Title: Do You Tremble? / Topic: The Fear of the Lord

Today’s Reading: Ezra 9, 10; Psalm 131; Luke 21

Scripture: Ezra 9:3-4

When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.

Observation: Ezra has just been informed that many of the Israelites have intermarried with the nations around them. And Ezra is appalled. He tears his clothing and pulls out hair from his head and beard -- a sign of his deep distress. And there are people that join him in his sorrowful travail. They are described as "everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel." That means that also among God's chosen people there were those who did not take God seriously. Apparently, many were casual and nonchalant about God and what it meant to be a God follower. And those casual Israelites did not understand what Ezra was making such a fuss about. Why make a big deal over who marries whom? Doesn't God love everybody anyway? And what's with this trembling at the words of God? That seems pretty extreme.

Application: Today we Christians have a "personal relationship with God." God is our friend. God is gracious and kind. He gives us 12 steps to freedom, happiness, prosperity, fulfillment, family harmony, church growth, etc. Just raise your hand and accept Jesus as your personal Savior and you are set for eternity. There are not too many people who tremble and the words of God. We take our assurance of relationship with God as a done deal. But is our casual approach to God right?

After all, the word does tell us that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" and that there is a "wide road that leads to destruction and a narrow road that leads to life and few find it" and that we are to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling" in order to "somehow, attain to the resurrection from the dead." In Luke 21:36 (today's reading) Jesus admonishes us to pray that we "may be able to stand before the Son of man." This doesn't sound like I should glibly count on this being a done deal to me.

Our modern casual approach to God is based on partial truth. We need the rest of the story: God has expectations and makes demands of those who would follow him. And we ignore these things at great peril. When was the last time that the words of God caused me to tremble? How about you?

Prayer: Lord, have mercy on me a sinner. Enable and strengthen me in my inner being to love you and pursue you with all of my heart and mind and strength. Help me to be able to stand before you on that day.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Ears To Hear? / Topic: Listening For Today

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

Scripture: Luke 14:35 ..."He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Observation: Jesus is speaking to the crowds with instruction peppered with parables. The topic is the cost of following Jesus. He says that to follow him will cost a person everything, even his family! And Jesus uses parables to encourage us to count the cost in advance. He likens following him to building a tower and to going to war, both intensive undertakings. He sums up in verse 33: "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Then, using salt as a picture of the true disciple he says this: "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out." I don't know of any way for salt to lose it saltiness except to be polluted or thinned by having other stuff mixed in. Lastly he gives the words which are the subject of today's post: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Application: As a person who has read through the Bible scores of times, I often come across familiar passages and say to myself, "yeah, yeah, I know what that means..." and the like. I can actually tune out because I have heard it all before. And I found myself doing this today, as I read Luke 14. "Yeah, yeah, hate your family, build a tower, go to war, be salt, zzzz..." Then I got a jolt: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." I realized that I don't have ears to hear. I had tuned it out. So I want to say,

Prayer: Lord, give me ears to hear -- ears that are wide open to always hear whatever you are saying to me today -- ears that never assume that I know what a passage means simply because I have read it before. It is so good to know you always have something fresh for me each day. Give us this day our daily bread.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Let The Children Play / Topic: God Shows Up

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 7; Zechariah 8; Zechariah 9; Luke 13

Scripture: Zechariah 8:3-5

This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

Observation: These words of the prophet speak of a future time of God's blessing upon Jerusalem. The Lord promises to return and dwell in Jerusalem. I love how the effect of God's physical presence in the city is described: safe streets. Men and women of "ripe old age" [you gotta love that phrase!] sit in the streets which are also "filled with boys and girls playing there."

Application: You don't see safe streets in most places in today's world. We have mean streets. Old people, particularly women, are not safe in our mean streets. And most parents wouldn't think of allowing their kids to be out in the streets playing. We can't let our kids out of our sight. But when God shows up, everything changes. God's presence results in people simply being able to live in a safe and fun place. The old folks hang out in the streets. Boys and girls at play fill the streets. I can't wait for the Lord to show up in Jerusalem. Let the children play.

Prayer: Lord, you are so amazing. You are holy and awesome and almighty and powerful. And yet when your presence comes into the realm of humans, it's recess for the kids! That's fantastic. Help me to be a person who walks in your power in the way that old folks and children feel free and at ease to just enjoy life.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Main Event / Topic: Focus

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

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Observation: Martha is busy and distracted with so many things: "all the preparations that had to be made." Mary prepared herself for the main event: sitting "at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said."

Application: "Only one thing is needed." That is what Jesus said. We need to remember these words of Jesus and the example of Mary. Stay focused on the main event. It is Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Father,

Thank you for this little story that always brings me back to my Savior's feet. Help me to stay put in that place.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Those Pernicious Jews / Topic: Israel Under Attack

Today’s Reading: Ezra 4; Psalm 113; Psalm 127; Luke 9

Scripture: Ezra 4:12-16

The king should know that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring the walls and repairing the foundations. Furthermore, the king should know that if this city is built and its walls are restored, no more taxes, tribute or duty will be paid, and the royal revenues will suffer. Now since we are under obligation to the palace and it is not proper for us to see the king dishonored, we are sending this message to inform the king, so that a search may be made in the archives of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place of rebellion from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. We inform the king that if this city is built and its walls are restored, you will be left with nothing in Trans-Euphrates.

