Patience Like a Farmer - James 4-5

James 5:7-8 (ESV)
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

The readers of James letter were being persecuted by the outside world; specially the rich.  James has just warned the rich to not trust in their riches.  Right on the heals of that warning, we have the instructions above.   The early church (like we should today) believed that Christ’s return was eminent.   They lived their lives in light of Christ coming back to establish His earthly Kingdom.  This is the backdrop for the above text.   James is telling them not to be idle in their waiting for Christ.  They are to be actively engage in planting seeds that will produce fruit for Christ.   James is not focused on the planting of seeds, however.  James is focused on the patience waiting for the seeds to produce fruit.  We are to be waiting patiently for Christ to return.   We are to “establish” our hearts.   The word means to be stable and/or set fast.   We are not to be moved around in our faith.  Our faith is not to be fluid, but fixed.   We are waiting for Christ to return.  And just as the seeds that the farmer plants will grow, so, too, our Lord will return.   That is the counter balance to the rich who trust in their riches.  The person of faith puts their trust in the return of the risen Savior.  

Make NO Distinction! Acts 11-12

Acts 11:12 (ESV)
And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.

Make no distinction!   Those words have much power.   This passage was spoken by Peter after God had showed him that salvation was to be offered to both Jew AND Gentile.   Up to this point, those saved and called Christians, actually did make a “distinction.”   The Jewish nation has always made distinction.   In fact, God made sure they were distinct from the other nations:

1 Chronicles 17:21 (ESV)
And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt?

Paul would tell Christians to be holy and not like the world around us:

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

So, the above passage of being sure we do not make a distinction between nations and peoples is quite remarkable.   Christianity, however, was designed to bring peoples together:

Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

In light of our current day-to-day struggles with equity, these verses carry even more power and practical help.   James would say it this way to the early church:

James 2:9 (ESV)
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Make no distinction!!

God’s Kingdom - Zephaniah

Zephaniah 3:13 (ESV)
those who are left in Israel;
they shall do no injustice
and speak no lies,
nor shall there be found in their mouth
a deceitful tongue.
For they shall graze and lie down,
and none shall make them afraid.”

Zephaniah has a hard job.  He was sent to prophecy against Judah concerning their turning to idol worship and forsaken God.  He is very blunt and to the point with his prophecy.   He tells the people about destruction and doom.    However, like most prophets, he is also able to weave into his message a picture of hope.  That hope is the new kingdom God will establish through Christ.   In the above verse we read a small portion of what that new kingdom will look like. Imagine a place that has “no injustice!”  Or, think about a place that has “no lies.”   Imagine a place where we can’t find “a deceitful tongue!”   This is the place that God is preparing for the remnant that will seek in by faith.   We should shake and quiver in our boots about the coming day of the Lord because it is a demonstration of God’s wrath.  But, it is also the presence of His love, peace and joy.   Those who reject God face His wrath.   Those who trust in God will, however, experience a time of utter peace and joy.  

Time for a Balanced Life - Ecclesiastes 3-4

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (ESV)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

There is a time for everything.   In the above list, Solomon tells us about the balance of life and time in our journey with God.  God is in control of time.  Although God is not mentioned in these verses, it is implied that God sets the boundaries for these type of events.    There is nothing moral or immoral about what Solomon has listed.   This list is not divided into Godly things vs Ungodly things.    It is simply divided into opposite events to show us that life’s journey tends to balance out, in the end.   When we talk about living a “balanced” life, we don’t think of it this way.   Our lives are not designed to be only birth, love, embracing, keeping, seeking, or building up.  They are also designed to be a time to die, a time to tear, a time to cast away, a time to pluck up, etc.   We would love to have all the good on this list.  But, there is a time for the polar opposite in our journey on this planet.   We need to embrace the life God had designed for us.   God is in control of our lives and provides strength we need for whatever season we find ourselves facing.  

