Thursday, December 31

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020

 

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’  And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’  Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17)

 

 

As we close a tremendously difficult year, we look forward with anticipation for God’s revelation both in the year to come but for all history.  Without His abiding presence and intervention for us, we are truly lost, both individually and as a human family.  But thanks be to God that He saw fit at the right time to bring redemption for His people through His chosen vessel, the Lord Jesus Christ, and that His salvation would be eternal and firm!

 

Looking ahead to 2021, let us resolve to seek God wholeheartedly and to wait expectantly for Him as we continue reading, praying, fellowshipping, and worshipping Him.

 

It has been my pleasure to share thoughts, dating back to our first Bible Reading Group in 2008.  Thank you for journeying together through the Scriptures and for your friendship and kindness over many years!

December 30

Revelation 21

I am not a scholar. I read and spend time in prayer because it fills my soul. I share what God puts on my heart and I pray asking God to intervene in peoples lives to bring them peace, bring Him glory, and bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus. This has been a very hard year for so many and in different ways, and as I was reading today I felt a sense of peace knowing that in the confusion of the world, in the midst of the sickness, our hope rests in nothing else other than God wins. God wants us not to look around, but to look up. As the New Year approaches I would like to encourage everyone to take a moment (or more) and pray. In the midst of all that is going on around us, look up and see God. Allow your spirit to be filled with His hope. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4Nx2hEhVRE

December 26: Of Certainty

Zechariah 9:1-17

Revelation 17:1-18

Psalm 145:1-21

Proverbs 30:32

Who doesn't want to know what is going to happen in the future?  People who buy stocks certainly want to know what a stock is going to be worth tomorrow.  They want to buy the ones that go up, and avoid the ones that go down. Because every time there is a buyer, there has to be a seller, that tells you that for every trade, someone is going to be right, and someone is going to be wrong.  Fifty-fifty - that doesn't sound like either side is guaranteed an outcome.  If only there were someplace where the forecasting track record was much better than 50%.

Well actually, there is - and the stakes are much higher than earthly riches.  Zecharaiah 9:9 in today's OT reading is an example of at least 55 Old Testament prophecies that are fulfilled in Jesus, in this case in Matthew 22:2-7.   In fact, according to an article published on The Jesus Project, the chair of the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy, Peter Stoner, looked at just 8 specific prophecies about Jesus and, using conservative probabilities of each one being fulfilled, came to the conclusion that the prospect anyone would satisfy all 8 prophecies was just 1 in 10 to the 17th power.  

They put that into perspective.   Ten tickets in a jar, one of them marked, a blindfolded person has a one in ten chance of pulling out the marked one.  This would be like hiding one silver dollar somewhere in the state of Texas, then taking enough silver dollars to cover the entire state two feet deep…and then asking that same blindfolded person to find the right one. 

The point is, for those of us who seek certainty, there is a certainty to Scripture we already know in respect of events that have already come to pass.  But there is so much more to Scripture, so much more that talks about what is yet to come.  And on this, my last blog of the year, I'd like to invite you to join us again next year, to get to know the promises God has made to all of us - promises that are certain to be fulfilled, that are already being fulfilled.  

Let's go on this journey again next year, together.

December 25: Of Two Different Perspectives of the Same Thing

Zecharaiah 8:1-23

Revelation 16:1-21

Psalm 144:1-15

Proverbs 30:29-31

What contrasting, conflicting stories we have in today's readings.  In Zecharaiah we read a story of redemption, salvation and restoration.  "Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem…the city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there."  Because where once the Lord was "determined to bring disaster on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me", now He has "determined to do good again to Jerusalem and to Judah."  

An entirely different story in Revelation, though.  Today we read about the seven bowls of God's wrath, poured upon the earth, and their effect is terrible to behold, worse to experience. Festering sores, water that turns to blood, a sun that scorches, darkness, drought, earthquakes.  Such bad that people "cursed God…because the plague was so terrible."

The same God, two very opposite pictures of Him, part of the same salvation story, rooted in His love for us, and His desire for us to come back to Him.  

In the same way there are two very opposite pictures of Christmas.  In the one, we see the tranquil picture of a peaceful mother, a relieved father, and a baby sleeping in a manger, surrounded by shepherds  and astrologers, all in wonder at the circumstances of the child's birth.  

