Why it Matters - Justice

Readings for today: Isaiah 59-63

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of spending time with Dr. Vishal Mangalwadi. Dr. Mangalwadi is considered India’s foremost Christian philosopher as well as a leader in political, social, and educational reform movements. The author of over thirty books, he is a sought after speaker in churches and conferences and universities all over the world. He began his work among the rural poor in India, challenging the unjust caste system, and overcoming all kinds of hostility, persecution, and even imprisonment. He has continued to fight for justice and righteousness in the public square in his country as well as around the world. He was the featured speaker at India Christian Day which our church had the privilege of hosting this year and stayed over to speak at both our services on Sunday morning. He offered challenging words to all of us about the desperate need to raise up godly Christian leaders who would carry on the fight for justice and righteousness in our world. He didn’t pull any punches, calling out the church for her failure to be the light in the darkness. Most of all, he called us to again put the Scriptures at the center of our lives and our educational, political, and social systems. I know I walked away feeling deeply convicted.

Then I read Isaiah’s words this morning and my conviction only deepened. “The Lord watches and is displeased, for there is no justice. He sees there is no advocate; he is chocked that no one intervenes. So he takes matters into his own hands; his desire for justice drives him on. He wears his desire for justice like body armor, and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. He puts on the garments of vengeance and wears zeal like a robe.” (Isaiah 59:15b-17 NET) There is no justice. There is no advocate for justice. There is no one who intervenes on behalf of justice. Feels very familiar especially when I consider the corruption and deception and exploitation and oppression that is taking place all around us. Every human system seems rife with it. Politics. Social systems. Educational institutions. All of them have turned away from the truth. They no longer promote justice. They no longer produce righteousness. And their failures are taking their toll on society at large.

God is not blind to what is happening. He sees it. He knows it. And He is preparing His judgment. We have only one hope. We must turn to God. We must seek His face. We must be filled with His Spirit. We must fulfill the commission He has laid upon us to “encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners, to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor, the day when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn, to strengthen those who mourn in Zion, by giving them a turban, instead of ashes, oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning, a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement.” (Isaiah 61:1b-3a NET) Yes, we attribute these words to Jesus because He quotes them in the Gospels but they apply all those who follow Him as well. As we live out our high and holy calling, as we pursue justice and righteousness in our communities, nation and around the world; Jesus is faithful. He will make us “oaks of righteousness, trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor.” He will use us to rebuild the “perpetual ruins” and restore the “desolate places.” We will be called “the Lord’s priests, servants of our God.” Why? Because the Lord loves justice and will repay us according to His faithfulness. This is His promise.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 64-66

Why it Matters - Tension

Readings for today: Isaiah 54-58

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, taught that we learn to hear God’s voice in three primary ways. Oratio - Prayer. Meditatio - Meditation. En Tentatio - Within the “tensions” of real life. It is this last one that resonates most often with my heart. Many years ago, I took a trip to Rwanda. A nation still recovering from a horrific genocide that resulted in the death of over 1.1 million people. Spurred on by a racist national government with a history of systematic abuse and oppression, many ordinary, everyday people turned into rabid killers. They murdered and raped friends. Family members. Neighbors. Co-workers. Things turned so evil that some pastors turned on their congregations. They turned their church buildings into charnel houses. They lured their parishioners into traps with the promise of safety. One pastor even bulldozed his own church down on the heads of those he served. These events provide a dark backdrop to these words from Isaiah this morning... 

“They lament, ‘Why don’t you notice when we fast? Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?’ Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires, you oppress your workers. Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights. Do not fast as you do today, trying to make your voice heard in heaven. Is this really the kind of fasting I want? Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, bowing their heads like a reed and stretching out on sackcloth and ashes? Is this really what you call a fast, a day that is pleasing to the Lord? No, this is the kind of fast I want. I want you to remove the sinful chains, to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke, to set free the oppressed, and to break every burdensome yoke. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. When you see someone naked, clothe him! Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood! Then your light will shine like the sunrise; your restoration will quickly arrive; your godly behavior will go before you, and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬‬)

Rwanda was known for many years as a Christian nation. Some 90% of the population claimed to know Christ prior to the genocide. So how does one rationally explain how these same people ended carrying out one of the most gruesome pogroms in human history? Bishop John Rucyahana, a key figure in the forgiveness and reconciliation movement in the wake of the genocide, suggests it is because their Christianity only went skin deep. It hadn’t penetrated to the heart. Yes, they worshipped. Yes, they fasted and prayed. They had all the appearance of godliness but they did not love God with their hearts. Isaiah was facing a similar situation in his own time. The people of God worshipped, fasted, sang, made sacrifices. They appeared to follow God’s commands but in reality they were seeking their own pleasure. Their own power. The results were obvious to anyone who could see. Oppression of the weak. Violence. Dissention. Pride. All were hallmarks of Israel at the time.

