Honor

Readings for today: Nahum 1-3

Some things you can’t unsee. Like the time I ran my first Bolder Boulder several years ago and saw the male belly dancers around mile four! :-) On a more serious note, now that I’ve become aware of the “honor/shame” dynamic running through all of Scripture, it seems like it’s everywhere. Why does God judge Nineveh with such harshness? Why is He not just content to win a victory? Why does He go further, grinding them to dust? Why does He put their nation to open shame? Lifting their skirts. Exposing their nakedness. Demonstrating before the whole world their powerlessness? Why does He go as far as to throw excrement at them and make them a spectacle? Because God is a jealous God. Jealous for His honor. Jealous for His glory. Jealous for His name. 

The nation of Assyria has enjoyed their time in the sun. Their chariots have rolled all over the Middle East like an ancient blitzkrieg. Their empire is great. Their power limitless. Their military without equal. But they’ve grown proud. They’ve exceeded the limits God set for them. They’ve become drunk with their success. Though they served as the rod of God’s anger against the northern kingdom of Israel, He must now bring them to heel. He must again demonstrate His sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. Remember the words of the Assyrian commander to King Hezekiah when they besieged Jerusalem? How they dared to compare Almighty God with the small tribal gods of the pagan nations? It’s worth going back and re-reading the story from 2 Kings 18 again. Such disdain and disrespect draws God’s ire. Not because it hurts His ego but because it offends His sacred and holy honor. God will not be mocked. The Creator will not allow His creatures to treat Him this way. They will learn to honor God. They will learn to respect God. They will learn to submit to God. He will bring them to their knees one way or the other because there is one thing God cares about more than the creatures He made in His own image and that is His glory. His honor. His fame. It is His will to make His name great upon the earth!

“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance against his foes; he is furious with his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up, and he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; even the flower of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt; the earth trembles, at his presence — the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before him.” (Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Assyria will learn this lesson in spades. As will the other nations who dare defy the Living God. But what about God’s people? What is our response to this God? How should we approach this God? With fear and trembling? On some level, yes. With humility and submission? Certainly. With terror and dread? Absolutely not! Why? Because our God is also good. He loves His people. He is faithful to His people. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; he cares for those who take refuge in him.” (‭‭Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

So here’s the million dollar question from today’s reading…are you living a life that honors God? Do you seek to honor God in all you say and do? Does this cross your mind when you work? When you parent? When you’re among friends? When you relate to your husband or wife? Are you living a life of humble submission before the Lord? Is God an ever-present reality in your life or does He seem distant? Someone to call on in case of emergency or a close friend? Do you seek to love God with all your heart or are you apathetic towards His commandments? Do you follow where He leads? Do you seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness?

Readings for tomorrow: Zephaniah 1-3

Contradictions

Readings for today: 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33

“How do you experience me?” A dear friend and colleague of mine once challenged a group of us to ask this question of those we love and serve. It’s not an easy one to ask. It makes us vulnerable. It opens the door to all kinds of feedback, some of which may not be positive. It invites the other person to speak into your life and share what they’ve seen. Over the years, I’ve posed this question to family and friends and their responses have been illuminating. The picture that emerged of Doug Resler was full of all kinds of contradictions. Good and bad. Positive and negative. Plenty to admire and plenty to make a person cringe in embarrassment. I’ve had lots of successes and lots of failures in my life. I’ve had days when I’m easy to love and days when I make it hard. I’ve had seasons where I’ve sailed and seasons where I’ve struggled and it’s made an impact on those around me. Depending on when a person’s life intersected mine, they might experience one version of Doug that would be entirely different if their life intersected mine at a different season. For example, I recently sat down with two high school friends. Guys I have not seen since graduation over thirty years ago. Our lives look much different now of course. And as we caught up, it was amazing to see how much we have all changed.

I thought about that conversation with my friends as I read through the life of Manasseh today. When you lay the two accounts side by side, a very different perspective on Manasseh comes into view. One perspective, from the author of 2 Kings, is entirely negative. The man was evil. The man re-instituted all the detestable worship practices of the nations surrounding Israel. The man rejected his father’s godly legacy in favor of a pagan one. He even set an idol up in God’s Temple! Because of Manasseh, the judgment of God falls on the southern nation of Judah. Because of Manasseh, the people of God will go into exile in Babylon. Because of Manasseh, God will wipe Jerusalem clean as one wipes a bowl. (A striking image to say the least!) However, there is more to the story. The author of 2 Chronicles offers a more complex picture. Yes, he confirms much of what 2 Kings has to say but he adds a significant caveat. Manasseh was imprisoned at some point in his life and in his distress, sought the Lord. He repented and returned to faith. As a result, God restored him to his throne and he spent the last part of his life trying undo the evil had done in the first part of his life. Some might call the differences between the two accounts a “contradiction”, perhaps even a reason to dismiss them altogether, but I believe the contradiction lies within Manasseh himself and I wonder if the authors simply met him and experienced him at different points in his life?

The human heart is full of contradictions. We love and we hate. We are humble and we are proud. We are kind and we are mean. We are compassionate and we are cold and uncaring. We are peaceful and we are violent. We are truthful and we lie. We are faithful and unfaithful. In fact, the only consistent thing about us seems to be our inconsistency. Our inability to walk a straight and narrow road. Seasons come and seasons go. People change. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes for the worse. In my experience, it’s usually both. Rather than condemn someone for who they were or what they’ve done or where they’ve been or how you experienced them in the past, forgive them and offer them another chance. Assume the best rather than the worst of them. They might surprise you!

Readings for tomorrow: Nahum 1-3

The End

Readings for today: Isaiah 64-66

I meet people all the time who are asking the question, “Is this all there is?” Is this world all there is? Is this life all there is? Are the 70, 80, 90 years of life all I get? And to what end? I spend my life working hard to provide for myself and my family. I achieve some measure of success. I do my best to stay active and healthy. I enjoy some wonderful experiences along the way. My wedding. The birth of my children and grandchildren. Certain milestones or achievements that hopefully leave the world a better place. But then what? Is all I have to look forward to in retirement a slow, steady decline? Or perhaps a tragic diagnosis that robs me of what little strength I have left? Will my mind start to fail along with my body? Will I be missed after I’m gone? These are real, honest questions asked by many thoughtful people I’ve had the privilege of walking beside as a pastor over the years.

