Title: He's Coming Soon / Topic: Christ's Return

Today’s Reading: Revelation 19; Revelation 20; Revelation 21; Revelation 22

Scripture: Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."

Observation: The thrilling conclusion of the end of days as recorded in John's Revelation climaxes with the return of Jesus and the final judgments against those whose very nature seems to be hatred for God and rebellion against him. These words in verse 20 are great comfort from Jesus himself. "Yes, I am coming soon," he tells us.

Application: And this is the blessed hope for those who believe: Jesus is coming again to make all things right and to restore God's rightful rule over creation. As I look at the world on this last day of 2007, I wonder how much longer it can continue. We see wars and rumors of wars, great thrashing turmoil among so many nations around the world, and the shadow of threat of some kind of nuclear attack still darkens the earth. We witness a prevailing culture that is growing in a blatant rejection of God and his authority. Man's technology is becoming more and more powerful, and the advances in genetic research make human cloning a likely reality in a short time. Because of these things, it seems to me that Jesus' coming is so soon and the time is short. If this is true, what kind of lives should we be living?

Prayer: Lord, help us to pray and seek your face. Empower your people to follow you with passion and focus. I pray that Jesus would be clearly lifted up by your Church so that the true witness of Christ would be unmistakable to the world. Purify your people so the world may know that Jesus is Lord. Help me to follow you more closely, and never to forget that Jesus is coming soon.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Title: The Blame Game / Topic: Responsibility

Today’s Reading: John 5; John 6

Scripture: John 5:2-14
2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat."
11 But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' "
12 So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?"
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

Observation: Today's reading is great! John's gospel is so rich. I picked this portion because the way the crippled man responded to Jesus caught my attention. Notice that Jesus asks him a direct question which is easily answered yes or no: "Do you want to get well?" But the man doesn't answer the question at all. Instead he gives excuses and even places blame on other people. Look at his response in verse 7 above. First he says that he has no one to help him into the pool. This places blame on his family and friends because no one truly cares enough about him to take time to help him. And then he says that someone else gets to the pool ahead of him, again blaming these other people for stealing his healing. Notice that those he blames he views as truly uncaring, showing no concern whatsoever for his plight. So for this man, it's all about him and how neglected (and even abused) he is.

But Jesus has simply asked him if he wanted to get well. He missed the question entirely! In spite of the man's non-response, Jesus speaks healing to him. Notice that the method of Jesus healing requires the man to take action -- this was no time for excuses -- act and be healed or sit there and be miserable. The man chose to act and was instantly healed!

What is particularly interesting is what follows. As he picks up his mat and walks, he is immediately confronted by some religious people who criticize him for a sabbath violation. (This always amazes me: people who can't put aside their religious pet peeves for a moment to rejoice with a man who just experienced a life-changing miracle!) And here, the man reverts to blaming again. He could have accepted responsibility: "I'm sorry, this is the first day of my life that I have been able to walk and carry my mat, so I guess I didn't know about this law. I will stop carrying it today and pick it up again tomorrow." Instead, he blames Jesus: "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.'" He is saying, "It's not my fault! I am a victim of this other guy who told me to do it!" Pretty astounding that he would blame Jesus. But there are may people like this who simply don't seem to be able to face and accept personal responsibility.

Jesus confronts him about it later saying, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." He tells him that his behavior is sin. And notice the phrase "you are well again". I see two possibilities here. Either this is not the first time he has received a healing, or the onset of his sickness was the result of his sin, perhaps a judgment from God or the consequence of some folly he brought upon himself.

Application: I'd like to make two simple (and short) applications from this story:
1) Accept responsibility.
2) Don't be hesitant to confront those who live by the blame game.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live responsibly and honestly before you and others. Help me to take responsibility for myself before you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Faithful Prayers For Faithful Partners / Topic: Leadership

Today’s Reading: 2 Timothy 1; 2 Timothy 2; 2 Timothy 3; 2 Timothy 4

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:2-3
2 To Timothy, my dear son...
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

Observation: What a beautiful letter this is! I just love the relationship between Paul and Timothy -- there is a sweetness to it that is all too rare. I think that this kind of closeness and preciousness between two people who serve together in ministry should be much more common than it is. (But that is a different subject for a different day.) What I wanted to write about today was Paul's commitment to pray for Timothy. Verse three proves verse two to be true.

Application: It is easy to say things like, "my dear son," or "I appreciate you," or "you are so precious to me." But Paul doesn't just say it, he backs it up by taking personal responsibility to pray daily for Timothy -- and not just daily (although most of us rarely will do even this much) but constantly! Paul has a special relationship with Timothy wherein Timothy is out of Paul's mind and heart. So as Paul goes throughout his day, his thoughts of Timothy become prayers for Timothy. What a great example Paul is to me as a leader having dear and precious disciples who "follow me as I follow Christ." Thank you, Lord, for reminding me of my responsibility and privilege to constantly bring my dear helpers before your throne of grace.

Prayer: And Lord, help me to carry this out with joy and diligence and consistency. I am grateful for the faithful men and women -- my partners in service to you -- that you have been gracious to put into my life. May I always be faithful to "constantly remember [them] in my prayers."
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Critical Eye For The Christian Guy / Topic: Judgmentalism

Today’s Reading: Romans 13; Romans 14; Romans 15; Romans 16

Scripture: Romans 14:1-13 (this is a little long, but worth reading)
1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.' " 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Observation: I know this is a long passage for my blog but I wanted to include this much because it conveys to me such an important principle. So much of the history of the Church has been filled with conflicts between Christians. Even the biblical account in Acts includes controversies and divisions that arose in the early Church. And it continues to this day.
This phrase in verse ten is so important: "...why do you look down on your brother?" An attitude of pride and superiority regarding another person whose beliefs or actions are deemed to be inferior is what Paul is talking about. And these kinds of attitudes are common. I see this between denominations and even within a church between individual Christians. And it has a stench to it. Paul makes three basic points which I will list briefly in the next section.

Application: The first point that Paul makes is to define "disputable matters." There are many aspects of one's person and spiritual life that are a matter of preference and opinion. They are not set in stone or established as right or wrong in scripture. He lists a couple of examples: food and special days. And he teaches that in matters such as these, arguments and debates don't settle anything. It's a matter of personal conscience: "Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." In other words, "keep it to yourself."

The second point is this: there is one Master to which the other person must answer: "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls." So if I judge, I stand in the place of God and arrogate one of his responsibilities onto myself, as if I have the right to push Him aside and take over this job. And an additional implication of this point is that not only does the other person have a Master, but I too have the same Master. And I should stop focusing on the other person's lacks and concentrate on my own failings, one of which may be judgmentalism. (Oh, and also notice in verses 1-3 that the person who judges the other is weaker in his faith. Typically, those who judge make themselves out to be more spiritual but Paul indicates otherwise.)