Children Are a Gift From God - Psalms 125-127

Psalms 127:3-5 (ESV)
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Children are a gift from God!   To completely understand these verses from Psalm 127, we need to consider the historical significance of the world in the days it was written.   It is hard to understand that someone would refer to their children as weapons of war (like arrows in the hand of a warrior).  However, when one understands the historical setting, this makes more sense to us.   In the days this psalm was written, the family was the strongest institution on the earth.   In a Jewish family, everyone lived together.   Everyone worked together to survive the harshness and elements of the world in those days.   Having more children (particularly sons) would allow the family to be more secure and more prepared for whatever life presented the family.   Hence, the children born were “like arrows.”   Having your “quiver” full is a word picture for having your family fully prepared and equipped.   The “city gates” was that place of gathering.  The people of that day all had the same thought: The more children you had, the more blessed you are.   God had set man in the world and told man to multiple.   Hence, their thought was that God gives a gift of children and the more children one has the more blessed one was.   The take-a-way for us is that children are a gift from God.  They add to our family and equip the family and contribute to family.    We are to be thankful for God blessing us with children.  

God is in Control - Deuteronomy 7-9

Deuteronomy 7:13 (ESV)
He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you.

As I write this journal entry, my baby daughter is on her way to the hospital, 27 weeks pregnant with triplet boys.  That, of course, is way to early.  To make matters worse, we took, what was supposed be, our last trip to Florida.   We are 1,600 miles from home.   But, our God is not sleeping or on vacation.  This was not a surprise to Him.   It is interesting that the above verse was in my designed reading for today.  More than likely, on any other day, I would not even have noticed this verse.  But, obviously, it is there, jumping boldly off the page to me this morning.  I set my Bible reading program on January 1st of each year.  I audible make a commitment to God to be in that passage of Scripture on the day that is designed for that passage.  So, on January 1, 2021, I told God I would be in this section of Deuteronomy, on this specific day.   I told Him that if He needed to say anything to me on a specific date, this is where I would be.   I had no idea, at the time, that my daughter would be pregnant.  I had no idea it would be triplets. I had no idea that it would be triplet boys.   I had no idea I would be in Florida while she was in Michigan.   But, God did.  He also knew I would need to be strengthened and would need to be encouraged through His Word.  I realize that the above promise was written to the nation of Israel.   This promise is NOT written for our family.   But, it is there to show me that God is in control and that it is God who makes the barren woman pregnant and it is God who controls the birth of babies. That, this morning, was all the encouragement I needed. I have no idea what the day will unfold.  But for this journal entry, I have been encouraged by the power of an omnipotent God who controls the birth of mankind and even knows what Bible verse I need to encourage me, months ahead of time.   We trust in His marvelous grace and powerful knowledge, control and blessings.  

Show Mercy - James 2:13

James 2:13 (ESV)
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The above verse is the conclusion of an argument set forth by James in regard to how we treat other people.   In the preceding verses he gives the illustration of what happens when a rich man and a poor man, both enter the church.   If we treat them differently we are not right according to how God treats us.   If we don’t show them both the same kind of mercy we fail in our living out the mercy God shows us.  The earmark of a person who claims to have faith in Christ is to demonstrate the mercy of God to others.   Mercy triumphant over judgment because mercy gives grace to others.   Judgment simply brings punitive actions.   Mercy paves the way for grace.   Mercy removes punishment and judgment.   Mercy opens the flood gates for grace to impact the lives of those we meet.  We should not be using the tool of judgment. That is God’s tool.  We should, like God shows us mercy, show all we meet unfettered mercy.  

God’s Work is Amazing - Acts 9-10

Acts 9:20-22 (ESV)
20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

When God is moving in someone’s heart, it might seem strange to those who see that moving!   In the above text we see the first ministry after his conversion.  Those who heard and observed were “amazed.”   This word is used 17x in the New Testament.  It is used to describe the reaction to much of Jesus’ ministry.   It is used to describe what those who were there on the day of Pentecost thought when they heard the disciples speaking in tongues ... they were amazed.  It will be used later in Acts when the church prays for Peter to be released from prison and suddenly he is standing before them.   His movement in our lives is something to be amazed about.  This is especially true when God has changed or is changing lives of mankind.  In this case, God was changing Paul.  Paul has, to this point, persecuted the Church and the Son of God.  Now he is preaching the Son of God.  That is the power of God’s working. Paul, himself, will eventually write words that characterize this very thought:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

God can make that change so sudden, that is becomes amazing to natural man.  We tend to see it as strange.  But it should be strange that we are not amazed at God’s work more often.  