Thankfully, the Lord doesn’t leave us guessing. He doesn’t leave us groping about in the dark for answers. He tells us exactly what’s going to happen. He lets us in on the end of the story. Listen to how Isaiah puts it, “““For I will create new heavens and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind. Then be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people. The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her.  In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days. Indeed, the one who dies at a hundred years old will be mourned as a young man, and the one who misses a hundred years will be considered cursed. People will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build and others live in them; they will not plant and others eat. For my people’s lives will be like the lifetime of a tree. My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor without success or bear children destined for disaster, for they will be a people blessed by the  Lord along with their descendants. Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle, but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on my entire holy mountain,” says the Lord.” (Isaiah‬ ‭65‬:‭17‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

It’s a beautiful picture of the life to come. A life not lived in some vaporous, ephemeral, spiritual existence but one that is physical and tangible and as real as it gets. God is going to renew the heavens and the earth. The heavenly dimension where He lives and reigns will eventually absorb this world and all that is in it. Life as we know it will be transformed. All that is wrong about this world will be set right. Every injustice will be addressed. Every hurt will be healed. Every tear will be wiped away. Every grief will be comforted. Every pain erased. Death will be no more. Sin will be no more. Evil will be no more. God Himself will rule and reign over a renewed creation and a renewed people as He originally intended. This is the end of all things. This is the telos of all things. This is where all of history is headed.

So here’s our challenge. Living with God’s end in mind. Living today for the world tomorrow. Trusting God for the future even as we labor in the present. Believing that every thought, every word, every action carries eternal weight because of what God has done and what God will do. Simply put, heaven is the answer to our deepest questions. Heaven is the satisfaction for our deepest longings. Heaven gives meaning and purpose to every moment of our lives. We are called to live as citizens of heaven in a world full of death. Our lives to be light in a world full of darkness.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33

Truth

Readings for today: Isaiah 59-63

One of my spiritual disciplines for several years now is to read the news. I draw my information from a variety of sources across the political and social spectrum. I follow communists and capitalists, progressives and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, and a host of influencers on social media. I read the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Denver Post, Straight Arrow News, BBC, FoxNews, CNN, Time, Christianity Today and several other news outlets. I do my best to discern what is true and what is a lie. What is real and what is false. What is authentic and what is fake. It’s getting harder. The amount of disinformation is increasing exponentially. Ideological distortion corrupts almost every single article I read. Society is rife with hypocrisy. There are very few that aren’t pushing some form of agenda. The commitment to truth has been sacrificed in pursuit of power. It is honestly very discouraging.

Isaiah must have felt similarly in his day as he watched his nation collapse all around him. His words today struck a chord with me and are worth reading again. “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far off. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil is plundered. The Lord saw that there was no justice, and he was offended. He saw that there was no man — he was amazed that there was no one interceding; so his own arm brought salvation, and his own righteousness supported him.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬) As I said, I feel much the same way. There is so little justice in our world. So little righteousness. And all because truth has stumbled in the public square. No one seems interested in the truth anymore. No one privileges truth above their own personal opinions or ideological perspective. All that seems to matter is whose side you’re on. We’ve created a zero sum game where every single disagreement is cast as a battle between good and evil. But no one is righteous. No one seeks justice. No one wants the truth and in fact, probably can’t handle the truth.

Truth has stumbled. Truth cannot enter. Truth is missing. And it offends God. Not only that but there is no one left to intercede. And this breaks my heart the most for this is the role of the church. We are called to be salt and light in the world. We are called to walk in truth and reject falsehoods. We called to proclaim truth and not allow ourselves to be co-opted by the temptation of power. We are called to advocate and fight for justice and righteousness. We are called to pray and intercede for our communities, our nation, and our world. To stand in the gap like so many before us and ask God for mercy and forgiveness and grace to cover our sins. But in order to fulfill our God-given calling, we must become a people of truth ourselves. We must meditate on God’s truth day and night. We must immerse ourselves in the truths of the gospel so we can share them with those around us. We must become so familiar with what is true and noble and righteous and good that we can immediately identify falsehoods. Fake news. Disinformation. Personal or political agendas. And reject them. Only then will we see justice return and righteousness draw near.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 64-66

Reputation

Readings for today: Isaiah 54-58

What do you aspire to? What kind of person do you want to be? What do you want be known for? When I was a teenager, I wanted to be known as a success. I wanted to be known as smart so I worked hard in school. I wanted to be known as athletic so I worked hard in sports. I wanted to be known as a good person so I went to church and got my Eagle Scout. Sure, I got a lot of accolades but they faded fast. I realized all my trophies and awards would just get thrown into a box and gather dust. When I got to college, I wanted to be popular. I attended all the parties. I hit on all the girls. I drank just about every drop of alcohol offered to me. I guess there were moments where I believed I was having a great time but my life was cratering fast. I had no real friends. I was flunking out of school. Everything I had worked so hard to achieve was crashing down around me. After I became a Christian, I wanted to be holy. I wanted to prove myself to God and to everyone around me. I worked hard at my faith. I read my Bible everyday. I prayed regularly. I went to church every week. I went to seminary and got trained to be a pastor. I served in several ministries early in my career, always taking on the more difficult challenges. But I soon found myself burning out. Struggling to find any joy. I went to a counselor and he asked me, “Who are you trying to impress?” It was a question that rocked me to my core. It brought me face to face with my spiritual poverty. It forced me to confront my pride and insecurity. And it was during this season of wrestling with God that these words from Isaiah first hit home. What does the Lord require of me? What does the Lord want for me?