The third point is that rather than focusing on what's wrong with my brother of sister, I should work to help them advance. "make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." So much of what Christians spend their time on actually impedes the progress of other Christians, themselves, and the church in general. Think of how much could be done against the enemy, if we refocused all this negative energy against him. No wonder he spends so much time sowing discord among believers. Let us give him no quarter and work to bless others rather than focus on what we perceive to be their shortcomings.

Prayer: Lord, help us to please you in the way we bless others. May we be those who promote unity, progress, and love among your people.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Sanctification And Sex / Topic: Practical Spirituality

Today’s Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4, 5; 2 Thessalonians 1, 2, 3

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Observation: Verse three is so straightforward as to be a little breathtaking. Paul writes two phrases joined in such a way that the second explains the first. Phrase one says, "It is God's will that you should be sanctified". Now if one were to address this phrase to the congregation in church and pause at that point asking, "How does one fulfill this -- how is one sanctified?" there would be a variety of answers from praying and reading the Bible, to meditation and accountability, to church attendance and personal discipline, and so forth. I doubt that anyone would think to say this: "avoid sexual immorality." If one did say this out loud, the others in church might think this person to be a pervert! And yet that is what Paul wrote.

Application: We so often seem to keep our Christianity in a kind of unreal, out of this world, context. But Paul knew that if Christianity was to have any real impact on people, it had to be real, and raw, and on the ragged edge where people actually live and struggle. So Paul links sanctification and sex directly. If you want to be truly spiritual, it must involve your sex life. If you or I or anyone thinks that one can isolate his sex life, doing anything he pleases, without negatively impacting his spiritual life, that is a deadly self deception. Any true Christian life must be rooted in practical spirituality. Jesus doesn't just want to save your soul, he wants to save you -- every part of you -- every aspect of your life: your thoughts, words, action, hopes, dreams -- your relationships, your health habits, your emotional condition, and, yes, your sex life. This is the kind of salvation that God has for every person. I call it holistic salvation. Some people have a salvation that is like a thin woodgrain veneer over particleboard. It may look a lot like hardwood, but there's no hardwood there. But God wants us to be the same on the inside as on the outside -- like solid wood through and through. That is how I understand integrity. If you cut the thing up, it's the same all the way through. We say, "This is a oak chair. It's made of oak." If you took a saw to it, there would be nothing but oak all the way through. Of course, you don't have to cut it up to tell if it is real oak. You can turn it over and inspect it carefully and determine the chair's integrity. So if I say, "I'm a man of God," then I am representing myself to be made of God all the way through. So if you were to inspect my life, God should be evidenced in all of its parts. If any area of my life does not show God, then I lack integrity. I must repent and get God into that part of my life so that I can be genuinely and authentically Christian.

In the verses following verse three, Paul elucidates what it means to "avoid sexual immorality" and makes it abundantly clear that it is not optional for any Christian. His bottom line is stern: "..he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit." You can't reject this and still be a Christian. You can't reject this and still have the Spirit. This is brutal, practical Christianity.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being a practical God. I am grateful that Jesus Christ lived a life on this planet in a physical body so that he could personally experience what it's like to be human, "tempted in all ways, like as we." And having thus lived, you not only understand, but you give us help so that we can rise above our fallen humanness and be set on a Rock upon which we can stand. Help me and all who read this to be challenged to live in righteousness and holiness in our entire lives, including sex, as you would empower us to do. May we be people of integrity.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Three Lessons From Matthew's Gospel / Topic: Living The Life Of Christ

Today’s Reading: Psalm 125; Matthew 26; Matthew 27

#1 Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13
6 While Jesus was in Bethany... 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

#1 Observation/Application: Like the disciples, we can be so cheap when it comes to the things of God. Notice their words, "Why this waste?" This reminds me of those who criticize any church that constructs a beautiful church building or spends a lot of money on something fancy for the church. But Jesus rebukes them, correcting their "cheap hearts". And we who love the Lord today need to spend more money on Jesus so that he will say of us, "They have done a beautiful thing to me."

~ ~ ~

#2 Scripture: Matthew 26:34-35, 69-75
34 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." 35 But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you..." 69 ... a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. 70 But he denied it... 71 ...another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 He denied it again... 73 ...those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them..." 74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

#2 Observation/Application: Most of us are pretty hard on Peter for his denial of Jesus. But as I was reading, I thought of times that I have done and do things that do not identify me with Jesus. In effect, these actions and words deny Jesus. Reading this story and thinking about it causes me to repent of actions and words that to not show that I belong to Jesus. This story should cause us all to recommit ourselves to affirming and not denying Jesus with our lives.

~ ~ ~

#3 Scripture: Matthew 27:62-66
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day... 65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

#3 Observation/Application: It is amazing to me that the enemies of Jesus can't seem to give up on hateful and destructive actions toward him. Here, even after they have had Jesus brutally killed, they are still worried. It makes me smile. Because, deep down, they know that there is something about Jesus that they can never kill. And the truth is, even with their extraordinary efforts to kill him and keep him in the grave, they failed because Jesus rose from the dead! Hallelujah! No power of man can keep him down. And if we cling to him, we will be raised with him.

~ ~ ~

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your greatness, your power, mercy and grace that you give to us. I pray that we will always make full use of these attributes that you desire to share with us. May we be fully participating in the divine nature that you have put into the lives of those who love, obey, and serve you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Where Is Wisdom? / Topic: Wisdom

Today’s Reading: Job 28; Job 29; Galatians 1; Galatians 2

Scripture: Job 28:28 "And he said to man,
'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.' "

Observation: Job gives a long speech about the source of excellence -- how it is not in man nor in nature nor in death. This verse is the summary of that speech and it is so profound. People think wisdom is found in education, or experience, or some other human achievement. But it is found in fear of the Lord, the basis of which is humility.

Application: The application is simple. Fear the Lord. Shun evil. These are the ways to walk in wisdom and understanding.

Prayer: Lord, help me to fear you rightly, to always shun evil, and thus to walk in wisdom and understanding.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Sow Seed! / Topic: Evangelism

Today’s Reading: Job 20; Mark 3; Mark 4

Scripture: Mark 4:3-8
3 "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."

Observation: I notice that the sower just keeps sowing the seed. He does not look at the soil and say, "This isn't good soil. I won't waste my seed here." He scatters the seed.

