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Day 363: Zechariah 5:5ff — Lord Take It Away!

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Are we ready for it to be taken away? Take away what? Sin, of course. Zechariah 5 deals with God removing what should not have been present in the first place. The nation returned from seventy years of captivity in Babylon, and in the process brought back with them the influence of that seventy years.

Odd, isn’t it, how slowly things creep up on us from all sides? Sometimes we are not even aware they are encroaching on our lives. It’s kind of like gaining weight. We put on a pound or so a year and in thirty years we are no longer able to tie our shoe laces. One pound wasn’t so bad neither was two. Double that from one pound a year to two pounds a year and now we are talking about serious weight gain. Sin creeps in ever so slowly at first, and then we become hardened and the process accelerates.

This passage is a vivid picture of God removing wickedness from where it doesn’t belong. The basket (ephah) was the largest dry measure for the Jews. The covering of the basket was a talent of lead, or about 120 pounds, by our measure. So we have to imagine a bushel basket with a 120 pound lid on it. Now any woman small enough to fit in that basket has no hope of opening the lid. The basket is then taken away, back to its origin. All this represents God taking out from His people what they have no need of and which is offensive to God.

Back to our original question for today. Are we ready for it to be taken away? Are we ready for God to remove from our lives all that we have no real need of and at the same time let go of our affection for those things? I want them gone, gone to the point I no longer desire them.

A personal note — over the last six to eight months I have been privileged to write for this blog. It has been a spiritual journey. A chance to reflect deeply inward and take measure of myself. Too many times I didn’t measure up, but I did grow in the process. Having said that, this will be my final post. I pray God’s blessings on each of you and especially to my fellow writers who will continue this excellent work.

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Day 361: Zeph. 2:1-Hag. 2:19, Rev. 17:7-18:8 — God keeps His promises

Monday, December 27th, 2010

In the days of Josiah, Zephaniah declares the judgment of God on the nations around Judah, then finally on Judah itself. God promises that He will restore the fortunes of His people, speaking about 630 BC. Jump ahead about 100 years to the prophet Haggai and hear God tell the returned exiles that it is time to build the temple.

God keeps His promises.

The harlot of Babylon, although drunk on the blood of the saints, will be destroyed by all of the surrounding nations she once dazzled. The Roman empire, although in name only in later western Europe, was destroyed as a world power by pagan hordes, 476 AD.

God keeps His promises.

In these closing days of this year let us be thankful to our God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and recommit to the One Who in the past loved us, loves us now, and will keep His promises to the faithful in Christ.

Prayer: Holy Father, Righteous and True, we trust You. Thank for Your promises in Jesus through whom we pray to You, amen.

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Day 359: Micah 7:16-19; Revelation 15:4 — Glad Tidings of Great Joy!

Saturday, December 25th, 2010

Merry Christmas, church!  I hope you met the day with gladness in your heart and recognition that today is the day when the whole world stops to consider Jesus.  The sights and sounds of the season permeate even the lives of atheists and agnostics.  And for Christians, this is a day to remember that God gave the world the best heaven had to offer—the Savior, Christ Jesus.

What a journey Jesus took on that first Christmas day!  He left the glory of Heaven and stepped down into our world—not as royalty born to kings and queens, but as a servant born to peasants.  Born not in a pristine hospital room, but in a barn where the first odors to enter His holy nostrils were animal manure and urine.  I am convinced that one of the first things we’ll say when we walk through the Pearly Gates will be, “Jesus left all THIS up here … for THAT down there?  What a Savior!”

His coming had been predicted by the great Hebrew prophets for thousands of years.  Yet, He was not welcomed by government dignitaries and celebrities.  There was no worldwide fanfare.  Instead, He was greeted by smelly shepherds and astrologers who were guided to the stable by a divinely-placed star.  The Savior came to seek and save … yet He was never exalted.  Instead, He was rejected—and ultimately, killed.

The journey that began in Bethlehem’s barn ended on Calvary’s cross.

Why did my Savior come to earth and to the humble go?  How many times have we sung the answer—because He loved me so.

Jesus came.  And the readings today point out that He is coming again.  Today’s passages share a common thought about how Jesus will be received at His second coming.   It will be much different from the first time.  This time, He will not be coming as a servant—He will be coming as King and Judge.

Micah 7:16-17 says,

16 Nations will see and be ashamed,
deprived of all their power. 
They will put their hands over their mouths 
and their ears will become deaf. 
17 They will lick dust like a snake, 
like creatures that crawl on the ground. 
They will come trembling out of their dens; 
they will turn in fear to the LORD our God 
and will be afraid of you. 

Revelation 15:4 –

Who will not fear you, 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.