“Isn’t this the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh and blood? Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard. At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer; when you cry out, he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you get rid of the yoke among you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking, and if you offer yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted one, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose water never runs dry. Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the foundations laid long ago; you will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live.” (Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭6‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The calling of God on my life - and the lives of all who claim to be Christian - is to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness. It’s to engage the work He sets before us. Breaking the chains of sin. Lightening the load. Setting people free. Sharing our resources. Refusing to engage in slander, blame, gossip, and maliciously critical speech. Offering ourselves to help those in need. This is what it means to seek the Kingdom first. As we do these things for the Lord with a humble and willing heart, God promises to take care of our reputation. He promises to make our light shine like the dawn. He promises our righteousness will go before us and He will be our rearguard. He promises to answer us when we call and be present with us when we cry out to Him. He promises to to lead us, satisfy us, and strengthen us. He promises to make us life-givers rather than death-dealers. He will use us to rebuild, restore, and repair all that is broken.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

History’s Greatest Mystery

Readings for today: Isaiah 50-53

The suffering of the Messiah has to be one of history’s greatest mysteries. A stumbling block to the Jewish people. Absolute foolishness to non-Jews. Why in the world would anyone worship a suffering Messiah? Why in the world would anyone respect a King who was crucified? Why in the world would anyone look to a man who died a criminal’s death in the most humiliating way possible? It makes no sense whatsoever. By every human measure, Jesus was a failure. His ministry career was brief. He was rejected by His own people. He was betrayed by one of His closest disciples. Abandoned by all His close friends. Denied by the one he called the “rock.” He was tortured brutally. He was mocked and spit upon and publicly humiliated. He was crucified on a cross with a crown of thorns on his head and a sign that proclaimed, “The king of the Jews”, leaving no doubt about what the Romans thought of Him. He was so poor that he had to borrow a tomb. Everything about the way He ended His life should have invalidated all He did and all He said. His teachings should have been lost to history. His life barely a footnote in some obscure historical text somewhere if it appeared at all. So how in the world did we get to a point where billions around the world today claim to believe in Him?

In part, it’s because of this ancient text out of Isaiah. Written hundreds of years before the Messiah was born. It predicts what will happen to the Lord’s servant. It prophecies what the Messiah will have to endure in order to accomplish the salvation of God’s people. It isn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination but it is specific and detailed and it describes what happens to Jesus perfectly. “See, my servant, will be successful; he will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were appalled at you  — his appearance was so disfigured that he did not look like a man, and his form did not resemble a human being — so he will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of him, for they will see what had not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard. Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God,  and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was taken away because of oppression and judgment, and who considered his fate?  For he was cut off from the land of the living; he was struck because of my people’s rebellion. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities. Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.” (Isaiah 52:13-53:12 CSB)

‭‭These words are remarkable for their accuracy as well as their meaning. Yes, Jesus endured everything described in this passage but even more importantly, He did it all for us. He was disfigured so He could sprinkle many nations. He was despised and rejected by humanity in order to bear our sickness. He was pierced for our rebellion. He was crushed for our iniquities. He was punished in order to bring us peace and it is by His wounds that we are healed. He was cut off from the land of the living because of our sin. He was made a guilt offering to satisfy the justice of God. He was assigned a grave with the wicked so the Lord’s plan of salvation could be accomplished. And by humbly submitting to all the suffering and death. By allowing Himself to be led like a lamb to the slaughter. By refusing to open His mouth and call down legions of angels for His defense. He justified many. He made atonement for our sin. He saved us from hell and death. He was raised and lifted up and highly exalted and given the name above every other name. This is why the name of Jesus continues to ring out across the earth. Resurrection. The ultimate vindication of the Messiah. God’s victory over the powers of sin and death and the devil.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 54-58

Reward

Readings for today: Isaiah 46-49, Psalms 135

I maintain a demanding pace in my life. I serve as the senior pastor of a wonderful, growing church that is literally changing the world. I chair the board of a mission organization that I deeply love that is planting thousands of churches in unreached villages all over the Horn of Africa. I teach evangelism and mission at a local seminary to brilliant students. I volunteer to serve my denomination in various capacities. I am the primary liaison between my church and several local immigrant fellowships in our local area. I love all of it. I feel called to all of it. I am humbled and blessed by my involvement in each of these areas. But it does take a lot of time and energy and by the time I get to vacation each summer, I am usually running on fumes.

This summer was no different. By the time I got to July, I was dragging pretty hard. Perhaps it’s because I’ve recently taken on some new responsibilities with one of the immigrant fellowships I serve or perhaps it’s due to a denominational commitment I took on a couple of years ago which tackles a delicate subject. Maybe it’s just that I’m getting older? Whatever it may be, I was feeling more drained than normal. And when I feel drained, I am more susceptible to cynicism. I am more easily discouraged and frustrated. Perhaps that’s why the words of Isaiah 49:3-4 hit different this morning. “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” As I said, I do believe God has called me to everything I’m doing so I don’t regret taking any of it on. I do believe God has called me to serve and to sacrifice and to pour myself out for others. But the work is often long and it’s hard sometimes to see the fruit so I can fall into the trap Isaiah did. “But I myself said: I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and futility…”

Thankfully, God is faithful. He gave me the opportunity to taste some of the fruit of my labors over the years. He gave me a chance to experience a bit of the reward of all my hard work in prayer and evangelism and discipleship. First, on our family vacation. We were able to get away with the whole crew and spend intentional time sharing together and building deep connections with our adult children. It’s truly a blessing to have great friendships with each of my adult children. Second, my wife and I got a lot of time together as well. Kristi and I have done the hard work to build a great marriage and it’s a blessing to see that work pay off. Finally, when we got back from vacation, we were invited to lunch with a family I met years ago. Officiated their wedding. Officiated a funeral for their infant daughter. When I first met them, they were nominal Christians at best. They had both grown up Roman Catholic but barely engaged their faith. I hadn’t heard or spoken to them in years. But they invited us over for lunch to share with us all God had been doing in their lives. They are on fire for Christ. Deeply involved in their church. They recently gave their testimonies and got baptized. And they wanted to share with us how much we had impacted them over the years. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life and it again reminded me, “my vindication is with the Lord, and my reward is with my God.”

The Christian life is a long obedience in the same direction. We may plant. Others may water. But it is God alone who gives the increase and we may not always get a chance to see that increase in our lifetimes. Sometimes it may feel like our work is in vain and we are spending our strength for nothing and in futility. Don’t you believe it! God is at work even when we can’t see Him. He is moving even when we can’t feel Him. He is bringing about His will and His way according to His perfect timing. Trust in the Lord and He will vindicate you. Trust in the Lord and He will reward you. This is His promise and it is sure!