Application: I try to sow where I think I am guaranteed results (or at least I think I have a good chance of results). But it seems from this parable that I need to be much more liberal with scattering seed. I need to get the seed out everywhere and give the soils a chance to react and respond. Perhaps there will be growth where I don't expect it. Especially since I've seen little or no growth where I did expect it. : )

Prayer: Lord, help me to be bold and unhindered with sharing the Gospel. I've got good news -- help me to share it more freely and frequently. Give me opportunities and I will take them. I want to win many souls. And thank you, Lord, that you are the One who makes things grow.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Common Nonsense / Topic: Foolishness

Today’s Reading: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27; Acts 28

Scripture: Job 18 (excerpts) & Acts 27:9-12
Job 18 (excerpts)
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
5 "The lamp of the wicked is snuffed out;
the flame of his fire stops burning...
11 Terrors startle him on every side
and dog his every step...
16 His roots dry up below
and his branches wither above.
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;
he has no name in the land...
21 Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man;
such is the place of one who knows not God."

Acts 27:9-12
9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them, 10 "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there...

Observation: The two passages above caught my attention. The Job passage chronicles Bildad's rebuke of Job. Bildad regards himself as spiritual and wise. His remarks, however, are simplistic and false. There are many people who see life in black and white, with no shades of gray. Bildad ostensibly came to comfort Job. Some comfort! Here he is condemning Job by implying that only evil people face calamity as Job is facing. This is commonly believed by many people, including Christians. But it is not common sense, it is common nonsense. And the Acts passage shows that majority rule often leads to disaster. Paul was not listened to because he was thought to be a religious kook. "The advice of the pilot and the owner of the ship" was what swayed the majority and the decision to go on was made based on their "expert" advice.

Application: There is a lot of common nonsense out there. Whether the opinion of experts, or the popular, people believe or can be lead to believe so many untrue and even foolish things. And it is so easy for people to judge others wrongly as Job was judged. That is because conclusions are drawn without really taking the time and effort to understand the situation and because the approach is often with pride and/or arrogance.

Bottom line: True wisdom comes from God and bears his character of love, justice, mercy, humility, and goodness. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, may I think rightly -- with your divine wisdom, not my own human logic, as the basis of my thinking. Help me not to be swayed or influenced by popular trends or cultural pressures, but keep my heart and soul anchored on your eternal truth. Give me Godly wisdom, and the discernment and discretion to speak it effectively.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Faith In The Fire / Topic: Trusting God

Today’s Reading: Job 13; Job 14; Acts 17; Acts 18

Scripture: Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely defend my ways to his face.

Observation: I love Job. He is being put through the wringer, both physically and emotionally. His friends have begun to turn on him, and his wife did so long ago. He must feel abandoned by everyone and smitten by God. Yet, in the middle of his struggle, he makes this statement of faith, "though he slay me, yet will I hope in him." What great faith! And his followup comment shows his confidence in his relationship with God, even though his current situation is confusing to him, "I will surely defend my ways to his face." He knows that God is reasonable and when (not if) he appears before God, he will certainly be given an opportunity to present his case to God.

Application: Let Job be an inspiration to all of us. Job suffered so much more than most of us would ever be subjected to, yet even in the depths of his suffering, he kept his bearings regarding God. God is in charge, I am subject to Him. Job never forgot this -- I must never lose this perspective either.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that Your ways are far beyond my ability to fathom. Help me not to worry about it when I can't figure You out. Help me to accept blessing and calamity from Your hand, with the understanding that You have in mind the bigger picture of what's best in the ultimate sense. May I always trust in You, my Savior and my God.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: One Good Man / Topic: Goodness

Today’s Reading: Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10; Acts 11

Scripture: Acts 11:22-24
22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Observation: Barnabas is one of the unsung heroes of the Bible. He didn't write any books or perform miracles. He is someone who gets passed over when talking about the "great saints" of the Bible. But I like Barnabas. He first shows up earlier in Acts where he sells a piece of property and donates the proceeds to the church. His name, Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), was apparently a nickname given to him by the apostles.

Application: I want to be like Barnabas. Notice verse 24. "He was a good man..." We sometimes focus on the superstars, but few of us will ever be a Paul or a Daniel. But here is simply a "good man" -- that is something that just about every Christian person can be. And he was good because he was "full of the Holy Spirit and faith." People are drawn to this kind of person. I want to be a good man.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be like Barnabas. To be a "son of encouragement" in all my encounters with others.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Two Steps Back / Topic: Vigilance

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1; Malachi 2; Acts 4

Scripture: Nehemiah 13:10-11
10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. 11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

Observation: Nehemiah had instituted great reforms based on repentance. He had personally repented and had led his people in repenting before God. But he had to leave Jerusalem to return to the king and while he was gone, progress halted and reversals happened. In other words, they experienced backsliding. When Nehemiah returned, he was livid with the lack of attention to following God -- they had gone back to living like the people around them. They were living like heathens and Nehemiah steps in again to straighten it all out.

Application: What I notice here is that once changes are made, it is still hard to stay on track -- and even harder to make further progress. The natural propensity for ease and laziness kicks in and the backwards slide starts. The saying goes, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." I know this is true. If I am to be free, I must be vigilant and relentless in pursuing God. Evil is always ready to move in.

Prayer: Lord, help me to keep moving forward with you. Give me a diligent heart and a vigilant spirit that I may spot the "little foxes that spoil the vine" and stay on track with you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Cost / Topic: Repentance

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 9; Nehemiah 10; Acts 2

Scripture: Nehemiah 10:31 "When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts."

Observation: These Israelites are coming before God in repentance. They have dedicated themselves to renewing the covenant with God and walking in the way of the Lord. And here they commit to some parts of the covenant that have a true financial cost associated with them: to not do commerce on the Sabbath or other holy days and to observe the year of jubilee. These observances have an apparent cost. They will lose money (it seems) if they follow these rules. But these people know that the judgment of God came upon their forebears and them because such rules were not followed so they stand in the place of true repentance and swear to follow God's ways completely, no matter the cost.

Application: Repentance involves a cost. There is a sacrifice involved if a person truly repents. Today, many people think they can come to God on their own terms. They are sorely mistaken. We can only come to God on his terms. And in our unregenerate state, we are so far from God that significant repentance and change is always required.

Prayer: Lord, help me to stay away from a "gospel" of comfort. Your true Gospel always involves a cost and a sacrifice. Help me to always walk in repentance as I move toward you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Have You Heard / Topic: The Word Of God

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 7; Nehemiah 8; Acts 1

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-9
1 all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion... 5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites... instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law...

