Why it Matters - Godly Leadership

Readings for today: Nehemiah 1-4

There is a lot of conversation these days about leadership or the lack thereof. Our nation is suffering for lack of leadership. Businesses are suffering for lack of leadership. Schools are suffering for lack of leadership. Churches are suffering for lack of leadership. And yet, despite all the conferences and books and podcasts, we can’t seem to make much progress. It seems the more we talk, the worse things get. So what’s the issue? I think it’s because we continue to lead in our own strength. We talk about social theories and organizational psychology and there’s nothing wrong with any of that but we rarely talk about prayer. We rarely talk about worship. We rarely talk about the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. Even the so-called “leadership” gurus of the church rarely mention these things when it comes to leadership. No wonder we run in circles.

Nehemiah is an incredible leader. Not because he’s mastered the latest techniques but because he’s a man of prayer. Before he begins planning his massive building project, he falls on his knees before the Lord in prayer. “Please, O LORD God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenant with those who love him and obey his commandments, may your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you today throughout both day and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites.” Nehemiah knows his only hope is in God. If God doesn’t act, his plans will come to naught. If God doesn’t intervene, he will be rejected. If God doesn’t move on behalf of His people, Nehemiah won’t find any success. He knows God’s heart, of course. He knows God is faithful. He knows God is love. He knows God is committed. But he also knows his people. He knows their sins and the sins of his own heart. So he quickly moves from adoration to confession. “I am confessing the sins of the Israelites that we have committed against you – both I myself and my family have sinned. We have behaved corruptly against you, not obeying the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses.” Nehemiah is not blind. He doesn’t blame shift. He doesn’t try to excuse the choices his people have made or suggest they’ve somehow been unjustly treated. He knows God is a righteous judge. But he also knows God is merciful. He will not reject those who repent. “Please recall the word you commanded your servant Moses: ‘If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you repent and obey my commandments and do them, then even if your dispersed people are in the most remote location, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for my name to reside.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your mighty strength and by your powerful hand. Please, O Lord, listen attentively to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take pleasure in showing respect to your name. Grant your servant success today and show compassion to me in the presence of this man.” (Nehemiah‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬)

What a beautiful picture of godly leadership! Always beginning with prayer. Always calling on God to act in accordance with His character and nature. Always humbly acknowledging sin. This is where godly leadership always begins. Not with vision. Not with a big, hairy, audacious goal. Not with some leader identifying the next mountain to climb. But leaders who are humble enough to get on their knees before the Lord. I think of a mentor of mine. Steve Hayner. One of the godliest men and greatest leaders I have ever known. He taught me a simple leadership prayer many years ago. It goes like this. “Father, give me the eyes to see the world as You see it. Break my heart with the things that break Your heart. And when called upon to act, give me the courage not to duck!” I love it. I pray it often. It’s a prayer I believe God loves to answer.

Readings for tomorrow: Nehemiah 5-7

Why it Matters - Fasting and Prayer

Readings for today: Ezra 7-10

The mission of God is impossibly large and complex. It is global. It is universal. It’s reach spans the centuries. God will never rest until the gospel has been preached in every tongue to every tribe in every nation. He will never rest until all have the opportunity to come to a knowledge of His truth and be saved. He will never rest until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that He is Lord. And perhaps most amazingly of all, He entrusts this great work to His church. His people. Now, if you are like me, the task seems overwhelming. Where do we even begin? How can I even begin to marshal the resources and wisdom and strength to accomplish this mission? I am so weak. I am so small. I am so insignificant. Where can I go to find what I need to do what the Lord has called me to do?

Much like Ezra, I begin with fasting and prayer. “I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our property…So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.” (Ezra‬ ‭8‬:‭21‬, ‭23‬ ‭NET‬‬) Fasting and prayer have been part of my life for many years now. The discipline of fasting reminds me of how empty and weak I am. It reminds me of my deep need for God. It makes me hungry for more of Him. More of His Word. More of His Spirit. The discipline of prayer is my connection to God. It is the ongoing conversation between my soul and God’s Spirit from which I draw so much wisdom and strength.

God has promised so much to His people. He promises to feed those who are hungry. He promises to quench the thirst of those who seek Him. He promises to give wisdom to those who ask and strengthen those who are weak. He encourages us to cast all our anxieties on Him and to lay our worries at His feet. He loves to listen to our needs and wants and desires. He is a good and loving Father who does not give a stone to those who ask for bread or a snake to those who ask for fish. He wants us to seek. He wants us to ask. He wants us to knock. And He promises He will be found. He promises He will respond. He promises He will open the door to anyone who humbly comes before Him.

Why then is fasting and prayer a last resort for us? Why is it not the first step as it was for Ezra and his people? Why do we wait until we’ve exhausted our own strength and wisdom and effort before coming to God in fasting and prayer? Why do we try so often to go it alone? Is it pride? Is it fear? Is it selfishness? Is it a desire to prove ourselves? To demonstrate our independence? Maybe some combination of all of the above? God invites us into His presence. God invites us to draw on Him for all we need in this life. God invites us to taste and see His goodness and His glory. God invites us to lay hold of His power for His mission in this world. Take the first step today. Spend time fasting and praying and asking the Lord to show you His will and His way.

Readings for tomorrow: Nehemiah 1-4

Why it Matters - Maturity

Readings for today: Malachi 1-4, Psalm 50

I have four kids. They are all strong-willed. All independent thinkers. I love them fiercely. I’m proud of them in so many ways. But they are also just getting started in life. They want to be on their own, make decisions, and be responsible adults. But like most twenty-somethings, they also have a lot to learn. A lot of life to live. A lot of growth in front of them. My job is to be their number one cheerleader. To be the one person in their life who seeks to encourage and bless. Of course, if they want advice, I am happy to give it. Happy to share what I’ve learned from my own experience. Happy to tell them about my own successes and failures when I was their age and just getting started myself. I remember those days well. I had to learn some hard lessons. My attitude and effort was often subpar. I struggled to complete my work in a timely manner. I left far too many things undone. I was too focused on myself. I made excuses. I rationalized away my sin. I presumed upon God’s grace. Honestly, though I’ve grown in maturity, I often still feel that way.

When I read Malachi, it feels to me like God is dealing with a bunch of adolescents. Believers whose attitude and effort is subpar. Yes, they bring their sacrifices to the Lord but they are blemished. Yes, they meet their obligations in worship but it’s not their firstfruits. They say and do all the right things but their hearts are not in it. They are distracted. They have other priorities. They are just going through the motions. And God knows all this! He sees the sacrifices they have to offer. “For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well?” (Malachi‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬) He sees right through them. “I am about to discipline your children and will spread offal on your faces, the very offal produced at your festivals, and you will be carried away along with it.” (Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬‬) He knows their tears are simply for show. “You also do this: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you. Yet you ask, “Why?” The LORD is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law.” (Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬) He can count. He knows they aren’t giving in accordance with His commands. “Can a person rob God? You indeed are robbing me, but you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and contributions!” (Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬‬) And yet, when confronted with their sin, what do the people do? They protest. Throw up their hands. Stomp their feet. Raise their voices. Shift the blame. It’s typical adolescent behavior. 

