and selfish motives.   God is warning us.  His Word is full of barricades.  Yet, we drive right through them to get that thing others have or delights our eyes.   DON'T GO DOWN THIS PATH shines like a neon light before us.   Do we actually stop to see the sign or do we just keep on driving right through the barricade? 

Are you satisfied in Him, despite the noise around you? Pslam 63-65

Psalms 63:5 (NASBStr)

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

Perhaps what is even more intriguing than the content of this Psalm of David is why he wrote it.  We must ask, "What drove him to pen these words?"  As we read this Psalm and the few written after it in this collection we see that David is under attack.   He has those he knows plotting his demise and slandering him with their tongues.   In the midst of this he tells us that his "soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness" and his "mouth offers praises."   It is easy for us to say our soul is satisfied when things are going well.  It is easy to sing praises Sunday morning and we are warm and safe in church with our brothers and sisters in Christ.   But, when you know people are out spreading rumors and destructive words about your character and even plotting a trap to do you bodily harm, that is real faith and trust in God.   We will never stop others from talking about us.  We will never stop those who want our hurt to stop their evil plotting.   But, because we know that God is in charge and He controls whatever happens to us, we can rejoice with our lips and be satisfied in our hearts.   That is when we glorify God.   "God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him" (John Piper).   Here we  have the basis for Piper's quote.   God wants us to be satisfied in Him; not because things are going right but because He is Right and we know He has us in the palm of His hand.  

Do you know how to ask for wisdom? 1 Kings 1-4

1 Kings 3:7-9 (NASBStr)

Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

In James 1:5 we are told that if we lack wisdom and God will give it to us, liberally.   We only have to ask in faith.    If you wonder what that process looks like see the above verses of Solomon's prayer to God.    Stepping into the sandals of his father, David, would be one of the hardest, if not THE hardest leadership transitions in history.   We seldom know the names of those who followed great leaders of our day.  Who followed Reagan?  Who followed Thatcher?  Who followed Lincoln?  Who followed King?   Yet, here we have a young man stepping in to follow THE King of Israel: David.   He has a huge task in front of him.  He admits it in this prayer.  He knows NO ONE would be able to do such a task without God's help ... He admits it in this prayer.   He knows that his own training and maturity are lacking ... He admits it in this prayer.   The task is large and the servant is small.   That is the perfect formula for God's Wisdom and Divine intervention.   Moses was small and the task large.  God intervened and equipped him.  David was small and the giant large.  God intervened and equipped him.   Paul was small and the needs for the churches large.  God intervened and equipped him.   Note how Paul says the same thing as he writes to the Corinthian church who were doubting his authority and questioning his ability:

2 Corinthians 12:10

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

We are strong in Christ.   Solomon was not a Harvard grad.  He was not a seminary grad.  He was a man of God, however.  And, he knew that he needed God's help for this task.  He asked and wisdom was given to him liberally.  

Has God stirred your heart? Exodus 33-36

Exodus 35:21 (NASBStr)

Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments.

At some point we all have to step forward with what God has given us in regard to talent and skill.   God gives us talent and skill to use for His glory to further God's plan.  He is accomplishing His will on the earth and has chosen to use His people to do so.  In the above verse the Israelites stepped forward by the moving of the Spirit in their lives.   Our hearts are not stirred unless the Spirit of God does a work first.   We are told in Romans 3 and Romans 8 that we have no inclination to do anything for God until first the Spirit of God moves in our midst.  Once the Spirit moves in our hearts we can then step forward to use our skills and talents for God.   In this case there were those who owned property who stepped up and gave the property to God's work.   There were some who could make material and sew goat's hair together to provide fabric.  There were some who were good with metals; to form them in the shape God desired.  There were master carpenters to construct things of wood.   God did need any of them.  He could have spoke the tabernacle into existence.   But, God choose to use them.   When God stirs our hearts to do something for Him we only have to then step up to use the skills He has already given us and prepared and perfected in us.  

Did you pass the test? 2 Corinthians 11-13

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NASBStr)

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

Paul, like Peter, challenges his readers in regard to their faith and the reality of it.   Compare what Paul says with Peter's words in 2 Peter1:10-11

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Paul says "test" yourself.  Peter says "confirm your calling and election."  Both want us to look into our hearts and compare what we are saying with how we are acting.  True Biblical faith will generate an unusual hunger for God and His Word.   It will generate an unusual look at the weakness of life and realize they were given to us for His strength to be seen through us.   True Spirit filled work in our lives will produce the fruit of the Spirit.  Love will be evident in your life.   Joy won't be manufactured by good choices and a bright attitude but because the Spirit is alive and working out in your life and producing joy.   Peace won't be a by-product of effort but a fruit of the Spirit that comes from your walk with Christ.   We are to examine our lives and assure that we are forgiving like God forgave.  We are to show mercy like God showed mercy.   Absent these qualities, and many more, is to fail the test.   This is a test that is not graded on a curve.   This is a test you can't fail.  