Observation: What an amazing thing this is. The people of Israel are hungry for the word of God. They have not ever heard it because their forefathers neglected and disregarded the word. Now, after years of painful exile, the consequences of their forebears' turning away from God, they have gathered in Jerusalem for the sole purpose of hearing the word. What strikes me is the virtue and seriousness of their pursuit. All the people have gathered "as one man" it says -- they have real unity of purpose. As the word is read they stand up in reverence. At the end, as the Amen is pronounced, they lift their hands and responded, affirming the word with Amens of their own, and then "they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground." The people had to be instructed, "'Do not mourn or weep.' For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law..." This was a solemn and serious event to them. For the first time they were hearing the very words of their God.

Application: The first application is that it is every generations responsibility to teach God's word to the next generation. These people didn't know the word because their parent, grandparents, great grandparents, and so forth did not take this responsibility to heart. The word died out in Israel because of the neglect of the responsibility to pass it on. I think we are largely neglecting this responsibility today.

The second application is based on their seriousness and reverence for the word. They were truly committed to hearing from God and they demonstrated it with outward actions (standing, listening for several hours while standing, raising hands, bowing to the ground), words (saying "Amen", praising God), and emotion (anticipation of hearing the word, weeping as they heard it). I contrast these responses to how people respond to the word of God today: mostly with boredom or indifference. How wonderful it would be if the people of God today had some of this desire for, reverence regarding, and dedication to the word of God.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love your word. May I open myself to let it fully impact me as these people did. And may your people today take seriously the responsibility of passing the word along to the next generation. Show us how, give us the methods and the determination to accomplish this important responsibility.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Near Or Far / Topic: Humility

Today’s Reading: Ezra 5; Ezra 6; Psalm 138; Luke 16

Scripture: Psalm 138:6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.

Observation: I love this verse. When it says that the Lord "looks upon the lowly" in contrast to "but the proud he knows from afar", the clear implication is that God is near to the lowly, watching them with affection and intimacy. Proud people don't get that intimacy. In fact, proud and powerful people keep other people away as well. So they are quite alone, since even God keeps his distance.

Application: Do I want to be near to God or far from him? The determining factor is my humility. Closeness to the Lord is directly proportional to my humility of heart.

Prayer: Keep me humble and close to you, Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Fear The Lord / Topic: Pleasing God

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 13; Zechariah 14; Psalm 147; Luke 15

Scripture: Psalm 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Observation: Fear the Lord. This concept isn't too popular today. Especially among the seeker-sensitive. It doesn't sound very welcoming to invite someone to fear anything or anyone. Particularly when we say that a "personal relationship with Jesus" is what a person needs to be saved. But I think that a proper relationship with God does involve fear. The Bible tells us that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" and here it says that "the Lord delights in those who fear him." And notice the next phrase, "who put their hope in his unfailing love."

Application: If I do not fear the Lord, I am putting too much stock in me rather than the Lord. And when I do this, I tend to trust in me and in what I am able to do for myself. When I understand that I am next to nothing compared to him, then I will fear him and will trust in him at the same time. I will trust in his love for I must know that if he is to have anything to do with me, it's not because he needs me! No, it is due to his mercy and love for me that he saved and blesses me.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your wonderful awesome self and for your unfailing love and mercy toward me. May I always be one of those who fears you and trusts in you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Watching Jesus / Topic: Honoring The King

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 10; Zechariah 11; Zechariah 12; Psalm 126; Luke 14

Scripture: Luke 14:1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

Observation: There Pharisees and other prominent dinner guests are keeping an eye on Jesus to see if he will violate the rigid rules that they pride themselves on obeying. Unfortunately, they were not watching him to learn from him or to admire and honor him, but rather to judge him.

Application: Lots of people know about Jesus and are interested in him. Even the Islamic religion recognizes Jesus as a prophet. But watching Jesus isn't really the point. It's obeying him, honoring him, and, ultimately, surrendering to him that really counts. These Pharisees were more interested in obeying their own version of the Law rather than the Word himself which was right in front of them. How many of us miss Jesus because we are focused on the wrong things?

Prayer: Lord, I want to keep my eyes on you so that I can love you more. Help me to keep my focus right. And help me to see you in every situation in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Not Forgotten / Topic: God's Perspective

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 4; Zechariah 5; Zechariah 6; Luke 12

Scripture: Luke 12:6-7
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Observation: Jesus instructs the people to remember that God values them. Why does he take the time to do this?

Application: It is because it is easy to feel forgotten by God. Because of my earth-bound perspective, I don't see the bigger picture and I certainly often am not aware of God's concern or even awareness of me. God sometimes seems distant and unconcerned -- maybe even unaware. But Jesus tells us that this perception is mistaken. God even remembers every sparrow that falls. This is beyond my understanding. How he does it I cannot understand, but that he does it will bring me comfort if I accept it. And Jesus says that my worth to God is greater than many sparrows. So if he remembers every single sparrow, how much more does he remember me. There is an old song that says, "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me." This truth brings comfort and perspective that I need.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for loving me and knowing me. I am grateful that you have not forgotten me and that you will never forget me. Give me your perspective in greater and greater measure so that I will not get discouraged by how I perceive things to be. And continue to work in and through me that I may fulfill your will and purpose for my life. Without you, I am nothing. May I be full of you and walk fully in your path for me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Hinder Or Help? / Topic: Spiritual Leadership

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 1; Zechariah 2; Zechariah 3; Luke 11

Scripture: Luke 11:52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."

Observation: These self appointed spiritual leaders have not only NOT entered into God's truth and relationship with Him, they have blocked the way for others!

Application: Spiritual leaders have a serious responsibility. Their actions and example have grave implications far beyond themselves. The destiny of others hangs in the balance. What this speaks to me as a spiritual leader is that I must first make sure that I am doing all I can to keep my relationship with Jesus real and authentic, and then get out of the way to let others have direct access to Him for themselves. My words, actions, and attitudes can hinder others who are seeking. I also believe the flip side is true: my actions can encourage those who are seeking the Lord. Of course, that is my goal in my role as a spiritual leader.

Prayer: Lord, keep me close to You. Open my eyes to anything in my leadership that would be a hindrance to anyone who is genuinely seeking You. Help me to distinguish between what is a productive encouragement and what is an unproductive deterrent in what I do, say, and model for those You have called me to lead.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Three Brief Thoughts / Topic: God's Will

Today’s Reading: Haggai 1; Haggai 2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

Today I am giving a brief thought on three verses that jumped off the page at me.

#1 Title: God's Make It Happen Person / Topic: God's Power
Scripture: Haggai 2:23 " '...I will make you like my signet ring...' "

Observation/Application: The signet ring was the sign of the authority of the king. He would use it like a signature (notice the similarity in the words: signet -- signature) to express his will that something is to be done. Nothing could stop what the king had sealed with his signet ring. This is a powerful promise to Zerubbabel. Imagine the awesome responsibility that came to this human leader. Wow! Lord, help me to be a man that you could trust your power to.

