Deliverance

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

Nothing is impossible for God. With God on our side, there is always hope. Even when our enemies are at the gate and their power seems overwhelming and it looks like there is no way out, God can make a way. In fact, it’s often when God does His best work. Think of what you know about the history of Israel. If you’ve been tracking with us all year, you know this isn’t the first time Israel has faced impossible odds. I think of the time Egypt’s army was bearing down on them and their backs were against the Red Sea. I think of the impregnable walls of Jericho that came tumbling down. I think of David facing off against Goliath. Over and over again, God had proved faithful. Every time it seemed like Israel was finished, God came through. All He asked was that they turn to Him and trust Him rather than place their trust in alliances, bribes, or their own strength.

One of the fascinating things about our reading today is how the three different authors of three different books (Isaiah, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles) all report the same details. Interestingly enough, Sennacharib’s own records which were recorded on the walls of his palace in Nineveh do not mention the capture of Jerusalem which is surprising since he mentions the capture of 46 other towns and cities. It’s a tacit admission of his failure. Furthermore, the circumstances of his death recorded in the Bible have also been confirmed by Assyrian sources. It’s truly a miraculous deliverance. The Assyrian Empire was one of the most brutal and terrifying empires in the ancient world. They were constantly at war, constantly expanding their territory through conquest. They never would have stopped at Jerusalem unless they were forced to by some power greater than their own. Additionally, like most ancient civilizations, they attributed their success to the power of their own gods. They believed their wars were not just a contest here on earth but in heaven as well. It’s why the spokesperson for Sennacharib mentions the defeat of all the other gods of all the other tribes they had faced. They falsely assumed Yahweh was just another tribal god, powerless before their own gods.

Sometimes I fear we fall into the same trap. Though very few of us probably worship pagan deities like they did in the ancient world - though I have been places around the world where that still takes place - we do make gods out of money, sex, power, etc. And we falsely believe these gods are often more powerful than Yahweh. Think of the sexual revolution and its impact on western society. Instead of trusting in the Lord and His plan for sex, we have become enslaved to sexual desire. Think of capitalism and how it has supercharged our natural greed. Instead of trusting the Lord and His generous provision, we have become enslaved to an insatiable appetite for “more.” Think of our desperate need for safety and security. Instead of trusting the Lord and His protection, we have become enslaved to our fears and anxieties and do all we can to accumulate enough power to control the circumstances of our lives.

The challenge we face is no different than the one faced by Hezekiah and his people. It’s the challenge to walk by faith and not by sight. It’s the challenge to trust God rather than in our own wisdom and strength. It’s the challenge to seek God first rather than as a last resort. It’s the challenge to believe Him when He says He will provide and protect us. What challenges are you facing today? What’s keeping you up at night these days? What’s troubling you? Cast all of your anxieties on God because He cares for you.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Peace

Readings for today: Isaiah 9-12

One of my spiritual disciplines is to stay up with the news. I make sure to read sources from across the political spectrum. I try my best to discern truth which is not always easy because humanity seems literally hardwired for conflict and hatred and even violence. It is so hard to land on an accepted set of facts that everyone can agree on. If facts are inconvenient or don’t support the narrative we want, we tend to dismiss them. If facts support our pre-determined position or ideology then we cling to them with all our might. One could argue that it doesn’t matter. People have a right to believe what they believe. However, in the real world, this attitude doesn’t fly because while I may have a right to my opinion, I don’t have a right to my own facts. Real decisions are made that have real world consequences and people are often hurt. For example, I was recently talking with an immigration official about the conflict that exists between immigration policy in our state and immigration policy at the federal level. That conflict puts state and federal officials at odds with one another and what ends up happening is the immigrant is caught in the crosshairs. That’s just one example among many I could cite. Taken to an extreme, this can lead to violence. The kind of violence I often see when I travel to other countries around the world.

Thankfully, God has a different vision for the world. One He casts in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah. “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle. An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den. They will not harm or destroy each other on my entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.” (Isaiah 11:6-9 CSB) When the Messiah comes in all His power and glory, the world will finally know reconciliation. The world will finally know peace. True shalom. The end of all division and violence and hatred and enmity.

How do we know this to be true? Because of what God did on the cross. There He tore down every dividing wall of hostility that exists between us and He gave us His Spirit to bring unity. The church is therefore called to live in such a way that we give the world a picture of what life will one day look like in the Kingdom of God. Imagine the power of the witness we could have if God’s people would embrace Isaiah’s vision? Imagine a church unified across political, ethnic, tribal, economic, generational, and theological divisions? Imagine a church that took seriously the commands from Psalm 133 and John 17? Imagine a church that chose God’s Truth over particular political, social, or even theological truth? It’s actually not all that hard to imagine if we take seriously the call to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus and seek to follow the example He lays down in Philippians 2:5-11.

Readings for tomorrow: Micah 1-4

Accountability

Readings for today: Isaiah 5-8

The Song of the Vineyard in Isaiah is a powerful metaphor depicting the relationship between God and His people. It describes all the ways God provided for His people. All the ways God blessed His people. All the ways God worked to establish His people in the Promised Land. But the people turned their backs on God. Instead of yielding a harvest of righteousness and justice and peace, they pursued unrighteousness, injustice, and violence. They oppressed the poor. They exploited the powerless. They refused to care for the less fortunate in their midst. It’s a recurrent theme not only in the Book of Isaiah but throughout the prophetic literature. Over and over again, God asks His people to judge between Him and His vineyard. Who is in the right? Who is in the wrong? What shall be done?