How do you treat your enemies? Luke 5-6

Luke 6:27-36 (NASBStr)

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Enough said!!!  There is nothing more to add to this section.   Christ is concerned that we are 1) Like the Father (see the last sentence), and are 2) Unlike the world (sinners).   It is easy to do what the world does at work.  When you have a boss, or supervisor who is unfair and unjust, do you, with the rest of the work crew, criticize behind the back and belittle?   If you are in an organization and others are unkind or mean, do you retaliate to "protect  your turf", like the world would?  Or, do you forgive and forget and counter with acts of love and kindness?   Do you act differently?  Different than the world and like God? 

Are you standing in the exact spot? Jeremiah 42-46

Jeremiah 43:9-10 (NASBStr)

“Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the Jews; and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold, I am going to send and get Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and I am going to set his throne right over these stones that I have hidden; and he will spread his canopy over them.

When God acts in our lives there are no mistakes.  God does not "almost" hit His target.   God is a God of exactness.   In the above words stated by Jeremiah to the remnant, God is laying out His plan for this rebellious group.   The remnant at previously ask God if they could go to Egypt.  God said no.   They went anyhow.   Now God is going to discipline them like He said He would if they disobeyed.  The discipline is characterized by brining on them the very things they ran to Egypt to avoid: Death, sword, pestilence, famine.  The fled to Egypt to escape Nebuchadnezzar.   Now they were going to have him arrive in Egypt and pitch his tent in the "exact" place God would direct.   Wow!!  Think of that!!   God is going to direct a non-believing, powerful King to pitch his tent over a set of rocks.  Not any rocks.  These rocks.   God can direct the exact time you receive a phone call.  God can direct the exact time you enter or leave an intersection.    God can direct the exact flow of a virus in your veins or lungs.    God can direct the exact person you will have an engaging conversation with today.    God can take an unbeliever and make the person a blessing to you or a curse.   There are no accidents with God.  God is moving everyone and everything to the exact location He wills.  

Do you need to forgive before you can be blessed? Job 40-42

Job 42:10 (NASBStr)

 The Lord restored the fortunes of Job "when" he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.

The parenthesis around the word WHEN in the above is added by me.   Of all the things we read in this story of Job, this one word might go unnoticed if we are not careful.  To say that Job has been through a fire-storm would be an understatement.   Job has had life at its worth for 35 chapters.  He has been attacked by Satan, deserted and humiliated by his wife, condemned by three of his closets friends, and, just recently in the last chapter, corrected by God.   This is not a good place to be in when you are trying to recover.   Job has been corrected by God and repented (42:1-6).   Now it is time for him to be restored.  His three friends have been told to go to Job and make sacrifice because of the way they treated him.   They are to "submit" to Job, even though they condemned him.   Joh has listened to their ridicule for quite some time as he scrapped the scabs off his body.  Now they have come to him, by God's commands, not necessarily in truth and repentance ... out of pure obedience.   Now Job must forgive them and pray for them.   What?  Yes, when God has the three of them come to him to offer sacrifice, God puts Job in His place.  Job has to forgive them and then pray for them.   Because he does, God blesses Job more than he was blessed before the struggle.   This is a good example of Romans 12 living.   Job's response to his enemies determines both how God will correct the enemies and how He will bless Job.  This is what our Savior taught in the Lord's Prayer about "forgive others as you have been forgiven."    Many times the blessings we are wishing and praying for are being held up by our lack of forgiveness of those around us who have wounded or hurt us.   God heals us and blesses us in accordance with our forgiving others.    Job had been healed of the physical problem but still needed to do some spiritual work in his life before God could bless him.  