What is God’s desire? He wants His people to grow. He wants them to be strong. He wants them to be wholly devoted to His great name.  “For from the east to the west my name will be great among the nations. Incense and pure offerings will be offered in my name everywhere, for my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD who rules over all.” (Malachi‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬) He wants His people to be pure of heart and true in faith. “My covenant with him was designed to bring life and peace. I gave its statutes to him to fill him with awe, and he indeed revered me and stood in awe before me. He taught what was true; sinful words were not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned many people away from sin. For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him because he is the messenger of the LORD who rules over all.” (Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NET‬‬) His desire is to bless and not curse. To give and not withhold. To pour out abundance upon them so that they nations will see all God has done. “Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the LORD who rules over all, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all. Then I will stop the plague from ruining your crops, and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest,” says the LORD who rules over all. “All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in a delightful land,” says the LORD who rules over all.” (Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NET‬‬‬)

But God also knows our hearts. He knows what He expects is impossible for us to achieve. He knows the corruption that exists at the core of our being. The sin that so easily entangles. We brought this on ourselves and God has been trying to teach us how helpless and hopeless we are without Him. So He will send His Messenger to accomplish all that we could not. He will be the Faithful One. He will be the True Israelite. He will be the Messiah and Savior of all who believe.  “I am about to send my messenger, who will clear the way before me. Indeed, the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming,” says the LORD who rules over all. Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the LORD a proper offering.” (Malachi‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬‬) He will purify our offerings. He will sanctify our hearts. He will make us righteous before the Lord. 

Readings for tomorrow: Ezra 7-10

Why it Matters - Divine Reversal

Readings for today: Esther 6-10

God specializes in reversing the fortunes of His people. Right when it seems like all hope is lost and the odds are impossibly stacked against them, God turns the tables on His enemies. Haman had everything set up. He had the gallows prepared. The decree had been issued. He had put all the pieces into place. His goal was genocide. The systematic destruction of the Jewish people. He wanted to wipe them from the face of the earth as payback for the way his honor had been threatened by Mordecai. But God was once again working behind the scenes. He put Esther into place. He gave Mordecai an opportunity to save the king. He disturbed the king’s sleep and made sure he read about what Mordecai had done. The result was the unraveling of all Haman’s carefully laid plans. Mordecai is honored. Esther’s accusations are taken seriously. Haman is hanged on his own gallows along with his sons. The Jewish people are given the right to defend themselves. Those who sought to destroy them were killed. Mordecai ends up second to only the king in the empire. It’s a powerful story that illustrates how God often works.

Of course, one of the things that bothers us about it all is the violence. The killing. How could God be involved in such things? We tend to forget that though the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. The events of the Book of Esther take place at a much different time and in a much different culture than the one we live in today. Honor was everything in the Persian Empire. To lose honor was not just to lose status but to actually have one’s place in society threatened. It was taken very seriously. Any affront to honor is met with immediate violence to make sure one retains their place. This is why Haman reacts so strongly to Mordecai’s insult. He not only wants to punish Mordecai but anyone associated with Mordecai. These kinds of tribal, honor killings were quite common at the time and it’s one of the reasons why the Bible’s “eye for an eye” doctrine is so advanced for its time. It limits this kind of unrestrained violence. It’s also why the king reacts so strongly when he sees Haman assault Esther. Now it is his honor that’s at stake so he hangs Haman and his sons on the gallows and gives the Jewish people the right to defend themselves. He can’t take back his original decree because that would result in dishonor to his royal name and authority so he circumvents it. Once again, we can see God’s sovereign hand working in and through broken, sinful, violent human culture to bring about His will.

God is still at work today. In our time. In our culture. In our nation. In our world. Yes, God still chooses to work through broken, sinful, often violent human beings to accomplish His will. Why? Because He is committed to the original commandment He gave humanity to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and exercise dominion over all He has made. God has never revoked this decree. In fact, He recommits Himself to it in the Person of Jesus Christ. The Word made flesh. The Eternal Son of God becoming human. Jesus becomes human in order to fulfill the creation mandate and demonstrate for us what a life lived in complete submission to the Father’s will looks like. And God worked through Him to bring about salvation for all humanity. This was God’s plan from eternity and it remains God’s plan even today. To reverse the evils of this world through His chosen people. To use you and me to repair the broken world in which we live.

Readings for tomorrow: Malachi 1-4, Psalm 50

Why it Matters - Power

Readings for today: Esther 1-5

Esther is a fascinating book. It is the only book in the Bible that never explicitly mentions God. For that reason, it has been the subject of a lot of controversy over the years. Jews and Christians alike have wondered why it is included in the Bible. My own belief is that Esther is a book that must be read against the entire backdrop of the Old Testament. As such, it serves as a divinely inspired example of how God often works in real life. Behind the scenes. Often hidden yet still active. Making Himself known through His providence if not His presence.

Consider what we read today. The king throws a royal banquet. This is not just any party but a display of the king’s wealth and power and might. It is his way of demonstrating his absolute authority and control. All his officials and servants are required to attend along with his army and nobles from the various provinces making up his empire. They gather in one place, in the city of the king’s choosing, and are subjected to a massive display of the king’s greatness for 180 days! At the end of the 180 days, he throws a celebration, suspends all rules of decorum, and the entire assembly engages in an excessively gluttonous, drunken affair. The whole thing designed from beginning to end to establish the absolute nature of the king’s rule. It’s all a farce, of course. The king’s authority and power and control are all an illusion. One that is quickly illustrated by the refusal of his wife to follow his command to entertain his male guests. The king can’t control his own family and household much less all the different provinces of his empire.

Meanwhile, God is at work. He has prepared a young woman from an exiled, marginalized, and vulnerable ethnic group, orphaned and raised by her uncle, to become the next Persian queen. He works in and through the complex moral and cultural systems of the day to grant her favor with the overseer of the harem. She is given all the best cosmetics and food and special lodging. When she appears before the king, the courtiers marvel at her beauty and she is raised to her new position. God has moved her from the margins of society to the center of imperial power. He is positioning her to play a specific role in the salvation of her people.

All this is news to Esther, of course. She has no idea what God is up to. No idea as to God’s providential plan in her life. All she can see is the next step. Isn’t this true for all of us? This is why I love the Book of Esther so much. It resonates with how God often works in real life. He often remains hidden and behind the scenes. His plans are often only revealed in retrospect. And yet, as we take each faithful step, God uses us to accomplish His sovereign purposes and divine plan thereby demonstrating who really holds all the authority and power and control in our world.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Simplicity

Readings for today: Zechariah 8-14

Why are the simple things so hard for us? We know what we need to do in order to thrive so why do we make it so difficult? Wake up. Pray. Get ready for our job or school. Put in the work. Be friendly and kind to everyone we meet. Control what we can control which is our attitude and effort. Come home. Take the kids to their activities. Cheer them on. Listen to your spouse. Hang out with friends. Eat well. Exercise. Spend time in the sunshine. Play with the dog. Thank God for the day. Get a good night’s sleep. Why is even this basic routine such a challenge?