Yet the very same elements that make up this picture of a journey finally complete for all its obstacles and challenges paint the portrait of another beginning - one that will end in blood and sacrifice.  The shepherds might have understood this - they were Levitical shepherds, and they cared not just for sheep, but for the perfect sheep destined for sacrifice of atonement.  They came and saw a baby born in a cave where they brought their ewes to give birth to their sheep, the better to protect them from attack.  They came and saw a baby wrapped in the same cloths they used to wrap the perfect lamb, to keep it from injury, and preserve its perfection, its suitability for sacrifice.  And the astrologers might have understood this as well - they came bearing not just gifts fit for royalty and holiness, but for death as well.  

The same Child, two very opposite pictures of the events at Bethlehem, signifying the beginning of life, and its sacrifice for the atonement of our sins.  Again, part of the same salvation story, rooted in God's love for us, and His desire for us to come back to Him.

Father, as we celebrate Your Son's birth, may we remember in the same breath the purpose for which He was born.  And may we respond to the inestimable gift of salvation You gave us, which we celebrate today, by confessing He is our Savior, our only means of reconciliation back to You.  Thank You again.

Thursday, December 24

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

 

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,

      Lord God Almighty.

Just and true are your ways,

      King of the ages.

Who will not fear you, O Lord,

      And bring glory to your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come

      and worship before you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:3b,4)

 

 

This song comes in the midst of the final victories over evil in Revelation.  As with other songs in that book, the chorus rises to glorify God and to acknowledge His holy character and tremendous deeds among men.

 

If you have come into a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you have great reason to rejoice, in that God has chosen to reveal Himself to you.  That revelation overcame our natural tendency to ignore God and to seek only what’s best for ourselves.  God stepped in by sending His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to this earth and to give us a greater picture of His love and grace.  Christ paid the full penalty for sin -- penalty that we rightly deserved -- and thus satisfied God’s righteous judgment.

 

Revelation unveils the final stages of God’s plan of salvation.  While the specifics may be beyond our understanding, we may rejoice in knowing the certainty of Jesus’s victory and the perfection of the New Creation.  Revelation brings to fulfillment the restoration of God and His beloved creation, humankind, initiated just after the Fall.  What sin had separated, God would bring together again.

 

In our earthly life, God has invited us to participate in bringing about the reconciliation of God and humankind.  We can grow in our relationship with God through spending time with God, worshipping Him, and fellowshipping with His people.  We can point others to the revelation of Christ through our prayers, actions, and words.  We can bring healing:  physically, emotionally-mentally, or relationally.

 

On this Christmas Eve, may we rejoice in knowing that the angels who appeared to Bethlehem’s shepherds will indeed find realization of their chorus:  “Glory to God in the highest heaven,/ and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rest.”  Amen!

 

 

Lord God, thank You for bringing reconciliation between us and You, the world and You, and between people.  Help us to be faithful in serving alongside You in this ministry.  Give us courage and strength by Your Holy Spirit.  We love You and celebrate You and Your lovingkindness today.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

Dec 23

Psalm 142

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need to call a customer service department to have an issue resolved and you get someone on the phone who you know does not have the knowledge or authority to help you? I have, many times, and while I don't mean to be rude to the unfortunate person who has to deal with me while I insist to speak with their supervisor, I know I need to talk with someone who is in a position of authority in order to get help. As I was reading through David's Psalm this morning, I sensed his understanding that the only One with authority who could intervene in his situation was God. I think that's why I get so wrapped up into prayer. When we pray, we are coming before God's throne of mercy and grace and directly asking the only One with authority to help us and to intervene. It took me a long time to learn that God answers prayers His way, not mine, and for reasons we will never understand this side of heaven, God's answers to our prayers will always bring Him glory, not always as we expect and not necessarily what we ask for. Like I said last week, there is so much I just don't understand and can't process these days, but no one else aside from God has those answers. I also realized that the answer to prayer right now might only come as a sense of tangible peace through what has become a whirlwind in life, but that peace and a sense of His presence is God's authoritative answer. Like David, I pray we can rest in His presence, trusting He is the only One with the answers.  

Randi

"I just don't get it!"

Today's passage had one verse that stuck out to me: Proverbs 30:19.

I often think that God never ceases to amaze me. I loved reading in today's passage how the psalmist was amazed by God's creation. There are three things that are just "too amazing" to him: eagles in the sky, snakes on rocks, and ships on seas. The psalmist says that these three things (and one more) are not understandable. The one more: men (more specifically, men in love). I hope this made you smile like it did me.