What do you trust in? Psalm 60-62

Psalms 62:10 (NASBStr)

Do not trust in oppression

And do not vainly hope in robbery;

If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

The tendency of society is to trust in things that really ought not give us a sense of security because we trust in them.   In organizations the concept of trust is a high water mark for their success.   The more they trust each other, the more comfort and security they find in the organization.   The same is true in marriages, in teams, in ever aspect of life.    Trust is a trusted commodity.   We are seldom told to "not" trust.   But, that is where David leads us in the above verse of Psalm 62.   He tells us that there are some things we should "not" trust.   We should not trust any advantage we get in business, life, war or leadership that is based upon "oppression" ... using our power or leverage to get what we want.    People like to put themselves at an advantage of power.   Oppression is using that power to get what you want.  Trusting in your own power is anti God.   He also tells us not to trust in robbery ... taking what we want, rather than earning it.   Those who rob are taking something they don't deserve and not intended for them.   Again, in order to rob we must have more power over the one we are robbing.  Robbery is an exertion of power over another to obtain what they own for your own selfish gains.   Lastly, we are not to trust in riches.  Even though they may increase, multiple ways, we are not put our trust in them by setting our hearts on them ... our affections.   Riches act as a power in lives to steal away the affections we should reserve for God to, rather, worship gold and silver and green paper.   Riches try to use their power to "rob" us and to "oppress" us into worshiping them.   True trust needs to be reserved for God.  When we trust Him we can be sure we are safe from oppression, robbery and the power of riches.   Don't be fooled by the power of these things over our lives.  God is the ultimate power in our lives and He, alone, needs and deserves our worship.   

Do you have a famine in your life? 2 Samuel 20-24

2 Samuel 21:1 (NASBStr)

 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the Lord. And the Lord said, “It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

We all have times of "famine" in our lives.   Others see that famine and think it is because we have done something wrong and sinned against God.  See our servant Job for an example of such false accusations.   There are times, of course, when that is correct.   But, as we see above, there are times when that is not correct.  Like Job, David in this section had a famine in his life because of something outside his own walk with God.   In this case it was because his predecessor, Saul, had mistreated the Gibeonites.   God had known about Saul's lack of mercy and justice in his life.  As a result, God must enact justice for that.   David's kingdom was where God enacted His justice.   Sometimes the famine in our lives is the result of the sin that is in the world.  We often want to affix blame for things and take it upon ourselves.  There are times when famine is just famine and we need not analyze it to find the source in ourselves.  We should first look there to assure we are walking with God.   In the next chapter (22) David did something wrong and that brought a curse on his kingdom.   But, in this chapter the curse was not because of his conduct but of another.   Famine in our life is a good time to do some reflection.   But, the reflection ought be be done according to these examples and principles of God's Word.  

Do you have a "with him" in your life? Exodus 30-32

Exodus 31:6 (NASBStr)

And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

When God ask us to accomplish something for Him, He provides the equipment, the skill sets and the talent.  This can be seen by what is described in 31:1-3 about Bezalel. Bezaiel was chosen by God to build the alter, the furnishings, the tent of the tabernacle and all the assorted pieces described in the previous chapters.    But, even though God describes Bezaiel as fully equipped to build these things, God gave him help.   Oholiab is just one of example of the many people God would send Bezaiel to help build.    The end of verse six, above, states that God put into the hearts of "all who are skillful" the skill to make what He commanded them.   We can beat if we have skill it is because God has given us the skill.   We can be assured that if God calls us to build something He will not leave us alone.   He will provide those we need to accomplish the task.  Moses was afraid to go into Egypt alone.  He used his speaking inadequacies as an excuse.   God gave him Aaron.   God gave Saul, Samuel.    God gave Jeremiah, Ebed- melech to get him out of the pit.   God always provides the help we need, in some way or fashion.   God says he appointed Oholiabl, "with him" in the above verse.   We all need a "with him" to help us succeed.   In the Christian walk that "with him" figure is the Holy Spirit who allows us to walk "with him."  Sometimes that "with him" is our spouse.   God provides a "with him" in all that we do for Him, or are required to do for Him.  Let's rejoice that we have a "with him" in our lives that God provides.  

Can you describe salvatioin? 2 Corinthians 9-10

2 Corinthians 9:15 (NASBStr)

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

It is fitting that in a chapter (chapter 9) completely focused on the aspect of giving gifts to the church for the support of poor brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul ends with the above verse: A Doxology to God.    Paul has just spent a significant portion of the scroll he is using to write this epistle commending and boasting about the aspect of the churches giving.   He tells them that their act of kindness is a motivation for other churches to give (verse 2).  He tells them their act of kindness through the liberal gift is a result of true righteousness and quotes Psalm 112:9 to confirm it (verse 9).   But, to assure them that they don't let this go to the hears and become overly filled with pride (the Corinthian church already had that problem) he reminds them that God is the ultimate example of given.   Although Paul can both describe and quantify their financial gift to the churches, he knows he CAN'T even describe God's gift to man: His Son's death, burial and resurrection.   We should let that whole verse sink in.  We are talking about the greatest mind in Christian thought, Paul, and he states he can't describe the gift of salvation.    Isaiah described it in the closest words we can grasp in such a way that John the Baptist quoted it to the Pharisees (Isaiah 40:3 and Luke 3).  Paul, himself attempted to describe this gift in the books of Galatians and Romans.  The first chapter of Ephesians is wholly committed to the description of this salvation.   Yet, Paul tells the Corinthians it is an undesirable gift.    Paul knows that the words he wrote and Isaiah composed are the Spirit's Words to give us some understanding of the depth and the riches of God's gift.  In Ephesians 1:18 Paul prays that that church will "know the riches" of God's gift to us.   Although it is often described it is an indescribable gift we never fully grasp.  Our entire Christian life is a life of searching and surrender to its full meaning and complete implications for our freedom and redemption.   Study the indescribable gift.  