#2 Title: A Dangerous Question / Topic: Challenge
Scripture: Luke 10:29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Observation/Application: This expert in the law had just given Jesus a very good answer but we are told that "he wanted to justify himself," so he asked this question of clarification to show how great he was. (I don't think he would have asked it if he didn't think he was really impressive.) It turned out to be a dangerous question because Jesus told a parable that challenged him at the level of his pride and his prejudice. Moral: be careful what you ask God. You might not like the answer.

#3 Title: The One Necessary Thing / Topic: The Priority
Scripture: Luke 10:41-42 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed..."

Observation/Application: This little story always convicts me because I am a Martha-type person. I am working on not being this kind and converting to a Mary-type person. The Lord says, "only one thing is needed." And the message is: The main thing is the keep the main thing the main thing.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word and the power it brings to my life. You know me through and through, the good and bad, my strengths and my weaknesses, my failures and my victories, my faith and my fear. And you still love me enough to give your life to me. Hallelujah! Lord I rejoice in your great love and acceptance. Empower me to take it to the next level.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Intercessor / Topic: The Heart of Repentance

Today’s Reading: Daniel 9; Daniel 10; Psalm 123; Luke 5

Scripture: Daniel 9:4-6, 20
4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land...
20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel..."

Observation: Daniel is a righteous man. But here, as he intercedes for his nation, he identifies himself with his nation in confession of sin and rebellion against God. It is striking to me that Daniel, who in no way could be considered rebellious, uses the pronoun we in his prayer, accepting responsibility for his nation's wrongs against God. Look at how many times Daniel uses the word "we" in the above passage. He has the true heart of the intercessor.

Application: I can use Daniel as a model for intercession. If I am to intercede for any group that I am a part of (my nation, my church, The Church, pastors, etc.), I must fully identify with that group in prayer. That means not praying, "They have sinned..." but praying, "We have sinned..." and "I have sinned..." This pleases God.

Prayer: Lord, give me the heart of an intercessor. And forgive our sin, my sin, and heal our land. Have mercy upon us, I pray.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Wear Of Battle / Topic: Spiritual Toughness

Today’s Reading: Daniel 7; Daniel 8; Psalm 137; Luke 4

Scriptures:
Daniel 7:28 "This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself."

Daniel 8:27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king's business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

Luke 4:42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.

Observation: Daniel is physically spent as a result of seeing the visions that the Lord gave him. He is literally sick. Jesus, likewise is worn out from ministering for days and needs to get away.

Application: Ministry has a cost. Not just a spiritual cost, but a physical and emotional cost as well. When I read what the great men of the Bible endured, I often wonder if I have what it takes to perform as they did. Could I receive a vision like Daniel did? I think it might kill me. But I want to be spiritually tough to be of the greatest use to the Lord. I think that is something that we all could use: a little more spiritual toughness.

Prayer: Lord, make me a stout warrior for you. Help me to do the stuff that will build my spiritual muscles and my endurance.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: A Few Lessons From Daniel 5 / Topic: Wisdom

Today’s Reading: Daniel 5; Daniel 6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

I really enjoyed today's reading. And as I read, several truths popped out at me. I will share the verses and the lessons from each.

Scriptures/observations/applications from Daniel 5 (various verses):

Verse 2: While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them.
Lesson: People do stupid things, things they would otherwise not do, when they are under the influence of alcohol. Stay away from it.

Verse 4: As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
Lesson: This reminds me of a recent event in which a comedienne who won an Emmy award stated mockingly that Jesus had nothing to do with her achievement and that the Emmy was now her god. What a pathetic expression and what a lousy god. In the end she will be sorry.

Verses 5-6: Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
Lesson: I just love it when the big bad tough king has an encounter with God. He becomes like a scared little girl. Eventually, everyone will acknowledge God.

Verse 17: Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
Lesson: Daniel has no use for the king or his bribes. He stands for God and cannot be bought, enticed, or ensnared. I love this about Daniel. Most people are impressed with kings, the rich, and the like. But not Daniel. He knew God and wasn't impressed with even the best this world had to offer.

Verse 22: "But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven."
Lesson: This king had witnessed the judgment of God against his father and yet had learned nothing from it. His pride caused him to consider himself exempt. Now, he will pay.

Verse 23: You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.
Lesson: There is one "God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways." This is true of every person. We will be judged on whether we honored him or not.

Prayer: Lord, I want to honor you always and to walk in your ways. Lead me, o Lord. May I learn your lessons well.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Got Passion? / Topic: First Love's Desire

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 42; Ezekiel 43; Ezekiel 44; Revelation 22

Scripture: Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Observation: This verse has grabbed my heart for the last several weeks. We (the Church) are the bride of Christ and this verse tells of the desire of the bride for her groom. There is passion and there is desire -- it is unmistakable.

Application: But do I have this passion and desire for Jesus, my first and true love? This is the question that has seized my heart. If not, then what must I do to regain (or get for the first time) this passion and desire?

Prayer: Lord, show me the way. I want to have a burning passion for my Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Perfection Required / Topic: Heaven

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 40; Ezekiel 41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

Scripture: Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Observation: I must confess that I did not at all enjoy today's reading in Ezekiel. All the dimensions and detailed descriptions of the buildings that Ezekiel saw in his vision are dizzying and not enjoyable to read, as far as I am concerned.

I did notice this verse at the end of Revelation chapter 21. Speaking of the New Jerusalem, we are told that perfection is required of all those that enter it. Of course for anyone to have this perfection requires that he come to it through the gift of God and the blood of Jesus. Without Jesus, no perfection is possible. And without perfection, you can't get into this New Jerusalem, or heaven itself, for that matter.

Application: Many people will argue that they are "good enough" to make it into heaven. They are basically "good people" and their little faults certainly wouldn't be significant enough for God to keep them from entering. But there is no "good enough" in eternity. There is perfection or not. Perfection comes not of flesh, lest any man should boast -- it is the gift of God to the one who repents of sin and accepts the salvation which comes only through Jesus Christ. And once we have received this salvation, we must keep ourselves pure by walking in the Spirit so we do not fulfill the desires of the sinful nature.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that my salvation is not based on my ability to deserve or earn it. I thank you that Jesus did it all -- paying the full price for my sin and rising again from the dead to give me newness of life. I thank you that he took the coverings of sin that I had made and gave me his royal robes of righteousness that I may enter into your holy presence on that day. I am thankful, Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Not Yet / Topic: Future Events?

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 38; Ezekiel 39; Psalm 145; Revelation 20

Scripture: Ezekiel 39:21-23
21 "I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them. 22 From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God. 23 And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me..."