Idols Are Not Always Made Out of Wood - Habakkuk

 Habakkuk 2:18-20 (ESV)
“What profit is an idol
when its maker has shaped it,
a metal image, a teacher of lies?
For its maker trusts in his own creation
when he makes speechless idols!
Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;
to a silent stone, Arise!
Can this teach?
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
and there is no breath at all in it.
But the LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him.”

We don’t make idols today like they made them in Habakkuk’s day.   Or, do we?   Do we ever worship any thing made by man’s hands?  We might not physically bow down to the things this earth produces, but we do worship them, never-the-less.  God has given us a warning in the above passage.   In Habakkuk’s day the nation of Israel had joined the nations around them in serving and worshiping idols made with hands.   That is no different than today.   It might look different as we don’t see people bow down in front a human form made out of wood.   But, we do see people give their full attention and praise and time and resources to fiberglass, chrome, siding, lawn furniture, etc.   We need to recognize that God sees anything that takes us away from praising Him, as an idol in our lives.  That can be things.  That can be a person.  That can be our children.   Whatever we worship and praise can become an idol in our lives.  It might not look like the idols of Habakkuk’s day, but they are idols.  

Treasures - Ecclesiastes 1-2

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (ESV)
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

That pretty much sums up today’s world and what men are trying to do in life.  They are trying to accumulate and build their own kingdoms.    The words of Solomon helps us understand the futility of the bumper sticker that says, “He who dies with the most toys, wins!”    When we drive through the neighborhoods of life, we see the above words in real time and in tangible ways.   The weekends are full of these ideas.  The countless box stores feed this mentality.  The shopping delivery services to our doors exemplifies the words of Solomon.   He was able to obtain all this and still maintain his wisdom (that God gave him).  His summary?  All was vanity and striving after the wind and there is nothing to be gained under the sun!   Jesus said it this way in a parable to the people who sat to hear him preach:

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

A Place To Worship - Psalms 122-124

Psalms 122:3-5 (ESV)
3 Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.

A place of worship can be a powerful tangible place to see God.   In some Bibles, Psalms 122 is titled by the compilers of the Bible as the “Song of Ascent.”   This is a song that the nation of Israel would say or sing together as they went to Jerusalem for worship.   Today’s believers probably can’t relate to this psalm in the way it would impact Israelites in that days.  We, today, believe God is everywhere.  We can worship Him in our homes, our cars, on a walk, in a church, in the office and/or floating in a pool on a hot day.   Not so the nation of Israel.  They saw God dwelling in the Temple and they could only visit Him certain of the year and even then the High Priest was the only one who would go into the Holy of Holies to see God’s presence.   The above verses, however, give us four areas that we should consider in our worship:

1.  V. 3 - We should have a place to worship.  The author of this psalm admires the way Jerusalem is built.   He sees the tangible stones laced together.   Yes, God is everywhere, but we ought to find places that give us a tangible place to worship.  It adds intentionality to our worship.  

2. V. 4a - We should worship with others.   Community is important to God.  He designed the nation of Israel to worship together.   He designed the early church as a place for today’s believers to meet “together” and to worship in community.  

3. V. 4b -  Their worship was “decreed” by God.  That means it was out of love, but it also had an obligation to obey God.  We should worship because it springs from the joys of God from the heart.  But, we are also commanded to worship God.  So, whether we feel like it or not, we are told to do community worship.   

4. V. 5 - Jerusalem was the place of judgment for Israel.  It was a place that the wrongs of life would be corrected.   God is the “judge of all” (Hebrews 12:23).   We often worship God for His love and grace and mercy in our lives.  But, we are to also worship His judgment.   God will judge the world and is even judging it now. That is why we must have a relationship with Christ that allows us to worship God’s judgment but not fear God’s wrath:

Hebrews 10:22 (ESV)
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Romans 8:1 (ESV)
Life in the Spirit
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Leadership Pride Turns to Shame - 2 Chronicles 25-28

2 Chronicles 26:13-16 (ESV)
Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Pride goes before the fall.   That is the story here in this section about King Uzziah, King of Judah.   Uzziah went out to war against the Philistines.   God gave him help to win those early wars.  In the above passage we see God give him skills to develop weapons of war and battle instruments.   However, that caused him to be lifted up in pride.  Note how his ancestors, Solomon, stated this: 

Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)
Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.

