Why it Matters - Prophecy

Readings for today: Isaiah 18-22

There are a lot of people who claim to be prophets these days. They claim to speak for God. They claim to know the future. They claim to have seen visions and dreams. Almost all of it is utter nonsense. How do I know? Because their prophecies never come true. The true test of a prophet, according to the Bible, is if their predictions actually come to pass. “How can we tell that a message is not from the Lord?’ – whenever a prophet speaks in my name and the prediction is not fulfilled, then I have not spoken it; the prophet has presumed to speak it, so you need not fear him.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NET‬‬) Sadly, I have seen far too many Christians fall for false prophets. They trust their words. They make decisions on what the person predicts. They buy their books and trinkets and whatever else the supposed prophet may be selling. It’s tragic. It’s an offense to God. It’s why God assigns the death penalty for false prophesy. He hates what they do to His people.

Isaiah is a true prophet of God. Everything he predicts in these passages comes to pass. Cush - think modern day Ethiopia and Sudan - ruled Egypt for a time and sought allies against Assyria. This happened during the reign of Hezekiah. Isaiah’s warning not to ally with Cush bore itself out when Assyria ultimately defeated the Egyptian/Cushite forces. Egypt experienced all kinds of civil unrest during the Late Period of her empire. Assyrian kings conquered Egypt in the seventh century BC and she later came under Persian, Greek, and Roman rule. Egypt and Cush were led away as captives when the Assyrians defeated their forces at Ashdod. Babylon fell to the Persians in 539BC. Edom steadily declined and eventually disappeared as a nation. The tribes of Arabia were crushed by the Assyrians as well. Jerusalem would eventually fall to Babylon, Shebna would be demoted, and Eliakim would assume higher office. Everything he says comes to pass. And that brings me to the most important prophesy from this section. A glorious vision of the future God has for the world. One that looks forward in anticipation to the end of days. “At that time there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will visit Egypt, and the Egyptians will visit Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. At that time Israel will be the third member of the group, along with Egypt and Assyria, and will be a recipient of blessing in the earth. The Lord who commands armies will pronounce a blessing over the earth, saying, “Blessed be my people, Egypt, and the work of my hands, Assyria, and my special possession, Israel!” (Isaiah‬ ‭19‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭NET‬‬)

It’s incredible. God expanding His reach. God extending an invitation to the nations of the earth, including the former enemies of His chosen people, to worship Him. At that time, He will call Egypt “my people” and Assyria “the work of my hands” alongside Israel “my chosen possession.” It’s a foretaste of what John will later write about in Revelation 7 when he sees every tribe, tongue, and nation worshipping before the throne of God. It’s a vision we are called as God’s people to live out in our own day and time. Welcoming all who would come to worship with open arms. Regardless of ethnicity. Regardless of economic status. Regardless of cultural difference. Regardless of life experience. God has thrown open the doors of His house. His arms are wide enough to embrace all who would come to Him. He will not turn away any who would seek Him with all their heart.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 23-26

Why it Matters - God’s Authority

Readings for today: Isaiah 13-17

It’s easy to look around the world today and despair. We wake up everyday and are inundated with reports through social media and other traditional media outlets. Wars between nations. Tribal violence. Ethnic cleansing. Corrupt governments perpetuating cycles and systems of exploitation, injustice, and oppression. Preventable famine and starvation. Lack of access to clean water and nutritious food. Limited opportunities for education. Entire regions with no healthcare. The largest human migration in history as refugees cross borders and others are internally displaced. It’s heartbreaking and overwhelming and easy to feel hopeless in the face of it all.

I imagine the prophet Isaiah may have felt the same way. He looked around his world and saw mighty empires like Assyria and Babylon who seemed unstoppable. Their war machines trampling everyone in their path. Closer to home, two of Israel’s ancient enemies - Philistia and Moab - continued to create all kinds of chaos. Their constant attacks causing all kinds of suffering and pain. But then Isaiah does a curious thing. One we would do well to learn from. He lifts his eyes. Above all the tumult and tribulation of our world. He places his faith in God who reigns in absolute authority over all He has made. And when he looks to God, what does he see? Righteous judgment. God holding the nations accountable. God exercising His power to bring them to heel. God will not let His people suffer forever. God will not let the oppression of His people stand. He will not allow the empires of this world to have the final word. Indeed, God says to Isaiah, “I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for their sin. I will put an end to the pride of the insolent, I will bring down the arrogance of tyrants…I will shake the heavens, and the earth will shake loose from its foundation, because of the fury of the Lord who commands armies, in the day He vents His raging anger.” (Isaiah 13:11, 13 NET)

I think of some of the places I’ve been where tyrants rule with an iron fist. They put down any opposition. They pay off their family and friends. They rob their nations blind while so many suffer and die. It’s hard to see how such things end but then I look to God. I turn my eyes to the one who will judge the nations. I know their end is near and I know everything I am doing to help alleviate the pain they cause is not in vain. I think about my own country. I think about how many of our political leaders act in corrupt ways, taking advantage of our system to enrich themselves. Everything seems stacked against the ordinary person in favor of the privileged and connected and elite. But then I look to God. I turn my own eyes to the one before whom every single person must appear to give an account. I know their end is near and I know everything I do - from voting to serving the least resourced in our communities to advocating for justice to doing all I can to make things safer and better for all - is not in vain. God sees all. God knows all. And God will judge all and one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Rationalization

Readings for today: 2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chronicles 28

I once heard it said that a human being’s ability to sin is only exceeded by that human’s ability to rationalize away their sin. And thirty years of ministry has provided plenty of evidence to back up that statement. According to Jonathan Haidt, in his book, The Righteous Mind, human beings are more “rationalizing creatures” than they are “rational creatures.” He uses the image of an elephant and a rider to make his point. The elephant represents our intuitive, emotional, reactive mind while the rider represents our conscious, rational, reasoning mind. While the rider appears to be “in control” much of the time, the reality is the elephant decides for itself where it wants to go and there’s really nothing the rider can do about it except justify the course.

