Has God written your name on His Palm? Isaiah 45-50

Isaiah 49:16

“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;

Your walls are continually before Me.

If you have ever written a note, phone number, person's name or class assignment on your hand  you might be familiar with what God is saying through His servant Isaiah in the above verse.   The servant and the nation are in a hypothetical discussion about God's care and watchfulness over the disobedient nation.  Remember, Isaiah has told them they are going to be disciplined and taken into captivity.  Jeremiah and a few other prophets will say the same thing.   The nation had every right to be fearful and nervous.   However, as Psalm 23 tells us, BOTH His ROD and His staff are a comfort to us ... or, should be.   Just prior to this statement God had asked the nation if a mother can forget her children?   Yet, the response might be, in an evil home, YES!!   So, God agrees and says that even though an evil mother might forget and forsake her children, God will never forget or forsake them.  In fact, He says, I have "inscribed you in the palms of MY hands; Your walls (the city walls of Jerusalem) are continually before Me."   God may be alluding here to the practice the nation had that as they went into captivity they would draw (think tattoo) the outline of their city, so they didn't forget its appearance.   What God is saying is that "you are precious to Me, I WILL NOT forget you."   Jesus would say later that we are in the "palm of the Father's hand and no one can pluck us out (John 10:27)."   We are that precious to God.  He has us in His hand and on His hand and through Jesus, redeemed through His hands.    What a great verse to meditate upon, even if we are being disciplined by Him.   Even if we can't see Him.   We can always look down on our palm and see the number, name or assignment we were suppose to remember.    Today, write Isaiah 49:16 on the palm of your hand.  When someone ask you what it means, tell them that is what God did with your name.   

What happens when we sin ... even by mistake? Job 18-19

Job 19:4 (NASV)

“Even if I have truly erred,

My error lodges with me.

Job 19:4 (NIV)

If it is true that I have gone astray,

my error remains my concern alone.

As can be seen by comparing the NASV and the NIV, the above verse has some ambiguity among writers, translators and authors.   Although there is certainly no ambiguity on the part of God, there does seem to be some variety in how we might take Job's response to Bildad's counsel.   The NASV seems to be telling us that Job admits his pain and situation may be because he foolishly did something he is unaware of and will, alone, bear the guilt of it.   Like bearing the danger of hosting a bad person for the night, Job will have to allow the sin they folly he ignorantly enjoyed to lodge with him and be an unwanted and tormenting guest.    On the other hand, the NIV seems to be indicate that since he erred he "alone" will have to bear it and it not Bildad's concern (or the other friends).   Scripture teaches us that we never bear a sin "alone" (no one else's concern).  It teaches us that when we sin we affect those around us.  Read about Achan in Joshua chapter six.   Paul even tells us that if we observe believers in sin we are to restore them (Galatians 6:1).  NO sin is in a vacuum.   But, that doesn't mean Job didn't think that at the time ... or, even believe it.   Frankly, the way Job's friends were expressing their friendship he might just be saying, "leave me alone with my folly, if that is what it is ... it is better than being attacked by you time and time again."   Who would blame him.   But, it is more likely that the NASV got it right by implying that when we sin (even in ignorance or not consciously) we invite the affects of sin to dwell with us.  LIke a hotel clerk we check sin into a room in our lives, even though we know they will destroy the room we give them.   Sin is with us.  She lodges in our hearts to do harm.   We must not think contrary to this.   Even unconscious sins are taking up room to do damage to our peace, our joy, or relationships and our harmony with man and God.   When we err, we invite error to lodge with us.  

What if there was no verse five? Psalm 24-26

In the following verses there is a truth that can only be realized by those who have come to know it in humility, repentance and faith.  Note David's words:

Psalms 24:4-5

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood

And has not sworn deceitfully.

 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord

And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

No on has a clean heart.  Everyone has lifted their soul to falsehood.   The falsehood is actually, "lifted their soul to worship a vain idol or thing."   Everyone has sworn deceitfully.   That is 24:4.   That is the condition of man.  That is the ugly truth about who we all are and how we all behave.  As much as we like to think we are good and self-righteous people, we are not.   Job was a just man and eschewed all evil.  Yet, he found out in the end that this earthly righteousness was nothing compared to God's holiness and true righteousness.   But we can be thankful that verse four gives way to verse five.   No one would have complained or criticized David for ending his Psalm at verse four.  However, he didn't.   He gave us verse five.   David states that "he" (the one who has an impure heart, a soul worshiping falsehood and a swearer to deceit) will "receive the blessing of The Lord" and "righteousness from God of his salvation."   The word "receive" the blessing means to carry something.   The picture is that we receive God's blessing and are "forced" to carry it around all day and night.   What a delightful burden.   God is giving us a blessing that we bear and carry.  It continues to protect us and fulfill us.   We are given the righteousness of God, as a gift.    What a great verse.   But, what if it had all stopped at verse four?   What if there was no verse five?   God's grace is that when we deserve nothing because our heart and soul are worshipping falsehood, He still gives us the burden of His blessing and the joy of His salvation.   God is the giver of grace and we are the undeserved recipients.   Thank God for the truth of verse five!!

Is there "sheep stealing" going on today? Judges 17-21

The story of Micah and his priest in Judges 17-18 is one of my favorite stories.   Here, in a time where everyone simply did what they pleased, we find a man with spiritual sensitivity, but lacking the knowledge of, or the will to, obey God's Word in the Law.   He so wanted a spiritual aspect of his life that he stole money, used it to purchase an idol of a god and even made one of his sons a priest for him.   When a Levite comes by, the Levite, with no spiritual sensitivity or will to obey God's Word, becomes Micah's hired priest.   The priest had a good wage, a good set-up and had little to worry about.   Until a better offer came along.  Note what happens when the Danites come by and steal the idols of Micah.  When the Levite tries to stop them from taking the idols the Danites make him an offer he can't refuse:

Judges 18:19-20

They said to him, “Be silent, put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?” The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod and household idols and the graven image and went among the people.