Take it down a layer. The Lord says, “These are the things you must do: Speak the truth, each of you, to one another. Practice true and righteous judgment in your courts. Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath – these are all things that I hate,’ says the LORD.” (Zechariah‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NET‬‬) Sounds simple enough. Basic enough. Be honest. Make the best decisions possible. Don’t make plans that would hurt your neighbor. Do not cover for your sins. To these verses one could add other admonitions like the Ten Commandments. Honor God. Honor His Name. Honor His Sabbath. Don’t murder or steal or lie or commit adultery. Don’t begin to covet what you don’t have. Don’t let jealousy or envy cause division between you and your brother or sister. Treat each other with compassion and grace. Walk in integrity. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The list goes on and on but it’s not complicated. It’s not confusing. So why do we find it so hard to do?

Sin. Original sin. Sin corrupts who we are and, by extension, what we say and think and feel and do. We cannot escape sin. We are born into this condition. We are born with a heart defect. We are born needing life-saving heart transplant surgery. We are born needing the Great Physician to step in and save our lives. Without Him, we are lost for our condition is terminal and always fatal. And this is what makes the “simple things” so hard for us to do. We keep getting in our own way. We simply cannot stop ourselves from being selfish and prideful and greedy and deceitful. Not as individuals and not as a species.

Only the Holy Spirit can perform the regenerative work our hearts so desperately need. Only the Holy Spirit can purge our corruption and give us a new heart and a new spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can sanctify us down the deepest recesses of our beings and transform us from the inside out. This is what the Bible calls being “born again.” It’s nothing less than new creation. And once this new creation has taken hold, the simple things become more clear. Life becomes more abundant and free. Joy and peace fill our hearts as we become the people God created and called us to be.

Readings for tomorrow: Esther 1-5

Why it Matters - God’s Blessing on our Nation

Readings for today: Zechariah 1-7

I pray regularly for our country. I pray for our leaders at national, state, and local levels. I pray for our president and his cabinet. I pray for our legislators in both the House and the Senate. I pray for our judiciary. I pray for our governor. I pray for state legislators. I pray for state judges. I pray for our mayor. I pray for our town council. I pray for all those involved in decision-making and policy development. What do I pray for? First and foremost, repentance. Humility before God. Fear of the Lord. These things are the beginning of wisdom and critical to any nation’s future. Second, I pray for a commitment to truth and love, compassion and accountability, transparency and honesty. Without these things, we are lost. Third, I pray for a spirit of unity and a desire to put country about party and/or selfish gain. Most importantly, I pray for each of them to surrender their hearts to Jesus Christ. Only by the miraculous and supernatural in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit will we ever find a way through the chaos of our world.

The Book of Zechariah is clear. The nations of the earth take God’s grace for granted. They presume upon God’s goodness and patience. They foolishly believe they are beyond accountability. I think about these verses whenever I hear a politician close a speech with “God bless America.” How presumptuous! How arrogant! Especially for those who are using their office to further their own ambitions! It’s an empty phrase. It’s all a bunch of hot air. Vanity of vanities as the writer of Ecclesiastes once wrote. And God will not be mocked. “But I am greatly displeased with the nations that take my grace for granted. I was a little displeased with them but they have only made things worse for themselves.” (Zechariah 1:15 NET) We know what happens to those nations. They are destroyed. Wiped from the face of the earth. Their once proud cities left in ruins. Their once victorious armies routed in the field. Their once full storehouses looted and left empty. Some of them are even lost to history. No one even remembers their names. The same thing could easily happen to us if we are not careful. If we do not repent. If we do not return to the Lord. If we do not stop justifying evil and violence. Anger and hatred are tools of the devil and must be rejected. Deceit and falsehoods must be cast aside. Injustice and oppression cannot be allowed to stand nor can corruption and waste. Not if we want to survive.

Thankfully, God is patient with us. He endures with us. He perseveres with us. He constantly is calling us to turn away from our sin and return to Him. “Therefore say to the people: The LORD who rules over all says, “Turn to me,” says the LORD who rules over all, “and I will turn to you,” says the LORD who rules over all. (Zechariah 1:3 NET) The Lord who rules over all. Every tribe. Every tongue. Every nation. Every people group. Every region. Every state. Every community. The Lord who rules over all says, “Turn back to Me.” Repent and turn from your sinful, selfish ways. As long as we have breath, it is not too late. As long as our nation endures, it is not too late. And if we do return to the Lord, His promise is sure. He will turn to us. He will comfort us. He will make us prosper in the years to come. No matter where you live, pray for your nation. Pray for your leaders. pray for your community. Ask the Father and the Son to send the Spirit once again to bring revival.

Readings for tomorrow: Zechariah 8-14

Why it Matters - Honor God

Readings for today: Haggai 1-2

There is a divine order hardwired into the cosmos. Everything is created to honor God. Everything that has breath is created to praise God. Everything that flies in the air or swims in the sea or walks on land is created to serve God and His purposes. When the created order honors this principle, the world flourishes. Crops grow. Herds multiply. People live long and healthy and happy and fulfilled lives. When the created order rejects this principle, the world suffers. Natural disasters abound. Crops fail. Herds die. People’s lifespans grow short and are full of sickness and struggle and suffering.

This is the heart of the message delivered by the prophet Haggai to God’s people. God’s people started well. They returned to the land. They rebuilt the altar. They re-instituted true worship. Then they got distracted. They abandoned the work on the Temple of God and instead focused on themselves. They planted their fields. They grazed their herds. They built homes for themselves. However, because they refused to honor God, they suffered. They struggled. Their fields didn’t yield much of a harvest. Their herds didn’t multiply as much as they should. They ate but never were satisfied. They drank but remained thirsty. Their clothes didn’t keep them warm. And they remained locked in poverty. “You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’” (Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NET‬‬)

God clearly diagnoses the problem. Why do all these things happen? Why did you expect a large harvest but instead produced little? Because the Lord’s Temple remains in ruins. The timber they harvested to rebuild the Temple remains stacked on the ground or even worse, they used it to build their own homes. “This is why the sky has held back its dew and the earth its produce. Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce.’” (Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NET‬‬) In short, they have brought God’s judgment on themselves by refusing to put Him first. This is the exact same mistake humanity - and particularly the people of God - have been making since the Fall in the Garden. It’s like we find ourselves eternally caught in a “wash, rinse, repeat” cycle.