Over the years, I have found the Song of the Vineyard doesn’t just apply to the relationship between God and Israel. It applies to me. It applies to our nation. It applies to all of humanity. I think about my own life and the kind of fruit I am yielding. Is it the kind of fruit that brings glory to God? Is it good fruit that blesses others? Am I seeking the righteousness and the kingdom of God first in my life? These are questions I ask myself almost every single day of my life and they are worth pondering. Then I try to turn my gaze outward. Towards the church I love and serve. Towards the nation I love and live in. Towards the world where I so often travel. Am I leading the church I serve in such a way that we will produce good fruit together? Are we seeking the righteousness and the kingdom of God first as a community? Is our presence in Parker a blessing to the town? Am I engaging our local, state, and national leaders? Am I seeking to do all I can to influence them so they will pursue righteousness and God’s kingdom first? Am I advocating for those who have no voice? The poor and powerless? Those who often get left out or left behind? When I travel abroad, am I helping to create systems that are sustainable, reproducible, righteous, and just? Am I doing all I can to help those I love and serve and train seek God’s kingdom above their own? How am I leveraging my influence to change lives and villages in some of the most remote places on earth?

The Song is worth reading again with these questions in mind. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to show you the good fruit you are bearing as well as the bad fruit. Ask Him to bring to mind those areas of your life where God wants to affirm you and those areas of your life where you need to confess and ask His forgiveness. Ask Him to give you the wisdom to continue to till the soil of your heart so that you might bear even more good fruit in the future.

“I will sing about the one I love, a song about my loved one’s vineyard: The one I love had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He broke up the soil, cleared it of stones, and planted it with the finest vines. He built a tower in the middle of it and even dug out a winepress there. He expected  it to yield good grapes, but it yielded worthless grapes. So now, residents of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard than I did? Why, when I expected a yield of good grapes, did it yield worthless grapes? Now I will tell you what I am about to do to my vineyard: I will remove its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall,  and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland. It will not be pruned or weeded; thorns and briers will grow up. I will also give orders to the clouds that rain should not fall on it. For the vineyard of the  Lord of Armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah, the plant he delighted in. He expected justice but saw injustice; he expected righteousness but heard cries of despair.” (Isaiah‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 9-12

Justice and Righteousness

Readings for today: Isaiah 1-4

Yesterday was the 4th of July. A day to celebrate the birth of the United States of America. A day to honor the principles on which she was founded. I love how the preamble of United States Constitution lays it out. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This is a statement loaded with all kinds of meaning, much of which has come under fierce debate some 249 years after the first 4th of July celebration. Whereas the original founders all generally shared a common, biblical understanding of words like “union”, “justice”, “tranquility”, “welfare”, and “blessings”, the definitions of those terms now vary widely depending on your particular political or social or religious point of view. It’s why our fights are so fierce these days. The very heart of our country is at stake. If we can’t find common ground on key ideas like justice, we will never be able to form the more perfect union our hearts desire.

Interestingly enough, the prophet Isaiah was facing a similar situation in ancient Judah. His career spanned the lifetimes of several kings and he saw firsthand how their decisions impacted the nation. He was a court prophet. He spent his time in the royal household and among the leaders of his country. His calling was to preach God’s Word and speak truth to power in the very throne room of the king. And what lay at the heart of Isaiah’s message? Justice. Righteousness. Welfare. Peace. The very things our founding fathers wrote into our constitution. “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. Zion will be redeemed by justice, those who repent, by righteousness.” (Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬, ‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

One of the great temptations we face as Christians is to fall into the trap of believing one political party is more “righteous” than the other. The reality is both are corrupt. Both fall short. Both fail to meet God’s standard for justice and righteousness and welfare and peace. We cannot settle for the lesser of two evils. We cannot use ungodly means to achieve godly ends. God’s standard is not of this world. God’s Kingdom is not of this world. And the people of God should never stop praying and advocating and fighting for God’s will and God’s Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. This means we should never stop seeking divine justice over human justice. Divine righteousness over human righteousness. Divine compassion over human compassion. Divine peace over human peace. This world cannot deliver what our hearts truly desire. And it is only as we seek God that we will find ourselves becoming capable of the kind of justice and righteousness and compassion and peace He promises.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Righteousness

Readings for today: Hosea 10-14

The Christian life is a righteous life. It is a life aligned with God’s heart and God’s will. It is a life lived in concert with God’s purposes and plans. It is a life of humility before the Lord. A life of peace with God. A life surrendered to His way and His truth. It is also a life that runs counter to the way of the world. It cuts against the grain of every human culture. It is a narrow way. A road less taken. A path less trodden. Not because it has been tried and found wanting but because it is has been found difficult and left untried. (GK Chesterton) Last evening, I sat around the table with people I love. They are young and just beginning to make their way in the world. They talked about their anxieties and fears. They talked about the temptations they face. They talked about how so many of their friends are hurting and suffering. And it broke my heart. Why do we resist the righteousness of God when the unrighteousness of this world has so little to offer in return?