In the face of such evil, God calls His people back to Himself. He calls them to lay aside their comforts, their safety and security, their wants and desires to serve a higher calling. A greater purpose. To humble themselves before the Lord and lay their lives and their future in His hands. Prior to returning to Rwanda, Bishop John was leading a flourishing ministry in Uganda. He was doing God’s work and many people were being saved. But God wanted Bishop John to leave his comfortable life and return to his own country. Bishop John reports hearing God telling him, “If you do not go there and present the healing gospel, then the fate of Rwanda will be in the hands of those who carry guns. If God is the remedy and the solution, whom shall He use, if you don’t allow Him to use you?” This powerful message from the Holy Spirit convicted Bishop John and he laid everything aside to return home. Isaiah calls his people to a similar return. To return back to God in faithfulness and service. To “remove the sinful chains, to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke, to set free the oppressed, and to break every burdensome yoke…to share your food with the hungry and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.” God promises when His people commit their ways to Him, their light shall break forth like the dawn and the glory of the Lord will be their rearguard.

So...here’s the challenge for us...do we believe these words are as much for us today as they were for the people of God in Isaiah’s time? Do we believe God has called us to place our lives in His service? To loose the bonds of wickedness in our own communities and nation? To give all that we have and all that we are to the higher calling of righteousness and justice and peace? To set aside our own agendas and let God guide and direct our steps so that we might serve the oppressed and hungry and helpless in our midst? This is what it means to follow Christ. There are no other options. There is no other way.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Consolation

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 50-53

“How do people make it without Jesus?” I get this question a lot especially in times of tragedy and great loss. Death comes suddenly for someone we love, leaving us no time to say goodbye. A famine hits or a drought sets in and we watch our children suffer from hunger and malnourishment. Conflict breaks out. War between tribes. Villages are destroyed. Cities are looted. Residents are internally displaced. It’s brutal. It’s hard. All hope seems lost. And yet, even in the midst of the most difficult circumstances, people of faith find reserves of strength to draw on. They share what little they have with others. They find ways to serve even though they themselves barely have any strength. They experience joy even in the midst of grief and pain. All because of the presence of Jesus in their hearts and lives.

What set Israel apart from the other nations of the earth? The Lord. His abiding and faithful presence. The Lord persevered with Israel despite her sin, despite her rebellion, despite her rejection. And though He allowed her to suffer the consequences of her actions, He also was faithful to renew and restore. He met His people in the ruins of their lives. He visited them in the wilderness of their wandering. And He brought consolation. Comfort. Peace. “Certainly the Lord will console Zion; He will console all her ruins. He will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the Garden of the Lord. Happiness and joy will be restored to her, thanksgiving and the sound of music.” (Isaiah 51:3 NET)

Those who love the Lord live with a deep assurance. A certainty that undergirds them. A firm foundation on which they can stand. Jesus Himself talked about it. He talked about building one’s life on the rock so when the storms come and the winds blow, your home can stand. Isaiah would agree. “Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return; they will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear. I, I am the One who consoles you. Why are you afraid of mortal men, of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass?” (Isaiah 51:11-12 NET) Do you live with this assurance? In the midst of stressful and difficult times, do you find yourself turning to the Lord for wisdom? When you experience grief and loss, do you find yourself trusting the Lord to give you hope and restore your joy? When you endure suffering and pain, do you find yourself looking to the Lord for healing and strength?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 54-58

Why it Matters - The Absurdity of Idolatry

Readings for today: Isaiah 43-45, Psalms 80

“But is it true?” I often ask this question a lot when I meet with people who are not yet Christians. We talk about faith. We have deep discussions about the meaning of life. We discuss philosophy and religion and history and how humanity has interacted with the world. We compare and contrast belief systems and ethics. I don’t ever question their sincerity. Many of them are passionately devoted to their faith which I respect. They live lives I deeply admire. But eventually we do find ourselves coming to the fundamental question…is it true? Do the gods they believe in actually exist? Does their understanding of life and the universe and the world around us and even the human heart square with reality? This is where the rubber meets the road in our conversations and I find if I have done a good enough job listening and learning and loving them well, we end up in a sacred space where the Lord makes Himself known.