Observation: These verses of prophecy seem to indicate a time when Israel's punishment will be universally understood. Israel will understand and acknowledge God as their Lord. All the nations will understand that "Israel went into exile for their sin..." But it seems to me that, though Israel has been restored to her land, this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled.

Application: The interpretation of prophecy can be a tricky business. Events that appear right next to each other in the text can refer to events hundreds or even thousands of years apart. And there is often a switch over from actual physical events to events occurring in the spiritual realm. The reason I wanted to write about this is just to be reminded that humility is so important when trying to interpret and apply God's word. I meet many people who seem to think that they have it down cold. But I think they are mistaken. Nobody has it down cold. As the Apostle Paul wrote: "Now we see through a glass darkly."

Prayer: Lord, keep me humble but also help me to understand and apply your word as fully as I possibly can. Show us your ways and lead us in your will.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Brave Obedience / Topic: Boldness

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 36; Ezekiel 37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-7
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 ...bones that were very dry.... 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded...

Observation: The valley of dry bones presents such an interesting mental image -- every time I read it I imagine what it must have been like for Ezekiel. But I know "the rest of the story" while Ezekiel did not. He only knew that he was in a valley full of very dry bones. And God tells him, "Prophesy to these bones..." This is not an easy thing to do.

Application: When we look at our own valley full of dry bones, we just see dead, dry bones. We see no hope of life -- no future -- nothing other than death. God commands faith -- and prophecy. It requires great boldness and faith to speak of life and hope in the face of circumstances that scream death and hopelessness. But Ezekiel shows us how to do it. "So I prophesied as I was commanded." Just do it in sheer obedience. Ezekiel did not have any ability to make the bones live. But he did not need to do that. He only needed to speak in obedience to God. What has God told you to do or speak? You can do what he asks of you. The question is, "will you?"

Prayer: Lord, I want to be like Ezekiel and speak to the dead, dry bones in my own life. Help me to hear your instruction and to do what you say.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Turn And Live / Topic: Repentance

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 33; Ezekiel 34; Ezekiel 35; Revelation 18

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:14-16
14 And if I say to the wicked man, 'You will surely die,' but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right- 15 if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die. 16 None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live.

Observation: The truth expressed in and around this section in Ezekiel is so important. He talks about the fact that God doesn't dwell in the past, or condemn anyone for the past, or even reward anyone for the past (that is, if that person is doing evil in the present). God says, you can change, you can alter your life by doing different things. Specifically here, in this passage, he gives the principle of repentance. God gives a warning of impending doom. If the warning is heeded and the person truly changes, God will change the outcome for the person. But note clearly that this change must be real, not just in word but in deed. And it must demonstrate a desire to right past wrongs.

Application: Many people talk about change. Many people say they want change. But precious few actually take the steps necessary to put the change into practice. This is what true repentance is.

Prayer: Lord, help me and all your people to truly repent. Give us ears to hear your warnings, hearts to receive and grieve, and the will to carry out our repentance with actions of restoration and restitution. Lord, give us the desire and the power by your grace that we may abide in your presence.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Whose Devices? / Topic: The Power Of Choice

Today’s Reading: Daniel 3; Daniel 4; Psalm 81; Revelation 17

Scripture: Psalm 81:8, 11-16
8 "Hear, O my people, and I will warn you—
if you would but listen to me, O Israel!
11 "But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
13 "If my people would but listen to me,
if Israel would follow my ways,
14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

Observation: Two choices, two destinies. The Lord cries out to his people. "If you would but listen to me..." But they would not listen. So he "gave them over to their own stubborn hearts to follow their own devices." Their own devices. That means that their lives are in their own hands. God steps aside. But he would rather step inside. Notice that he stands ready "If my people would but listen to me... how quickly would I subdue their enemies..."

Application: It all depends on whether or not we listen to and follow the Lord. It seems insanity not to follow him. But I have done it and, unfortunately, I will likely do it again. The sin nature also stands ready to step inside and take control. Which choice will I make? Which choice will you make?

Prayer: Lord, I want to listen to and obey you. As the hymn says, "Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey." That's where I want to live.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Great Man, Great Humility / Topic: Character

Today’s Reading: Daniel 1; Daniel 2; Revelation 16

Scripture: Daniel 2:27-30
27 Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:
29 "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind..."

Observation: I love Daniel. The man and the book. What I love about the man is his sterling character. Here is a young man that has every reason in the world to pity himself, but there is not a hint of self-pity in Daniel. He does not see himself as a victim, because he reckons himself to be in the hands of God -- not his captors. So he views everything as coming to him with God's permission. Therefore he applies God's principles to everything. He doesn't just accept what comes, he believes that he is there as God's representative to influence his world.

And the way he interacts with the king is so great. The king asks him if he is able to interpret the dream. And even though Daniel knows the dream and the interpretation, and even though Daniel is the only one who knows it, Daniel answers with such great humility. "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries."

Application: So rarely do we see great humility today. People promote themselves with loud announcement and great bluster, asserting how great they are. But true greatness needs no bluster or announcement. True greatness can say, "Without God, I could not do it. But because God, I have something to tell you."

Prayer: Lord, I want to be like Daniel.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Depression's Antidote / Topic: The Eternally-Loving Lord

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 3; Lamentations 4; Lamentations 5; Revelation 15

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-26
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
by the rod of his wrath.

Observation: This is a familiar passage of scripture. "The compassions of the Lord never fail, they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness." What I did not realize until reading it today is this: this scripture follows a cry of affliction. Verses 1-21 give a sad tale of woe by a man who has seen his world turned upside down and who has lost all hope -- except for one. Look at the verses immediately preceding the passage above: "So I say, 'My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD.' I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me." (vss. 18-20). The writer is in great distress. But then he pauses and says in verse 21, "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope..." and leads us into the beautiful and inspiring truths of the constant renewal of God's tender mercies.

Application: There is no depression so deep or calamity so dire that the reflection on God's mercies would not raise the spirits and hopes of those who will seize the moment to turn their thoughts upward. Hope springs eternal when one's hope is in the eternally-loving Lord.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for always being there and for your mercies that are always ministered in our direction. I love you and thank you that you will never fail. May I always abide in your tender mercies.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Tragic Turns / Topic: Destructive Outcomes

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 1; Lamentations 2; Obadiah 1; Revelation 14

Scripture: Lamentations 2:5, 14
5 The Lord is like an enemy;
he has swallowed up Israel.
He has swallowed up all her palaces
and destroyed her strongholds.
He has multiplied mourning and lamentation
for the Daughter of Judah.

14 The visions of your prophets
were false and worthless;
they did not expose your sin
to ward off your captivity.
The oracles they gave you
were false and misleading.

Observation/Application: These two verses in Lamentations 2 jumped out at me.