If Uzziah would have spent as much time studying Solomon’s words as he did developing weapons of war, he may have had the peace Solomon enjoyed vs the battles he had to face.   The story in Chronicles is very much about how leadership is often brought down by pride and arrogance.   Uzziah is the perfect example of someone who trusted in his own strength and mistakenly thought it was his skills that put him in the position he was in.  It was not his skill.  It was God producing in him and protecting him.   He failed to see that and took the glory himself.  That glory resulted in shame.  Self glory always ends up in shame.  

God’s Blessings vs The World’s Crumbs - Deuteronomy 4-6

Deuteronomy 4:6-8 (ESV)
Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

God is near Israel.   There is NO nation that has the privileges and care that Israel had and has.   God choose them, as the least among all nation.   He then mad them a great nation. ONLY God can make one man (Abraham) into a GREAT nation.   That is what God does.  He takes the least and makes them the most.   He takes the one and makes it many.   That other nations are supposed to see this transformation.   The nation of Israel was to be God’s example of power and blessing.  But, they turned against God and wanted to be like the lessor nations around them.   God wants them to have the power of His love, protection and provision.  But, they turned to eat the crumbs of the world.  That was not God’s intention.   We can do the same thing.  We can be in God’s love and blessing and want to please our our lust and turn to the fragments that the world offer.  We think we have instant pleasure but we only are settling for mere morsels of the world rather than the eternal blessings of God.   

Faith Replaces Tangible Sight - Hebrews 11-13

Hebrews 11:10 (ESV)
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

What are we looking for?   In Hebrews 11 we have a number of Old Testament believers who are all “looking” for something different that what they see in front of them.   The chapter is about faith.  The author gives us a several statements about faith.  Here is one of them:

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

As believers, we are to be focusing on something different.   Note some of the other ways this is said for other people of faith in this chapter:

1. Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

2. Hebrews 11:13 (ESV)
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

3. Hebrews 11:14-16 (ESV)
For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

4. (Moses) Hebrews 11:27 (ESV)
By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

We are always looking for something that is tangible.  And, God does give us tangible evidence of His power and existence (Psalms 19).   But, we are to be looking forward to things that we can’t see.  Faith is the “evidence” we need for what we are wanting to see.  

God’s Deliverance - Acts 7-8

Acts 7:23-25 (ESV)
“When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.

Moses thought they would understand!   That is the key in that above passage. This text is taken from Stephen’s sermon, where afterward he was beaten and killed.   Just as the men of Israel did not understand that Moses was sent to deliver them from the bondage of Egypt, so, too, the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day did not understand that God sent His Son to deliver them from the bondage of sin.  This is the story of the Bible.  God sends mercy and grace to mankind and they do not “understand” what God is doing in their lives.  They reject God’s messengers and God’s interventions to deliver them from sin.  Stephen was rejected as a messenger and killed.   He will later say, in this one message he preached:

Acts 7:51-53 (ESV)
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Lack of clearly seeing your current need will cause you to not see God’s intervention in your life.  God sends messengers to tell us about His marvelous deliverance.  When we understand that can rejoice in God’s plan.  When we do not understand we lose out on God’s deliverance.  

God Is In Control - Nahum

Nahum 1:15 (ESV)
Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
who brings good news,
who publishes peace!
Keep your feasts, O Judah;
fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the worthless pass through you;
he is utterly cut off.

God brings good news to His people, as He brings bad news to their enemy.   The above verse is at the end of chapter one of Nahum’s prophecy.   Nahum has just told the leaders of Nineveh that God was going to take their plans for destruction of His people and turn them into God’s plans for the destruction of Nineveh.  A generation earlier God sent Jonah to Nineveh (the capital city of Assyria) to preach repentance.  He ran, as we know, at first, but eventually went and the entire city repented.   But, now that a new generation had risen up, they turned, once again, away from God.   Nahum was sent to them.  But, this time, not to preach repentance, but to preach God’s wrath.  That is chapter one.  But, this verse at the end is not addressed to Nineveh and their leaders. It is addressed to Judah.   As a message of bad news is sent against Nineveh, a messenger is sent to Judah to tell them the good news.   The news is “peace.”  Their enemy is going to be destroyed.  Their enemy will no longer hinder their feasts of celebration to God.   Now they can keep their vows to God (vows, no doubt that were utter in prayer by them when they sought God’s mercy and grace).    God is listening to us and will send relief.   Peace is utter to us in the midst of our chaos.   We can rejoice that no matter how large the foe, God is the one in control.  