What is the gospel? Luke 3-4

Luke 3:4-6 (NASBStr)

as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

‘ Make ready the way of the Lord,

Make His paths straight.

 ‘ Every ravine will be filled,

And every mountain and hill will be brought low;

The crooked will become straight,

And the rough roads smooth;

 And all flesh will see the salvation of God. ’”

The above verses are a great definition of salvation and the gospel.   John came to proclaim what Isaiah had already said the Messiah would do:  save the world.    Notice what the Messiah would bring to the nation.  First, He would fill every ravine.   Christ fills our emptiness.  In those times of life when we have nothing, Jesus fills it.  He is our portion.  He is our all in all.   The world attempts to fill their lives with stuff and the ravine still remains empty.   Only Christ can fill and satisfy.  Second he makes every mountain and hill low.  Whatever obstacles are in our way He flattens.  Or, when we think to highly of ourselves He brings us low.  NO one can be exalted correctly without Christ. Whether and obstacle in our way to Him or our own pride rising like Mt. Everest, Jesus makes all things low.   Third, the Messiah makes the crooked in our lives; the mistakes we have made in the creation of our lives and the journey of our steps; He makes straight.  Nothing is so crooked or twisted in life that He can straighten out.   And, fourth, Jesus makes the rough patches smooth.  The bumps on life's road will damage the undercarriage of life, for some.  But, for the believer the bumps are there and yet feel smooth under our seats.   Lastly, He gives us access to God.   The flesh we are now in prohibits us from seeing God.   But, the final piece of salvation (glorification) is when we see Him.   We behold His true glory, unaltered by the eyes of the flesh.  John the Baptist came to declare this.   So, too, can we.   We can have it, by faith in Christ, and we can proclaim it, by faith in Christ.  

What is happening while your up to your armpits in mud? Jeremaih 37-41

Jeremiah 38:7-9 (NASBStr)

But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, while he was in the king’s palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. Now the king was sitting in the Gate of Benjamin; and Ebed- melech went out from the king’s palace and spoke to the king, saying, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have cast into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.”

While Jeremiah was in the cistern he would have been praying for deliverance.  Here we see the background of God working in the man's heart to move him to rescue Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was in a pit, deep in and sinking in mud.   His prayer would have been desperate and deliberate.  He would not have filled his prayer with a lot of Thees and Thous.   We seldom see what was happening in the heart of Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian.   God was doing a work in his heart to move him to do something great for God.   When we are in trouble we probably have our eye on the mud and not on the hearts of other men.   Yet, God was doing a work in this man's heart that would save the prophet from death.   Jeremiah couldn't see the man, maybe didn't even know the man.  God, in HIs sovereign power, moved a servant to the king to stand up for Jeremiah.   Scripture doesn't record Jeremiah's prayer while he was in the cistern of mud, but we can only wonder and imagine what he prayed.  Whatever it was, God had moved the man to stand up the evil of the day and to use his place of influence and familiarity with the king to change Jeremiah's circumstances.  Never doubt that when we are in the mud, that God is hearing our prayers and moving in the hearts of those He wishes to use to rescue us.  

Who packed your last lunch? Job 38-39

Job 38:39-41 (NASBStr)

“Can you hunt the prey for the lion,

Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

 When they crouch in their dens

And lie in wait in their lair?

 “Who prepares for the raven its nourishment

When its young cry to God

And wander about without food?