Ahaz comes from godly stock. His grandfather, Uzziah, was one of the great kings of Israel and Jotham, his father, reigned well for sixteen years. What caused Ahaz to go astray? Why did Ahaz make the terrible choices he made? Passing his son through the fire? Offering sacrifices and burning incense at the high places? Carving graven images of the Baals? Making an alliance with Assyria? Adopting the worship practices of the Assyrians after a trip to Damascus? Remodeling the Temple according to his own design? The Bible doesn’t tell us but it does offer an indictment of his reign. “He did not do what pleased the Lord his God, in contrast to his ancestor David. He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel.” (2 Kings 16:2b-3a NET) So the Lord handed him over to his enemies. He lost battles to the Syrians, Edomites, and the northern kingdom of Israel. The writer of 2 Chronicles even goes as far as to say, “The Lord humiliated Judah because of King Ahaz…for he encouraged Judah to sin and was very unfaithful to the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 28:19 NET) And it appears the worse things got, the more Ahaz turned away.

I have met people just like Ahaz. No matter how bad things get and no matter how harsh the consequences of the terrible decisions they make, they refuse to repent. They refuse to return to Jesus. They rationalize away their sin by blame-shifting or by claiming they have no choice or that it’s “just the way I am.” And things only get worse. I have seen this dynamic play out in my own life and in the lives of those I love. Thankfully, at some point, most of us hit rock bottom. We come face to face with reality and all our rationalizations coming crashing down around us. It’s there that God meets us. He meets us and, if we will turn to Him, He lifts us out of the pit and miry clay and gives us a new song to sing. The song of salvation.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 13-17

Why it Matters - Living Sacrifice

Readings for today: Micah 5-7

I attended a worship service recently in London, England. It was at Westminster Abbey, one of the most spectacular churches I have ever been in. The choir was amazing. Their voices blended together beautifully as they sang praises to God. The ushers were dressed in tuxedos and other regalia and did a wonderful job cultivating a reverent atmosphere. The stage was set for a truly special time for God’s people to hear God’s Word and respond in faith. Sadly, the priest utterly failed in his task. His sermon didn’t mention Jesus once. It didn’t reference the Scripture readings for the morning a single time. He talked about AI, civic duty, and quoted extensively from Pope Leo’s recent encyclical on the subject. It was terribly disappointing. It reminded me why so many of the churches in England and Europe and even here in America are failing. They go through all the right motions. They perform the right actions. They even say the right words in their liturgies and hymns. But it lacks the most important ingredient…it doesn’t come from the heart.

In the most famous verses from Micah, he says, “With what should I enter the Lord’s presence? With what shall I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter His presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Will the Lord accept a thousand rams, or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give Him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion, my offspring - my own flesh and blood - for my sin? He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God.” (Micah 6:6-8 NET) You see, Israel too was going through the motions. Judah thought she was good by offering all the right sacrifices. They both said all the right words. Prayed all the right prayers. The southern kingdom of Judah engaged all the right rituals performed by all the right priests in all the right places. But they were avoiding what God really wanted. Justice. Righteousness. Faithfulness. Obedience. Though they had offered sacrifices of sheep and goats and bulls, they had not offered themselves to the Lord.

God wants us to offer ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice. He wants us to demonstrate our devotion - not through religious rituals and services - but by the way we live our lives. To be sure, gathered, corporate worship is important. It is good and right to attend church, sing songs, pray prayers, receive the Word of God, and the sacraments. But these things only take on meaning if we are truly and authentically seeking the Lord with our whole hearts. If we are walking in obedience to Him and keeping in step with the Holy Spirit. This is why the Apostle Paul will later say, “present your bodies as a sacrifice - alive, holy, and pleasing to God - this is your reasonable service (or spiritual act of worship).” (Romans 12:1 NET)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chronicles 28

Why it Matters - Authenticity

Readings for today: Micah 1-4

We had dinner the other night with friends and the conversation turned to faith. Though this couple grew up going to church, they are still very new to the faith. They had all kinds of questions. Questions about God’s work in the world. Questions about pain and suffering. Questions about what happens to those who do not believe in Christ. Questions about why there is so much hypocrisy in the church. This last question is where we spent the most time. We talked about the scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic and Evangelical Church. Priests and pastors committing heinous crimes while claiming to speak for God. Church leaders covering for them rather than standing on the side of victims. Many regular Christian people turning a blind eye to the abuses or justifying ungodly behavior because the individual leads a “growing church.” It’s heartbreaking and it causes so many to turn away from the faith.

Sadly, this isn’t a new dynamic. God’s people have always been plagued by hypocrisy. False prophets and corrupt priests and compromised pastors who will say anything and do anything to accumulate wealth and power. Consider what we read in the Book of Micah today. “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You ought to know what is just, yet you hate what is good, and love what is evil…the prophets who mislead my people are as good as dead.” (Micah 3:1-2, 5 NET) The leaders of God’s people in Micah’s day had fallen under judgment. They devised sinful plans. They defrauded and stole from the very people they were called to serve. They caused so much pain and suffering. So the Lord raises up Micah as a faithful prophet. A man called to preach God’s Word without compromise. And though he faced all kinds of opposition in his life, he never wavered in his commitment to the Lord. “But I am full of the courage that the Lord’s Spirit gives, and have a strong commitment to justice. This enables me to confront Jacob with its rebellion and Israel with its sin.” (Micah 3:8 NET) Why were Micah’s words so powerful? It’s because he practiced what he preached. He lived what he believed. He didn’t just talk about justice and righteousness, he embodied these principles in his life.