The same is true for us today. We too are easily distracted. We too are easily led astray by our own selfish desires. We too like to put ourselves first rather than God and then complain when we experience the same dynamic in our own lives. Our work produces little. Our wants and needs seem to surpass our resources. Contentment and satisfaction seem forever out of reach. We struggle. We suffer. All because we refuse to honor God. Honor God with our time. Honor God with our resources. Honor God with our priorities. We can make all kinds of excuses but this is the bottom line. When we refuse to put God first, we will never flourish. Thankfully, the people God responded to Haggai’s message and God was faithful to honor their obedience. “Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, along with the whole remnant of the people, obeyed the LORD their God. They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the LORD their God had instructed him, and the people began to respect the LORD. Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, spoke the LORD’s word to the people: “I am with you!” says the LORD. So the LORD energized and encouraged Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the whole remnant of the people. They came and worked on the temple of their God, the LORD who rules over all.” (Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬)

The principle is simple. Honor God and He will honor you.

Readings for tomorrow: Zechariah 1-7

Why it Matters - Courageous, Godly Leadership

Readings for today: Ezra 4-6

Godly leaders keep their eyes focused on God. They are committed to walking in His ways and obeying His commands no matter how high the cost may be in this world. They refuse to bow the knee to pressure or threats or persecution. They resist the temptation to give in or respond in kind. They are not passively submissive but engage in active resistance, recognizing God cares as much about the “means” as He does the “ends.”

Haggai and Zechariah were godly leaders. They provided encouragement and direction at a time in Israel’s life when they needed it the most. “Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied concerning the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak began to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, supporting them.” (Ezra‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NET) The exiles had returned from Babylon. They were re-establishing their life in the Promised Land. In addition to rebuilding homes and re-planting fields and re-establishing their businesses, they also had undertaken the great work of rebuilding their Temple. The locals wanted to help out. They wanted to play a part. They wanted to assimilate with these newcomers. Tragically, however, they had merged some of the sacred rituals of the Jewish religion with some of their traditional pagan practices. Not only that but they had intermarried with non-Jews thus corrupting their identity as God’s chosen people so Haggai and Zechariah and the other leaders for Israel rejected their offer. They were faithful to obey the covenant commands of God.

One of the things that strikes me most about our reading today is that while Haggai and Zechariah resisted the pressure to conform to culture, they also resisted the temptation to go to war with culture. They didn’t assemble the army and wipe out or enslave the local population. They didn’t try to dominate or control those who opposed them. They simply pursued the truth and they did it in a way that was consistent with the laws of the empire. Their opponents lobbied the emperor to stop the work. They lobbied the emperor to complete the work. Their opponents put all kinds of obstacles in their way. They worked hard to overcome those obstacles and continued to build. It’s a great picture of how to engage our own culture today.

We live in a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile to the gospel. Different Christians are choosing to respond in different ways. Some Christians want to withdraw from culture. They want to retreat into their own cloistered communities and not engage society at all. Some Christians want to dominate culture. They want to fight our culture on every front and re-establish Christian hegemony over the laws of the land. Still other Christians understand their call to be a faithful witness much like Haggai and Zechariah. They are committed to active, non-violent resistance to the pagan cultural forces that swirl around us without trying to control or dominate their neighbors. They are committed to continuing the work God has called them to no matter what pressure or opposition may come. I truly believe this last approach is the best approach and helps us follow in the footsteps of godly leaders like Haggai and Zechariah.

Readings for tomorrow: Haggai 1-2

Why it Matters - Priorities

Readings for today: 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1-3

This summer I went to the British Museum and got to see the famous “Cyrus Cylinder.” It’’s a 2500 year old clay artifact containing a royal inscription declaring an empire-wide policy of returning displaced people groups and encouraging them to return to the worship of their gods. It’s not a human rights declaration. It clearly declares Cyrus to be king over the entire Persian empire but it is remarkable in its breadth and presents a significant contrast to the Assyrian and Babylonian empires which came before him who used mass deportation to suppress local populations. Cyrus went the other direction. He believed it would be far easier to rule his empire if he didn’t have to continue to actively suppress different people groups so he encouraged them to return back to their ancestral lands to rebuild while remaining his loyal subjects. The cylinder doesn’t mention the Jews by name but it does provide extra-biblical evidence for the Persian policy cited in both 2 Chronicles and the Book of Ezra.

What I find most interesting is what happens when the exiles return. They rebuilt the altar. They begin by restoring the true worship of God. Morning and evening sacrifices as prescribed by Moses. One might have expected them to begin by rebuilding the wall. Provide for their common defense. Make sure the city was secure. But that comes later. Under the leadership of Nehemiah. One might have expected them to begin by rebuilding their homes and farms and establishing food and housing security for themselves and their families. But that too comes later. After the Temple is rebuilt. No, the very first priority for the people of God under the leadership of Jeshua and Zerubbabel is to restore the worship of God. “Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his priestly colleagues and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his colleagues started to build the altar of the God of Israel so they could offer burnt offerings on it as required by the law of Moses the man of God. They established the altar on its foundations, even though they were in terror of the local peoples, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and the evening offerings.” (Ezra‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NET‬) Note the little phrase - “in terror of the local peoples.” It’s not they were unaware of the danger. It’s not that they didn’t count the cost. They understood the risks involved but still they put God first.

What a lesson for us today! Do we put God first in our lives? Do we prioritize our time with Him? Do we prioritize gathering with God’s people for worship? Do we prioritize His commandments in our lives? Or do we allow other priorities to crowd Him out? I can tell you from over thirty years of pastoral counseling experience that many of the problems we face in our lives is due to our seeming inability to prioritize God. To make Him first. To give Him the first-fruits of our time and attention and talent and resources. To make Him number one in our lives above our spouse, our kids, our work, even our ministry. Be honest with yourself. Take a ruthless self-inventory. What do you need to do to make God first today?

Why it Matters - Fear and Trembling

Readings for today: Daniel 10-12

In my line of work, I get sent all kinds of things. YouTube videos of so-called prophets predicting the end. Chain emails suggesting I need to focus more on the end times. Free books by obscure authors telling me they’ve cracked the code and know the time and date of Jesus’ return. One of the things that strikes me most about all of this is the utter lack of fear and trembling and humility. These modern-day prophets claim to have seen all kinds of divine visions and dreams but don’t fall on their faces in fear. Rather than grieve, they seemingly take delight in calling for the destruction of the world. They arrogantly proclaim their “interpretation” and refuse to acknowledge when they get things wrong…which they always do. It’s nuts to me.

When God gave visions and dreams to His prophets in the Old Testament, they all fall on their faces in awe before the Lord. They tremble in fear at His coming. They are overwhelmed by what they see and cannot comprehend what God is telling them until an angel of the Lord reveals it to them. They are humble. They grieve over the judgment they know is coming. They fast and pray until their bodies are weak from hunger. Listen again to Daniel’s experience as he receives his final visions from God, “Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men who were with me did not see it. On the contrary, they were overcome with fright and ran away to hide. I alone was left to see this great vision. My strength drained from me, and my vigor disappeared; I was without energy. I listened to his voice, and as I did so I fell into a trance-like sleep with my face to the ground. Then a hand touched me and set me on my hands and knees.” (Daniel‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭NET) Now contrast his example with what we hear from those who claim to be prophets in our day and age. It could not be more different.