As we shop for food in our big box markets we have before us almost anything the heart could desire.   We take it for granted in our country that food is always available.   We seldom stop to think about how it came to the store, or to our cupboard.  Like little children we just expect the cereal to be on the bottom shelf where we can always have it and reach it.   Yet, this is not really the case.   As we can see above and read further from our Savior in Matthew 6:24-35, it is God who provides for His creatures.   God is rebuking Job and his four friends because of the false counsel and knowledge they kicked around calling it "wisdom."   Real wisdom comes from God, as does everything.  He is asking the four of them if they are the ones who provide for the lion each day, or the raven during the week?   They do not, obviously.   When the young raven's chirp in their nest for food it is not Job or his friends who run to find a worm for them.  It is God.   When the lion is in the den and his stomach aches with the pain of hunger, it is not Zophar and the others who hustle out to find a slow gazelle.   God provides what these need and what ever creature needs; including us.  We may think our "cash" packed the cupboard, but it did not.  God provides the lily with its splendor and us with our security.   God hunts for the worms for the ravens as much as he hunts for a job for us.   As you and I chirp out our needs today to God, let us remember that He has many mouths to fill and has never missed providing a single meal.  

Are you impressed with the clouds? Psalm 57-59

Psalms 57:10-11 (NASBStr)

For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens

And Your truth to the clouds.

 Be exalted above the heavens, O God;

Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Yesterday at a soccer game I looked up and saw one of the whitest, puffiest, most compelling clouds I have ever seen.   It so filled the sky I wanted to arise and take a nap on it.  Of course, those around me reminded me of the practical side of that ... I would fall to my death would that even be possible since a cloud is nothing more than a collection of vapor.    However, the above birth tells me that the cloud I saw pales in comparison with the love and truth of the One who created it.  We are sometimes so mesmerized by the creation we forget what the creation teaches us about the creator.    God's love is greater than ALL the heavens, not just one cloud.   If I compare all the stars, suns, moons, clouds, galaxies, and planets, God's love is greater than all these.   Wow!!!   His truth is greater than all the heavens combined.   This is a favorite phrase of David.  See also Ps 36:5; 103:11; 108:4.   I can only imagine all those nights David sat out under the stars and heavens as he watched his father's sheep.   He must have laid their at night gazing steadfastly at the stars.  As he recalled that God had delivered him from the lion that day or the bear that evening, David knew that God's love was greater than anything he could see in the heavens.   David didn't have what we have in giant telescopes to behold the heavens about the heavens, either.   The heavens can't contain God's love for us.   When we sin and sin and continue to sin, God's love surpasses all that and continues to wrap His arms around us.  His love and truth are greater than all we can behold in the clouds.   He is to be exalted ABOVE the heavens.  Praise God for the great clouds, stars and galaxies you see.  But, praise Him ABOVE the earth and heaven. 

What do you do when man moves you with a shove? 2 Samuel 15-19

2 Samuel 15:24-25 (NASBStr)

Now behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city. The king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then He will bring me back again and show me both it and His habitation.

One of the reasons God would say that "David was a man after My own heart" is because of times like the above verses talk about.   David's son, Absolam, was revolting and was about to take the kingdom from David.   All those who favored David were fleeing Jerusalem with David out of loyalty and love.   The two priest, Zadok and Abiathar, followed and brought the Ark of the Covenant with them from the Temple.  Remember the Ark was the place were the presence of God was symbolized for the nation.  Taking the Ark with them would send a clear signal that God was with David, not Absolam.   Yet, David, in perfect faith and trust in his God, told them to return to Jerusalem.  David would not presume anything.   David knew that although it was Absolam who was doing the dirty deed, it was God who was in control.   David did need the Ark.  He needed God to act.  He didn't want to assume this was not from God for the purpose of doing something in his life or the life of Absolam or the life of the nation.  He knew that if he found favor (grace) in the eyes of The Lord that God would bring him back and show him the ark and the city.    In the midst of troubling times it is not the people who are doing the deed we should fret over.  We should allow ourselves to trust wholly and fully in God's sovereign grace.  If God wants us to be somewhere or do something or have something, God will do it.   We ought not fret and take what is not ours or a symbol of presumption.   If man has forced us to move, God will return us to the station of life He desires for us. 

Who consecrate us? Exodus 25-29

Exodus 29:43-46 (NASBStr)

I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be "consecrated" by My glory. I will "consecrate" the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also "consecrate" Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me. I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God.

In the last four chapters of Exodus Moses has been telling his brother (Aaron) and Aaron's sons how to build the tabernacle and how to preform the sacrifices morning and evening in the tabernacle.   There are elaborate steps to take to make sure God's Word is followed explicitly.   As we reach the end of the section the above verses are given to Moses, Aaron, the sons, and the nation.   God wants them to know that despite their strict obedience to the commands of God and their faithful carrying out of each step, it is HE and only HE who will make all of it holy and worthy for Him (That is the meaning of the word used three times above, consecrate.)    God wants them to know obedience will lead to consecration, but it is wholly an act of God.   Through faith we obey God and God looks on favor of that faith-based work and makes the work holy.   Our efforts do not make us holy.  Our obedience doesn't make us holy.  It is God ho makes us holy.   Many believers know that Justification comes wholly by faith.  Many don't remember that Sanctification comes wholly by faith.   God is then only One who can make something wholly.   Despite our efforts of perfection and constant obedience it is still God who must consecrate us to Himself.   Let us know forget that the entire salvation process is via faith.  Faith provides justification, to sanctification, to glorification.   Aaron can follow God's Word but it is God who must consecrate him in the end.  