Observation: A remnant of Jewish exiles have been allowed to return to Jerusalem. Their neighbors stand in strong opposition to any thought of the repatriation of the Jews in their homeland, or the reestablishment of the Jewish capital. Leaders of the anti-Jewish forces deliver a defamatory and accusatory letter to the emperor, an excerpt of which is the scripture above. The result was that the Jews were compelled by force to stop the rebuilding of the city.

Application: History is repeating itself. Just this past Friday, the President of the Palestinian Authority spoke before the UN General Assembly to ask for a permanent state of Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital. Much of his speech was an attack on the nation of Israel:

"...the occupying Power [Israel] continues to impose its blockade on the Gaza Strip and to target Palestinian civilians by assassinations, air strikes and artillery shelling, persisting with its war of aggression of three years ago on Gaza, which resulted in massive destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and mosques, and the thousands of martyrs and wounded. The occupying Power also continues its incursions in areas of the Palestinian National Authority through raids, arrests and killings at the checkpoints. In recent years, the criminal actions of armed settler militias, who enjoy the special protection of the occupation army, has intensified with the perpetration of frequent attacks against our people, targeting their homes, schools, universities, mosques, fields, crops and trees."

These Jews sound really, really bad! (This strikes me in a similar way as the letter from Ezra 4. Hmmm...)

Also on Friday, the Prime Minister of Israel addressed the same body. He pointed out that the nation of Israel has been "singled out for condemnation more often than all the nations of the world combined. Twenty-one out of the 27 General Assembly resolutions [passed in the history of the UN] condemn Israel..." That is truly stunning.

What is going on here? Why is Israel under such vicious attack today and all throughout history? It must be those pernicious Jews, right? How ironic that the one true democratic government in the middle east is so vilified. I believe the true reason is that Israel is the only Jewish nation on the planet and the Jewish people have been selected by God as his unique people. So satan, who hates God, also hates his people, so he has been busy throughout history stirring up all kinds of hateful attacks against them.

Bottom line: Christians, God's "other" chosen people, must prayerfully and actively support Israel. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for our world. Pray for God's truth and justice to prevail.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord, our world needs your help. And right now, there is a strong tide against the Nation of Israel. Father, I ask for your strong hand of protection to be over this nation. Encourage those people who are the scorn of much of the world. And I ask that you would begin to unmask the deceiver and neutralize the deception and lies that propagate hatred and undermine the prospects for true and just peace. Defeat the enemies of Israel I pray. May there be peace and security for Israel. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: How's Your Credit Rating / Topic: God's Rewards Program

Today's Reading: Daniel 11; Daniel 12; Luke 6

Scripture: Luke 6:32-36

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Observation: Jesus gives an incredibly difficult challenge to us mortals here. He shares a standard that is so high that without divine intervention, we just can't do it. In fact, this is one of the earmarks of authentic Christianity: it is impossible to do in our human strength. Any system of religion that can be accomplished by people trying really hard is a man-made system. God's true system is beyond our ability. God himself must empower the human or it can't be done.

So Jesus says, "So you're a nice, honest person. You love and do good and even lend to others. That's nice. But that won't help your heavenly credit rating. Anybody can do those things. But how about loving and doing good and lending to your enemies? Without expecting to get anything back? Now if you can do that, your credit rating will soar -- and you'll earn lots of God's Reward points."

Application: Of course, the rub is that humans can't do what Jesus suggests. I mean we could be nice or love or lend to an enemy once or twice, but humans cannot live this kind of radical counterculture lifestyle consistently. And I think it is really hard even with God's help! It seems the point here is that all of us must realize how far short we fall of the kind of amazing person that we can be in God -- the kind of person that Jesus was. And that should cause humility to grow and inspire a hunger and a seeking after more and more of God.

Prayer: Lord help me to fix my heavenly credit rating. I need so much more of you and so much less of me.

This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Title: The God of Second Chances/Topic: God's Willingness to Forgive

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

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:14-16 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 — 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. 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 people of Israel were under great duress because of God's judgment that had fallen heavily upon them. They knew that they were getiing their just desserts. They had no one to blame but themselves. And they just gave up. But God tells Ezekiel to let the people know that their situation wasn't hopeless -- things still could change! In these verses the prophet gives God's words of hope: "If the wicked person stops being wicked, turns around, and starts doing the right things, he can experience blessing."

Application: I love the fact that God want to see wicked people change and not suffer. (Read verse 11.) He is a God of second chances. So the application is something like this: "If you're doing stuff that is bad, knock it off! Start doing the good stuff and you can get the good stuff from God." Yeah!