I love thinking about these things. Eagles somehow fly miles and miles and manage to soar so high! Snakes have no hands or feet, let alone hiking shoes to climb, yet they scale up and down rocks smoothly and effortlessly. Ships sail in storms and stay afloat amidst treacherous conditions. Then you have men...who fall in love and their behavior changes in ways that some cannot understand. I will always remember Dave's sister saying "Rebecca, ever since Dave started dating you, he's started doing the dishes when you're around...he's dressing better...he's a different man!" :) Love changes behavior.

It all brings me back to Isaiah 55:8-9

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts".

Let us be grateful that His ways are higher than our ways, let us rejoice in those things that we don't understand because we know our God is an amazing God. He does so many things that are beyond our understanding, but that's a good thing. It causes us to question, dig deeper, and grow. It causes us to admire Him for who He is.

I invite you to read a little personal blog post I wrote about the eagle after reading Isaiah 40:31. I was reminded of this in today's reading. You can find it at rebeccanaomi.life/inspirations under "Heights of hope" :) 

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and pray that you can experience this season in new, exciting, joyful ways thanks to our amazing God! 

~Rebecca

December 19: Of Preparations for the New Year

Zephanaiah 1:1-3:20

Revelation 10:1-11

Psalm 138:1-8

Proverbs 39:11-14

I will praise You, Lord, with all my heart;

   Before the 'gods' I will sing Your praise. 

I will bow down toward Your holy temple

   And will praise Your name…

- Psalm 138:1-2

This time of the year, after Christmas, the other thing people make such tremendous preparations for is the New Year.  And where preparations for Advent are filled with prayer and worship and gift giving, preparation for the New Year is usually centered around one thing: the New Year's Resolution, where we look at ourselves, decide what needs to change, and resolve to do what is needed to effect the change.

A survey conducted a year ago found that in the US, the top 5 resolutions were:

1. Exercising more (50%)
2. Saving money (49%)
3. Eating more healthily (43%)
4. Losing weight (37%)
5. Reducing stress (34%)

An interesting observation: while 77% of people were confident they would be able to keep all their resolutions, only 7% kept all their 2019 roster.  They must have ended up deciding they weren't worth keeping.  Question: what resolution is?

The psalmist has as good suggestion.  How about one where we resolve to "praise You, Lord, with all my heart"?  One where we praise God before other "gods" we might have once harbored in the heart that is now completely dedicated to praising Him?  Such a resolution would seem to be worth keeping, and would seem to have far longer implications.

But how to start?  The KISS principle (PG version: Keep It Simple, Silly) helps.  Consider resolving to spend the first 10 minutes of each day next year in prayer.  And when praying, start with praise.  Then list everything that causes worry or fear, everything earthly aspiration, and after saying each one, say "but praise God."  Like, for example, "I am worried about my job…but praise God."  Or "I am afraid for my children's futures…but praise God."  By God's strength, it will be habit forming, and we may well raise the resolution-keeper average by the end of 2021.

Father, as we prepare for the coming year, help us to focus on the Only One that counts - You.  Teach us to praise You with all our hearts, and to set aside any other gods we might have to sing Your praise.

December 18: Of Vicious, Sinful and Imperfect Instruments

Habbakuk 1:1-3:19

Revelation 9:1-21

Psalm 137:1-9

Proverbs 30:10

One of the things dividing Christians today is a common thought, directed at different people.  On one side are those wondering how God could have kept an adulterer in the White House for 4 years; on the other, those wondering why God would install an abortion advocate for the next four.  What was/is God thinking?.  How could He elevate such a sinner to such a position of prominence and power?  How could He find use for such men?  Where was/is the justice?  

Habbakuk helps.  At the start of the book, the prophet is complaining to God that evil goes unpunished.  In His response, God acknowledges the evil, but doesn't enlist the service of the good and holy.  In fact, His answer is so unfathomable He tells Habbakuk "I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."  What is God about to do?  He's about to use this "ruthless" people, "feared and dreaded", a "law unto themselves" - the Babylonians - as instruments of His purpose and His love for Israel.  

I think about this, and encouragement presents itself twice, in different ways.  In the first, it reminds us that even in our sinfulness and imperfection, God can still deem us fit for His service.  And when we see imperfection in our leaders, we can take comfort in the knowledge that God is able to use them as well, for His purposes, purposes that begin with His love for us.

Indeed, even if because of their leadership "the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines", "the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food", and there are neither sheep in the pen nor cattle in the stalls, Habbakuk reminds us God is in control, and still we can "rejoice in the Lord" and "be joyful in God [our] Savior."