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 50-53

Revelation

Readings for today: Isaiah 43-45, Psalms 80

We live in a world full of false gods. False gods who declare all kinds of things that are not true. False gods who promise salvation but cannot deliver. False gods who proclaim their own greatness and glory but it’s all smoke and mirrors. There’s nothing real about any of it. It’s all one big fantasy we create for ourselves. We know deep down there is something bigger and greater than us. We know deep down life must have meaning and purpose. We know deep down there is good and evil and something that holds us to account. And this is why human beings have always been religious. In fact, it’s one of the unique features of our species. It’s something that sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. We worship. We seek transcendence. We look for something above and beyond. Sadly, we too often settle for a projection of our worst fears or our best intentions. Our hearts are “idol factories”, a never-ending assembly line that churns out all kinds of gods for all kinds of occasions. This is true whether one lives in remote villages and worships the pagan gods of the rivers and trees or one lives in Manhattan and worships at the altar of high finance, capitalism, and free markets.

God knows this about us. He knows how our hearts work. He placed eternity there so we would seek Him. But rather than abandon us to our fate and leave us in our helpless condition, God does something remarkable. He reveals Himself to us. He knows we are lost without Him. He knows we cannot find our own way to Him. He knows we will always settle for something less. A god we can control. A god who will do our bidding. But such gods are powerless to help us. They are false gods unable to deliver on what we think they promise. So God Himself steps in. He enters space and time and history. He speaks. He acts. I love how the prophet Isaiah puts it in our reading today, “I, I am the Lord. Besides me, there is no Savior. I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed — and not some foreign god among you. So you are my witnesses — this is the Lord’s declaration — and I am God.” (‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB)‬‬ This statement changes everything. It changes everything we think we know about the world, about ourselves, and most importantly, about God.

What has God declared? Human beings are made in His image. Chosen before the foundations of the world. Predestined in love to be worthy of adoption into His family. As such, we are of inestimable value and worth. We are endowed with a dignity and glory that is not our own. We are God’s representatives on earth. Given His authority to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and exercise dominion over all He has made in His name. There is no greater or higher calling.

How has God saved? He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to become one of us. To suffer and die for us. To rise again for us. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus saves to the uttermost those who place their faith in Him. He delivers us from the power of sin and death and the devil. He accomplishes for us what we could not and He makes us righteous in God’s sight.

What has God proclaimed? The good news of the gospel. Unconditional love and grace for the sinner. Peace that passes all understanding. Mercy and compassion. Love and faithfulness. Justice and righteousness. Healing for the hurting. Freedom for the enslaved. Release for the captives. Provision for the poor. Strength for the powerless. The favor of the Lord on all who believe.

We are witnesses of these things. Thousands of years of history documenting God’s interactions with His people. Sixty-six books compiled into what we call a Bible through which God has spoken. Testimony after testimony of the lives God has changed. Records of all kinds of miracles and signs and wonders. What more could we want? What more do we need? So let’s set aside the false gods of our own making and turn to the one, true, and living God. He alone is the Lord. He alone is the Savior. He alone is God!

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 46-49, Psalms 135

Comfort

Readings for today: Isaiah 40-42, Psalms 46

One of my favorite memories is of the first time we took our son Josiah to the beach. We were living in Mobile, AL at the time and we took a short day trip to Dauphin Island. Josiah had just turned two and we were excited to introduce him to the Gulf of Mexico. We parked. Grabbed all our stuff. Chloe ran on ahead. Kristi and I were walking with Josiah. When we got to the beach, he started to run towards the water. I was pumped for him, thinking this was shaping up to be a great day. After getting about halfway, his little legs suddenly dug in. He stopped so fast he almost left skid marks in the sand. He stretched out his little arms and starting shouting at the waves. “You stop! You stop!” They didn’t obey. He got more frustrated, kept yelling, started crying, and finally sat down. His little two year old brain just couldn’t make sense of the movement of the waves and he was scared. Watching all this go by, I quickly dumped all our stuff and went to Josiah’s side. He looked up at me, his dad, with big eyes full of tears. He pointed to the waves and said, “Don’t stop, daddy. Don’t stop.” I picked him up in my arms to calm him down. Then I set him back down on the beach, grabbed his hand, and we walked to the water together. 

That’s the picture that always comes to mind when I read these chapters from Isaiah. God is so tender with us. So loving with us. He takes us by the hand and leads and guides us along the way. In these chapters, Isaiah speaks of a God who comforts. A God who forgives. A God who gathers His people in His arms like a shepherd gathers little lambs. The words are powerful and worth reading over and over again.

• “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of hard service is over, her iniquity has been pardoned, and she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

• “He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.” (Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

• “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

• “I am the Lord. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people  and a light to the nations…” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42‬:‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

• “I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not abandon them.” (Isaiah‬ ‭42‬:‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

There is a lot in life that makes us afraid. Crisis. Uncertainty. Unexpected experiences. Illness. Disease. Job loss. Aging. Growing up. These things are like waves crashing on the shores of our lives. We cannot stop them anymore than Josiah could stop the wave action in the Gulf. What we can do is let God take us by the hand. Lead us to the water’s edge. Help us find safety, security, and peace in His presence. When we do, we discover the very things we fear become opportunities for significant spiritual growth. Our greatest trials become the source of our greatest victories. Our greatest struggles become our greatest strengths. Playing in the surf of life is where the action is and with God at our side, we have nothing to fear. Whatever you may be facing today, know God is with you! He is at your side! If you reach out, He will take you by the hand!  