Perhaps that’s why I love what the prophet Hosea says in our reading today. “Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the Lord until he comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.” (Hosea‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB) I have found these words to be true in my own life. The more I surrender to the Lord, the more I experience the blessing of His abiding presence in my life. The more I align my life with His life, the more I find fulfillment and contentment and joy. The more I seek His face and obey His commands, the more I am at peace. No longer at war with myself. No longer at war with those around me. No longer at war with the world. Most importantly, no longer at war with God.

Regular self-examination is the key or as Hosea puts it, “breaking up your unplowed ground.” There is so much of my life and heart and thoughts and feelings that has yet to examined. So much ground in my life that has yet to be plowed. So much I am not even aware of and that is why coming before the Lord daily and asking His Spirit to till the soil of my heart is critical. As the Spirit breaks up the unplowed ground, new life emerges. He sows the seeds of righteousness and I reap the fruit of faithful love. This requires intentionality. One must regularly and often submit themselves to the Holy Spirit. It also requires humility. One must surrender to His will when unrighteous aspects of one’s life are revealed. We must let go of thoughts, attitudes, and actions that are not aligned with God. We must be willing to reprioritize and reorder our loves so we might align with His love. Self-examination is one of the primary ways we “seek the Lord until He comes” and it is one of the most effective ways to pursue righteousness in your life.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 1-4

Repentance

Readings for today: Hosea 6-9

Repentance is beautiful. It is life-giving. It is the source of true joy and peace in life for it is a recognition that all of life is lived under God’s gracious and sovereign authority. It is the acknowledgment that God is God and we are not. He alone has the right to rule and reign because He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He is all-powerful and all-knowing and always present. Most of all, He is love. He loves what He made so much He sent us His only Son in order to redeem and restore and make all things new and whole again. Humanity’s problem is she refuses to remain in her place. She refuses to accept her God-given, God-created role in the order of all things. Instead, she seeks to be like God herself. She wants to be in charge. She wants to call the shots. She wants the authority to determine how life goes. But she simply doesn’t have the ability to bear that kind of responsibility. She doesn’t have the strength or wisdom or knowledge or understanding or maturity to handle that kind of authority. So she fails. Miserably. Repeatedly. And results are tragic. The evidence is all around us every single day. On every news channel and social media news feed.

God is faithful. He lets humanity suffer the consequences of her sin. He refuses to step in and rescue us from our terrible choices. Instead, He holds us accountable. And though His judgments often seem harsh, they are what humanity has rightfully earned. Imagine how different things could be if we stopped fighting God at every turn? If we stopped resisting His will and His ways? If we stopped trying to do this life in our own wisdom and strength and instead turned to Him? This is the essence and the promise of repentance and it’s why prophets like Hosea are constantly calling out to us. “Come, let’s return to the Lord. For he has torn us, and he will heal us; he has wounded us, and he will bind up our wounds. He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence. Let’s strive to know the  Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.” (Hosea‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Repentance requires self-examination. It requires humility. A willingness to lay one’s life bare before the Lord. Honestly. Authentically. Holding nothing back. It requires us to let go of all we may hold dear. It requires us to relinquish our need to be in control. It requires us to surrender whatever authority we think we have to the Lord. It requires us to submit to His rule and reign. When was the last time you truly took stock of your life? Sat down with God’s Word in one hand and your life in the other and compared the two? When was the last time you truly surrendered a part of your life back to God that you knew was not in line with His will? When was the last time you truly made a significant and lasting change in your life because you knew it was what the Lord commanded?

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 10-14

Broken Heart

Readings for today: Hosea 1-5

I’ve been a pastor for over twenty years and have spent countless hours counseling people through all sorts of painful circumstances and tragic life events. Death. Terminal illness. Addiction. Abuse. Criminal activity. The breakdown of marriages and families. Honestly, I’ve just about seen it all. One of the worst, in my experience, is helping couples deal with the pain of marital unfaithfulness. There is nothing quite like it. The betrayal of the most intimate relationship one can have in this life cuts a relationship to the heart. The breakdown of trust makes recovery almost impossible. And while with God all things are possible, the burden is too much to bear for most couples and they end up splitting over the affair most of the time.

This is one of the many reasons to read and meditate on the Book of Hosea. Hosea is called to an impossibly shameful life. He is called to marry a prostitute. He is called to give his children horrible names. He is called to live his life publicly in front of Israel with the hope that what he endures will be seen as analogous to what God is enduring through His covenant with His people. Imagine the pain Hosea has to endure. Imagine the heartbreak he experiences on a daily basis. Imagine the suffering he undergoes as he seeks to serve God with all his heart. Don’t let anyone ever tell you again that “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Hosea absolutely begs to differ!