Social Justice by God’s Method - Proverbs 31

 Proverbs 31:8-9
Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

This is a complimentary proverb. The first line tells us what we are to do and the next three lines compliment it and explain it further. Those who believe in God have a Biblical responsibility to speak for those who cannot speak; to defend the rights of those who have lost their rights; and to speak up for those who have need and are being judge unfairly. When we see someone who is being treated unfairly or is in need, we are to come to their rescue. Our USA Memorial Day is about recognizing those who gave their lives for such action. Many have lost their lives doing what Solomon told us in these two verses. We must never forget that we are a country that is founded upon these words.  God's Word puts a lot of emphasis on standing up for the needy.  In our USA society there has been a lot of abuse of the "system" with a lot of people simply refusing to work and to live off the government.  That abuse has soured the hearts of those who should be willing to defend the rights of the poor and the needed.  If we are going to practice the areas addressed in Proverbs, with the wisdom God gives us, we should recognize who among is us truly needed and have the prudence to speak for them.  We ought not let the behaviors of the few to hinder our obedience toward God in our speaking up for many.   God intended the voice of those who speak the wisdom of God to shout from the roof tops in defense of those who can not.  

God Hovers Over Us - Psalms 120-121

Psalms 121:6 (ESV)
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

God’s protection for His people is paramount in His promises to us.   God is not ever asleep that He does not notice when we either slip or slide or struggle in life.   God wants us to know that He cares for us.  That is Psalm 121.   It all about God’s care.  In the previous verse it states that, “... the LORD is your shade on your right hand.”    Because He is our shade, we are not harmed by the rays of the sun, nor are we exposed at night to the wild beast of prey, By the moon.   We can rest in His constant and capable care.  The same truth was stated, in similar language,  in Psalm 91.  Note:

Psalms 91:1-6 (ESV)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

God is hovering over us to protect us from the elements of the world, whether those elements are physical or spiritual.   We can rest in God’s abundant and constant care. 

God Puts His Will Us - 2 Chronicles 21-24

2 Chronicles 23:1-7 (ESV)
But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. And they went about through Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king's son! Let him reign, as the LORD spoke concerning the sons of David. This is the thing that you shall do: of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers, and one third shall be at the king's house and one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD. Let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the LORD. The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

In the above story we read about the high priest, Jehoiada, creating a movement to protect the young king, Joash.   The story line in the Chronicles is about the kings of Judah.  This story is really interesting that it brings out the need of other leaders, as well.  Jehoiada is a tremendous leader.  He is used by God to protect Jehoiada.   Jehoiada is seven years old and needs protection.  God knows this.  He puts someone in place, at the exact time, to make sure His plan is complete.   But, God also puts the thought in his heart and mind, as well.  God stirs us up to do His will.  Note:

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

God works in us to “will” AND to “work” His good pleasure.   The above passage demonstrates this truth.  God is working in us to “will.”  

God is Greater than all gods! Deuteronomy 1-3

Deuteronomy 3:23-24 (ESV)
“And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, ‘O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?

In this short passage we have the opening praise of Moses’ prayer to ask God to allow him to enter the promise land.  God will tell him, NO, however.   Moses had disobeyed God, so God would not allow him to enter the promise land.  Sometimes, even those with the biggest name of God (it does not get any bigger for than Moses) are told, NO!   But, that does not diminish what Moses prays in the above passage.  At this point, Moses, Joshua, Caleb and the rest of Israel has had some success in conquering the land.   Moses is proclaiming that that success has come from God.   He simply wants to be part of what he sees God is doing.  He praises God that there is no god who can do what Yahweh can do.  Moses sees the spiritual battle going on in this passage.  God is destroying and and about to destroy the gods and the peoples of the land of Canaan.  Moses knows that there is no god powerful like his God.  What a truth to dwell on in our minds. God is awesome and does great things.   That is the truth that all believers should be praising.   Even in disappointment and when God says, NO, we should recognize the greatness of God in our lives.   