Father, this pandemic has caused great disruption to many, and both our incumbent and prospective leadership are less inspirational, more worrying. Remind us You are in control, You love us, and You can use even the most sinful and vicious for the benefit of Your people. 

Thursday, December 17

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020

 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

      His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

 

 

Throughout Psalm 136, we find each verse encapsulated by the phrase:  “His love endures forever.”  That repetition of 26 refrains echoes into the reader’s heart.  In the times of the Old Testament, this responsive phrase may have been sung by the congregation.

 

Overall, the psalm points to the value of gratitude and remembrance.  The first three verses incline the reader’s heart towards gratitude, while the final verse echoes that same call.  In the middle, the writer provides an overview glimpse at God’s sovereign intervention in Israel’s covenant history, including:  Creation; the Exodus for Egypt; the establishment of the land as Israel’s inheritance; and freedom from “our enemies.”  Verse 25 points out each creature’s dependence on God’s faithfulness, to Him “who gives food to every creature.”

 

Our human minds cannot fathom the enduring, faithful love of God.  We can only catch glimpses of it.  These disciplines of gratitude and remembrance help us to reconnect with God and set our attitudes and sights aright:  looking upward to God in humility and gratitude.  His love endures forever!

 

I sometimes imagine the radiance of God’s love being something like a radiation of kindness that brings joy and peace (much like the fruit of the Spirit).  This radiance brings with it a glow and warmth that overwhelms brokenness and delivers security.

 

How have you experienced God’s enduring love this year?  How could you acknowledge your gratefulness, even today?

 

 

Lord God, thank You that Your love does indeed endure forever.  Make us more aware of Your presence and the many ways in which You have demonstrated Your faithfulness in this incredibly difficult year.  Thank You that the Incarnation of Jesus helps to underscore Your enduring love, giving us strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.  In Jesus’s mighty Name, amen.

December 16

Psalm 135

I've come to a point where I just don't understand anything that is going on around me. I don't understand why one of my best friends was just diagnosed with blood cancer, or why the young teacher I work with has to go through surgery to remove tumors that the doctor found. I don't understand why the entire 5th grade wing had to be exposed to Covid. The list is pretty long but basically I'm just at a loss. As a parent drove through the pick up line at dismissal today she stopped and briefly shared her bewilderment at life and in a short conversation we both shared our faith and came to the conclusion that we're not called to understand. I wasn't sure what to write about today, and the first words in today's Psalm have been on my heart all day. "Praise the Lord". The Psalm goes on to repeat those words multiple times. As I let the words sink into my spirit I started to sense that God wants my praise in the midst of everything I don't understand. I kept rereading verse 14, "For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants". So in the midst of everything I don't understand, God is present. God is with my friend, my teacher, the fifth graders, their teachers and families and everyone else on my "I just don't understand" list. So as I sit here listening to different songs with verses that remind me to  "Praise the Lord", I feel a sense of peace and I sense God's presence. As hard as it might be right now, take some time and just "Praise the Lord".

Randi 

December 11: Of Waiting and Certainty => With Apologies. I thought I'd sent it out yesterday...

Amos 4:1-6:14

Revelation 2:18-3:6

Psalm 130:1-8

Proverbs 29:21-22

"I wait for the Lord

     more than watchmen wait for the morning,

     more than watchmen wait for the morning."

-Ps 130:6

What did a watchman dor?  He stood guard - over fields, to guard crops from animals or thieves, or over city walls, to look out for approaching threat.  If he saw an animal, a thief, an enemy, he would sound the alarm, so people could defend the crop, or shut the gates and defend the city.

This was a time when law was different, theft and war were more commonplace, and those who stood guard at night did not have help we have today - no motion sensors, night vision goggles, or flood lights to see the enemy approach.  And, as a matter of efficiency, if I were an invader, the watchman is the first guy I would take out.  Is it any wonder the watchmen anxiously waited for morning, for light, and the security it provided?  

People are waiting anxiously for many things these days.  For a vaccine they hope will let them go back to earning a living.  For a college admission letter or a job offer they hope will open doors to a better life.  An effective chemotherapy regimen.  A marriage proposal.  A positive pregnancy test, a healthy baby.  They wait on these things, they put their hope in these things with their whole being - though NONE of it is certain to happen. Certainly not as certain as the sunrise.  