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 43-45, Psalms 80

Test

Readings for today: Isaiah 38-39, 2 Kings 20:1-21, 2 Chronicles 32:24-33

Testing is a part of life. I think of when I played college sports and how my body was tested over and over again. In the weight room. On the field. I was constantly pushed to my limits and beyond. And what happened when I passed each test? My body got stronger. I got better. My skills improved. I think of my educational work. My mind was tested at every level. Grade school. Middle School. High School. College. Masters. Doctorate. I was constantly pushed to the limits of my ability to grasp and understand complex ideas. But what happened as I learned? My mind grew sharper. My thought processes became far more refined. I was able to articulate what I believe and why with much greater clarity. I think of the work I’ve done in counseling. I was pushed beyond my emotional limits and forced to come to grips with serious flaws in my character. My anger. My frustration. My perfectionism. All were getting in the way of the relationships I cared most about in my life. But what happened as I did the work? I grew more emotionally mature and regulated. I became more self-aware and secure. I was able to confess my sins and mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

Perhaps the greatest tests I have had to face over the course of my life are the spiritual ones. The ones God Himself brings into my life. I’ve been a Christian for just about thirty years now and there are many times where God called me to step out of my comfort zone to learn what was truly in my heart. Was I all talk? Was my faith just a Sunday morning thing? Did I practice what I preached? I think of the tests I’ve endured in ministry. Key moments that determined the future of the churches I served. God has given me so many opportunities over the years to trust Him and I have to tell you, it’s never easy. It brings me to the end of my strength and wisdom almost every time. It pushes me beyond what’s comfortable, beyond what’s familiar, beyond what’s expected so I can learn to lean on God.

Hezekiah faced such a test when ambassadors from a foreign land came to visit him and hear more about the miraculous healing he had experienced. “When the ambassadors of Babylon’s rulers were sent  to him to inquire about the miraculous sign that happened in the land, God left him to test him and discover what was in his heart. ” (2 Chronicles‬ ‭32‬:‭31‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Hezekiah had every opportunity to give all glory to God but he was proud. He was proud of all he had accomplished. He was proud of all he had built. He was proud of all his wealth and power and influence. So when the envoys came, he showed off. He took them all around the palace. Held nothing back as he tried to impress them and in doing so, he seals the fate of his descendants. They would suffer death and destruction and exile. All because Hezekiah failed the test when it came.

What about you? What tests are you facing in your life right now? Are you seeking to pass them in your own strength? According to our own wisdom? With your own resources? Or are you facing those tests with faith? Turning to God? Asking for His help as you face each trial? Seeking His will and His way as you take your next step? When God tests you, what will He discover about your heart? What will He find out about your faith? Are you truly walking the walk and not just talking the talk?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 40-42, Psalms 46

Righteousness

Readings for today: Isaiah 31-35

One of the misconceptions I run into a lot is how too many people equate “righteousness” with “restrictions.” They see God’s plan as the quickest way to suck all the fun out of life. They perceive God to be a cosmic kill-joy. They believe the old canard that God sits on His throne and spends His days devising all kinds of ways to squash everyone’s joy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Listen to how the prophet Isaiah describes the impact of righteousness on a nation. Isaiah 32:1-2 CSB, “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.” That sounds pretty good, right? Especially if you are living in the desert regions of the Middle East? Keep reading. Isaiah 32:17–18 CSB, “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Again, doesn’t that sound wonderful? Isn’t that what we all hope for in our lives? Peace? Quietness? Trust forever? Don’t you want to dwell in a peaceful habitation? Safe and secure? I was in northern Ethiopia a few months back where they are recovering from a civil war and I can tell you things like safety and security and peace are at the top of their list. Let me give you one more. Isaiah 33:5-6 CSB, “The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. There will be times of security for you - a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.” What a beautiful picture of what God has in store for those who will fear Him, those who will follow Him, those who will worship Him. He is the source of all righteousness and justice in the world. And if one wants to experience the blessings of righteousness, one must seek to dwell in God’s presence for they are a byproduct of a life-giving relationship with Him.

So, have you changed your mind about righteousness? Do you find yourself longing for the more righteous life? Do you want the blessings of righteousness in your own life or community or nation? Don’t fall for the enemy’s lies. Don’t believe his falsehoods. Don’t let him deceive you. Your Heavenly Father knows what’s best for you. Your Heavenly Father loves you. Your Heavenly Father has good gifts He wants to give you. Trust Him. Believe Him. Submit to Him. Follow Him. Let justice flow into your life and righteousness be an ever-running stream in your soul.

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

Fruit

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.

“On that day sing about a desirable vineyard: I am the Lord, who watches over it to water it regularly. So that no one disturbs it, I watch over it night and day. I am not angry. If only there were thorns and briers for me to battle, I would trample them and burn them to the ground. Or let it take hold of my strength; let it make peace with me — make peace with me. In days to come, Jacob will take root. Israel will blossom and bloom and fill the whole world with fruit.” (Isaiah‬ ‭27‬:‭2‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

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

The Joy of the Lord

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

There is nothing like the joy of the Lord. It is powerful to experience. It moves the heart. It transforms the mind. The impossible becomes possible. The improbable becomes probable. The unexpected becomes expected. Miracles become common. The extraordinary becomes ordinary. All kinds of possibilities are unleashed. All kinds of resources are unlocked. The joy of the Lord forges a unity between people that God uses to advance His Kingdom purposes in the world.

The nation of Judah experienced a revival under King Hezekiah. A revival marked by and driven by the joy of the Lord. It begins as the Levites are reconsecrated and cleanse the Temple. This leads to a ritual burning of all the idols and unholy things Ahaz had brought into God’s sacred space. It builds as Judah celebrates the Passover for the first time in generations. A seven day feast that goes an additional seven days because the people don’t want to stop worshipping the Lord. Hezekiah literally feeds this revival by offering an additional thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep to the affair! It culminates in an overwhelming abundance of freewill offerings as the nation brings the best of their flocks and the produce of their fields. There’s so much the Levites have to literally pile it up in the Temple precincts. It’s just incredible.

It begs the question. Is such a thing still possible today? Is revival still possible today? And the answer is absolutely! But it requires a single-mindedness. A whole-hearted devotion. A passion to serve God and submit to His will and follow His way. One cannot have revival on one’s own terms. One cannot manufacture revival through human means. One must seek the Lord faithfully and fervently. One must put aside all idols. One must reject all sin. One must cast aside anything that would distract or detract from the worship of God.