The Messiah is coming back. And He’s not coming back quietly.  In fact, it will be quite noisy.  Trumpets will sound!  Angels will shout!   And no one will miss it.  “Every eye shall see” (Rev. 1:7) and “every knee shall bow.” And “every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).

On Judgment Day, there will be no atheists or agnostics.  All will believe.  Every person shall behold Him in all his Shekinah glory.  The glory He left in heaven the first time will not be absent the second time and all will worship the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Today, as you contemplate the meaning of Christmas, consider Micah’s words from chapter 7, verses 18 and 19:

18 Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression 
of the remnant of his inheritance? 
You do not stay angry forever 
but delight to show mercy. 
19 You will again have compassion on us; 
you will tread our sins underfoot 
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Our God pardons, forgives and is delighted to show His mercy.   And He has such compassion for His children that He will take their sins and remove them as far as the east is from the west … hurling them into the depths of the sea.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

What a gift!  What a God!  Hallelujah, what a Savior!

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Day 358: Micah 2-6 — Regaining Focus

Friday, December 24th, 2010

I often get overwhelmed by swarms of details. Thinking of all the little things that need to be done will paralyze me with fear so that I end up not doing anything. Or I might feel that if there is a single part of the task that I am unable or unwilling to do, I might as well not do any of it. But if/when I am able to focus on the purpose of the task I can be motivated to push on to the goal. I often wonder if this misunderstanding and lack of focus is similar to what Israel faced throughout its history. Were they overwhelmed by the seeming complexity or specificity of the Law of Moses? Where there too many things to keep track of and to fall short of so they just gave up?

In the today’s reading in Micah 2-6, we again see the results of the many failings of God’s people. They had fallen so far and I’m certain had a hard time seeing their way back go God. But as we read in Micah the situation is simpler than what we believe. All the laws and ceremonies, do’s and don’ts, sacrifices and rituals are summed up in these few verses:

With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:6-8)

Wow! That’s only 3 things. I can handle 3 things. When we focus on the heart of the matter, what is really important and what God really desires, we may be spurred on to all the details of living rightly with God. But if our focus is off, no amount of rule keeping or sacrifice will bring us close to Him.

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Posted in Amos, Forgiveness, Grace, Humility, Mercy | Comments Off

Day 356: Amos 7 — Please Forgive

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

I’m sorry, Lord, please forgive. How many times have those words crossed my lips? There is really no way to count. Here we are just 3 days from starting a new year and we have made plans to do better next year. How many times have we done that?

Amos 7 sets out the love and forgiveness of God. Mankind, all of them, has continually turned their backs on God and His wishes. We talk a good game but somewhere between talk and action things change. We should know how God feels. Each of us has been on the receiving end of a broken promise. Sometimes we are able to blow it off because it was no big deal. At other times it was a major hurt. We try to cover up and not let anyone know just how deep the hurt is, but it is there.

After a number of episodes with the same person we begin to insulate ourselves from hurt by telling ourselves it is not going to happen and then just going on, but in the back of our mind there is still that glimmer of hope. Then one day our heart just shuts down; there is no more room for disappointment from the person so they are cut off emotionally.

God feels all that hurt, and more, again and again and again, yet He still stands ready to forgive. His capacity seems to be endless so mankind presumes on His grace. Even to the point where a passing recognition of God a few times a year gives the feeling that God owes me salvation.

God is indeed forgiving, but He also has set firm limits. I pray I make it to my last day without straying so far as to be outside the limits. The best way to do that is get as close to God as I can today and then stay there.

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Day 355: Amos 3-6; Revelation 9 — By the Light of the Slivery Moon

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010

Right now as I write this it is 1:30 AM on the winter solstice and I have awoken to partake in the viewing of the lunar eclipse. Unfortunately it is very cloudy and there are only brief glimpses of the slivery moon. Mildly disappointing. Like someone promised me a grand event and didn’t follow through (at least not with the grand part).

Fortunately God is not like that. He always follows through. Today’s reading in Amos 3-6 is replete with messages from God listing out the warnings and chances he has given Israel to repent. And since they have chosen not to follow him but rather the ways of the nations around him, he will soon destroy them utterly.

Yet just like the small break in the clouds for me tonight, there is a glimmer of hope as there is with every message from the Lord “Seek the LORD and live” (Amos 5:6). God never warns us just to let us know what is coming. He always gives the opportunity to repent and be made right with him.

If we choose not to repent, our fate will be the same as those in Revelation 9. If we do repent, well, you’ll have to read the rest of Revelation to find out how that turns out.

For now, I’m going to head outside one more time and hope for a break in the clouds and then back to bed with the sane people.