Our world is rife with hypocrisy. We see it in our politics. We see it in our communities. We see it in our churches. But God calls us to a different way. The way of authenticity. The way of honesty and transparency. God is looking for those who will seek Him with all their heart. Those in whom there is no guile. Those who are willing to set aside any personal agendas. Those who will commit to walk in His ways no matter what it may cost. There is a day coming when the Lord will return. He will establish His reign and rule on Zion. The Temple Mount will once again become the most important mountain of all. Many people will stream to it. Many nations will come to learn the Lord’s commands and seek to implement His laws. Until that great day comes, Christians are called to give the world a foretaste in the way we live and the way we love and the way we serve.

Readings for tomorrow: Micah 5-7

Why it Matters - World Peace

Readings for today: Isaiah 9-12

One of my spiritual disciplines is to stay up with the news. I make sure to read sources from across the political spectrum. I try my best to discern truth which is not always easy because humanity seems literally hardwired for conflict and hatred and even violence. It is so hard to land on an accepted set of facts that everyone can agree on. If facts are inconvenient or don’t support the narrative we want, we tend to dismiss them. If facts support our pre-determined position or ideology then we cling to them with all our might. One could argue that it doesn’t matter. People have a right to believe what they believe. However, in the real world, this attitude doesn’t fly because while I may have a right to my opinion, I don’t have a right to my own facts. Real decisions are made that have real world consequences and people are often hurt. For example, I was recently talking with an immigration official about the conflict that exists between immigration policy in our state and immigration policy at the federal level. That conflict puts state and federal officials at odds with one another and what ends up happening is the immigrant is caught in the crosshairs. They end up with no one advocating on their behalf. That’s just one example among many I could cite. And it’s why our world is so full of conflict and violence.

Thankfully, God has a different vision for the world. A vision of peace. One He casts in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah. “A wolf will reside with a lamb, and a leopard will lie down with a young goat; an ox and a young lion will graze together, as a small child leads them along. A cow and a bear will graze together, their young will lie down together. A lion, like an ox, will eat straw. A baby will play over the hole of a snake; over the nest of a serpent an infant will put his hand. They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea.” (Isaiah‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NET‬‬) When the Messiah comes in all His power and glory, the world will finally know peace because He will establish His rule and reign on justice and righteousness. The Lord’s Spirit will rest upon Him and He will be endowed with divine wisdom and authority. Most of all, His delight will be to serve the Lord. He will serve with faithfulness and dedication and loyalty. He will never waver. He will never lose heart. And His work will bring an end to all conflict and violence and war.

How do we know all this to be true? Because of what God did on the cross. There He tore down every dividing wall of hostility that exists between us and He gave us His Spirit to bring unity. The church is therefore called to live in such a way that we give the world a picture of what life will one day look like in the Kingdom of God. Imagine the power of the witness we would have if God’s people would embrace Isaiah’s vision? Imagine a church unified across political, ethnic, tribal, economic, generational, and theological divisions? Imagine a church that chose God’s Truth over the partisan, subjective agendas of our world? It’s actually not all that hard to imagine if we take seriously the call to have the same mind and heart that was in Christ Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Micah 1-4

Why it Matters - Israel

Readings for today: Isaiah 5-8

A few years ago, I was blessed to travel to Israel with my parents. We flew into Tel Aviv on a Sunday morning and as we descended through the clouds, I eagerly leaned over my sleeping wife to catch my first glimpse of the country. The nation of Israel goes by many names. The Promised Land to the ancient Israelites. The Holy Land to many Jews, Christians, and Muslims around the world today. Israel to her Jewish citizens. Palestine to the Arabs. The “vineyard of the Lord” to an ancient Israelite prophet named Isaiah. That last moniker is admittedly hard to see at first. It’s a dry and arid land. But Israel specializes in “desert agriculture.” Whereas the rest of the world fights against encroaching desertification and the degradation of fertile farmland, the people of Israel specialize in transforming the desert into fruitful, agricultural fields. They invest 4.3% of their GDP in agricultural research and development, provide 95% of their own food supply, and are a major exporter of fresh produce. It’s truly a miracle and a glimpse of the picture Isaiah once saw all those years ago.

“I will to my love - a song to my lover about his vineyard. My love had a vineyard on a fertile hill. He built a hedge around it, removed its stones, and planted a vine. He built a tower in the middle of it, and constructed a wine press. He waited for it to produce edible grapes, but it produced sour ones instead.” (Isaiah 5:1-2 NET)

Our guide was a man named Rami. He is Israeli by citizenship, having been born in Nazareth. He is Palestinian by nationality. He is Arab by ethnicity. He is Christian by religion. Listening to him share his stories was fascinating. He clearly loved his land and loved his people. As he spoke, you could hear the longing in his voice for a day when all the different tribes and faiths who lay claim to the land would humble themselves together before the Lord. And, at the same time, you could also hear his despair. As I listened to him, I thought about the call on Isaiah’s life and wonder if he ever felt the same way?