So where does one begin? We begin with prayer. We pray through Psalms like Psalms 48. We ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit on us and on those we love and on those we worship and serve alongside in the church. We ask God to fill us with His Spirit. We confess our sins and purify our hearts before Him. We humble ourselves and commit to His will above our own. We give generously and sacrificially of our time, talent, and treasure and we encourage others to do the same. Most of all, we come with a sense of expectation into His presence. Whether we are worshipping at home in our personal time with God or worshipping at church with the family of God, we come with a sense of expectation that God will move. God will answer. God will bring about revival and it will begin with me.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 27-30

The Earth

Readings for today: Isaiah 23-26

God loves the Earth. He 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 stripping the earth bare and making it desolate. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants: people and priest alike, servant and master, female servant and mistress, buyer and seller, lender and borrower, creditor and debtor. The earth will be stripped completely bare and will be totally plundered, for the Lord has spoken this message.” (Isaiah 24:1-3 CSB) 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 mourns and withers; the world wastes away and withers; the exalted people of the earth waste away. The earth is polluted by its inhabitants, for they have transgressed teachings, overstepped decrees, and broken the permanent covenant. Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants have become guilty; the earth’s inhabitants have been burned, and only a few survive.” (Isaiah 24:4-6 CSB) 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 completely devastated; the earth is split open; the earth is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunkard  and sways like a hut. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again.” (Isaiah 24:19-20 CSB)

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 raise their voices, they sing out; they proclaim in the west the majesty of the Lord. Therefore, in the east honor the Lord! In the coasts and islands of the west honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. From the ends of the earth we hear songs: The Splendor of the Righteous One. ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭‭14‬-‭16‬ CSB‬‬)

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

Love for Enemies

Readings for today: Isaiah 18-22

Egypt. The land of slavery. The land of oppression. The land of attempted genocide. For hundreds of years, the people of Israel labored under the whip. Beaten. Abused. Dying young. Their children born to a life of hard labor. Powerless. Helpless. Hopeless. It was a life of constant pain. Constant torment. Constant suffering. Even after they were delivered by God, Egypt continued to be a thorn in their side. Invading. Killing. A perpetual threat on their southern border. It’s tough to overstate the hatred and enmity between these two nations. And yet, God loves the Egyptians.

Assyria. One of the most powerful and brutal empires in the ancient world. They fielded the world’s first professional army. Developed advanced technology like iron weapons and war chariots. They weaponized terror as a military tactic. And they were absolutely ruthless when it came to putting down resistance. They would sack cities. Displace entire people groups. Employed horrific public torture as a means of psychological warfare. Israel hated them. Israel feared them. It’s why Jonah ran to Joppa rather than go to Nineveh. He simply couldn’t stomach the sight of his enemies. And yet, God loves the Assyrians.

The Book of Isaiah is often called, “The Gospel of the Old Testament” and today’s passage is a good reason why…“On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the center of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord near her border. It will be a sign and witness to the Lord of Armies in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and leader, and he will rescue them. The Lord will make himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know the Lord on that day. They will offer sacrifices and offerings;  they will make vows to the Lord and fulfill them. The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing. Then they will turn to the Lord, and he will be receptive to their prayers and heal them. On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyria will go to Egypt, Egypt to Assyria, and Egypt will worship with Assyria. On that day Israel will form a triple alliance with Egypt and Assyria a blessing within the land. The Lord of Armies will bless them, saying, “Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance are blessed.” (Isaiah‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬) This is an incredible passage pointing to an even more incredible reality. The unconditional nature of God’s grace. It comes to us all. Jew and Gentile alike. Egyptian, Assyrian, and Israelite alike. Republican and Democrat alike. Progressive and conservative alike. Black, white, and brown alike. It is no one’s possession. No one has a right to claim it for their own. No one is more privileged than another in the eyes of God.

All have sinned and fallen short of His glory and all stand in need of His grace. This is why Jesus gives us this command…”You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭44‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Jesus knows there are no “enemies” in His Kingdom. No “enemies” beyond His reach. No “enemies” beyond His salvation. Jesus knows there is not a single person or single power on this earth who can stand before His love. Jesus holds the power to turn mortal enemies into family. Jesus holds the power to overcome hate and anger and the desire for vengeance with mercy and forgiveness. Jesus holds the power to transform even the hardest hearts. The question is…do we believe Him? Do we trust Him? And do our lives and our conduct and our speech and our interactions reflect this deep and glorious truth?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 23-26

Kingdom of Love

Readings for today: Isaiah 13-17

The words from Isaiah today are powerful. They present a vision that is foreign to us. Alien to the human experience. In our experience, thrones and dominions and kingdoms are founded on power. Authority. Control. It doesn’t matter whether one is talking about monarchies, dictatorships, socialist republics, or democracies. All human governmental institutions are established in power. They are maintained through power. They often come to an end because some other power rises up against them. This is the way of the world and it has been like this since the beginning. Furthermore, those in power tend to become corrupt. They begin using their power to pursue their own selfish ends. How else can one explain the rampant financial and sexual and criminal abuses that we so often see from our political leaders? Certainly not all of them succumb to such temptations but it must be hard to resist when so many are trying to curry favor. And, of course, the ones who do find the strength to resist are often successful only because they cling to a higher purpose. A greater meaning to their lives that gives them the strength to overcome.

Isaiah identifies that “higher purpose” for his people. It is love. “When the oppressor has gone, destruction has ended, and marauders have vanished from the land, a throne will be established in love, and one will sit on it faithfully in the tent of David, judging and pursuing what is right, quick to execute justice.” (Isaiah‬ ‭16‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬) When a throne is established in God’s love, justice and mercy naturally flow. When a kingdom is founded on God’s love, it becomes a light to the world. A beacon of peace and righteousness and goodness that shines for all to see. This was the whole point of the nation of Israel. To show the world a different way. To be a light to the nations around them. To be a country built on the foundation of righteousness and justice where steadfast love and faithfulness undergirded how they lived. In such a nation, outcasts would find refuge. Enemies would become friends. Widows and orphans would find care. The poor would be lifted up. Oppression would cease. Destruction would end. Peace would reign. This is a picture of the Kingdom of God and it is what we pray for when we pray the Lord’s Prayer together.