Do you receive the grace of God properly? 1 Corinthians 6-8

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (NASBStr)

 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain — for He says,

“ AT the acceptable time I listened to you,

And on the day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is “ the acceptable time,” behold, now is “ the day of salvation”—

 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well- known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

This is a long passage to quote in a devotional.   The point is to see how Paul defines what he is asking us to do.  In verse one of the above passage Paul tells us to "not receive the grace of God in vain."      He then goes on and says, "for" and explains what that means.   When we receive the grace of God through faith we have to remember that God has given us a gift.   If we receive it in vain we mis-use, mis-appropriate, mis-appreciate the gift.   In the subsequent verse of the text Paul tells us that when we receive the grace of God in the right way there should be the same evidence he has experienced in his life.   Notice the non-complimentary areas that Paul is stressing.  Enduring in  "hardships" and in "beatings" are put in the same context with in "patience", or in "knowledge" or in "kindness".   Paul let's us know that receiving the grace of God comes with many different looks.   We receive it in the "power of God" and we receive it in the way of "evil report and good report."   When we receive God's grace we will have a variety of paths to follow.  All of them are different but all of them are within the scope of His grace.  

Do we believe in something historical and accurate? Luke 1-2

Luke 1:1-4 (NASBStr)

 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

When reading the books of the Bible we are not often told, as boldly as Luke does, the reason for the book and the purpose of the writing.  Although Paul is implicit with his writing intent, Luke is explicit.  John, in His gospel and in his first epistle, is equally plain as to purpose, as Luke is here.   Both Luke and John want us to know the validity behind the truth we believe.   To the unbeliever the things of Christendom are at best established myths and at the least hair brain thoughts of the mentality unstable.   However, to John, Luke, here, and, hopefully to us, they are established historical truths that happened in specific order that can be established in a credible timeline, believed and served.    Many have "served the Word" as Luke points out and many have told the story he is about to tell.   But, he wants Theophilus (who knows the exact person and purpose he served in the church?) to know the "exact truth" about the things people have taught him.   We are "Theophilus" as we read this story.  Luke wants us to know what he wants Theophilus to know.  We are looking over Theo's shoulder.   Be prepared to see an exact order of events and a doctor's (Luke's profession) meticulous account of the details.   We believe truth that is here, in Luke, recorded believable. It is why we "serve" the Word!!

Do you want to know more about God? Jeremiah 32-36

Jeremiah 33:3 (NASBStr)

‘ Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. ’

In the midst of trials and tribulations we seldom think of asking God to show us great things.   It just is not in our nature.  We spend most of our time asking God to remove the thorn in our side, or heal something, or remove someone who is hurting us.  The above verse has a great place in the story of Jeremiah not only for what it says but for the context of which it is given.  Jeremiah has been shut-up in prison.   He has prophesied to the king that Israel will indeed go into captivity.   He has told the king that the Babylonians will sack the city and burn it to the ground.   Jeremiah is not a popular guy and is asked to deliver an even unpopular message.    Yet, in the midst of all this, God gives him instruction to "call to Me" and God will "tell you great and might things, which you do not know."  Jeremiah may have been in the state of saying, "God, I really don't want to know anymore!  The stuff you are telling me is putting me in great risk."   The fact that God says this statement to Jeremiah is profound to me.   Jeremiah is one of the greatest prophets we know.  He has written this entire volume on the character and acts of God.   He has explained or will explain everything God is has done and is going to do with the nation of Israel.  What more is there to know?   Yet, that is the beauty of the statement and of God.   What we know now is the but the outer edges of His garments.  Paul stated that his greatest desire was to "know God" and the power of HIs resurrection (Philippians 3:10).  He wanted to know the Love of God (Ephesians 3:19).   Do we have a desire to "know more" about God.   If we do, we have only to "call."  The Hebrew word for "call" here is to come face-to-face.  The word, at times in the Old Testament, is used in regard to a confrontation.   But, here it is used as an invite from God to the prophet.   God is asking Jeremiah to know Him more.  He is saying, "Come face-to-face with Me and I will show you something you would not believe."   God wants us to have that same desire and experience through His Son Jesus Christ.  As we come to Him in faith He will show us things, great and mighty things, that we did not know.   Are we still hungry to know more? 