Verse 5 is jolting! "The Lord is like an enemy..." How incredibly tragic it is that this nation (Israel) whom the Lord loved as his chosen possession should live in such a way that the Lord himself eventually becomes as their enemy. It just reminds me that it is my responsiblity to keep my relationship with the Lord healthy. It is possible to start in a good place and end in a terribly destructive place. I am the one who (with God's help) determines the course of these matters.

Verses 14 got my attention because it suscintly expresses the purpose of prophets. Prophets are to expose sin and speak in such a way as to give the hearers the opportunity to repent. Without honest prophetic voices, you and I will inevitably veer into the paths of destruction. It's as simple as that.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep me on your path. I want to grow in you every day. I want to walk with you every day. Help me, Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Avoid And Seek / Topic: Victorious Living

Today’s Reading: Jonah 1; Jonah 2; Jonah 3; Jonah 4; 2 Timothy 2

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-22
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Observation: "Just say 'no'" doesn't get it done. It is not enough to avoid the bad. This is good advice as far as it goes, but it does not go far enough. Paul points out that there are bad things to be avoided and good things that we must seek. There is the "ignoble" that we must cleanse ourselves of and there are "noble purposes" that we must seek. There are "the evil desires of youth" that we must flee, and there are "righteousness, faith, love and peace" that we must pursue. It takes action in the negative and the positive to be the people that God intends us to be.

Application: We must couple effort in both directions to live victoriously. And notice the last phrase in this passage: "along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." This speaks to the great truth that we need to partner with others who will support us in the pursuit of Godliness. No one can get there alone -- we must be connected heart, soul, mind, and with physical interaction to achieve the goal of Christ-likeness. So let us be busy about connecting to God and to others to become the people that God wants us to be. Let us intentionally and diligently avoid the bad and pursue the good so that we may fully realize God's puposes for our lives.

Prayer: Lord, this is my prayer, that I and those who are with me may be faithful in following you and shunning evil. That we may commit ourselves to your noble purposes for our lives and steer clear of anything that pollutes or corrupts Godly character within us. Thank you for your faithfulness. May we follow you fully.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Best Fruit / Topic: Moral Excellence

Today’s Reading: Song of Solomon 5; Song of Solomon 6; Song of Solomon 7; Song of Solomon 8; Philippians 1

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-11
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Observation: "...filled with the fruit of righteousness..." What a great prayer! And what a great aspiration: to have my life "filled with the fruit of righteousness." I define righteousness as "moral excellence lived out -- the realization of true purity and justice in my day-to-day life."

Application: To have moral excellence and true purity and justice requires that I let God have me and let him live his life through me. By submission and surrender, I make possible God acting through me as a channel of his fullness and goodness. That's the way I want to live.

Prayer: Lord, it is my desire to increase my capacity to be a channel through which your life can be expressed. Assist and enable me to live for you for fully each and every day. I will live for you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Do What Is Necessary To Stand / Topic: The Armor Of God

Today’s Reading: Song of Solomon 1; Song of Solomon 2; Song of Solomon 3; Song of Solomon 4; Ephesians 6

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-13
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Observation: This is the crowning finish to Paul's letter to the Ephesians. "Finally, be strong in the Lord..." His letter has been filled with instructions on living up to the calling of God. (Eph. 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.) And here he is leaving the Ephesian believers with the secret to victorious living. It's being strong in God and utilizing "the full armor of God." Paul points out that we are engaged in a struggle with invisible forces. To win the battle, we must do "everything" -- making full use of the "full armor". It would be unwise to go into any battle without the full armor. Whatever piece or pieces were missing would expose a vulnerability that could allow the enemy to kill us.

Application: So Paul wants us to win -- to stand our ground, to do everything, and to stand. This speaks to me of a thorough and complete obedience to God. What are the things I can do to build myself spiritually? I must do them all. Are there requests that I have felt God making of me that I have not fulfilled? Fulfill them all. Are there areas of weakness that I know of? Address my weaknesses. I must do all to be the one still standing when the battle is over. Anything less is a recipe for disaster and defeat. Do it all -- and stand.

Prayer: Lord, I do desire to be one who is standing with you at the end. I don't want to be a casualty. (Even the word casualty has the word casual as its root. Help me not to be casual about the battle.) Strengthen me in your might. May I stand and help others to stand for you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Great Divide / Topic: Knowledge vs. Love

Today’s Reading: Ecclesiastes 4; Ecclesiastes 5; Ecclesiastes 6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2, 7; Psalm 18:1
(Solomon:) Ecclesiastes 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
2 ...God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.
7 ...stand in awe of God.

(David:) Psalm 18:1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

Observation: What a contrast there is between Solomon and David -- their relationship to God. To Solomon, God is distant and imposing and demanding. To David, God is near and ready to help. Read the scriptures above again and note the differences. David expresses his feelings for God like this: "I love you, O Lord." Solomon addresses God in the third person and advises, "stand in awe of God."

Application: This is another example of how knowledge of God is not the same as passion for God. I meet many people who call themselves Christians (or religious, or spiritual) who have a knowledge of God. Some have studied intensely and have gathered amazing information and insight about God. But the ones who do not have a passionate love for God don't really get God at all. To them he is awesome but not dear. I want to know God, not just know about God. I want to be passionate and intimate with him.

Prayer: Lord, my desire is to know you and love you from the deepest part of my being. Enable me to make my desire my reality.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Having Everything But The Right Thing / Topic: Empty Living

Today’s Reading: Ecclesiastes 1; Ecclesiastes 2; Ecclesiastes 3; Psalm 45; Ephesians 2

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

Observation: Solomon's Ecclesiastes is the testament of a sad man. God had given Solomon a gift of wisdom but he had pursued it for its own ends. Solomon forgot to pursue God, the great Giver of gifts. The end result is that everything has become meaningless to him (vs. 2). And verse 17 caught my attention. After getting so much knowledge and finding it unfulfilling, Solomon decides to widen his pursuit to the study of madness and folly! Talk about your wrong turns! No wonder Ecclesiastes is filled with so much confusion.

Application: So many people pursue things that don't fulfill. The things are not necessarily bad in and of themselves, but without God as the basis, they just don't fill the bill.

Bottom line: pursue God first. It is better to have God and nothing else than to have everything else and not God.