It’s a fearful thing to receive a vision of the future from God. Such knowledge is far too wonderful and complex for our minds to comprehend. It overwhelms the senses. It forces us to our knees. It leaves us gasping for breath. Human beings simply aren’t designed for such things which is why every single one of the Old Testament prophets is driven to the point of death by the experience. Even Jesus Himself claimed He couldn’t know the timing of the end. He had to trust His Father for that knowledge.

Every human being worries about the future. We worry about tomorrow or the next day or the next month or the next year. We worry about our jobs. We worry about our livelihoods. We worry about our children and grandchildren. For many around the world, they worry about what they will eat or where they will find water. Many believers worry about the end. They look around the world today with all its suffering, violence, hatred, anger, injustice, and oppression and they wonder when God will return to bring these things to an end. Rather than focusing so much on trying to predict it all or figure it out, I think the final words of the Book of Daniel point us in the right direction. “But you should go your way until the end. You will rest and then at the end of the days you will arise to receive what you have been allotted.” (Daniel‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: No readings on Sundays

Why it Matters - Eternal Kingdom

Readings for today: Daniel 7-9

I make it a practice to read the news every single day. I read the Wall Street Journal. I read the New York Times. I take Time Magazine and Christianity Today. I follow a wide variety of people from all kinds of different social, political, and cultural backgrounds on social media. I pay attention to the BBC, CNN, and Fox News. I will admit it’s not always easy. I often feel overwhelmed by all I read. However, I believe it is a spiritual discipline to remain aware of all that is happening in the world. I pay particular attention to the conflicts and wars that rage between nations. Diplomatic exchanges between leaders. The state of the global economy and the growing potential threat of AI. These things remind me of the visions Daniel had of the rise and fall of the great beasts, the contest between the goat and ram, and the significance of all the different horns.

It would be easy to get lost in the details. Easy to try my best to identify each of the horns and what they represent. Easy to try and look around the world today and try to discern what parts of Daniel’s visions may be coming to pass. But whenever I do, the Holy Spirit is quick to direct my attention to the most important theme of all. The rise of the Son of Man. The coming of the Ancient of Days. The victory of the saints of God and the establishment of a kingdom that has no end. “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened…I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed…But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever…As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom…And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’” (‭‭Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭13‬-‭14‬, ‭18‬, ‭21‬-‭22‬, ‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

The reality is all the kingdoms of this world will eventually fail. The nations will fall. Empires will crumble. Kings and rulers, principalities and powers, prime ministers and presidents…all will eventually give way to the Son of Man. All of them will bow before the Ancient of Days. All of them will live under His rule and reign. God has promised to bring His Kingdom to earth. He will bring an end to all war. All violence. All sorrow. All suffering. All pain. He will establish justice and righteousness on the earth once and for all. His Kingdom will have no end because He has no rivals. No power in the world can stand against His authority. And those who place their trust in Him. Those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who are called the “saints of the Most High” will reign with Him forever. This is our eternal hope!

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 10-12

Why it Matters - Evangelism

Readings for today: Daniel 4-6

One of the hallmarks of a Christian is a heart for the lost. We are commanded in Scripture to love those who do not know Christ. To have compassion on those who do not yet know God. To reach out to them. To serve them. To bless them in the name of Jesus. The examples from Scripture are legion. From the beginning where God demonstrates His love for Adam and Eve and Cain even amidst their sin to the love Abraham showed for the people of Sodom, interceding for them when they faced destruction. Moses showed love to his father-in-law, a non-Israelite, raising him to a position of leadership among the people of God. The Law of God embraces the stranger, foreigner, and alien in the midst of God’s people and I think of how we see that fleshed out in the embrace of women like Rahab and Ruth and the critical role they play in the genealogy of our Savior.

Daniel embodies this love as well. His close relationship with the kings he serves is well-attested in the chapters we read today. When Nebuchadnezzer has a dream, Daniel is the man he calls on. It’s important to note that Nebuchadnezzar even uses Daniel’s Jewish name which is highly unusual as the Babylonians often “renamed” people in order to assimilate them fully into Babylonian culture. And Daniel clearly communicates his love and concern for Nebuchadnezzar as he interprets the dream for him. “Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time; his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “Sir, if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries!” (Daniel‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NET‬)

Daniel’s special relationship with the kings he serves is not limited to Nebuchadnezzer. It extends to Belshazzar and Darius as well. Belshazzar calls on him to interpret strange handwriting on a wall and then rewards him though his interpretation promised doom for the king. Darius sets him above all his other counselors in the kingdom, valuing him for his wisdom and recognizing in him the spirit of the Living God. Clearly, Daniel has gained a reputation. He is esteemed above all the wise men and satraps and governors of the king. Furthermore, when their jealousy gets the best of them and they craft legislation specifically attacking Daniel’s faith, Darius laments what he has to do and is the first to arrive at the mouth of the lion’s den to see if Daniel has survived. “When the king heard this, he was very upset and began thinking about how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoon he was struggling to find a way to rescue him…Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions were brought to him. He was unable to sleep. In the morning, at the earliest sign of daylight, the king got up and rushed to the lions’ den. As he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a worried voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God whom you continually serve able to rescue you from the lions?” (Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬, ‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NET‬‬)

One can see from such verses how Daniel loved the lost kings whom he served. He loved them as God loved them. He served them out of reverence for Christ. He gave his life to them in an effort to lead and direct them to a saving faith. And his efforts were not in vain. Nebuchadnezzar gave glory to the God of Israel. Belshazzar was brought to his knees before the God of Israel. Darius issues a proclamation that all the people of the empire would worship the God of Israel. It’s a powerful testimony and example to us all.

So…do you love the lost? Do you love those who do not know Christ or do you look down on them? Do you love those who are still enslaved to their sin or do you disdain them? Do you love those who are struggling and wandering and perhaps even living in willful rebellion against Christ or do you seek to reach them, serve them, care for them, have compassion on them? What creates barriers to such love in your life? Is it politics? Ethnicity? Economics? Is it lack of forgiveness? Lack of grace? Lack of understanding? Is it anger? Frustration? Lost hope? Let the gospel minister to your soul. Let the gospel restore your faith and renew your love. Remember the gospel is the literal power of God for all those who would believe, Jew and Gentile alike. It is God’s desire that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. This includes even those we would consider our enemies. Let Daniel’s example both challenge and inspire you today to reach out to those who do not yet know Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 7-9

Why it Matters - Prophets

Readings for today: Daniel 1-3

One of the questions I get asked a lot when I train pastors overseas is how to identify a true prophet of God. Tragically, these men and women have seen far too many who claim to speak for God but ultimately are only in ministry for their own benefit. They drive the nicest cars. They dress in the nicest clothes. They want the place of highest honor at a meal. They want the privileged speaking slot at a conference. They put their faces and names on billboards all over town. They manipulate their congregations into funding a lavish lifestyle for them while their people toil in life-threatening poverty. I tell them we see the same dynamic in the United States. Health and wealth preachers who twist the gospel for material gain. YouTube preachers who make all kinds of predictions about the future that never seem to come to pass. Pastors who seem far more interested in expanding their “brand” and “influence” than they are in discipling and shepherding their congregations. Political and social leaders who use prophetic language to stoke the fears of the people they serve in order to stay in power. They remind me of the magicians and astrologers and other so-called “wise men” in the Book of Daniel.