God is God. Without rival. Without peer. There simply is no other. And this God has made Himself known to His people. He has chosen them from before the foundations of the earth. He loves them and protects them. He guides them and directs them. When they go astray - as we all do - He lovingly disciplines them and corrects them. This is especially true when it comes to idolatry. God knows the poverty of our spiritual condition. He knows how tempting it is for us to worship gods of our own making. And He also knows how futile and empty and powerless such gods are. They are nothing. They have no form. They have no function. They have no authority or power. It doesn’t matter how sincere our devotion to them may be…they simply are not real. They do not exist. They are a lie. And that’s why God goes to such great lengths to make Himself known. He wants His people to know the truth. “I am the Lord and I have no peer.” “No god was formed before Me, and none will outlive Me.” “I, I am the Lord, there is no deliverer beside Me.” “I am the first and I am the last, there is no God but Me.” Over and over again, God makes it clear. He is God. There is no other. He is God. All other idols are worthless. He is God. He alone has the power to deliver and save.

Some place their trust in idols. Some place their trust in themselves. Some place their trust in their wealth and resources. Some place their trust in their influence and worldly power. All of it is an exercise in vanity. None of it has the power to deliver us from sin and death and the devil. None of it has the power to guarantee our eternity. Only God can provide the answers we are looking for. Only God can give us a sure and certain hope for the future. Only God can deliver on His promises. Because God is God and there is no other. Believe and trust and walk in this truth today.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 46-49, Psalms 135

Why it Matters - Confidence

Readings for today: Isaiah 36-37, 2 Kings 18:9-37, 19, 2 Chronicles 32:1-23, Psalms 76

“Where is your confidence?” What a great question from our reading today! Where is your confidence? Is it in your strength? Your wisdom? Your wealth? Your influence? Is it in your allies? Those who may come to your aid in time of need? Is it in human plans and human schemes? Where is your confidence? This was the challenge put before the people of Judah by the messenger from Sennacharib. In the face of overwhelming odds. An army that dwarfed their own. A military machine that had swept through nation after nation. An unstoppable force that now lay encamped on their doorstep. Where was their confidence?

This was Hezekiah’s greatest test and he passed with flying colors. He forbid his people to respond. He didn’t argue or try to defend himself or try to buy his way out of danger. He simply took the words of the pagan king and laid them before the Lord. “Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to the Lord’s temple and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: “O Lord who commands armies, O God of Israel, who is enthroned on the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky and the earth. Pay attention, Lord, and hear! Open your eyes, Lord, and observe! Listen to this entire message Sennacherib sent and how he taunts the living God! It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the nations and their lands. They have burned the gods of the nations, for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.” (Isaiah‬ ‭37‬:‭14‬-‭20‬ ‭NET‬‬) Note what Hezekiah does not do. He doesn’t ask God to preserve his kingship. He doesn’t ask God to preserve his life. He doesn’t ask God to protect His Temple or even the city of Jerusalem. Hezekiah understands this battle is not about him. It’s not even about his people or his nation. It’s about God. It’s about God’s glory and God’s honor. So he calls on God to glorify Himself by delivering His people. He calls on God to defend His honor by humbling Sennacharib. He proclaims His faith in God as the one who commands legions and rules the nations of the earth. It’s a powerful prayer and one God answers miraculously.

Where is your confidence? When the principalities and powers of this world seem to be closing in on you, where do you turn? When things aren’t going your way and you feel hurt or betrayed by those you once thought were friends, where do you go? When the pressure is on and your situation is intense and you feel overwhelmed, who do you trust? The Lord or yourself? How do you pray? Do you pray with a desire to see God honored and glorified or are you just looking to get out of the situation you find yourself in? Let me challenge you to take Hezekiah’s prayer to heart and use it as a model the next time you feel anxious or afraid.

Readings for tomorrow: No readings on Sunday

Why it Matters - Fruitfulness

Readings for today: Isaiah 27-30

“I am the vine and you are the branches.” That’s the first thought that came to mind when I read our passage for today. Take a step back and one can easily see how Jesus draws on the imagery of the Old Testament when He teaches His disciples. He’s not just making it up. He’s taking them back to their history. Back to the sacred words of the prophets. Infusing new and fresh meaning in ancient words of revelation.

In the midst of all the fire and judgment, Isaiah looks forward to a day when God will plant a fine vineyard. He will tend it Himself, refusing to trust the work to another. He will watch over it, refusing to trust her safety to another. He will protect it and provide for it. He will cultivate it and nurture it. Even when weeds spring up, God will simply pull them up and burn them so the vine stays healthy and strong. This vine will cling to God. She will find her life in God. She will hold onto God all her days.