Worship Differently - Hebrews 8-10

Hebrews 10:32-34 (ESV)
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

When the early church meet to worship they did so at extreme risk.  Once they publicly proclaimed allegiance to Christ, that brought catastrophic circumstances to their lives.   In regard to family ties with their Jewish families, they were ostracized.   If they were Gentile converts, they, too, were rejected by their family.   The Jewish converts (most of the early church) were cast out of the synagogue, their most comfortable and acceptable place to be.   The Romans would eventually make the out to be the enemies of the state.   Those who “employees” them would disenfranchise them.   Those who purchases goods and services from them would stop.   If they were put in prison, they were not feed.  The only persons to feed those in prison for their faith would be those of the faith who were not in prison.  So, those not in prison would bring them food. By doing so, they exposed themselves to also being followers of Christ.   To say you were a follower of Christ was to experience all the above.   We take our Christianity for granted.   We go to church in the morning an out to lunch after.   In most cases we have absolutely NO ramifications for our faith.   It will not always be that way.   We need to rejoice and act like these early believers.  They saw Christ as worthy of all that persecution and suffering.   They did not look for their own comfort.  They looked for the comfort of Christ.  

Every Mob has the Same Tactics - Acts 5-6

Acts 6:11-14 (ESV)
Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

If it worked once, why not try it again?  Weeks earlier these same Jewish religious leaders used this same tactic to incite the crowds against Jesus to claim He, too, spoke blasphemous words agains the Law and God.  Notice how Matthew states it is His gospel record:

Matthew 26:57-65 (ESV)
Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.

Today’s crowd is very much in the same groove.  They want to make sure that those who bear the name of Christ are silenced.  It takes no imagination to see this in our country today.   What Satan can’t do with compromising the Church’s doctrine, the world does by stirring up the people against people like Stephen in this passage in Acts.  The world’s desire is to shut us up.  We must be bold like Stephen and not allow our mouths to be shut.  

The Weak Confound the Wise - Micah

Micah 5:2 (ESV)
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.

The story of God choosing Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus is probably one of the most known stories of the Christmas season. It is also one of the most inspiring for us.  In the ancient days, where you were born was almost as important as to who’s family you were born into.  In fact, they two often combined to make your name.   When it comes to a king being born (the Messiah) you would think that God would have had Jesus born in the downtown, city center.  But, it should be noted that:

1. Jesus was born outside the city - Bethlehem 

2. Jesus lived outside the city - Nazareth (can anything good come out of Nazareth? John 1:46)

3. Jesus died outside the city - Golgotha (Hebrews 13:13-15)

What we learn about God chooses Bethlehem as the place for Jesus birth and the way the birth took place is:

1. God, despite size and strength, uses the insignificant for His purpose

2. God, despite the odds, always fulfills his promises

3. God, despite the despair, always provides plentiful

The book of Micah was written to the big city of Samaria, which was the capital city of the Northern tribes (Israel) and to Jerusalem, the capital city of the Southern tribes (Judah).   Their leaders had corrupted them and the people had sold themselves to the things of the world and for the things of the world.   Micah is prophesying to two great cities that had all the luxury a modern day city in those days could offer.   Their pride in their “offerings” and “privileges” is what would bring them down.  God turns to lowly Bethlehem as a place that would be the powerful Messiah and provide the blessings and plenty the nation wanted.  God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the wise.  

1 Corinthians 1:27 (ESV)
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Keep Us In A Place of Contentment - Proverbs 29-30

Proverbs 30:7-9 

Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, Who is the Lord? Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

A number of years ago when I was going through a tough time both spirutaly, emotionally and financially, I came across these proverbs. I was in the midst of a divorce and was worried about how I would cover the needs of my children, my obligations for the women I lost and my own basic needs. I had thoughts so corrupt during those days, I now wonder why God didn't just end me like the fig tree His Son cursed in the gospel story. But, I still read a "Proverb a Day" and I circled these proverbs in my Bible. I decided right then and there that these three little verses would be my finanical philosophy for the rest of my life. I only wanted God to keep me in a place that I would ultimate have to trust Him. I have been so poor I wanted to curse. I have certainly been so full I wanted and did deny. God has been faithful in keeping me in the place I should be. I pray that He will continue to do that. Give me neither poverty or riches but a desire to simply trust in God for my day-to-day needs.  That type of prayer is what we see here.  I have no doubt it comes from the same spot.   Maybe the circumstances are different but the theme is the same ... asking God to make us content.   Paul tells young Timothy that no matter what he should be content:

1 Timothy 6:8
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

It is when we want more that we connive to get it.  It is when we have too much that act fat and forget who gave us the wealth, possessions, power, etc.    Be content.   God, keep us content.