Prayer: Dear Father, Thank you that you love to give second chances to people, even when they have been stupidly subborn. Thank you that you are always looking for the lost sheep to bring it back into the safety of your flock and into the care of you as the Good Shepherd. Help me to do the good stuff.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later / Topic: God's Justice

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 26; Leviticus 27; Acts 23

Scripture: Leviticus 26:40-43

40 "But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers—their treachery against me and their hostility toward me, 41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 For the land will be deserted by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees."

Observation: Moses is concluding his instructions to Israel and here the Lord is speaking to the people through him. God is urging the people to follow Him and listing the blessings of obedience. But also,

God warns the people against disobedience and lists the severe consequences of rejecting Him. This passage, near the end of Moses' comments, is a part of the summary and in it God gives a way back to Him even after a season of rebellion. What I notice here is that God tells the people that even if they don't observe the sabbaths that God has proscribed, they will be observed through judgment. God will see to it.

Application: So I can obey and do what God is requiring, or I can disobey and not do it, but either way, it will get done. For if I don't do it, God will get it done another way, usually to my pain and loss. God says, "You can pay me now, or pay me later, but either way, I will get paid!"

Prayer: Lord, I choose to pay You now. Help me to remember this choice always, especially in times of temptation and doubt. I choose You as my Lord and not myself.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: When Can Kindness Be Cruel? / Topic: God's Perspective

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 23; Leviticus 24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

Scripture: Leviticus 24:10-23

10 Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. 11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse; so they brought him to Moses... 12 They put him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.

13 Then the LORD said to Moses: 14 "Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. 15 Say to the Israelites: 'If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; 16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death...

23 Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him. The Israelites did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Observation: What a tough passage! My bride and I listened to today's reading, including this passage, with my mother-in-law, who we are visiting this weekend. She is a fairly new Christian and I felt a bit awkward as we listened with her to the story of the stoning of the blasphemer. If these are difficult passages for mature Christians, how much more are they for newbies? So my wife and I made a few comments about the fact that this is a difficult story but that God's plan was for His people to be holy and that meant ridding themselves of polluting influences. But even that was not thoroughly satisfying.

I am reminded of a phrase from Proverbs: "the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." (Proverbs 12:10) A good example of this is those who have sympathy for terrorists and want them accorded the rights of American criminals. By trying to be so kind to these evil killers, they risk the lives of many innocents. Rather than being willing to give any discomfort to the terrorists (I am not talking about torture -- burning with hot irons or pulling out fingernails or shocking sensitive areas), they become willing to allow innocent men, women, and children suffer the cruelest kinds of pain as the result of terrorist acts that might have been prevented. Good-headed people understand the difference between unallowable torture and the wise, limited methods of maximizing the potential of getting the terrorist to divulge information that could save lives. One has to keep this difference in mind and maintain a long-range view.

Application: And that is what God, our Heavenly Father, has -- a long-range view. He saw that if this blasphemer was spared, significant damage to His people would be unavoidable. The message would be loud and clear that God could be blasphemed without consequence. The fear of the Lord, a vital factor to be maintained, would be effectively neutralized. (And remember, that this was a day where Moses had been communicating the instructions about "solemn assemblies unto the Lord.") God's kindness and mercy for "the innocents" required this man's death. Do I like it? No -- and neither did God, I believe. But it was right, and necessary, and ultimately the kindest thing God could have done for everybody.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for who You are -- that You have great wisdom that transcends ours and that You allow us to grapple with these things by including the difficult stuff in Your word. I am grateful that You have such great love for Your people that You are willing to make the tough calls. Help us to embrace Your wisdom and to humbly accept the limitations on our understanding and the subsequent "not fully knowing" that results. Keep me close to You, Lord.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: One Helpless Man / Topic: The Power of a Praying Church

Today’s Reading: Exodus 39,40; Psalms 15; Acts 12

Scripture: Acts 12:1-5
1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Observation: I love verse five! This verse hints to what is really going on. The maniacal King Herod and the compromised Jewish leaders collaborated to destroy the Church. And after slaughtering James, their thirst for blood and power drove them to deal their death blow by killing Peter, the leader of the Church, as well. All the power of the Roman Empire was lined up against this one helpless man. "...but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." (vs. 5) Unbeknownst to Herod and his cohorts was the fact of an unstoppable Unseen Power behind this one helpless man. And the praying church was in the process of unleashing this Unseen Power against the Empire of Man. The situation was bleak as far as the church was concerned. But it did not stop them from "earnestly praying to God for him."

Application: 1) It is better to be one helpless man relying on the power of heaven than a mighty king with all the resources of earth. 2) The praying church may look helpless, but it unleashes a force against which nothing can prevail, so 3) Pray and keep praying.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are not restricted by what we see. Thank you that you are not restricted by anything but your own will and purpose. And thank you that ultimate justice will be done in the final analysis. I am one helpless man who trusts in you. Thank you for receiving me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Two Talented Guys / Topic: Skill Requirements

Today’s Reading: Exodus 35, 36; Acts 10

Scripture: Exodus 35:30-35
³⁰ Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³¹ and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. ³⁴ And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers.