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Posted in Amos, Grace, Judgment, Mercy, Redemption, Repentance, Revelation | 2 Comments »

Day 354: Joel 2:18-Amos 2:16; Revelation 7:13-8:13 — Redemptive cycles

Monday, December 20th, 2010

God punishes the vile idolatry of the people sending extraordinary “natural” disasters. Afterward He will return the fortunes of the people. The planned outpouring of the Spirit of God demonstrates His next step to redeem man, to adopt people as His children, beautiful apocalyptic, revealing, language, Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:14-21. Israel was led by Spirit filled people chosen of God, but these covenant people as a whole were not related to God in the Spirit as those today are, Romans 8:9-11. The dramatic antithesis of Isaiah 2:4 tells His people that they will defeat their enemies. The cycles of “the day of Lord” say He will repay the evil and extract the faithful from doom.

Amos, the fig nipper of the Tekoa, declares the end of the nations throughout Palestine. The intense number language, for three — for four offenses, tells us God is done with them. But these words, again, speak of the global reign of God, not just a God of Hebrews, but of all mankind. As you read these passages in Amos get out a map and swirl your finger from place to place, Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, Israel, a swirling storm of fury and destruction.

The context of Revelation shows the intention of God to preserve His people, the church, and expunge the rebellious from heaven and earth. The cycles of judgment and deliverance are nearly dizzying. The Lamb receives the scroll, one who shall reveal and lead the destiny of His people. As the seals break cycles of punishment and time to repent are given to the offending powers, one fourth destruction. In the trumpets, one third destruction. By the time the bowls of wrath are poured out, it’s all over. Those who persevere in spite of the pressures of the evil culture will pass into the throne room of the Holy One, to an eternal, blissful life in His presence, Revelation 7:13-17.

What do we take away from this?

1. Beauty and meaning in prophetic language need not be confusing. It speaks of the justice, mercy, and love of God to move us to faithful living, waiting the last great “day of the Lord.” 2 Peter 3:8-13

2. Our Faithful Creator means what He says. It may or may not seem that way to us as the world appears to ignore Him or twist His holiness into covenants He did not write. He wants all of His creation to turn to Him, but He will wait only so long. Those cycles of judgment and reward may come in the very personal death of someone, passing them into the Ultimate Reality, in the building up of a “good” nation or destruction of one that is vile, Psalm 33:12, yet certainly will come in the end of all things temporal.

Prayer: Almighty God, Holy, Righteous, Merciful: In this day please help us see Your judgments and blessing, patiently to wait the wonders not yet known, and by Your Spirit to live holy and endure. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Day 352: Hosea 9 & Revelation 4 — Holy Worship vs. Unholy Harlotry

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

The Old Testament reading from Hosea 9 and the New Testament reading from Revelation 4 present an interesting contrast in worship.

God sends Hosea to judge the sin of Israel. They have played the harlot (v. 1)—in effect, they have cheated on God. God had saved them from the oppression of Egypt and led them to a land flowing with milk and honey. And in return, Israel nestled in with the native Canaanites and adopted their Baal gods as their own.

There is always a price to be paid for spiritual adultery and Hosea runs down a laundry list of punishments that Israel will suffer because of their infidelity.

1. They will lose their joy (v. 1-2). In another 250 years, Nehemiah will tell Israel, “The joy of the Lord is your strength!” But Israel’s unfaithfulness to God in places like Baal Peor and Gilgal will rob them of any joy at this time.

What about us? We lose our joy when we live for ourselves instead of living for God and others. Selfishness produces only bitter cynicism in the end. But selflessness is the greatest way to live because it was the way of our Savior.

Our faith in Christ produces in us an “inexpressible and glorious joy” because the end result is the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:8-9). James says that we can even be joyful when we go through dark times and deep valleys, because hard times produce in us perseverance and maturity (James 1:2-3).

2. They will be cast into exile (v. 3-6) and will be abandoned by God (v. 17). The Assyrian army is coming. And they are going to take Israel captive and exert their will into their lives. It’s like Egypt all over again! And while in exile, they will not be allowed to offer sacrifice … they will be forced to eat food they considered unclean … it’s not going to be a pleasant experience.

Have you ever felt exiled from God—felt “separated” from Him? Have you ever felt like God was far, far away? The wonderful thing about God is that He is never far away. If we will just take one small step toward Him, He will run to meet us (Luke 15:20). He loves us that much!

When we came to Jesus, we were provided with a great promise—that we would never again be separated from God’s love. Nothing can come between us—for we are “MORE THAN conquerors through Jesus Christ, who loves us” (Romans 8:37-39).