God’s Word Is Eternal Truth - Psalms 119

Psalms 119:89-90 (ESV)
Forever, O LORD, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

Psalms 119:160 (ESV)
The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

The fact stated in the above verses gives us great confidence.   What other words can be stated as so?   Are Shakespeare’s words “fixed in the heavens?”  Is Forbes words?  How about Socrates?  Plato?  Nelson Mandela’s quotes? Do Warren Buffet’s words endure to all generations?  Are any of these authors, speakers or famous quotorians (I made that word up ... they are people we always quote) speaking truth, much less all truth?   Psalms 119 has 176 verses.  All but four (84, 91, 122, 149) mention God’s Word in one form or another.   The author is going to great extreme to tell us the truth of the above verses.  God’s Word is true and it was established before the foundation of the Word and continues to reign today and forever as truth.   Notice what the author of Hebrews and what Paul and Jesus tells us about this same truth:

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

John 17:17 (ESV)
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 

God gave us His word.  His word is true.  We are to obey it and live by it.  

Finish in Old Age - 2 Chronicles 17-20

2 Chronicles 20:35-37 (ESV)
After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

Jehoshaphat is an interesting leader to study.   In his youth he does well by reading God’s Word and obeying it (chapter 17).  Later (chapter 18) he makes an alliance with wicked King Ahab of Israel and almost has his downfall.   Then, he again turns to God and has some great reforms (chapters 19-20).   But, then, at the end of his life we read the above account.  Why in his old age and with this experience would he be lead to do this?  Pride?  It would be tough to know why this happens, but he is not the first.   Hezekiah does the same thing in the end of his life.   David, toward the end of his life, numbers the nation out of pride.   Jehoshaphat was moving along quite well.  But, like his alliance with Ahab was almost fatal, this alliance with Ahaziah was as equally displeasing to God.   God is concerned about our business practices, even later in life when we have served Him well.   God wants us to finish to the end.  Perhaps this is why Paul told young pastor Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Finishing is as important as starting.   Yes, we need to get started in our faith journey with God.  But, we must finish.  We must endure to the end.  The writer of Hebrews has much to say about endurance and finishing the race.   The entire twelfth chapter of Hebrews is dedicated to that theme.   Jehoshaphat should have heard these words and perhaps, in old age , he would not have failed at the end:

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

God’s Commands and Rules - Numbers 33-26

Numbers 36:13 (ESV)
These are the commandments and the rules that the LORD commanded through Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

God gives commands and rules.  This is a concept those who love God accept and rejoice over. Yes, believers can stumble at obedience, but those who love God, believe that the commands and rules God gives are for our benefit and His ultimate glory.   It is those who reject God and His commands and rules that will miss out on His blessings.   Notice what God says, though Moses, earlier about this thought, when warning the nation of Israel about what they should do when the enter the promise land:

Numbers 33:55-56 (ESV)
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.”

God is going to punish ANYONE who rejects His commands and rules.   The only way a believer can even fulfill the commands and rules is through the obedience of Christ.   Christ came to fulfill the law in Himself.   He then died for us.  He rose again for us.  That gives us the power to do God’s commands and rules.   He is writing them on the table of our hearts and minds:

Hebrews 8:10-12 (ESV)
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.”

We are to know God’s commands and rules.  That was the book of Numbers and will be the theme of Deuteronomy (which means, “the second giving of the Law).   Those who love God believe and obey His commands and rules by faith in Christ.   Those who don’t disobey them, ignore them and violate them, but ultimately will be judge by them.  