Prayer: Lord, all I want I find in you. Help me to keep pursuing you above all else.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Strike The Balance / Topic: Correct Doctrine

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 19; Proverbs 20; Proverbs 21; Romans 13

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Observation: Absolute. That is what the verses above seem to convey. They seem to present an absolute truth that if there is a ruler (king, president, dictator, governor, prince, etc.), this person has been hand picked, appointed, and ordained by God. And if the absolute is absolute, then we are to submit to every ruler, no matter what. That would mean that when Hitler instructed the people to turn in the Jews, and when he instructed the extermination camp guards to gas them, the righteous thing would be for the people and the guards to obey his instructions. But that would make God supportive of and complicit with the worst kinds of evil. So something must be wrong with that absolute interpretation. This is where the rule of context is so important. The context of these verses describes the "God-established" authority. It describes that authority as one who "hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong" and who is an "agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." This "God-established" authority commends those who do right. Therefore Hitler (and any of hundreds of other megalomaniacal authorities) does not meet the description of this kind of ruler. Does the Bible support this assertion or is this simply my own logic and sense of morality that I am imposing on the Bible? Well, I'm glad you asked because the Bible itself gives us and indication that the principal in question may not be so absolute after all. In Hosea 8:4 the Lord says, "They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval." In other words, these rulers are not God's choice -- they are not approved by God. So the injunction to submission based on authority figures as God's servants cannot be universally applied.

Application: This is already too long for a devotional post. I don't want to turn this into a theological treatise so I will leave it here. The basic application is that each of us must be careful in understanding and applying the truth of the Bible to our own lives and the lives of others. There is often a subtle balance that requires a deeper understanding of the whole of the Bible to put truths into practice in a way that truly reflects God's character. And reflecting God's character is the point, after all.

Prayer: Lord, help your people -- help me -- to understand and implement your truth in the most fully correct way. Enable your servants to reflect the beauty of you in all we do and say and think.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Ridiculous Me / Topic: Humility

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 16; Proverbs 17; Proverbs 18; Romans 12

Scripture: Romans 12:3-5
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Observation: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought..." These words of the Apostle Paul are so contrary to the spirit of our age. I was contrasting them with the attitude of some of the contestants I've seen recently on reality TV shows. Whether it is dancing or singing, so many people who have little or no talent truly seem to think that they are extraordinarily gifted. We have created a culture (with the help of the so-called self-esteem movement) that praises mediocrity and idolizes children as heroes just for being children. What a bunch of bunk. The focus on individual rights, privileges, and accomplishments has created an army of narcissistic, selfish, demanding, prima donnas who contribute little or nothing to the betterment of the human race.

Application: The key in this verse as I see it is to understand that we aren't alone -- "each member belongs to all the others." Of course, this is in the context of belonging to Christ and his body, the church. This automatically creates a sense of obligation and responsibility to others. Therefore, my individual success apart from the group is not true success. For me to succeed, the entire group must succeed. This keeps me from a self focus that promotes the inappropriate self-image that Paul warns against: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment."

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you have placed me into a family that helps me to stay grounded in you and connected to others. Help me to make a great contribution by my life to the success of others.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Love Of Death / Topic: Destructive Behaviors

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 7; Proverbs 8; Proverbs 9; Romans 9

Scripture: Proverbs 8:36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death."

Observation: What struck me as I read this is the fact that so many people today that anti-God fit the description given above. They harm themselves through a variety of means (drugs, alcohol, dangerous pastimes, etc.), mutilating their own bodies (piercings, tattoos, etc.), and they have a fixation with death (skulls, gothic items, Halloween, etc.). So many of these people aren't just unbelievers, they are against-believers. They despise God and those who represent him. These God haters go out of their way to express their desire to be free of God and in the process do themselves harm and embrace death.

Application: Stay sweet and be conscious that those of us who name the name of Jesus will be reviled by many. It is my duty to come in an opposite spirit, even loving my enemies. Perhaps some of these people can be won over by a gentle answer that turns away wrath.

Prayer: Lord, help your church to be living in such a way that you are glorified. Forgive us for all the ways in which we have represented you poorly -- with our divisions, our failures, and the like. May each of your people take the responsibility to declare you well to the world.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Slavery Benefit? / Topic: Choices

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 10; 1 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 9; Romans 6

Scripture: Romans 620-22
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Observation: "You gotta serve somebody," goes the old Bob Dylan song and it is true. The Apostle Paul points out that the most basic choice is between serving sin and serving God. Serving sin makes you "free from the control of righteousness" but brings no tangible benefit. In fact this "freedom" results in death. When I make choice to become a slave to God, I become "set free from sin" and that freedom gives a great benefit. It "leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."

Application: Holiness, in and of itself, is a great benefit. I define holiness as the awareness of belonging completely to God. This awareness brings a kind of seasoning to every aspect of life -- thoughts, actions, attitudes, desires, words, loves, hopes -- that involves God through and through. I am so grateful that God is in everything I do. Even if I do wrong -- acting selfishly or unwisely -- God is still there, correcting me, encouraging me to do better, and enabling me to improve. "Eternal life" is not just about heaven -- it is about really living a full, good, and happy life in the now.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the fullness of you in the now. I have chosen to be your slave and I thank you for the productive and blessed life you have given me as a result. Assist me in leading thousands of people to this same kind of blessed life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Holy Confusion / Topic: Consecration

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 8:11
11 Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, "My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy."

Observation: Solomon has taken Pharaoh's daughter as his wife. (This is apparently more of a political alliance than a romantic one.) But the reason he gives for building a separate palace for her grabbed my attention. She is a gentile, not a Jew, and as a result, she is unclean. And Solomon doesn't want her around David's palace in Jerusalem because the ark has been in an about it. Solomon regards not only the ark as holy but also asserts, "the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy." So he is unwilling to let Pharaoh's daughter be in those places. But what about Solomon himself? Isn't he holy? He is the anointed king of Israel. Why would he be willing to compromise himself, in this most sacred of relationships, and his body, in the most intimate of acts, in being married to this person that he considers unclean and unworthy? Strange that he thinks the ark is holy but he is not. Holy confusion here.

Application: Many people compartmentalize God in their lives. God gets the following: Sunday morning, a moment before each meal, and a few seconds before going to bed. That time is holy. "The rest of the time is mine," they think. So God stays in his compartment. As long as he stays there, everything is fine. But God cannot be confined in a box. (If we have successfully confined our god to a box, what is in that box is not really God at all.) God is bigger than our boxes, no matter how big we may make them. I assert that God cannot be a part of our lives. We can be a part of God's life. The word that comes to mind in this regard is consecration. It is a word that describes the full and total giving of myself to God. I give my entire life and being to God and I live in him. Had Solomon understood this correctly, seeing himself as holy and consecrated to God, he would not have married Pharaoh's daughter, would not have worshipped idols and other gods, and would have left a legacy of faithfulness that would be a blessing to his descendants, instead of a curse.

Prayer: Lord, I belong to you. All of me. I am consecrated to you. Keep me from anything that violates that.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.