Jesus affirms this Kingdom. He came to establish this Kingdom on earth through His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus is love. He is the love of God incarnate. He is the love of God made flesh and blood. And as He lays down His life for us, He defines love for us. It’s not a feeling. It’s not an attraction. It’s not selfish or arrogant or boastful or impatient or unkind. It is self-sacrificing. Self-denying. It always puts the needs of others before itself. It always focuses on the welfare of others before it’s own. It is costly. It is a high-risk endeavor. It never loses hope. Never gives into despair. It always endures. It always perseveres. It never fails because Jesus never fails.

Ultimately, a passage like the one we read today points us forward to Jesus. He is the One who gives counsel. Who grants justice. Who shelters the outcast and the fugitive. He is the One who puts an end to all oppression and destruction and brings peace. He establishes His throne from the cross, the place where perfect love and perfect justice meet. He sits on His throne with faithfulness and is always swift to do righteousness and justice. As followers of Christ, we acknowledge Jesus is our King. We acknowledge Jesus as Lord. We acknowledge His authority over our lives. As such, we who are called by His name must align ourselves with His Kingdom. We must seek to incarnate His values in our lives. We must reject the ways of this world. The will to power. The will to pleasure. And instead find in Christ the will to love.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Monotheism

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

Monotheism is the belief in one god and it’s an open question among biblical scholars as to when Israel came to this conclusion. Certainly, the Bible acknowledges Abraham and Sarah’s belief in the pagan gods before meeting the one true and living God. It’s highly probable the Patriarchs believed in many gods even as they enjoyed a special relationship with one particular God, though they didn’t even know His name. We don’t know much at all about the religious faith of the people of Israel when they were slaves in Egypt but we do know they needed to be re-introduced to the God of their fathers at Mt. Sinai. By this time, God had revealed His name to Moses and made it clear in the Ten Commandments that He was to be worshipped before all other gods. But did that mean those gods didn’t exist? Did that mean Yahweh was the supreme God among all others? Again, the record is mixed. Clearly, the people of Israel often became confused and “went after other gods” worshipping them instead of or alongside Yahweh. This is the reason the northern kingdom of Israel was finally destroyed according to author of 2 Kings. By the time we get to the New Testament, it is clear from Jesus and the Apostle Paul that the other gods are either demonic in origin or simply fantasies of our own creation. There is only one God. His name is Yahweh. He alone is to be worshipped and adored.

Why does this matter? Read the end of the seventeenth chapter of the book of 2 Kings. The northern kingdom of Israel was unfaithful from the moment God set them apart. From the moment He tore them from the hands of David’s descendants and set Jeroboam on the throne, they engaged in idolatry. They set up their own religious system. They refused to worship God on His terms and this led them down the road of polytheism. They worshipped all sorts of gods other than Yahweh and broke the first commandment repeatedly. Their refusal to submit to the terms of the covenant God had made put them in danger and they eventually were destroyed and scattered by the Assyrian Empire. The same thing will happen to the southern kingdom of Judah as well though their idolatry is not quite as pervasive. They will eventually be conquered by the Babylonian Empire and carried off into exile. One may have all kinds of opinions about the socio-political reasons both kingdoms fell but the judgment of the Bible is clear. They fell because of idolatry.

It’s easy to think we would never make such a mistake. It’s easy to assume we are immune from such temptations. I doubt any of us worship pagan gods. We probably don’t set up idols in our homes. We don’t go to “high places” to make sacrifices. But that doesn’t mean our worship is pure. Listen again to what happened after Israel was scattered. “But the people of each nation were still making their own gods in the cities where they lived and putting them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had made…They feared the Lord, but they also made from their ranks priests for the high places, who were working for them at the shrines of the high places. They feared the Lord, but they also worshiped their own gods according to the practice of the nations from which they had been deported. They are still observing the former practices to this day. None of them fear the Lord or observe the statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments that the Lord had commanded the descendants of Jacob, whom he had given the name Israel.” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭17‬:‭29‬, ‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Did you catch the common refrain? “They feared the Lord but…” They feared the Lord but set up pagan priests. They feared the Lord but worshipped other gods. They feared the Lord but didn’t observe His statutes, ordinances, laws, or commands. Any of that starting to feel familiar? Starting to hit home? We fear the Lord but set up priests who serve at the altars of success or wealth or power or position. We fear the Lord but worship gods like money or lifestyle or some form of social/cultural/ethnic identity. We fear the Lord on Sunday morning but don’t give His laws and commands a second thought Monday through Saturday. It begs the question…are we really monotheists ourselves?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 13-15

Everlasting Faithfulness

Readings for today: Micah 5-7

I grew up going to church every Sunday. I said the creeds. Prayed the prayers. Sang the songs. My mom was a music teacher and she instilled in all of us a great love for music, especially the music of the church. My brothers and I all participated in choir and we learned the great hymns. One of my favorites growing up was a hymn titled, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” More upbeat than most, the chorus goes like this. “Leaning, leaning; Safe and secure from all alarms! Leaning, leaning; Leaning on the everlasting arms.” Though I did not come to faith until college, I’ve always experienced God as a comforting presence. Mainly because of songs like this one that declare His nature and character. Even though I was not a believer, God was instilling in me through the music, prayers, creeds, and sermons I heard a deep understanding of who He is. Building a bridge to my heart that I would later walk across at CU.  

I love how Micah concludes his prophetic work. “Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not hold on to his anger forever because he delights in faithful love. He will again have compassion on us; he will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬) In this passage we hear echoes of the great epiphany of Moses from Exodus 34 where God literally appears and reveals His divine nature and character to His people. "The Lord, the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Throughout their history. Thousands upon thousands of years. Israel leaned on the everlasting arms of their God. They trusted in His forgiveness and grace. They experienced His deep, loyal, steadfast love. They rejoiced in His great compassion. Every week when they would gather for worship, they sang. They prayed. They declared the glory of God. And they passed on their faith to each successive generation. 