Reading this passage, that's what struck me.  "I wait for the Lord MORE than the watchmen wait for the morning"…as certain as we think the rising of the sun might be, the coming of the Lord - of His provision, protection, mercy and "unfailing love" - is even more certain.  So if we are prepared to put our trust in vaccines and college and job offers and relationships - should we not be infinitely more prepared to put our trust in Him?

Father, elsewhere in Your word you teach us the difference between wise and foolish men, and houses on rock and sand.  Teach us to put our faith not in the uncertain, but in the only One that IS certain, to put our trust in You and Your unfailing love. 

December 12: Or Rebuke and Discipline

Amos 7:1-9:15

Revelation 3:7-22

Psalm 131:1-3

Proverbs 29:23

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." - Revelations 3:19

In the last two weeks, we've written twice about a deceptive conflation of a person and their sin, the thinking that the person and the sin are one and the same, and so to condemn the sin is to condemn the sinner.  Those who subscribe to such thinking find they are unable to correct a person - unable to rebuke and discipline their child, for example.  

God makes it excruciatingly clear that that is NOT His way.  Those He loves, He rebukes and disciplines because He knows that the wrong thinking - which becomes wrong action, which becomes wrong habit, which becomes so much harder to break - leads to separation from Him.  And He knows - more than anyone, He literally wrote The Book - that would NOT be good.  So when we stray, He rebukes and He disciplines.

But for us who are nowhere near as wise, and nowhere as perfect, how not to throw out the baby with the bathwater?  How to reject the sin and not the sinner?  Three suggestions:

1. Humility.   Another word for this - honesty.  We cannot effectively rebuke or discipline a person - our child, even - if we do not start with the humility that acknowledges our own imperfection.  In Romans 3 Paul reminds us "there is no one righteous, not even one". And, quite frankly, it isn't just God that knows we are imperfect - the person we trying to help knows it as well.  Pretending something we are not, by rebuking without the humility, makes it harder, even for our children, to receive our counsel. 

2. Love.  When we are in a position to discipline, remember condemnation is counterproductive: we don't want to incite them to leave, we want to invite them back. Think of Jesus and the adulterous woman: when He defined who was free to cast the first stone, remember that HE was without sin.  He could have thrown it.  Instead, after conducting roll call and finding everyone had left, He said "neither do I condemn you". Think of how that love He showed her must have made the next part of His message - "Go, and sin no more" - so much easier to receive.  

3. Example.  Easy to misinterpret this one, and think the example we have to set is one of perfection.  It's not.  To make things simple, don't think "perfection", think "direction".  It is difficult to rebuke, discipline, correct and invite a person back if that person sees we are up to the same nonsense.  But as credible as a person who had never smoked in their life might be as an example, again think of how much more of an inspiration someone who had smoked, and quit, and fallen off the wagon, and quit again, and was barely holding on - think how much more inspiring THAT person would be to someone being called back.  

Rebuking and disciplining are difficult, delicate but essential, especially for those whom we love.  So Father, give us the courage to follow Your example with those whom we love.  Give us the resolve to do what is difficult, the humility and love to do it gently, and the example to do it credibly.  In Jesus's name we pray.

Thursday, December 10

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

 

 

“Do you see a man who speaks in haste?

   There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Proverbs 29:20)

 

 

The Proverbs contain vaults of wisdom, packaged into bite-size morsels like this one.  Oftentimes, I find the Proverbs rich with what we know to be truth but struggle to embrace for our lives.

 

In Luke 6:45, Jesus explains:  “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”  In Romans 10:10, we read that “it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

 

James 3:1-12 discusses the challenges of taming the tongue.  Part of that text remarks on the irony that our mouth both praises God and speaks ill of others.  From those verses, we may glean that our speech should honor God and others.

 

This Proverb highlights that haste in our speech could lead us astray.  As I read this verse, I thought of the conditions under which we may speak in haste.  Sometimes, we respond quickly with a retort, in order to crack a joke, to defend ourselves, to prove our superiority, or to retaliate in anger.  With humor, we know well that we should seek to amuse rather than abuse, but we can quickly and hurtfully cross that line.  If to defend ourselves, we may resort to tactics that fall beneath our goal to honor God and others.

 

Our pride may motivate us to prove our superiority or to retaliate in anger.  Feeling threatened or insecure, we could use our words to exalt ourselves or to rebuke others for not feeding into our agendas.  Or, in a twisted way, we could speak negatively of ourselves or others, questioning God’s sovereignty and plan.

 

How can we better honor others with our words?  How can we reflect God’s character as we speak?