“The Lord said, “Go and tell these people: ‘Listen continually, but don’t understand! Look continually, but don’t perceive!’ Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind! Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.” I replied, “How long, sovereign master?” He said, “Until cities are in ruins and unpopulated, and houses are uninhabited, and the land is ruined and devastated, and the Lord has sent the people off to a distant place, and the very heart of the land is completely abandoned. Even if only a tenth of the people remain in the land, it will again be destroyed, like one of the large sacred trees or an Asherah pole, when a sacred pillar on a high place is thrown down. That sacred pillar symbolizes the special chosen family.” (Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NET‬‬‬)

So where does Isaiah find hope? Where can a man like Rami find hope? Where can we find hope? We trust in God. We refuse to fall prey to falsehood and conspiracies. We refuse to trust those who would seek power and privilege at the expense of others. We refuse to assume human governments will do justice and love mercy. We refuse to give into fear though we undergo all kinds of violence and suffering and heartbreak and pain. Instead, we heed Isaiah’s call. “You must recognize the authority of the Lord who commands armies. He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear. And He will become your sanctuary…” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭8‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NET‬‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 9-12

Why it Matters - Recognition

Readings for today: Isaiah 1-4

There is nothing more painful than being estranged from your child. I remember counseling a family years ago who had an estranged daughter. She was a miracle baby because the doctors told them they would never have children. They gave her everything as she grew up. They lavished all kinds of love on her. They were at every event she participated in. They brought her to church and taught her to love the Lord. But when she became a teenager, she rebelled. Hard. She got into drugs. The drugs led her into a life of prostitution. The prostitution led to several abortions and multiple children out of wedlock. She ran away from home. They lost touch with her. The only time she’d come around is when she needed money and then she’d disappear on them again. The final straw for them was when she came home with her latest boyfriend and he threatened them with a gun. Even shot out the windows of one of their cars. Thankfully, i convinced them to call the police and the man was taken to jail. However, that didn’t solve the problem with their daughter.

In the Westminster Confession, there is a line that says God is “without body, parts, and emotions.” And it reflects the mistake Western Christians too often make when it comes to God. We are far more influenced by Greek philosophy than we care to admit and so end up perceiving God as distant and unemotional, a fundamentally rational being. But that’s not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is deeply invested emotionally. He’s invested emotionally in the world He has made. He’s invested emotionally in the creature who bears His image. And most importantly, He’s invested emotionally in His children. Those called by His name. Those set apart for His purposes. Those with whom He made a covenant. It’s why we hear the heartbreak of God at the beginning of Isaiah. “Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the Lord speaks: I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me! An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; but Israel does not recognize Me, My people do not understand.” (Isaiah 1:2-3 NET) One hears the grief of a Father in these words. The pain of a parent who’s watching His children go astray.

It’s important for us to embrace this understanding of God. He is our Heavenly Father and like any faithful parent, He will never stop loving His children. He hurts when we hurt. He grieves when rebel. He pursues us when we run from Him. He is disappointed when we refuse to spend time with Him. The most painful thing we can do to God is reject Him. Cut Him out of our lives. Only show up when we need something from Him. It’s also important to understand God is not like an earthly parent. He is healthy. He is not co-dependent. He cannot be manipulated. He cannot be controlled. He is not subject to His emotions as we are. He is always righteous. Always good. Always holy. Always true. He is also sovereign. Able to bend even our rebellion to His ways. He will set boundaries on us. He will discipline us. He will allow us to face the consequences of our choices with the hope that it leads us to repentance.

I think about the young woman I mentioned above. When her mom and dad stopped rescuing her and allowed her to finally face the full weight of the consequences of her decisions, her life began to change. She moved back home. She got a job. She contributed to the household. She brought one of her own daughters with her and they raised her together. She confessed her sins to her family and to the church. She repented of her former ways and started anew. It was beautiful. Not perfect. But beautiful. God bringing beauty out of the brokenness of her life. That’s what He wants to do for all His children.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - You Reap What You Sow

Readings for today: Hosea 10-14

“You reap what you sow.” It’s a phrase I am sure we all have heard. It’s also a reality we’ve all probably experienced. It comes from the Bible and it reflects the truth that God has made us all moral agents. Endowed with free will. Empowered to make choices in life. Yes, some of our choices are forced upon us by circumstances beyond our control. Some of our choices are determined for us by forces much bigger and larger than us. Societal systems and cultural norms and economic factors all play a part in influencing the choices we make. However, at bottom, we still make choices. And those choices result in consequences. Positive or negative. When we make wise and righteous choices, we often experience blessing. When we make foolish and sinful choices, we often experience a curse. These dynamics don’t always hold true of course. I have seen bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. We all have. But by and large, the truth is we do reap what we sow. We get a return on how and what we invest ourselves in.

This was God’s challenge to Israel. Hosea preached during a time of great wealth, prosperity, and military success in the northern kingdom of Israel. Life under Jeroboam II was a golden age on many levels. Jeroboam took advantage of the relative weakness of his more powerful neighbors to expand Israel’s borders and establish trade and his kingdom flourished. But there was something rotten at the core. “You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your chariots; you have relied on your many warriors.” (Hosea 10:13 NET) What was Jeroboam’s besetting sin? Self-reliance. He trusted in his own strength rather than God. He relied on his military strength to deliver him rather than God’s faithfulness. Additionally, as we read in the history of the Kings and Chronicles, he refused to remove the idols set up by his namesake and predecessor in Dan and Bethel. For all these things and more, the nation of Israel would be punished. All their accumulated wealth and success simply made them a bigger target for their enemies.

What does God want? Hosea is clear. “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves, for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers deliverance on you.” (Hosea 10:12 NET) The most important thing to God is not our happiness but our holiness. The most important thing to God is not our comfort but our consecration. The most important thing to God is not our success but our sanctification. God wants us to pursue Him. To seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness. He wants the blessings of our lives to flow from our relationship with Him rather than be the product of the work of our hands. He knows the temporary glory we can achieve on our own is simply not worth comparing to the eternal glory He desires for us. Thankfully, His great love will never let us go. “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart! All my tender compassions are aroused! I cannot carry out my fierce anger! I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! Because I am God, and not man, the Holy One among you, I will not come in wrath!” (Hosea 11:8-9 NET) God’s judgment lasts for a moment but His lovingkindness is for a lifetime. Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy!