3. They will lose spiritual discernment (v. 7-9). Their prophets will be fools. Their spirituality will be insanity.

It’s very easy for us to lose sight of what’s truly spiritual, too, isn’t it? We are enticed by the wily ways of Satan and we fall prey to his cleverly designed traps. We trip over our own sins. It seemed like a good thing to do at the time. It felt right. Our spiritual eyesight has been blindfolded.

The only way for us to stay on the right path—the spiritual path—is to play follow-the-leader. We must “fix our eyes on Jesus” and “set our hearts on things above”.

Israel did a great job of showing us what not to do and we must learn from their mistakes.

Contrast that to the beautiful picture John paints in Revelation 4.

You want to talk about Spiritual discernment! John said he was “at once in the Spirit”! Immediately! Suddenly he found himself in the very presence of Almighty God with trumpets and angels and multiple thrones. White robes, golden crowns. Thunder, lightning and the very Spirit of God.

And then John sees four creatures whose only job in heaven is to praise God’s name endlessly. And when these creatures praised God, the twenty-four elders seated on the thrones would fall down and cast their crowns at the feet of the True King!

And praises flowed! Shouts of, “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty who was, is and is to come! You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power—for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created.”

Now that’s a worship service I want to be a part of! Amen? Wow! By the way, you know who the twenty-four elders represent? US! You and me! God’s church! I can’t wait!

Playing the harlot and cheating on God is a cheap, short-lived, thrill of the moment way to live. There’s no joy there—only exile and sadness and loss of spirituality.

But when we give ourselves completely to God, he will reward us with things that last—eternal things like joy and peace and love. And one day, we will take part in an eternal worship that will go beyond our wildest imagination!

Grace and peace, church. Deborah and I are praying for you. See you soon, Lord willing.

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Posted in Hosea, Revelation, Worship | 1 Comment »

Day 351: Hosea 5:1-8:14 and Revelation 3:1-22 — We’ve Heard This Before

Friday, December 17th, 2010

God is patient. God is kind. God shows mercy abundantly. God did this over and over with Israel and then, after the kingdom divided, with Israel and Judah. However, God finally lost the patience, lost his kindness, and lost the mercy for a number of reasons but mostly because they arrogantly defied God, prostituted themselves to man-made gods, and were unrepentant. We’ve heard God through other prophets, especially Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, saying the same condemnations to Israel and Judah that we now hear in this reading in Hosea. Why didn’t the Israelites and Judahities listen to God prior to this before it was too late? From my studies, it appears that they wanted what they saw others around them doing and having. They didn’t care to be set aside for God — they wanted to be like the other nations around them. Then their pride took over and they wouldn’t do it God’s way and they couldn’t return to Him (Hosea 5:4-5). Their worship and way of life even became a stench to other worldly nations around them. When other nations around them began to tear away at their nation, who did they turn to? Not God. Instead they turned to Assyria and Egypt for help. For this, God said that Ephraim (Israel) and Judah would be torn up and carried off (Hosea 5:14)

And what was God saying in the reading in Revelation 3 to the churches in Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea? Essentially the same thing. You think you are doing the right thing, but you are not (Revelation 3:1). To Laodicea, He states that because they are neither hot nor cold, he was going to spit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16). However, just as God did in dealing with Israel and Judah, in Revelation he tells these churches that a few will be spared. To these Jesus talks about overcoming Satan, that they will walk with Him and God and his angels, and that their names will never be blotted from the book of life.

I don’t know about you, but after reading today’s Old Testament and New Testament readings, these words come as a joy to me. They help me see past the troubles to give me hope for the future. God is patient and kind and merciful to those who follow His plan. We ALL mess up, but being repentant and keeping our eyes and hearts toward God brings us toward Him.

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Day 350: Hosea 1:2-3 — Think about how God feels?

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

In Hosea 1:2-3, God tells Hosea to marry an adulterous wife and take her children out of wedlock. This is a shocking action by God. Yet, it is in actuality God’s story that Hosea is called to live out. We think a lot about poor Hosea who had to enter into this awful situation. In reality, we are given an insight into how God feels. God marries or makes a commitment to His people. His people become unfaithful and break their commitment by seeking other gods and having a relationship with them instead of the one true God. Do we ever stop and think about the God who is faithful to us even though we have prostituted ourselves to other things besides Him? Yes, He disciplines and judges us because He loves us. If you get a chance, skip ahead to Hosea 11:1-9 and read the touching proclamation of God about how He loves us in spite of what we have done. Read this section and think about God when in anguish He asks the question, “How can I give you up…?” (Hosea 11:8) Have you ever stopped to think about how God feels? I read this story from Hosea and I realize, I have hurt my God. This is not the final part of the story because my God forgives. He sent us His Son!

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