And yet, all is not lost in this story. Throughout there are signs of God’s great faithfulness even in the face of our great unfaithfulness. Though we abandon God to chase after idols. Though we worship so many other things other than Him. Though we give our heart and our resources to other gods, God will not let us go. He continues to pursue us no matter how many different lovers we take. He continues to search for us on the slave blocks of this life. And when He finds us, He redeems us and brings us back home. Not only that but God promises there is a day coming where “Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And in the place where they were told: You are not my people, they will be called: Sons of the living God. And the Judeans and the Israelites will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves a single ruler and go up from the land. For the day of Jezreel  will be great.” (Hosea‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Make no mistake, our unfaithfulness to God is painful to Him. It is heartbreaking on levels we cannot begin to understand. The story of the Bible is the greatest love story of all time. It’s also the greatest tragedy of all time. It’s the story of God’s pursuit of a people who reject Him and mock Him and ignore Him and abandon Him. But He never gives up. No matter how much pain He endures. No matter how much He suffers. No matter how much heartbreak He must undergo. He will never stop until He wins back the deepest affections of our hearts. That’s truly the message of the cross.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 6-9

Anyone

Readings for today: Amos 6-9

God can use anyone. From any background or life experience. From any nation, clan, tribe, or family. No matter how young or old. No matter how rich or poor. From every level of education. No matter your caste or social status. God can use you. All he requires is a ready and willing heart. A humble spirit. Open hands. This is what marked Amos. He was not a priest. He didn’t come from a line of prophets. He was not part of the royal family. He was a simple man. A working man. A man accustomed to hard labor. He was a herdsman. A harvester of figs. Listen to how he describes himself to the powerful people in the northern kingdom of Israel. “I was not a prophet or the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman, and I took care of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’” (Amos‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The Lord took him from the flock and made him a prophet. It’s a great reminder that God doesn’t so much call the qualified as He qualifies the called. At the heart of the prophetic task was the ability to hear and obey God’s voice. To respond to the will of the Holy Spirit. The courage to speak God’s truth to power. The endurance to persevere no matter what the cost. Amos was all of this and more and he stands in a long of line of unlikely people whom God used to call His people back to repentance. Back to faith. Back to the covenant. Amos speaks specifically to the injustices of his day. He sees the wealth gap between rich and poor. He sees how the poor and powerless were being exploited by the rich and powerful. He sees all the idolatry. He sees all the oppression and injustice. And he sees visions of God’s righteous judgment. Like most prophets, he also sees a time when Israel will return to the Lord so he offers a note of hope. He sees a time when God will again show His people mercy and restore their fortunes. “I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel. They will rebuild and occupy ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink their wine, make gardens and eat their produce. I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them. The Lord your God has spoken.” (Amos‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB)

Again, God can use anyone. I remember when God first called me. I was a failed college student with little to no qualifications and nothing to suggest I would make anything of my life. However, I was desperate enough to say “yes” and Jesus has taken me on an adventure greater than any I could have planned or imagined. What about you? Where do you find yourself today? Are you willing to say “yes” to the Lord like Amos and so many others who have gone before you? What’s holding you back? What’s stopping you? What’s keeping you from living out God’s call on your life? Remember, God qualifies those whom He calls. All He needs is a willing heart and a humble spirit and open hands.

Readings for tomorrow: Hosea 1-5

Good and Evil

Readings for today: Amos 1-5

Two conversations. Both with pastors. Both godly men leading vital and vibrant congregations. Both dear friends of mine. The first conversation took place a few weeks back at a denominational event I was part of where I asked my friend how he stays up on the news. Social media? Cable news? News apps? “I don’t do any of that”, he replied, “for the sake of my mental health.” The second conversation took place this week with a local pastor in a community just north of us. As soon as we sat down, he wanted to talk about the Supreme Court decisions that came down that morning that will impact his community. It was clear he’s plugged in and very aware of what’s happening in our culture. As I read through Amos this morning, I found myself wondering what he would say to both pastors.

We are about to begin a journey through the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. The words we read are delivered to the people of God at specific times in specific seasons to address specific issues happening in the world around them. The prophets take no prisoners. They speak God’s Word with boldness and passion and without fear of consequences. They often suffer terribly as a result. They are often supernaturally aware of what’s happening in the courts of kings and princes who govern the different tribal kingdoms around them. They see the injustices and oppression taking place. They take up the cause of the poor and powerless. They fight for the orphan and widow. They never stop calling God’s people to repentance. They are non-partisan. They are more committed to God’s Kingdom than to any human kingdom, even the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They are not hypocrites. They don’t make excuses for “their team” while attacking those on the “other team.” They simply call good, good and evil, evil. Listen again to the words of Amos for example, “Pursue good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Armies, will be with you as you have claimed. Hate evil and love good; establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭CSB)

So back to my two friends. I think Amos would have some challenging words to the first pastor. I believe he would challenge my friend to push past his anxiety and fear and engage the culture. I believe he would challenge my friend to follow the news and pay attention to what our local, state, and national leaders are saying. I believe he would challenge my friend to get involved in public policy discussions and teach his people how to engage those discussions with boldness and passion and grace and love. I also think Amos would have some affirming words for the second pastor. I believe he would affirm his willingness to wade into difficult conversations. I believe he would affirm my friend’s willingness to speak prophetically on behalf of his people. Most of all, I believe he would challenge both pastors to remain more committed to God’s Kingdom than to any kingdom of this world. Stay true to God’s Word above any political party or platform and call out both good and evil when they see it. Of course, Amos’ words are not just for my friends. They are for all of us. May we prove faithful.