This aspect of the story so reflects our churches today.  Both member and leader of our churches are looking for the next best thing.   Members swap churches like most people swap cars.   Every few years is nice to get a new one.   The leadership of today's Church is just as bent on the next big thing.  Ministry follows the pattern of what is popular rather than the principles of God's revealed word.   Sheep stealing has become an excepted way to build the church.   It is doubtful that when Christ said He came to build the church that He meant that one church would build on the membership of another by employing the next great thing.   This priest in the story of Micah found it to be better to be with a tribe rather than a man.  Although he made a commitment to the man the tribe was a better deal.   Paul stated in Romans 15:20 that he would not build where another man was building.   Paul knew the temptations of stealing from other flocks.   This priest didn't have character and was not lead by God's Word.  The Levite was lead by dollars and powers.   So, true of today's ministries and where the flock goes.   

Can we afford to be gracious? Genesis 32-35

People who experience God's grace and blessing can afford to be gracious to others!    When God forgives (and you realize it) than it is easier (and should be expected) to forgive others.    God's grace is mean to be contiguous.    Jacob, in his youth and with the help of his mom, had swindled his brother out of his blessing from his father, Isaac.   Earlier, with the help of Essau himself, he had stolen his birthright.   Essau had every reason to be angry at his "little" brother.   Jacob (soon to be renamed, Israel) wanted to appease this anger with gifts and sent his flocks and herds ahead of him to wear Essau down and perhaps allow his anger to subside.   Isn't it interesting that the very flocks Jacob had earned and, according to his father-in-law, stolen from Laben, Jacob was willing to simply give over to his brother Essau.   What he one time cherished and thought was his very life, Jacob now was ready to give up for his life and the life of his family.    When Essau rejects the gifts, note what Jacob says, 

Genesis 33:10-11

Jacob said, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably. Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty.” Thus he urged him and he took it."

God had dealt graciously with Jacob.  He could afford to extend that graciousness to his brother.   Essau may have been offended by that phrase when you put some thought into it.   It was Esaau who needed to forgive and have mercy and grace and, yet, it was Jacob offering it.   But, Jacob had realized that God had promised him blessings and protection.   He had every reason to be gracious to his brother.   Those who have been given God's grace should be the first to extend God's grace to others.   When we are in the position to do so we ought to be the first to extend a warm and "open" hand.   God blesses us so we can bless others.   That is the meaning of God's blessing to us.   We are to be hold and hoard.   We are to be open and generous ... because God was generous with us.  

Can we get "more" hope? Romans 15-16

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Apparently, we can "abound" in hope.   Most believers probably can relate to the concept of abounding in Love ... or, abounding in Faith.    But, what is the concept of abounding in Hope?   The first thing we should note about this concept is that whatever it is and however it is accomplished in our lives it is completely God who makes it happen.   Paul's prayer in this little expression calls for two members of the trinity to make our abounding in hope happen:  The God of hope and the power of the Holy Spirit.  So, we need to get out of the thought that having an abundance is something WE do.   Having an abundance of anything spiritual is up to God and His work in our lives.   Another aspect we see in this brief prayer of Paul is that the word abundance has no limit.  There is no measuring line in the concept of the Greek word.   We don't "arrive" at this hope of abundance.  Rather we are constantly gaining what God is producing.    In our society we think in limits.  In God's work of sanctification He only thinks of movement toward holiness.     The last truth to read from this verse is that God seems to supply joy and peace, which enables hope to flourish.  Apparently, God fills us with joy and peace (fruits of the Spirit) and that allows the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to abound in hope.  As God fills us with joy and peace we have an understanding that God is at work and in control.   That gives us hope of what God can do, is doing, and will, yet, do.    God is working in our lives to produce hope so that we see that God is the reason for our hope, not our own strength, outlook or skill set.   Hope is a gift of God (like Love and Faith).   Hope is through the power of the Spirit.  

How do we move a mountain with prayer? Matthew 20-22

Matthew 21:21-22

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea, ’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

The disciples had the great privilege of seeing miracle after miracle.   They say the blind see, the lame walk and the demon possessed restored.   They even saw things of nature when Christ was in the boat and saw Jesus calm the seas.   In the case above they saw Jesus curse a fig tree and cause it to wither away.   The real lesson was in the fact that the fig tree did not produce fruit and therefore was destroyed.  So, too will be all those who hear the gospel and don't submit in faith thus allowing the Spirit to produce fruit.    But, the disciples, like on many occasions didn't see the truth taught but only the miracle accomplished.   They wanted to know "how" Jesus did the "trick."   Jesus indulges them (like He did on most occasions) and tells them that they too would be able do something on the level of cursing fig trees and, even more.  IF they had faith and didn't doubt.   He goes even farther and tells them that, with faith, they will be able to ask for anything in prayer and receive it.    We read the same thing from the hand of James in his epistle.   In James 1:5-8 we read about having faith without wavering.   James must have been listening to Jesus as he stood by.   Faith must be complete to be faith.  Doubt in faith is like water in wine ... not really the same thing.   Doubt is the fear we have that God will not answer our prayer, or worse, when we think He can't answer.   Faith is the thing that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).   Faith moves mountains.