Observation: Moses and the Israelites are preparing to fabricate the Tabernacle. Now the Tabernacle is the very first officially-designated place where God will meet regularly with human beings! (Maybe it's the second one, with the garden of Eden being the first.) And Moses has invited the people to bring all kinds of raw and finished materials that will be needed to put this Tabernacle and all its furnishings together. And now it is time for the work to begin. Here Moses discusses the people that will be in charge of doing this one-of-a-kind task. What gets my attention is that these guys, Bezalel and Oholiab, are highly skilled craftsmen. In fact, that seems to be their only qualification! (Oh, and they could teach others too.)

Application: Sometimes in the church, we don't put enough emphasis on the skill of those doing the work. That is, we select people because they are willing, and because they say they have "a call from God." But sometimes, the work done by "willing" and "called" volunteers is not up to par. Now I'm not advocating that we select people for tasks in the church based only on their skill -- character and spirituality are vital considerations as well. But I think that if we want excellence in the results of any ministry, then high skill should be one of the primary requirements for those leading and carrying the bulk of the load.

Prayer: Lord, send highly skilled people to the church to do the tasks in a way that creates results that are in keeping with Your excellence. Let us not excuse slipshop performance by claiming that the "anointing" makes up for the poor quality. May we always be excellent in result, as well as in character and in spirituality.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Give Me All Of God / Topic: Wise, Godly Leadership

Today’s Reading: Exodus 33; Exodus 34; Psalm 16; Acts 9

Scripture: Exodus 33:13-18 (excerpts below)
¹³ "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people..."
¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here..."
¹⁸ Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

Observation: Moses and the Lord are having quite a conversation here. God is telling Moses that the people have serious problems and that leading them is going to be challenging. What I love here is how Moses responds to the Lord. He just keeps asking for more and more of God.

Application: What this reveals about Moses is the key. Moses knew he needed God -- all of God -- to succeed. There was no option -- Moses would do it no other way. He asks for God to teach him His ways (vs. 13), give him His Presence (vs. 15), and show him His glory (vs. 18). I'm sure Moses was a gifted leader. But gifting is not enough for Kingdom leadership -- a Kingdom leader needs the King -- his ways, his presence, and his glory.

Bottom Line: If you want to lead in the Kingdom with wise, godly leadership, talent, training, and skill are not enough. You need ALL OF GOD. So make the pursuit of God Himself your primary pursuit and let that be the foundation upon which the skill, talent, and techniques that you acquire as a leader.

Prayer: Lord, help me to know you and have your ways, your ongoing presence, and your glory as the obvious foundation of all you have called me to do, and the leadership responsibilities you have given me. May I exercise them faithfully, in a way that pleases you and blesses those you have called me to serve.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: God In A Box / Topic: Mystery

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 1, 2, 3; Revelation 2

Scripture: Revelation 2:17
...To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Observation: Today's reading in Ezekiel and Revelation is full of strange visions -- some really weird stuff -- like "hidden manna" and "a white stone with a new name written on it." What's that all about?

Application: Every time I read these passages, I am reminded that God cannot be put in any box. Whenever I think that I have God figured out, and that I can put him into some sort of system, God moves out of my box and my system as if to simply remind me that he is God and is beyond my ability to fully know all about him. Now that should never stop me or you from doing all we can to learn about God, nor should it cause us to doubt what he has already revealed to us about himself, but it should keep us humble and seeking to learn more about him and his ways.

Bottom Line: "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Cor. 13:12

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you that you are a big God and beyond our ability to contain all that you are. Thank you for your mercy in reaching out to us and enabling us to know you, however imperfectly. Enlarge my understanding of you and keep me from ever presuming to know all about you. Thank you for being such a good, loving, and powerful Lord.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: They Love To Be First / Topic: False Believers

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 50, 51; 3 John

Scripture: 3 John:9-10
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

Observation/Application: There are have been and there always will be false believers in the church. And, like Diotrephes, they sometimes end up in leadership positions. This is just a part of dealing with fallen people in a fallen world.

Bottom Line: Keep your eyes on Jesus, your feet on the ground, and your beliefs grounded on the Word. And watch out for those who present themselves as an authority disconnected from your established structure. Jesus is always right on -- other, not so much.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being a rock upon which we can always stand. Help me to live in submission to you and to your word and to those in authority over me.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: "I Will Give The Order" / Topic: God's Power

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 33, 34; Psalms 74; 1 John 5

Scripture: Jeremiah 34:21, 22
21 "I will hand Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials over to their enemies who seek their lives, to the army of the king of Babylon, which has withdrawn from you. 22 I am going to give the order, declares the LORD, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, take it and burn it down. And I will lay waste the towns of Judah so no one can live there."

Observation: The king of Babylon has been attacking Israel. They recently withdrew from Jerusalem and the people are breathing a sigh of relief. But God tells them that the attack will resume and Jerusalem will fall. What blows my mind are the words of God recorded in verse 22: "'I am going to give the order,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, take it and burn it down. And I will lay waste the towns of Judah so no one can live there.'" God himself will give the order to the enemy armies to return to Jerusalem and defeat the forces of Israel and destroy the city!