Readings for tomorrow: Amos 6-9

Anger

Readings for today: Jonah 1-4

I grew up a Star Wars fan. It was almost required as a child of the late 20th century. I remember when all the movies came out. I remember seeing The Return of the Jedi at the movie theater in Estes Park and my little brother standing up and pretending to join the light saber duel at the end. My favorite character was Yoda, of course. Dude was awesome. Not only the most powerful Jedi living but he always had the best lines. One of them has stuck with me even after all these years. “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” I thought about this line as I read through the last chapter of Jonah this morning.

Jonah never stops running from God. He runs from God when he is first called. Actually goes in the opposite direction from where he is supposed to go. Books passage on a ship that will take him to what was considered the ends of the earth at the time. The point furthest away from where God wants him. God literally uses a storm and a great fish to turn Jonah around. And even though Jonah accomplishes his mission, he is still as far away from God as he can be in his heart. He is angry about revival. Angry Nineveh survived. Angry that God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and quick to relent from disaster. He might as well be in Tarshish. And this prompts an important question. “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4 CSB)

It’s an important question. One for all of us to ponder. There is so much anger in the world. Anger over injustice. Anger over unrighteousness. Anger over evil and immorality. Anger over corruption. Anger over all the pain and heartbreak. And all that anger leads to hate. Hatred for those we believe are perpetrators. Perpetrators by what they say or do not say. Perpetrators by what they do or do not do. Perpetrators by how they vote or who they support. And that hatred often breaks out in all sorts of violent ways which only leads to suffering. Jonah was angry with the Assyrians because of all the pain they had inflicted on his people. His anger at them led to hatred. And his hatred led him to hope for their suffering. What Jonah failed to see was that he was no different than the Assyrians. He was as much a perpetrator as they were and yet God showed compassion on him. The same is true for us. All of us are perpetrators in some way. We all help perpetuate systems of injustice and corruption and unrighteousness and evil. We are all sinners and yet God showed grace and compassion to us. We have no right to be angry. Instead, we should align our hearts with God’s heart and work for the redemption of all those whom God loves.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Divine Providence

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

There is so much about this world that remains a mystery. So much about human life and human history that defies explanation. For example, we all seem to have this innate sense within us that the world should run on justice and fairness and equality and peace. We feel it viscerally when these principles are violated. We hate seeing bad things happen to good people. We can’t understand why good things happen to bad people. We grieve when the innocent suffer. We become enraged when evil seems to be winning. And there’s something deep inside that longs to make sense of it all. So we look for meaning. We look for purpose. Ultimately, we look for hope. Hope for a better world. Hope for a better life. Hope for a better future.

The same was true in ancient Israel. A new king ascends to the throne. He’s not a good king. In fact, he’s an evil king. He doesn’t worship God. He commits all the same sins as his forbears. The nation will descend into chaos after he dies. But he reigns for over forty years. And in that time, he restores the national borders of Israel to their original mandate. He rules over a “golden age” of sorts for the Northern Kingdom. He is blessed with prosperity and power. “In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit. He restored Israel’s border from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gath-hepher. For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter for both slaves and free people. There was no one to help Israel. The Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel under heaven, so he delivered them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.” (2 Kings‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭CSB) Essentially, the ancient authors are trying to make sense of it all here. How can it be that a king who does evil in the Lord’s sight is able to be so successful?

The answer is divine providence. God working in the world and through human beings to accomplish His will. Many may be familiar with the words from Romans 8:28 that talks about God using all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The point in that verse is that God uses even the bad things for the good of His chosen people. The converse is also true. God uses the good things that happen to bad people for the good of His chosen people. Jeroboam was an evil king and yet God saw the affliction of His people and used even this evil man to deliver them. The point of it all is that nothing is beyond the reach of God. Nothing is outside His sovereign control.

Now think about our own situation in our nation, in our state, in our local communities. Think about the political leaders at all levels of society. All of us probably have opinions on whether they are good or evil and the reality is they all are a mixture of both. Placing our trust in them is a losing proposition because they are human. They are sinful. They will make mistakes. They don’t have much power in the grand scheme of things. So we have to look beyond them and above them to God. We place our trust in Him. We trust He is working out His sovereign purposes through those He raises up regardless of whether we voted for them or what we think of them.

Readings for tomorrow: Jonah 1-4

Mentor

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

My first mentor was and is a man named Don Bachman. Don became my mentor soon after I became a Christian in college and we still talk almost every month. It is not a stretch to say that I am the man and the husband and the father and the pastor I am today because of Don’s influence. In addition to Don, I can count any number of other mentors God brought into my life over the years who also shaped me into the person I am today. Charles Tyler. Berk Sterling. Peter Barnes. Doug Garrard. Tom Gillespie. Jim Kay. Cleophus LaRue. Sam Atchison. Burwell Bennett. Steve Hayner. Tom Melton. Bud Sparling. Randy MacFarland. David Schultz. Harry Lightner. Ray Noah. The list is significant. In addition to the godly men, God used to mentor me, there have been any number of godly women along the way as well. Joan Smart. Fran Atchison. Daisy Grimes. Sissy Crowe. Ruth Gamble. Sharol Hayner. Sarah Arnold. Linda Noah. Most of all, my mother, Esther Resler. Yes, the mentoring from these women took on a different tone and form than the mentoring I received from the men but it was formative nonetheless.