Daniel and his friends are different. They are true prophets of God. How do we know? They never stop trusting God. They never stop giving glory to God. They never seek any power or position or influence or wealth for themselves. We first meet them after they’ve been taken prisoner and forced into service of the pagan king of Babylon. In order to prepare them for service, the king assigns them a non-kosher diet. One that violates the law of God. Rather than rage against the pagan authorities or claim to be victims of an oppressive regime or compromise their beliefs, they work with the overseer of the court officials to find an acceptable way forward. They ask the pagan officials to put their God and His law to the test to see what will happen. They find a way to both honor God and honor the king whom they have been called to serve. As a result, God endows them with knowledge and skill and the ability to interpret dreams and visions.

Those gifts are soon put to the test as Nebuchadnezzar has a disturbing dream. No one can discern it much less interpret it for him. He flies into a rage and orders all his counselors to be killed. But Daniel intercedes. He asks for time to pray. He seeks God’s wisdom. And when God provides the answer, Daniel boldly speaks God’s truth to power though it came with great risk. After all, who knows how Nebuchadnezzar will respond? In interpreting the dream, Daniel also foretells the future. A future that eventually comes to pass as empires rise and fall. Through it all, Daniel takes no credit for himself. He claims no special wisdom for himself. He desires no special privileges for himself. He simply relays what God has revealed to him and the response of Nebuchadnezzar is incredible. “Certainly your God is a God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery!” (‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭47‬ ‭NET‬‬)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego undergo a similar test. They refuse to bow down and worship an idol of the king. The other wise men, seeking an opportunity to claim more power and influence for themselves, report their refusal to the king. He again flies into a rage. He has a furnace prepared and threatens to cast them in if they continue to refuse to bow before his image. The men stand their ground. They speak God’s truth to power proclaiming, “We do not need to give you a reply concerning this. If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.” (Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NET‬‬) Regardless of whether God delivers them or not, they will not give in. They will not compromise their beliefs. They will not violate God’s commands. This enrages Nebuchadnezzar even further. He has the furnace is made even hotter. So hot that even drawing close to it cost some of the king’s men their lives. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego not only survive but not even a hair on their heads was singed nor did they even smell like fire. It’s incredible. And the king once again bows before them and says, “Praise be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent forth his angel and has rescued his servants who trusted in him, ignoring the edict of the king and giving up their bodies rather than serve or pay homage to any god other than their God!” (Daniel‬ ‭3‬:‭28‬ ‭NET‬‬)

You want to know what’s most interesting about each of these events? It’s the fact that Daniel and his friends refuse to take advantage of these miracles to advance their position in the kingdom or claim any special privileges for themselves. How different than the prophets of our own day and age! And it raises an important point. True prophets of God are marked by their humility more than anything else. They understand they are simply instruments in God’s hands. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. They never seek to self-promote but instead always point people beyond themselves to God. This is what distinguishes them from the false prophets of our world. Honestly, at the end of the day, it’s pretty easy to discern. Is the person seeking to lift up the name of Jesus or are they more interested in promoting their own brand?

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 4-6

Why it Matters - Politics

Readings for today; Ezekiel 45-48

We seemed locked in a political death spiral here in America. Our political parties becoming more extreme by the day. Our candidates bringing out the worst in each other. Mainstream media stoking our fears and anxieties. Social media spreading all kinds of disinformation and hate. Our political leaders committed to gaining and maintaining power no matter what the cost. We paint our opponents as existential threats. We dehumanize those who disagree with us. We refuse to listen. We refuse to engage in fact-based debate. We refuse to seek truth. Violence is now justified. Oppression is acceptable as long as it serves to further one’s political ambitions and agenda. Injustice and unrighteousness are excused as long as our person wins. It’s honestly a bit terrifying to watch in real time.

However, I also know it’s normal. This is how humans have operated for millennia. Every human society that has ever existed is full of violence and fear. Suffering and pain. Injustice and unrighteousness. Exploitation and manipulation. Corruption and oppression. Give any human being any real power and chances are they will most likely use and abuse it to their own ends. Give them absolute power and it almost always leads to tyranny. This can happen in a home. Think of the rise of domestic abuse and violence. It can happen in a neighborhood. Consider the reputation of most HOA’s. It can happen in a community where one group gains enough authority to exert their will over others. It can happen in a municipality or region or state or nation where one political party gains the upper hand. The reality is we all believe we know what’s best. Not just for ourselves but for everyone around us. And given enough power and authority, we will almost always seek to remake the world around us in our own image. It never works out well.

This is why God speaks so clearly and directly to the leaders of His own people. They are called to be different. Called to be set apart. Called to a higher standard. “This is what the sovereign LORD says: Enough, you princes of Israel! Put away violence and destruction, and do what is just and right. Put an end to your evictions of my people, declares the sovereign LORD. You must use just balances, a just dry measure (an ephah), and a just liquid measure (a bath).” (Ezekiel‬ ‭45‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NET‬) To whom much is given, much is expected. God demands more from those in authority. Their rule on earth is to be a reflection of His rule in heaven. When they refuse to rule in His name and for His glory, they invite destruction on themselves and those they lead. This is what happened to Israel. It’s why Jerusalem was eventually destroyed. The ways of their kings and princes was evil in God’s sight and God would not be mocked.

The same is true today. God will not be mocked. He will allow Himself to be used as a pawn in our political games. He demands more from our leaders. More from our politicians. And more from us as an electorate. In a democracy, it is the people who hold all the power. When we cast our ballots, we are making a statement. A statement about what we believe and what we value and we will be held accountable. Every Christian should be active in the political sphere. Every Christian should refuse to be co-opted by any particular political party or ideology. Every Christian should reject the worldly values of violence, fear, greed, selfishness, deceit, hatred, oppression, injustice, and unrighteousness. These things should never be allowed into the calculus of how we vote or who we vote for. Instead, we should lift up Biblical values like justice, righteousness, truth, freedom, honesty, life, love, compassion, and protection for the most vulnerable. We should make these views known and heard. We should demand accountability from our leaders, never make excuses for their sins, and confront them when they fail to live up to God’s standard. We should refuse the temptation to settle for the lesser of two evils. Most of all, we should pray for those in authority over us and ask God to bring them to their knees in repentance. This is our prophetic call in our current cultural moment.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 1-3

Why it Matters - Presence

Readings for today: Ezekiel 41-44

There is nothing like experiencing the glory of the Lord’s presence in your life. Unexpected times when He makes Himself known to us through a sunrise or on a hike in the mountains or at the shore of a pristine lake or a powerful ocean. Tender times when He makes Himself known to us in our weakness and vulnerability. The loss of a loved one. A fearful diagnosis. The breakdown of a close relationship. Redemptive times when He makes Himself known to us in our failure and sin. A mistake that costs us dearly. A fall that causes all kinds of pain. A self-destructive choice that ripples out into our lives. This is true for us not only personally but collectively as well. Powerful times of worship with God’s people. Seasons of revival in life when entire churches and communities experience the power of His presence. I’ve even witnessed entire villages and regions bowing the knee to Jesus Christ as He makes Himself known through miraculous signs and wonders. It’s amazing.