Application: God has the power to use whomever he pleases to do what he wants done. Sometimes we think that the evil people are beyond God's control and that we are defenseless against them. But God has ultimate control over every power and even uses the power of evil to bring about His righteous ends.

Bottom Line: Submit to God. Trust in Him. It can bring great confidence and peace if we rest in the truth that He holds the upper hand in all things. Therefore...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Prayer: Lord, You are Lord of all. And I am thankful that You called me to Yourself that I might belong to You. You are my Lord. Help me always to keep in mind that You have me in Your hand and that You have ultimate command over everything that I encounter. May I always live in Your blessing, Lord.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Keepin' It Real / Topic: Walk With God

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 48, 49; Psalms 67; 1 John 1

Scripture: 1 John 1:6-10
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Observation: Walk the talk if you're gonna talk the talk. That's the message John gives here. "If we claim" John says -- it's easy to make claims, but the proof is in how you live. If your life doesn't demonstrate the character of God, then your claims are false! Johns says it plain: "we lie and do not live by the truth." Walking with God means that we walk with others in open and confessory relationship: confession our sin, admitting our sin, not claiming that we are without sin or above sin.

Application: To have a real walk with God means that you have to be real in our walk with others. That means, we have to maintain an authentic accountability and openness that allows and even invites others to truly see what is going on in our lives and hearts and help us stay on the narrow path that leads to life.

Prayer: Lord, keep me firmly planted in the real walk with others that I may truly walk authentically with you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Do You Truly Love Me? / Topic: Passion & Motivation

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 45, 46, 47; Psalms 105; John 21

Scripture: John:21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"...

Observation: Confrontation! The risen Jesus challenges Peter.

You will remember that Peter had decided to go fishing. (I think that they were supposed to wait where they were, but Peter, once again, got tired of waiting.) Peter apparently loved fishing -- or at least he loved the comfort of doing something that he was good at. Now Jesus appears to them on the shore after Peter and the others came up empty after a night of fruitless fishing. He tells them to throw their nets on the right side of the boat (notice that he didn't say the "port side" or "starboard," terms a fisherman or sailor would use -- he said "right side," a term a carpenter would use). When they do it, they make a huge haul of fish. Now, back on the shore, Jesus has just fed them a tasty breakfast of fresh fish and toast.

And it is at this moment that he challenges Peter: "I know you truly love fishing. Do you truly love me more than these fish?" Peter gives him a weak response: "Lord, you know that I like you a lot." But Jesus doesn't let up and challenges him again...

Application: I want to focus on the very basic challenge to Peter which is the most foundational challenge to every believer: "Do you truly love me more than these?" And "these" refers to the things that we are truly captivated by: our stuff, our pursuits, our loves, our pleasures, our image, etc. "Do you truly love me more than these things?" Jesus asks you and me. I think that, if we are honest we, like Peter, should say, "Lord, I'm very fond of you." But my inner desire is to be able to say unequivocally, "Yes, Lord, I love You more than these things!"

Bottom Line: To truly follow the Lord, we must Love Him more than anything that this world and our lives in it would offer.

Prayer: Lord, I want to love You more than anything and to have my obedience and dedication to You motivated by that love. Assist me and empower me Lord to have and maintain a love for You that eclipses any other passion.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Faithful Examples / Topic: Faithfulness

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 26, 35, 36; John 20

Scripture: Jeremiah 35:8-10
8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us.

Observation: Jeremiah's attention is drawn to the clan of Recab by the Lord. And, though Jeremiah prepares and offers them wine, they refuse on the basis that their forefather, Recab, forbade them to drink wine. And the Recabites share their commitment to follow all of Recab's instructions to them.

Application: These Recabites were highly commended by the Lord for their faithfulness. But most of the people around them thought they were just plain weird. They lived in tents, they had no property, no fields, no crops -- they were nomads. What I get from this is that God can find high value in things that we would dismiss out of hand. That means we should be careful not to be hasty in judgment concerning the way that other believers are led to follow the Lord. As Paul warned against concerning "passing judgment on disputable matters": ^"Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind," and "stop passing judgment on one another.. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."

Bottom Line: God has people around us who are good examples of following him. Not only should we look for such examples, we should strive to be those examples.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be as faithful to You are the Recabites were to the words of their forefather. Make me into the kind of example that You can use to show others the pathway to you.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: A Real Good Shepherd / Topic: Character

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 23, 24, 25; John 19

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-4
¹ "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. ² Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD. ³ "I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. ⁴ I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.

Observation: There are people who call themselves shepherds and like to be looked upon as spiritual and superior. But, as the scripture above clearly shows, not all who are "shepherds" have a true heart for the good of the people. Many are in it for themselves. And God truly detests these so-called shepherds. God wants and will anoint true and good shepherds who will love the sheep and take care of them.