Why is worship so important? Why is reading Scripture every day so important? Why is coming before Christ on a regular basis so crucial for our faith? Because we need to be reminded of God’s great faithfulness. We need to be reminded of His great love and compassion. His mercy and grace. His forgiveness. We need to be reminded in the midst of judgment that while “weeping may tarry for a night, joy comes in the morning.”(Psalm 30:5b) We need to be reminded that while God will not be mocked and will by no means clear those who are guilty of sin, He will not remain angry with us forever. “For His anger is fleeting but His favor lasts a lifetime.”(Psalm 30:5a) We need to be reminded that God knows our weakness and has provided a way for us to salvation. “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times…He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.” (Micah‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬, ‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I don’t know what you might be facing today. The challenges. The crises. The difficulties. Maybe it’s a health issue. Maybe it’s a family issue. Maybe it’s a job issue. Maybe you’re staring at an uncertain future. Maybe you’ve made a huge mistake and you’re paying the price. Let me encourage you to lean on the everlasting arms of Jesus! Trust Him. Believe in Him. Place your faith in Him to carry you through! Maybe things are going well for you. Life is blessed. Success seems to follow you wherever you go. Your kids are doing great. Your career is on the upward swing. You’re surrounded by people who love you. Praise Jesus! Thank Him for His great faithfulness. Rejoice in His favor. Share it with others. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, friends. (Hebrews 13:8) There is no shadow or turning with Him. (James 1:17) Believe Him for your life today!

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

Intervention

Readings for today: Micah 1-4

I often get asked the question, “Why doesn’t God intervene?” Why didn’t God intervene and save the children in the floods in Texas? Why doesn’t God intervene and save the innocent in places like Ukraine and Gaza? Why doesn’t God intervene and stop injustice and oppression and violence in our world? Why didn’t God intervene in my own life when I experienced trauma or abuse or pain or suffering? These are really important questions. Not to be dismissed.

At the same time, whenever I field these questions, I immediately think of a famous C.S. Lewis quote. (Remember C.S. Lewis lived and taught during the Great Depression and Second World War.) He writes, “I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When that happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else - something it never entered your head to conceive - comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realised it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it.”

This is the kind of intervention the prophet Micah refers to when he talks about the Lord “leaving his place and coming down to trample the heights of the earth. The mountains will melt beneath him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax near a fire, like water cascading down a mountainside.” (Micah‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬) It is God coming to earth with overwhelming force. God coming to earth to put an end to evil once and for all. God coming to earth to bring justice and righteousness. It will not be selective. It will not be partial. It will not be only for those with whom we disagree. When His judgment comes, it comes for us all. When His judgment comes, none of us will be able to stand. Every knee will bow under heaven and on earth and under the earth. Every tongue will confess He is Lord whether we have believed or not. All of creation will acknowledge His authority and it will be the end of the world as we know it.

Both Micah and Lewis point us to even more fundamental questions. Are we on the Lord’s side? I think of the recent political debates in my own country and how both parties attempt to co-opt God as if He were on their side. Both parties twist the Word of God to support their own political and social agenda. Both sides pray for God to intervene and stop their opponents. But if God were to truly intervene, both parties would find themselves on their faces before the judgment throne for both parties are corrupt and God doesn’t grade on a curve. Do we believe in the Lord? Do we truly trust Him? I think of so many people I know who proclaim to be Christians with their lips but deny Him in the way they live their lives. They try to have a foot in God’s world and our world. They are what the Bible calls “double-minded” in that they want it both ways. They want the safety and assurance of salvation but they want to live life on their own terms. It simply doesn’t work that way. Do we love the Lord? With all our heart, soul, mind, and strength? None of us can answer this in the affirmative. Not completely. But what we can discern is whether we are growing in our love for Him in all these spheres. Are we seeking Him? Are we pursuing Him? Are we surrendering more and more of our lives to Him? This we can answer in the affirmative if we are walking in the Spirit.

Readings for tomorrow: Micah 5-7

Easter

Readings for today: Psalms 81, 88, 92, 93

Holy Week is always powerful for me. It drains me emotionally, spiritually, and physically and not just because there is more activity on the schedule than normal. Yes, there are multiple services and multiple rehearsals and multiple things to do to mark this sacred week. Our teams run hard to pull it all off. There are a lot of late nights. But I find the emotional and spiritual demands of this week far more taxing than the physical ones. Closely walking with Jesus through His final days and hours opens my heart up to all kinds of emotions, many of them expressed so well in Psalm 88 from our reading today. Crying out to God. Feeling the weight of my sin. The loneliness of my journey at times. The rejection I’ve experienced in my life. The despair, weakness, and isolation. I know what it’s like to feel like darkness is my only friend. This is the experience of Holy Saturday and by the time I get there every year, I feel exhausted and spent.

Then comes Easter Sunday. A new day. Another day. An additional day. A bonus day. You see, Holy Saturday is not the end of Holy Week! Though Holy Saturday is the seventh day, the last day, the Sabbath day; the resurrection of Jesus Christ changes things. Changes how we mark time. Changes how we look at our calendars. By raising His Son from the dead, God moves us beyond the old Sabbath into the new Sabbath. An eternal Sabbath. A Sabbath not bound by hours or minutes or seconds. A Sabbath not bound by the cycles of evening and morning. A Sabbath not made for this world but for the world to come. A Sabbath not made for earth but for heaven. And without fail, as each Easter morning dawns, I find my strength renewed. I find my heart lifted. I find my joy restored. I lift my eyes above the hills to see from where my true help comes! My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth! As Psalm 93 puts it, “The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity.” (Psalms 93:1-2 CSB) Yes, the floods have lifted up. The world has done all it can to rid itself of God. To throw off all restraint. But the Lord rides the waves like a chariot. His voice is lifted high above the tumult of the seas. He will not be subject to His creation. He will not be ignored by the creatures made in His own image. By dying and rising again, He has declared His Word to be completely reliable, trustworthy, and true.

For Christians, Easter Sunday is not just a day on a calendar. It is not just an occasion to celebrate. It is a lived reality. We are an Easter people, shaped and formed by the Easter experience. Once you’ve tasted the new life Easter has to offer, the eternal life Easter has to offer, there’s no going back. And why would you want to? The old life is drab and boring by comparison. Nothing attractive about it all. Certainly not worth comparing to the glory that has now been revealed in us through the Risen Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 7-9