By all accounts, Joash was a good king. For most of his life and for most of his reign, he was faithful to the Lord. This was no accident. The Bible makes it clear that he had an exceptional mentor. “And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” (2 Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬) Jehoiada was both a godly man and a godly priest. He served the Lord until the age of 130 and they buried him among the kings of Israel in the city of David because of all the good he had accomplished in his life. Soon after he passed, Joash came under the influence of his fellow princes. They led him astray. He neglected the Temple he had repaired and abandoned the worship of God. He killed those who confronted him, even Jehoiada’s own son! Finally, he was assassinated by his own servants.

When you look back over the course of your life, who are the godly influences who shaped you into the person you are today? And who are you, in turn, mentoring in your life right now? I am blessed to meet with several men on a regular basis and we talk about life and faith and how we might follow God more closely. We discuss deep issues and we pray for each other regularly. It’s intense work at times but it’s good and I can see the difference it is making in their lives. The same difference I hope Don and all the others can see that they’ve made in my life. Mentoring is a key component to discipleship. Make sure you have people in your life who are mentoring you and make sure you are mentoring others. This is how we pass on the faith.

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

Judge

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

Today’s reading is harsh, brutal, and terrifying. How can we begin to get our minds around the judgment we see in this passage? First of all, we have to remember God’s commitment to work through human beings to bring about His sovereign will. Justice in the ancient near east was a communal affair. It involved not only the person who committed the crimes but their entire families. It included those who supported them. Everyone connected with the former regime was hunted down and put to death. So when God calls Jehu to execute justice on the entire line of Ahab, the impact ripples out to every man, woman, and child connected to them.

I know it’s hard to get our minds around the blood and violence. It’s hard to understand how this could be fair and just and righteous in God’s eyes. How could a good God allow such unrestrained violence in His name? Once again we have to take a step back and remember that though the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. What happens in today’s passage would have made perfect sense to the people living in ancient Israel at the time. They would have perceived it to be fair and just and righteous according to the cultural standards of their day. And while we may struggle to understand why they made the choices they did, it should cause us to reflect on the justice systems of our own day and age. What will future generations say about us three thousand years from now?

Once we take a step back from all the blood and gore, we can begin to understand and see the greater purposes of God. He alone has the right to judge. He alone has the right to execute justice on the earth. The line of Ahab got what they rightfully deserved after generations of false worship and murder and theft and corruption. God proved faithful to His promise to avenge the death of Naboth and his family. He proved faithful to His promise to bring an end to the pagan ways of Jezebel. And their lives serve as a warning to us. Unless we turn from our sin and place our faith in Jesus Christ, we too will come under the judgment of God. Only the blood of Jesus Christ shed on our behalf can satisfy the justice of God. May we humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin, and call on the One who is “faithful and just” to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

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

Legacy

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

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

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

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

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

Opportunity

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

Every challenge presents an opportunity. It’s simply a matter of perspective. As I think back over the course of my ministry career, I cannot tell you the number of times I have walked with someone through a challenging situation like a terminal diagnosis or an impossible business decision or a seemingly irreparable marital conflict only to have God show up and perform a miracle. I’ve seen the same thing in the churches I’ve served. Challenging circumstances that take us to the edge of our resources and beyond. Those present the best opportunities for us to experience God in a powerful way. I think of when the little church in Mobile, AL I served became a staging point for relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. I think of the time that little church opened her doors to host families dealing with homelessness in our community. Both of these efforts were beyond us. We simply didn’t have the people or the resources to pull them off. But God called us to step out in faith and met us in a miraculous way.

The readings for today are full of such opportunities. I think of Naaman, the great general of Israel’s enemies, coming to Israel to be healed of his disease. The initial response of the king makes perfect sense. Aram must be looking for a pretext for war. There is no way the king of Israel can guarantee miraculous healing. It’s not possible from a human perspective and yet the Lord had other plans. “When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬) We know from the New Testament that God desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. This was true in the Old Testament as well. Israel was to serve as a light to the nations. A blessing to the nations. And here was a chance for her to fulfill her calling. So Naaman is healed and restored and sent back to his king where he will worship the one true God for the rest of his life. It must have been a powerful testimony.

It’s often been said that in order to have a testimony, one must first endure a test. Think about the tests you’ve had to endure over the course of your life. The challenges you’ve had to face and overcome. Did God not show up in those moments in a powerful way? Did God not meet you in those moments and work miraculously on your behalf? As you reflect back on those memories of what God has done for you, does it not encourage you as you think about your future? Does it not shape your perspective as you think about the challenges you may be facing today?

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

Miracles

Readings for today: 2 Kings 1-4

Why does God perform miracles? What is the point of signs and wonders? Why do they seemingly happen in some places but not others? Why do they appear so random? In our reading today, both Elijah and Elisha perform miracle after miracle. Future telling. Pools of water suddenly appearing in the desert. Water purification. Incredible military victories. Vessels overflowing with oil. Resurrection. Driving out poison with flour. Multiplying bread to feed a hundred men. To the skeptical, stories like these make the Bible seem primitive and superstitious. To the doubter, stories like these can be confusing and frustrating as they wrestle with why they don’t seem to happen much anymore. To the faithful, stories like these encourage belief and deeper trust in God. However, the question still remains...why does God perform miracles?