Application: My father-in-law, Ed Stoddard, passed away this weekend. Ed was actually my wife's step-father, having married my wife's mom 26 years ago. And Ed has truly been a wonderful dad to my wife and her brother and sister, and a fantastic "Grandpa Ed" to his grandkids and great grandchildren. But Ed was not a religious, churchy kind of guy. He was a man's man who taught my sons to shoot a gun and my daughter to drive a stick shift. And though he wasn't a churchy guy, he knew the Lord and he prayed in the name of the Savior, Jesus Christ. And more than that, he was kind to everyone, patient, tolerant, generous, and always hospitable. He was truly a good shepherd to everyone who had the good fortune to be related to him in any way. For example, he was always more than willing to bring my mom along with him and Barbara on trips to see us. And he often asked me how she was doing. He was a true friend to me and I'm sure that God enjoyed his company too! I've met a lot of pastors who could not hold a candle to the quality and quantity of kindness and compassion and care that Ed doled out every day just being the down-to-earth, quality gentleman that he was. I will miss him. Earth is a little poorer and heaven a little richer since Ed Stoddard passed through the veil to the other side. "I always loved you Ed. We miss you. Thanks for being a good, kind, and loving man to Barbara and to all of us."

Prayer: Lord, thank you for good people that you bring into our lives. May those of us who claim to represent you have the kind of good influence on others that Ed had. Bring comfort to those who are in bereavement, Lord.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Certainties / Topic: Problems & Provisions

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 16, 17; Psalms 96; John 16

Scripture: John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Observation: Jesus looks into the future and sees a certainty of trouble -- trouble for his followers. But, even though there will be trouble, Jesus also sees a certainty of provision -- the provision of peace and overcoming.

Application: Jesus is our example in overcoming. And he encourages us to "take heart" -- that is to find courage in our hearts because we have given our hearts to the Overcoming One who is also the Soon Coming One. Praise God!

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you have overcome the world and that you offer me a provision of overcoming power and peace in the midst of whatever difficulty the world will throw at me. I rejoice in your salvation and in your staying power.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Where Is The Power? / Topic: Christian Walk

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 10, 11, 12; John 14

Scripture: John 14:12-14
¹²I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Observation: Amazing words! Jesus says, "you may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." He says, that "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing... even greater things!" Amazing!

Application: There is a gap between these words and the experience of Christians today (including me). Now there may be groups of believers here or there that are truly walking in this truth as an ongoing reality but I have never really seen this truth consistently lived out. I believe what Jesus said. I just want my experience to more closely align with what Jesus said.

Prayer: Lord, give me keys to the release of miracle power. I want to move in the realm of Jesus' words and the fulfillment of his promises that we read here. I don't want to just read about these things, and study them and teach them -- I want to see them and experience them in the life of your church all around me.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Living A Lie / Topic: False Faith

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 7, 8, 9; John 13

Scripture: Jeremiah 7:4-8
4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD! 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.

Observation: "Trusting in deceptive words" -- that's what the Lord says to the people. How does he define these words? He gives an example: "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!" This reminds me of the chorus of a worship song. Saying (or singing) spiritual-sounding words or participating in a spiritual activity is not what God is looking for. He wants lives that reflect His character. He tells the people (that's us) that they must "change your ways and your actions" and that this will be demonstrated by honesty, and kindness, and holiness. If they will do these things, they will reflect his character and gain a standing before God. As He says in chapter 9, verse 24: "but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight."

Application: Knowing and pleasing the Lord will result in a changed life. God doesn't want only words or songs -- he wants my ways and actions to reflect His character: kindness, justice, and righteousness. If I fail to conform my life to these characteristics, then I am living a lie and trusting in "deceptive words." If I change my ways and my actions to these Godly characteristics, then God is pleased with me as He says, "for in these I delight."

Bottom Line: Live for God. If my faith doesn't translate into treating others with Godly kindness, justice, and righteousness, then my faith isn't real, as far as God is concerned.

Prayer: Lord, help me to keep it real. Show me where I am failing, or where I need work. I want to please You always.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Deadly Partnership / Topic: Spiritual Deception

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 5, 6; John 12

Scripture: Jeremiah 5:30-31
30 "A horrible and shocking thing
has happened in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy lies,
the priests rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
But what will you do in the end?"

Observation: "Horrible!" "Shocking!" Strong language, even from the ever-expressive Jeremiah. He looks at what is happening in his nation, Israel, God's chosen people, and he is alarmed. Not only have the people turned from God but the spiritual leaders are in on it! The rejection of God's authority is top to bottom. The spiritual leaders speak, not out of God's heart, but from their own minds. And, as a result, what they offer is lies. Are the people unaware of this? No, they know what is going on. And not only are they aware, "the people love it this way!" That is, they prefer lies to the truth. This is the most disturbing of all.

