Do you know what God has done for you? Hosea 8-14

Hosea 11:3-4

Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,

 I took them in My arms;

But they did not know that I healed them.

I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,

And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;

And I bent down and fed them.

In Hosea 8-14 we have God's indictment against Israel as He brings the nation of Assyria into their land to take them captive.   Like a prosecuting attorney this section is filled with points and sub-points about the guilt of Israel and their waywardness in light of God's great love.   In the verses above we get a glimpse into God's character and what He did for the nation, despite their unfaithfulness.   Israel was God's children.  And, like a loving father He did things for them they didn't see, recognize or care to admit.   Like an unfaithful child they chided His great love and only thought of pursuing their own loves and own wicked devices.   Yet, it was God who "healed" them.  It was God who "took them into His arms."    It was God who "taught" them.  It was God who led them "with bonds of Love."  And, in times that would have been devoured and crushed it was God "who lifts the yoke from their jaws."  It was God who "bent down and fed them."  Are we not the same.  Do we not go through lives more concerned about American Idol than the Worship of the One who feeds us every day?  Do we not fulfill our day with wrapping our arms around our stuff and not even acknowledge that His arm is around us for protection and love?   We are bond by the cords of Love by Him.   Why do we take those cords and bring in our own desires and not His.   Remember, He "bent" down and fed them.   We worship the only God who fed us with the love of His Son.   He has shown us great love.   Embrace it and honor it.  Don't do what Israel did.   Keep pure before Him.  

Leadership that can lead a nation - Proverbs 20-21

Proverbs 20:8

A king who sits on the throne of justice

 Disperses all evil with his eyes.

Leadership has so many responsibilities that any leader can quickly fall into the "manager" mode.   There has been much written about the differences between leadership and management.  This small devotional won't do much to exhaust that debate.   However, Solomon does give us a keen insight into the leader's mindset and implies something about leadership that far exceeds management.   A leader is responsible for the flow of justice - doing what is right - within the country, organization, institution, etc.   In this proverb Solomon stresses that the leader (the King) is so in tune with justice that he "sits on the throne of justice."  This implies it is not a mere thought that crosses his mind but the actual core of his culture.   His throne is known for being a just.   The throne is where he makes all his decisions.   The throne is the symbol of his authority.    A king who sits on the throne of justice has established a culture of justice.   But, it doesn't end there.   Not only does he sit on a throne of justice but his presence and power are so filled with justice evil runs from his sight.  He "disperses all evil with his eyes."  Think through that thought.   He merely looks and evil has no place to hide.    That is leadership.   Managers could not do that if the leader in the group didn't support that type of culture.   Leadership ... Godly Leadership ... disperses evil by a mere glance.   People would not do things around that type of leader they would to others.   If you want to be a leader in your home, your business, your office, your community, be a Proverbs 20:8 leader.   Sit in justice and disperse evil with your eyes.  

He knows your FRAME - Psalm 102-104

Psalms 103:14

For He Himself knows our frame;

He is mindful that we are but dust.

Think about the above verse for a moment.  God knows our frame!  He knows we are but dust!  Part of the problem we often have with others is that they seldom rise up to the level of expectation we have for them.  We expect so much from others.  We expect them to be always kind, to be ever true, to demonstrate great character in all situations (while we ourselves fail in those very areas).   When they don't reach the bar of competency we have set for them we reject them, abandon them, and/or abuse and criticize them.   We seldom take into account their "frame".  We never consider they were formed from the "dirt" of the earth.   But, our Creator is not like us.  He knows our frame.  He is very mindful that He created us out of the "dust of the earth" prior to our becoming a living soul.   God knows us and knows we will do dirty things since we hail from dirt.   Perhaps that is the one thing the evolutionist have right.  We are from the dirt of the ground ... but, not by evolving, but by a Creator who knows us.  Because God knows us He knows we need a Redeemer and that is why He sent His son.  Because God knows us He knows we need guidance and that is why He gave us the Spirit.   Because God knows us He knows we need instruction and that is why He gave us the Word of God.   God knows us and has given us everything we need to continue to serve Him and Worship Him.   There is a bad side, of course, to His knowing our frame.  He knows our thoughts, our actions, our motives, our darkest moments.   To those who wish to hide from Him and reject the afore mentioned gifts, that can be a scary thought.   Absent a Redeemer, Guide, and Instruction Book, His knowing our frame is like light shined on a roach invested kitchen ... everyone is running for cover.   But, the true believer can take solace in the fact that God knows our frame and provides for us what that frame needs.  

I want to be a professional "Thanks-giver" - 1 Chronicles 15-19

1 Chronicles 16:7

Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord.