Why does God break through the time/space continuum? Why does He suspend the laws of nature and the universe? Why does He intervene in certain situations but not others? Reach down and touch certain lives and not others? These are important questions that must be faced and thankfully, the Bible provides a clear answer.

First and foremost, miracles are given for the purpose of pointing God’s people to faith. They are not ends in and of themselves. They are signposts. Pointing beyond themselves. They are given to direct our attention heavenward to the Lord of all creation. The Author of all life. They are stark reminders that we are not at the mercy of our circumstances. This world and all the natural laws that govern it - from gravity to thermodynamics to photosynthesis - is not all there is. There is a God who stands above and beyond such laws, who is able to set them aside for reasons He Himself only knows and understands.  

Secondly, miracles are given so that God’s people might always cling to hope. Even when circumstances seem their most dire. When evil seems to be on the march. Injustice and oppression winning the day. Persecution at its fiercest. Rage and violence burning white hot. Disease ravages the body. Famine and poverty threaten our well-being. Even in the darkest of times, we still have hope. Hope in a God who can and does intervene. Hope in a God who draws near the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. Hope in a God who fights on behalf of the poor and oppressed and outcast and stranger. 

Third, miracles are given to remind us how limited and finite we are as creatures. Power. Wealth. Influence. Control. We like to live with the illusion that we are the masters of our own destinies. The captain of our fates. We like to think we are in charge. We like to act like we’ve got everything under control. But miracles remind us who truly holds the power. Miracles remind us of our relative insignificance in the grand scheme of things. Miracles bring us face to face with the power of God and, like Job, we shut our mouths and fall on our faces before Him. 

Ultimately, miracles force us to look beyond ourselves. Beyond our needs. Beyond our circumstances. Beyond our wisdom. Beyond our strength. Miracles force us to trust in God. To trust in His purposes and His design. We cannot bend God to our will. There is no magic formula to get God to do our bidding. Miracles happen on His time and in accordance with His will. Our job is to believe. To have faith. To place our lives in His hands and trust Him for the outcome.  

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

The Spirit of God

Readings for today: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18-20

I used to wonder what the Bible meant when it talked about the Spirit of God “coming over” or “coming upon” a person. For example, in today’s reading, the people of Judah are fasting and praying and worshipping when the Spirit of God comes over a man named Jahaziel and he delivers a Word from the Lord. It’s a word of encouragement. A word of blessing. A word of victory. It’s a word that promises God’s miraculous deliverance and challenges them to simply stand and bear witness. Clearly it was a powerful word because the king and all the people immediately fell down on their faces before the Lord when they heard it. So how did they know? How did they know Jahaziel’s words were from God and not just wishful thinking? How did they know Jahaziel was speaking by the Spirit of God and not from his own heart? What were the signs and what convinced them?

Like I said above, I used to ask these questions a lot when I’d come across these stories. But then I met a man named Bud Sparling and I experienced firsthand what it looks like when the Holy Spirit comes over a person. It is undeniable. It is unexplainable. It is overwhelming. For Bud, it would begin with several deep breaths. The kind of breaths that come from the deepest part of the diaphragm. His body language would shift. His voice would change. His words were always direct and on point and grounded in Scripture. They were words of encouragement. They were words of challenge. They were words that called us to confession and repentance. And after the episode passed, Bud’s body language and voice would return to normal and he would never remember what he said.

My experience with Bud answered a lot of my questions. He taught me what it looked like to walk by the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit. He taught me how to listen to the Spirit’s voice especially as I prepare to preach week over week. I began to realize the truth that every time I have the privilege of sharing God’s Word with His people or with someone I meet along the way, the Spirit is at work, coming upon or coming over me to make Himself known. As you pray today, ask the Spirit to come over you. Ask Him to fill you with His Word so that you might deliver a word of encouragement and hope to those around you today.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 1-4

Pressure

Readings for today: 1 Kings 20-21

At first glance, the story of Naboth’s vineyard seems to not be a big deal. Not cast against the backdrop of the geopolitical scene in the Ancient Near East. It would seem that Ahab has much bigger fish to fry as he wrestles over his relationship with his neighbors. But the true intentions of our hearts are often revealed in how we handle the small challenges of life. On some level, it’s easier to understand why Ahab makes the decision he makes regarding Ben-Hadad. He is doing his best to secure alliances to keep his kingdom safe. Now it’s not the right decision. It certainly isn’t God’s will and he rightfully falls under judgment but I think we all can recognize the pressures he’s under. But the episode with Naboth is petty and small and reveals the depths of the greed and selfishness that runs through Ahab’s heart.

Ancestral land is a big deal in Israel. It traces all the way back to the original allotment given to each tribe and each family when Joshua divided the land. This is why Naboth resists the king when he asks for his vineyard. We’re not just talking about a business transaction here. We’re talking about transgressing the law of God who gave Naboth and his family the land in the first place. To relinquish his land to the king is to dishonor the gift of God. That’s why he cannot accept the king’s money or even the offer of a better vineyard. Jezebel obviously has no qualms about stealing the land. She was a pagan princess with no connection to the covenant relationship God has with Israel. She doesn’t understand it much less respect it. She simply does what all those with power do. She takes what she wants when she wants it. She arranges a hit on Naboth and Ahab embraces the scheme thus cementing his doom and that of his family.