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 1-4

Why it Matters - Worthiness

Readings for today: Hosea 6-9

I attended a Bible study when I first became a Christian at a local church. The leader challenged us with a powerful question that I’ve never stopped thinking about. Would you love God if you didn’t receive anything from Him? Would you seek God if He had never promised you a thing? Would you follow God if there was no guarantee of reward? Basically, his argument was that God is worthy of our worship and devotion and love simply because He’s God. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else.

Sadly, God’s people treated their relationship with God like a transaction. They loved God but only for the benefits. They obeyed God but only if there was a reward. “Come on! Let’s return to the Lord!” But only if He heals us and bandages our wounds. “Let us acknowledge Him!” But only if He restores and allows us Into His presence. “Let us seek the Lord!” But only if He comes to our rescue. This kind of repentance is superficial at best and false at worst and it elicits God’s contempt and judgment. “What am I going to do with you, O Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, O Judah? For your faithfulness is as fleeting as the morning mist; it disappears as quickly as dawn’s dew.” (Hosea 6:4 NET)

If we aren’t careful, we can make the same mistake. We can treat our relationship with God like a transaction. I can’t tell you the number of times I talk to people about Christ only to have them respond with something like, “I will believe in God but only if He will do this or that for me.” “I will follow God but only if He fulfills this or that desire for me.” “I will worship God but only if He blesses me.” This kind of conditional, transactional approach to faith is not faith at all. It is contractual not covenantal. It diminishes God by treating Him as if we are somehow His equal. God is God. He is worthy of our worship simply because He is. Does He bless us? Thankfully, yes. Does He fulfill His promises to us? Absolutely. Is He a good Father who gives good things to His children? Without a doubt. But these are gifts of grace not anything we deserve or earn through our own effort.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 10-14

Why it Matters - Divine Paradox

Readings for today: Hosea 1-5

God’s ways are higher than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. His logic transcends our ability to comprehend or understand. The complex, paradoxical ideas that cause us tension or seem impossible for us are not impossible for Him. God’s relationship with Israel is a prime example.

Hosea is called to be a prophet. A man who represents God’s will to God’s people not just by the words he speaks but by the way he lives his life. God calls Hosea to make his life a living sacrifice. To marry a prostitute. To have illegitimate children through her. To name them Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, and Lo-Ammi, signaling the judgment and justice of God. It can’t have been easy. It must have looked and felt hopeless. And yet, God is quick to remind Hosea, judgment will not be the final word. Not in his life and not for Israel. “However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “You are children of the Living God.” Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land. Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great!” (Hosea 1:10-11 NET)

I don’t know about you but I have found this same dynamic to be true in my own life. There are so many moments when I am convinced God must be at the end of His patience. I make the same mistakes over and over again and seem so susceptible to the same temptations and sins. And yet, though God is quick to convict and discipline me as His child, He is also quick to remind me of His unconditional love and grace. God’s justice demands my punishment. God’s grace offers me forgiveness. Somehow, in some way, both of these are true and operative at the same time. It’s not an either/or but a both/and with Christ standing in the middle of it all, holding it all together.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 6-9

Why it Matters - Called

Readings for today: Amos 6-9

Many years ago, I received a call from a colleague. She was upset. “The people here aren’t asking my permission. They aren’t consulting me. They are making plans on their own.” “Isn’t it great?” I replied. She was not amused. In her mind, the people of her church weren’t qualified to make such decisions. They hadn’t been to seminary. They hadn’t gotten ordained. They couldn’t be trusted to do the work of God. Needless to say, she didn’t last very long and the conflict she created had a lasting negative impact. I can’t tell you the number of pastors I’ve spoken to you over the years who have this same mindset. They may not be as obvious about it but it’s still there. “I’m a professional.” “I’m the theological expert.” “How dare God’s people respond to God’s call in their lives without my permission!”

We see the same dynamic on display in the interaction between Amaziah and Amos. Amaziah is the court prophet. The professional. The educated. The elite. Amos is a herdsman. A farmer. A shepherd. “Amos replied to Amaziah, “I was not a prophet by profession. No, I was a herdsman who also took care of sycamore fig trees. Then the Lord took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, ‘Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!’” (Amos‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NET‬‬) Amos wasn’t trained. He was not an expert in the law. He was not raised to be a priest or prophet. And yet, God called him. God used him to deliver God’s message to Israel.

Over the course of my life, I find God often uses the most unlikely of people to deliver His message. To bring about His will. I myself am a great example. If you were to ask any of my friends from high school or my family as I grew up, they would tell you no one could have predicted how my life has turned out. Serving God as a pastor was the furthest thing from my mind and my life reflected it. I have never forgotten how far God has brought me and, as a result, I have spent my entire career as a pastor seeking to empower God’s people so they might serve His purposes. I love watching God work in them and through them. I am often in awe of the ways God speaks to them and through them. So many of the best ideas I’ve had in ministry have come from the people I’ve served. No matter who you are or where you come from or your life experience, God can and will use you if you open yourself to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 1-5

Why it Matters - Double Standard

Readings for today: Amos 1-5

It’s one thing to commit a crime. it’s another to transgress God’s covenant. For “three crimes - make it four” - the nations surrounding Israel and Judah are judged. Their crimes include violence and murder. Enslaving others and desecrating the dead. Failure to honor treaties and invading their neighbors territory. But the people of Israel and Judah are judged according to a different, higher standard. “For three covenant transgressions - make that four.” Covenant transgressions are violations of the sacred order. The rejection of God’s law. The worship of false gods. The practice of injustice. Why the double standard? Because God has set apart His people for Himself. He chose them out of all the nations of the earth. They are called to represent God’s nature and character to the world around them. Their failure to do so reflects poorly on God and they are judged accordingly.