Application: Itching ears. People will find teachers who say what they want to hear. Paul warned Timothy that, "the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3). So people and the spiritual leaders who serve them can enter into a hellish pact to deceive and be deceived, and to encourage one another in a kind of deadly game. Which brings us to the final phase in today's passage. "But what will you do in the end." Jeremiah warns that, while the game may work for a time, in the end, it will be shown for what it is: lies and deceit and rebellion. And the end of that kind of path is death: Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

Prayer: Lord, keep my feet planted firmly in you and in your truth. Send to me spiritual leaders who will speak the truth, even when it hurts. And help me to listen, even when my self nature would want to reject it. I want your ways and not my own.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Give God Something To Get Excited About / Topic: Praise In Challenging Times

Today’s Reading: Zephaniah 1, 2, 3; John 9

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:16-17
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

Observation: This is a message of encouragement in the midst of despair. Jerusalem is in great distress. Destruction is everywhere -- there is danger and threat from every side. The people are defeated and scattered. But the Lord says, "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp." How hard it is in the midst of such great struggle to find the strength to lift our hands. Yet God tells us to do it.

Application: This has a direct application to worshiping God in the midst of trials. I see many people who allow their negative emotions (which are typically based on difficult circumstances) to determine their worship response. If things are bad, then worship is subdued -- their hands hang limp, their faces downcast, their worship is muted. If things are good, then they can worship with enthusiasm. God says, worship even when times are bad. And the result is that God shows up and joins us in worship: "He will rejoice over you with singing."

Bottom Line: If we will keep in mind that the Lord is with us, and that he is strong and mighty to save, and if we can rejoice because of our confidence in him regardless of the circumstances, we will walk with him in many more times of joyful victory. The joy of the Lord is my strength.

Prayer: Lord, You are my strength in every situation. Help me to keep my eyes on you and my hands uplifted and to give You something in my life that You can get excited about with me. Thank you, Lord, that You are looking for ways to rejoice with me and over me.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Company You Keep / Topic: Solomon's Folly

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 35; John 7

Scripture: 2 Kings 23:13 The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the people of Ammon.

Observation: Josiah is leading the people back to God. And he is performing a clean sweep of the nation, getting rid of all the remnants of the idol worship that had led the people astray. What struck me here is that the idol worship actually had started with Solomon! Now, I know that Solomon had all those wives and concubines, and that he built palaces for many of them, but the fact that Solomon had actually built "high places," that is temples or shrines for idol worship for Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Molech is shocking. Solomon had an encounter with God in a dream early in his life where God spoke to him. And God had granted Solomon extraordinary wisdom to lead his people. So to see the depths to which Solomon sank is quite striking.

Application: Don't be deceived, God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. Solomon had aligned himself with pagans. He had indulged his sexual lust and his political nature to take him in directions that were quite damaging to him and to the people of God that he was leading. Solomon may have had wisdom to lead, but he lacked the wisdom for his own life -- to restrain himself and to embrace discipline which could have kept him from a life of dissipation. I'm sure Solomon did not lack any of the pleasure he could imagine but the result of his life included so many negative aspect that adversely impacted his family and nation for generations to come.

Bottom Line: Guard yourself and your alliances. Make sure the people to whom you join yourself have the same values and priorities that you want to be true of your life. Make no mistake, bad company corrupts good character. (1 Cor. 15:33)

Prayer: Lord, keep me protected in good and supportive relationships where I am held accountable for the things that You want to bring about in my life. Help me to be in the world but not of the world.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Lost In The Shuffle / Topic: God's Word

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34; John 6

Scripture:2 Chronicles 34:14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD that had been given through Moses.

Observation: Hey, let's clean out the temple. Boy, there sure is a lot of junk in here. What's this? Looks like a scroll. Should we throw it out? I don't know... I think it might me important..

It is astounding to me that the book of the Law had been lost. It just got forgotten and was in the jumbled up mess that was in the temple. Now keep in mind that there were still priests and Levites. They had time to learn to play musical instruments (vs.12). But nobody wanted the job of cleaning out the temple. And the simple fact was this: it had been such a long time since anybody saw the Book of the Law, it had been forgotten. Nobody was looking for it because nobody was even missing it.

Application: It is possible, through disobedience and neglect, to move so far away from the path that the path itself is forgotten. The word of God, which is the guide to life, and especially the guide to life for the nation of Israel, had been long neglected and shunned and, eventually, forgotten. I wonder what it was that the priests actually did and what they based their work on. If you don't have the book of the Law, which gives your job description, how do you do your job? I don't know.

Bottom Line: The point is that the word must be kept central and must be valued and a love for it must be nurtured or it is possible to move so far from its principles that the word itself can be lost in the shuffle.

Prayer: Lord, help me keep your word in clear focus and in the center of all I think and say and do and desire. And help me to live it out so others can read your word through my life.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Missing The Point / Topic: Spiritual Blindness

Today’s Reading: Nahum 1, 2, 3; John 5

Scripture: John 5:45
"But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set..."