Now think about your own life. How have you responded to the pressures of trusting God when facing the big challenges of your life? Even more importantly, how do you trust God in the small things? The everyday decisions you have to make. The ordinary. The mundane. The seemingly insignificant. Nothing is insignificant in the eyes of God. All of life is sacred. Every decision is an opportunity to trust the Lord. Make sure you are honoring God today.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18-20

Faith

Readings for today: 1 Kings 17-19

Faith doesn’t often make much sense. Not from a human, rational perspective. Noah building a boat before it rains. Abraham leaving his home and family to go on a journey without knowing the destination. Moses stepping into the water and raising his staff before the Red Sea is parted. Throughout the Bible, the people of God are called to walk by faith and not by sight. To step out in faith rather than cling to safety and security. And the woman we meet in our passage today is a great example. She is down to her last bit of flour and her last ounce of oil. She barely has enough to feed herself and her son one final meal before laying down to die. Then she meets Elijah. The man of God. And he challenges her to step out in faith by making a small loaf for him first and then use the rest to make some for her and her son. And amazingly enough, she does! And then she experiences the miraculous provision of God as He continually fills her jars with flour and oil.

I try to put myself in her shoes. How would I have responded to Elijah’s request? Are you crazy? You want me to feed you first and then eat the leftovers? The crust? The crumbs? What a selfish thing for you to even ask! I think I would have missed out on the miracle. I wouldn’t have had the faith to trust. I wouldn’t have had the humility and heart to serve. I wouldn’t have been able to make the sacrifice. But the woman considered Elijah more important than herself. She considered hospitality to be a sacred act. She was generous to the point of self-denial. We don’t know a lot about her background. She appears and disappears quickly from the pages of Scripture. She’s a bit player in grand narrative of salvation and yet what a role she plays! What an example she sets!

Whenever I read stories like this and think to myself, “I could never do what she did”, God is always quick to remind me I’m not in her situation. I am not a woman living in ancient Israel during a terrible drought and down to my last bit of food. But even though her circumstances were different than mine, God’s call remains the same. God has brought all kinds of people across my path. Godly men and women. Ungodly men and women. Christian and non-Christian alike. All of them made in the image of God. All of them loved by God. And my call is to serve. To give. To offer all that I have and all that I am to feed them and nourish them and bless them. Especially in the spiritual desert that is our culture. The spiritual drought we are experiencing as a people. And every time I do, I get to experience the miracle of God’s provision just as she did. This is what it means to walk by faith and not by sight.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 20-21

Missional

Readings for today: 1Kings 15:25-34, 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 17

For over ten years, I’ve been teaching at a local seminary. The focus of my work is usually evangelism and mission though occasionally I teach some pastoral leadership courses. Whenever I teach, I try to focus my students outward. On the community where they are planted and where they will serve. One way I do that is through what I call the “Immersion Experience.” Basically, the student has to go out into the community and find a local gathering place. It could be a coffee shop, bar, gym, park, you name it. Just a place people in the community gather and spend intentional time there. Usually I ask them to reflect on a question or two while they are there as well. This is not just something I ask my students to do. It’s a practice I engage in myself. For almost sixteen years, I’ve been hanging out at Fika Coffee on Main Street or the Tailgate Bar and Grill in my community. I’ve built relationships with baristas and bartenders. Servers and general managers. Regulars who frequent these establishments. It’s been fun to get to know them. It’s led to all kinds of wonderful Spirit-filled conversations. I’ve been able to share the gospel many times over. Simply because I am present. Simply because I am there.

One of the more amazing things about the reign of Jehoshaphat is he sends his officials and Levites out to teach the people. He sends them out of Jerusalem into the surrounding villages and towns and communities to share the Word of God. They take the Law of God with them and they go throughout all of Judah to preach and to teach and the result is amazing. The “terror of the Lord” falls on all the kingdoms surrounding Judah. Some of them even bring tribute to Jehoshaphat. Why? Because Israel is always at her strongest when she is at her most obedient. The more faithful she is to the Law, the more the Lord protects her and brings her peace. The more she aligns her heart with God’s heart, the more she is blessed. It is the Lord who protects her. It is the Lord who strengthens her. It is the Lord who is her fortress and strong tower. This is the point I think the author is trying to make by placing Jehoshaphat’s educational reforms before the description of his military might. Because one necessarily follows the other. Jehoshaphat would have no strength if he didn’t have the Lord.

Now fast forward two thousand years. Imagine what could happen if churches would focus more on their “sending” capacity rather than their “seating” capacity. Imagine what could happen if individual Christians fulfilled their calling to take the light of the gospel to the world, starting in their own homes and neighborhoods. Imagine what could happen if we saw ourselves as sent out to teach the Word of the Lord to everyone in our community. This is the heart of what it means to be missional. It means we focus all of our energy and effort outward to a world in desperate need. It means we take all that we have learned and all that we have been given and we seek to share it with those around us.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 17-19