 

 

Lord God, thank You for creating us as relational and communicative beings.  Thank You for speaking the world into existence and giving us Your Word so that we may come to know You and find direction.  Give us patience and grace in our speech so that we may honor You and others.  Point out how we are falling short of Your holy standard so that we may grow towards Christlikeness.  Help us to speak life into others and into situations.  In Jesus’s mighty Name, amen.

December 9

Revelation 1, Proverbs 29:18

The ancient Greek word translated Revelation is apokalupsis (apocalypse). The word simply means "a revealing, an unveiling." So as we read through the Book of Revelation we see that Jesus is revealing Himself to John. He is giving John a glimpse into the antichrist, God's judgement and the calamity on earth. Honestly, what stood out to me today mostly was how the Proverb for today says that where there is no revelation people cast off restraint but blessed is the one who heeds wisdoms instruction. At the heart of our faith is the truth of the Word. His-tory is our reality and it begins this month with a "revealing",  the birth of the Messiah. Unless we read with spiritual eyes, we miss the revealing of Jesus from the very beginning. The entire story leads up to the final chapter and "unveiling" of our Lord when He returns. Wisdoms instruction is found in the truth of the Word, the blessing is to know the Lord. I pray Lord for all of us that you give us eyes that see, ears that hear, and a vision to serve and reveal You to a lost and broken world.

Randi

December 5: How Purpose Makes the Difficult Easier

Hosea 1:1-3:5

1 John 5:1-21

Psalm 124:1-8

Proverbs 29:5-8

Hosea's life was tough.  It's unlikely he was an evil man, or he would not have been so close to God as to hear Him.  And yet, despite his earthly goodness, God called him to a pretty difficult life.  God told him to marry a woman who was going to cheat on him, and bear children not his own.  And God told him to love her, even during her infidelity.  

As difficult as all that was, Hosea obeyed.  He lived what John wrote in today's NT reading: "In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands."  Hosea, by his obedience, seemed to be praying that part of the Lord's prayer: "Thy will be done".  Obedience to God seemed to be his desire, his purpose.  

And as puzzling as all those commands might have been, God had a purpose, rooted in love - not just for Hosea, but for all of Israel - indeed, for all of us today: to remind us that we have sinned, to remind us of His unfailing love despite our sinfulness, and too all us back to holiness and to Him.  What a privilege Hosea enjoyed being an instrument of God's purpose because of his obedience.  

I find this comforting to remember when I am struggling with some aspect of my life.  When I get frustrated with my circumstances, it is comforting to know God has a purpose, and encouraging to be reminded that my purpose should be to obey Him.  And from there, it is humbling and gratifying to realize I am an instrument in the plans of the Almighty.  When I get to that point, the burdens I am privileged to bear because God has chosen them for me become easier to carry.  Not lighter, mind you - just easier to carry.  

Father, teach us acknowledge Your authority in all things and in all circumstances.  Teach us to obey You in all things, seeking only to be an instrument for Your purposes.  And when we do, help us carry the burdens You lay on our shoulders more easily, knowing we are doing Your will.  

December 4: Of Deceptive Conflation Part 2

Daniel 11:36-12:13

1 John 4:1-21

Psalm 123:1-4

Proverbs 29:2-4

On Sunday we wrote about deceptive conflation: the process by which one is able to justify accepting the sin by conflating it with the sinner.  Rejecting the sin is then the same as rejecting the sinner, and since we are called to love everyone, we are told we must accept their sin as well.  The thinking is particularly insidious, because it preys on a good person's good intentions, and twists them ever so subtly towards evil.

It's something we really have to guard against - constantly, and against the various ways the evil one might use it to turn us away from God.  Today's NT reading reminds us of this - "because many false prophets have gone out into the world".  And it gives us further guidance on how to respond. Two thoughts:

1. Those good intentions?  First, we can to test them.  What thoughts, what actions do these good intentions prod us towards?  Do those thoughts and actions first and foremost acknowledge "that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" and "is from God"?  A footnote: to do this, of course, we must first know Jesus ourselves…

2. Second, we can measure our thoughts and actions using love as the yardstick and scale.  "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God."  Do they allow us to act towards our brother and sister with love, and in love?  Or are they acts of, say, anger or vengeance or malice?  Or worse, are the seemingly acts of love, but in reality merely ways for us to get what we want out of them?  A second footnote: sometimes honesty to ourselves is the most difficult form of honesty there is…

This isn't easy.  Per the first point, an acknowledgement that Jesus "is from God" pretty much means nothing comes before Him - no desire, no good intention, nothing.  And per the second point, to live according to point #1, we have to be able to be brutally honest with ourselves.  