Observation: Jesus is speaking to "the Jews," the term John uses to describe those Jewish leaders who consistently opposed him. Whether Pharisees, scribes, teachers of the Law, elders, or priests, they interact with Jesus throughout the gospel of John in an antagonistic way. Here, Jesus has healed a man who has been an invalid for 38 years and who has been waiting for years at the Pool of Bethesda where healings had apparently been experienced by whoever entered the pool after the stirring of the waters. Jesus, after hearing the man's story, says to him, ^"'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked." (vss. 8-9) But "the Jews" objected because it was the Sabbath day and to them, the man was violating the Sabbath by carrying his mat! Jesus launches a tirade against them near the end of which is verse 45 (above). These leaders claimed Moses as their authority and source. And they attacked the man and Jesus on that basis. But Jesus tells them that they are completely missing Moses' point. And that there will be a day when Moses himself will stand and judge them for it.

Application: Talk about missing the point! These leaders think that they are more holy and righteous than Jesus because they closely observe the Sabbath. But in truth, they are missing the real point of the Sabbath which was given by God as a blessing to man, a day of rest. And here is a man who can finally enter rest because of a healing given to him by God. But instead of celebrating God's gift to him, they attack him because of a rather technical violation. They rob this man of his celebration and they don't even hint that they are aware that God showed up and did something wonderful. How sad to be so hung up on something that you think is important to God and miss God himself as a result.

Bottom Line: The degree of spiritual blindness is directly proportional to an inordinate concern over trivial matters.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to not miss you because of something that is unimportant. Assist me to discern what truly matters and what does not so that I don't miss you. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, I want to see you.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Parents In Pain / Topic: Finding Comfort

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 10; Leviticus 11; Leviticus 12; Acts 16

Scripture: Leviticus 10:1-2
1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

Observation: This is such a shocking story and what a tragedy for Aaron and the brothers of the two who died.

Application: But I thought that while this is sad there are even worse outcomes. And Moses' family comes to mind. He has a wife and children, some sons, I think. But at this point, we never hear anything of them. Apparently, they are completely out of Moses' life. So this strikes me as a very tragic situation. Moses has the call of God on his life, but his family is completely uninvolved. This would give me the sense of being unsupported and even abandoned. So, even though Aaron lost two sons, they died in the service of the Lord and in full participation with their father's call.

Bottom line: Just about everybody has family troubles of some kind. And if your a parent with children over 13, you typically have some struggles and heartache. And if your children are adults, there can be some deep pain and hurt. But I think that there is almost always something to be thankful for in every situation. I'm not saying it makes the pain disappear, but I think it is important to not allow the pain to consume you.

Prayer: Lord, I lift up parents in pain: those I know and those I do not. Father, I thank you for the gift of children, although there are times when this gift feels more like a curse. Help us who are parents to stay close to you so that we can always know your heart for us and our children. And help us to be good models of your love and character, so that we may assist our children in following you also.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Sacred Garments? / Topic: God's Values

Today’s Reading: Exodus 28; Exodus 29; Acts 7

Scripture: Exodus 28:1-4, 39-41
1 "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. 2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. 3 Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.
39 "Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer. 40 Make tunics, sashes and headbands for Aaron's sons, to give them dignity and honor. 41 After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.

Observation: Sacred garments. This is a foreign idea to me (and, I think, to most Protestant Christians today). I tend to view the idea as a type of "throw back" to dead traditions that we need not pay much attention to. But is there something to these "sacred garments" that is important? God tells Moses to have these garments made for the purpose of giving "dignity and honor" to those who would serve as priests. Apparently, to God it is important that his representatives be held in high regard, with dignity and honor. That is what God thinks. Are "dignity and honor" high on our list or do we have other ideas?

Application: "Friendly and approachable" are characteristics that I have thought are vital to the man of God. But this does not seem to line up with God's values. Perhaps my idea is just wrong. My generation has spent much energy in rejecting tradition and substituting our own values for the "old ways." I must think about this more.

Prayer: Lord, help me get to the truth and live it.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: Stick To The Pattern / Topic: Humble Worship

Today’s Reading: Exodus 25; Exodus 26; Exodus 27; Acts 6

Scripture: Exodus 25:9, 40; 26:30; 27:8
25:9 "Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you."
25:40 "See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
26:30 "Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain."
27:8 "...It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain."

Observation: God gives intricately detailed plans to Moses for the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. There are specifications for materials, dimensions, colors and finishes, attachments and supports, and architectural detail. And in the verses above, God is explicit that these directions are to be followed to the "T", as he says "exactly like the pattern I will show you."

Application: Nowadays, we think that if we have what we believe to be a good motive, that we can approach God in any way we please. We think that God is not concerned about the details of how we approach him -- as long as we approach him. But I do not think that this idea is right. God is God and he has given us, in his word, many instructions regarding how we are to approach him. Methods of prayer, worship, intercession, repentance, inquiry, and so forth. Humility is one of the hallmarks of all of these methods. And a "whatever" attitude that "God will accept 'whatever' I offer to him" demonstrates no humility whatsoever.

Bottom line: It is the job of every believer to approach God "in holy and reverent fear" (1 Peter 1:17) by seeking to know how God has instructed his children to seek him. It will be a rude awakening for those presumptuous individuals who insist that God must receive them, no matter how the approach him, because they have good motives.

Prayer: Lord, keep me from presumption that I may approach you in a way that pleases you and demonstrates love and reverence for you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.