This double standard remains in force today. God’s people are still called to reflect God’s nature and character and live for His glory. We are called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to love even our enemies. In this way, we reflect the heart of God for the world. The love God Himself demonstrated for us while we were still sinners. And we invite those who do not yet know Him to enter into a covenant relationship with Him. When we fail to live up to this calling, we invite the Lord’s judgment into our lives. The Lord disciplines those He loves. Israel. Judah. Christians. He disciplines us not in anger but in patience, persevering with us even in our sin so that we might become more like Him. This is what God has always wanted for His people which is why He always reveals His plan to His prophets (Amos 3:7 NET) and why He always gives us an opportunity to repent (Amos 5:6 NET).

At the end of the day, God’s vision for the world is for “justice to flow like torrents of water, righteous actions like a stream that never dries up.” (Amos 5:24 NET)

Readings for tomorrow: Amos 6-9

Why it Matters - God’s Sovereignty

Readings for today: Jonah 1-4

God works all things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. God works and to will in us according to His good pleasure. God’s works are accomplished from the foundations of the world. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the good works God prepared beforehand that we might do them. God does great and unsearchable things and wonderful things without number. Whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing can be taken from it. God’s works are characterized by faithfulness and justice; all His decrees are reliable. God does amazing things that will be remembered; the Lord is merciful and compassionate.

The above are just a few of the hundreds of verses I could cite in defense of God’s sovereignty. The Bible is clear. God has a plan. It was set forth in eternity. It is just and righteous and good. It is deep and unfathomable to the human creature but it is reliable and will come to pass. Nothing will be added to it. Nothing will be taken from it. It is amazing in its mercy and compassion. This is the lesson Jonah needed to learn. He needed to learn how to love his enemies. Whether they be pagan, Gentile sailors headed for Tarshish or the dreaded enemies of his own people, the Assyrians in Nineveh. We don’t know if Jonah ever learns this lesson. All indications from the book are that he did not but the book never gets to the rest of the story. We don’t know where Jonah went from here. We don’t know if he returned to Israel or if he stayed in Nineveh. We don’t know if he ever received another commission from the Lord. All we know is he never embraces God’s commands and God still uses his disobedience to bring about His perfect will. Jonah runs from God’s commission to Tarshish and God uses his disobedience to bring the sailors on the ship to faith. “The men feared the Lord greatly, and earnestly vowed to offer lavish sacrifices to the Lord.” (Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬) After his encounter with the great fish, Jonah runs from God’s commission a second time. Yes, he goes to Nineveh and preaches but he does so out of anger and with the hope of judgment. He even parks himself east of the city to get a front row seat to its destruction. God had other plans. “The people of Nineveh believed in God, and they declared a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them…”Every person and animal must put on sackcloth and must cry earnestly to God, and everyone must turn from their evil way of living and from the violence that they do. Who knows? Perhaps God might be willing to change his mind and relent and turn from his fierce anger so that we might not die.” When God saw their actions – they turned from their evil way of living! – God relented concerning the judgment he had threatened them with and he did not destroy them.” (Jonah‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬, ‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NET‬‬) It’s one of the most powerful examples of repentance and revival in all the Bible. `

What point is God making? To Jonah? To us? He is sovereign. He will bring about His will no matter what. His plan doesn’t depend on our obedience nor is it in any way constrained or derailed by our disobedience. God will work with us and He will work in spite of us but make no mistake, His will WILL be done on earth as it is in heaven. Since God has made it clear that this is the case, why not turn and embrace Him? Why not join Him rather than resist Him? Why not obey Him rather than run from Him? After all, the only “work” God requires from us is faith. “This is the deed God requires - to believe in the One whom He sent.” (John 6:29 NET)

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Stubbornness

Readings for today: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25-27

Human beings are stubborn. We all have a rebellious streak. We fall into patterns of thinking and behaving that are hard to break. We have an innate ability to justify and rationalize our sinful, selfish decisions. It’s why one of the first words we learn is “no.” It’s why teenagers are often at war with their parents. It’s why adults make so many self-destructive choices. We don’t listen well. We don’t learn from our mistakes. We struggle to submit and surrender. Obedience is not in our DNA. Humility doesn’t come naturally.

Consider what we’ve been reading from the histories of the kings of Israel and Judah. How many times do we read the refrain, “He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin.” (2 Kings 14:24 NET) 19 kings. 9 different dynasties. Over two hundred years. All repeating the same mistake. Worshipping the idols Jeroboam first set up at Dan and Bethel. The southern kings weren’t much different. How many times do we read the refrain, “But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.” (2 Kings 14:4 NET) For almost 350 years, the southern kingdom struggled with this particular sin. Though they had the Temple and the Levitical priesthood, they didn’t remain faithful. Yes, there were periods of significant reform where the high places were removed but sadly, those were largely anomalies. The bottom line is God’s people failed over and over again to remain faithful to the covenant God made with them thus demonstrating their need for a Messiah.

We are no different. The Bible says we are “conceived in sin and born in iniquity.” The idea that we are born “innocent” is a purely modern conception that has no basis in reality. We are selfish. Stubbornly so. It’s why virtues like selflessness and generosity and kindness must be taught. They are not innate to the human condition. It’s why unconditional love and grace and forgiveness and reconciliation are so difficult for us. We perceive these things as “threats” because of what they cost us. It’s much easier to label people as “toxic” and cut them off. It’s much easier to dehumanize those who oppose us or disagree with us rather than treat them with the dignity they deserve. It’s much easier for us to serve ourselves rather than those around us. But God knows where our natural tendencies lead us…pain, heartbreak, division, anger, hate, even violence. And He knows we aren’t able to produce any enduring virtues on our own. So He sends us His Son. And His Son sends us His Spirit. And His Spirit transforms us from the inside out. Giving us a new heart and a new spirit and producing in us the fruit of righteousness.