He is a Priest Forever - Hebrews 5-7

Hebrews 7:23-24 (ESV)
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

Jesus was a better priest!  That is the author of Hebrews theme from chapter 3-10.  In the above verse the writer gives us an amazing truth that helps us believe Jesus is a better priest.  The issue is that many people don’t think they even need a priest.  A priest is designed, by the term itself, to represent someone in spiritual work.   Far too many people don’t even a thought about their spiritual lives, much less a priest to represent them.   The Jewish believers who this book was written to, would most certainly, however, understand the need for a priest.  That was the main system the nation of Israel was given.  In these chapters the author of Hebrews is focusing their eyes away from Judaism and unto a better priest, Jesus.  The fact that He is “better” is established, in this text, because the Jewish priest could not stay as a priest since they died.  Jesus, it is stated in this text, lives forever.   We read the following about Him:

Hebrews 7:17 (ESV)
For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 7:20-21 (ESV)
And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”

Hebrews 7:28 (ESV)
For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

We read over and over that Jesus was a prefect priest “forever.”   He “ever” lives to make intercession for us.  That is the beauty of this truth.  Jesus is not a priest who lived and represented us and then died, making a need for another priest.  No, Jesus is a priest “forever.”   He always lives.   Notice what the author will say later in the book:

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The immutability of Jesus is the refreshing thought about our sin.  He lives to take away our sins in the past, present and future.   Jesus is lives forever.  Therefore we can count on Him to take our sins from the past, present and future.   He ever lives!!   His resurrection was His demonstrations of His living forever. He overcame death.  Therefore He can overcome our sins, forever.  That is a truth we are to rejoice over and celebrate.  

The Person, Power and Promise of the Spirit - Acts 1-2

Acts 1:1-4 (ESV)
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;

Luke is writing his second book.   Book writing can be fun.  It can be arduous.   Luke set out (in his gospel account) to give us an historical account of Jesus words and deeds.  In Acts, Luke is giving us an account of the words and deeds of the early church through the power of the Holy Spirit.   When writing a book, today’s authors are left to their own imaginations, intellect and communication skills.  Thankfully the Scriptures were written by men who were powered by the Holy Spirit.   God was guiding Luke as he wrote.  In the first chapter the Holy Spirit is mentioned multiple times.   Jesus left and said He would send the Sprit of God to guide the disciples, empower them and to make sure they completed the mission He sent them to complete.   This is the difference between Christianity and other “religions.”   Other “faiths” are based upon similar structures but none where God paid for their sins and none where God spends a Helper for us to live the life.   So many believers want to live their new found faith in their own power.  But, God has giving us a power in the Person of the Spirit to provide for us the strength, insight, and ability to live for Him.  What a great truth and promise.   We seldom live in light of what Luke took time to write and to tell us.   As we read his words in the book The Acts of the Apostles, we soon forget that it was the Acts of the Apostles through the power of God, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.   The Spirit of God is the forgotten Person of the Trinity to many believers.   But, it is in the strength of the Spirit that we are successful in our walk of faith.   

Preaching God’s Word - Jonah

Jonah 1:1-3 (ESV)
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

God has chosen to use mankind to do the work He needs to tell mankind about Himself.   In the above text we have the beginning of the famous story of Jonah and the big fish.   Jonah is commissioned to go to Nineveh, a great city, to tell them about God’s judgment.  The the people of Nineveh were a very, very wicked people.  Nineveh was a famous city with a rich history.   It was part of the Assyrian empire.   The city was quite large.  It took Jonah three days to walk through it to proclaim his message (Jonah 3:3).  We know the population was large.  God reminds Jonah that there at least 120,000 children in the city (Jonah 4:11). We might think that Jonah was fearful of their wickedness and what they would do to him if he did preach about God’s wrath.   We would not blame him for that.  The warriors of the city were vicious.   But, according to Jonah 4:1-2, Jonah was really concerned that if he did preach about God’s wrath, the people would repent.   He was correct, they did (Jonah 3:6-9).   That is an interesting thought for us to dwell upon.   The preaching of God’s wrath brought about repentance that the preacher didn’t really want from the start.    This shows us some very interesting truths:

1. Preaching about the whole character of God (His love AND His wrath) is powerful.  

2. God can use poor delivery, half-hearted delivery and/or delivery of His message that the preacher does not even want.   Remember, before his betrayal, Judas was used by God to cast out demons and heal the sick.   God can use a lot of different hearts to accomplish His purpose. 

3. Repentance is dependent upon God’s word being presented.   God used the simple proclamation of His word to bring about an entire city’s spiritual life.   God brings about repentance through the preaching of His word.