As Ezekiel’s visions come to a close, he sees the glory of the Lord firsthand and it brings him to his knees in awe and wonder and worship. It reminds him of earlier times in his life when he saw the glory of God destroy Jerusalem or visit him by the Chebar River. This vision, however, is different. God is returning to His city. God is returning to His Temple. God is returning to His people. It’s a vision of hope. A vision of a future where God’s people will be purified and sanctified and made holy. A vision of a time coming when they will serve the Lord with all their hearts and cast aside their idolatry. It’s a vision of national revival. The renewal of a nation. The return of Israel from exile. It was overwhelming. And it serves as a great reminder to us that all is never lost. Not with God. Even in the darkest moments of our lives, He is with us and He is working out His plan for us.

I recently came across the account of a pastor who lived in Europe during the Second World War. His community had become the epicenter of a great battle between the Allied Forces and Nazi Germany. One evening as the sun was setting over the horizon, both armies pulled back to regroup. A great silence fell over the battlefield. He looked up in the waning daylight to see the spire of a church still standing tall despite the shelling that had taken place that day. It gave him hope. All of a sudden, a lone artillery shell came out of nowhere and blew the spire apart. A flock of birds happened to be resting on that spire and as the shell came in, they simply lifted up above the destruction, and once the dust had settled, nested back down in the ruins. The pastor later wrote, “It felt like the glory of God to me. Rising above all the chaos and tumult of our world and then resting back down with us in the ruins.” I think that’s about right.

We do not place our hope in anything built by human hands. Not Temples. Not churches. Not great cities or empires. All of them will eventually come crumbling down. The only hope we have is God. And the only way we will taste that hope is to experience His presence. And the only way we will experience His presence is by cultivating a deep, abiding awareness of Him in our daily lives through prayer and worship and meditation on His Word. Friends, God promises to make Himself known to all who seek Him with their whole heart.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 45-48

Why it Matters - Israel

Readings for today: Ezekiel 37-40

The people of Israel represent one of history’s great mysteries. There simply is no human reason why they should continue to exist. There is no earthly reason why there should be a nation of Israel today. She has faced extinction level events so many times throughout her history. So many kings and nations have sought to destroy her over the years. Egypt. Canaan. Assyria. Babylon. Persia. Those are just the ones mentioned in the Bible. In modern times, one only has to look at the pogroms in Europe or Russia or the Middle East. One only has to look at the rising anti-semitism in our own country today. The fact that Israel has not only survived but thrived is truly a miracle. A sign of God’s great love and faithfulness. A sign that God’s covenant endures forever.

Does that mean Israel never errs? Of course not. The Bible is honest about her many failings. It’s why God withdrew His protective hand when the pagan nations around her attacked. It’s why God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed. It’s why God sent His people into exile in Babylon. He judged them in righteousness for their idolatry, corruption, greed, injustice, and oppression. He never gives them a pass. He doesn’t have a blind spot when it comes to His people. He sees all. He knows all. And He refuses to let their sin go unpunished. And this is as true today as it has ever been for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

However, it is equally clear God’s ultimate goal for Israel is restoration. Even while they are in exile, He works tirelessly for their return. He gives Ezekiel visions of dry bones coming together into living, breathing bodies. Two sticks with the names of Judah and Joseph upon them. God shows the prophet a vision of a new Temple and even takes him on a virtual tour of the building so he can see all God will one day do when He brings His people home from exile. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness to Himself, His promises, and His people. Listen again to Ezekiel’s description. “Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob, and I will have mercy on the entire house of Israel. I will be zealous for my holy name. They will bear their shame for all their unfaithful acts against me, when they live securely on their land with no one to make them afraid. When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will magnify myself among them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations, and then gathered them into their own land. I will not leave any of them in exile any longer. I will no longer hide my face from them, when I pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel‬ ‭39‬:‭25‬-‭29‬ ‭NET‬‬)

I will restore Jacob and the whole house of Israel. I will bring them back from the countries of their enemies. I will regather them to their own land. I will leave none behind. I will no longer hide my face. I will pour out my Spirit. This is the declaration of the Lord. These are incredibly powerful words that will be fulfilled when Ezra returns to rebuild the Temple and Nehemiah returns to rebuild the wall. We also see the same dynamic taking place throughout history as God preserves and protects His people, refusing to let them be finally destroyed. The Jewish people have endured so much over the centuries. They have been harassed and attacked and targeted by almost every society on earth. Blamed for all kinds of terrible things. Cast as the nefarious subjects of all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories. And still they survive when other people groups and cultures have come and gone. Where is Babylon today? Where is Assyria today? Where are the Canaanite tribes today? Still Israel remains. Why? Because God is faithful. And He remains faithful to us as well.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Good Shepherd

Readings for today: Ezekiel 33-36

Several years ago I was asked to step into a challenging leadership situation in another church. The pastor was embroiled in a deep conflict with his elders and congregation. Thousands had left the church feeling hurt. Serious allegations of spiritual abuse were leveled. Social media was on fire with story after story of people sharing their pain and heartbreak. When the elders asked the pastor to engage in self-reflection on his leadership style and assess how the church was doing, he somehow gave himself an “A.” The elders strongly disagreed. So much so they resigned in masse leaving the church without a duly elected board which is how I got involved. As I sought to untangle the mess, I spent many, many hours meeting with the different parties involved. The pastor. His executive leadership team. The elders. Other concerned members of the church. One of the things that quickly became clear to me is that, regardless of who was right and who was wrong, this particular pastor simply didn’t care for the sheep. Even when I confronted him on the fact that many of the “sheep of his pasture” were broken and bleeding all over the community, he was callous and dismissive. In his mind, their failure to embrace his vision for the church meant they were rejecting what the Lord had told him.

A similar dynamic existed in ancient Israel during Ezekiel’s time. The leaders of God’s people were false shepherds. Rather than feed and care for the flock entrusted to their care, they fed off the flock. They used them to their own advantage. They refused to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bandage the injured, and bring back the strays. They ruled over the flock with force and control. They believed the flock fundamentally existed for their benefit rather than the other way around. The results were devastating. The sheep scattered. They became food for every wild beast. They were lost and alone and vulnerable. And the truly tragic thing is that the shepherds didn’t care enough to look for them.