“When that time comes, sing about a delightful vineyard! I, the Lord, protect it; I water it regularly. I guard it night and day, so no one can harm it. I am not angry. I wish I could confront some thorns and briers! Then I would march against them for battle; I would set them all on fire, unless they became my subjects and made peace with me; let them make peace with me. The time is coming when Jacob will take root; Israel will blossom and grow branches. The produce will fill the surface of the world.” (Isaiah‬ ‭27‬:‭2‬-‭6‬ ‭NET‬‬‬)

Why does Isaiah use the image of a vineyard? And why will Jesus lift this image up when He could have chosen so many others? I think it has to do with the last sentence, verse six from the above passage. Vineyards are planted for one purpose…to produce fruit. They are cultivated to produce the finest of grapes which, in turn, produces the finest of wines. The goal of the vineyard is not to keep the fruit to itself. The goal of the owner of the vineyard is not to keep all the grapes to himself. No, the goal is to fill the world with what the vineyard produces. Fill the earth with beautiful grapes and fine wines so that all might taste and see how good is the vineyard of God. Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” In other words, if you cling to Me, if you find your whole life in Me, if you hold onto Me alone for a good and whole life; you will bear much fruit. You will fill your home, your neighborhood, your place of work, your school, your city, your nation, and even the world with your fruit.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 31-35

Why it Matters - Restoration

Readings for today: Isaiah 23-26

God loves the world He has made. He loves everything about it. He loves everything within it. He spoke it into existence and shaped and formed and fashioned it with His own hands. God’s desire is to see the earth flourish. To see the world become what He designed it to be. He wants to see all the creatures, great and small, within it live lives of blessing and contentment and peace. This is God’s will. It has been His will from the beginning. It remains His will today. And it will be His will until the end of time. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and His plans for the world have not changed, will not change, and do not change.

However, the creature God made in His own image. The creature God set up to care for and nurture and work and keep the earth has fallen. Humanity abandoned her original purpose. Rejected her original mandate to “be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and exercise dominion” over all God has made. As a result, creation suffers. The world is in turmoil. The Earth herself is cursed. Imagine you come home to your house one day only to find it full of black mold. Black mold everywhere. On every surface. Behind every wall. In every corner. The place would be toxic. Impossible to live in. There is no way to redeem it. No way to cleanse it. No way to get rid of all the corruption. What would you do? You would scrape the house. You would call in bulldozers. Earthmovers to clear the ground. And then you would rebuild. Essentially this is what God is doing in our reading today. He judges the earth not to destroy it but to cleanse it. Not to eradicate it but to prepare it for His great restoration work.

The earth, as it stands, cannot be redeemed. The corruption runs too deep. The rot goes all the way to the core. So God does what any good and faithful homeowner would do. He scrapes it. He scours it. He purifies and cleanses it with fire and judgment. “Look, the Lord is ready to devastate the earth and leave it in ruins; he will mar its surface and scatter its inhabitants. Everyone will suffer – the priest as well as the people, the master as well as the servant, the elegant lady as well as the female attendant, the seller as well as the buyer, the borrower as well as the lender, the creditor as well as the debtor. The earth will be completely devastated and thoroughly ransacked. For the Lord has decreed this judgment.” (Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NET‬‬) This is not an easy process. It will involve a lot of pain and suffering. A lot of tearing down in order to build up. “The earth dries up and withers, the world shrivels up and withers; the prominent people of the earth fade away. The earth is defiled by its inhabitants, for they have violated laws, disregarded the regulation, and broken the permanent treaty. So a treaty curse devours the earth; its inhabitants pay for their guilt. This is why the inhabitants of the earth disappear, and are reduced to just a handful of people.” (Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NET‬‬) God will not stop until His cleansing work is complete. He will not relent until sin has been eradicated once and for all. He will purify every nook and cranny, every crack and corner. He will ascend to the heights and plunge to the depths. No stone will be left unturned. No square inch of creation will escape His notice. The result will be complete devastation as God prepares His world for what’s to come. “The earth is broken in pieces, the earth is ripped to shreds, the earth shakes violently. The earth will stagger around like a drunk; it will sway back and forth like a hut in a windstorm. Its sin will weigh it down, and it will fall and never get up again.” (Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NET‬‬)

And what is the goal of all this terrifying work? The restoration and renewal of worship. All of creation joining together in song. The mountains and oceans. The rocks and trees and flowers. The stars and planets and other heavenly bodies. Every creature finding her voice. The fish in the sea. The birds in the air. The animals that walk the earth. Even in the insects that crawl on the earth. And humanity will be God’s great conductor. God’s great worship leader. Drawing all the different melodies into one resounding voice. “They lift their voices and shout joyfully; they praise the majesty of the Lord in the west. So in the east extol the Lord, along the seacoasts extol the fame of the Lord God of Israel. From the ends of the earth we hear songs – the Just One is majestic.” (Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Chronicles 29-31, Psalms 48

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 - 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