If you're anything like me, then you also struggle to live a life that acknowledges Jesus in everything you do, and above everything else in your life.   And you struggle to be honest with yourself, and act on that honesty.  

Father, the world is trying to deceive us.  Help us not to be willing accomplices to our own deception.  Teach us to test everything against your sovereignty over us, and to always act in love for all around us.

Thursday, December 3

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2020

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.  The one who keeps God's commands lives in him, and he in them.  And this is how we know that he lives in us:  We know it by the Spirit he gave us." (1 John 3:23,24)

These verses tightly encapsulate the interrelationship of faith and obedience.  Coming to believe in Jesus, we find from His love the impetus to love Him and to love people.  This love for God and others completes the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:34-40)

John then highlights how God has secured His presence with His people through sending His Spirit.  Ephesians 1:14 discusses the "seal" of the Holy Spirit, by which God marks us as with a security deposit.  In ancient times, a king's seal declared ownership and authenticity for a document.  In a similar way, the Holy Spirit marks us as God's genuine possession.

Despite the great truth here, we can often fall short of our calling.  We are too easily satisfied with small created things, which leave us too full to hunger for God.  The rush and bustle of the Christmas season historically have sapped me of the joy and wonder of celebrating God's presence with us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  This year, however, we may be naturally slowed down, and it gives us time to appreciate everything more.

How have you spent your extra time since November 23?  Were you able to savor greater moments of thanksgiving for what God has done in your life?  How could you continue that celebration of thanksgiving for Him in this month of December?

Lord God, thank You for drawing us to Yourself and planting in us a heart of love for You and others.  We know that we love because You first loved us.  Thank You for carrying us through this terribly difficult year.  Help us to savor all that You are and have done for us.  Shape us into Your sculpture through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.

Wednesday blog post

Blog post

Daniel 9:1-11:1

1 John 2:18-3:16

Psalm 121:1-8

Proverbs 28:27-28

Pilgrims travel through lonely country to their destination, they are protected by the creator of everything. We can depend upon God for help. Psalm 121 used in today's music is a song that ascents and expresses assurance and hope in God's protection day and night. God watches over us. During the next few weeks it may be a special time for some of us or it may be a hard time for some of us. It is a time of Joy and happiness but it is also is a time of reflection and bringing up memories of lost loved ones, or the feeling of being alone. God wants us to connect/identify with the needy, not to ignore them "those who open their eyes to poor people will be blessed". Paul promised that God will supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19). He usually does this through other people. What can you do today to help God supply someone's need?

https://youtu.be/nKSuA7z1OYY

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Aimee Spencer

November 28: Of Deceptive Conflation

Daniel 5:1-31

2 Peter 2:1-22

Psalm 119:113-128

Proverbs 28:19-20

In your humble writer's opinion, one of the greatest deceptions being perpetrated today is the one of "conflation", which the Cambridge Dictionary defines as "the actor or process of combining two or more separate things into one whole, especially pieces of text or ideas".  This is where a person insists that a sinner and a sin be conflated, and says that if a Christian does not accept the sin, neither do they love the sinner.  And typically follows it up with an accusation of hatefulness and dishonesty - "I thought you said you were a Christian?  If you were, how could you hate a person?"

What's tragic is that many well intentioned people fall for this.  They don't want to be hateful; they don't even want to be in a position where they might be accused of hatefulness.  So they capitulate.  They choose to condone the sin.  Peter explains how their situation is made much worse.  If, by their good intentions, they had begun to escape "the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning."  I struggled with this until I realized it meant that, the sinner believing he was now living righteously, he no longer had reason to change.  

It's worse for the deceivers.  Peter doesn't mince words, comparing them with angels sent to hell and put "in chains of darkness to be held for judgment".  He makes clear what he thinks is in store for such people, comparing them to the "ancient world when He brought flood on its ungodly people" and "the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [which He] made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly."

How then do we avoid both temptations - to be deceiver, and to be deceived?  Today's psalm gives us good guidance.  

1. First, we cleave to God's Word.  "I hate double-minded people, but I love Your law.  You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your word."  
2. Then, having clung ferociously to His word, we come against the deceivers, the deception, and the temptation to deceive. "Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God."
3. And when our strength flags, as it inevitably will, we cry out to Him: "Sustain me, my God, according to Your promise, and I will live…uphold me, and I will be delivered."