Why is it raining today? Job 37

Job 37:11-13 (NASBStr)

“Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud;

He disperses the cloud of His lightning.

 “It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,

That it may do whatever He commands it

On the face of the inhabited earth.

 “Whether for correction, or for His world,

Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

This morning I am watching the sky.   When you live on a boat and ride a Harley you spend much time looking at the clouds and "reading" their story for the day.   The weather man predicts rain for later today.   He (or She) has spent years studying what we already know in the above set of verses.  Today, God will direct the clouds where He wants.   Although the weather man (woman) thinks their special equipment gives them some insight we all should worship, in reality we worship the God who changes the direction of His clouds when, where and why He wants. I love the last verse of these three.  He moves the clouds and rain and storms FOR "correction"; FOR His "world" (which I would think means for the needs of the earth); FOR "lovingkindness" (God sends us rain because He loves us ... He sends it to the just and to the unjust out of love ... Matthew 5:45).  God moves the rain and storms and weather around for His purpose to accomplish much.   Those that say He allows the hurricane because of sin in the life of man, would be right according to parts of this section.  God uses the weather for correction.  Remember, it was the weather that destroyed much of Job.  In Job 1:13-19 we see that is fire from heaven (lighting) that struck Job's sheep and servants and consumed them.  It was a wind storm that crushed the house his children where they were holding a party.   God allows the weather to comfort or conflict.  It is His choice.  We are to celebrate the control He has and the reason He has it and uses it for us.  

What can man do to you? Psalm 54-56

Psalms 56:1-4 (NASBStr)

 Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me;

 Fighting all day long he oppresses me.

 My foes have trampled upon me all day long,

For they are many who fight proudly against me.

 When I am afraid,

 I will put my trust in You.

 In God, whose word I praise,

In God I have put my trust;

I shall not be afraid.

 What can mere man do to me?

Psalm 54-56 all carry the same theme.   David feels the oppression and attacks of his enemies and finds comfort from the God he has believed in from his youth.   In Psalm 55 the enemy is a close friend he had worshipped with (Saul?).  In Psalm 56, above, he is describing the day he ran from Saul and came to the city of Gath (home of Goliath, whom he slayed).  This is where David faked being crazy in hopes they would not kill him (1 Samuel 21:10,11).  He must have written these words AFTER that ridiculous incident in his life.   Although the crazy act worked, it was the picture we see above.   In these four verses we see that David acknowledges the pain of the enemy (his feelings) but puts complete trust in God for his life and limb (his faith).  Looking at man he had every reason to fear and to fret.   But, looking to God, his faith tells him he has NO reason to fear.    When you trust in God, what can man do to you?   God can kill the body AND the soul.   God has  the power to save and to slay.   David comes to the conclusion that his fears, though real, were unmerited in contrast to the faith he had in God.   Man can ridicule, laugh at, and punish us.   But, man can't do anything God won't allow.   God is in control of our lives and we can trust that He can and will deliver us from all enemies; friend or foe.  

Have you seen God turn our gory into His Glory? 2 Samuel 10-14

2 Samuel 12:24-25 (NASBStr)

 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and she gave birth to a son, and he named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved him and sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah for the Lord’s sake.

The key word in this verse might be the first one, "then."   The details proceeding this verse tell of the story of David and his original sin with Bathsheba.   David, instead of going to war, stayed back and observed Bathsheba, an officer's wife, who did go to war, taking a bath.   David, in a moment of weakness and lust, took Bathsheba and that resulted in an "unwanted" pregnancy.   Although the sin was evil the cover-up was worse.  David arranged that Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, would be killed in battle.   He then took Bathsheba to be his wife and to give birth to his son.   However, that child died!   "Then" our next verse is written as a chapter in the story.   Even though David is discovered by God and even though that discovery resulted in David's kingdom coming under attack and the child dying, God still provided a "then."   Out of the ashes of this bad, bad story, God raises up a young man who would not only eventually becomes a king in Israel but one who would be used by God to restore the reputation of Israel around the world and be used to compose the greatest collection of wisdom known to man.   David had shamed the nation, blasphemed God, and created a situation so dire there would seem as though know one would benefit.  Yet, out of the bad becomes good.   God turns the story around and the lives of the story around to create something great for His people and all believers everywhere.   God did this.  He always does this.   When the worst is done by His people He makes the best happen.   Paul outlines this all in Romans 8:28.   God gives us examples throughout the Scriptures of God turing the gory into HIs glory.    