What a contrast to God! He is the Good Shepherd. Listen again to His response. “As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy, dark day. I will bring them out from among the peoples and gather them from foreign countries; I will bring them to their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams and all the inhabited places of the land. In a good pasture I will feed them; the mountain heights of Israel will be their pasture. There they will lie down in a lush pasture, and they will feed on rich grass on the mountains of Israel. I myself will feed my sheep and I myself will make them lie down, declares the sovereign LORD. I will seek the lost and bring back the strays; I will bandage the injured and strengthen the sick, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them – with judgment!” (Ezekiel‬ ‭34‬:‭12‬-‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬)

All of us are called to be shepherds. To care for those entrusted to our care. It could be children. It could be aging parents. It could be extended family or friends who are experiencing a crisis. It could be our brothers and sisters in the church. This is particularly true for pastors and the sad reality is far too many act like the shepherds of Israel from our passage today. They treat their flocks as a means to their own selfish ends. It could be fame and fortune. It could be influence and power. It could be a sense of entitlement or selfish fulfillment. I know far too many pastors who act as if they believe the church owes them or exists to provide them with a comfortable lifestyle. As pastors, we must repent. We must continually check our own hearts to make sure we are not allowing any sense of entitlement or presumption to take root. Like Jesus, we exist to serve not be served. We must take what God says to Ezekiel seriously and seek to live our lives accordingly.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 37-40

Why it Matters - God’s Sovereignty

Readings for today: Ezekiel 29-32

Egypt. Assyria. Babylon. Three of the mightiest empires in history. Each of them ruled for a time over thousands of miles. They conquered kingdoms. They accumulated great wealth and power. Their kings ruled over nations. However, each of them was eventually humbled under God’s mighty hand. “Consider Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, like a forest giving shade, and extremely tall; its top reached to the clouds.” (Ezekiel 31:3 NET) Though it was beautiful and counted among the trees of the Garden of Eden, God gave it over to the nations. He judged her for her sin. He brought foreigners from many nations to cut her down. The same was true for Egypt. “You were like a lion among the nations, but you are monster in the seas; you thrash about in your streams, stir up the water with your feet, and muddy your streams.” (Ezekiel 32:2b NET) God would throw a net over her. Drag her up from the Nile on which she depended and leave her gasping for life on the open ground. “I will fling you on the open field, I will allow all the birds of the sky to settle on you, and I will permit all the wild animals to gorge themselves on you.” (Ezekiel 32:4 NET) The same would eventually hold true for Babylon. Though God used her as the instrument of His righteous judgment in the world, she too would one day fall into ruin.

God remains sovereign. Not just over ancient near nations like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Elam, Meshech-Tubal, Edom, and the Sidonians but over all nations and tribes and people groups throughout history and throughout the world today. When we look around and see what’s happening in places like Ukraine or Gaza or Iran or in places that don’t get as much press like South Sudan or Myanmar or the militant and gang violence in places like the Sahel, South Asia, and Latin America; it’s easy to wonder where God is in the midst of it all. Is He sovereign? Is He sitting on His throne? If so, why does He not act to bring an end to all the violence? Why does He not bring judgment on all the evil? Why does He not intervene to stop all the suffering? But what if God is doing what He has always done? What if God remains committed to His original plan? What if He is bringing about His sovereign will even in the midst of all the sin and suffering just like He did during Ezekiel’s time? And what if He allows all the violence and pain to bring humanity to her knees so that she once again “will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 29:9b NET)

God has made Himself clear. He entrusted humanity with dominion over all He has made. He has never wavered from that commitment. He remains faithful. He remains true to His Word. And thankfully, He reigns sovereign over all things, including every choice every human being ever makes, and is therefore more than able to bend it to His eternal purposes. This is why the Apostle Paul says, “And we know all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NET) Paul trusts God’s sovereign plan. Paul trusts God’s sovereign power and authority. Paul trusts God’s sovereign will. He knows God is at work even when he cannot see it. He knows God’s hand is directing the nations even when he cannot discern how. He knows the kings and rulers of this earth only serve because God allows it. Most of all, he knows there is coming a day when God will bring an end to evil once and for all and establish His eternal kingdom on earth. How does he know this for sure? Because of Jesus. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is God’s down payment on this world and all He has made. Jesus is God’s guarantee that one day all things will be made new.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 33-36

Why it Matters - Pride

Readings for today: Ezekiel 25-28

Pride is an ever-present danger. It is the root of all sin. It is a fundamental attitude that says, “I don’t need God” or “there is no God.” Pride elevates Self and places him/her on the throne. Pride suggests “I don’t need any help.” Pride believes “I am sufficient on my own.” Pride asserts, “I am the master of my fate, the captain of my destiny.” None of these things are true, of course, but pride makes us believe them anyway. Pride blinds us to the utter weakness of our condition. Pride makes us think we are immune to random chance. Pride gives us a false sense of confidence that we are in control.

In Ezekiel, Tyre is the very embodiment of pride. It’s why the prophet spends so much time talking about her fall. She was the queen of city-states in the ancient world. Master of trade. Her ships traveled all over the Mediterranean bringing her great wealth and power. She built up a strong military. No one dared mess with her. As a city, she enjoyed order and peace which, in turn, allowed businesses to thrive. She built up strong alliances all over the Middle East. She was at the pinnacle of her power when Nebuchadnezzar came with his armies and literally wiped her from the map. As such, she stands as an example to all of what happens to even the greatest of human civilizations. And it’s why the princes of the kingdoms around her weep over her fall. They see in her their own doom as well.

Pride is a false god. An idol of our own creation. It places us in a position we were never designed to hold. Human beings were created to live in humble reliance on God. We were created to live in intimate relationship with God. Trusting Him for all our needs, wants, and desires. We were created to give glory to God in all we think, do, or say. All we create. All we produce. All the resources we accumulate are intended to be tools in our hands to bring God even more honor and praise. When we live in right relationship with God, we are humble and self-effacing. We don’t think too highly of ourselves nor do we diminish ourselves. We simply think of ourselves less. Our hearts and minds become consumed with serving God and blessing others in His name.

Why is it so tempting to give into pride? To begin to believe in ourselves rather than trust God? To start reading our own headlines and believing our own hype? The reality is that we all want a taste of glory. We all want a share in what God has done. We all want some of the credit when it comes to our achievements and success. We all enjoy being the center of attention on some level. This is why social media is so addictive, by the way. And pushing back against this tide is hard. Swimming against this current is exhausting. Cutting against this grain requires intentionality and discipline and self-denial because everything in our world today is geared towards the elevation of self. Every message we get from the world seeks to glorify the self. It’s why spending time before God each day is so critical. We need to be regularly reminded of the distance between us and God and what God has done to close that gap for us. Daily reflection on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ keeps us on our knees before Him in humility and thankfulness.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 29-32