When I grew up I dreamed of being either a professional baseball player (Al Kaline of the Tigers was my hero), or a truck driver. Obviously, those two things are on complete ends of the spectrum. I am not sure how or what made me desire these two occupations. They have nothing in common except that I am sure many truck drivers attend baseball games and pay the salary for a few baseball players. I since dreamed of being many things. I see many occupations I would like to do but it is has never crossed my mind to be a professional "give thanks to the Lord-er." David, in his new found understanding of Scripture decides to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem, THE RIGHT WAY (if you don't remember, the first time he did it they tried to carry the Ark in a way no ascribed by God and lost a life ... this time he would do it according to the Word of God). And, by faith, David knew that if he did it the RIGHT WAY it would be a time of blessing and thanks giving. So, "Prior" to bringing the Ark back he assigns singers and musicians to make the joyful sound (chapter 15). But, in 16;7 he now assigns Asaph to "continue" the job of thanking the Lord. If you have ever read any of Asaph's Psalms in the book of Psalms you will see that Aspah was the right man for the job. Asaph must have had a heart for God and a positive personality. God had placed in him the heart of thanks. Not everyone is that way. Not everyone remembers to be thankful. Many of us simply are too busy to stop in the middle of a great blessing to say thanks. Even to say thanks for our food is a difficult step for some. God deserves our praise and thanks. David knew that and gave someone that job.  In 16:34 we see that he left Asaph there to do the thanks giving that was required for the work.   Wow!!   I want that job ... but, do I have the heart to say thanks continually? 

Stop! Wait! Listen? Numbers 9-12

There are certain people you can trust when they give their opinion of something.   I don't know them personally, but I assume their are some.  The rest of us ought to be careful how we answer a question or inquiry for counsel.   Moses, the great Israelite leader, would be one of those leaders we could ask a question and expect a good answer ... right off the top of his head.   Yet, Moses, did not do that. When asked to solve a problem he did not use his authority or power to wax eloquent.   I need to learn this principle.  Look at what Moses does when he is asked to resolve an issue about men who missed the passover due to touching a dead body.   Moses doesn't make something up, give his own opinion, tell us what they did in the old days, or ignore it.  Here is his response: 

Numbers 9:8

Moses therefore said to them, “ Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you.”

Wow!!   Wait?   Listen?   Two phrases we ought to piggy back on for the rest of our lives.    And what is he "waiting" and "listening" to?  The "command" of the Lord!   Late one night, late in the evening I was sent an email by a client who wanted my thoughts on an email he had received.   Before I knew what I was going to say I was typing a response.  I didn't stop to "wait" and "listen" to my own thoughts.   I just started typing a response and hit send.  The next morning I sent him another response ... "in addition to" the other response.   I never thought of saying to him, "wait" as I go "listen" to what the Lord has to say about this thing.   I am extroverted and tend to think with my mouth and, I think, Moses was more of the introverted type.  Yet, the lesson of waiting and listening and seeking God's commands about something FIRST should be a practice for either type and preference.   Today, when you are asked to give a response to something, repeat Moses' practice ... Wait and listen and seek the command of the Lord.   

How do we fight the apostasy in the world and protect ourselves? 1 Timothy 4-6

Paul makes a big deal about young Timothy's responsibilities. The books of 1 and 2 Timothy are literal a "how to book" on how to "do the ministry" and "how to do preaching." It should be weekly required reading for all those in the ministry. Note in particular how Paul tells young Timothy to handle his job in light of false teachers and the end time (something we are closer to than Timothy was). Paul is talking to him about using God's Word to fight false teachers:

4:6 - "In pointing out these things ..."

4:7 - "... on the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."

4:10 - "For it is for this we labor and strive ..."

4:11 - "Prescribe and teach these things."

4:13 - "Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture."

Paul was concerned about Timothy's content both in character and in message.   The two must go together if we are to profitable in our fight of false teachers.   The life of the ministry depends upon our ability to teach the Word and live the Word.   In any generation God demands that His spokesmen handle the Word and all the Word to handle them.  That is the defense against apostasy.  

Free INDEED! John 7-9

I really don't need to write anything today about this section of John. It speaks so much for itself. Every portion is full of so, so much, but read this again:

John 8:32-36

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “ We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free ’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

You can't help but wonder if these words weren't remembered and passed around the early church since Paul made it the cornerstone of Justification by Faith in Romans. Even though John's gospel was written later than the other gospels you can see John's capturing of Jesus' words in even Paul's writings. The concept of freedom and slavery is so void in our modern day society. Non-believers don't recognize the slavery to sin in their lives. They believe they are free, as the Pharisees did in this passage. The don't see the sin that enslaves them. Believers should see it. They know they have been set free from it (Note the last verse of that portion: "So if the Son makes you free you will be free INDEED". We miss that in our lives. I am so captured by my sin and it continues to wrap is ugly, cold chains around me. I continue to be held, despite the fact that Jesus died for my freedom and John and Paul tell of it. Yet, I don't see it. Like the Pharisees of old, I walk around with eyes of the flesh and succumb to my inner depravity - not fully realizing the statement: IF the Son makes you free you will be free INDEED. By faith we should celebrate our freedom and not allow the chains of sin that Jesus died for to once again hold us in their grip. Faith is the key that unlocks them and destroys them. Faith says believe in Christ and something better will happen. Flesh says succumb and have it now. Faith says Christ beat it and there is something better later. Flesh says come enjoy it now.  If you believe in the Son you are free INDEED.