Does God give us instant victory over sin? Exodus 21-24

Exodus 23:29-30 (NASBStr)

I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land.

The above verse illustrates a very important principle in life that God follows and expects us to follow.   The principle of gradual victory is important to see and observe in life.   God could have (it was within His power to do so) driven all the inhabitants from the land of Canaan out any time He wanted to.  He could have done it in a day ... in a mere breath.   If He would have done so the nation of Israel would not have had any resistance from evil men and not have fallen into allegiance with some of the inhabitants of the land.    But, IF God would have done so, another enemy would have overtaken the land; wild animals.   God wanted them to take the land little by little and thus have the rest of the land being taking care of by the Canaanites.  The very enemy God would want the nation of Israel to destroy would be caretakers for the land while God was giving it into the hand of His people.   But, the other reason God did not simply "give" them the land is because God wanted them to trust Him for each step that they took.  God does not give us instant victory over things in our lives.   He wants us to trust Him for each inch we are given.   Simply giving us victory would cause us to develop an entitlement and a sense that we deserved something.   In our Christian walk God wants us to seek Him to overcome the enemy of sin in our lives.  He doesn't always just remove the sin.   He wants us to come to Him in faith and He gives us victory upon victory based upon that faith.  Read Romans 7 and Paul's own struggle with sin to see this.   God can and might give us victory instantly over some sins in our lives.  But, others He may want us to see the power of every day faith.   

Do you have the ambition to please someone? 2 Corinthians 5-6

2 Corinthians 5:9 (NASBStr)

Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

Paul is in the middle of encouraging the believers at Corinth to make their walk before men comparable with their position in Christ.   He has told them they are being changed from glory to glory (3:18) and now have a responsibility to live that glory out before men.   But, to be assured we don't try to "please" men, we are to, instead, please God.    Paul states that his desire or "ambition" is to please Him.   The word "ambition" caries the meaning of "being in love with honor."  We understand the meaning and nature of "ambition."   We live in a society full of those who have ambition.   But, the subject of their ambition is not to "please Him."   There is nothing wrong with being ambitious.  Ambition, however, needs a subject ... mission.   Here we see it is important to have, as our mission, to please Him.   But, note the part faith plays in this approach to life.  We can only please God by faith (Hebrews 11:6); we stand by faith (1 Corinthians 16:13); we walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7); we live by faith (Galatians 2:20); we fight by faith (Ephesians 6:16).   So, our pleasing God is not by our own efforts but having faith in God.   When we try to please others we do so with our own efforts.  We hope they will be pleased with our performance.   But, with God we can't please Him by performance but only our faith in His strength to make us complete.   We cast all away and put complete trust in His ability to make us what we are and that pleases Him.   Christianity is the up-side-down-regligion.   We don't try to please our God by working hard.  We please our God by stopping our work and lay faithful in His Hands.  Make it your ambition to please Him ... via Faith!!

Do you have envy in your heart? Mark 15-16

Mark 15:8-10 (NASBStr)

The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

Pilate "knew" why the Pharisees, the crowd and the other leaders of the day had joined forces to crucify Christ.   It was ENVY.    From the beginning of time Ego, Ignorance and Envy can be traced to the root of all conflict.   Here, we have envy playing its part and feeding the other two.  Note what Vine says about the word used here for Envy:

Vines note on "envy":  phthonos (φθονοσ, 5355), “envy,” is the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others; this evil sense always attaches to this word, Matt. 27:18; Mark 15:10; Rom. 1:29; Gal. 5:21; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4; Titus 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:1; so in Jas. 4:5, where the question is rhetorical and strongly remonstrative, signifying that the Spirit (or spirit) which God made to dwell in us was certainly not so bestowed that we should be guilty of “envy.”

The religious leaders were envious of Jesus' fame.   He was popular with the people.  He was getting honor they wanted.  He was being "worshipped" and although they claimed that was against God's way (to worship a mere man) they really wanted the worship from the crowds for themselves.  Being desirous of praise, honor or power that has been given to someone else is evil.   In all the verses quoted by Vine, above, we can see the evil at the center of it all.   This is contrary to faith.  Faith says that God is in charge and gives honor to whom he gives honor.   Some will do anything to get praise and honor.   When they are envious of other's God given honor they sin and bring evil upon themselves.  Today are we standing in a place where we envy something?  We want something that isn't ours?  Do we desire the recognition others are getting?   Are we willing to put someone to death (emotionally, positionally) in order for us to receive praise they are receiving from others?