Readings for tomorrow: Jonah 1-4

Why it Matters - Mentors

Readings for today: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

I have been extremely blessed to have godly mentors in my life. Don Bachman. Berk Sterling. Sam and Fran Atchison. Daisy Grimes. Steve Hayner. Tom Melton. Bud Sparling. Randy MacFarland. David Schultz. Each of these men and women played or plays a critical role in my spiritual development. They pray for me. They process with me. They encourage me. They confront me. They hold me accountable. In a very real way, I am the man I am today because of their influence. And that influence ripples out into my marriage, my parenting, and my pastoring. I cannot imagine my life without their influence. And though God has called some of them home, their influence lives on in my life.

Jehoash (or Joash) also benefited from a godly mentor. “Throughout his lifetime Jehoash did what the Lord approved, just as Jehoiada the priest taught him.” (2 Kings 12:2 NET) Jehoash ascended the throne at a very young age. He survived the massacre of his family and was raised in the temple courts for six years. There he came under the care of Jehoiada. Jehoiada taught him to love the Lord. Taught him to serve the Lord. Taught him to honor the Lord. The result? Jehoash is counted among the more godly kings of Judah. He repaired the Temple. He restored the worship of the people of Israel. Sadly, after the death of his mentor, Jehoash turned from the ways of the Lord. He pandered to the politicians. He ignored the prophets. He even killed his mentor’s son. His kingdom descended into chaos. The Syrians defeated him in battle and he was murdered in his bed. Jehoash’s life demonstrates the power of a godly mentor and what can happen when we don’t have one.

The Christian life is both caught and taught. It is handed down from one generation to the next. It’s why the Apostle Paul encourages older men to spend time with younger men and older women with younger women. He knows the power of a mentor. He himself was blessed with godly mentor named Barnabas and he became a godly mentor to a young man named Timothy. Do you have a mentor in your life? Someone who is teaching you and modeling for you what it means to follow Jesus? Are you a mentor? Are you passing on what God has done for you and all God has taught you to the next generation?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25-27

Why it Matters - You

Readings for today: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23

“I have designated you…” “I have chosen you…” “I have called you…” Over and over again, throughout the Scriptures, God makes it clear that the primary instrument of His will is the human being. The creature made in His image. The creature to whom was given the mandate to “be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and exercise dominion over all God had made.” God never wavers from this commitment. It’s why we see Him coming back to humanity time and again to renew His covenant. Noah and his family. Abraham and Sarah. Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob and Leah and Rachel. Joseph. Moses. Joshua. Gideon. Deborah. Samuel. David. To name a few. Many of them are instruments of His grace and mercy and love. Many of them are instruments of His righteous judgment and wrath. Many of them are both. Jehu stands in the long line of those called by God for a particular purpose. He is to execute God’s judgment on the family of Ahab. The sins of this particular family have been piling up and the bill has now come due. Just as God promised.

Jehu is a terrifying figure in Scripture. A man of war. A man accustomed to violence. A man capable of terrible brutality. His commitment to destroy the family of Ahab and the Baal religion is total and absolute. He starts with the two kings of Israel and Judah and works his way down to Jezebel and Ahab’s sons. He calls every prophet and priest of Baal to attend to him and then slaughters them in the very temple where they worship. Finally, he goes after Ahab’s supporters. His nobles and close friends. He offers no mercy. No quarter is given. No one escapes. The destruction is so complete that the people of Samaria begin to use the former site of Baal’s temple as a latrine. This kind of holy war is deeply unsettling to a 21st century reader and yet it foreshadows the final judgment of God. It’s a sobering reminder that when God truly does intervene in our world to put an end to evil and sin, the destruction will be complete. At that moment, for those who have not yet bowed the knee to Jesus Christ, no mercy will be offered. No quarter will be given. No one will escape.

Thankfully, God is patient, not wishing any to perish in the final judgment. It’s why He delays His 2nd coming. He wants to see everyone be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. And it’s why He calls His church - you and me and all those who follow Jesus - to share the gospel. We are God’s chosen instruments. Set apart for His great Kingdom work. He has designated us to accomplish His purposes in our world. If you are reading this devotional today and do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I plead with you with all my heart to make that commitment today. And if you are reading this devotional and have given your life to Christ, I plead with you with all my heart to make Him known to those around you today! Don’t wait! Don’t delay! We do not know the time or the hour Jesus will return and we want everyone to be ready to meet Him with open arms.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

Why it Matters - Generational Sin

Readings for today: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21, 22:1-9

All of us leave a legacy. Some godly. Some good. Some bad. Some truly evil. And the ripple effect on future generations is real. Ahab was a terrible king for all kinds of reasons. He broke just about every one of the Ten Commandments. He chose to worship Baal rather than Yahweh. He made graven images. He took the Lord’s name in vain. He lied. He coveted. He murdered. He stole. He treated sin flippantly and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord than any of the kings who came before him. His wife Jezebel was at least his equal in unrighteousness. She partnered with him in all of his crimes. She sought the death of Elijah, Israel’s greatest prophet. Together, they did more to lead Israel astray than any other king in her history.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us when their influence exerts itself generationally over their descendants. Jehoram, king of Judah, came under their sway by marrying their daughter. As such, he chose to walk away from his own father’s example of faithfulness and instead “walk in the ways of the kings of Israel.” The result is predictable. The same things that happen to Israel begin to happen in Judah. War breaks out on their borders. Tribes like Edom successfully revolt and set up kingdoms of their own. Pagan shrines known as “high places” are re-established throughout the hill country. God’s people begin to worship other gods. After Jehoram (or Joram) dies, his son Ahaziah follows his ungodly legacy. He even makes a strategic alliance with the house of Ahab against Syria that ends in great tragedy. The house of Ahaziah comes to an end. Jehoram, Ahaziah’s father, dies “to no one’s regret.”