Father, Satan is working overtime, and to us his packaging can look really enticing.  Please protect us, and open our hearts, minds and eyes to the deception of conflation, and remind us that to love someone is to want for them not necessarily what THEY want for themselves, but what YOU want for them. 

November 27: Of God-Begotten Transformations

Daniel 4:1-37

2 Peter 1:1-21

Psalm 119:97-112

Proverbs 28:17-18

In the Old and New Testament readings today, two people who seem as different as chalk and cheese.  Nebuchadnezzar, earthly king and conqueror, builder of the majestic city of Babylon who answered to no one; and Peter, modestly successful fisherman, arrogant coward.  

Yet today we read the former abandon his arrogance and his gods, and confess God's existence and nature, declaring Him God the Most High, honoring and glorifying "Him who lives forever".  And we read the depth of the arrogant, uneducated fisherman's insight when he writes of faith, goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love.  Peter?  Self control, from the man who cut off the servant's ear?  Perseverance from the man who could not stay the course that terrible night till the rooster crowed?

Two people, so different, coming from and heading toward different places, yet both transformed, and brought to the same place, the same conclusion about the existence and sovereignty of our God.  How?  Not by their own hand, but by God's.  And no, it wasn't easy.

But think of this: the same God who knew what it would take, and how long it would take, to change Nebuchadnezzar's heart so he would glorify God, and Peter's heart so he would be ready and willing to put aside "the tent of this body" - that God is the God who knows us as well, knows what we need in order to turn to Him the same way.  The God who called both those men to holiness calls us to the same thing as well.  And He's willing to do whatever it takes.

If you are like me, you will have days of frustration, despair and hopelessness even.  You wonder why.  You wonder what the point of it all is.  You wonder whether or not it is worth going on.  A job, perhaps.  Or being a parent.  Or a spouse.  Or even trying to be a Christian.  Where do we find the how?

Thankfully, Peter is pretty straight up with us. In verses 2-4, he makes it clear.  First, he reassures us that the grace and peace that we sometimes struggle to find can be ours - and IN ABUNDANCE! - if we get to know God and Jesus our Lord.  And he even tells us how God's divine power has given us everything - EVERYTHING! - we need for a godly life, not a helpless, hopeless one.  

Father, when we struggle, remind us that if you could change, and cared enough to change, both Nebuchadnezzar and Peter, then you care enough to change us as well, and will do whatever it takes to call us to holiness.  Then, when we struggle through the transformation You ordained, help us to get to know You, and to receive the grace and peace You promised came with the relationship.

Thursday, November 26

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2020

 

“Your word, Lord, is eternal;

    it stands firm in the heavens.

Your faithfulness continues through all generations;

    you established the earth, and it endures.

Your laws endure to this day,

    for all things serve you.” (Psalm 119:89-91)

 

 

On this Thanksgiving Day, we pause to give thanks for God’s faithfulness to us over this trying and tumultuous year.  Like Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we found ourselves cast into the fire of COVID-19’s dangers and major economic and social repercussions.  We have regrettably become disconnected from family and friends out of caution.  Our hearts hurt in grappling with the losses that we have faced.

 

Yet, God has remained faithful and steadfast.  His love has not faded, and His Word stands firm.  As this year has demonstrated, our trust in smaller things can quickly fail us, but God will not.  In our toughest moments, we cling to His sovereignty and recognize how much we need Him and His presence.

 

Daniel and his friends provided outstanding examples of trusting God through the trials of life.  Instead of looking for the “easy out” of bowing to Babylon’s pressures, they instead maintained their commitment to God.  Please meditate on this bold declaration of trust:  “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17,18)

 

God did indeed deliver them from the furnace, sending the pre-incarnate Jesus into the fire to rescue these faithful servants.  Importantly, we see their heart:  that their trust lay in God Himself, not their circumstances.

 

Which fires has God brought you through this year?  Have you recorded these examples in a journal or at least shared with family and friends?  How have you become more convinced of God’s faithfulness this year?

 

 

Lord God, thank You for Your tremendous faithfulness to us.  Help us to grow in trust and to look to Your character in times of fiery trials.  Preserve our dear family and friends during these days of COVID-19 and many other struggles, from economic loss to loneliness.  Bring healing to our relationships and to our country.  Help us to carry a spirit of thanksgiving forward from today.  In Jesus’s mighty Name, amen.