It’s a sobering reminder to us all. Generational sin is real. The sins of the fathers and mothers are often passed down to the children. Sin that goes unaddressed in our lives is often repeated by those who follow us. We exert a shaping influence for good or for evil on those around us, especially those in our own homes. How often have I seen my own weaknesses and struggles reflected in my children? How often have I seen my doubts and fears reproduced in the people I serve? How often have my own sinful tendencies come back to haunt me? Thankfully, God is faithful. As I humble myself and repent before Him, He is faithful to forgive and He is faithful to make my life a living demonstration of the gospel. Through my brokenness, His surpassing grace and power makes itself known and this too ripples out across the generations. So it comes down to this…what kind of legacy do I want to pass on? And what I am doing today to build that legacy?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23

Why it Matters - God Makes Himself Known

Readings for today: 2 Kings 5-7, 8:1-15

The story of Naaman has always resonated with me. Maybe because I’ve met many modern day Naaman’s myself. I have met witch doctors and tribal leaders who were utterly devoted to their pagan gods but who contracted a disease or suffered a loss and through a miraculous series of events, turned to faith in Jesus Christ. it could be through a dream or a vision. A miraculous healing or resurrection. A sudden turn of fortune like rain during a drought or an overwhelming harvest. God uses a variety of ways to make Himself known. Some are natural. Some are supernatural. It’s less about the means and more about the ends as Naaman himself discovered. Yes, there were plenty of rivers for him to bathe in back in Syria but that wasn’t really the point. The point is by bathing in the Jordan, he is exercising faith in the God of Israel rather than the gods of his own country. The same is true when God delivers Israel from the armies of Syria. One time He strikes them blind. Another time He causes them to hear the sounds many chariots and horses. Again, the means don’t matter. What matters is God is making Himself known to His people.

I think about my own life. I think about the many ways God has revealed Himself to me. Sometimes through pain and hardship. Sometimes through joy and success. Sometimes through ordinary means. Sometimes through extraordinary means. I have experienced God’s deliverance personally. He delivered me from sin and death through the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit when I was in college. He delivered me from the foolish choices I made as a husband and father through Christian counseling. He delivered me from professional mistakes through different godly friends and mentors. He delivered me from fear and anxiety by performing many signs and wonders in the church I love and serve. Sometimes I find myself questioning God’s means like Naaman. Sometimes I fail to appreciate God’s means like the Israelite king Elisha was dealing with. Sadly, I sometimes I even try to take advantage of God’s means to serve myself but God is always faithful. Faithful to confront. Faithful to convict. Faithful to forgive my unbelief.

God wants to make Himself known. This is the main theme running throughout the Bible. He makes Himself known to individuals. He makes Himself known to the nations. And He is still making Himself known today. How is He making Himself known to you? How is He making Himself known through you?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21, 22:1-9

Why it Matters - Step of Faith

Readings for today: 2 Kings 1-4

Today I was challenged to take a step of faith. To make a commitment without knowing what will happen. To make a promise without any guarantee I will be able to deliver. To place myself in a position where I truly have to depend on God. These kinds of steps are hard for me. “Faith” is a spiritual gift that doesn’t come naturally. In fact, when I take spiritual gifts inventories, faith often trends towards the bottom of the list. It’s not that I don’t believe. I do. With all my heart. It’s that I have a hard time walking by faith and not by sight. I am like the man who comes to Jesus saying, “I believe…help my unbelief.” I come by this struggle honestly. It stems at least to some extent from growing up in a home with an addict who broke promise after promise. So there’s a part of me that’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Always preparing to be let down even by God. Thankfully, He is merciful and tender towards me. He knows my besetting sin and He is gentle in calling me to repentance. He provides me opportunities like today to take baby steps so I might grow in faith and confidence. So after praying over the challenge put in front of me, I took a step of faith and now am trusting the Lord to work it out.

How I wish I could live like Elisha! A prophet of deep faith. He walks so closely with God. He trusts God so much. He refuses to leave Elijah’s side until he gets a double portion of his spirit. He parts the waters of the Jordan. Purifies a well in Jericho. Points a widow to miraculous provision. Raises her son from the dead. Cleanses a poisonous stew. Feeds a multitude. At each and every point, Elisha seems to have the right answer for the right moment not because he is so wise but because he walks with the Holy Spirit. But then I remember Elisha too had to learn. He was one of the seven thousand who hadn’t bowed his knee to Baal when Elijah found him plowing his fields. He served Elijah faithfully for a significant period of time, probably years, though the Bible doesn’t give us an exact timeline. And in that time, he learned how to walk by faith and not by sight.

Perhaps you are like me and walking by faith isn’t easy. Perhaps you are like those I know for whom faith seems to come naturally. Either way, the Lord is faithful to give us opportunities to grow our faith by learning to trust Him. He gives us challenges and pushes us to make commitments only He can deliver on. He gives us dreams and visions only He can make come to pass. He consistently takes us beyond our own resources and wisdom and strength so we will learn to depend on Him. And if we prove faithful, if we prove trustworthy, we will see miracles come to pass as He delivers on His promises.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays